Pope Francis

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http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2015/pope-to-visit-africa-nov-25-30-including-central-african-republic.cfm

Pope to visit Africa Nov. 25-30; including Central African Republic
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
11.3.2015 10:56 AM ET
 
Here is the schedule for the trip as released by the Vatican Oct. 17. The times listed are local with Eastern Standard Time in parentheses:

Wednesday, Nov. 25 (Rome, Nairobi)

7:45 a.m. (1:45 a.m.) Departure from Rome's Fiumicino airport.

5 p.m. (9 a.m.) Arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, followed by a welcoming ceremony at Kenya's State House.

6 p.m. (10 a.m.) Courtesy visit with Kenya's president at the State House.

6:30 p.m. (10:30 a.m.) Meeting with Kenyan government officials and members of the diplomatic corps at the State House. Speech by pope.
 

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Live streaming (check schedule above for EST) on Wednesday, November 25, 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrlPqNphfYk
Pope Francis in Kenya: arrival at Nairobi Airport 2015.11.25
Scheduled for Nov 25, 2015
Pope Francis is met upon his arrival in Kenya, first leg of his visit to three African countries and transfers to the State House for the welcome ceremony

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItfMQUeAPcE
Pope Francis in Kenya - Welcome Ceremony - 2015.11.25  
Scheduled for Nov 25, 2015
Pope Francis in Kenya: Welcome Ceremony and Meeting with the Authorities of the Country

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http://www.news.va/en/news/kenyans-await-popes-message-of-peace-and-reconcili

Kenyans await Pope's message of peace and reconciliation
2015-11-25 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) “It is quite an exciting moment for us. The Holy Father is coming for the first time to Africa, and he chose Kenya as his entrance door.” Ahead of Pope Francis’ arrival in Nairobi on Wednesday, Kenyans shared their hopes and expectations for the papal visit.

Lily Mugombozi is a journalist working for New City Africa, the magazine of the Focolare movement, and will be following every moment of the Pope’s journey.  Just like any other person in this country, I really feel blessed and privileged. She spoke with Vatican Radio’s Linda Bordoni.

“I think God has great things for us,” she said. “First of all, we see Pope Francis as a leader of the world, not only for Catholics, and this is really striking. Last Saturday I participated in a radio program, where some youth were introducing what they are doing, what their preparations for the Holy Father entail. And during the call-in program I was very struck by non-Catholics who were calling in the studio to assure their support for the Holy Father, their joy, and some were saying the Holy Father is a Father to everyone, not only to Catholics.”
 

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http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2015/arriving-in-kenya-pope-says-tolerance-respect-are-keys-to-peace.cfm

Arriving in Kenya, pope says tolerance, respect are keys to peace
11.25.2015 11:19 AM ET

NAIROBI, Kenya (CNS) -- With security concerns looming over his visit, Pope Francis arrived in Kenya Nov. 25 urging tolerance and respect among people of different religions and different ethnic groups.
 
Pope Francis was greeted at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by a small group of dancers, women ululating and President Uhuru Kenyatta, son of the nation's first president, for whom the airport is named. After the brief arrival ceremony Pope Francis traveled past hundreds of offices and factories where employees came out and lined the road to greet him.

The formal welcoming ceremony took place at Kenya's State House, where the pope met with the president, government and civic leaders and members of the diplomatic corps.
 

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The vestments sound beautiful; hopefully, we will get to see them in one of the videos.

http://www.news.va/en/news/kenya-maasai-designs-and-beads-for-pope-franciss-v

Kenya: Maasai designs and beads for Pope Francis’s vestments
2015-11-25 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) A well-researched article in the Kenyan daily press gives an accurate “dress-down” of some of the garments you would find in Pope Francis’ wardrobe.

What it doesn’t mention is that here in Kenya all of his vestments and a beautiful rosary made of beads have been prepared by a group of sisters and women who work in an income-generating facility in Kangemi slum called “Dolly Craft”.

Click below to hear the report from Vatican Radio's special envoy in Kenya, Linda Bordoni

The sewery – which gets its name from its initial project of making African dolls –  is operated by the Jesuit-run St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Kangemi slum. It has been working full steam to prepare the vestments not only for Pope Francis, but also for all the priests and bishops who will be celebrating Mass here in Nairobi.

One of the priests at the Parish told me that for their special project, the women took design samples they made to the bishops in charge of the preparations for Pope Francis’ visit. The bishops approved the designs and gave the women a logo to include on the three vestments.

He explained the women designed three garments for the pope's main functions while he's in Kenya: a simple white ankle-length alb, a classic golden sleeveless chasuble, and a white chasuble embroidered with a Maasai tribe design in coloured beads which have been hand-woven into the cloth itself.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-gift-of-bernini-drawing-to-kenyas-pre

Pope Francis: gift of Bernini drawing to Kenya's President
2015-11-25 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis gave a drawing by architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini, of the project for the façade of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, to the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, on Wednesday. The Holy Father conveyed the present during the course of his meeting with Kenyatta in Kenya, at the beginning of a three-country visit to the continent of Africa that is to include Kenya, Uganda, and the Central African Republic.

Below, please find the official description of the drawing
*************************************************
Gian Lorenzo Bernini (Naples 1598 – Rome 1680)

Project for the Bell towers of St. Peter’s Basilica

Pen and wash drawing in brown and gray on ivory paper

1645
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-addresses-kenyas-leaders

Pope Francis addresses Kenya's leaders
2015-11-25 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Following a twenty-one gun salute, Pope Francis addressed the President of Kenya and other authorities at Nairobi State House on Wednesday afternoon. The Holy Father said he was looking forward to his stay, especially meeting the young people of Kenya and “encouraging their hopes and aspirations for the future”.

Click below to hear the Holy Father's address, delivered in English

The Pope proceeded to urge the entire Kenyan people to “work with integrity and transparency for the common good, and to foster a spirit of solidarity at every level of society”, asking them to hold particular concern for the poor, the young and to handle their natural and human resources responsibly. He concluded by speaking about a Kenyan tradition where young children plant trees for posterity: “may this eloquent sign of hope in the future… sustain all of you…”.

Please find below the full text of Pope Francis’ prepared remarks for his address to the authorities and the Diplomatic Corps at the State House in Nairobi on Wednesday 25th November 2015
 

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And in other news...

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/2858/0/press-freedom-monitor-osce-censures-vatican-over-vatileaks-trial-involving-two-italian-journalists

Press freedom monitor OSCE censures Vatican over Vatileaks trial involving two Italian journalists
25 November 2015 15:52 by CNS

Media monitors at the 57-country Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe condemned the Vatican's trial of two journalists and urged the Holy See to honour its international press freedom commitments.

"Our main concern is for the protection of confidential sources - this is a pillar of investigative journalism," said Gunnar Vrang, spokesman for the Vienna-based OSCE's Media Freedom Office. "I can't speculate on whether we'd bring intergovernmental pressure to bear, or on how this case may affect the image of Pope Francis. But there will certainly be public pressure."

Vrang told the Catholic News Service there had been no church reaction to a statement on Monday from the OSCE's Media Freedom Representative, Dunja Mijatovic, calling on the Vatican to drop charges against Gianluigi Nuzzi and Emiliano Fittipaldi.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/11/25/anglican_leaders_welcome_papal_preachers_synod_sermon/1189558

Anglican leaders welcome Papal Preacher's sermon
25/11/2015 16:26

(Vatican Radio) Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and leaders of the Church of England have welcomed the words of the Papal preacher, Fr Raniero Cantalamessa, as “significant”, “forthright” and “a very strong message”. The Franciscan friar, who is Preacher of the Papal Household, gave the sermon in Westminster Abbey on Tuesday during the inauguration of the 10th General Synod of the Church of England, with Queen Elizabeth II in attendance.

Fr Cantalmessa urged Christians to “take a qualitative leap forward” in the search for unity, especially as they look ahead to the forthcoming 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. “In many parts of the world”, he stressed, “people are killed and churches burned not because they are Catholic, or Anglican, or Pentecostals, but because they are Christians. In their eyes we are already one! Let us be one also in our eyes and in the eyes of God. “
 

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http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2015/pope-to-visit-africa-nov-25-30-including-central-african-republic.cfm

Pope to visit Africa Nov. 25-30; including Central African Republic
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
11.3.2015 10:56 AM ET
 
Here is the schedule for the trip as released by the Vatican Oct. 17. The times listed are local with Eastern Standard Time in parentheses:
 
Thursday, Nov. 26 (Nairobi)

8:15 a.m. (12:15 a.m.) Meeting with interreligious and ecumenical representatives at the apostolic nunciature in Nairobi. Speech by pope.

10 a.m. (2 a.m.) Mass on the campus of the University of Nairobi. Homily by pope.

3:45 p.m. (7:45 a.m.) Meeting with priests, religious and seminarians on the sports field of St Mary's School. Speech by pope.

5:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m.) Visit to the United Nations Office in Nairobi. Speech by pope.
 

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Live streaming (check schedule above for EST) on Thursday, November 26, 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI2cusQGAlg
Pope Francis in Kenya: Interreligious and Ecumenical Encounter 2015.11.26
Scheduled for Nov 26, 2015
Pope Francis meets the Leaders of the different Christian denominations, of the Muslim Community and of traditional religions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6fyH4J1tlE
Pope Francis in Kenya: Celebration of Holy Mass in Nairobi - 2015.11.26
Scheduled for Nov 26, 2015
Pope Francis celebrates Holy Mass in the area of the campus of Nairobi University connected to Uhuru Park, the Park of Liberty, a symbolic place in the country

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF_H-TfklpQ
Pope Francis in Kenya: Meeting with the Clergy - 2015.11.26
Scheduled for Nov 26, 2015
Pope Francis meets the Clergy, Men and Women Religious, and Seminarians in the Sports Field of St. Mary's School in Nairobi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc10y09FXjE
Pope Francis in Kenya: Visit to the United Nations Headquarters - 2015.11.26
Scheduled for Nov 26, 2015
Pope Francis visits the U.N.O.N. Headquarters, seat of numerous United Nations offices, among which the International Organization for Development, UNEP for the Environment, UN-Habitat

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http://saltandlighttv.org/blog/featured/pope-in-kenya-address-during-ecumenical-and-interreligious-meeting

Pope In Kenya: Address during Ecumenical and Interreligious Meeting
November 26, 2015

On Thursday, November 26, 2015, Pope Francis met with leaders and members of multiple faiths for the Ecumenical and Interreligious Meeting in Kenya. Read the full text of the Holy Father’s address below:

Address of His Holiness Pope Francis
Ecumenical and Interreligious Meeting,
Nairobi, Apostolic Nunciature
Thursday, 26 November 2015

Dear Friends,

I am grateful for your presence this morning and for the opportunity to share these moments of reflection with you.  In a particular way, I wish to thank Archbishop Wabukala and Professor El-Busaidy for their words of welcome offered on your behalf, and on behalf of their communities.  It is always important to me that, when I come to visit the Catholic faithful of a local Church, I have an occasion to meet the leaders of other Christian communities and religious traditions.  It is my hope that our time together may be a sign of the Church’s esteem for the followers of all religions; may it strengthen the bonds of friendship which we already enjoy.
 

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http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-to-kenyan-families-radiate-gods-love-10034/

Pope to Kenyan families: 'radiate God’s love'

Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the University of Nairobi Nov. 26, 2015. Credit: Martha Calderón/CNA.
Nairobi, Kenya, Nov 26, 2015 / 12:48 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis Thursday praised Kenya’s traditional family values, particularly their respect for children and the elderly. He also made an appeal for the youth to use these values as a guide to ending discrimination and injustice in the future.

“The health of any society depends on the health of its families,” the Pope told Mass attendees at Kenya’s Nairobi University Nov. 26.

“Kenyan society has long been blessed with strong family life, a deep respect for the wisdom of the elderly and love for children,” he said, and noted that families are important in the plan of God.

It’s for the sake of our families and the good of society that children must be welcomed “as a blessing for our world,” and that the dignity of every man and woman must be defended, since we are all part of one human family, he said.

“We are also called to resist practices which foster arrogance in men, hurt or demean women, and threaten the life of the innocent unborn.”
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-to-kenyas-clergy-the-joy-of-service

Pope Francis to Kenya's clergy: the joy of service
2015-11-26 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis held a special meeting with clergy, religious men and women, and seminarians at St. Mary's School in Nairobi, Kenya, on Thursday. Putting aside his prepared text, the Holy Father spoke of the joy of a life of radical service to the Gospel and of the radical faithfulness to Christ that is the guarantee of happiness and success in ordained ministry and consecrated discipleship.
 

http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-to-religious-follow-christ-to-the-cross-he-ll-take-care-of-the-resurrection
Pope to Religious: Follow Christ to the Cross, He'll Take Care of the Resurrection
Nairobi,  November 26, 2015

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-in-kenya-we-must-choose-to-improve-or-destroy

Pope in Kenya: we must choose to improve or destroy the environment
2015-11-26 Vatican Radio


(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday addressed the United Nations family in Nairobi encouraging its staff to pursue its work for human development and protection of the environment for the common good.

He urged them to listen to “the cry rising up from humanity and the earth itself, a cry that needs to be heard by the international community.

Even before crossing the threshold of the United Nations Office at Nairobi headquarters on Thursday, Pope Francis planted a tree in the UN Compound garden.

A simple, symbolic act, so meaningful in many cultures.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-speech-to-un-officials-in-nairobi

Pope Francis: speech to UN officials in Nairobi
2015-11-26 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday afternoon spoke about the importance of safeguarding the environment and ensuring a just distribution of the earth’s wealth as he address directors and staff of the United Nations Offices in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

The Pope said Africa offers the world a beauty and natural richness which inspire praise of the Creator. This patrimony of Africa and of all mankind, he said “is constantly exposed to the risk of destruction caused by human selfishness of every type and by the abuse of situations of poverty and exclusion”.

In the context of economic relationships between States and between peoples, he continued “we cannot be silent about forms of illegal trafficking which arise in situations of poverty and in turn lead to greater poverty and exclusion.  Illegal trade in diamonds and precious stones, rare metals or those of great strategic value, wood, biological material and animal products, such as ivory trafficking and the relative killing of elephants, fuels political instability, organized crime and terrorism”.  This situation, Pope Francis said, “is a cry rising up from humanity and the earth itself, one which needs to be heard by the international community”.

On his way to the meeting, the Pope symbolically planted a tree, which he described as “an invitation to continue the battle against phenomena like deforestation and desertification” in order to safeguard the future of humanity. He also highlighted the importance of the upcoming international conference in Paris on climate change which he said is “one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day”.

Please find below the full text of Pope Francis’ address to the United Nations Office at Nairobi
 

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http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2015/pope-to-visit-africa-nov-25-30-including-central-african-republic.cfm

Pope to visit Africa Nov. 25-30; including Central African Republic
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
11.3.2015 10:56 AM ET
 
Here is the schedule for the trip as released by the Vatican Oct. 17. The times listed are local with Eastern Standard Time in parentheses:
 
Friday, Nov. 27 (Nairobi; Entebbe, Uganda)

8:30 a.m. (12:30 a.m.) Visit to the Kangemi neighborhood in Nairobi. Speech by pope.

10 a.m. (2 a.m.) Meeting with youths at Kasarani Stadium. Speech by pope.

11:15 a.m. (3:15 a.m.) Meeting with the bishops of Kenya in the stadium's VIP room.

3:10 p.m. (7:10 a.m.) Farewell ceremony at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

3:30 p.m. (7:30 a.m.) Departure from Nairobi for Entebbe, Uganda.

4:50 p.m. (8:50 a.m.) Arrival at Entebbe International Airport.

5:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m.) Courtesy visit with the president of Uganda in the State House in Entebbe.

6 p.m. (10 a.m.) Meeting with Ugandan authorities and members of the diplomatic corps in the conference room of the State House. Speech by pope.

7:15 p.m. (11:15 a.m.) Visit to Munyonyo and meeting with catechists and teachers. Greeting by pope.
 

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Live streaming (check schedule above for EST) on Friday, November 27, 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjJuLDUs7yo
Pope Francis in Kenya: Visit to the Kangemi slums - 2015.11.27
Scheduled for Nov 27, 2015
Pope Francis visits the poor neighborhood of Kangemi in Nairobi, a slum area where the St. Joseph the Worker Parish works, under the management of a Jesuit Community
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqotRRUQBR0
Pope Francis in Kenya: Meeting with the Youth - 2015.11.27
Scheduled for Nov 27, 2015
Pope Francis meets young people in the Kasarani Stadium,during which they bear personal testimony

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_D6VQYPVqM
Pope Francis in Kenya: Farewell Ceremony 2015.11.27 
Scheduled for Nov 27, 2015
Pope Francis is hailed with a Farewell Ceremony upon his departure from Kenya for Entebbe in Uganda, second leg on his apostolic trip to Africa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpzWcW9gI_k
Francis in Uganda: Welcome Ceremony 2015.11.27 
Scheduled for Nov 27, 2015
Pope Francis arrives at the International Airport of Entebbe in Uganda. Welcoming ceremony

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HW306L7DtM
Francis in Uganda: visit to the President 2015.11.27 
Scheduled for Nov 27, 2015
Courtesy visit to the President at the State House in Entebbe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcD3EfxOkfQ
Pope Francis in Uganda: visit to Munyonyo 2015.11.27 
Scheduled for Nov 27, 2015
Visit to Munyonyo and greeting to Catechists and Teachers

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-brings-courage-and-hope-to-slum-dwellers-in-n

Pope brings courage and hope to slum dwellers in Nairobi
2015-11-27 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis began his last day today in Kenya with a visit to slum dwellers in the heart of Nairobi. Speaking to the inhabitants of Kangemi slum he reminded them the Lord never forgets them.

In a hard-hitting appeal he asked for social inclusion, education, protection for families – a response to what he called the consequences of new forms of colonization.

In Nairobi, Linda Bordoni reports

There are approximately 2.5 million slum dwellers in Nairobi representing 60% of the city’s population and occupying just 6% of the land.

One of the slums is called Kibera – it’s the biggest and most populated slum in the world.

But organizers have chosen to host Pope Francis’s visit is Kangemi. It’s known as “Nairobi’s friendly slum” because it is less dangerous – less harrowing in its desperate poverty – than some of the other 6 slums in the city.
 
http://saltandlighttv.org/blog/featured/pope-in-kenya-address-at-st-joseph-the-worker-parish-at-kangemi-slum
Pope In Kenya: Address at St. Joseph the Worker Parish at Kangemi Slum
November 27, 2015

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-meets-kenyan-youth

Pope Francis meets Kenyan youth
2015-11-27 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met with young people at the  Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi on Friday morning where he addressed issues including corruption and tribalism.
 

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/full-text-of-pope-francis-powerful-unscripted-talk-with-kenyas-youth-72927/
Full text of Pope Francis' powerful, unscripted talk with Kenya's youth
Nairobi, Kenya, Nov 27, 2015 / 12:43 am (CNA/EWTN News).- An impassioned Pope Francis went off-the-cuff in a vast, widespread speech to Kenyan youth, touching on challenging topics such as how to stop youth from being recruited to terrorist activities.
 
In his speech to youth, the Pope responded in Spanish to questions posed by youths Lineth and Manuel, who gave their testimonies on current challenges they face, including issues stemming from corruption, tribalism, and the radicalization of youth who are recruited into terrorist activities.

Francis in response delivered lengthy, powerful answers with his own anecdotes, revealing that he carries a rosary and a pocket-sized Stations of the Cross with him every day, which he said keep him from losing hope.

Below please find CNA’s full transcript of the Pope’s speech in Spanish, assisted by the simultaneous translation of Pope Francis’ official translator, Msgr. Mark Miles:

Thank you very much for the rosary you prayed for me. Thank you for your enthusiastic presence here. I have something to say on the basis of all the questions asked by Lineth and Manuel.