Pope Francis

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   Entertainment before the General Audience today...

Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-10/pope-francis-general-audience-paul-galatians-freedom-charity.html
Pope at Audience: Freedom is born in God’s love, grows in charity
20 October 2021, 09:46

At the Wednesday General Audience, Pope Francis continues his catechesis on St Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, emphasising that Christian freedom is expressed in serving others.
By Christopher Wells

Recalling that, through Christ, “we have passed from slavery of fear and sin to the freedom of God’s children,” Pope Francis continued his catechesis on St Paul’s Letter to the Galatians by offering a deeper understanding of what is at the heart of Christian liberty.

Freedom, he said, is very different from license; it is not found in giving in to our own selfish desires, but instead leads us to serve others. “True freedom,” the Pope said, “is fully expressed in love.”
 
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249336/pope-francis-at-the-general-audience-something-is-missing-from-the-modern-idea-of-freedom
Pope Francis thanks child for impromptu ‘lesson’ at general audience
By CNA Staff
Vatican City, Oct 20, 2021 / 03:45 am

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2021.index.html
Audiences 2021
General Audience of 20 October 2021 - Catechesis on the Letter to the Galatians: 12. Freedom is realised in love

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http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249341/pope-francis-officially-recognizes-amazon-region-ecclesial-conference

Pope Francis officially recognizes Amazon region ecclesial conference
By Courtney Mares
Vatican City, Oct 20, 2021 / 12:00 pm

Pope Francis has approved the establishment of an ecclesial conference for the Amazon region, the Vatican announced Wednesday.

The Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon was created by bishops in Latin America in 2020 at the recommendation of the 2019 Synod of Bishops on the Pan-Amazonian Region.

The new body, which has the task of expressing “the Amazonian face” of the Church, goes by the acronym CEAMA, based on its Spanish title, Conferencia Eclesial de la Amazonía.

“Well disposed to favor such an initiative … Pope Francis instructed the Congregation for Bishops to follow and accompany the process closely, lending whatever help was needed to give the body an adequate form,” the Holy See press office said on Oct. 20.
 
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2021/10/20/211020b.html
Note of the Congregation for Bishops on the erection of the Conferencia Eclesial de la Amazonía, 20.10.2021

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-10/pope-francis-message-49-social-week-italian-catholics-road-signs.html

Pope: “We are called to be the yeast that leavens the dough”
21 October 2021, 15:06

Pope Francis has sent a message to participants in the 49th Social Week of Italian Catholics in Taranto. The theme of the event is: "The Planet We Hope For. Environment, Work, Future. Everything is connected”.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis hopes for a society and a planet where people are always on the move attending to the cries of others, changing course if needed and adapting themselves to situations for a better world and the common good.

He evoked the image of this society in a message to participants in the 49th Social Week of Italian Catholics, which kicked off on Thursday in the coastal city of Taranto in southern Italy.  The theme of the October 21 to 24 event is, "The Planet We Hope For. Environment, Work, Future. Everything is connected."
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-10/fratelli-tutti-vatican-foundation-cardinal-gambetti.html

“Fratelli tutti” Foundation launched in the Vatican
21 October 2021, 15:56

Cardinal Mauro Gambetti explains that the just-established “Fratelli tutti” Foundation aims to promote and support sustainable growth and a new humanism and provide a workshop for the future.
By Vatican News staff writer

The archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica explained that a new Vatican Foundation aims to put social justice, solidarity and the construction of the common good at centre-stage.

The just established “Fratelli tutti” Foundation, said Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, will provide the tools to realise an integral humanism in a synodal way, integrating the contribution of each party according to its own area of commitment and competence.

The Foundation was launched on 21 October by Cardinal Gambetti, in the presence of the Italian Minister for Health, and named after Pope Francis’ latest encyclical.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249351/archbishop-ganswein-benedict-xvi-is-full-of-zest-for-life
Benedict XVI is ‘full of zest for life,’ says Archbishop Gänswein
By CNA Staff
Vatican City, Oct 21, 2021 / 04:40 am

Archbishop Georg Gänswein has said that Benedict XVI is “full of zest for life” after the pope emeritus expressed the hope that he would join his friends in heaven in a condolence message.

Gänswein, Benedict XVI’s private secretary, spoke to Germany’s Bild newspaper on Oct. 20 after media reports suggested that the 94-year-old retired pope had a “longing for death,” said CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner.

“The art of dying well, that is, ars moriendi, is part of the Christian life. Pope Benedict has been doing that for many years,” Gänswein said.

“Yet he is absolutely full of zest for life. He is stable in his physical weakness, crystal clear in his head, and blessed with his typical Bavarian humor.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-10/pope-francis-letter-bartholomew-ecumenical-patriarch-constantino.html

Pope congratulates Bartholomew on 30 years as Ecumenical Patriarch
22 October 2021, 10:32

Pope Francis sends a congratulatory letter to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I as he marks the 30th anniversary of his election as the Archbishop of Constantinople.
By Devin Watkins

As Patriarch Bartholomew celebrates 30 years since his election, Pope Francis sent him a congratulatory letter, expressing his best wishes.

“I join you in thanksgiving to the Lord for the many blessings bestowed upon your life and ministry over these years,” said the Pope, “and pray that God, from whom all gifts come, will grant you health, spiritual joy and abundant grace to sustain every aspect of your lofty service.”
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249365/pope-francis-thanks-god-for-profound-personal-bond-with-orthodox-leader
Pope Francis thanks God for ‘profound personal bond’ with Orthodox leader
By Courtney Mares
Vatican City, Oct 22, 2021 / 04:00 am

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/letters/2021.index.html
Letters 2021
Letter of the Holy Father Francis to His Holiness Bartholomew on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of his election as Archbishop of Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch (22 October 2021)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-10/congregation-divine-worship-decree-liturgical-translations.html

Vatican decree clarifies role of Bishops’ conferences in liturgical translations
22 October 2021, 12:46

The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has published a decree implementing Pope Francis’ motu proprio “Magnum principium,” concerning the respective competencies of the Congregation and the episcopal conferences with regard to the translation of liturgical texts. The Prefect of the Congregation explains the import of the new decree, in a written interview with Vatican Media.
By Vatican News

A new decree from the Congregation for Divine Worship aims at highlighting the responsibilities of bishops’ conferences in the “great task” of completing the complex project of translating the Latin liturgical texts into vernacular languages.

That is the explanation given by Archbishop Arthur Roche, the Congregation’s new prefect, illustrating the Decree Postquam Summus Pontifex, implementing the motu proprio Magnum principium in which Pope Francis modified canon 838 of the Code of Canon Law. The text of the new decree, published on the liturgical memorial of St John Paul II, interprets and clarifies how the changes made by Pope Francis, which affect the competencies of the bishops and of the Congregation, are to be implemented.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249368/vatican-issues-decree-clarifying-who-is-responsible-for-translation-of-latin-liturgical-texts
Vatican issues decree clarifying responsibilities for translation of Latin liturgical texts
By Courtney Mares
Vatican City, Oct 22, 2021 / 09:00 am

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-10/pope-francis-schedule-liturgical-celebrations-november-2021.html

Schedule of the Pope’s liturgical celebrations for November
22 October 2021, 17:21

The highlight of the liturgical celebrations of Pope Francis in the month of November is the World Day of the Poor, instituted by him 5 years ago.
Vatican News

The Master of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, Mons. Diego Giovanni Ravelli, on Friday released the schedule of the celebrations of Pope Francis for the month of November.  There are 3 main liturgical celebrations of the Holy Father for the coming month:

- Nov. 04: Holy Mass at 11:00 am in St. Peter’s Basilica for the souls of the cardinals and bishops who died during the course of the past year.

- Nov. 05: Holy Mass at 10:30 am at the Sacred Heart Catholic University of Rome.

- Nov. 14: Holy Mass at 10:00 am in St. Peter’s Basilica on the occasion of the 5th World Day of the Poor of the Catholic Church.
 

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249371/pope-francis-says-he-wants-to-travel-more-in-2022
Pope Francis says he wants to travel to Oceania and Africa
By Hannah Brockhaus
Vatican City, Oct 22, 2021 / 11:45 am

Pope Francis said in an interview published Friday that he has several international trips in mind for 2022, as he picks up pace following a slower schedule during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-10/pope-salesian-sisters-general-chapter-mary.html

Pope to Salesian Sisters: 'Renew your mission in listening love for young people'
22 October 2021, 18:53

Pope Francis urges members of the 24th General Chapter of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians to be inspired by the example of Our Lady and encourages them in their service of young people and of the poor.
By Benedict Mayaki, SJ

Pope Francis visited the General House of the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco on Friday, as the congregation concludes their 24th General Chapter.

The Pope opened his discourse to members of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians – as the order is formally known – by welcoming the newly-elected Superior General, Mother Chiara Cazzuola. He wished her well in her work, together with the new council, and thanked the Superior and the outgoing councilors.

He noted that in these days of work, the Salesian Sisters have met under the theme “Communities that generate Life in the Heart of Contemporaneity” and have illuminated it with the words of Our Lady at the wedding in Cana: “Do whatever he tells you,” (Jn 2: 5).

The Holy Father asked them, on the one hand, to keep in mind the multicultural social context, marked by dramatic tensions and challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic; and on the other hand, to listen to the Word of God, especially in these “fragile and uncertain times with the forms of poverty that the crisis has produced and multiplied.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-10/pope-work-to-build-a-more-solidary-just-and-equitable-work.html

Pope: Work to build a more solidary, just, and equitable work
23 October 2021, 13:00

In an address to the Centesimus Annus – Pro Pontifice Foundation, Pope Francis says developing a more just and equitable society, and protecting the freedom and dignity of persons, is at the heart of the mission to implement the Church’s social teaching.
By Christopher Wells

Pope Francis on Saturday addressed members of the Institution Centesimus Annus – Pro Pontifice, as they concluded their 2021 International Convention on “Solidarity, Cooperation and Responsibility: the antidotes to fight injustices, inequalities and exclusions.”

In his remarks, the Holy Father expressed his appreciation for the work of the Foundation, noting that the response to the injustice and exploitation we see throughout the world, must consist not only in condemnation, but in “the active promotion of the good.”
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249382/pope-francis-our-response-to-injustice-must-be-more-than-condemnation
Pope Francis: Our response to injustice must be more than condemnation
By Courtney Mares
Vatican City, Oct 23, 2021 / 10:30 am

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2021/october.index.html
Speeches 2021 October
To Participants in the International Convention of the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation (23 October 2021)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-10/pope-witness-maria-montessori-inspire-solidarity-dialogue.html

Pope: may witness of Maria Montessori inspire solidarity & dialogue
23 October 2021, 13:28

In a message sent to the International Conference of the "Opera Nazionale Maria Montessori", Pope Francis urges people to look to her example "to form people in solidarity, citizens of the world open to dialogue and to acceptance."
By Benedetta Capelli

The history of education inevitably recalls the story of Maria Montessori, born 150 years ago, on 31 August 1870, in Chiaravalle in the province of Ancona, Italy. She was the first woman to graduate in medicine in Italy, and the creator of an educational method that is still adopted today in many schools around the world.

In a message signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pope Francis praised "this distinguished educator, among the most eminent figures of twentieth century culture, who left a profound mark on the field of education and on society as a whole".

An example for the new generations

The Pope sent his message to Professor Benedetto Scoppola, president of the Italian association dedicated to Montessori, "Opera Nazionale Montessori", on the occasion of the International Congress this weekend in Rome marking the 150th anniversary of her birth. In his message, the Pope recalled Maria Montessori's "commitment to building a more fraternal and peaceful world" and hoped that this special occasion "may promote generous dedication to the new generations" to do the same. He assured all the participants of his prayers and invoked the Lord's blessing on all the conference organizers and participants.
 

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-10/pope-be-courageous-and-turn-to-god-with-all-your-heart.html
Pope: Be courageous and turn to God with all your heart
24 October 2021, 12:20

Pope Francis encourages us to pray to the Lord, like Bartimaeus in Sunday's Gospel reading, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And may we repeat it often with concrete, insistent and courageous faith.
By Vatican News staff writer

In his reflections before leading the recitation of the Angelus, Pope Francis recalled the day's Gospel account of when Jesus restores the sight of Bartimaeus, the blind man who pleaded with him “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” He noted how Jesus immediately stopped to meet him, as God always hears the cry of the poor. Calling on God with courageous faith and hope despite being reproached by others in calling out for Jesus so vocally, Jesus gave him the miracle of returning his sight, saying “Your faith has made you well”.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-10/pope-francis-appeal-angelus-migrants-refugees-libya-human-rights.html
Pope reiterates appeal for protection of migrants in Libya
24 October 2021, 13:04

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2021.index.html
Angelus - Regina Cæli 2021
Angelus, 24 October 2021

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Photos at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-10/pope-francis-listen-to-the-melody-of-god-in-your-lives.html
Pope Francis: Listen to the melody of God in your lives
25 October 2021, 12:32

Pope Francis welcomes a group of young Lutherans on an ecumenical pilgrimage from Germany to Rome.
By Christopher Wells

A group of some five hundred young Lutheran pilgrims from Germany greeted Pope Francis with song as he welcomed them to the Vatican on Monday morning.

‘Singing unites’

The Holy Father took up the musical theme in his remarks to the pilgrims, saying, “Singing unites,” and explaining that “In the choir, no one is alone: it is important to listen to others.”

Pope Francis said he desired “this willingness to listen for the Church,” which is “learning it anew in the synodal process.”
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2021/october.index.html
Speeches 2021 October
To Participants in the ecumenical pilgrimage to Rome, “With Luther to the Pope” (25 October 2021)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-10/pope-francis-receives-german-president-in-audience.html

Pope Francis receives German president in audience
25 October 2021, 12:38

German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Monday
Holy See Press Office communiqué

This morning, 25 October, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis received in audience the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, His Excellency Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.

During the cordial talks, the Parties discussed the recent internal political developments within the country. Attention then turned to matters of mutual interest, especially the question of migration and various situations of international conflict, as well as the importance of multilateral commitment to the search for a solution.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249393/pope-francis-meets-knights-of-columbus-leader-at-vatican

Pope Francis meets Knights of Columbus leader at Vatican
By CNA Staff
Vatican City, Oct 25, 2021 / 13:00 pm

Pope Francis met with Patrick E. Kelly, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, on Monday.

The pope received the chief executive officer of the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organization on Oct. 25, along with supreme chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, and former supreme knight Carl A. Anderson.

Photographs released by the Vatican showed Kelly, who took office on March 1, with a relic of Fr. Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus, who was beatified on Oct. 31, 2020.

Pope Francis held the golden reliquary and venerated it.

The photos also showed the pope touching an icon of St. Joseph, the subject of a 60-minute documentary released by the Knights to mark the Year of St. Joseph.

Kelly is the 14th Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, succeeding Anderson, who served in the role from 2000 to 2021.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249389/pope-francis-names-jeffrey-sachs-to-pontifical-academy

Pope Francis names Jeffrey Sachs to pontifical academy
By CNA Staff
Vatican City, Oct 25, 2021 / 06:30 am

Pope Francis on Monday appointed the economist Jeffrey Sachs to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

The Holy See press office said on Oct. 25 that the pope had named Sachs as an “ordinary member” of the academy founded in 1994 by Pope John Paul II to promote the study and progress of the social sciences.

Sachs, the director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University in New York, has been a frequent visitor to the Vatican in recent years.

The 66-year-old was a featured speaker in at least six Vatican conferences in 2019-2020, lecturing on topics from education to ethics.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-10/st-peter-s-square-hosts-cardiology-mobile-clinic-for-poor.html

St. Peter's Square hosts cardiology mobile clinic for poor
25 October 2021, 13:31

The Office of Papal Charities and Rome's San Carlo di Nancy Hospital team up to offer the poor cardiological checkups at a mobile medical unit placed in St. Peter's Square. The initiative is called "The roads of the heart, a journey for prevention."
By Benedetta Capelli

The goal of the joint initiative of the Office of Papal Charities and Rome's San Carlo di Nancy Hospital is to provide life-saving cardiological checkups for those who do not have easy access to them, especially the poor living in the surrounding areas. The outreach is also providing a solidarity of presence for those who often feel alone and abandoned. Many disadvantaged persons have gone to St. Peter's Square since 9 am Monday morning when the mobile clinic opened its doors. Services will continue until 6 pm. The initiative has been dubbed, "The Roads of the Heart", and is coordinated by Cardinal Konrad Krajewski who heads the Office of Papal Charities, the Vatican's charitable office that operates on behalf of the Pope, and medical doctors from the San Carlo di Nancy Hospital in Rome.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249394/mobile-heart-clinic-provides-free-visits-to-poor-in-st-peter-s-square
Mobile heart clinic provides free visits to poor in St. Peter’s Square
By Hannah Brockhaus
Vatican City, Oct 25, 2021 / 14:00 pm

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-10/pope-order-of-malta-letter-special-delegate-cardinal-tomasi.html

Pope encourages Order of Malta in its process of renewal
26 October 2021, 17:28

One year from the appointment of Cardinal Silvano Tomasi as his Special Delegate to the Sovereign Order of Malta, Pope Francis has granted him new powers and confirmed his absolute trust in the Cardinal in his endeavor to “ensure a spiritual and moral renewal of the Order takes place.”
By Vatican News staff writer

In a letter dated 25 October 2021, the Pope thanks Cardinal Tomasi for the positive work he has already done since accepting the appointment as his Special Delegate to the Order of Malta, and takes note of the ongoing process to update the Constitutional Charter and the Code of the Order, expressing his belief that “it is important that the Extraordinary General Chapter be celebrated in conditions that will ensure the necessary renewal in the life of the Order.”

In light of this, he says, he has extended Fra' Marco Luzzago in his office of Lieutenant of Grand Master of the Sovreign Order of Malta until the conclusion of that General Chapter and the subsequent election of a new Grand Master by the Council Complete of State.
 

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https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-middle-east/2021/10/pope-francis-sends-video-to-city-of-mosul-praying-for-friendship-among-the-people/

Pope Francis sends video to city of Mosul, praying for ‘friendship among the people’
By Inés San Martín
Oct 27, 2021

ROME – Eight months after visiting Iraq’s war-torn city Mosul, Pope Francis sent a message to the citizens, saying that he remembers the destruction he witnessed.

“I pray that the Lord will visit Mosul, and give her consolation after so much suffering,” Francis said. “I pray for all the citizens who died, those who were tortured, those who suffered violence. I pray for the families that today are working to rebuild the city. I pray for friendship among the people of Mosul. All brothers. I pray for Mosul.”

“I remember the destroyed Churches … May the Lord help everyone to rebuild this city!” he said.

Pope Francis’s words to Mosul came in the form of a video recorded by historian turned journalist Omar Mohammed, who runs the blog Mosul Eye. He played a key role in keeping the world informed of the atrocities perpetrated by the Islamic State Group – called Daesh by its victims – during the 2014-2017 occupation of the city.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-10/pope-francis-donates-170-thousand-usd-to-church-in-syria.html

Pope Francis donates $170,000 to Church in Syria
27 October 2021, 17:37

Meeting with Syrian Bishops in Damascus, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri announced that the Holy Father will give a contribution to their charitable work for the most needy in the country. On the first day of his visit to Syria, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches also presided at a Divine Liturgy with Patriarch Youssef Absi, and met 100 youths.
By Lisa Zengarini

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, has announced that Pope Francis will donate a total of $ 170,000 to the Syrian Church to help support its charitable work  for the most needy in the country. The announcement was made on October 26, as he began his nine-day visit to Syria.