Pope Francis

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http://www.ewtnnews.com/catholic-news/Vatican.php?id=10971

Synod small groups want more positivity, less ambiguity
Vatican City, Oct 17, 2014 / 12:46 pm (EWTN News/CNA)
 
The synod’s small groups released their conclusions regarding the meeting’s mid-term report on Thursday, calling for clarification of several phrases and a more positive look at the family in light of scripture.

Among other topics, three common and primary themes appeared to be of more immediate concern to the synod fathers: the absence of any reference to the Gospel of the Family, and more widely to Gospel references, in the text; the need to emphasize positive examples of Christian families; and the request to remove, or at least clarify, the principle of graduality, which they said may lead to confusion.

Synod fathers were divided into 10 groups which worked in four different languages: there were three Italian-speaking groups, three English, two Spanish, and two French.

One of the first things called for in almost all of the groups was a new introduction to the original relatio, in which the family would be placed “within the context of the great gift of the Sacrament of Matrimony and the grace of God freely given through the sacraments,” as the first English group, moderated by Cardinal Raymond Burke, put it.

The groups asked that a greater theological and anthropological foundation be given at the beginning, which is needed in order to address the more serious issues that would be mentioned later.

“We have addressed these issues within the context of Scripture and the remarkably rich Magisterium of the Church,” the first English-speaking group wrote, saying they want the final Synod document to speak of human life, marriage and family life “as we know it to be revealed to us by God through reason and faith, both aided by the grace of God.”

References clearly stressing the centrality of the Word of God and the beauty of the Gospel of Marriage must be the focal point for the entire final report, they said.
 
In an Oct. 17 press conference, Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., said that the synod's final report will be prepared, and then voted upon on Saturday morning. He emphasized, however, that it is unlikely the synod's final relatio will be released by Saturday evening.

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http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2014/10/17/porsche-sistine-chapel/17442763/

Porsche to use Sistine Chapel for tour event
5:47 p.m. EDT October 17, 2014

Automaker Porsche is going to be among the first allowed to use the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican for what amounts to a corporate event -- a concert as part of a tour.

Pope Francis is opening up the sacred space, famous for Michelangelo's famous frescoes, to raise money for his charities, the Religion News Service reports.

Porsche is offering a concert inside the Sistine Chapel as part of a five-day tour of Italy that, according to its website, is priced at 4,590 Euros, or $5,875.

"In the evening, you can enjoy a private visit to the Vatican Museums, outside official opening hours – in a small group limited to 40 people. This exclusive guided tour is immediately followed by yet another highlight: a concert in the Sistine Chapel before dinner," reads the solicitation for the tour.

Despite the Porsche event, a Vatican spokesman tells the Religion News Service that the Sistine Chapel is not for rent."The Sistine Chapel can never be rented because it is not a commercial place," says Monsignor Paolo Nicolini.
 

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http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1404308.htm

Oct-18-2014
Synod of Bishops sends message of encouragement to traditional families

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- On its last day of business, the Synod of Bishops on the family approved and released a three-page message expressing solidarity with Christian families around the world.

The message, released Oct. 18, is distinct from the synod's final report, which the assembly was scheduled to vote on later the same day.

Following two weeks of often-contentious discussion that included sensitive questions of sexual and medical ethics and how to reach out to people with ways of life contrary to Catholic teaching, the synod's message, which was approved by a large majority of the assembly, focused on the challenges and virtues of traditional families.
 
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Full text of the message--
http://www.news.va/en/news/message-of-the-synod-assembly-on-the-pastoral-chal

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http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/1291/0/controversies-continue-as-synod-fathers-vote-on-summary-document-

Controversies continue as Synod Fathers vote on summary document
18 October 2014 14:09

Sixteen Synod Fathers either voted against or abstained the message of the Synod of the Family that was published on Saturday.

The three-page document was made available to journalists at a Vatican press conference earlier on Saturday. The message, according to Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, who led the commission that produced it, is directed mainly at Christian families and is a reflection on marriage and the family.

The most likely elements to have aroused the opposition of a few of the 191 Synod Fathers is a reference to "the great challenge to remain faithful in conjugal love". The message refers to "failures" that "give rise to new relationships, new couples, new civil unions, and new marriages, creating family situations that are complex and problematic, where the Christian choice is not obvious."

The message also refers to the fact that in the first stage of the Synod, participants "reflected on how to accompany those who have been divorced and remarried and on their participation in the sacraments".

Cardinals such as the prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, Raymond Burke, and the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Gerhard Müller, have said they oppose any revision of the Church's teaching with regard to the ban on divorced and remarried Catholics receiving Communion.

Asked to explain why some Synod Fathers failed to support the message, Cardinal Ravasi said it could be because they disagreed with as little as a single phrase.

The message is mainly a celebration of the joys of Christian marriage and the family but also a reflection on the many sorrows and hardships they face.

It lists among the problems facing families the "idolatory" of money, unemployment, and young people who fall prey to drugs and crime. The document also recalls the crises facing migrants and also refugees from war; human trafficking; child abuse; and the exploitation of women.

The synod is now considering its all-important final document which will prepare the ground for next October's much bigger gathering. A series of votes is taking place, with journalists being advised of a second Vatican press conference at 7pm tonight which is likely to relate the outcome.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-speech-at-the-conclusion-of-the-synod

Pope Francis speech at the conclusion of the Synod
2014-10-18 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) At the conclusion of the Extraordinary Synod on the Family, Pope Francis addressed the assembled Fathers, thanking them for their efforts and encouraging them to continue to journey.

Below, please find Vatican Radio's provisional translation of Pope Francis' address to the Synod Fathers:

Dear Eminences, Beatitudes, Excellencies, Brothers and Sisters,

With a heart full of appreciation and gratitude I want to thank, along with you, the Lord who has accompanied and guided us in the past days, with the light of the Holy Spirit.

From the heart I thank Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, Secretary General of the Synod, Bishop Fabio Fabene, under-secretary, and with them I thank the Relators, Cardinal Peter Erdo, who has worked so much in these days of family mourning, and the Special Secretary Bishop Bruno Forte, the three President delegates, the transcribers, the consultors, the translators and the unknown workers, all those who have worked with true fidelity and total dedication behind the scenes and without rest. Thank you so much from the heart.

I thank all of you as well, dear Synod fathers, Fraternal Delegates, Auditors, and Assessors, for your active and fruitful participation. I will keep you in prayer asking the Lord to reward you with the abundance of His gifts of grace!

I can happily say that – with a spirit of collegiality and of synodality – we have truly lived the experience of “Synod,” a path of solidarity, a “journey together.”
 

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/synod-on-family-shows-church-whose-doors-are-alway

Synod on Family shows Church whose doors are always open
2014-10-18 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) Bishops attending the Synod on the Family on Saturday concluded their two week meeting by voting on a final document which will form the basis for discussion over the coming year. Pope Francis, who has followed closely the working of the Synod, also addressed the assembly, reflecting on the honest, courageous and, at times, tense debate about the Church’s understanding of marriage and family life. Philippa Hitchen was there with the bishops, listening to the Pope’s words……

A lengthy standing ovation echoed around the Synod Hall as Pope Francis spoke of the journey that Synod participants have travelled since the opening Mass in St Peter’s Basilica nearly 2 weeks ago. He talked of the enthusiasm and grace he’d experienced listening to pastors and to couples sharing their experiences of married life. And he talked of the disappointments, tensions and temptations that have been part of the conversations too. The temptation to be closed into the “hostile inflexibility” of the traditionalist or the destructive temptation to be a liberal “do-gooder.” But none of these temptations should discourage us, the Pope said, because this is the Church which is not scared of rolling up its sleeves to tend peoples’ wounds, rather than standing aloof and passing judgements from an ivory tower. Following in Jesus’ footsteps, it’s a Church which is not afraid to eat with prostitutes and publicans, a Church whose doors are always open to help those in need.

The great majority of the bishops gathered around the Pope clearly shared his vision of the Church as they voted on each carefully crafted paragraph of the final Synod document. Using their electronic voting system they gave their Latin ‘placet’ or ‘non placet’ to the 3 part text with all the 62 sections receiving a majority vote from the assembly. Only three particular points, unsurprisingly dealing with the pastoral care of gay people and those who’ve been divorced and remarried, did not receive the hoped-for two-thirds majority, which as the English language press spokesman Fr Tom Rosica pointed out, shows where the bishops have their work cut out for the coming year
 

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http://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/synods-final-document-lacks-bishops-consensus-on-controversial-topics

Synod’s Final Report Lacks Bishops’ Consensus on Controversial Topics
Saturday, October 18, 2014 7:32 PM

VATICAN — In an electronic vote this afternoon, the synod fathers approved the final report — relatio synodi — of the synod of bishops, with two paragraphs on administering holy Communion to divorced and “remarried” couples and one on welcoming homosexuals failing to reach a two-thirds majority.

The final document of the Oct. 5-19 extraordinary synod on the family contains 62 points and the voting numbers for each of these was published. The most contentious paragraph, on allowing some remarried divorcees to receive communion after a period of penitence, received 104 votes in favor and 74 against.

A second paragraph on divorced and remarried persons, spiritual communion and a call to deepen understanding of this question received 112 votes in favor, 64 against — also failing to make obtain a two-thirds majority.

A third paragraph on the same issue, which states that situations of married divorcees “require careful reflection and respectful accompaniment, avoiding the kind of language and attitudes that may make them feel discriminated against,” received over a two-thirds majority (155 votes to 19).
 
A full English translation of the final report will likely be published early next week.
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The "Synod14 – “Relatio Synodi” of the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops: “The pastoral challenges on the family in the context of evangelization” (5 to 19 October 2014), 10/18/2014"-- There are 62 paragraphs in the final report with the vote tally for each paragraph--in Italian at the link below:
http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2014/10/18/0770/03044.html

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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/synod14-final-briefing-though-we-still-are-on-a-journey-pope-wanted-this-document-available-to-all

Synod14 Final Briefing: Though We Still Are On a Journey, Pope Wanted This Document Available to All
Fr. Rosica Also Speaks on Pope's Warning Against Temptations in Final Address to Synod Fathers
Vatican City,  October 19, 2014

Pope Francis has ensured that the world will be fully aware of results of this synod on the family and has warned the world’s top Church officials against various temptations, including being too rigid, as well as too soft.

Speaking to the nearly 200 prelates gathered at the Synod of Bishops on the family’s final session Saturday afternoon, the Holy Father cautioned Synod Fathers against “a temptation to hostile inflexibility”. He also cautioned them to not fall into “destructive tendency" of being do-gooders, saying "that in the name of a deceptive mercy binds the wounds without first curing them and treating them.”

The Pope’s final discourse, at the conclusion of these two weeks full of debate, not only wrapped up this synod, but seemed to lay the groundwork for the second phase of the synod on the family, set to take place a year from now.

During the briefing at the Holy See Press Office Saturday night, Fr. Federico Lombardi, Fr. Thomas Rosica, and Fr. Manuel Dorantes spoke on this Synod's final outcomes.

Looking at the text of the report, it was evident that the Relatio Post Disceptionem’s seemingly “more open” language, has been dialed back a step, retaining a more middle ground.

Father Lombardi had noted that there had been some 470 proposed changes to that original released Monday.

In addition to the text itself, the Vatican has included the figures on exactly how many voted in favor and against each paragraph.

It was stressed by the Holy See Press Office director and the other spokesmen that “this is not a final document, but a reflection for the next phase of the synod,” one which can help the world’s Episcopal conferences prepare for the second phase.

“The Pope wanted the text be published in full, even paragraphs that didn’t have the necessary 2/3 majority,” Fr. Dorantes said.

Speaking on the afternoon's events and noting 183 Synod Fathers were present in the final session, Fr. Lombardi explained each prelate had “the text in their hands and voted on each number by number.”

On all but three points, there was the needed two thirds majority vote; those three points regarded access to Eucharist for the divorced and remarried and homosexuality.

Fr. Lombardi said, “The text is something ‘of a walk.' There is so much terminology. To say it is ‘approved/not approved’ is not adequate.”

Fr. Rosica noted that it took an hour for the voting of the 62 paragraphs.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/at-closing-mass-for-the-synod-pope-francis-beatifi

At closing Mass for the Synod Pope Francis beatifies Paul VI
2014-10-19 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday celebrated the Closing Mass for the Extraordinary Synod on the Family.

During the Mass in Saint Peter’s Square, the Holy Father beatified his predecessor, Pope Paul VI, whom he described as a “great Pope,” a “courageous Christian” and a “tireless apostle.”

In his homily, Pope Francis focused on Christ’s words from the Gospel: Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” This, he said, “is a striking phrase which the Lord has bequeathed to all those who experience qualms of conscience, particularly when their comfort, their wealth, their prestige, their power and their reputation are in question.”

In particular, to “render to God the things that are God’s” calls for “acknowledging that God alone is the Lord of mankind, that there is no other.  This is the perennial newness to be discovered each day, and it requires mastering the fear which we often feel at God’s surprises.” It means “being docile to His will, devoting our lives to Him and working for His Kingdom of mercy, love, and peace.”

This, the Pope said, is where our “true strength” and hope are found.

Pope Francis then recalled the experience of the Synod, a word which means “journeying together.” Indeed, he said, “pastors and lay people from every part of the world have come to Rome, bringing the voice of their particular Churches in order to help today’s families walk the path the Gospel with their gaze fixed on Jesus.” He gave thanks to God for the work of the Synod, and invoked the Holy Spirit to continue to guide the process as it moves toward the Ordinary Synod of Bishops set to take place in October next year.

The Holy Father noted that it was Pope Paul VI who established the Synod of Bishops. “When we look to this great Pope,” he said, “this courageous Christian, this tireless apostle, we cannot but say in the sight of God a word as simple as it is heartfelt and important: thanks!  Thank you, our dear and beloved Pope Paul VI!  Thank you for your humble and prophetic witness of love for Christ and his Church!”

Paul VI, Pope Francis said as he concluded his homily, “truly ‘rendered to God what is God’s’ by devoting his whole life to the ‘sacred, solemn and grave task of continuing in history and extending on earth the mission of Christ,’ loving the Church and leading her so that she might be ‘a loving mother of the whole human family and at the same time the minister of its salvation.’”

Below, please find the complete English text of Pope Francis’s homily for the Mass:
 

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Mass of the Beatification of Pope Paul VI

Videos at the links

http://www.romereports.com/pg158769-pope-emeritus-benedict-xvi-arrives-at-the-beatification-of-pope-paul-vi-en
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI arrives at the Beatification of Pope Paul VI
2014-10-19

http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/
Sunday, October 19, 2014
"Thank You, Blessed Paul VI! Thank You For Your Humble, Prophetic Witness!"

http://www.romereports.com/pg158772-pope-francis-beatifies-paul-vi-en
Pope Francis beatifies Paul VI
2014-10-19

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/10/20/pope_francis_middle_east_without_christians_unthinkable/1108997

Pope Francis: Middle East without Christians unthinkable
20/10/2014



(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis convened a Consistory of Cardinals on Monday morning in the Vatican. Originally scheduled in order to proceed with the causes of candidates for beatification, the Holy Father expanded the agenda of the meeting to include discussion of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. In remarks to the gathered Cardinals at the morning session of the gathering, the Holy Father focused on the need for constant prayer and effective advocacy in favor of peace, and for specific attention to the plight of Christians there.

Describing the notion of a Mideast region devoid of Christians as literally unthinkable, Pope Francis went on to mention Iraq and Syria as two countries in which Christians – who have made their homes there since Apostolic times – are facing unprecedented threats. “We cannot resign ourselves to thinking about the Middle East without Christians, who for two thousand years have confessed the name of Jesus [there].”
 

[grace-land]

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/10/20/card_parolin_on_me_rights_threatened,_risk_of_genocide_/1109019

Card. Parolin on ME: rights threatened, risk of genocide
20/10/2014



(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis convened a Consistory of Cardinals on Monday morning in the Vatican. Originally scheduled in order to proceed with the causes of saints – including that of Goa native and evangelizer of Sri Lanka, Blessed Joseph Vaz, CO, for whose canonization the Cardinals voted this morning, establishing the date of his canonization Mass for January 14th, 2015, during the Holy Father’s visit to Sri Lanka – the Holy Father expanded the agenda of the meeting to include discussion of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

At a briefing following the morning session, the Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, explained that the participants, among whom were counted the Patriarchs of the Oriental Catholic Churches present and based in the region, used the occasion to speak broadly of the challenges facing Christians throughout the entire Middle East, to express gratitude for the spiritual closeness of the Universal Church to their sorely tried communities, and to reiterate the need to foster dialogue, protect the rights of all people regardless of religious affiliation, and search for solutions that respect and further the common good.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2014/10/20/photos-from-pope-paul-vis-beatification-ceremony/

Photos from Pope Paul VI's beatification ceremony
October 20, 2014 

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http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-christ-restores-peace-by-breaking-walls-of-division-44405/

Pope Francis: Christ restores peace by breaking walls of division

Vatican City, Oct 21, 2014 / 10:30 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Christ wants to see us reconciled rather than living as enemies, Pope Francis said in his homily at Mass on Tuesday, explaining that a true Christian lives with this hope.

“We all know that when we are not in peace with others, there is a wall. There is a wall that divides us. But Jesus offers us his service to break down this wall so we can meet,” the Roman Pontiff told those gathered in the Vatican’s Saint Martha residence chapel for his Oct. 21 Mass.

The Pope centered his reflections on the day’s readings, taken from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians and the Gospel of Luke. Quoting from the Gospel passage, the Roman Pontiff said, “blessed are the servants who await their master’s return from a wedding with lighted lamps.”

In the biblical scene following the day’s passage, Christ speaks of how the disciples should prepare for his return like servants who, knowing the will of their master, await his arrival by keeping alert and putting everything in order.

He linked the passage to the day’s first reading, in which St. Paul describes how even those who are far off have an identity in the body of Christ, who restored peace by destroying “walls of enmity” with his death on the cross.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/holy-see-to-un-no-discrimination-against-indigenou

Holy See to UN: No discrimination against indigenous peoples
2014-10-21 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)  The Holy See delegation to the United Nations on Monday spoke about safeguarding the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples.

“The Holy See firmly believes that no discrimination based on race, sex, religion or ethnicity should be tolerated,” said Archbishop Bernardito Auza, the Permanent ******* of the Holy See to the United Nations.

Fostering indigenous specificity and cultures does not necessarily mean going back to the past,” he said. “Indeed, it entails the right of indigenous peoples to go forward, guided by their time-honored collective values, such as respect for human life and dignity, representative decision-making processes and preservation of community rituals. In the face of globalization, industrialization and urbanization these values must not be simply put aside.”

The full text of the statement by Archbishop Auza is below
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/programme-of-pope-francis-apostolic-trip-to-turkey

Programme of Pope Francis' apostolic trip to Turkey



Vatican City, 2014 (VIS) – The Holy See Press Office today confirmed that His Holiness Francis, accepting the invitation issued by the civil authorities, His Holiness Bartolomaios I and the bishops, will make an apostolic trip to Turkey from 28 to 30 November 2014, during which he will visit Ankara and Istanbul.
 
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/vatican-releases-details-for-pope-francis-visit-to-turkey-46387/
Vatican releases details for Pope Francis' visit to Turkey

 
Please see below for the full itinerary of Pope Francis’ visit to Turkey:

 Friday, Nov. 28, 2014

 9:00a.m. Depart by plane from Rome's Fiumicino Airport
 1:00p.m. Arrive to Ankara's Esembo?a Airport
 
 Official Welcome

 Visit to Atatürk Mausoleum

 Presidential Palace:
 Welcoming Ceremony
 Courtesy visit to the president of the Republic
 Encounter with authorities

 Audience with Prime Minister

 Visit to the president of Religious Affairs at Diyanet

 Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014

 9:30a.m. Depart by plan from Ankara's Esembo?a Airport
 10:30a.m. Arrive to the international Atatürk Airport of Istanbul

 Visit to the Saint Sofia Museum

 Visit to the Sultan Ahmet Mosque

 Holy Mass in the Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit

 Ecumenical Prayer in the Patriarchal church of St. George

 Private Encounter with His Holiness Bartholomew I in the Patriarchal Palace

 Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014

 Holy Mass in private in the Apostolic Delegation

 Diving Liturgy in the Patriarchal church of St. George

 Ecumenical Blessing and signing of the Joint Declaration

 Lunch between Pope Francis and His Holiness Bartolomeo I at the Ecumenical Patriarchate

 4:45p.m. Leave for the Atatürk Airport of Istanbul

 5:00p.m. Departure by plane from the international Atatürk Airport of Istanbul

 6:40p.m. Arrive at Rome's Ciampino Airport

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A good read in my opinion

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/synod-closes-with-a-clearer-vision-than-when-it-opened/

Synod Closes With Clearer Vision Than When It Opened
by EDWARD PENTIN 10/20/2014



The Third Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on marriage and family life concluded this weekend, with Pope Francis praising the two-week meeting for its “spirit of collegiality and of synodality” and participants agreeing to all but the most contentious issues in a final report.

Despite impassioned debate and some concern at how the meeting was steered in a particular direction, especially in its first week, there was general satisfaction with the final result of this ongoing process. Discussions over the Church’s approach to marriage, family and sexuality will continue for the next year, in preparation for the ordinary synod on the family, set for Oct. 4-25, 2015.
 

[Sister]

http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2014/10/20/photos-from-pope-paul-vis-beatification-ceremony/

Photos from Pope Paul VI's beatification ceremony
October 20, 2014 

I enjoyed looking at this pictures.  Maybe one day I will visit there in person!
Thank you for all the posts.  I do read them.

 

[grace-land]

http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2014/10/20/photos-from-pope-paul-vis-beatification-ceremony/

Photos from Pope Paul VI's beatification ceremony
October 20, 2014 

I enjoyed looking at this pictures.  Maybe one day I will visit there in person!
Thank you for all the posts.  I do read them.

 

Thank you for reading the articles and sharing your thoughts!   
Oh, Sister, I know you would enjoy visiting Rome and the Vatican!  I hope you make plans soon; it's a trip of a lifetime!!

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-at-audience-the-church-the-body-of-christ

Pope at Audience: The Church, the Body of Christ
2014-10-22 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Divisions, jealousies, misunderstandings and marginalization do not help the Church to grow as the Body of Christ, they shatter it into many pieces, they dismember it. Instead we should remember that we – as the Body of Christ – are called to appreciate the gifts and the quality of others in our communities.

Emer McCarthy reports:

The Church as the Body of Christ was the focus of Pope Francis general audience this Wednesday morning, attended by tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists in an autumnal St. Peter’s Square.

Referring to the Apostle Paul’s advice to the quarreling community in Corinth the Pope noted  that many of our Christian communities, our parishes are divided by envy, gossip, misunderstanding and marginalization.

He said this “dismembers us” and moreover is the beginning of war. “War does not begin on the battlefield: war, wars begin in the heart, with this misunderstanding, division, envy, with this fighting among each other”.

No one is superior in the community of the Church, and when we feel tempted to think of ourselves as superior “especially to those who perform the most humble and hidden services” the Pope said we should “remember our sins” in shame before God.

The only way to counter such division is to appreciate the individual qualities and gifts of others and give thanks to God for them.

The Church understood as the Body of Christ – he concluded - is a profound communion of love, its deepest and most beautiful distinguishing feature.

Below please find a Vatican Radio translation of the general audience