Pope Francis

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-on-all-saints-beatitudes-show-path-to-holiness-happiness.html
Pope on All Saints: Beatitudes show path to holiness & happiness
01 November 2021, 12:20

On the Solemnity of All Saints Pope Francis leads the recitation of the Angelus prayer in Saint Peter's Square reflecting on how the Beatitudes show us the path that leads to the Kingdom of God and to happiness. To be a saint, he says, is to walk on this road, especially through joy and prophecy manifested in our lives.
By Vatican News staff writer

Addressing the many pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for Monday's Angelus on the Solemnity of All Saints, Pope Francis focused his thoughts on today's liturgy highlighting the Beatitudes, the path followed by the Saints that leads to God's Kingdom and to happiness, and that consists in humility, compassion, meekness, justice and peace. He spoke about two aspects of this way of life: joy and prophecy.
 

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249459/pope-francis-on-all-saints-day-true-happiness-is-found-by-following-jesus
Pope Francis on All Saints’ Day: True happiness is found by following Jesus
By Hannah Brockhaus
Vatican City, Nov 1, 2021 / 06:05 am
 
Pope Francis gave a special Angelus address for the Solemnity of All Saints, celebrated by the Catholic Church on Nov. 1. This year, the holy day, which has the obligation to attend Mass, was transferred to Sunday in the United States.
 

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2021.index.html
Angelus - Regina Cæli 2021
Angelus, 1st November 2021

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-all-saints-mass-french-military-cemetery-angelus.html

Pope to pray for victims of war and violence on All Souls Day
01 November 2021, 12:37

Pope Francis says the festivity on 2 November is an occasion to pray, in a special way, for all victims of war and violence.
By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis announced that on 2 November, All Souls Day, he will travel to the French War Cemetery in Rome to celebrate Holy Mass.

Speaking after the recitation of the Angelus on Monday, All Saints Day, he said it will be an occasion to join, spiritually, with people across the world, “who in these days go to pray on the tombs of their loved ones.”

He also noted that the celebration in a War Cemetery will provide the occasion to pray, in particular for “all victims of war and violence.”
 

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Short video at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-francis-graves-of-war-dead-cry-a-message-of-peace.html
Pope Francis: Graves of war dead cry a message of peace
02 November 2021, 12:14

The Pope celebrates Mass at the French Military Cemetery in Rome, on the feast of All Souls. In his homily, he tells the faithful to look at the graves of the fallen which speak of a message of peace, saying “Stop, brothers and sisters, stop. Stop, weapons manufacturers”.
By Vatican News staff reporter

In an unscripted homily during the celebration of Holy Mass on the feast of All Souls, Tuesday, Pope Francis recalled an inscription on the door of a small cemetery which read: “You who are walking, think about your steps, and of your steps think about the last step.”  The Pope told those gathered at the French Military Cemetery in Rome that, “life is a journey” which we are all on.

On that journey, he noted, “we pass many historical events, many difficult situations.” “We will all have a last step,” said the Pope, “the important thing is that the last step finds us on our way, not walking around  but on the path of life and not in an endless labyrinth.” 
 
Full video at the link
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249467/pope-francis-celebrates-all-souls-day-mass-at-military-cemetery-in-rome
Pope Francis celebrates All Souls’ Day Mass at military cemetery in Rome
By Courtney Mares
Rome, Italy, Nov 2, 2021 / 06:15 am

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2021.index.html
Homilies 2021
Commemoration of all the faithful departed (French Military Cemetery, 2 November 2021)

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249468/pope-francis-prays-for-deceased-popes-on-all-souls-day

Pope Francis prays for deceased popes on All Souls’ Day
By Hannah Brockhaus
Vatican City, Nov 2, 2021 / 07:00 am

Pope Francis on Tuesday prayed before the tombs of deceased popes in the crypt beneath St. Peter’s Basilica.

Francis visited the tombs after celebrating Mass for All Souls’ Day on Nov. 2 at a military cemetery in Rome.

The tombs of the popes are located in the grottoes of St. Peter’s Basilica surrounding the tomb of St. Peter, one of the 12 Apostles and the Catholic Church’s first pope.

Pope Francis also prayed before St. Peter’s tomb itself on Nov. 2. Some popes who have been declared saints in the Catholic Church have their tombs in the upper part of St. Peter’s Basilica.

All Souls’ Day, also called the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, is dedicated to praying for those who have died.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-message-child-labour-agriculture-fao-appeal.html

Pope calls for international commitment to eliminate child labour
02 November 2021, 14:59

In a message to the General Director of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, Pope Francis calls for a joint international commitment to eradicate the scourge of child labour.
By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis is calling on international and national authorities to defend vulnerable children, many of whom are enslaved in child labour and deprived of “a dignified and harmonious development.”

The message was signed by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, on the Pope’s behalf. It is addressed to the Director of the UN’s Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization, where a Global Solutions Forum entitled “Acting Together to End Child Labour in Agriculture” is taking place on 2 and 3 November.

Decrying recent estimates that point to an increase in child labour, the Pope described the phenomenon as “a scourge that cruelly wounds the dignified existence and harmonious development of the youngest, considerably limiting their opportunities for the future.”
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249462/how-catholics-can-get-a-plenary-indulgence-all-november-2021

How to get a plenary indulgence any day this November 2021
By Francesca Pollio
Denver Newsroom, Nov 2, 2021 / 07:42 am

Did you know that you can get a plenary indulgence any day this November? It’s true. The Vatican has decided to grant Catholics who visit a cemetery to pray for the dead on any day in the month of November a plenary indulgence.

Usually, the Catholic Church only grants this plenary indulgence for the souls in Purgatory to those who pray in a cemetery on Nov. 1-8, which is the week of the Solemnity of All Souls’ Day.

Last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Apostolic Penitentiary issued a decree that extended the availability of some plenary indulgences because of concerns about avoiding large gatherings of people in churches or cemeteries. The Vatican has issued the same decree this year during the month of November.

The specific Nov. 2 plenary indulgence one can obtain for the souls in Purgatory by visiting a church or an oratory and reciting an Our Father and the Creed, can now also be done on any day in November.

What is a plenary indulgence?

A plenary indulgence is a grace granted by the Catholic Church through the merits of Jesus Christ, Mary, and all the saints to remove the temporal punishment due to sin. The indulgence cleanses a person of all temporal punishment due to sin. However, it must always be accompanied by a full detachment from sin.

Conditions to receive a plenary indulgence in all cases:
 

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-at-audience-believing-in-jesus-means-following-him.html
Pope at Audience: Believing in Jesus means following Him
03 November 2021, 09:34

Continuing his catechesis on St Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, Pope Francis explains what it means “to walk in the Spirit.”
By Christopher Wells

“To believe in Jesus means to follow Him,” Pope Francis said at Wednesday’s General Audience, adding, “At the same time, it means avoiding the opposite way, that of selfishness, of seeking one’s own interest.”

The Holy Father, continuing his catechesis on the Letter to the Galatians, reflected on St Paul’s exhortation to “walk in the Spirit.” The Holy Spirit, he said, is our guide on our “journey along the way of Christ,” – a “stupendous, but difficult journey, that begins in Baptism and lasts our whole life.”
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249478/pope-francis-at-the-general-audience-the-supreme-rule-regarding-fraternal-correction-is-love
Pope Francis: ‘The supreme rule regarding fraternal correction is love’
By CNA Staff
Vatican City, Nov 3, 2021 / 04:30 am

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2021.index.html
Audiences 2021
General Audience of 3 November 2021 - On the Letter to the Galatians: 14. Walking according to the Spirit

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Video, with English text, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-francis-november-2021-prayer-intention-depression-sufferers.html
Pope’s November prayer intention: For those who suffer from depression
03 November 2021, 16:00

Pope Francis releases his prayer intention for the month of November, and invites everyone to pray for and be near those who suffer from exhaustion, burn-out, and depression.
By Devin Watkins

“Overwork and work-related stress cause many people to experience extreme exhaustion —mental, emotional, affective, and physical exhaustion.”

Pope Francis opened the video accompanying his prayer intention for November with those words with which most people can probably identify.

His intention was released in this month’s The Pope Video, prepared by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network.

It comes as people living in the Northern Hemisphere enter the Autumn and Winter seasons, during which cooler weather is often accompanied by rainy days and more time spent indoors.
 

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Photo gallery at the link

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249482/photos-10th-annual-traditional-latin-mass-pilgrimage-to-rome
PHOTOS: 10th annual Traditional Latin Mass pilgrimage to Rome
By Hannah Brockhaus
Rome, Italy, Nov 3, 2021 / 12:00 pm

The 10th annual Populus Summorum Pontificum pilgrimage, dedicated to evangelization through the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass, took place in Rome Oct. 29-31.

Around 500 priests, seminarians, religious, and laity took part in the international pilgrimage, which included a Eucharistic procession to the Vatican, followed by the celebration of a Solemn High Mass at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica.

The pilgrimage, according to its website, brings people “ad Petri Sedem” (“to the See of Peter”) to give “testimony of the attachment that binds numerous faithful throughout the whole world to the traditional liturgy.”

The pilgrimage is named for Benedict XVI’s 2007 apostolic letter Summorum Pontificum, which acknowledged the right of priests to offer Mass in Latin according to the 1962 Roman Missal.

In July, Pope Francis issued a new document on the Traditional Latin Mass, Traditionis custodes, which stressed that it was up to bishops to decide whether to allow the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass in their diocese, and placed restrictions on where and by whom it can be celebrated.
 

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-at-mass-for-departed-bishops-learning-to-trust-in-the-lord.html
Pope at Mass for departed Bishops: Learn to trust in the Lord
04 November 2021, 12:44

More than 200 prelates - 17 Cardinals and 190 Bishops - have died in the past twelve months. On Thursday, Pope Francis celebrated Mass for the repose of their souls.
By Christopher Wells

Pope Francis presided at Holy Mass offered in suffrage for the souls of prelates who have died over the course of the past year.

Seventeen Cardinals, including Australian Edward Cassidy, and almost two hundred Bishops, have passed away in the twelve months since November 2020. In his homily, the Holy Father noted that some of them died as a result of Covid-19, “in difficult situations that compounded their suffering.” He prayed that they might now feel the joy of the Lord’s invitation to His faithful servants: “Come, O blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249492/pope-francis-offers-mass-for-souls-of-208-deceased-bishops-cardinals
Pope Francis offers Mass for souls of 208 deceased bishops, cardinals
By CNA Staff
Vatican City, Nov 4, 2021 / 07:00 am

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2021.index.html
Homilies 2021
Holy Mass for the repose of the Cardinals and Bishops deceased during the course of the year (4 November 2021)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/sr-raffaella-petrini-appointed-secretary-general-of-governorate.html

Sr Raffaella Petrini appointed Secretary General of Vatican Governorate
04 November 2021, 13:54

Pope Francis appoints Franciscan Sr. Raffaella Petrini as the new Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State. He also appoints as Deputy Secretary-General Italian lawyer Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi, head of the Governorate's Legal Office.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis has appointed Sister Raffaella Petrini, a member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, as Secretary-General of the Governorate of Vatican City State. Since 2005 she has served as an official at the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Born in Rome on 15 January 1969, she holds a degree in political science from the Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli (LUISS) and a doctorate from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum), where she is currently a professor.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249493/pope-francis-names-catholic-nun-to-number-two-position-in-vatican-city-state
Pope Francis names Franciscan sister to No. 2 position in Vatican City State
By Hannah Brockhaus
Vatican City, Nov 4, 2021 / 08:05 am

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-francis-bishops-france-plenary-assembly-sexual-abuse.html

Pope sends message to Bishops of France
04 November 2021, 12:46

Pope Francis expresses his closeness and support for the Bishops of France as they meet for their General Assembly from 2-8 November. He invites them to bear, with faith and hope, the burden of the difficult times experienced by the Church due to the scandal of sexual abuse.
By Vatican News staff writer

Pope Francis sent a message to the Bishops of France on the occasion of the opening of their Plenary Assembly, which is taking place in Lourdes from 2 – 8 November.

In the letter addressed to the President of the French Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Eric de Moulins-Beaufort of Reims, the Holy Father recalled the bishops’ recent Ad limina visit to Rome, and the fraternal exchanges that took place during the meeting. He also assured them of his closeness and prayer as they open the Plenary Assembly under the protection of Our Lady.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2021-11/french-bishops-general-assembly-focused-on-child-abuse.html
French bishops’ General Assembly focused on child abuse
03 November 2021, 16:54

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-francis-audience-palestine-president-abbas.html

Pope affirms two-state solution with Palestinian President
04 November 2021, 15:30

Pope Francis holds a private audience with Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine, and discusses the need for direct dialogue between Palestine and Israel to achieve a two-state solution.
By Vatican News staff reporter

The Holy See Press Office announced on Thursday that Pope Francis and Palestinian President Mahoud Abbas met in a private audience in the Vatican on the same day.

According to a press release, their discussions were “cordial” and emphasized the good relations between the State of Palestine and the Holy See.

The Pope and the President spoke about the need to promote human fraternity and peaceful coexistence among various faiths, as well as the goal of a two-state solution in the Holy Land.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249498/pope-francis-meets-palestinian-president-mahmoud-abbas-at-vatican
Pope Francis meets Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at Vatican
By Courtney Mares
Vatican City, Nov 4, 2021 / 12:00 pm

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-francis-letter-georgetown-university-civilta-cattolica.html

Pope: Future rests on education toward mutual respect
04 November 2021, 16:31

Pope Francis sends a letter to Georgetown University and “La Civiltà Cattolica” to express his appreciation for an upcoming conference focused on the theme: “Culture of Encounter”.
By Devin Watkins

Two Jesuit institutions have teamed up to host an international conference about intercultural and interreligious dialogue, and have received Pope Francis’ appreciation for their efforts.

Georgetown University—a top-ranked Jesuit university in the US Capitol, Washington, D.C. founded in 1789—and La Civiltà Cattolica—an Italy-based Jesuit review founded in 1850—are holding the conference on 8-9 November under the theme: “Culture of Encounter”.

Pope Francis expressed his support for the initiative in a letter signed on 27 October and released on Thursday ahead of the event.
 

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Medical update:  Cardinal Burke

https://www.cardinalburke.com/presentations/christ-and-the-church
Christ and the Church: Triumphant, Suffering and Militant
ON NOV 03, 2021

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Last month, I was pleased to inform you that, by the grace of God and through an intensive rehabilitation program, I have been able to return to the daily offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Offering daily Holy Mass is essential to my identity as priest, Bishop and Cardinal, and also the greatest service that I can give to God’s holy people. While the intensiveness of my rehabilitation continues to prohibit a return to public ministry, I nevertheless hope that I will, one day soon, resume my normal pastoral activities. During this time of convalescence, you and your intentions remain daily in my prayers. Please, continue to keep my full recovery and my priestly ministry in your prayers.

In my message to you last month, an update regarding my health was only an introductory point to the more important message of developing the daily devotion of the Holy Rosary, for I take most seriously the fatherly help for your spiritual life, for which I have been ordained to give you. As I did last month, I now refocus this letter to a spiritual topic relating to the conclusion of the Church Year.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-mass-gemelli-hospital-homily-60-anniversary.html

Pope: A smile can give meaning to a sick person’s day
05 November 2021, 11:53

Pope Francis celebrates Holy Mass at Rome’s Gemelli University Hospital, thanking the staff for the care he himself has received there, and reflecting on how devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus can help care workers be guided in their mission to heal and comfort the sick.
By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis on Friday morning traveled to Rome’s Gemelli Catholic University Hospital to celebrate Holy Mass marking the 60th anniversary of the foundation of its Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, named for the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The hospital, and its University campus, dedicated to the memory and vision of Father Agostino Gemelli,  is one of the most important and internationally acclaimed care providers in Italy.

The Pope began his homily reflecting on the faculty’s name and on the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus to whom we dedicate the first Friday of the month.

“As we contemplate the Sacred Heart of Christ, let us be guided by three words: memory passion and comfort,” he said.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249510/pope-francis-let-christ-s-love-shine-through-your-care-of-the-suffering
Pope Francis: Let Christ’s love shine through your care of the suffering
By Hannah Brockhaus
Rome, Italy, Nov 5, 2021 / 08:00 am

Video (Multimedia) and English text of homily at the link
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2021/documents/20211105-omelia-univ-cattolica.html
HOLY MASS ON THE 60th ANNIVERSARY OF THE INAUGURATION OF THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY
HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart
Friday, 5 November 2021
[Multimedia]

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-francis-apostolic-visit-cyprus-greece-announcement.html

Pope to visit Cyprus and Greece in early December
05 November 2021, 12:00

Pope Francis will visit the Cypriot capital of Nicosia on 2-4 December, before traveling to the Greek capital, Athens, and the island of Lesbos.
By Devin Watkins

The Holy See Press Office officially announced on Friday that the Pope will embark on a 5-day Apostolic Journey to Cyprus and Greece in early December.

The visit will see him spend 2-4 December in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus.

He will then head to Greece on 4 December, visiting Athens and Lesbos until 6 December, when he will return to Rome.

According to the Holy See Press Office, the Pope is undertaking the Apostolic Journey to Cyprus and Greece upon the invitation of the countries’ civil authorities and Bishops’ Conferences.

The full schedule of the visit will be released in due course.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-francis-apostolic-library-visit-humanity-on-path.html

Pope: New Apostolic Library exhibit space bears witness to beauty
05 November 2021, 18:00

Pope Francis visits the Vatican Apostolic Library to inaugurate a new permanent exhibition area, and urges the Church to bear witness to the importance of beauty and culture.
By Devin Watkins

The Apostolic Library is opening up to the public for the first time with a dedicated space for temporary exhibitions of contemporary art.

Pope Francis inaugurated the new space on Friday evening, which was financed by the heirs of the American entrepreneur and philanthropist Kirk Kerkorian.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249511/pope-francis-names-new-auxiliary-bishop-for-diocese-of-pittsburgh

Pope Francis names new auxiliary bishop for Diocese of Pittsburgh
By CNA Staff
Vatican City, Nov 5, 2021 / 09:00 am

Pope Francis on Friday named a new auxiliary bishop of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The pope appointed Fr. Mark A. Eckman to the post on Nov. 5, assigning him the titular see of Sitifi.

Eckman is the pastor of Resurrection Parish in Pittsburgh.

The Diocese of Pittsburgh, led by Bishop David A. Zubik since 2007, covers 3,754 square miles in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, serving 625,490 Catholics out of a total population of 1,893,567 people.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-praises-group-helping-married-couples-overcome-crisis.html

Pope praises group helping married couples overcome crisis
06 November 2021, 12:30

On Saturday morning, Pope Francis met with members of the Retrouvaille association, a worldwide group that helps married couples in crisis find ways to address the root problems in their relationships and move towards healing and renewal. The Pope expressed his gratitude for their commitment and encouraged them to persevere in this important outreach.
By Vatican News staff writer

A Christian program of Catholic origin, the Retrouvaille Experience started in 1977 in Quebec, Canada, as a way to address in a new way the increasing numbers of married couples in difficulty. It led to a new type of healing ministry that has spread around the world since then. The Retrouvaille vision states that every marriage "deserves the opportunity to survive, be healed, and thrive as a covenant of life and love". Couples share their own personal stories and how they worked to overcome challenges in their relationships. It is a practical approach to improving communication between wives and husbands and rediscovering their love for each other to strengthen their marriage.