Pope Francis

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-makes-surprise-visit-to-homeless-shelter-near

Pope makes surprise visit to homeless shelter near Vatican
2015-10-16 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) On Thursday, Pope Francis made a surprise visit to the new Jesuit homeless shelter, ‘Gift of Mercy’, just around the corner from the Vatican.

All 30 guests at ‘Gift of Mercy’ (Dono di Misericordia), most of whom are Italian, were overjoyed to see the Holy Father and were eager to tell him their life stories and ask for his blessing. In his inimitably personal way, the Pope spoke to the men one by one and then asked to be given a tour of the shelter itself.

The Pope was welcomed by mons. Konrad Krajewski, Jesuit Superior General Fr Adolfo Nicolás and by several nuns from Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, who run the shelter with the help of volunteers.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-beware-of-the-virus-of-hypocrisy

Pope Francis: Beware of the virus of hypocrisy
2015-10-16 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) We need to pray so as not to be infected by the "virus" of hypocrisy, a self-righteous attitude that seduces with lies that lurk in the shadows. Pope Francis was referring to the words of Jesus in the Gospel, during his homily on Friday at Mass at the Casa Santa Marta.

Hypocrisy does not have a colour, rather it plays with halftones. It creeps in and seduces "chiaroscuro", with "the charm of the lie." The Pope was referring to the scene portrayed by the scripture reading of the day from the Gospel of Luke - Jesus and the disciples are in the midst of a crowd who are trampling on eachother- highlighting the outspoken warning of Christ to his disciples: "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees" . "It is a very small thing" yeast, observed Pope Francis, but Jesus talks about it as if to say "virus". As "a doctor" who says "to his collaborators" to pay attention to the risks of an "epidemic":

"This yeast is a virus that will cause you to get sick and die. Beware! This yeast brings darkness. Beware! But there is one that is greater than this: it is the Father who is in heaven. 'Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Even the hairs of your head are all numbered '. And then, in the final exhortation: 'Do not be afraid! You are worth more than many sparrows'. In front of all these fears that leave us this way and that way, and that gives us the virus, the yeast of pharisaical hypocrisy, Jesus tells us: 'There is a Father. There is a Father who loves you. There is a Father who cares for you '. "
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/contributions-to-the-synod-from-the-representative

Contributions to the Synod from the representatives of other Christian denominations

Vatican City, 16 October 2015 (VIS) – This morning, during the twelfth general congregation of the Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, the Synod Fathers heard interventions by the fraternal delegates representing other Christian denominations.

Rev. Dr. Walter Altmann, of the World Council of Churches Central Committee, said that the WCC has been speaking since its 2013 Assembly in Korea of a “'pilgrimage of justice and peace', underlining that we are together on a faith journey and are deeply committed to justice and peace as signs of God's reign to come. This commitment to express the values of God's reign as justice and peace is very significant for all those who live together in different types of family life. That is the first and innermost circle of our life together as we seek to bring fairness and reconciliation. From my own continent of Latin America, and from my experience as Moderator of the WCC, I know how many women and men, and not the least children, need that the church be a fellowship of inclusion and healing, recognising our differences in the bond of love. The openness required for change, and for new commitment to God's call today, should be a mark of our pilgrimage as a common journey of the churches”.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/10/16/women_at_synod_of_bishops_call_for_their_voices_to_be_heard/1179861

Women at Synod of Bishops call for their voices to be heard
16/10/2015 17:06

(Vatican Radio) For a meeting entitled ‘The vocation and mission of the family in the church and the modern world’, it may come as a surprise to hear that Friday, at the end of the second week, was the first opportunity for the protagonists themselves to address the full assembly from the coalface of family life. Apart from a couple of earlier presentations, this was the chance for most of the couples, and especially for the women invited to this Synod, to share their experiences and speak about issues closest to their hearts.

Since they came from countries across the globe, it’s unsurprising that those issues were as varied as the views of the Church leaders we’ve been listening to so far. An Iraqi couple from Baghdad, bringing dramatic testimony of how their faith has been tested and strengthened by violence and persecution. A Polish couple, who waited 12 years for their first child, urging the Church to stand firm against anti-life ideologies and technologies. A Nigerian mother, giving voice to the vital role of women supporting victims of the Boko Haram terror group. A young Korean lady describing the economic challenges that convince women in her country to give up on courtship, marriage and children.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/synod-on-the-family-press-briefing-day-11

Synod on the Family: Press Briefing Day 11
2015-10-16 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Friday 16 Oct. Two fraternal delegates were guests at the daily press briefing for the Synod on the Family on Friday. Bishop Tim Thornton of the Anglican Communion is representing the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Patriarch Stephanos of Estonia is representing the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.

Bishop Thornton, speaking on the importance of forming good families today said “How can we encourage every individual to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? That’s what the focus for me has to be. We try and get every individual to understand what it means to be a disciple then they shape their family life, whatever that is, in what I think would be the right way and the goal.”

Thornton said that he thought one of the big issues the Synod delegates faced was the tension between local and universal. Some issues might be dealt with much better on the local level, there is therefore a tension between how much subsidiarity and how much of a universal framework is needed.

Patriarch Stephanos said that the Synod was a positive experience. He said that extraordinary work had been done and that many problems have been laid out. “The problems you face are not the different to the ones that we have, we are all searching,” he said. In his remarks he said that there were “no easy answers” and yet the Church must engage with difficult questions
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/schedule-for-apostolic-voyage-in-africa

Schedule for Apostolic Voyage in Africa
2015-10-17 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) The program for Pope Francis’ Apostolic Voyage to Kenya, Uganda, and the Central African Republic was released on Saturday. The November 25-30 journey will be Pope Francis’ first visit to Africa as Pope.

The five day visit will include a visit to a poor neighbourhood in Nairobi, Kenya; a visit to the Anglican and Catholic martyrs’ shrines in Namugongo, Uganda; and a visit to a refugee camp in the Central African Republic.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/vatican-world-mission-day-catholic-church-statis-5

World Mission Day: Catholic Church Statistics 2015

Vatican City – As every year, in view of World Mission Day, this year celebrated on Sunday, October 18, Fides News Service offers some statistics chosen to give a panorama of the missionary Church all over the world. The tables are taken from the latest edition of the “Church’s Book of Statistics” published regarding members of the Church, church structures, healthcare, welfare and education. Please note that variations, increase or decrease, emerging from our own comparison with last year's figures, are marked increase + or decrease – in brackets
World population
To 31 December 2013 the world population was 7.093.798.000 with an increase of 70.421.000 units compared with the previous year. Population growth was registered on every continent above all in Asia and Africa followed by America ; Europe and Oceania .
CatholicsOn the same date Catholics in the world numbered 1.253.926,000 units with an overall increase of 25.305.000 more than the previous year. The increase affects all continents especially America and Africa followed by Asia ; Europe and Oceania .
The world percentage of Catholics increased by 0.09 %, settling at 17.68%. By continent: increases were registered in Africa , America , Asia , Europe . A slight decrease was shown in Oceania .
 

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http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/the-miracle-behind-the-canonization-of-the-parents-of-st-therese-of-lisieux-60296/

The miracle behind the canonization of the parents of St Therese of Lisieux

Vatican City, Oct 17, 2015 / 06:03 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Seven-year-old Carmen has an extraordinary story. Because of her Blessed Louis Martin and Zelie Guerin, the parents of Saint Therese of Lisieux, will be canonized this Sunday in Saint Peter's Square.

The little girl was born prematurely in Spain in 2008 at just six months into pregnancy. She was fighting for her life for several weeks because of a cerebral hemorrhage and other severe ailments. 

But her loved ones and many Carmelite sisters sought the miraculous intervention of the Martins. The Vatican recognized the baby’s healing as miraculous.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-marks-50th-anniversary-of-synods-inst

Pope Francis marks 50th anniversary of Synod's institution
2015-10-17 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Saturday morning marked the 50th anniversary of the institution of the Synod of Bishops as a permanent body. Gathered with the Fathers of the XIV Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops – who are currently meeting in Rome to discuss the vocation and mission of the family in the Church and in contemporary society – Pope Francis spoke of both the process and the substance of the Synod as constitutive and expressive of the Church’s own nature and mission.

“Journeying together,” said Pope Francis in an enlargement on the Greek words from which the English word 'synod' is derived, “laity, pastors, and the Bishop of Rome, is an easy concept to put into words, but not so easy to put into practice.”
 

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http://saltandlighttv.org/blog/faith-education/pope-francis-address-at-commemorative-ceremony-for-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-synod-of-bishops

Pope Francis’ Address at Commemorative Ceremony for the 50th Anniversary of the Synod of Bishops
October 17, 2015 by Salt and Light Media

Pope Francis’ Address at Commemorative Ceremony for the 50th Anniversary of the Synod of Bishops
October 17, 2015
Paul VI Audience Hall – Vatican City

[Working translation prepared by Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB, English language media attaché, Holy See Press Office]

Your Beatitudes, Eminences, Excellencies, Brothers and Sisters,

As the XIV Ordinary General Assembly is underway, it is a joy for me to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the institution of the Synod of Bishops and to praise and honor the Lord for the Synod of Bishops. From the Second Vatican Council up to the current Synod on the Family, we have gradually learned of the necessity and beauty of “walking together.”
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aktoZ_eAR4
Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Synod - 2015.10.17

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-homily-for-sunday-mass-with-canonizat

Pope Francis: Homily for Sunday Mass with Canonizations
2015-10-18

Homily of His Holiness Pope Francis
 Mass of the Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time with the Rite of Canonization
Sunday, 18 October 2015

Today’s biblical readings present the theme of service. They call us to follow Jesus on the path of humility and the cross.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gPtbawkCKU
Holy Mass and Canonizations - 2015.10.18 
Streamed live on Oct 18, 2015
Starts at 10.00 am. Pope Francis presides at Holy Mass with the canonization of the Blesseds: Vincenzo Grossi, Maria dell'Immacolata Concezione, Ludovico Martin and Maria Azelia Guérin. At the end, the Pope recites the Angelus prayer.

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/10/18/pope_follow_jesus_on_the_path_of_humility_and_the_cross/1180223

Pope: Follow Jesus on the path of humility and the Cross
18/10/2015 15:04

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday celebrated the Rite of Canonization for four new saints on Sunday, elevating Fr Vincent Grossi; Sister Mary of the Immaculate Conception; and Louis Martin and Marie-Azélie Guérin, a married couple, to the honours of the altar.

During his homily, the Holy Father focused on the theme of ‘service,’ and the call to follow Jesus on the path of humility and the Cross. The Prophet Isaiah depicts the Servant of the Lord, who “fulfils God’s plan through his humble, quiet presence and his suffering.” The Servant of the Lord, the Pope explained, is Jesus, whose “life and death, marked by an attitude of utter service, were the cause of our salvation and the reconciliation of mankind with God.”
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-reject-hatred-and-vengeance-carry-out-acts-of

Pope: Reject hatred and vengeance, carry out acts of peace
2015-10-18 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Speaking ahead of the Angelus at the conclusion of the Holy Mass on Sunday, Pope Francis appealed once again for peace in the Holy Land. “I am following with great concern the situation of high tension and violence that afflicts the Holy Land,” he said. “In this moment,” he continued, “there is need of great courage and great strength of soul in order to say ‘No’ to hatred and vengeance, and to carry out acts of peace.”
 

http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/full-text-pope-s-angelus-address
FULL TEXT: Pope's Angelus Address
Vatican City,  October 18, 2015

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-love-of-money-is-idolatry

Pope Francis: love of money is idolatry
2015-10-19 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Jesus does not condemn wealth, but the attachment to wealth that divides families and causes wars: this was the focus of Pope Francis’ remarks to the faithful at Mass on Monday morning in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta.

Let not religion become an “insurance agency”

Reflecting on the readings of the day that had just been proclaimed at Mass on Monday morning in the Santa Marta chapel, Pope Francis bluntly reminded the gathered faithful that we cannot serve two masters: either one serves God, or one serves wealth. Jesus, “is not against wealth as such,” but he warns against staking one’s safety in money – something he said risks, “turning religion into an insurance agency.” In addition, attachment to money is divisive, as illustrated by the Gospel tale of the “the two brothers arguing over the inheritance”:
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/synod-on-the-family-press-briefing-day-12

Synod on the Family: Press Briefing Day 12
2015-10-19 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Monday 19 Oct. Archbishops Enrico Solmi of Italy, Mark Coleridge of Australia and the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Beatitude Fouad Twal, answered questions from the media at the daily press briefing on the Synod of the Family. Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, explained that the delegates were meeting in small groups on Monday and Tuesday so there will be no report until Wednesday of the discussions that were underway. The three prelates answered a number of questions - mainly focussed on the admission of the divorced and civilly remarried to Communion.

“Discernment is always messy and uncertain,” said Archbishop Coleridge. He went on to say that despite the mess and the challenges the Synod faces, he is confident that deep down something is moving. Coleridge said that he thought Pope Francis’ address at the celebration of 50 years of the institution of the Synod on Saturday was a key moment and that he hoped what the Pope said would be taken forward.

Archbishop Solmi said that climate at the Synod was one of listening and expressing things openly which included different opinions and nuances. He said that a fundamental aspect of the Synod was to try and look at the family through the eyes of God. Solmi said that he really thinks the Synod understands a sense of Catholicism – the universal Church meeting and sharing their lived experiences from all over the world.
 

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http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Blog/4294/synod_diary_final_week_full_of_amending_revising_rewriting_and_wondering.aspx

Synod Diary: Final week full of amending, revising, rewriting, and wondering
October 19, 2015 07:38 EST

Synod Fathers are now in their final week of deliberations. The full day today and Tuesday morning are devoted to the work in “circuli minores” the small language groups where intense discussions take place. Within these groups amendments to the Intrumentum Laboris (IL) are hashed out, revised and rewritten. Last week, most of the circles, unsatisfied with IL, spent a chunk of time rewriting many of the paragraphs to include scripture and church documents. This week, the pace picks up noticeably. Tuesday afternoon is reserved for the presentation of each circle's deliberations. The session is scheduled for the full Synod from 4:30-7:00pm.

On Wednesday, Synod participants have a “break” for the day while the drafting committee pulls together the results from all the circles into a first draft of the final relatio. The draft will be read to the full assembly on Thursday morning and participants will have until 4:30 to submit written amendments to this draft. Then the entire assembly listens to the results and interventions are made. On Friday the Synod Fathers are again “free” while the drafting committee works to revise the draft according to the submissions and interventions noted on Thursday evening. Saturday morning the entire synod will hear the final relatio. There follows a long lunch break until all gather in the synod hall to vote—paragraph by paragraph—on the document. Presumably, if there is sufficient consensus, the final document will be accepted by the Holy Father.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/10/20/pope_god_seeks_us_out_and_his_love_for_us_is_boundless/1180599

Pope: God seeks us out and his love for us is boundless
20/10/2015 13:16

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis says God’s love for us is without limits whereas human beings often lack this generosity and have a tendency to weigh up situations. His words came during his homily at Mass on Tuesday (20th October) celebrated in the Santa Marta residence.

Taking his inspiration from St Paul’s letter to the Romans, the Pope’s homily was a reflection on God’s boundless love to us, saying he doesn’t stand still but instead goes out to search for each one of us. He compared God’s abundant love for us to that of humans who, he noted, often lack this generosity and are too accustomed to weighing up and rationing when we decide to donate something that belongs to us. Our salvation, he explained, lies in this friendship between us and Him.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/10/20/family_synod_press_briefing_day_13/1180687

Family Synod: Press Briefing Day 13
20/10/2015 16:06

(Vatican Radio) Tuesday 20 Oct. Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of South Africa cautioned against using “politically correct language” at the daily press briefing for the Synod on the Family on Tuesday. Napier was a guest together with Cardinals Lluis Martinez Sistach of Spain and Alberto Suarez Inda of Mexico.

Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, explained that the interventions in the plenary sessions of all the Synod auditors were now available. Tomorrow the press will be briefed on the reports that come from the working groups - or "circoli minores" - of the Synod. The bishops will meet in plenary for the report back session on Tuesday evening.

Each of the three gave an introductory address before taking questions from the press.
 
http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/cardinal-napier-process-working-well-at-this-years-synod-unlike-last-year/#ixzz3p8ih6yh5
Cardinal Napier: Process Working Well at This Year’s Synod, Unlike Last Year (1190)
The South African cardinal explained how last year’s problems have been constructively addressed, but some concerns remain about the remainder of the synod process.
by EDWARD PENTIN 10/20/2015

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-keep-our-word-heal-our-families-save

Pope Francis: keep our word, heal our families, save the world
2015-10-21 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis held his weekly General Audience this Wednesday in St. Peter's Square. In his remarks to the faithful gathered in the Square, Pope Francis returned to the theme of the family, and specifically to the promises a man and a woman make to each other when they form a family in marriage.

The Holy Father began his main catechesis with a reflection on the family as founded on a promise. “The family,” said Pope Francis, “lives of the promise of love and fidelity that a man and woman have made to each other,” a promise that unites families through and across generations, and extends to the whole human family. “[The marriage promise] involves a commitment [on the part of the couple] to welcome and educate their children; but it is fulfilled also in taking care of elderly parents, in protecting and caring for the weaker members of the family, in helping one another to achieve the full potential and accept the limits of each.”
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/10/21/fr_lombardi,_sj_the_pope_is_in_good_health/1180899

Fr. Lombardi, SJ: the Pope is in good health
21/10/2015 14:20

(Vatican Radio) The Director of the Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, has reiterated his denial of reports Pope Francis is suffering ill health. Speaking to reporters ahead of the daily briefing on the doings in and around the Synod Hall during the XIV Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (now in its third and final week), Fr. Lombardi said, “I fully confirm my previous statement, having verified the facts with the appropriate sources, including the Holy Father.” The statement from the Director of the Press Office of the Holy See goes on to offer serial refutation of certain specific claims that have been made in the Italian press. Please find the official English translation of the full text of Fr. Lombardi, SJ’s statement, below

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Statement by the Director of the Holy See Press Office regarding false information on the health of the Holy Father

I fully confirm my previous statement, having verified the facts with the appropriate sources, including the Holy Father. No Japanese doctor has visited the Pope in the Vatican and there have been no examinations of the type indicated in the article. The competent offices have confirmed that there have been no arrivals of external parties in the Vatican by helicopter; similarly, there were no arrivals of this type during the month of January.

I am able to confirm that the Pope is in good health.