Pope Francis

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Video, with English text, at the link...

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-05/pope-june-prayer-intention-for-an-abolition-of-torture.html
Pope's June prayer intention: for an abolition of torture
30 May 2023, 16:00

The Pope Video message, entrusted to the entire Catholic Church through the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, is an appeal for "the abolition of torture in all of its forms throughout the world."
By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis' monthly prayer intention for June is for the abolition of torture in all of its forms throughout the world.

The Pope made this appeal to eradicate the phenomenon in his Pope Video message, entrusted to the entire Catholic Church through the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network.

The Holy Father decried torture as a scourge that is not just a thing of the past, but is still present today.
 

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General audience -- May 31, 2023

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254455/pope-francis-praises-matteo-ricci-for-proclaiming-the-gospel-in-china
Pope Francis praises Matteo Ricci for proclaiming the Gospel in China
By Courtney Mares
Vatican City, May 31, 2023 / 05:30 am

Pope Francis dedicated his entire general audience on Wednesday to sharing the life of Venerable Matteo Ricci, a 16th-century Jesuit missionary in China.

The pope, who has mentioned China at every Wednesday general audience in the past three weeks, praised Ricci’s “missionary spirit” in witnessing to the Gospel in the heart of the Imperial City of Beijing.

“Matteo Ricci died in Beijing in 1610 at the age of 57, a man who gave his entire life for the mission,” Francis said in St. Peter’s Square on May 31.

“His love for the Chinese people is a model, but what represents a current path is his consistency of life, the witness of his life as a Christian.”
 

Video, with English commentary, at the link...
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/events/event.dir.html/content/vaticanevents/en/2023/5/31/udienza-generale.html
General Audience
Saint Peter's Square
at 9:00

Catechesis. The passion for evangelization: the apostolic zeal of the believer. 15. Witnesses: Venerable Matteo Ricci
 

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2023-05/rondine-citadel-of-peace-pope-francis-vatican.html
Young peace-makers meet with Pope in Vatican
31 May 2023, 16:42

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-05/pope-francis-brazil-president-lula-da-silva-phone-call-ukraine.html

Pope, Brazil’s president hold phone call about peace in Ukraine, fight against poverty
31 May 2023, 19:39

Pope Francis speaks by phone with Brazilian President Lula da Silva to discuss their hopes for peace in Ukraine and efforts to combat poverty, with the President inviting the Pope to make a second visit to Brazil.
By Salvatore Cernuzio

Working for peace in Ukraine was among the subjects discussed during the phone discussion between Pope Francis and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Wednesday morning.

The Holy See Press Office confirmed the conversation, which had already been made public in the afternoon by a brief communiqué published on the website of the Government of Brazil, in which the topics at the heart of the conversation between the Pope and the 77-year-old political leader were revealed.

President Lula—who recently reaffirmed his proposal for a group of nations, including Brazil, to arbitrate a peaceful conclusion to Russia’s war in Ukraine—thanked Pope Francis for encouraging peace in the "martyred" country.

According to the Brazilian government, he also briefed the Pope about his conversations with other leaders in the search for peace in Ukraine, expressing sorrow over the region's escalation of hostilities.

President Lula also expressed his gratitude for the Pope’s struggle against poverty and the dedication displayed by the Catholic Church in Brazil to the preservation of the Amazon Basin, which is under attack from forces seeking to exploit the world's "green lung."

This is a pressing problem in view of the recent violent demonstrations in the Latin American country by indigenous people who claim they have been robbed of their lands.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-05/dicastery-for-clergy-signs-agreement-on-protection-of-minors.html

Dicastery for Clergy signs agreement on protection of minors
31 May 2023, 09:04

Following on its agreement with the Dicastery for Evangelisation, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Dicastery for Clergy. The latest agreement aims at guaranteeing reception spaces for survivors, futher developing the indications of the “Ratio Nationalis”, and implementing permanent training for priests.
By Salvatore Cernuzio

Spaces for listening to and welcoming survivors, collaboration for safeguarding in the particular Churches, initial and ongoing training of priests on the “ministry of safeguarding”; as well as provisions for the exchange of information in order to compile an annual report that will be delivered to the Pope.

These are the key points of the agreement, signed last Friday, 26 May, by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and the Dicastery for the Clergy, the second agreement between the Commission created by Pope Francis in 2014 and a curial institution after the reform established by Praedicate Evangelium that included the anti-abuse body in the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2023-05/vatican-observatory-summer-school-reopens-its-doors.html

Vatican Observatory Summer School reopens its doors
31 May 2023, 16:11

The Vatican Observatory will host its biennial summer school in observational astronomy and astrophysics from 4-30 June 2023 at the Papal Summer Gardens of Castel Gandolfo where 24 students from 20 nations will gather.
By Thaddeus Jones

The Vatican Observatory Summer School (VOSS) in Observational Astronomy and Astrophysics will host 24 students from 20 nations for its biennial session running from 4 to 30 June. The study and research school thus reopens its doors after several years of hiatus due to the Covid pandemic.

As in previous years, the sessions will be held at the headquarters of the Vatican’s astronomical observatory in the Papal Summer Gardens of Castel Gandolfo, just southeast of Rome in the Alban hills.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-06/pope-francis-praises-african-education-compact.html

Pope on African Education Compact: 'We look to Africa with great confidence'
01 June 2023, 10:42

Pope Francis meets with promoters of the African Compact on Education, and praises the initiative for its goal to educate young people by drawing on Christian values and traditional African culture.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov

"We look to Africa with great confidence," said Pope Francis on Thursday praising the African Compact on Education, as he addressed a delegation of organizers of the African Compact on Educaiton from the International Religions and Societies Foundation.

"I am happy to welcome you today together with the important novelty you bring with you, that of the African Compact on Education," the Pope said.

The Compact, he recalled, is the fruit of the International Symposium held in November 2023 in Kinshasa, under the patronage of the Congo Bishops' Conference and organised by the International Religions and Society Foundation and the Catholic University of Congo.

Numerous bishops, priests, scientists and scholars from various African countries and beyond attended that event, inspired by the Pope's Global Compact on Education, which he launched in September 2019.

“I congratulate you, because you were the first to realise a continental Educational Compact. You have shown that you have well understood what I was aiming for with this initiative, namely that the Global Education Compact should become a local reality.”
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2023/june/documents/20230601-fondation-religions-societes.html
ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE "FONDATION INTERNATIONALE RELIGIONS ET SOCIÉTÉS"
Thursday, 1st June 2023
[Multimedia]

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-06/pope-francis-latin-american-business-council-assembly.html

Pope: Entrepreneurs must build business models on culture of encounter
01 June 2023, 11:06

Pope Francis meets with members of the Latin American Business Council, and urges entrepreneurs to look to the Gospel to find hope and direction in their business endeavors.
By Devin Watkins

“Work must be founded on a culture of encounter… which encourages people to seek the common good.”

Pope Francis offered that guidance to businessmen and women from across Latin America on Thursday.

The Pope was meeting in the Vatican with participants in the annual Assembly of the Business Council of the Latin America.
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2023/june.index.html
Speeches 2023 June
To the Members of the "Consejo Empresarial de América Latina" (1st June 2023)

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254462/pope-francis-accepts-resignation-of-indian-bishop-cleared-of-rape-charge-in-civil-trial

Pope Francis accepts resignation of Indian bishop cleared of rape charge in civil trial
By Hannah Brockhaus
Rome Newsroom, Jun 1, 2023 / 05:36 am

Pope Francis on Thursday accepted the resignation of an Indian bishop cleared in early 2022 of charges of raping a religious sister in his diocese.

The resignation of the 59-year-old Bishop Franco Mulakkal as head of the Diocese of Jalandhar comes more than 16 months after his acquittal by a court in India’s Kerala state in January 2022.

The judge in the case found that “the prosecution failed to prove all the charges against the accused.”

The Vatican did not indicate whether it carried out its own investigation into the accusations against Mulakkal, who has denied the claims and contends he was falsely accused after he questioned alleged financial irregularities at the accuser’s convent.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254463/vatican-looking-into-17-dollars-million-transfer-from-us-based-charity-to-impact-investing-fund

Vatican looking into $17 million transfer from U.S.-based charity to impact investing fund
By Hannah Brockhaus
Rome Newsroom, Jun 1, 2023 / 08:30 am

The Vatican is looking into the transfer of $17 million from the U.S. arm of a Church mission to an investment fund, according to the Associated Press.

AP reported May 31 that Pope Francis has asked aides to “get to the bottom of how” the money was transferred.

The transfers date mostly to 2021, when the board of directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies U.S.A. (TPMS-US) approved moving at least $17 million to a nonprofit organization and its private equity fund owned by the organization’s then-national director, Father Andrew Small, OMI.

TPMS-US is the U.S.-based branch of the Pontifical Mission Societies, a worldwide network of four societies that provide financial support to the Catholic Church in mission territories, especially in Africa. Most of its funds come from an annual donation taken up in Catholic churches in October.

As a pontifical organization, it is an official instrument of the Holy See and the pope.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254471/new-padre-pio-film-is-a-human-look-at-the-famous-saint-filmmakers-say

New ‘Padre Pio’ film is a human look at the famous saint, filmmakers say
By Joe Bukuras
Boston, Mass., Jun 1, 2023 / 16:10 pm

The weight of playing St. Pio of Pietrelcina, more popularly known as Padre Pio, one of the most popular saints of the 20th century, was “enormous,” Shia LaBeouf told CNA in late May.

The new film “Padre Pio,” starring “Transformers” and “Fury” star LaBeouf, airs in theaters June 2 and portrays the Italian friar in his early 20s immersed in the suffering of the residents of San Giovanni Rotondo, in eastern Italy, where his monastery is located.

The film, rated R for some explicit violence and language, portrays powerful scenes of Padre Pio ministering to the townspeople and enduring his own spiritual battles with the devil amid the chaos of a violent political clash between the mainly impoverished socialists and the wealthy ruling class, ultimately resulting in a brutal massacre.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254472/report-ganswein-ordered-to-leave-vatican-return-to-home-diocese-without-new-role

Report: Gänswein ordered to leave Vatican, return to home diocese without new role
By AC Wimmer
CNA Newsroom, Jun 2, 2023 / 06:34 am

According to a German newspaper report, Pope Francis ordered Archbishop Georg Gänswein to leave the Vatican and return to Germany by the end of June.

The longtime private secretary of Pope Benedict XVI has been told to return to his home diocese of Freiburg in southwest Germany but has not been given any role or assignment, the Welt newspaper reported on Friday.

According to CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language partner agency, the report claims Pope Francis informed the 66-year-old Gänswein of his decision during a private audience on May 19.

Gänswein had not responded to a request by CNA Deutsch by the time of publication, and the Vatican has not issued any communication on the matter.
 
Gänswein is expected in Germany later this week: He is scheduled to preside over Mass on Sunday, June 4, for an annual pilgrimage to the Cistercian monastery of Stiepel near Bochum, in Western Germany.

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-06/farrell-zuppi-lojudice-gambetti-judiciary-appointments.html

Cardinal Farrell appointed president of Vatican Court of Appeals
02 June 2023, 13:25

Pope Francis makes a series of appointments within Vatican City State’s Judiciary apparatus. They will come in to effect on 1 January 2024.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis on Friday, 2 June, appointed Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life and Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, President of the Court of Appeals of Vatican City State.

Three other Cardinals were also appointed as Judges of the same court. They are Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna; Cardinal Paolo Lojudice, Archbishop of Siena-Colle di Val d’Elsa Montalcino; Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, O.F.M. Conv., Vicar General of His Holiness for Vatican City State.

All the appointments will be effective as from 1 January 2024.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-06/amazonia-leaders-grateful-for-pope-s-encouragement.html

Amazonia leaders grateful for Pope’s encouragement
02 June 2023, 14:32

South American indigenous leaders Patricia Gualinga, Sister Laura Vicuña and Yesica Patiachi – representatives of the Amazon Ecclesial Conference and REPAM – share their concerns about the attacks on their lands in Ecuador, Colombia and Peru in an audience with Pope Francis on Thursday.
By Salvatore Cernuzio

On March 4, South American indigenous leaders Patricia Gualinga, Sister Laura Vicuña, and Yesica Patiachi wrote a letter to Pope Francis informing him of their “lucha,” or years-long struggle to protect the Amazon and its inhabitants, and thanking him for his constant attention to this region of the world that is essential to the health of the entire eco-system. The idea for the letter came during a layover at an airport in Colombia, during one of their innumerable visits to international fora where they made the voice of their people heard. They then gave the letter to Cardinal Pedro Barreto of Peru.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-06/pope-francis-mexican-bishops-ad-limina-visit-migration-socio-pol.html

Pope and Mexican Bishops discuss migration and socio-political challenges
02 June 2023, 17:10

Pope Francis receives a group of Mexican Bishops who are in the Vatican for their ad limina visit. Cardinal Aguiar Retes says the socio-political situation, migration and violence were amongst the topics addressed.
By Patricia Ynestroza

The migration phenomenon, the Mexican socio-political situation and recent episodes of violence in the country were the main topics discussed by the Mexican Bishops and Pope Francis during their meeting in the Vatican on Friday, 2 June.

The occasion was provided by the ad limina visit of the second group of Bishops of the Mexican Episcopal Conference from the central regions of the country.

The Archbishop Primate of Mexico, Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, was present at the audience and told Vatican News more about the conversation.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-06/pope-francis-john-xxiii-paul-vi-saints-pilgrims-italy.html

Pope Francis: God makes us saints in the ‘worksite’ of daily life
03 June 2023, 11:48

Pope Francis greets pilgrims from the birthplaces of Sts. John XXIII and Paul VI in northern Italy, and urges them to appreciate the roots of their faith and become saints themselves.
By Devin Watkins

A sizable group of pilgrims from northern Italy met with Pope Francis on Saturday morning, to mark the 60th anniversary of the encyclical Pacem in terries, the death of Pope John XXIII and the election of Pope Paul VI.

The pilgrims hail from the towns of Sotto il Monte and Concesio, the birthplaces of the two saintly Popes.
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2023/june.index.html
Speeches 2023 June
To the pilgrims from Concesio and from Sotto il Monte, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the death of John XXIII and the election of Paul VI (3 June 2023)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-06/pope-to-mission-societies-mission-is-not-about-money.html

Pope to Mission Societies: Mission is about preaching Christ, not distributing money
03 June 2023, 12:16

Pope Francis receives in audience the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) gathered near Rome for their Annual General Assembly, and invites them to continue the work of Jesus to bring God’s infinite love and mercy to all, while fostering the missionary spirit among all the people of God.
By Lisa Zengarini

Addressing the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) on Saturday, Pope Francis encouraged them to continue to bring  the mercy and compassion flowing from Jesus’ Heart to everyone, remembering that “the Christian community is missionary by its very nature”.

“In fact”, he said “every Christian has received the gift of the Holy Spirit and is sent forth to continue the work of Jesus, announcing the joy of the Gospel to all and bringing his consolation to the various situations of our often wounded history.”
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2023/june.index.html
Speeches 2023 June
To the Participants in the General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies (3 June 2023)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-06/pope-appoints-three-new-members-pontifical-academy-of-sciences.html

Pope appoints three new members to Pontifical Academy of Sciences
03 June 2023, 12:54

Pope appoints three new members to Pontifical Academy of Sciences
Pope Francis appoints Jules A. Hoffmann, a 2011 Nobel laureate in medicine, along with Masashi Mizokami and Tebello Nyokong, as new Members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
By Vatican News staff reporter

Pope Francis on Saturday appointed three new illustrious members to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, including 2011 Nobel laureate in medicine, Jules A. Hoffmann, professor of Biologie intégrative at the Institut d'Études Avancées de l'Université de Strasbourg, France.

Dr. Hoffmann is also a professor emeritus at the Université de Strasbourg and research director emeritus of the Centre national de la recherche scientifique in France. Born on 2 August 1941 in Echternach, Luxembourg, Dr. Hoffmann has received numerous honors and awards for his work in biology, especially the immune system of the human body.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-06/pope-expresses-sadness-for-india-train-crash-killing-hundreds.html

Pope sends 'hearfelt condolences' for deadly train crash in India
03 June 2023, 12:10

Pope Francis expresses his heartfelt condolences and offers his prayers for everyone involved in a deadly train collision in India's Odisha State, which killed around 300 people and injured some 900 others.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis has offered his heartfelt condolences to all those affected by a deadly train crash in India.

In a telegram sent Saturday on his behalf by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin to the Apostolic Nuncio in India, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, the Pope offered his prayers and blessings following the tragedy.

The Pope said he was "deeply saddened to learn of the immense loss of life caused by the train crash in Odisha State," and assured "all affected by this tragedy of his spiritual closeness."

He entrusted the souls of the deceased "to the loving mercy of the Almighty," and sent his "heartfelt condolences to those who mourn their loss."

Pope Francis concluded his message by offering prayers "for the many injured and for the efforts of the emergency service personnel," invoking upon everyone "the divine gifts of courage and consolation."
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-06/pope-francis-to-make-apostolic-journey-to-mongolia.html

Pope Francis to make Apostolic Journey to Mongolia
03 June 2023, 12:02

Pope Francis accepts the invitation of the President of Mongolia and local Church authorities, and will visit the East Asian nation from 31 August to 4 September 2023.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis will make an Apostolic Journey to Mongolia later this summer.

Matteo Bruni, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, made the official announcement in a statement released on Saturday.

"Accepting the invitation of the President of Mongolia and the ecclesial authorities of the country," said Mr. Bruni, "Pope Francis will make an Apostolic Journey to Mongolia from 31 August to 4 September this year."

The Press Office Director added that the visit's programme and further details will be released in the coming weeks.
 

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254481/pope-francis-to-travel-to-mongolia-on-aug-31
Pope Francis to travel to Mongolia on Aug. 31
By Courtney Mares
Rome Newsroom, Jun 3, 2023 / 05:30 am

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2023-06/saint-peters-basilica-penitential-rite-naked-man-ukraine-protest.html
Penitential rite held at St. Peter's for desecration of Altar of Confession
03 June 2023, 10:01

Cardinal Mauro Gambetti celebrates a penitential rite in St. Peter’s Basilica following an incident on Thursday evening in which a Polish-born man stripped naked and climbed atop the Altar of the Confession with the words “Save children of Ukraina” written on his back in English.
By Vatican News

Following the events of Thursday evening, the Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, conducts a penitential liturgy on Saturday morning at noon at the Altar of the Confession.

He is to be joined by the canons of the Chapter of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter's and several members of the faithful.

On Thursday, as the Basilica was about to close, a man of Polish nationality approached the high altar, quickly undressed, and jumped upon the marble altar.

He had the words "Save children of Ukraina" written on his back in marker.

As officers of the Vatican Gendarmerie approached, the man did not resist but cooperated as they led him to the police station inside the Vatican.
 

Photos at the link...
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254482/penitential-rite-held-after-naked-man-stands-on-st-peters-basilicas-main-altar
Penitential rite held after naked man stands on St. Peter’s Basilica’s main altar
By Shannon Mullen
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jun 3, 2023 / 08:04 am

Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, presides over a penitential rite on June 3, 2023, two days after a Polish man stripped naked and stood on the basilica’s high altar. | Vatican Media

Two days after a naked man stood on the high altar of St. Peter’s Basilica in a shocking security breach, the basilica’s archpriest on Saturday held a penitential rite as required by canon law in cases where sacred places are desecrated.