Pope Francis

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/cardinal-archbishop-sean-brady-of-armagh-retires

Cardinal Archbishop Seàn Brady of Armagh retires
2014-09-08 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday accepted the resignation of Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland, after he reached the age of retirement. A native of Laragh in Co Cavan, Archbishop Brady was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Benedict XVI on the 24 November 2007.

On 19 February 1995 he was ordained Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh and succeeded Cardinal Cahal B. Daly as Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland on 1 October 1996.

Among his other posts the Cardinal served as Rector of the Pontifical Irish College in Rome from 1987 to 1993.

The Cardinal will now be succeeded by Archbishop Eamon Martin who was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh by Pope Benedict XVI on the 18th January 2013.

Archbishop Martin was previously Chaplin to Pope Benedict XVI and upon the retirement of Bishop Séamus Hegarty, was elected as Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Derry in Northern Ireland.

Below please find remarks by Cardinal Seàn and his successor in the Archdiocese of Armagh, Archbishop Eamon Martin.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29109146

8 September 2014 Last updated at 08:47 ET
Pope Francis plans to rein in trade in Vatican scrolls

Pope Francis has ordered souvenir shops to end a profitable trade in Vatican scrolls, completing a process said to have been started by his predecessor.

The ornate parchments, bearing the seal of the Vatican, have been sold as gifts or to mark major church events such as weddings, baptisms and ordinations.

From next year, the scrolls will only be sold directly by a Vatican website.

The move is expected to divert profits away from the souvenir shops, to charities chosen by the Vatican.

Under the current system, the shop-owners collect the bulk of the profits from sales of the parchments.

The scrolls are sourced from the Vatican for as little as 3 euros (£2; $4) and can be sold to the public for up to 50 euros.

The parchments bought online under the new system will cost less. However, all the profits will be given to charity, the Vatican says.

The first steps to end the souvenir shops' trade in scrolls were taken four years ago by Pope Benedict, according to the Italian newspaper, La Stampa.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/papal-blessings-soon-available-only-from-vatican

Papal Blessings soon available only from Vatican
2014-09-08 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio)  Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, the head of the Holy Father’s Alms-giving office ("Elemosineria"), has confirmed that as of 1 January 2015, papal blessings will no longer be available from stores and businesses outside the Vatican.

In a note, the apostolic Almoner recalls that the Alms-giving office is tasked with carrying out “works of charity for the poor in the name of the Supreme Pontiff” and that the resources needed to do so derive from donations raised from the blessings.

In the past, the office had collaborated with stores and institutions outside the Vatican to permit a greater number of faithful to obtain the blessings.  In recent years, however, the faithful have been able to order blessings directly from the charitable office after obtaining information from its website www.elemosineria.va . For the English information page, click here:
The scrolls can be ordered directly in the Vatican, or by sending a special order form via mail or by fax.  The scrolls are shipped almost anywhere in the world.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/1123/0/parolin-indicates-reform-might-not-be-synod-s-main-focus-and-says-family-must-be-protected-from-dissolution

Parolin indicates reform might not be Synod's main focus and says family must be protected from dissolution
05 September 2014 11:23 by Hannah Roberts in Rome



Just one month before the start of the Synod of Bishops on the Family, the Vatican Secretary of State has given an indication that the main focus of the synod may not be the reforms that some in the Church hope for, but the legal and cultural threats to the family itself. The Church “understands the many threats to family life, in the form of policies and laws that allow or even hasten the dissolving of the family”, Cardinal Parolin told participants in the fifth annual conference of the International Catholic Legislators Network. He called upon those present “not only to live ‘in the midst of the world’ but also to be ‘a leaven in the world’ in favour of the family, the local community, and your respective nations.”
 

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http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/war-is-never-inevitable-pope-francis-rues-senseless-slaughter-91829/

War is never inevitable: Pope Francis rues 'senseless slaughter'

Vatican City, Sep 8, 2014 / 05:30 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In a message to inter-religious faith leaders attending a conference on peace, Pope Francis said there are always alternatives to war and urged participants to seek avenues of dialogue.

“War is never a necessity, nor is it inevitable. Another way can always be found: the way of dialogue, encounter and the sincere search for truth,” Pope Francis said in his Sept. 7 message to conference attendees.

Organized by the Italian Sant'Egidio community, the Sept. 7-9 International Peace Meeting is being held in Antwerp, Belgium in commemoration of the centenary of the start of the First World War.
 

[grace-land]

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/09/09/pope_francis_jesus_prays,_chooses,_is_close_to_his_people/1106176

Pope Francis: Jesus prays, chooses, is close to His people
09/09/2014

Jesus is not a professor who speaks from the professor’s chair; rather, He goes among the people and lets them touch Him so that they can be healed. That was Pope Francis’ message at Mass this morning at Santa Marta.

Commenting on the day’s Gospel, Pope Francis reflected on three moments in the life of Jesus. The first is prayer. Jesus “spent the night in prayer to God.” Jesus prays for us. “It seems a little strange,” the Pope said, “that He who came to give us salvation, who has the power, prays to the Father.” And He prayed often. “Jesus is the great intercessor”:

“He stands before the Father in this moment, praying for us. And this should give us courage! Because in moments of difficulty or of need… [He] is praying: ‘But you are praying for me. Pray for me. Jesus, pray for me to the Father!’ It is His work today: praying for us, for His Church. We often forget this, that Jesus prays for us. This is our strength: to be able to say to the Father, ‘But if you, Father, will not consider us, consider your Son who prays for us.’ From the first moment Jesus prays: He prayed when He was on earth and He continues to pray now for each one of us, for the whole Church.”
 

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/cardinal-baldisseri-new-methodology-for-octobers-s

Cardinal Baldisseri: new methodology for october's Synod of Bishops

Vatican City, 2014 (VIS) – The following is the full text of the presentation by Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, of the participants in the upcoming Synod in October 2014:

“Why are two full pages of names being published today in the Osservatore Romano? Because these names correspond to people from all over the world, who will take part in the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (5-19 October) on the theme: “Pastoral challenges to the family in the context of evangelisation”. The aim of the meeting is to propose to today's world the beauty and the values of the family, which emerge from the proclamation of Jesus Christ Who disperses fear and supports hope.

Synodus – which means 'taking a path together' – is the expression that indicates the eccesial space in which we convene in order to meet and to reflect – in the dual faith in God and man – before today's challenges to the family. The list that follows is made up of representatives from the five continents, subdivided as follows: 114 presidents of Episcopal Conferences, 13 heads of the 'sui iuris' Eastern Catholic Churches, 25 heads of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia, 9 members of the Ordinary Council of the Secretariat, the secretary general, the under-secretary, 3 nominees from the Union of Superior Generals, and 26 pontifical nominees. Other participants include 8 fraternal delegates, 38 auditors, including 13 married couples, and 16 experts. The total number of participants in the Synod Assembly is 253.
 
The itinerary of the next Synod will be divided into two phases: the Extraordinary General Assembly of 2014 and the Ordinary General Assembly of 2015. A new working methodology will be applied, rendering the process more dynamic and participatory, with speeches and testimonials, always with a view to continuity towards the second stage, after which the Synod document will be published”.

[grace-land]

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cardinals-join-to-defend-church-doctrine-on-divorce-remarriage-39031/

Cardinals join to defend Church doctrine on divorce, remarriage

Vatican City, Sep 9, 2014 / 03:10 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Five members of the College of Cardinals have joint-authored a book defending Church doctrine regarding divorced and remarried Catholics, affirming that it is the most merciful approach.

Set to be published in English this October, the book is entitled “Remaining in the Truth of Christ: Marriage and Communion in the Catholic Church.” It offers a response to Cardinal Walter Kasper's call for the Church to open its doors to allow divorced and remarried Catholics to receive the Eucharist.

According to publisher Ignatius Press, the book will outline both biblical arguments in support of current Church doctrine as well as the teachings and practices of the early Church.
 

[grace-land]

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/09/10/synod_the_church_assembles_for_the_family/1106222

Synod: The Church assembles for the family
10/09/2014

(Vatican Radio) “This Extraordinary Synod is linked to the ordinary Synod that will happen next year, so this is quite unique in the history of the Synod of Bishops – two consecutive assemblies that are linked in process and in theme – the family”, says Cardinal Luis Antonio G. TAGLE, Archbishop of Manila and one of the three delegate presidents of the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (5-19 October).

The theme of the two week assembly will gather 253 men and women representing the Universal Church to discuss and reflect on the theme: “Pastoral challenges to the family in the context of evangelization”.

Speaking to Emer McCarthy Card. Tagle underscores that this Extraordinary assembly of the Synod is the first part of a two phase process and its purpose is to offer a place for discussion and reflection rather than decision making:
 
Participants from all 5 continents include: 114 presidents of Episcopal Conferences, 13 heads of the 'sui iuris' Eastern Catholic Churches, 25 heads of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia, 9 members of the Ordinary Council of the Secretariat, the secretary general, the under-secretary, 3 nominees from the Union of Superior Generals, and 26 pontifical nominees. Other participants include 8 fraternal delegates, 38 auditors, including 13 married couples, and 16 experts.

 A. LIST OF SYNOD FATHERS ACCORDING TO ORDER OF PARTICIPATION
 

[grace-land]

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/09/10/pope_at_audience_mercy,_a_gospel_essential_for_a_better_wor/1106240

Pope at Audience: Mercy, a Gospel essential for a better world
10/09/2014

(Vatican Radio) Mother Church teaches us works mercy are essential for our salvation, said Pope Francis at his general audience on Wednesday , but “it is not enough to do good to those who do good to us. To change the world for the better we must do good to those who are unable to reciprocate, as the Father did with us, in giving us Jesus".

And once again he had a special thought for the persecuted Christians of the Middle East. In his greeting to Arabic speaking pilgrims and in particular to those from Syria and Iraq, Francis said that "the Church, following the example of his Master, is a teacher of mercy: She faces hatred with love, defeats violence with forgiveness; responds to weapons with  prayer! May the Lord reward your fidelity, instill courage in your fight against the forces of evil and open the eyes of those who are blinded by evil, so they may soon see the light of truth and repent for their mistakes. May the Lord bless you and protect you always”.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/1130/0/pope-francis-appoints-us-priests-to-senior-positions-in-fight-against-child-abuse

Pope Francis appoints US priests to senior positions in fight against child abuse
10 September 2014 13:45

Pope Francis has appointed two US priests to senior roles in the Vatican’s campaign to tackle sexual abuse crimes.

An American Jesuit and canon lawyer, Fr Robert Geisinger, has been named the Vatican’s chief prosecutor for serious violations of canon law like child abuse, assuming the role of promoter of justice at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF).

His predecessor in the role, Fr Robert Oliver, from Boston, Massachusetts, has been named secretary of the new Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-prays-for-family-of-journalist-executed-by-islamic-state-93849/

Pope prays for family of journalist executed by Islamic State

Vatican City, Sep 9, 2014 / 05:04 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis has offered prayerful condolences to the family of Steven Sotloff, a U.S. journalist who was executed earlier this month by militants of the Islamic State.

“(Pope Francis) entrusts Steven’s soul to the Lord and offers prayers for you and all who mourn his death,” Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, said in a telegram sent Sept. 5 to the journalist’s family on the Pope's behalf.

“Upon you and your loved ones, he invokes the Almighty's blessings of consolation and strength.”

Sotloff, 31, disappeared in August 2013 during a trip to Syria. The freelance journalist had worked for the magazines Time and Foreign Policy.

On Sept. 2 the Islamic State released a video showing his beheading; Sotloff’s family held a memorial service for him at a Florida synagogue Sept. 5.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.catholicregister.org/home/international/item/18767-pope-fracnsi-mourns-murder-of-three-missionary-sisters-in-burundi

Pope Francis mourns murder of three missionary sisters in Burundi
September 8, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis mourned the deaths of three Xaverian Missionary Sisters of Mary, who were murdered in two separate attacks in their residence in Burundi.
 
Sister Lucia Pulici, 75, and Sister Olga Raschietti, 82, were found dead Sept. 7 in their mission residence in the capital of Bujumbura. Sister Bernadetta Bogianni, 79, who had found the bodies, was killed the next night.

In telegrams sent to Archbishop Evariste Ngoyagoye of Bujumbura and Sister Ines Frizza superior general of the Xaverian Missionary Sister of Mary, the pope expressed his sadness concerning the "tragic deaths" of these "faithful and devout nuns."
 
http://www.news.va/en/news/three-xaverian-missionaries-from-italy-work-in-buj
Three Xaverian Missionaries from Italy work in Bujumbura- The Pope's sadness for the nuns killed in Burundi
2014-09-08 L’Osservatore Romano

On learning of the tragic news of the murder of three Xaverian Missionaries, Pope Francis expressed his condolences in two telegrams — signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State — respectively, addressed to Archbishop Evariste Ngoyagoye of Bujumbura and to Sr Giordana Bertacchini, Superior General of the Xaverian Missionary Sisters of Mary, joining in prayer for the suffering of their families. The following are the English translations of the messages which were written in French.

His Holiness Pope Francis has learned with great sadness of the murder of three nuns, Sr Bernadetta Bogianni, Sr Lucia Pulici and Sr Olga Raschietti, who were in the pastoral service of the parish of St Guido Maria Conforti in Gujumbura. The Holy Father begs the Lord to welcome into his kingdom of peace and light these three faithful and devout nuns. In these tragic circumstances, he expresses his closeness to their religious community, to the families of the victims, and the entire diocesan community. He imparts the comfort of a heartfelt and affectionate apostolic blessing to all those affected by their sudden loss. I join the Holy Father in offering my condolences and wish to assure those close to the departed sisters of my fervent prayers.
 
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/09/09/uk-burundi-italy-nuns-idUKKBN0H424N20140909
Arrest made in murder of Italian nuns in Burundi - officials
BUJUMBURA  Tue Sep 9, 2014 8:06pm BST

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-at-mass-love-your-enemies

Pope at Mass: love your enemies
2014-09-11 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis celebrated Mass in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence at the Vatican on Thursday morning. In remarks to the gathered faithful following the readings of the day, the Holy Father focused on the Gospel command to love our enemies.


The Gospel reading was from that according to St. Luke (6:27-38), in which the Lord tells his disciples, “[L]ove your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” The Holy Father said that this is a model of Christian life – of unconditional love in action. “Do good,” he said, “lend without hoping to have back what you have lent – [act] without interest, and your reward will be great,” he said. Pope Francis also recognized that this new way of the Gospel is one by which it is often difficult to live:

“‘But Father’ [one might say], ‘I don’t feel like behaving that way’. ‘Well’, [one might reply], ‘if you don’t feel like it, that’s your problem, but that’s the Christian way.” This is that way that Jesus teaches us. ‘And what can I hope?’ [one might ask]. Go on Jesus’ way, which is the way of mercy. Be merciful as your Father is merciful. Only with a merciful heart can we do all that, which the Lord counsels us to do – all the way. The Christian life is not a navel-gazing [It. autoreferenziale] one. It is a life in which one gets out of oneself in order to give oneself to others. It is a gift, it is love – and love does not turn in on itself, it is not selfish, but self-giving.”
 

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-meets-with-president-of-tunisia

Pope Francis meets with President of Tunisia
2014-09-11 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received the President of Tunisia H.E. Mohamed Moncef Marzouki in private audience at the Vatican Thursday.  A Holy See press office communiqué described the meeting as cordial and said common themes were discussed such as the promotion of peace, inter-religious dialogue, and human rights.

Particular interest was paid to the issue of the defense of freedom of conscience and religious liberty as well as the rejection of all forms of violence and extremism.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-to-visit-european-parliament-in-novem

Pope Francis to visit European Parliament in November
2014-09-11 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis will visit the European Parliament in Strasburg in November to address a session of the European Parliament. The announcement was made on Thursday morning by the director of the Vatican press office, Fr Federico Lombardi. Pope Francis was invited by the president of the European Parliament Martin Schulz during a visit to the Vatican on October 11th last year during an encounter which commemorated the visit of Pope John Paul II to the European Parliament in October 1988.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-at-santa-marta-do-not-take-pleasure-in-others

Pope at Santa Marta: Do not take pleasure in others’ mistakes
2014-09-12 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) True fraternal reprimand is painful because it is done with love, in truth and humility. Moreover it is unchristian to take pleasure when reprimanding someone.  This was the focus of Pope Francis homily Friday during Mass in Santa Marta, on the day when the Church celebrates the Feast Day of the Holy Name of Mary.

The Pope was reflecting on the Gospel passage where Jesus warns against noticing the splinter in our brother’s eye but failing to see the wooden beam in our own. This inspired him to return to the subject of fraternal reprimand. First, he said, the erring brother should be reprimanded with charity.

"You cannot reprimand a person without love and charity. [Just like] you cannot perform surgery without anesthesia: you cannot, because the patient will die from the pain. And charity is like an anesthetic that helps you to receive treatment and accept reprimand. Take him to one side and talk to him, with gentleness, with love".
 
Secondly, - he continued - we must speak the truth: "Do not say something that is not true. How often in our community are things said about another person that are not true: they are slander. Or if they are true, they destroy the person’s reputation". "Gossip - the Pope repeated - hurt; gossip are a slap in the face of a person’s reputation, they are an attack on the heart of a person. "Sure - he observed - "when they tell you the truth is not nice to hear, but if it is spoken with charity and love, it is easier to accept". Therefore, "we must speak of other people’s defects" with charity.

Thirdly, we must reprimand with humility: "If you really need to reprimand a little flaw, stop and remember that  you have many more and far bigger!"
 

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-to-visit-istanbul-to-mark-feast-of-st

Pope Francis to visit Istanbul to mark feast of St Andrew
2014-09-12 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Turkish President Recep Tayyp Erdogan has issued an official invitation to Pope Francis to visit his country. Speaking to journalists on Friday, the head of the Vatican press office, Fr Federico Lombardi said the Holy See had received the invitation and was preparing for a papal visit to Turkey at the end of November. He added that the duration of the trip and the programme for the visit were still to be confirmed.

The Pope is expected to visit Istanbul on November 30th to celebrate the feast day of St Andrew, founder of the Eastern Church and patron saint of the Orthodox world. 

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/the-exegete-perceives-the-divine-word-through-a-fe

The exegete perceives the Divine Word through a fervent spiritual life

Vatican City, 12 September 2014 (VIS) – This morning the Holy Father met with the participants in the 43rd National Biblical Week, organised by the Italian Biblical Association, a meeting that inaugurated the celebrations for the fiftieth anniversary of the Dogmatic Constitution of Vatican Council II on the Divine Revelation “Dei Verbum”, promulgated on 18 November 1965.

“Faith, to respond, and so as not to be suffocated, must be constantly nurtured by the Word of God”, said the Pope, expressing his esteem and acknowledgement of the “valuable work” that the Association has carried out through the teachings of its lecturers and Bible scholars. He continued, “God has made the most of all the possibilities of human language, but at the same time He has had to submit His Word to the limitations of this language. True respect for the inspired Scriptures requires us to make all the efforts necessary to fully grasp their meaning”. As it is not possible for every Christian personally to carry out the research of every type necessary to arrive at a good understanding of Biblical texts, he added, “this task is entrusted to exegetes, those who are responsible in this sector for the good of all. ... Therefore, alongside academic competence, the Catholic exegete needs above all, faith: received from and shared with all believers who, in their entirety, cannot be mistaken”.
 

[seahorse]

http://news.yahoo.com/pope-says-worlds-many-conflicts-amount-piecemeal-world-104917232.html 


I believe the Pope has a good point.