Pope Francis

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http://www.news.va/en/news/official-logo-of-pope-francis-in-cuba-revealed

Official logo of Pope Francis in Cuba revealed
2015-08-13 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) The official logo of Pope Francis’s apostolic voyage to Cuba has been released.  The Holy Father will visit the nation from September 19-22, 2015. The organizing committee also has a website for the visit, a Facebook Page, and a Twitter account.

On September 21, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass in Havana’s Revolution Square, and visit the city’s Cathedral.  On September 22, the Pope will travel to eastern Cuba, and celebrate Mass in the city of Holguin. On September 23, he will be in Santiago de Cuba, and celebrate Mass at the Shrine of the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre.
 

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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/biblical-treasures-to-be-displayed-in-philadelphia

Biblical Treasures to Be Displayed in Philadelphia
Rome,  August 13, 2015

The Pope’s visit to Philadelphia, scheduled for September 22-27, will be marked by an exceptional exhibition. The title of the exhibition of ancient paper fragments, prepared by the Penn Museum of Philadelphia (from August 15 to November 7), is entitled “Sacred Writings. Extraordinary Texts of the Biblical World.” As L’Osservatore Romano notes, the objective is to highlight the various ways in which the Bible and the traditions that flourished around it have been represented through the centuries and throughout the Continents.

Thus it will be possible to see one of the oldest fragments of Matthew’s Gospel, written on papyrus, in ancient Greek, going back to the 3rd century. The fragment contains the beginning of the Apostle’s Gospel, in which Jesus’ lineage is illustrated. Another valuable piece is the first translation of the New Testament in English, authorized by the Church of Rome, and printed at Rheims in France in 1582. Also exhibited will be the first unabridged Bible printed in the New World, whose translation for the Americans of Massachusetts was done in 1663 by the Puritan missionary John Eliot. In addition, it will be possible to admire an ancient clay tablet, with Sumerian cuneiform characters, dated around 1650 before the Christian era, which includes the first version of the great flood in Mesopotamia. This version was later incorporated in the Epic of Gilgamesh.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/accord-signed-between-holy-see-and-east-timor

Accord signed between Holy See and East Timor
2015-08-14 Vatican Radio


(Vatican Radio) Cardinal Pietro Parolin and East Timor’s Prime Minister Rui Maria de Araujo on Friday (14th Aug.) siged a mutual collaboration accord dealing with the juridical relationship between the Holy See and East Timor. Speaking in an address after the signing of the accord, Cardinal Parolin said the document was a significant sign of the fruitful interaction between Church and State in the nation. He is currently on a 3-day visit to East Timor which this year is celebrating its 5th century of Christian evangelization. 

Please find below the full text of Cardinal Parolin’s address to the East Timorese authorities after the signing of the accord:
 

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http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/for-pope-francis-marys-magnanimity-comes-down-this-one-virtue-30607/

For Pope Francis, Mary's greatness comes down to this one virtue

Vatican City, Aug 15, 2015 / 07:18 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On the feast of the Assumption of Mary, Pope Francis said that faith is the defining virture of her greatness and that the mysterious way she was taken into heaven is a foreshadowing of what awaits each of us.

"The Gospel also shows us the truest reason for Mary's greatness and her blessedness: it is faith," the Pope told pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for his Aug. 15 Angelus address, marking the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary.

Faith, he said, "is the heart of Mary's entire story; she knew - and she said it - that throughout history weighs the violence of the overbearing, the pride of the rich, the arrogance of the proud."

Yet she still believed and proclaimed "that God does not leave his children alone, humble and poor, but sustains them with merciful care, casting down the mighty from their thrones, scattering the proud in the conceit of their hearts."

Dogmatically defined in 1950, the assumption of the Virgin Mary's body into heaven is celebrated Aug. 15 every year, and is one of the most important Marian feast days in the Catholic Church.
 

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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/angelus-on-jesus-the-bread-of-life

ANGELUS: On Jesus, the Bread of Life
Vatican City,  August 16, 2015

Below is a translation of Pope Francis’ address before and after the recitation of the Angelus prayer today at noon to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square:
***

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

In these Sundays, the Liturgy proposes to us, from the Gospel of John, Jesus' discourse on the Bread of Life, that is He Himself and that is also the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Today's passage (Jn. 6, 51-58) presents the last part of that discourse, and refers to some of those among the people who are scandalized because Jesus said: "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day" (Jn. 6,54).

The astonishment of those listening is understandable; in fact, Jesus uses the typical style of the prophets to provoke in the people – and also in us – questions and, in the end, to make a decision. The first of the questions is: What does "eat Jesus' flesh and drink his blood" mean? Is it only an image, a way of saying, a symbol, or does it indicate something real? To answer this, one needs to guess what is happening in Jesus' heart while he breaks the bread for the hungry crowd. Knowing that He must die on the cross for us, Jesus identifies Himself with that broken and shared bread, and that becomes for Him the "sign" of the Sacrifice that awaits Him. This process culminates in the Last Supper, where the bread and wine truly become His Body and His Blood.

It is the Eucharist where Jesus leaves us a precise purpose: that we can become one with Him. In fact, he says: "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him" (v.56). To remain: Jesus in us and us in Him. Communion is assimilation: eating Him, we become Him. But this requires our "yes", our adherence to the faith
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/high-visitor-numbers-at-holy-see-expo-pavilion

High visitor numbers at Holy See Expo pavilion
2015-08-16 Vatican Radio


(Vatican Radio) The Holy See’s pavilion at Expo Milan has said that on Ferragosto, the Feast of the Assumption on Saturday, turnout at its exhibition was very high and saw many families coming along to view it.

It also confirmed that in the first half of August more than 100 thousand people visited the event.

Since the beginning of Expo in May the Holy See’s pavilion has seen in excess of 600 thousand visitors.

In particular much interest has been shown in the tapestry by Rubens which features “the institution of the Eucharist”. It replaced “The Last Supper” by Tintoretto. Visitors, according to guides and volunteers at the exhibit, have expressed much curiosity in the interactive aspects of the pavilion, such as the a special effect movie inspired by the theme of creation.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/08/17/holy_sees_expo_milan_website_launches_english_edition/1165613

Holy See's Expo Milan website launches English edition
17/08/2015 15:03

(Vatican Radio) The website of the Holy See’s Pavilion at the Expo Milan 2015 has released an English version. The theme of the Universal Exhibition taking place in Milan is Feeding the Planet. Energy for Life. The theme of the Holy See Pavilion is Not by bread alone.

2015 is the second time Milan has hosted the Universal Exposition; the first was in 1906. This year’s Expo opened on May 1, and will close on October 31.

The website - which was launched in Italian at the beginning of the Expo -  includes many features, including a history of the Holy See’s involvement in the International Exposition movement, from the time of Pius IX and the era of the Papal States. It also has a video tour of the Holy See’s Pavilion.
 
The website can be found at the following address: http://www.expoholysee.org/eng-home

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-prays-for-china-disaster-victims

Pope prays for China disaster victims
2015-08-15 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Following the Angelus on Saturday, Pope Francis turned his attention to the victims of Wednesday’s tragic explosions in the Chinese city of Tianjin. “My thoughts go out, in this moment, to the people of the city of Tianjin, in northern China, where several explosions in an industrial area have caused numerous deaths and injuries, and extensive damage.”   

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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/vatican-museums-launches-fundraising-art-lovers-platform-app

Vatican Museums Launches Fundraising, 'Art Lovers Platform,' App
Vatican City State,  August 17, 2015

The Vatican Museums has launched a fundraising app--said to be an "exciting platform for art lovers"--which can be downloaded for free from the App Store.

In a press release, the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums announced ‘Patrum,’ targeted at patrons and donors and intended to raise needed funds for several major restoration projects. There is a requested minimum donation of $10.

In existence since 1982 when a major exhibition went to the cities of New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums remains dedicated to preserving the collection of art housed in the Vatican Museums. Since it began, interested people helped restore the works from that exhibition and since then, the number of patrons continues to grow.

“Patrum is the first ever cultural institution app bringing together instant chat technology, crowdsource fundraising, and online community building," the release stated, noting the app "is your connection to engaging deeply and instantly with the art in the Vatican Museums, revolutionizing the accessibility and understanding of one of the most famous collections in the world."
 

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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/fatima-statue-to-visit-syria-in-september

Fatima Statue to Visit Syria in September
Rome,  August 17, 2015

The pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima will make its way to Damascus, Syria, during the month of September.

The announcement of the statue's visit was made last Wednesday by the rector of the Shrine of Fatima, Father Carlos Cabecinhas. The purpose of the pilgrimage is "to implore the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the peace and well-being of the Christian communities of the country who are suffering the destruction of war."

During a press conference, Fr. Cabecinhas stated that the visit of the statue was in response to a petition made by His Beatitude Gregory III Laham, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and Alexandria and Jerusalem.

"The message of Fatima is a message of peace," Fr. Cabecinhas said.

He also called on the faithful to accompany the pilgrimage with their prayers "so that the Lord may grant peace to Syria and strengthen the Christians who live there."
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-jubilee-of-mercy-a-time-to-care-for-s

Pope Francis: Jubilee of Mercy a time to care for sick and dying
2015-08-18 Vatican Radio


Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has said the Jubilee of Mercy will be a “good opportunity for increasing the collaboration between pastors and the laity in the mission of affectionately and tenderly caring for the sick and dying.”

His words were conveyed in a message sent to Manuel Martin Sjöberg, President of the Federación de Servicios de sacerdotales Urgencia y Nocturno (Federation of Priestly Emergency Services).

The society was founded in 1952 in Cordoba, Argentina, to help those in need receive the sacraments, especially when it is difficult to find a priest.
 

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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/colombian-guerrilla-group-requests-audience-with-pope-francis

Colombian Guerrilla Group Requests Audience With Pope Francis
Rome,  August 18, 2015

Representatives of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have requested to meet with Pope Francis during his visit to Cuba in September.

Peace talks between FARC and the Colombian government have been taking place in Havana, Cuba, since 2012. The request for a meeting with the Holy Father was made to the Episcopal Conference of Colombia by Antonio Lozada, one of the negotiators representing the guerrilla group.

Lozada also requested that a delegate from the Holy See to be present during the negotiations. “We want to study the possibility of a meeting (with the Pope), but we know it’s something the Vatican and the Cuban Government must study,” Lozada said in a statement.

“We are proposing that there also be a delegate of Pope Francis in the negotiations, although we know that it is something that both parties must request.”

A delegation from the Episcopal Conference of Colombia, led by its president, Archbishop Luis A. Castro Quiroga, met with representatives of FARC to assist in the peace negotiations. According to Italian Catholic news blog, Il Sismografo, the meeting between the bishops and the guerrilla group lasted for roughly two hours.

In a press conference following the meeting, Archbishop Quiroga said that a meeting between the Pope and the FARC representatives is a possibility.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-at-audience-catechesis-on-dignity-of

Pope Francis at audience: catechesis on dignity of work
2015-08-19 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis held his weekly General Audience in the Paul VI Hall on Wednesday. The Holy Father focused his catechetical remarks on work. In the English summary read out following the main catechesis in Italian, the Pope explained that work complements our moments of celebration and is also a part of God’s creative design. “Through work,” said Pope Francis, “the family is cared for and children are provided with a dignified life.” The catechesis went on to explain that, in this way, the common good is served, as witnessed by the example of so many fathers and mothers who teach their children the value of work for family life and society.

Addressing this theme during the main catechesis in Italian, Pope Francis departed from his prepared text to say, “It makes me sad, when I see people without work, who do not find work and haven’t the dignity of bringing bread home – and it cheers me when I see that political leaders make great efforts to find jobs and to seek to make sure that everyone has a job.” The Holy Father went on to say, “Work is sacred, work gives dignity to a family: we must pray that work be not lacking in any family.”
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-sends-heartfelt-solidarity-after-thai

Pope Francis sends "heartfelt solidarity" after Thailand attack
2015-08-19 Vatican Radio


(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has expressed his “heartfelt solidarity” after the terrorist attack on the Erawan Hindu Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand, which killed 20 people. In a telegram sent to King Bhumibol Adulyadej through the Cardinal Secretary of State, the Pope said he was “deeply saddened” to learn about injury and loss of life caused by the attack.

“Mindful of the security and emergency personnel who are seeking the perpetrators of these crimes, while also assisting the injured, their families and those of the deceased, His Holiness offers the assurance of his prayers and invokes the divine blessings of peace and healing upon the Kingdom,” the message reads.

The full text of the telegram is below
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/08/20/pope_francis_mercy_towards_migrants/1166409

Pope Francis: Mercy towards migrants
20/08/2015 16:34

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis has chosen as the theme for the 2016 World Day for Migrants and Refugees the theme: Migrants and refugees challenge us. The response of the Gospel of Mercy. A communique released by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People said the choice of this theme fits in well within the context of the upcoming Jubilee Year of Mercy proclaimed by the Pope. It said the chosen theme wishes to underline two aspects: the first the dramatic situation of so many men, women and children people forced to flee their homes saying this is a reality that must challenge us and break the barrier of indifference that so often reigns. The second part of the theme stresses the response of the world and in particular of the Church to the plights of migrants. The communique said the Pope urges Christians to reflect during the upcoming Jubilee Year on works of corporal and spiritual mercy that include among them welcoming strangers.
 

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http://nineteensixty-four.blogspot.com/2015/08/when-pope-visits.html

Nineteen Sixty-four is a research blog for the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University edited by Mark M. Gray. CARA is a non-profit research center that conducts social scientific studies about the Catholic Church. Founded in 1964, CARA has three major dimensions to its mission: to increase the Catholic Church's self understanding; to serve the applied research needs of Church decision-makers; and to advance scholarly research on religion, particularly Catholicism. Follow CARA on Twitter at: caracatholic.

8.20.2015
When the Pope Visits

How different is the Catholic Church in the United States that Pope Francis will visit in September from the Church his predecessors visited? Pope Paul VI was first to visit the United States in 1965. Pope John Paul II visited seven times between 1979 and 1999, however, two of these trips were short stopovers in Alaska in 1981 and 1984. Pope Benedict XVI visited in 2008. The figures below provide some detail about what the Catholic Church and the Catholic population were like during papal visits (where data are available).
 

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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/colombian-bishop-says-pope-to-send-delegate-in-ongoing-peace-process

Colombian Bishop Says Pope to Send Delegate in Ongoing Peace Process
Rome,  August 21, 2015

The president of the Colombian Bishops Conference confirmed that Pope Francis has proposed to send an ******* of the Holy See in the peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) currently taking place in Havana, Cuba.

In an interview with a local radio station, Archbishop Luis A. Castro Quiroga stated that the move "is the form in which Pope Francis can support the Colombian peace process."

"The acceptance of this figure must have the consent of both parties, the Colombian government and the FARC," he said.

The announcement comes several days after representatives of the FARC requested to meet with the Holy Father during his visit to Cuba in September. Antonio Lozada, one of the negotiators representing the FARC also requested that a delegate from the Holy See be present during the negotiations. “We want to study the possibility of a meeting (with the Pope), but we know it’s something the Vatican and the Cuban Government must study,” Lozada said in a statement.
 

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More photos at the link...enjoy!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/pope-visits-united-states_55d3720be4b07addcb44403c

50 Years Of Pope Visits To The United States
Posted: 08/18/2015 08:05 PM EDT | Edited: 08/18/2015 09:02 PM EDT

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pope Paul VI, left, and U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson during the pontiff's official visit in New York, United States, Oct. 4, 1965, to deliver a speech about peace in the world at the United Nations.

Pope Francis will make his first visit to the United States in September, with stops in Washington, New York and Philadelphia. His trip will add to the 50-year history of pope visits to the U.S.

Pope Paul VI made the first papal visit to the U.S. in October 1965. He addressed the United Nations General Assembly, attended the New York World's Fair and celebrated Mass at Yankee Stadium. He also met with President Lyndon Johnson.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-sends-support-to-missionaries-at-ital

Pope Francis sends support to missionaries at Italian beach
2015-08-22 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a message to the missionaries of the “Nuovi Orizzonti” (New Horizons) community, who were spreading the Gospel at Riccione beach, which is a popular vacation spot near Rimini, Italy.   

The Pope was responding to a letter sent by the members of the community, which explained they chose Riccione for their mission because it had recently become “infamous” for being a place where “young people lose their lives due to a deviant culture of drugs, sex, and ‘unrestrained’ entertainments.”

In their letter, the young missionaries – all between the ages of 18 and 35 – said there is a “great thirst for God” in the hearts of young people.
 

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http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2015/through-the-holy-door-vatican-to-have-pilgrim-reservation-system.cfm

Through the Holy Door: Vatican to have pilgrim reservation system
8.21.2015 9:26 AM ET


CNS photo/Paul Haring
The Holy Door is pictured in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican March 13. Drawing on the experience of the public exposition of the Shroud of Turin, Vatican officials are adopting a reservation system for pilgrims who want to cross the threshold of the Holy Door during the Year of Mercy. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) See HOLY-DOOR-RESERVATIONS Aug. 21, 2015.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Drawing on the experience of the public exposition of the Shroud of Turin, Vatican officials are adopting a reservation system for pilgrims who want to cross the threshold of the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica during the Year of Mercy.

The free, online registration will not be activated until October, but in late August the Vatican published a brief explanation of the plan on www.im.va, which is the website for the Year of Mercy that begins Dec. 8.

"Since a large number of pilgrims is anticipated, it is strongly recommended that pilgrims register their arrival in Rome and the possible times at which they wish to make their pilgrimage," the notice said. People with special needs, particularly regarding mobility, can enter that information on the reservation form and be assured of assistance when they arrive.
 
The Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica is located to the right of the basilica's main entrance; between Holy Years it remains sealed with bricks as a symbolic reminder of the barrier of sin between human beings and God.

At the beginning of a Holy Year, the pope opens the door to signal the opening of a special year of grace and pardon.