Pope Francis

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

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-04/pope-april-prayer-intention-for-the-role-of-women.html
Pope's April prayer intention: 'for the role of women'
02 April 2024, 16:00

Pope Francis releases his prayer intention for the month of April 2024, and invites everyone to pray for the role of women.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis' monthly prayer intention this April is for "the role of women."

The Pope invited the Church to pray for this intention in this month's The Pope Video, which is entrusted to the entire Catholic Church through the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network.

In The Pope Video for April, the Holy Father insists on the steps today’s society needs to take, and asks Christians to join him in prayer “that the dignity and worth of women be recognized in every culture, and for an end to the discrimination they face in various parts of the world.”
 

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Excerpts from new book interview with Pope Francis: The Successor: My Memories of Benedict XVI

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-04/pope-francis-pope-benedict-relationship-predecessor.html
Pope Francis remembers Benedict XVI in new book: 'He was like a father to me'
02 April 2024, 11:06

In a new book interview, Pope Francis discusses his relationship with his predecessor Benedict XVI: 'He always defended me, he never interfered'.
By Vatican News

"Benedict was a man of great gentleness. In some cases, people took advantage of him, perhaps without malice, and limited his movements. Unfortunately, in a certain sense, they were encircling him. He was a very delicate man, but he was not weak: he was strong. But he was humble, and preferred not to impose. So he suffered a lot."

That’s how Pope Francis remembers his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI, in a new interview book with journalist Javier Martínez-Brocal ("The Successor"), which will be released on Wednesday, April 3.
 

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2024/04/francis-praises-benedict-but-tweaks-ganswein-calls-sarah-bitter-in-new-book
Francis praises Benedict but chides Gänswein, calls Sarah ‘bitter’ in new book
By Elise Ann Allen
Apr 2, 2024

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2024/04/02/pope-francis-benedict-ganswein-interview-book-247617
Pope Francis opens up about Benedict XVI, past conclaves and more in new book
Gerard O’Connell
April 02, 2024

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/257259/vatican-to-publish-document-on-moral-questions-around-human-dignity-gender-surrogacy

Vatican to publish document on ‘moral questions’ regarding human dignity, gender, surrogacy
By Matthew Santucci
Rome Newsroom, Apr 2, 2024 / 15:15 pm

The Vatican’s top doctrinal office next week will unveil a new declaration on the theme of human dignity, one that is expected to address a range of contemporary moral issues including gender ideology and surrogacy. 

The Holy See Press Office announced on Tuesday that the new document, titled Dignitas Infinita (“Infinite Dignity”) (On Human Dignity), will be debuted at a press conference held in Rome on April 8.

The conference will include presentations by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF); Monsignor Armando Matteo, secretary for the doctrinal section of the DDF; and Professor Paola Scarcella of Rome’s Tor Vergata and LUMSA universities.

In an interview with the National Catholic Register, CNA’s sister news partner, in early March, Fernández said there had been “several versions” of the text and that it was “almost finished” and would be published in “early April.”
 

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Video at the link...

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-04/pope-at-audience-justice-a-much-needed-virtue.html
Pope at Audience: The righteous and upright will find happiness
03 April 2024, 09:17

During his Wednesday General Audience, Pope Francis examines the second cardinal virtue of justice, noting that being righteous leads us toward God, and that justice is fundamental for peaceful coexistence in society.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov

"Without justice, there is no peace."

Pope Francis made this point during his weekly General Audience on Wednesday in a cloudy St. Peter's Square.

This week, the Pope continued his catechetical series on vices and virtues. After months dedicated to the vices, he recently transitioned to discussing virtue, so far focusing on prudence, then patience, and now, justice.

The Catechism describes justice, the second of the cardinal virtues, the Pope recalled, as “the moral virtue that consists in the constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbour” (No. 1807). The Pope stressed that the virtue is not only one to be practiced by individuals, but it is, above all, a social virtue, for it is directed toward creating communities in which each person is treated in accordance with his or her innate dignity.

Given this, the Holy Father suggested that justice is the basis of peace.
 

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-04/pope-francis-appeals-for-ceasefire-in-gaza.html
Pope Francis renews appeal for ceasefire in Gaza
03 April 2024, 10:00

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-04/pope-francis-remembers-oleksandr-slain-ukrainian-soldier.html
Pope prays for people slain in war, recalls Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr
03 April 2024, 10:13

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2024.index.html
Audiences 2024
General Audience of 3rd April 2024 - Cycle of Catechesis. Vices and Virtues. 13. Justice

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Re: Divine Mercy Sunday (April 7, 2024)

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251031/divine-mercy-sunday-2022-plenary-indulgence
Divine Mercy Sunday 2024: How to obtain a plenary indulgence
By Joe Bukuras
Boston, Mass., Apr 3, 2024 / 06:00 am

What do St. John Paul II and St. Maria Faustina Kowalska have in common? They both became saints and were instrumental in the institution of Divine Mercy Sunday, which offers many graces to the faithful.

When Divine Mercy Sunday rolls around again this year, the faithful have the opportunity to take refuge in the depths of Christ’s mercy by receiving either a plenary or partial indulgence.

Here are some facts about Divine Mercy Sunday, including the Church’s guidance on how to receive indulgences on the day:

What is Divine Mercy Sunday?
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-04/pope-francis-interreligious-dialogue-leaders-congress-religions.html

Pope: Interreligious dialogue fosters peace and respect for diversity
04 April 2024, 09:40

Pope Francis encourages people of all religions to promote diversity, peace, and care of creation, as he meets with participants in the first Colloquium between the Holy See and the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
By Devin Watkins

The Vatican Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions held their First Colloquium in Rome this week, capped with a papal audience on Thursday.

In his address to participants, Pope Francis thanked the Republic of Kazakhstan for promoting interreligious dialogue, calling the Colloquium a “first important fruit” of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Dicastery and the Nazarbayev Centre.

He also recalled his Apostolic Journey to Kazakhstan on September 13-15, 2022, during which he took part in the Seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in Astana.
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/april.index.html
Speeches 2024 April
To the Participants in the Colloquium promoted by the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue (4 April 2024)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-04/pope-francis-priests-primary-obligation-is-keeping-love-alive.html

Pope Francis: A priest's primary obligation is to keep love alive
04 April 2024, 10:43

Speaking with members of the Pontifical Latin-American, Brazilian, and Mexican Colleges, Pope Francis reflects on love, calling it “a central theme in the life of priests.”
By Christopher Wells

“Love, the first love, is what has called us all here, and keeping it alive is our principal obligation,” Pope Francis said Thursday to Latin American formators and seminarians.

In prepared remarks consigned to members of the Latin-American, Brazilian, and Mexican Pontifical Colleges, Pope Francis said, “Every vocation is born of a love of predilection,” while reminding priests that God “has given us a special task which draws us closer to Him: to give ourselves for others.”
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/april.index.html
Speeches 2024 April
Audience with the communities of the Pius Latin American, Pius Brazilian and Mexican Colleges (4 April 2024)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-04/pope-assures-victims-of-taiwan-quake-of-solidarity-and-closeness.html

Pope assures victims of Taiwan quake of solidarity and closeness
04 April 2024, 13:34

Following the 7.4-magnitude quake that hit Hualien City, Taiwan, on Wednesday, Pope Francis sends a telegram of condolences to the president of the Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference of Taiwan.
By Christopher Wells

Pope Francis “was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and damage caused by the earthquake in Taiwan."

The Pope sent his condolences to the nation on Thursday, in a telegram signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and sent to Bishop John Baptist Lee Keh-Mean, the president of the Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference of Taiwan.
 

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Re: Synod on Synodality

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/257269/byzantine-catholic-priest-overjoyed-to-join-special-synod-on-synodality-meeting
Byzantine Catholic priest ‘overjoyed’ to join special Synod on Synodality meeting
By Martin Barillas
Ann Arbor, Michigan, Apr 4, 2024 / 07:00 am

Father Artur Bubnevych told CNA he is honored and delighted to be among the five priests from the United States selected to attend the upcoming Synod on Synodality meeting of priests in Rome. He said he will aim to share how the liturgy and spirituality of the Byzantine rite is attracting people to the Catholic faith.

In an interview, Bubnevych said he was surprised by the appointment, which had been announced by the Eparchy of Phoenix of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church.

“I’m excited to bring the voice of our Church to the synod: the experience of living out the mission, and to walk together and listen to each other and to the Holy Spirit and discern the future path,” Bubnevych said.

“I want to bring a unique perspective and our rich spiritual heritage,” Bubnevych told CNA.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/257281/orthodox-patriarch-bartholomew-hopes-for-unified-date-for-easter-in-east-and-west

Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew hopes for ‘unified date’ for Easter in East and West
By Tyler Arnold
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 4, 2024 / 10:15 am

The Eastern Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople has expressed a desire that Christians in the East and the West begin celebrating Easter on a “unified date” rather than adhere to separate Lenten calendars.

“It is a scandal to celebrate separately the unique event of the one resurrection of the one Lord,” Patriarch Bartholomew I, who holds the title “first among equals” in Eastern Orthodoxy, said in a recent homily, according to Orthodox Times.

The ecumenical patriarch made the comments during a homily on March 31, which marked Easter on the Western calendar and the second Sunday of Lent on the Eastern calendar.

“We extend a heartfelt greeting of love to all Christians around the world who celebrate holy Easter today,” Bartholomew said during the homily. “We beseech the Lord of Glory that the forthcoming Easter celebration next year will not merely be a fortuitous occurrence but rather the beginning of a unified date for its observance by both Eastern and Western Christianity.”
 
Pope Francis has also expressed his intent to reach an agreement to establish a common date for Easter. In 2015, the pontiff said the two churches “have to come to an agreement.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-04/pope-francis-friars-minor-verna-italy-800-years-stigmata.html

Pope: Christians must tend to Christ’s wounds in humanity
05 April 2024, 09:50

Pope Francis recalls the 800th anniversary of the stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi, and encourages Friars Minor to offer God’s forgiveness and mercy to all who suffer in body and spirit.
By Devin Watkins

“Be forgiven bearers of forgiveness, healed bearers of healing, joyful and simple in fraternity, all in the strength of love which flows from Christ's side and which is nourished in your personal encounter with Him.”

Pope Francis offered that encouragement to Franciscan friars on Friday, as they celebrate the eight centenary of the stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi, which he received in the central Italian town of La Verna on September 17, 1224.

The Pope held an audience in the Vatican with Friars Minor of La Verna and the Tuscan Province in Italy, thanking them for bringing a relic of St. Francis’ blood for him to venerate.
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/april.index.html
Speeches 2024 April
To the Friars Minor of La Verna and of the Tuscan province (5 April 2024)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-04/pope-francis-rome-parish-visit-saint-henry-xi-prefecture.html

Pope visits with 35 priests at St. Henry parish in Rome
05 April 2024, 17:36

Pope Francis makes a pastoral visit to St. Henry Parish in Rome's 11th Prefecture, meeting with 35 priests and Auxiliary Bishop Daniele Salera.
By Salvatore Cernuzio

The Pope resumed his periodic visits to the parishes of the Diocese of Rome on Friday evening.

At around 4 PM, he traveled to the northeastern part of the Italian capital to meet with priests of the 11th Prefecture at St. Henry Parish in the Casal Monastero neighborhood.

The Holy See Press Office announced the visit on Friday.

Pope Francis returned to making periodic visits to his Diocese in September 2023 following a pandemic-induced pause.

These visits represent a continuation of his “Fridays of Mercy” during the 2015 Jubilee of Mercy, which saw the Pope travel to parishes on the periperies of Rome.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-04/pope-red-cross-work-shows-that-fraternity-is-possible.html

Pope: Red Cross' humanitarian work shows that fraternity is possible
06 April 2024, 11:30

Meeting members of the Italian Red Cross in the Vatican, Pope Francis praises its “irreplaceable service” ensuring humanitarian protection and assistance for victims of war and other disasters.
By Lisa Zengarini

Pope Francis met on Saturday with members of the Italian Red Cross (ICR), as they celebrate the 160th anniversary of its foundation in 1864.

In that year the Committee of the Italian Association for the Aid to the Wounded and Sick in War was established in Milan, following the foundation of the International Red Cross in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1863.

Addressing some 6,000 ICR volunteers and workers in the Paul VI Audience Hall, Pope Francis warmly thanked them for the humanitarian aid they continue to provide to those suffering war and other disasters across the world.
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/april.index.html
Speeches 2024 April
Audience to the volunteers of the Italian Red Cross (6 April 2024)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-04/pope-audience-st-angela-merici-foundation-50th-anniversary.html

Pope: Don’t be ashamed to cry before the pain of others
06 April 2024, 12:01

Marking the 50th anniversary of the St. Angela Merici Foundation, Pope Francis receives a group of its members and reflects on its mission to serve the most vulnerable.
By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis on Saturday upheld the inspiration and commitment of the St. Angela Merici Foundation which is based in Sicily, expressing gratitude for its daily effort to serve the most vulnerable people.

He recalled how the foundation's journey began decades ago, and highlighted a significant event that took place in 1953 when a small painting in the home of the Iannuso family depicting Our Lady began to weep.

Those tears, the Pope said, symbolize the compassionate gaze of our heavenly Mother, shedding tears for the suffering of her children.

"These tears speak to us of God's compassion for all of us," he added. "We must think about this: the compassion of God."

“We must think of the compassion of God.”
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/april.index.html
Speeches 2024 April
To the members of the "Sant'Angela Merici" Foundation of Syracuse (6 April 2024)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-04/cardinal-de-donatis-appointed-new-major-penitentiary.html

Cardinal De Donatis appointed new Major Penitentiary
06 April 2024, 15:28

The Vicar General for the Diocese Rome succeeds Cardinal Mauro Piacenza at the head of the Apostolic Penitentiary.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis on Saturday appointed Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, his Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome,  as the new Major Penitentiary. He succeeds Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, who has held the post since 2013 and will turn 80 in September this year. 

Cardinal De Donatis, aged 70, has overseen the administrative needs of the Diocese of Rome as the Pope’s Vicar since 2017 when he was also appointed Archpriest of the Lateran Basilica.

With his new role as Major Penitentiary, he will serve as the head of the Vatican tribunal in charge of cases involving excommunication and serious sins, including those whose absolution is reserved to the Holy See.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/257305/pope-francis-transfers-vicar-of-rome-cardinal-de-donatis-to-vatican-post
Diocese of Rome shake-up: Pope Francis transfers vicar to Vatican post
By Courtney Mares
Rome Newsroom, Apr 6, 2024 / 08:57 am

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

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-04/pope-francis-regina-coeli-second-sunday-of-easter-saint-jpii.html
Pope at Regina Coeli: Have faith in the Risen Christ
07 April 2024, 12:06

On the second Sunday of Easter, Pope Francis emphasises the transformative power of encountering the risen Jesus, urging believers to embrace faith, prayer, and love and spread Easter joy.
By Francesca Merlo

Pope Francis opened his Regina Coeli address on Sunday, 7 April, by noting that the second Sunday of Easter, was dedicated by Saint John Paul II to Divine Mercy.

On this occasion, he said, the Gospel tells us that, by believing in Jesus, Son of God, we can have life in His name. “To have life: what does it mean?" asked the Pope.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-04/pope-francis-appeal-regina-coeli-peace-ukraine-israel-palestine.html
Pope: May the Lord give leaders the capacity to pause and mediate for peace
07 April 2024, 12:30

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-04/pope-regina-coeli-int-day-sport-peace-south-africa-crash-prayers.html
Pope: Sport must foster social friendship and fraternity
07 April 2024, 13:09

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/257307/pope-francis-on-divine-mercy-sunday-the-fullness-of-life-is-realized-in-jesus
Pope Francis on Divine Mercy Sunday: The ‘fullness of life’ is ‘realized in Jesus’
By Matthew Santucci
Vatican City, Apr 7, 2024 / 09:10 am

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2024.index.html
Angelus - Regina Cæli 2024
Regina Caeli, 7 April 2024

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/257309/5-reasons-to-pray-the-divine-mercy-chaplet

5 reasons to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet
By ACI Prensa
ACI Prensa Staff, Apr 7, 2024 / 10:10 am

The feast of divine mercy is celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter and is associated with the prayer of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, a pious practice revealed to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska by Jesus himself that has spread throughout the world.

While Catholics are not required to believe private revelations, the Church often encourages the practices associated with those that she approves, such as St. Faustina’s divine mercy revelations.

There are five main reasons to offer this prayer, as Inés Mery, a volunteer with the Divine Mercy Foundation’s shrine in Chile, explained to ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner.

1. It develops an attitude of trust.
 

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The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s new Declaration:  'Dignitas infinita'

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-04/human-dignity-ddf-document-migration-gender-surrogacy-war-theolo.html
New Vatican document lists ‘grave violations’ of human dignity
08 April 2024, 12:00

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s new document 'Dignitas infinita' took five years to complete, and builds on the papal magisterium of the last decade: from war to poverty, from violence against migrants to violence against women, from abortion to surrogate motherhood to euthanasia, from gender theory to digital violence.
By Andrea Tornielli

Three chapters offer the foundations for the fourth, which is dedicated to "some grave violations of human dignity".

That’s the structure of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s new Declaration Dignitas infinita, which commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and reaffirms "the indispensable nature of the dignity of the human person in Christian anthropology " (Intro.)

The main novelty of the document, which is the fruit of five years' work, is the inclusion of a number of key themes from the recent papal magisterium that accompany the bioethical ones. In the 'non-exhaustive' list that is offered, abortion, euthanasia and surrogate motherhood are listed as violations of human dignity alongside war, poverty and human trafficking.

The new text thus contributes to overcoming the dichotomy that exists between those who focus exclusively on beginning-and-end-of-life issues, while forgetting so many other attacks against human dignity and, conversely, those who focus only on defending the poor and migrants while forgetting that life must be defended from conception to its natural conclusion.
 
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2024/04/08/240408c.html
Declaration of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith “Dignitas Infinita” on Human Dignity, 08.04.2024
Declaration “Dignitas Infinita”
on Human Dignity

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/257311/dignitas-infinita-vatican-document-release-gender-abortion-surrogacy
Vatican document on human dignity condemns gender transition, surrogacy, abortion
By Tyler Arnold
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 8, 2024 / 09:15 am

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2024/04/vatican-touts-seamless-garment-of-human-dignity-in-new-doc
Vatican touts ‘seamless garment’ of human dignity in new doc
By Elise Ann Allen
Apr 8, 2024

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/257303/study-from-netherlands-most-children-outgrow-transgender-inclinations
Study from Netherlands: Most children outgrow transgender inclinations
By Tyler Arnold
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 8, 2024 / 06:00 am

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Press conference: The Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández.

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-04/cardinal-fernandez-every-person-has-dignity-dignitas-infinita.html
Cardinal Fernández: every single person has dignity
08 April 2024, 16:22

The Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, presents the Dicastery's just-published declaration "Dignitas Infinita" in the Holy See Press Office, calling it a document "fundamental" for remembering that "everyone has their inalienable dignity."
By Salvatore Cernuzio

It was supposed to be called "Al di là di ogni circostanza' ('Beyond any Circumstance') to emphasize the fact that every man, woman, child - born in Italy or Ethiopia, in Israel or Gaza, inside or outside a border, in conflict or in peace - and in any culture or condition of life, has "the same, immense, inalienable dignity" that no war, subordination, or law contrary to human rights, like the laws of certain countries that condemn the crime of homosexuality, can take away or diminish.

Instead, the title "Dignitas Infinita" was chosen for the document from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published today, April 8, after five years of work, to re-launch in a more direct manner the always impactful message of Christianity, namely that "God loves everyone... with infinite love." In other words, the words that Pope St. John Paul II offered to a group of disabled people he met with in Germany, during one of his countless trips abroad. Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, the Prefect of the now-Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, revealed the aforementioned details in a press conference on Monday in the Holy See Press Office, marking his first public event in the Press Office with journalists from around the world.

The Cardinal was accompanied by the Secretary of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Monsignor Armando Matteo, and Professor Paola Scarcella, lecturer at the Universities Tor Vergata and Lumsa in Rome, who also spoke to those present about the dignity of the disabled.

Comments on 'Fiducia Supplicans'
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-04/pope-council-bishops-diocese-rome-appointment-cardinal-vicar.html

Pope takes time to discern appointment of new Cardinal Vicar
08 April 2024, 17:23

A statement issued by the Communications Office of the Vicariate of Rome says Pope Francis is taking time to "make a healthy discernment" before appointing the new Cardinal Vicar.
Vatican News

This morning, Monday 8 April, a meeting of the Holy Father with the Council of Bishops of the diocese of Rome was held in the Apostolic Palace.

Due to the delicacy of the office of Cardinal Vicar, Pope Francis informed the bishops, his close collaborators, that he would take time to make a healthy discernment on the figure of the person whom he will appoint to fill this role. In this transitional phase, the Holy Father has encouraged the bishops to continue the pastoral ministry and administrative activities they have already begun.