March 18, 2024, 10:10:40 PM *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
News: NEW CHILD BOARD CREATED IN THE POLITICAL SECTION FOR THE 2016 ELECTION
 
   Home   Help Login Register  
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 »   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: Pope Francis  (Read 4347874 times)
0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23592



« Reply #260 on: June 08, 2013, 11:37:51 PM »

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/06/08/pope_at_mass:_learning_from_mary_to_keep_the_word_of_god/en1-699623

2013-06-08 12:38:28
Pope at Mass: Learning from Mary to keep the Word of God

(Vatican Radio) Like Mary, we must learn to receive and keep the Word of God safe in our hearts. Marking the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary at morning Mass Saturday, Pope Francis pointed out that Mary assimilated the Word of God into her life, by meditating it and pondering what message the Lord had for her through His Word. This, he said is what safekeeping means. Listen: RealAudioMP3

Pope Francis developed his homily around the two themes of astonishment and safekeeping, starting from the Gospel of the day Luke chapter 2. It recounts the astonishment of the teachers in the Temple listening to Jesus and Mary’s keeping the Word of God safe in her heart. Astonishment, the Pope observed, "is more than joy: it is a moment in which the Word of God comes, is sown in our hearts. " But, he warned, "we cannot always live in wonder", this should be “kept in our hearts” throughout our lives. And this is precisely what Mary does, when she is "astonished" and keeps the "Word of God" in her heart:
 
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23592



« Reply #261 on: June 08, 2013, 11:40:47 PM »

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/06/08/pope:_religious_freedom_often_affirmed,_not_always_put_into_practice/en1-699755

2013-06-08 16:33:25
Pope: Religious freedom often affirmed, not always put into practice

(Vatican Radio) Religious freedom was among the topics which Pope Francis touched upon Saturday during his meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. In his address to the Italian Head of State, Pope Francis recalled how 2013 marks the 17th centenary of the Edict of Milan, a document which many consider to be the first example of religious freedom being promoted.

“In today’s world, religious freedom is more often affirmed than put into practice”, the pope said. It is often threatened, and not infrequently violated. The serious outrages against this fundamental right are a source of serious concern, and need to be confronted at the global level.

Defending religious liberty and making it available for everyone, Pope Francis said, is everyone’s responsibility. Doing so “guarantees the growth and development of the entire community.”
 
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23592



« Reply #262 on: June 09, 2013, 12:05:48 AM »

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/popes-remarks-on-mass-killings-of-armenians-could-damage-ties-with-vatican-foreign-ministry.aspx?pageID=238&nID=48465&NewsCatID=359

Pope’s remarks on mass killings of Armenians could damage ties with Vatican: Foreign Ministry
ANKARA
June/08/2013

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has reacted in a written statement June 8 to Pope Francis’ remarks describing the mass killings of Armenians during World War I as “the first genocide of the 20th century,” warning that his stance could damage ties between the two countries.
 
“What is expected from the Papacy, under the responsibility of its spiritual office, is to contribute to world peace instead of raising animosity over historical events,” the statement read. “The Vatican’s ambassador was called on June 7, 2013, to the Foreign Ministry and was told that Pope Francis’ remarks were unacceptable.”
 
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23592



« Reply #263 on: June 09, 2013, 12:19:52 AM »

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/787740.shtml#.UbQBxr4o7IU

Muslim envoy asks Pope Francis to take ‘step forward’ with declaration
AFP | 2013-6-8 0:23:02 

An envoy from Sunni Islam's highest seat of learning, Al-Azhar in Cairo, raised the prospect of restoring ties with the Vatican on Friday but called on Pope Francis to take "a step forward" by declaring that Islam is a peaceful religion.

"The problems that we had were not with the Vatican but with the former pope. Now the doors of Al-Azhar are open," Mahmoud Abdel Gawad, diplomatic envoy to the grand imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed al-Tayyeb, told Italian daily Il Messaggero in Cairo.

"Francis is a new pope. We are expecting a step forward from him. If in one of his addresses he were to declare that Islam is a peaceful religion, that Muslims are not looking for war or violence, that would be progress in itself," he said.

A ceremony in March in which Pope Francis washed the feet of young inmates in Rome, including a Muslim girl, was "a gesture that was very, very much appreciated" by Al-Azhar, Gawad said.

He said that if Francis were to accept an invitation from Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II to visit Egypt, he could also visit Al-Azhar. "At that point, relations and dialogue would be restored immediately," he was quoted as saying.

But Gawad ruled out the prospect of talks between the leaders of the world's three main monotheistic religions mentioned in Vatican circles, saying Al-Azhar "will not take part in any meeting with Israelis."
 

Logged
Sister
Monkey All Star Jr.
****
Offline Offline

Posts: 8648



« Reply #264 on: June 09, 2013, 01:05:43 AM »

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/06/07/pope_launches_into_spontaneous_qa_with_students/en1-699446

2013-06-07 17:22:41
Pope launches into spontaneous Q&A with students

(Vatican Radio) In a style that seems to have almost become signature of the current pontificate, Pope Francis stepped out of yet another scripted session to engage in a spontaneous question-and-answer period with hundreds of children and teens.

The papal audience in the Paul VI Hall with students, teachers and staff of Jesuit grade schools and high schools on Friday became a friendly dialogue between the 76-year-old pontiff and the young people.

The students, who had come from six Italian cities and one school in Albania, were passing the time singing a Christian rap song, when the Pope entered the hall unannounced. At his sighting, they immediately erupted into cheers and applause.

In response, it seems, Pope Francis decided to put his five-page written message aside.

“I prepared a text, but it’s five pages! A little boring,” he said to the young people, who responded with laughter.

He proposed to give short summary and then take questions from the students instead.

With sensitivity and humour, the Pope answered 10 frank questions, that ranged from his priestly vocation to his decision to forego the usual papal apartment.

When asked if it was a difficult to leave his family and friends and become a priest, the pope said it was. “It is not easy but there are beautiful moments and Jesus helps you and gives you some joy.”

When asked why he wanted to join the Jesuits, he said he wanted to be a missionary and he was attracted by the religious order’s missionary zeal and activity.

When asked why he decided to renounce the usual papal apartment, he said it was a question of personality, not of luxury.

“I have a need to live among people.” he said. “If I were to live alone, perhaps a little isolate, it would not be good for me. … It is my personality. … It is not an issue of personal virtue, it is only that I cannot live alone.”
 

grace-land, I have read several accounts of this and it warms my heart.
 
Logged


grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23592



« Reply #265 on: June 09, 2013, 01:48:12 AM »

The students like Pope Francis!  I think that the students were absolutely thrilled that he changed his mind about the 5-page prepared text and chose to answer their questions.  What a wonderful experience for them! 

The first time that I saw a pope at the Vatican, I had to pinch myself that it was not a dream.  Awesome experience!  I saw Pope John Paul II when he came to America.  I'll never forget his friendly face! 


Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23592



« Reply #266 on: June 09, 2013, 07:40:36 PM »

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/06/09/pope_francis:_sunday_angelus_(full_text)/en1-699870

2013-06-09 12:57:28
Pope Francis: Sunday Angelus (full text)

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis prayed the Angelus with thousands of pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square this Sunday. In his remarks to the gathered faithful, the Holy Father reflected on the mercy of Our Lord, which is the focus of the Church's prayerful attention during the month of June, traditionally dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Below, please find Vatican Radio's English translation of the Holy Father's remarks. Listen: RealAudioMP3
**************************************
Dear brothers and sisters!

The month of June is traditionally dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the highest human expression of divine love. Just this past Friday, in fact, we celebrated the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: the feast that sets the tone for the whole month. Popular piety highly prizes symbols, and the Heart of Jesus is the ultimate symbol of God's mercy – but it is not an imaginary symbol, it is a real symbol, which represents the center, the source from which salvation for all humanity gushed forth
 
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23592



« Reply #267 on: June 09, 2013, 07:45:41 PM »

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/06/07/archbishop_of_canterbury_to_make_first_visit_to_vatican/en1-698895

2013-06-09 18:09:10
Archbishop of Canterbury to make first visit to Vatican

(Vatican Radio) The new Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby is scheduled to make a first visit to the Vatican on Friday June 14th to meet Pope Francis and hold talks at the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. During the one-day visit, the leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion is also due to visit the Necropolis containing the burial place of St Peter underneath the Basilica and pray at the tomb of Blessed John Paul II.

Archbishop Welby was unable to attend the inauguration of Pope Francis on March 19th this year as he was installed at the start of his own ministry in Canterbury Cathedral two days later. This papal audience will mark an important moment for both leaders to share common concerns and discuss the future of the Anglican-Catholic dialogue.

For a closer look, Philippa Hitchen spoke to Msgr Mark Langham, in charge of Anglican relations at the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
 

Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23592



« Reply #268 on: June 10, 2013, 10:52:53 PM »

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/06/10/pope_at_mass:_christian_consolation_and_the_law_of_the_truly_free/en1-700096

2013-06-10 12:32:23
Pope at Mass: Christian consolation and the law of the truly free

(Vatican Radio) The Beatitudes are 'new commandments', but they are not just a simple do gooders list. They cannot be understood with the mind, only with the heart, so if our hearts are closed to God we will never know true freedom. Christian consolation is the presence of God in our hearts which teaches us to understand the Beatitudes as the law of the truly free. This was the main focus of Pope Francis’ homily Monday morning at Mass in the Casa Santa Marta residence. Emer McCarthy reports Listen: RealAudioMP3

Reflecting on the daily readings the Pope began by noting that, at the beginning of the Second Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul uses the word consolation several times. The Apostle to the Gentiles, he added, "speaks to Christians who are young in the faith," people who "have recently begun to follow the path of Jesus", he insists on this, even if "they were not all persecuted." They were normal people, "but they had found Jesus." The Pope said this "was such a life-changing experience that a special strength from God was needed" and this strength is consolation. Consolation, he said again, "is the presence of God in our hearts." But, Pope Francis warned, in order for the Lord "to be present in our hearts, we must open the door”. His presence requires our "conversion":

"This is salvation: to live in the consolation of the Holy Spirit, not the consolation of the spirit of this world. No, that is not salvation, that is sin. Salvation is moving forward and opening our hearts so they can receive the Holy Spirit’s consolation, which is salvation. This is non-negotiable, you can’t take a bit from here and a bit from there? We cannot pick and mix, no? A bit of the Holy Spirit, a bit of the spirit of this world ... No! It’s one thing or the other. "
 
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23592



« Reply #269 on: June 11, 2013, 10:15:39 PM »

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/06/11/pope_at_mass:_poverty_and_praise_of_god_/en1-700426

2013-06-11 12:55:02
Pope at Mass: Poverty and praise of God

(Vatican Radio) The Gospel should be generously and simply proclaimed said Pope Francis during morning Mass Tuesday in the Casa Santa Marta chapel. Poverty and praise of God, he said are the two key signs of an evangelical and missionary Church. Instead a rich Church becomes an old, lifeless Church, it becomes an NGO that neglects the true treasure of God's free grace. Emer McCarthy reports: RealAudioMP3

Pope Francis began his homily quoting Jesus exhortation to the Apostles, sent to proclaim the Kingdom of God: "Provide yourselves with no gold or silver, not even with coppers for your purses" (M 10:9). He said the Lord wants us to proclaim the Gospel with simplicity, a simplicity "that gives way to the power of the Word of God," because if the Apostles had not had "confidence in the Word of God," "they would probably have done something else”. Pope Francis went on to identify the "key word" in the mandate given by Jesus: "Freely you have received, freely give." He said everything is grace and when we leave grace “a little to one side” in our proclamation, the Gospel “is not effective".

"Evangelical preaching flows from gratuitousness, from the wonder of the salvation that comes and that which I have freely received I must freely give. This is what they were like at the beginning. St. Peter did not have a bank account, and when he had to pay taxes, the Lord sent him to the sea to catch fish and find the money in the fish, to pay. Philip, when he met Queen Candace’s finance minister, did not think, 'Ah, good, let’s set up an organization to support the Gospel ...' No! He did not strike a ‘deal’ with him: he preached, baptized and left"
 
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23592



« Reply #270 on: June 11, 2013, 10:28:27 PM »

http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Blog/2319/report_pope_francis_acknowledges_curia_gay_lobby_expresses_concern_over_pelagian_traditionalists_updated.aspx#.UbfPOL4o7IU

Report: Pope Francis acknowledges Curia “gay lobby,” expresses concern over “Pelagian” traditionalists UPDATED
June 11, 2013 02:56 EST

and another article--

http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Francis Unplugged – Report Claims PopeTalk on "Cosmos Bath" Nuns, "Ancien Regime" Trads, "The Handling of Money"... and The Curia's "Gay Lobby"

(SVILUPPO – 11.45am ET: Amid requests for comment on the substance of the following, the Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi told CNN that "It was a private meeting. I have no comment to make.")
 
 
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23592



« Reply #271 on: June 12, 2013, 09:39:35 PM »

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/06/12/pope_at_mass:_true_progress_is_in_trusting_the_spirit/en1-700777

2013-06-12 12:51:49
Pope at Mass: True progress is in trusting the Spirit

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis addressed the two extremes that threaten the progress of the Church at mass Wednesday morning: Fear of any change to the status quo which stops the Church moving forward and a tendency to follow every change dictated by today’s culture, which he described as an ‘adolescent progressivism’ that risks ‘de-railing’ believers.

Instead, the way forward for the Church, as indicated by the Holy Spirit, is that of "freedom," in continuously discerning God’s will and, he added, rules which kill charisms should not be imposed. The problem and temptation, said Pope Francis, is that we cannot control the Holy Spirit.. Emer McCarthy reports: RealAudioMP3

The Pope’s homily centered around Jesus’ words in the Gospel of the day, (MT 5:17) " Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets." He said this Gospel passage which follows the Beatitudes is "an expression of the new law" which is more demanding than that of Moses. This law, the Pope added, is "the fruit of the Covenant" and cannot be understood without it. "This Alliance, this law is sacred because it brought the people to God." Pope Francis likened the "maturity of this law" to a " bursting bud that reveals a flower." Jesus "is the expression of the maturity of the law". The Pope noted that Paul speaks of two times "without breaking continuity" between the law of history and the law of the Spirit:

"The hour of the law’s fulfillment, is when the law reaches its maturity when it becomes the law of the Spirit. Moving forward on this road is somewhat risky, but it is the only road to maturity, to leave behind the times in which we are not mature. Part of the law’s journey to maturity, which comes with preaching Jesus, always involves fear; fear of the freedom that the Spirit gives us. The law of the Spirit makes us free! This freedom frightens us a little, because we are afraid we will confuse the freedom of the Spirit with human freedom. "
 
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23592



« Reply #272 on: June 12, 2013, 09:44:14 PM »

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/06/12/pope:_we_are_all_invited_to_be_members_of_the_people_of_god/en1-700783

2013-06-12 13:11:58
Pope: we are all invited to be members of the People of God

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday addressed the crowds of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for the weekly General Audience.

Please find below Vatican Radio's full translation of his address.

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Today I would like to touch briefly on another of the terms with which the Second Vatican Council defined the Church, that of “People of God" (cf. Dogmatic Constitution. Lumen Gentium, 9; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 782). I shall do so with a few questions upon which we can all reflect.

1. What does it mean to be "People of God"? First of all, it means that God does not really belong to any people; for it is He who calls us, who summons us, who invites us to be part of his people, and this invitation is open to all, without distinction, because God’s mercy “desires all people to be saved "(1 Tim 2:4). Jesus does not tell the Apostles and us to form an exclusive group, an elite group. Jesus says: Go and make disciples of all nations (cf. Mt 28:19). St Paul says that within the people of God, in the Church, "there is neither Jew nor Gentile ... for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal 3:28). I would like to say to those who feel far from God and the Church, to those who are fearful or indifferent, to those who think they can no longer change: the Lord is calling you too to be part of his people and he does it with great respect and love! He invites us to be a part of this people, the people of God
 
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23592



« Reply #273 on: June 12, 2013, 09:50:00 PM »

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/06/12/3447887/andres-oppenheimer-pope-francis.html

Posted on Wednesday, 06.12.13
Andres Oppenheimer: Pope Francis’ first 100 days give signs of hope

As Argentine-born Pope Francis nears his first 100 days in office, there is little question that he has brought about a change in style at the Vatican with his daily gestures of humility. But there are also signs that he may bring about a change in substance.

In recent days, a leak of private comments Francis made to a group of Latin American Catholics has garnered big headlines, the Catholic world, and is giving us the best insight so far into whether — and how — the pope intends to carry out much-needed reforms in the Church.

The leak, published in the website of the left-of-center Chilean Catholic magazine Reflexion y Liberacion, quotes Francis as having told a delegation of the Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Religious, known by its acronym CLAR, that he is confronting a network of “corruption’’ and a “gay lobby” within the Vatican that are allegedly resisting reforms.

His remarks at a June 6 private audience with CLAR were apparently referring to the Vatican’s financial scandals and cover-ups of sexual abuses by pedophile priests.

Perhaps more importantly, Francis told his Latin American visitors that he is bent on reforming the Church, although he cautioned that the changes will be carried out by an eight-member commission of cardinals he has appointed.

“The reform in the Roman Church is something that all cardinals asked for in meetings prior to the conclave. I asked for it too,” the Pope is quoted as telling his CLAR visitors. “The reform can’t be done by me... I am very disorganized, I’ve never been good at that. But the commission’s cardinals will carry it out.”

A CLAR statement later said it “profoundly laments” the unauthorized publication of the pope’s remarks, which it said were not taped nor transcribed verbatim. It said that a group of CLAR leaders had jointly written a synopsis of the pope’s comments for the group’s internal use.

The Vatican said Tuesday it would not comment, because the meeting was a private audience. The pope’s apparent remarks are believed to be his first explicit admission that there are corrupt forces within the Church.
 
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23592



« Reply #274 on: June 13, 2013, 10:17:02 PM »

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/06/13/pope_at_mass:_the_grace_not_to_speak_ill_of_others/en1-701107

2013-06-13 12:43:59
Pope at Mass: The grace not to speak ill of others

(Vatican Radio) May the Lord grant us the grace to watch our tongues and be careful of what we say of others, because through our weakness and sin, we often find it easier to insult and denigrate than say or do good. This was the lesson at the heart of Pope Francis’ homily Thursday morning at Mass, which he celebrated in his native Spanish. Greeting the men and women who work at Argentina’s embassies and consulates to Italy and the UN Food and Agricultural Organization in Rome, Pope Francis noted “It’s the first time I have celebrated Mass in Spanish since February 26th!, adding “it feels good!”. Emer McCarthy reports: RealAudioMP3

As is tradition, Pope Francis’ homily was inspired by the Gospel of the day, in particular Christ’s words to his disciples "unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven."

The Pope noted how this Gospel follows the Gospel of the Beatitudes and Jesus promise that He had not come to dissolve the law but to fulfill it. Pope Francis said that Christ wants “reform in continuity: from the [planting of the ] seed up to the fruit”.
 
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23592



« Reply #275 on: June 13, 2013, 10:22:05 PM »

http://www.religionnews.com/2013/06/13/pope-francis-first-100-days-what-weve-learned-so-far/

Pope Francis’ first 100 days: What we’ve learned so far
Alessandro Speciale    |  Jun 13, 2013

VATICAN CITY (RNS) When Pope Benedict XVI shocked the world in February in becoming the first pope to resign in 600 years, he left behind a Roman Catholic Church weakened by scandals, beset by infighting and suffering from a general sense of isolation from the modern world.

Three months after the election of Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio as Pope Francis, much of the gloom seems to have lifted.

St. Peter’s Square is again a magnet for legions of pilgrims, and the communications problems that dogged Benedict’s papacy have receded. Francis’ simpler, direct style, together with his focus on the poor and the marginalized, has captivated the world.

The first pope from Latin America has now amassed more Twitter followers in Spanish than any other language.

As Francis prepares to mark his first 100 days in office next week (June 20) — an admittedly arbitrary measure for a 2,000-year-old institution that thinks in centuries — here’s what we’ve learned so far about this most unconventional of popes:
 
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23592



« Reply #276 on: June 13, 2013, 10:34:24 PM »

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2013/06/13/pope-francis-is-a-spiritual-success-says-rabbi/

Pope Francis is a ‘spiritual success’, says rabbi
Thursday, 13 June 2013

Pope Francis is a “wonderful” leader of the Church and “a spiritual success”, an Argentine rabbi has said

Rabbi Abraham Skorka, an Argentine biophysicist and rector of the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary, made the comments at an inter-religious gathering held in Rome earlier this month. During the visit he and and more than 20 other participants, including Jews and Catholics from the United States, Italy, Argentina and Uruguay, attended the Pope’s weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square.

Rabbi Skorka told reporters after the audience that the Pope looked “very well” and was “wonderful” as Pope. The rabbi added that he was not at all surprised with the new Pontiff’s popularity.

“You can see with your own eyes the success, the spiritual success, he has achieved through his words, manners and, even, revolutionary acts,” he said.

Not only will Pope Francis continue on in the same vein, the rabbi predicted, but he will be “emphasising changes, accepting challenges more and more, undoubtedly with God’s help and God’s blessings.”
 
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23592



« Reply #277 on: June 13, 2013, 10:59:43 PM »

http://www.uscatholic.org/news/201306/pope-confirms-hes-finishing-encyclical-begun-pope-benedict-27450

Pope confirms he's finishing encyclical begun by Pope Benedict
(June 13, 2013)

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis told members of the ordinary council of the Synod of Bishops that he was preparing to publish an encyclical on faith written "with four hands" -- his own and those of Pope Benedict XVI.

While a formal speech was prepared for the pope's meeting with the council responsible for helping draft post-synodal apostolic exhortations and suggesting themes for the next synod, Pope Francis told them, "The text will be given to you, no problem, but it would be better to talk among ourselves a bit."

Audio from the meeting June 13 was broadcast in the Vatican press office.

Pope Francis told council members he had received their suggested draft for a post-synodal apostolic exhortation on the new evangelization, the theme of the Synod of Bishops in October 2012.

"But there's a problem. The encyclical has to come out and it's an encyclical written with four hands, so to speak, because Pope Benedict began writing it and he gave it to me," the pope said. "It's a strong document. I will say in it that I received it and most of the work was done by him and I completed it." -
 
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23592



« Reply #278 on: June 14, 2013, 09:55:14 PM »

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/06/14/pope_francis:_friday_mass_at_santa_marta/en1-701428

2013-06-14 12:23:45
Pope Francis: Friday Mass at Santa Marta

(Vatican Radio) The only way truly to receive the gift of salvation in Christ is with sincerity to recognize oneself as weak and sinful, and to avoid any form of self-justification. This was the focus of Pope Francis’ remarks at Mass Friday morning in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae residence in the Vatican. Listen: RealAudioMP3

Aware of being a weak vessel of clay, yet the guardian of a great treasure that was given to him in a totally free way: this is the follower of Christ before the Lord. Pope Francis took the point of reflection from the day’s readings, specifically from the 2nd Letter of St Paul to the Corinthians, which explains that the "extraordinary power" of faith is God's work, that it has been poured out into sinful men, into "earthen vessels", in fact. Nevertheless, explained Pope Francis, it is precisely from the relationship "between the grace and power of Jesus Christ" and ourselves, poor sinners as we are, that "the dialogue of salvation" springs. This dialogue, moreover, must avoid any "self-justification", and be between God and “ourselves as we are.”:

“Paul has spoken many times - it's like a refrain, no? - of his sins. 'But I tell you this: I've been a persecutor of the Church, I pursued ...' it always comes back to his memory of sin. He feels sinful. – but even then he does not say: 'I was [a sinner], but now I am holy', no. Even now, a thorn of Satan in my flesh. He shows us his own weakness, his own sin. He is a sinner who accepts Jesus Christ, who dialogues with Jesus Christ.”

The key, says Pope Francis, is therefore humility. Paul himself proves it. He publicly acknowledges "his track record of service," i.e. all he had done as an Apostle of Jesus, but he does not hide or gloss over what the Pope calls "his handbook", i.e. his sins:
 
 
Logged
grace-land
Monkey Mega Star
******
Offline Offline

Posts: 23592



« Reply #279 on: June 14, 2013, 10:03:29 PM »

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/06/14/pope_and_archbishop_of_canterbury_pledge_to_work_together_toward/en1-701502

2013-06-14 14:23:10
Pope and Archbishop of Canterbury pledge to work together towards reconciliation and unity

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met on Friday with the new Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, stressing the need to work and worship together in the search for reconciliation and unity between the Catholic and Anglican communities. Philippa Hitchen was on hand in the library of the Apostolic Palace to hear what the Pope and the Archbishop had to say....

Listen: RealAudioMP3

The promotion of common Christian values, the need for greater social justice and a commitment to reconciliation and conflict resolution: those were three key areas of cooperation that Pope Francis highlighted during his first meeting with the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who began his own ministry just two days after the papal inauguration in March this year. Stressing especially the need to find a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis, the Pope said Christians can bring peace to the world – but only when they themselves live and work together in harmony.

The history of relations between the Church of England and the Catholic Church, the Pope said, is “ complex and not without pain” But he said the theological dialogue, through the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission, and the growth of friendships at every level, “have enabled us to remain on course even when great difficulties have arisen”. The Pope noted with gratitude the efforts of the Church of England to “understand the reasons” why Pope Benedict set up the Ordinariate for former Anglicans – a move which strained relations when the surprise announcement was made back in 2009.

In his words to the Pope Francis, Archbishop Welby spoke of the legacy of the previous pontiffs since the Second Vatican Council to the journey towards full Christian Unity. Wearing the episcopal ring, given by Paul VI to Archbishop Michael Ramsey back in 1966, the leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion said “it is only as the world sees Christians growing visibly in unity” that it will accept the divine message of peace and reconciliation.

After a half hour private conversation and a shared moment of prayer in the chapel of the Apostolic Palace, the two leaders set off, relaxed and smiling together, for lunch at the Santa Martha guesthouse in the Vatican where Pope Francis resides. It certainly seemed, in this first brief encounter at least, that there is much shared ground for growing together in service to the common good.

Below, please find the complete translation of Pope Francis' discourse at the meeting, followed by the complete text of Archbishop Welby's address:
 
 
Logged
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 »   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Use of this web site in any manner signifies unconditional acceptance, without exception, of our terms of use.
Powered by SMF 1.1.13 | SMF © 2006-2011, Simple Machines LLC
 
Page created in 6.349 seconds with 19 queries.