Pope Francis

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-welcomes-prince-albert-ii-of-monaco

Pope Francis welcomes Prince Albert II of Monaco
2016-01-18 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday received Prince Albert II of Monaco, who was accompanied by his wife, Princess Charlene. Subsequently, the Prince met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Secretary for Relations with States.

A statement from the Holy See Press Office called the talks “cordial,” and said they highlighted the good bilateral relations between Monaco and the Holy See, and reference was made to the historical contribution of the Catholic Church in the life of Monaco.

Other issues of common interest that were discussed included environmental protection, humanitarian aid, and the integral development of peoples.
 
Prince Albert II gave Pope Francis a food basket – containing fruit, vegetables, and cheeses – as well as the Monaco edition of the encyclical Laudato si’, and a medal.

Pope Francis gave the couple a Pontifical Medal and a copy of Evangelii gaudium.

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-greets-ecumenical-delegation-from-fin

Pope Francis greets ecumenical delegation from Finland
2016-01-18 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday welcomed an ecumenical delegation from the Lutheran Church of Finland, marking the Feast of St. Henrik.

The Nordic country of 5 ½ million people is mostly Lutheran, but 1.1% is Orthodox Christian. The Catholic population numbers a little over 12,000 people.

“Your ecumenical pilgrimage is an eloquent sign of the fact that, as Lutherans, Orthodox and Catholics, you have recognized what unites you and together you wish to bear witness to Jesus Christ, who is the foundation of unity,” Pope Francis said.

“In our dialogue, differences still remain in doctrine and in practice,” he continued.

This must not discourage us, but instead spur us along our journey towards ever greater unity, not least by working to overcome old ideas and suspicions,” said the Holy Father. “In a world frequently torn by conflict and marked by secularism and indifference, we are called to join in professing our faith in Jesus Christ, and thus to become ever more credible witnesses of unity and promoters of peace and reconciliation.”

The full text of Pope Francis’ prepared remarks are below
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/01/18/pope_francis_obstinate_christians_are_rebels_and_idolaters/1201825

Pope Francis: obstinate Christians are rebels and idolaters
18/01/2016 11:36

(Vatican Radio) Christians who say “it’s always been done that way,” and stop there have hearts closed to the surprises of the Holy Spirit. They are idolaters and rebels will never arrive at the fullness of the truth. That was the message of Pope Francis at Mass on Monday morning at the chapel in the Casa Santa Marta.

In the first reading, Saul was rejected by God as King of Israel because he disobeyed, preferring to listen to the people rather than the will of God. The people, after a victory in battle, wanted to offer a sacrifice of the best animals to God, because, he said, “it’s always been done that way.” But God, this time, did not want that. The prophet Samuel rebuked Saul: “Does the Lord so delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obedience to the command of the Lord?” Jesus teaches us the same thing in the Gospel, the Pope explained. When the doctors of the law criticized Him because His disciples did not fast “as had always been done,” Jesus responded with these examples from daily life: “No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he does, its fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”

“What does this mean? That He changes the law? No! That the law is at the service of man, who is at the service of God – and so man ought to have an open heart. ‘It’s always been done this way’ is a closed heart, and Jesus tells us, ‘I will send you the Holy Spirit and He will lead you into the fullness of truth.’ If you have a heart closed to the newness of the Spirit, you will never reach the full truth. And your Christian life will be a half-and-half life, a patched life, mended with new things, but on a structure that is not open to the voice of the Lord—a closed heart, so that you are not able to change others.”
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-no-saint-is-without-sin-no-sinner-without-a-f

Pope: “no Saint is without sin, no sinner without a future”
2016-01-19 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis says God looks beyond appearances and into the heart. He was speaking on Tuesday morning during Mass at Casa Santa Marta.

Drawing inspiration from the First Reading of the day that tells of the choice of the young David as king of Israel, the Pope pointed out that even in the lives of the saints there are temptations and sins, as demonstrated by the life of David.

The Lord – he said - rejected Saul "because his heart was closed", he had not obeyed Him, and He decided to choose another king.

The Pope pointed out that the choice He made was far from human standards since David was the youngest son of Jesse, he was only a boy.

But – he continued – the Lord made it clear to the prophet Samuel that he looks beyond appearances: “the Lord looks into the heart”:
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/st-gregory-relic-returns-to-rome-at-start-of-chris

St Gregory relic returns to Rome at start of Christian Unity week
2016-01-19 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) A precious treasure from the Rome Church of San Gregorio al Celio was brought back home on Monday after spending a week on loan to Canterbury Cathedral for a meeting of worldwide Anglican leaders there.

The head of a crozier, or pastoral staff, associated with St Gregory the Great, has been on display in the crypt of Canterbury Cathedral, alongside a rare 6th century book of the Gospels given by Pope Gregory to St Augustine as he set off on his mission to take the Christian faith to England. The manuscript is the oldest surviving Latin illustrated Gospel book and one of the most ancient European books in existence.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/cardinal-pell-vatican-will-slave-proof-supply-chai

Cardinal Pell: Vatican will "slave-proof" supply chain
2016-01-19 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Cardinal George Pell, the Prefect of the Secretariat for the Econony, announced on Sunday the Holy See is taking steps to “slave-proof” the Vatican supply chain.

The Cardinal was speaking in Rome during a meeting of The Global Foundation, an Australian organization which brings together business and government leaders.

“I am pleased to confirm that the Vatican itself will commit to slavery-proofing its own supply chains and I hope that today's announcement will serve as encouragement for others to follow suit," Cardinal Pell told the gathering.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/secretary-of-the-pontifical-council-for-interrelig

Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, speaker at the First Arab Thinkers Forum

Vatican City, 19 January 2016 (VIS) – "Interreligious Dialogue and Extremism: reasons and remedies" was the title of the First Arab Thinkers Forum, held in Abu Dhabi from 17 to 18 January at the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research. The only non-Muslim speaker was Fr. Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, who intervened during the first session during which the Grand Mufti of Lebanon, Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan, also gave an address. In the other sessions there were contributions from various figures from the Arab Emirates, Egypt and Morocco.

Fr. Ayuso Guixot structured his discourse around five key points: extremism, the culture of encounter, the key role of religious leaders, the need for sincere dialogue and the importance of prayer. He emphasised that it was not his intention to pursue considerations on the economic, political, social and cultural reasons for extremism, well known to those present, preferring to focus instead on Pope Francis' recommendations to the international community on how to construct peace which can serve to counter extremism
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/internat-eucharistic-congress-a-challenge-to-stren

International Eucharistic Congress: A challenge to strengthen missionary outlook
2016-01-19 Vatican Radio

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archibishop of Yangon (Myanmar) and papal legate for the event, introduces the 51st International Eucharistic Congress saying,  “Asia is a confluence of major religions”, a part of the world that “has not embraced secularism as the West has done. And spiritual fervor witnessed at the community level is a way of  evangelizing the others”.  According to the first cardinal of the history of Burmese Church, the event will be an occasion to work in three directions. “Dialogue with religions, with culture, and poor”. “Asia  remains a common task for the church - he said - so the challenge is to see what is God saying through these realities”.

The celebration of the Congress in the Philippines, the only predominantly Catholic country in Asia, is a major challenge to strengthen the missionary perspective. The theme revolves around the “hope” that joins the task of “the gift of God for young people” and “commitment to the ranks of the poor of the continent”.

Every four years, Catholic faithful from around the world are invited to gather together to reflect on and  celebrate the great mystery of the Eucharist during the International Eucharistic Congress.
 

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http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-for-christians-baptism-is-stronger-than-differences-78119/

Pope Francis: for Christians, baptism is stronger than differences

Vatican City, Jan 20, 2016 / 05:32 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In his general audience during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Pope Francis focused on the common baptism Christians share, saying the strength of this bond is stronger than existing divisions.

“We are truly the Holy People of God, even if, due to our sins, we are not yet a people fully united,” the Pope said in his Jan. 20 general audience, adding that “the mercy of God, which works in baptism, is stronger than our divisions.”

The Pope’s audience, which took place in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, fell during the Week of Prayer Christian Unity. It runs Jan. 18-25, and is organized by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, the Commission on Faith and the Order of the World Council of Churches.

This year’s theme, “Called to proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord,” is taken from chapter two of the First Book of Peter, and was chosen by a group from Latvia, which is home to a strong presence of Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox Christians.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-jealousy-and-envy-are-sins-that-kill-with-wor

Pope: jealousy and envy are sins that kill with words
2016-01-21 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis celebrated Holy Mass on Thursday, the feast of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr. In his homily, the Holy Father prayed that God might preserve us from the sins of envy and jealousy – ugly sins that kill others with words and that exist even in our Christian communities.

Envy is an ugly sin that grows like a weed

The first reading (1 Sam 18:6-9; 19:1-7) tells the story of Saul, the king of Israel, and his jealousy towards David. After the victory over the Philistines, the women joyfully sang, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” From that day forward, Saul looked on David with suspicion, fearing that David might betray him. Ultimately, Saul decided to kill him. Later he followed the advice of his son and reconsidered. But his wicked thoughts returned. Jealousy, the Pope said, is “a sickness” that returns and brings with it envy:

“How ugly envy is! it is an attitude, it is an ugly sin. And jealousy or envy grows in the heart like a weed: it grows, but it doesn’t allow good plants to grow. It harms everything that its shadow seems to fall upon. There is no peace! It is a tormented heart, it is an ugly heart! But the envious heart, too – we hear it here – leads to killing, to death. And Scripture says clearly: through the envy of the devil, death entered the world.”

Envy kills, even in our communities
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-welcome-pilgrims-in-this-jubilee-year

Pope: Welcome pilgrims in this Jubilee Year
2016-01-21 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Three thousand pilgrimage operators and rectors of shrines gathered in the Paul VI hall on Thursday to hear Pope Francis speak about the beauty and devotion of those who go on pilgrimages and visit shines, especially in this Jubilee Year of Mercy.

The Pope told these Jubilee participants that making pilgrimages to shrines is one of the most eloquent expressions of the faith of God's people, and is a form of evangelization which needs to be increasingly promoted and valued.

At Marian shrines and at shrines to the Saints, the Holy Father said, there is a profound spirituality, with each person bringing a special wish from their heart and a special prayer.

But Pope Francis also noted that, it would be a mistake to assume that those who go on a group pilgrimage do not live out the experience in a personal way.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/the-pope-decrees-that-not-only-men-may-be-chosen-f

The Pope decrees that not only men may be chosen for the washing of the feet in the Liturgy of Holy Thursday

Vatican City, 21 January 2016 (VIS) – The Holy Father has written a letter, dated 20 December 2014 and published today, to Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, in which he decrees that from now on, the people chosen for the washing of the feet in the liturgy of Holy Thursday may be selected from all the People of God, and not only men and boys.
 
The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has today published a decree on the aforementioned rite, dated 6 January 2016, the full text of which is published below:

"The reform of the Holy Week, by the decree Maxima Redemptionis nostrae mysteria of November 1955, provides the faculty, where counselled by pastoral motives, to perform the washing of the feet of twelve men during the Mass of the Lord's Supper, after the reading of the Gospel according to John, as if almost to represent Christ's humility and love for His disciples.

In the Roman liturgy this rite was handed down with the name of the Mandatum of the Lord on brotherly charity in accordance with Jesus' words, sung in the Antiphon during the celebration.

In performing this rite, bishops and priests are invited to conform intimately to Christ who 'came not to be served but to serve' and, driven by a love 'to the end', to give His life for the salvation of all humankind.

To manifest the full meaning of the rite to those who participate in it, the Holy Father Francis has seen fit to change the rule by in the Roman Missal (p.300, No. 11) according to which the chosen men are accompanied by the ministers, which must therefore be modified as follows: 'Those chosen from among the People of God are accompanied by the ministers' (and consequently in the Caeremoniale Episcoporum No. 301 and No. 299 b referring to the seats for the chosen men, so that pastors may choose a group of faithful representing the variety and unity of every part of the People of God. This group may consist of men and women, and ideally of the young and the old, healthy and sick, clerics, consecrated persons and laypeople.

This Congregation for Divine Worship and the Disipline of the Sacraments, by means of the faculties granted by the Supreme Pontiff, introduces this innovation in the liturgical books of the Roman Rite, recalling pastors of their duty to instruct adequately both the chosen faithful and others, so that they may participate in the rite consciously, actively and fruitfully".

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http://www.news.va/en/news/francis-gods-people-suffer-if-their-bishops-fail-t

Francis: God's people suffer if their bishops fail to pray
2016-01-22 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)  The bishop's task is to pray and to proclaim the Resurrection of Jesus; if a bishop does not pray and does not announce the Gospel but is concerned with other things, God's people suffer.  That’s the message Pope Francis  imparted to the faithful gathered Friday for the daily morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta.

(Vatican Radio)  The bishop's task is to pray and to proclaim the Resurrection of Jesus; if a bishop does not pray and does not announce the Gospel but is concerned with other things, God's people suffer.  That’s the message Pope Francis  imparted to the faithful gathered Friday for the daily morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-meets-with-the-president-of-dominica

Pope Francis meets with the President of Dominica
2016-01-22 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Friday received the President of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Charles Angelo Savarin, who subsequently met with the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who was accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Secretary for Relations with States.

Dominica is a Caribbean island nation, with a population a little over 72,000, of whom about 80% of its population of 

A communique issued by the Holy See Press Office called the talks “cordial.”

The parties spoke about the good bilateral relations between the Holy See and Dominica, and noted the opportunity for a fruitful and mutual cooperation between the State and the Catholic Church, an institution which offers a significant contribution to the promotion of the dignity of the human person, as well as in fields such as the education of young people and offering assistance to those most in need.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-christian-marriage-not-an-ideal-for-t

Pope Francis: Christian marriage "not an ideal for the few"
2016-01-22 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Friday said the Church’s teaching on marriage is not an “ideal for the few,” but “a reality that, in the grace of Christ, can be experienced by all the baptized.”

He Holy Father was speaking the Tribunal of the Roman Rota, the Vatican court which mainly deals with marriage annulment cases.

In his address inaugurating the judicial year, Pope Francis said the court’s role as Tribunal of the Family, and its role as Tribunal of the Truth of the Sacred Bond are complementary.

“The Church… can show the unfailing merciful love of God to families - especially those wounded by sin and the trials of life – and, at the same time, proclaim the essential truth of marriage according to God's design,” Pope Francis said.
 
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/in-speech-to-rota-pope-fancis-shows-annulment-conditions-arent-loosening-26794/
In speech to Rota, Pope Francis shows annulment conditions aren't loosening

http://zenit.org/articles/popes-address-to-tribunal-of-roman-rota/
Pope’s Address to Tribunal of Roman Rota   
January 22, 2016

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http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/01/22/apples-tim-cook-meets-pope-francis/79180016/

Apple's Tim Cook meets with Pope Francis
Rosie Scammell, Religion News Service 5:04 p.m. EST January 22, 2016

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis is increasingly turning his attention to the stars of Silicon Valley, meeting Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, just days after shaking hands with Eric Schmidt from Google.

The pontiff spent around 15 minutes in a private conversation with Cook on Friday, Jan 22. Francis regularly meets with dignitaries at the Vatican, but the arrival of the Apple chief raised eyebrows particularly for its timing.

Just a week earlier the pope had met with Schmidt, currently executive chairman of Alphabet Inc., parent company of Google, where he served as CEO for a decade.
 
http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-receives-apple-ceo
Pope Francis receives Apple CEO
2016-01-22 Vatican Radio

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/01/23/pope_urges_filipino_bishops_to_proclaim_gods_mercy/1203276

Pope urges Filipino bishops to find ‘new ways’ to proclaim God’s mercy
23/01/2016 15:10

Pope Francis has called on Filipino bishops to seek “new ‎ways” to proclaim the “wonder” of God’s mercy for the all the people.‎  In a letter to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the Pope ‎emphasized the need for the Church to spread God’s “enduring love” for everyone, and prayed that the current Jubilee Year of Mercy may truly be a time “to ‎gaze even more attentively on mercy so that we may become more effective sign of ‎Father’s action in our lives.”‎

The letter sent on behalf of the Pope by Vatican Secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, was read on Friday by Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto at the ‎opening of the plenary assembly of the CBCP, in Cebu ‎City.  ‎Around 98 cardinals and bishops are currently attending the plenary which ends on Sunday. The bishops are expected to tackle the many concerns of the Church, including the ‎May 9 general elections.
 
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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/01/23/pope_welcomes_new_taiwanese_ambassador/1203267

Pope welcomes new Taiwanese ambassador
23/01/2016 12:33

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis on Saturday welcomed in the Vatican the new ambassador of Taiwan, Matthew S.M. Lee‎.  At a formal ceremony, Lee presented the Pope his credentials at the start of his diplomatic mission with the Holy See. 

The Holy See maintains diplomatic ties with Taiwan, officially called the Republic of China (ROC), which mainland China, officially known as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) regards as its renegade territory.  In 1951, Communist China, which is officially an atheist state, ‎expelled foreign missionaries, severed ‎diplomatic relations with the ‎Holy See and by 1957 set up its own church - the Chinese Patriotic Catholic ‎Association - in defiance of ‎the Rome-based Catholic Church headed by the Pope.  But the Holy See continued to recognize Taipei as the legitimate Chinese government. 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/angelus-mission-of-christ-church-is-to-evangelize

Angelus: Mission of Christ, Church is to evangelize the poor
2016-01-24 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) In his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Francis looked to the day's Gospel, which recounts how Jesus preached in the synagogue in His hometown of Nazareth. The Lord read a passage from the Prophet Isaiah: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor." Jesus Himself fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "Today," He said, "this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."

This, said Pope Francis, is the mission of Jesus, and also the mission of the Church: to preach the Good News to the poor. Although the Gospel is addressed to everyone, he explained, Jesus nonetheless privileges those "who are farthest away, the suffering, the sick, those who are discarded by society." The poor, he concluded, "are at the centre of the Gospel."

But what does it mean to evangelize the poor? Above all, the Pope said, “it means being close to them, having the joy of serving them, freeing them from oppression, and all this in the name of and with the Spirit of Christ, because [Jesus] is the Gospel of God, He is the Mercy of God, He is the liberation of God.” The Holy Father asked us to consider whether we are making the evangelization of the poor a priority in our parishes, our associations and ecclesial movements. “Are we being faithful to Christ’s program?” he asked.

Bringing the Good News to the poor is not about giving social assistance, or about political activism, the Pope said. Rather, “It has to do with the strength of the Gospel of God, Who converts hearts, heals the wounded, transforms human and social relationships according to the logic of love.”
 
http://zenit.org/articles/angelus-address-jan-24-on-our-mission/
ANGELUS ADDRESS Jan. 24: On Our Mission
January 24, 2016

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http://www.news.va/en/news/spread-the-joy-of-the-gospel-in-the-simplicity-of

Spread the joy of the Gospel in the simplicity of life

Vatican City, 25 January 2016 (VIS) – "You are preparing to respond to that impulse from the Spirit, to be the 'future of the Church', in accordance with God's heart; not with individual preferences or passing fashions, but as the announcement of the Gospel requires", said the Pope this morning as he received in audience the Pontifical Community of the Lombard Seminary in Rome, in the Clementine Hall. "To prepare oneself well requires not only extensive work, but also an inner conversion, basing daily ministry on the first call of Jesus, and reviving it in the personal relationship with Him, as did the apostle Paul, whose conversion we remember today".

The pope went on to mention St. Charles Borromeo, whose life is presented as "a constant movement of conversion, reflecting the image of the Pastor. He identified with this image, and he nurtured it with his life, aware that discourse becomes reality at the price of blood: the sanguinis ministri were for him the true priests. He achieved this image by losing himself in it; he applied all his passion to reproducing it. In this way, the great work of the theologians of the time, the Council of Trent, was carried out by holy pastors like Borromeo".