Pope Francis

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-receives-lebanese-prime-minister-najib-mikati-at-vatican.html

Pope receives Lebanese prime minister Najib Mikati in audience at Vatican
25 November 2021, 12:16

Lebanese prime minister Najib Mikati was received at the Apostolic Palace on Thursday morning.
Communiqué of the Holy See Press Office

Pope Francis Thursday morning received in audience the Prime Minister of Lebanon, His Excellency Mr. Najib Mikati, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, accompanied by His Excellency Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.

During the cordial talks in the Secretariat of State, the historic relations between the Holy See and Lebanon and the important role played by the Catholic Church in the country were emphasised. Reference was made to the current situation that the Lebanese people are experiencing, especially with regard to the political crisis and socio-economic conditions, and the hope that justice, the necessary reforms and the support of the international community will help to restore the fate of the Country of Cedars.

Furthermore, in reiterating the importance of promoting the concept of full citizenship for every Lebanese, the importance of peaceful coexistence was emphasised, so that Lebanon might continue to be a message of peace and fraternity that rises from the Middle East.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249711/pope-francis-tells-new-lebanese-pm-lebanon-is-worth-fighting-to-save
Pope Francis tells new Lebanese PM: Lebanon is worth fighting to save
By Courtney Mares
Vatican City, Nov 25, 2021 / 06:05 am

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-francis-message-day-persons-disabilities.html

Pope to persons with disabilities: “The Church is truly your home"
25 November 2021, 12:19

The Vatican on Thursday released the message of Pope Francis for the UN's International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 3 December.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis assures people with disabilities that the Church is truly their home, saying the Church is a community of imperfect people and sinners who are in need of God’s forgiveness. The Pope expresses the Church’s closeness to them in a message on the occasion of the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 3 December

The UN General Assembly proclaimed the annual observance in 1992, to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic, and cultural life.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-francis-pauline-family-alberione-anniversary-media.html

Pope to Pauline Family: Preach Christ with prayer and all available media
25 November 2021, 12:52

Pope Francis meets with members of the Pauline religious family for the 50th anniversary of the death of their founder, and upholds Blessed Giacomo Alberione as a prophetic witness of the mission to preach Christ through all the means of modern communication.
By Devin Watkins

The Pauline Family—which is made up of 5 religious congregations, 1 lay association, and 4 secular institutes—marked the eve of the 50th anniversary of the death of their founder, Blessed Giacomo Alberione, with a papal audience on Thursday.

Pope Francis spoke to members of the Institutes, which were founded between 1914 and 1959, about the charism and mission the Italian priest left them, calling it an excellent opportunity for the entire Church to reflect on Blessed Alberione’s legacy for the new evangelization.

“With farsighted vision,” he said, “your Founder knew how to embody for the 20th century the necessity that the ‘Word of God might spread rapidly’ by using and appreciating the most effective tools and manners-of-expression offered by technological progress.”
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2021/november/documents.index.html#speeches
Speeches 2021 November documents
To Members of the Pauline Family, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the death of Blessed James Alberione (25 November 2021)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-francis-meeting-scholas-occurentes.html

Pope to Scholas Occurentes: May the stories of refugees be lessons of life
25 November 2021, 17:00

Pope Francis meets with young people from Scholas Occurrentes and highlights the harsh realities refugees face in their travels, encouraging the young people to create a culture of encounter in order to build a community with all those most in need.
By Francesca Merlo

Addressing young people of the Scholas Occurentes on Thursday evening in the Vatican, Pope Francis listened carefully as some presented their testimonies before answering two questions.

Scholas is an International Organisation of Pontifical Law, working in 190 countries. It integrates more than 400 thousand educational centres and reaches more than one million children and young people around the world. Founded by Pope Francis over 20 years ago when he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, its mission is to answer the call to create a culture of encounter and promote an inclusive model of education.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-francis-courage-and-creativity-needed-to-foster-hope.html

Pope: courage and creativity needed to foster hope
25 November 2021, 19:00

Pope Francis highlights the strong link between hope, bold courage and creativity in his message to participants in the 11th annual Festival of the Social Doctrine of the Church in Verona.
By Lisa Zengarini

Pope Francis on Thursday sent a video message to participants in the eleventh edition of the Festival of the Social Doctrine of the Church taking place in the northern Italian city of Verona from 25 - 28 November.

The annual event is organized by an Italian-based lay forum engaged in promoting the Catholic social teachings at the grass-root level. This year’s event is titled” “Bold in hope - Creative with courage”.
 

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Hmmm...

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249714/here-s-what-italy-s-cardinal-zuppi-said-at-the-launch-of-book-on-the-papacy-s-future
Here’s what Italy’s Cardinal Zuppi said at the launch of a book on the papacy’s future
By Andrea Gagliarducci
Rome, Italy, Nov 25, 2021 / 11:00 am

No, it does not seem as if Pope Francis is going to resign. Indeed, his dynamism and desire to do things, working to bring the Church closer to the people, should be appreciated.

That is how Cardinal Matteo Zuppi responded when asked if the Pope Francis era was about to come to an end.

The questions, however, were legitimate because they were asked at the launch of a book explicitly addressing the papacy’s future.

Zuppi was on a panel for the Nov. 18 presentation of the book “Cosa Resta del Papato? Il futuro della Chiesa dopo Bergoglio” (“What Remains of the Papacy? The future of the Church after Bergoglio”), by the Italian Vaticanist Francesco Antonio Grana.

The book examines what the institution of the papacy is and what it can become after the resignation of Benedict XVI and the pontificate of Pope Francis.

It reconstructs the last part of Benedict XVI’s pontificate, revealing that among the few people aware of the forthcoming resignation was Italy’s then president, Giorgio Napolitano. The book also offers a glimpse of what the next conclave might look like.

Returning from Slovakia in September, Pope Francis had complained about the prelates who were allegedly already seeking to identify his successor. For this reason, the presence of a cardinal at the launch of a book that also looks at the papal succession risked being viewed as part of a “hidden electoral campaign.”

This is especially the case as Zuppi, the archbishop of Bologna, northern Italy, is seen by many as one of the possible papabili in a future conclave.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-francis-italy-marriage-annulment-motu-proprio-commission.html

Pope ensures application of marriage annulment reforms in Italy
26 November 2021, 12:22

Pope Francis issues Motu Proprio, setting up a new commission to verify and implement new rules for marriage annulment cases in Italian dioceses.
Vatican News

Six years ago in September 2015, Pope Francis issued the Motu proprio Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus (The Gentle Judge, our Lord Jesus), introducing new rules to streamline the process for obtaining marriage annulments, addressing complaints that the proceedings in marriage tribunals were too cumbersome, complicated, and expensive.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249717/pope-francis-creates-commission-to-assess-reform-of-marriage-nullity-process-in-italy
Pope Francis creates commission to assess reform of marriage nullity process in Italy
By CNA Staff
Vatican City, Nov 26, 2021 / 06:30 am

https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2021/11/26/211126b.html
Apostolic Letter issued “Motu proprio” by which the Holy Father establishes the Pontifical Commission for the Verification and Application of the M. P. Mitis Iudex in the Churches of Italy, 26.11.2021

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-francis-message-catholic-action-30th-anniversary.html

Pope to Catholic Action: Serve humanity by proclaiming faith in Christ
26 November 2021, 15:00

Pope Francis sends a message to mark the 30th anniversary of the International Forum of Catholic Action, and urges its members to respond to humanity’s thirst for God.
By Devin Watkins

As Catholic Action celebrated the 30th anniversary of its foundation as an international forum, the Pope sent a letter on Friday to participants in a 2-day online conference marking the organization’s work to engage lay Catholics in the life of the Church and of society.

He said anniversary celebrations always encourage us to “look to the past in grateful contemplation” and to the future with the eyes of the dreamers who founded Catholic Action.

Members of the organization cannot be help remember Cardinal Eduardo Pironio, who played a pivotal role in its foundation.

“Pironio was a man of deep roots and memory anchored in the dynamism of history as Kairos, a critical time of salvation, a time of work, trial, purification, and hope,” said the Pope.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-emmanuel-macron-audience-vatican-bilateral-relations.html

Pope and French President discuss Climate Change and Middle East
26 November 2021, 16:51

Pope Francis receives Emmanuel Macron in private audience in the Vatican.
By Linda Bordoni

An hour-long meeting on Friday morning in the Apostolic Palace between Pope Francis and French President, Emmanuel Macron, provided the occasion for a reflection on international issues including climate change and the situation in the Middle East.

A statement released by the Holy See Press Office said President Macron also met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.

During the talks at the Secretariat of State, described by the statement as cordial, the existing good bilateral relations were emphasized between France and the Holy See, the centenary of which was recently celebrated, were discussed.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249718/pope-francis-meets-french-president-macron-at-the-vatican
Pope Francis meets French President Emmanuel Macron at the Vatican
By Courtney Mares
Vatican City, Nov 26, 2021 / 08:10 am

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-francis-message-france-social-week-2021.html

Pope to French Social Weeks: Dream of ways to promote integral development
26 November 2021, 17:16

Pope Francis sends a message to the Social Weeks of France, and encourages French citizens to dream together and set out on paths of hope on behalf of the most vulnerable and Creation.
By Devin Watkins

The Church in France is holding its annual Semaines Sociales de France (SSF—French Social Weeks), which offers a platform for training and debate on the main issues facing society.

The event runs from Friday until Sunday, and takes place this year under the theme of “Dare to Dream the Future: Taking Care of People and the Earth”.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249719/the-story-behind-the-new-our-lady-of-arabia-cathedral-in-bahrain

The story behind the new Our Lady of Arabia cathedral in Bahrain
By CNA Staff
Awali, Bahrain, Nov 26, 2021 / 11:00 am

On Dec. 10, a joyous Catholic event will take place in Bahrain, a predominantly Muslim island nation in the Persian Gulf.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, will consecrate the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia, an ark-shaped structure seating 2,300 people.

It will be the end of a journey that began on Feb. 11, 2013, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, when the decision to build the cathedral was taken, reported ACI Stampa, CNA’s Italian-language news partner.

The land was a gift of Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain since 2002, who will inaugurate the cathedral on Dec. 9, the day before its consecration.

The king’s special envoy, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, had an audience with Pope Francis on Nov. 25. According to Agenzia Fides, the envoy invited the pope to visit the country on the king’s behalf.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249720/paris-archbishop-asks-pope-francis-to-decide-his-future

Paris archbishop asks Pope Francis to decide his future
By CNA Staff
Paris, France, Nov 26, 2021 / 12:12 pm

Archbishop Michel Aupetit has asked Pope Francis to decide whether he should remain as the Catholic archbishop of Paris, according to French media reports.

The 70-year-old archbishop, who was installed in the French capital in 2018, told the Catholic daily La Croix that he had written to the pope out of a concern to preserve the unity of his archdiocese.

“The word ‘resignation’ is not the one I used,” he said. “Resignation would mean that I am abandoning my office. In reality, I am handing it over to the Holy Father because it is he who gave it to me.”

He added: “I did it to preserve the diocese, because as a bishop I must be at the service of unity.”

Aupetit, who had a late vocation to the priesthood after working as a doctor, was speaking after the French weekly magazine Le Point published a report portraying him as an authoritarian and divisive figure.

The report also raised concerns about Aupetit’s contacts with a woman dating back to 2012, when he was vicar general of Paris archdiocese.

Aupetit told Le Point that he was not in a relationship with the woman.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-francis-nomination-medjugorje.html

Pope names Archbishop Cavalli as apostolic visitator to Medjugorje
27 November 2021, 12:00

Pope Francis has named Archbishop Cavalli as the new special apostolic visitator to Medjugorje
By Sergio Centofanti

Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Aldo Cavalli as a new special Apostolic Visitor for the Parish of Medjugorje, for an indefinite period and ad nutum Sanctae Sedis. Until now, Archbisop Cavalli has been Apostolic Nuncio to the Netherlands and permanent representative to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. He succeeds Polish Archbishop Henryk Hoser, who died on 13 August in Warsaw at the age of 78, and who had held this post since 2018.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249721/pope-francis-names-vatican-diplomat-next-papal-envoy-to-medjugorje
Pope Francis names Vatican diplomat next papal envoy to Medjugorje
By Hannah Brockhaus
Vatican City, Nov 27, 2021 / 05:00 am

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Photo gallery at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-francis-giavera-festival-helps-spread-culture-of-welcome.html

Pope Francis: Giàvera Festival helps spread culture of welcome
27 November 2021, 12:10

Pope Francis greets organizers of the Giàvera Festival, an annual event in the northern Italian city of Treviso that promotes dialogue and encounter between peoples and cultures.
By Christopher Wells

The Giàvera Festival, which takes place every year in the northern Italian city of Treviso, is “a house of welcome, a house with many windows open on the world” according to its founder, Father Bruno Baratto. The event was established in 1996 to promote dialogue and encounters between different peoples and cultures, offering testimonies, discussions, and artistic performances with the involvement of over 40 associations working with migrants.

Greeting organizers of the Festival on Saturday morning at the Vatican, Pope Francis took up the words of Don Bruno, noting that the Giàvera Festival “has become a crossroads, a place to meet, to dialogue to get to know each other. It is also a place where we can share hope, the dream of a more fraternal world.”
 

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Photo gallery at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-receives-albanian-prime-minister-edi-rama-in-audience.html
Pope receives Albanian prime minister Edi Rama in audience
27 November 2021, 13:50

Pope Francis receives in audience Albanian prime minister Edi Rama at the Apostolic Palace on Saturday morning.
Communiqué of the Holy See Press Office

On the morning of Saturday, 27 November 2021, the Holy Father Francis received the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, His Excellency Mr. Edi Rama, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.

The cordial talks highlighted the good relations existing between the Holy See and Albania and discussed topics of common interest concerning relations between the ecclesial and civil communities, the contribution of the Church to the common good of Albanian society, migration and peace.
The main regional issues were also discussed, including the situation in the Western Balkans and the progress of Albania and other countries towards full integration into the European Union.

(Working translation of the original text in Italian)
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-sends-video-message-ahead-of-journey-to-cyprus-and-greece.html

Pope sends video message ahead of journey to Cyprus and Greece
27 November 2021, 12:30

Just a few days ahead of his apostolic journey to Cyprus and Greece, Pope Francis has sent a video message expressing his joy in visiting "as a pilgrim to your magnificent lands blessed by history, culture, and the Gospel". The Pope leaves for the two nations on Thursday, December 2, for a five-day journey.
By Vatican News staff writer

In his video message, Pope Francis expressed his joy over the upcoming visit to Cyprus and Greece, which begins five days from now. His visit "in the name of the Gospel" will follow in the footsteps of the first great missionaries, especially the Apostles Paul and Barnabas, he said, noting the importance of going to the origins of the Church in order to "rediscover the joy of the Gospel".
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249722/pope-francis-to-visit-greece-and-cyprus-in-the-name-of-the-gospel
Pope Francis to visit Greece and Cyprus ‘in the name of the Gospel’
By Hannah Brockhaus
Vatican City, Nov 27, 2021 / 08:20 am

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/pont-messages/2021.index.html
Messages Pontifical Messages 2021
Video message of the Holy Father on the occasion of his upcoming Apostolic Journey to Cyprus and Greece [2-6 December 2021] (27 November 2021)

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video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-at-angelus-be-vigilant-and-pray-always.html
Pope at Angelus: Be vigilant and pray always
28 November 2021, 12:20

At the Angelus on the First Sunday of Advent, Pope Francis calls on us to "be vigilant" and to persevere in prayer, which "reawakens the soul from sleep" and helps us focus on what is most important in life.
By Vatican News staff writer

Reflecting on the Gospel reading for this First Sunday of Advent, which speaks to us about the Lord’s coming at the end of time, Pope Francis says we are invited to be hopeful as the Lord comes to save us and "we await Him with joy", even in the midst of life's trials and tribulations. The Lord invites us to “stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand”.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-francis-angelus-prayer-migrants-mediterranean-belarus.html
Pope prays for all migrants, from the Mediterranean to Belarus
28 November 2021, 12:18

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249724/pope-francis-on-first-sunday-of-advent-life-s-essential-ingredient-is-prayer
Pope Francis: Life’s essential ingredient is prayer
By Hannah Brockhaus
Vatican City, Nov 28, 2021 / 06:52 am

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2021.index.html
Angelus - Regina Cæli 2021
Angelus, 28 November 2021

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-11/pope-francis-message-world-migrants-day-video.html

Pope: Lack of respect shown at our borders makes us all less human
29 November 2021, 15:15

Pope Francis sends a message on the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the International Organisation for Migration, and warns that behind every statistic on migration is the face of a brother or sister that needs to be protected.
By Vatican News staff writer

Pope Francis describes the treatment of thousands of migrants around the world today as "deplorable". In his video message on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the Pope says migrants across the world are treated as "merchandise", "pawns on the chessboard", and as being "victims of political rivalries".

IOM
The IOM, which is based in Geneva, is the main intergovernmental organisation in the field of migration. The Holy See has been a member of the organisation for ten years. In his message to the IOM, which was read by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, the Pope asks, "How can suffering and despair be exploited to advance or defend political agendas? How can political considerations prevail when the dignity of the human person is at stake?"

"The fundamental lack of human respect across national borders diminishes us all in our 'humanity'", says the Pope.
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/pont-messages/2021.index.html
Messages Pontifical Messages 2021
Message of His Holiness Pope Francis to mark the 70th anniversary of the International Organization of Migration (IOM) (29 November 2021)

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249726/immaculate-conception-pope-francis-again-cancels-public-act-of-veneration-due-to-pandemic

Immaculate Conception: Pope Francis cancels public act of veneration again due to pandemic
By Courtney Mares
Vatican City, Nov 29, 2021 / 04:37 am

For the second year in a row, Pope Francis has canceled the Roman tradition of a public gathering at the Spanish Steps on Dec. 8 to venerate a statue of the Immaculate Conception due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Holy See press office announced on Nov. 27 that instead of the usual outdoor public ceremony, the pope will instead perform a private act of devotion to Our Lady to avoid the formation of a crowd and the risk of spreading the coronavirus.

The pope will ask the Virgin Mary in prayer “to protect the Romans, the city in which they live, and the sick who need Her maternal protection everywhere in the world,” the statement said.

The announcement came after the Italian government unveiled further COVID-19 restrictions entering into force on Dec. 6.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2021-11/bahrein-inaugurates-cathedral-of-mary-queen-of-arabia.html

Bahrain inaugurates Cathedral of Mary Queen of Arabia
30 November 2021, 16:12

The Church dedicated to Mary Queen of Arabia will be consecrated on 10 December by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelizations of Peoples. It will be officially inaugurated by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on the previous day.
 By Lisa Zengarini

The small Catholic community of the Emirate of Bahrain is preparing to celebrate the solemn opening of the largest Catholic Church in the Arabic Peninsula dedicated to their Patron Saint.

The Cathedral of Mary Queen of Arabia will be inaugurated on December 9 - significantly, one day after the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception -   by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. It will be subsequently consecrated on December 10 by Cardinal Louis Tagle, Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelizations of Peoples.  The consecration will be attended only by a small group of faithful, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.