Pope Francis

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/04/23/celebrating_the_popes_feast_day/en1-793133

2014-04-23 14:05:55
Celebrating the Pope's feast day



(Vatican Radio) For the second year in a row here in the Vatican we're marking Saint George’s Day in a special way. For while Cardinal Bergoglio may have taken the name Francis as Pope, his Christian name is really Jorge , George to you and me. That’s why we've chosen to bring you a timely reflection for his Feast day on April 23.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-audience-why-do-you-seek-the-living-among-the

Pope audience: Why do you seek the living among the dead
2014-04-23 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) Pilgrims thronged St. Peter’s Square, the long boulevard of Via della Conciliazione, spilling all the way down to the banks of the Tiber this Wednesday for Pope Francis' weekly general audience, the first of the Easter season.

The crowd was such, that the Holy Father’s open topped jeep took even longer than usual to tour through the square, filled with flags and banners from the parishes of the world. Many of them bore images of two of his predecessors, Blessed John Paul II and Blesses John XXIII, who this weekend – Divine Mercy Sunday - Pope Francis will raise to the altars of the saints.

A light rain fell as Pope Francis reached the raised dais set up before the basilica, from where he delivered his catechesis in Italian on the angels’ admonition of Mary Magdalene and the disciples the morning of Christ’s Resurrection: “Why do you seek the living one among the dead?”
Below a Vatican Radio transcript and translation of the Holy Father's catechesis
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/04/23/logistical_facts_and_figures_released_ahead_of_weekend_canonisation/en1-793276

2014-04-23 18:09:09
Logistical facts and figures released ahead of weekend canonisation



(Vatican Radio) No one is quite sure just how many pilgrims will be arriving in Rome for this weekend’s canonisation of the two popes, John XXIII and John Paul II. But at a briefing on Wednesday morning, officials from the Diocese of Rome, the Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi and Rome's City Council provided some logistical facts and figures on how the Eternal City is gearing up to host the huge numbers expected to arrive for the Saturday evening prayer vigil and the Sunday morning Mass, beginning at 10am and presided over by Pope Francis in St Peter’s Square.
 
For lots more details, maps and live video streaming, plus liturgical and inspirational material, you can visit the new ‘2popesaints.org’ website in five languages, download the free app ‘Santo Subito’ from the Apple Store and Google Player or stay tuned, right here to Vatican Radio for live commentary and full coverage of this historic weekend.
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Link to the website in English:  http://www.2popesaints.org/EN/Home

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/04/24/fr_lombardi_responds_to_reports_of_popes_call_to_argentinian_woman/en1-793438

2014-04-24 12:53:23
Fr Lombardi responds to reports of Pope's call to Argentinian woman

(Vatican Radio) The director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr Federico Lombardi, has responded to widespread media reports about an Argentinian woman who says that Pope Francis called to tell her she could take Communion, even though her husband is divorced and they have not been married in church.

News stories earlier this week ran conflicting reports about the woman, Jacquelina Lisbona, who had written to the Pope several months ago after being denied Communion by her parish priest. According to the reports, Fr Bergoglio, as he called himself, picked up the phone to respond to her letter on Monday and told her the Church was in the process of dealing with the issue of Communion for divorced and remarried Catholics.

In his brief remarks on Thursday, Fr Lombardi said such conversations should be seen in the context of the Pope’s “personal pastoral relationships” and not as an event that carries “consequences relating to the teaching of the Church”.

Below please find the English language translation of Fr Lombardi’s remarks
 

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http://www.aleteia.org/en/religion/article/pope-francis-did-not-endorse-communion-for-divorcee-5909088181420032

Pope Francis did NOT Endorse Communion for Divorcee.
These are the FACTS...
24.04.2014

 
Here are the facts of the situation:

The Interview:

 On 23 April Gustavo Sylvestre interviewed Jaqueline Lisbona on Radio Del Plata, the Argentine Radio. During this interview she described how the Holy Father had called her up personally the day before.

Lisbona from the city of San Lorenzo, Santa Fe, said how she is in "a civil marriage with a divorced man, who was married before in the Church.”

She said that for the past 10 years her priest hasn’t allowed her to take communion.

When asked if she was Christian, she replied that she was not “religiously practicing” in her faith, that she used to when she was younger, but with time, she “moved away” from the faith, and that she was “angry” with what the priest had said to her.

Lisbona then explained that she had “sent him [the Pope] a mail” last September, in which she left her phone number, saying that she “felt like a second-class Catholic.”

Then, she said, Pope Francis responded to her on Wednesday with a private phone call.

Sylvestre then asked her what Pope Francis had to say about her taking communion, to which she replied: “that I could return, he said to me, that I should come back, that I could come back and, well, that’s what I’ll do in a little while...”

She also affirmed that Pope Francis said the Church was “dealing with this topic.”

Parish Priest’s reaction:

José Ceschi her parish priest at the Church of San Lorenzo, has stated that Jaqueline Lisbona must have misunderstood the Pope.

He said “If a priest decided to give absolution in these cases, it is like giving a cheque and going to the bank and them telling you that there is no money in the account. The Pope would never do this.”

He continued: “I believe that Francis called her, because he surprises people like this, however the other, no, it is all made up or she has misunderstood, it is absurd, it is very much against what is already established.”
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/04/24/pope_to_celebrate_thanksgiving_mass_for_new_jesuit_saint/en1-793472

2014-04-24 13:40:23
Pope to celebrate thanksgiving Mass for new Jesuit Saint

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis will this evening celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for the Canonization of Jesuit priest Josè de Anchieta at the Church of St Ignatius of Loyola here in Rome.

He was proclaimed a Saint by the Holy Father on the 3rd of April.
Fr Anchieta, who is commonly known as the “Apostle of Brazil” was a priest in the 16th century and is Brazil's third saint. He has also been declared patron of Catechists.

Saint Josè was born on the Canary Islands, and came to Brazil in 1553 as a missionary priest. He is a highly influential figure in Brazil’s history and was one of the founders of Sao Paulo and Rio De Janeiro.

He was also active in the religious instruction and converting Indians to Catholicism.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/04/24/pope_francis_meets_with_albanian_prime_minister/en1-793534

2014-04-24 15:56:24
Pope Francis meets with Albanian Prime Minister



(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met on Thursday with the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and his wife in the library of the Apostolic Palace. According to a statement from the Holy See press office, the two men discussed relations between church and state in Albania, as well as dialogue between the different faith communities and the contribution Catholics can make to the common good of the former Communist country.

Catholics number just over ten percent of the population in the predominantly Muslim nation, with the Orthodox Church making up the third largest religious community. During the meeting the Pope and the Prime Minister also spoke about issues facing the Balkan region and about Albania’s progress towards integration in the European Union

At the end of the 20 minute meeting Pope Francis gave a special blessing to the Prime Minister’s wife who is currently expecting a baby. Speaking to Vatican Radio after the audience, the Albanian leader said it was a very moving moment for the couple when the Holy Father laid his hand on his wife’s stomach to bless their unborn child.

Please find below the English translation of the statement from the Holy See press office:
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/04/24/canonization:_fr_lombardi_briefing_on_numbers_of_official_delegations/en1-793596

2014-04-24 18:03:55
Canonization: Fr Lombardi briefing on numbers of official delegations and other details

(Vatican Radio) The Director of the Holy See’s press office, Father Federico Lombardi gave another briefing on Thursday to journalists where he gave details about official delegations scheduled to attend both the prayer vigil on Saturday night and the canonization Mass on Sunday morning.

Father Lombardi told journalists that over 90 official delegations from various countries plus 24 heads of state or royalty are due to attend the prayer vigil. More than a single prayer vigil, there will be a series of prayer vigils being held in at least 11 churches located in the central area of Rome in a number of different languages including English.

Turning the Canonization ceremony, Father Lombardi said as many as 150 cardinals and 1000 bishops will be concelebrating with Pope Francis. 93 official delegations from various countries and international organisations plus 24 heads of State are set to attend the Mass. Representatives from other major religions will also be attending the canonization ceremony including many Orthodox, Anglican, Jewish and Moslem officials.

Father Lombardi said he could not confirm the attendance of the Pope Emeritus at the Canonization Mass. 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/04/24/john_paul_ii_:_the_pope_from_a_far_away_country/en1-787835

2014-04-24 14:15:03
John Paul II : the pope from a far away country



(Vatican Radio) What exactly did Pope John Paul II mean when upon his election he told the crowds he came from a far away country? That's what he himself tells us in the last book of his pontificate "Memory and Identity, Conversations at the Dawn of the Millennium .."

And again what happened exactly on that day in Poland's Warsaw's Victory Square on June 2, 1979? That's what the man who coordinated that encounter, Jesuit Cardinal Roberto Tucci tells Veronica Scarisbrick, sharing with her the impression of euphoric welcome on the part of the huge crowds as the Polish Pontiff appeared to them. As they recognised in their fellow countryman a messenger of hope and herald of freedom for their common homeland which at the time was stifling under the choke of communism.

In this programme Cardinal Tucci gives a first hand account of that historic event. One which as we know was to produce a ripple effect across Poland and behind the rest of the iron curtain..
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/04/24/blessed_john_xxiii_and_his_speech_of_the_moon_/en1-789188

2014-04-24 14:49:53
Blessed John XXIII and his speech of the moon



(Vatican Radio) Veronica Scarisbrick brings you echoes from the era of the pontificate of Blessed John XXIII, the twentieth century Pope to inaugurate a less formal way of public speaking than was the custom at the time.

The story begins fifty years ago on the 11th of October 1962, at the end of the day marking the opening of the Second Vatican Council when John XXIII appeared at the window of the Apostolic Palace. According to his secretary, now Cardinal Loris Capovilla he had not planned to appear but when he noticed the huge expectant crowds gathered below in Saint Peter's Square he felt obliged to respond.

And with his impromptu speech on that historic day, known as of the moon : 'Il discorso della luna' broke new ground in terms of linguistic spontaneity on the part of a Roman Pontiff.

Listen to a programme presented and produced by Veronica Scarisbrick: RealAudioMP3

This memorable speech lives on in people’s hearts and minds to this day and if you listen to this programme you can hear sound clips of it from our Vatican Radio sound archives.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/04/25/pope_francis:_video_message_to_polish_tv/en1-793679

2014-04-25 11:14:19
Pope Francis: video Message to Polish TV

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has recorded a video Message for Polish Television ahead of this weekend’s canonization of Blessed John Paul II, the first Polish Pope. In his Message, which aired Thursday evening on Polish Televesion and Radio, the Holy Father expressed his happiness at having been called to proclaim the sanctity of his predecessor, and thanked the people and the Church of Poland for the gift of John Paul II. Listen: RealAudioMP3

“I hope,” Pope Francis said, “that the canonization of John Paul II, and also of John XXIII, will give a new energy to the daily and persevering work of the Church in your country.”
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/04/25/pope_francis:_the_holiness_of_john_xxiii_a_great_gift_for_the_church_/en1-793786

2014-04-25 14:35:18
Pope Francis: the holiness of John XXIII a great gift for the Church



(Vatican Radio) In a letter to the local newspaper of Bergamo, the hometown of John XXIII, Pope Francis described the holiness of Pope Roncalli as a “great gift for the Church”.

The letter to the “Bergamo Echo” the paper with which John Paul XXIII collaborated when he was a young priest is addressed to “Dear friends of Bergamo” – not only to those who belong to the Church, but to the whole civil community.

Listen to the report... RealAudioMP3

He writes – Pope Francis says – to thank the Lord for the “great gift” that John XXIII’s holiness is for the universal Church and as an encouragement to “safeguard the memory of the land in which it flourished, a land where the deep faith of the people is expressed on a daily basis, a land where families are poor but united in the love of the Lord, where communities are capable of sharing in simplicity”.

“I know how much you love Pope John, and how much he loved his homeland” writes Pope Francis – “From the day of his election to the papacy, the name of Bergamo and of Sotto il Monte where he was born on 25 November 1881 – became familiar across the world. And still today, more than fifty years afterwards, they are associated to his smiling face and to his fatherly tenderness”.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/04/25/canonization:_vatican_releases_its_official_apps_dedicated_to_popes/en1-793806

2014-04-25 15:05:50
Canonization: Vatican releases its official apps dedicated to Popes John Paul II and John XXIII



(Vatican Radio) The Vatican has released details of two free apps on the figures of Blessed John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII ahead of Sunday’s canonization ceremony for the two Popes.

The apps can be accessed, free of charge, by copying and pasting onto their browser the following link:
http://vaticanapp.iquii.com/

This will take you to a page entitled “Canonization John Paul II John XXIII” where people can download the two apps onto their smartphones, one focusing on John Paul II and the other focusing on John XXIII. The apps are available in both the Android and IOS operating systems. 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/04/25/pope_meets_bishops_of_southern_africa/en1-793701

2014-04-25 12:47:48
Pope meets Bishops of Southern Africa

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met with Bishops from South Africa, Botswana, and Swaziland on Friday. In prepared remarks, the Holy Father gave thanks to God for the growth of the Church in southern Africa, “thanks to the labours of missionaries from many lands,” who, along with indigenous men and women, “sowed the seeds of your people’s faith so deeply.”

In wide-ranging remarks, Pope Francis noted the great blessings experienced by the Church in Southern Africa, despite very great challenges. He pointed to flourishing parishes, the growth of the diaconate, and the service to “God’s most vulnerable sons and daughters.” Where missionaries from distant countries once carried the burden of the Gospel, now the local Catholic faithful “are having to rely more and more on their own support.” They are “a sign of hope for the whole Church,” the Pope said, praying that “they will continue to persevere in building up the Lord’s Kingdom with their lives that testify to the truth, and with the work of their hands that ease the sufferings of so many.”
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/04/26/pope_receives_ukrainian_prime_minister/en1-794122

2014-04-26 15:23:59
Pope receives Ukrainian Prime Minister



(Vatican Radio) On the Saturday morning, Pope Francis received in audience Mr Arseniy Yatsenyuk, the Prime Minister of Ukraine, in the Apostolic Palace. Mr Yatsenyuk later met with the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, along with the Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti.

During the cordial talks, which took place in the context of the good bilateral relations between the Holy See and Ukraine, the current situation was discussed, with the hope that all interested parties would work together constructively for the restoration of political and social stability of the country, within the scope of international law, and that they would promote understanding among the peoples of the Region. The specific role of churches and religious organizations, and of individual believers, in fostering mutual respect and harmony among all sections of society was also noted.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/04/26/rome_readies_for_canonizations_of_john_xxiii,_john_paul_ii/en1-793972

2014-04-26 09:01:40
Rome readies for canonizations of John XXIII, John Paul II



(Vatican Radio) The two banners of the two soon-to-be saints now hang on the façade of St. Peter’s Basilica, and the final countdown toward the highly anticipated canonizations has begun. With just one day to go before the canonizations of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II, the stream of pilgrims into Rome continues.

Civil security forces are in position, city roads have been closed to traffic and the subway system will run nonstop this weekend to accommodate the influx of pilgrims.

Authorities expect about one million people to gather in the square and along the Via della Conciliazione, which leads up to St. Peter’s Basilica, for the Mass itself. Thousands of others instead will gather in about a dozen or so public squares around the city, where the Mass will be projected onto big screens.

Here at the Vatican, the last of the preparations are underway, as hundreds more journalists have swamped the city with their cameras and microphones.

At a press conference on Friday, the two cardinals who lived and worked for the future saints as their secretaries said they knew their bosses were saints because of their simple faith and goodness.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/04/26/pope_emeritus_benedict_xvi_attending_canonization_mass/en1-794026

2014-04-26 12:08:04
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI attending Canonization Mass



Vatican Radio) The Holy See has confirmed that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has accepted the invitation and communicated to Pope Francis that he will attend the Mass of Canonization of John Paul II and John XXIII. The Pope Emeritus will concelebrate. This does not mean that he will be at the Altar; 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/04/26/diocese_of_rome_hosts_prayer_vigils_ahead_of_canonizations/en1-794111

2014-04-26 14:55:09
Diocese of Rome hosts Prayer Vigils ahead of Canonizations



(Vatican Radio) Ahead of Sunday’s Canonization Mass, the Diocese of Rome has prepared churches throughout Rome’s centre for a night of Prayer Vigils and Confessions.

Beginning at 5 pm Rome time, the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul’s outside the Walls is hosting Vespers and a Vigil Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday. The Liturgy will be followed by Eucharistic Adoration until Compline, while in the Basilica’s cloister, pilgrims will be able to visit a display with memorials of Pope John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council.

Across town at the Archbasilica of St John Lateran, a prayer vigil is being held for the faithful from John XXIII’s hometown of Bergamo, Italy.

From 9 pm Rome time, eleven churches in downtown Rome will be open for prayer and confessions, with liturgies and devotions scheduled in seven different languages. English speaking pilgrims will gather at the Church of San Marco al Campidoglio, right next to Piazza Venezia in the heart of the city. Other churches will feature services in Polish, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic, as well as Italian. Below you can find the complete list of participating churches:

S. Agnese in Agone a Piazza Navona POLISH
S. Marco al Campidoglio ITALIAN, ENGLISH
 
Following Sunday’s Mass of Canonization, the Basilica of Saint Peter will be open from 2 pm to 10 pm to allow pilgrims the opportunity to visit the tombs of the new Saints.

Finally, on Monday, a Mass of Thanksgiving for the Canonizations will be said in Saint Peter’s Square, beginning at 10 am.

With as many as three million people expected for this weekend’s events, the Church of Rome is doing everything they can to make it a spirit, and grace-filled, weekend.

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Canonization of Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII, April 27, 2014, starting at 3:30 a.m. EDT

http://www.the-tidings.com/news/national/tv-radio-coverage-planned-for-canonizations/
TV, radio coverage planned for canonizations
April 17, 2014

The April 27 canonizations of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II — as well as programming leading up to the event at the Vatican — will be aired on the EWTN Global Catholic Television Network and SiriusXM radio.

EWTN’s coverage will include the “Pope John Paul II Canonization Celebration and Vigil” from the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, with Archbishop José Gomez presiding at the April 26, 7 p.m. (Pacific Time) event.

Soon after the Los Angeles vigil, coverage from Rome of the canonization ceremony will begin on EWTN with the Canonization Mass celebrated by Pope Francis, scheduled to air live at 12:30 a.m. (PDT) on April 27. Encore broadcasts of the event will air later that day at 4 p.m., and again at 8 p.m. on April 28.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoftCRiuPCY
Canonization of John XXIII and John Paul II
Scheduled for Apr 27, 2014 

On the Second Esater Sunday Pope Francis presides over the Holy Mass for the Canonization of the Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II, St. Peter's Square

http://www.2popesaints.org/EN/Home
Video--Streaming Live

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/04/27/huge_crowds_gather_for_canonization_mass/en1-794264

2014-04-27 09:34:37
Huge crowds gather for Canonization Mass



(Vatican Radio) Tens of thousands of people are continuing to descend on St Peter’s Square and surrounding vantage points for the Canonization Mass of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II.The celebration is being presided over by Pope Francis and will begin at 10 am Rome time in St Peter’s Square.

All through the night and into the early hours of this morning people from all around the world have been holding prayer vigils, playing music and soaking up the atmosphere of this unique event.

A night of prayer was held in many Churches around the city while members of the Polish community held a vigil in the city’s Piazza Navona.

Many people including parents with their children had slept out under the night sky near the St Peter’s Square and could be seen waking early to prepare breakfast.

Others were cramming into coffee bars near St Peter’s Square to get that last cup of coffee before the ceremony, while street vendors continue to do a roaring trade selling images of these two soon to be Saints.

For those who can’t make it to the Square there are big screens located around the city including at Castel Sant Angelo which is just a stone’s throw from St Peter’s.

The flags that many pilgrims are holding, as they try and keep their groups together, denote the vast distance they have travelled to be in Rome. There are flags from Brazil, Argentina, the United States, as well as the thousands of flags from Blessed Pope John Paul II’s homeland of Poland. Pope John XXIII is well represented too with are large contingent from Bergamo present in the Square.