Pope Francis

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/04/04/pope_francis_the_answer_christians_give_to_god_is_always_‘y/1220155

Pope Francis: the answer Christians give to God is always ‘yes’
04/04/2016 12:31

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday celebrated the Feast of the Annunciation encouraging the faithful to open their hearts to God and to say ‘yes’ to his message of salvation.

Speaking during the homily at morning Mass the Pope asked those present to ask themselves the question whether they are men and women who respond to the Lord’s call or whether they look the other way to avoid answering.

Celebrating Mass at the Casa Santa Marta for the first time since the Easter break, the Pope took his cue from the April 4th Feast of the Annunciation which tells of  Mary’s “yes” to God and opens the door to the “yes” of Jesus.  

Pope Francis focused his homily on the chain of affirmative answers that run through the Scriptures.
  
He spoke of Abraham who obeyed the Lord and left his land without knowing his destination and he recalled that “humanity of men and women” – even although many were elderly like Abraham or Moses - “who said ‘yes’ to hope offered by the Lord.”
 

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http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-meets-with-sspx-superior-general-63628/

Pope Francis meets with SSPX superior general

Vatican City, Apr 4, 2016 / 11:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Both the Vatican and the Society of St. Pius X have confirmed that this weekend Pope Francis met with the priestly society's superior general, Bishop Bernard Fellay, at the Vatican.

The Holy See press office issued a statement April 4 indicating that Pope Francis and Bishop Fellay had met April 2 at the Vatican.

An April 4 statement issued by the SSPX, meanwhile, said that Pope Francis received Bishop Fellay at his Domus Sanctae Marthae residence in the Vatican on April 1. The statement said Bishop Fellay was accompanied by Fr. Alain-Marc Nely, second assistant general of the priestly society.

“Pope Francis had wanted a private and informal meeting, without the formality of an official audience. It lasted 40 minutes and took place under a cordial atmosphere,” the SSPX stated. “After the meeting, it was decided that the current exchanges would continue. The canonical status of the Society was not directly addressed, Pope Francis and Bishop Fellay having determined that these exchanges ought to continue without haste.”

The statement from the priestly society added that on April 2, Bishop Fellay met with Archbishop Guido Pozzo, secretary of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei – the Vatican office of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith responsible for doctrinal discussions with the SSPX.
 

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"dot catholic" domain name

http://www.news.va/en/news/communications-secretariat-creates-new-internet-of
Communications Secretariat creates new internet office
2016-04-04 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) The Secretariat for Communications announced an new web initiative on Monday: a dedicated office – DotCatholic – to inform and engage the worldwide virtual community with Catholic doctrine, preaching, and ethos.

Please find Vatican Radio’s English translation of the statement from the Secretariat, below
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At the invitation of the Secretariat, of State of the Holy See, the Secretariat for Communications has established a Bureau called “DotCatholic” with the purpose of utilizing a generic Internet domain name (.catholic) of the first level, in order to share the teachings, the message and the values of the Catholic Church with the broader global community in Cyberspace.
 

An informative article about "dot catholic" domain name from 2012--

http://www.news.va/en/news/vatican-seeks-dot-catholic-domain-name
Vatican seeks 'dot catholic' domain name
2012-06-12 Vatican Radio

Internet evangelisation took another step forward on Wednesday as the Vatican announced it has applied for the top level domain name ‘dot catholic’ in an effort to authenticate all websites using that name. The Catholic Church is among an estimated two thousand applicants to ICANN, the California-based Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, which recently decided to open up to the use of new generic top level domain names, as the letters after the dot are technically known.

The applications may take a year or more to process and discussions are still underway in the Vatican as to exactly which organisations and institutions can use the ‘dot catholic’ name. But for internet users, often overwhelmed by the variety of supposedly Catholic sites in cyberspace, this move will provide a more instantly visible way of validating the authenticity of Catholic material online. So when will this come into effect? How much is it going to cost? And how can you apply to become a ‘dot catholic’ site? Philippa Hitchen put those questions to Mgr Paul Tighe, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, who has been following the Vatican’s application process….
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-christian-harmony-vs-contrived-tranqu

Pope Francis: Christian harmony vs contrived tranquility
2016-04-05 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) A Christian community that lives in "harmony" is fruit of the Holy Spirit and should not be confused with "tranquility" that often is a hypocritical whitewashing of its contrasts and divisions. That’s the message conveyed by Pope Francis during his homily at Tuesday’s morning Mass celebrated in the Casa Santa Marta. A community united in Christ, the Pope said, is also a courageous community.

Reflecting on the day’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Pope Francis points to the  one word that sums up the sentiments and lifestyle of the very first Christian community: harmony.  Theirs is a life in communion, based on shared values and shared wealth for the benefit of all.

Harmony vs contrived coexistence

But, Pope Francis is careful to point out that the harmony which bound together the Church’s first Christians came as a gift of the Holy Spirit.  It was not a man-made or contrived form of tranquil coexistence.

"We can negotiate some sort of peace ... but harmony is an inner grace that only the Holy Spirit can grant. And these communities lived in harmony. And there are two signs of harmony: there is no one wanting, that is, everything was shared. In what sense? They had one heart, one soul, and no one considered as his own any property that belonged to him, but everything was shared in common amongst them. None of them was ever in need.  The true 'harmony' of the Holy Spirit has a very strong relationship with money: money is the enemy of harmony; money is selfish.”
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/vatican-radios-alberto-gasbarri-honoured-for-servi

Vatican Radio's Alberto Gasbarri honoured for service
2016-04-05 Vatican Radio

Monday afternoon at the Casa Santa Marta, Dr. Alberto Gasbarri, the administrative director of Vatican Radio and co-ordinator of papal travel, was honoured by Pope Francis with the Medal of the Knight’s Cross of the Pius Order in recognition of his 34 years of loyal service to the Holy See.

During the presentation of the award, the Deputy Secretariat of the State, Monsignor Angelo Bacciu, thanked Dr. Gasbarri for his professionalism in a demanding and engaging job, whilst always continuing to serve the Church and the Holy Father. 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-prayer-intentions-for-april-focus-on

Pope Francis prayer intentions for April focus on small farmers
2016-04-05 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis’ video for April's prayer intentions focuses on the plight of the small farmer. The Pope Video is a global initiative developed by the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer) to assist in the dissemination of the Holy Father’s monthly intentions related to the challenges the humanity faces.


The full text of the videomessage is below:

I thank you, small farmer. What you do is essential for the life of all. As a person, as a child of God, you deserve a decent life.
 
Please consider adding your voice to mine in this prayer: that small farmers may receive just compensation for their invaluable work.

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http://www.news.va/en/news/romes-papal-basilicas-coming-to-the-big-screen

Rome's Papal Basilicas coming to the big screen
2016-04-05 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) The Papal Basilicas are coming to a cinema near you. For three days next week they will be the protagonists in a 3D film boasting previously unpublished images and hidden details in their art treasures.

For the first time, Rome’s four Papal Basilicas are literally coming to the big screen.

For three days only from April 11th to 13th cinema audiences will be guided on a 3D tour of St Peter’s, St John Lateran, St Mary Major and St Paul’s Outside the Walls.

During the 90 minute film entitled “St. Peter’s and the Papal Basilicas of Rome” experts will explain how these famous places of prayer have evolved over the centuries, illustrating the works of art they contain and the celebrated artists associated with them including, Giotto, Michelangelo and Bernini.

Thanks to the vast arsenal of technology employed, audiences will be able to see and appreciate the hidden details of the art treasures, such as Michelangelo's signature on the Pietà.
 
The film which will be distributed in over fifty countries including Italy, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Canada, UK, Ireland, and Spain, is produced by the Vatican Television Center, and SKY 3D  in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of heritage and culture.

A short video and additional information at the link below--
http://www.romereports.com/2016/03/11/a-documentary-shows-in-3d-the-beauty-of-the-four-papal-basilicas-of-rome

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http://www.news.va/en/news/highlights-of-pope-francis-teaching-on-the-family

Highlights of Pope Francis' teaching on the family
2016-04-06 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) At many Wednesday general audiences during 2015, Pope Francis dedicated his catechesis to the topic of the family. He reflected on the family in the light of scripture and tradition, social realities and challenges, current roles and future possibilities. Out of more than 30 talks, here is a selection highlighting some main features of the Holy Father’s teaching on the family.

“The Incarnation of the Son of God opens a new beginning in the universal history of man and woman. And this new beginning happens within a family, in Nazareth. Jesus was born in a family. (…) God chose to come into the world in a human family, which He himself formed.” (17.12.2014)

“There is a close link between the hope of a people and the harmony among generations. The joy of children causes the parents’ hearts to beat and reopens the future. Children are the joy of the family and of society. They are not a question of reproductive biology, nor one of the many ways to fulfill oneself, much less a possession of their parents.... No. Children are a gift, they are a gift: understood? Children are a gift. Each one is unique and irreplaceable; and at the same time unmistakably linked to his/her roots.” (11.2.2015)
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-divine-mercy-excludes-no-one

Pope Francis: Divine Mercy excludes no one
2016-04-06 Vatican Radio

Vatican Radio) Pope Francis held his weekly General Audience in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, during the course of which he began a new chapter in his catecheses on mercy, one focusing specifically on Christ’s fulfillment of the promise and action of mercy revealed to humanity through God’s Chosen People, as expressed in the New Testament.

The Holy Father said that the Gospels show us a Jesus who, in every moment of His earthly life, made mercy visible: meeting the crowds, announcing the Gospel, healing the sick, drawing close to the forgotten, pardoning sinners.

The Pope went on to say that the love Christ showed was a love open to all, a love which was fulfilled on the Cross. “Jesus,” said Pope Francis in an emphatic departure from his prepared remarks, “did not bring hatred, nor did He bring enmity: He brought love – a great love – a heart open to all – to all of us – a love that saves.”
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-blesses-young-girl-with-rare-conditio

Pope Francis blesses young girl with rare condition
2016-04-06 Vatican Radio

At Wednesday’s general audience, Pope Francis met and blessed the eyes of Lizzy Myers, a five year old girl from Ohio suffering from Usher Syndrome Type II, a rare condition causing the gradual loss of vision and hearing.

When Lizzy was first diagnosed, her parents, Steve and Christine Myers, decided to make a “visual bucket list” to help Lizzy see as much of the world as she could before she starts to lose her sight. One of their first visits was to an observatory, where Lizzy could see the moon, stars, and meteors. Once the media picked up this story, Turkish Airlines offered to cover the cost of a trip to anywhere in the world. When they decided on Rome, the Italian charity U.N.I.T.A.L.S.I. invited them to the Vatican for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

“I never expected this in a million years when we first started the journey,” Steve Myers said.

Upon meeting the Holy Father, Lizzy handed him a small meteorite. He thanked Lizzy, told her parents he will pray for their family, and asked them to pray for him as well. Vatican Radio's Sophia Pizzi spoke to Lizzie's parents after the audience and asked them about their feelings on meeting the Pope.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-meets-divorcedseparated-support-group

Pope Francis meets divorced/separated support group
2016-04-06 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday met with “L'Anello perduto" [The Lost Ring], a support group for those who have been divorced and separated in the Diocese of Fossano (Cuneo), located in northwestern Italy.

Pope Francis telephoned the coordinator of the group – Deacon Paolo Tassinari – earlier in the year after receiving a letter from the organization, asking for a meeting with the Pope.

“Knowing that they were in the thoughts of the Pope, for a moment, fills us with infinite joy,” Deacon Tassinari said after the telephone call.  “It gives us more motivation to find our place within the Church.”
 

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https://twitter.com/roccopalmo

Rocco Palmo ‏@roccopalmo  · 5h  5 hours ago 
An “important source” for Amoris per Synod Office, summary of JPII’s Theology of Body given bishops as Fri doc-prep: http://bit.ly/1VxDEmo
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https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5FGuFFkfrDvZ2c5NGRRUzNVUWc/view?pref=2&pli=1

Saint John Paul II on the Theology of the Body

The human body, oriented interiorly by the sincere gift of the person, reveals not only its

masculinity or femininity on the physical plane, but reveals also such a value and such a

beauty as to go beyond the purely physical dimension of sexuality In this manner awareness

of the nuptial meaning of the body, connected with man's masculinity-femininity, is in a way

completed. On the one hand, this meaning indicates a particular capacity of expressing love,

in which man becomes a gift. On the other hand, the capacity and deep availability for the

affirmation of the person corresponds to it. This is, literally, the capacity of living the fact that

the other—the woman for the man and the man for the woman—is, by means of the body,

someone willed by the Creator for his or her own sake. The person is unique and

unrepeatable, someone chosen by eternal Love. (General Audience, 16.1.1980)
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/04/06/cardinals_baldisseri,_schönborn_to_present_papal_exhortation/1220549

Cardinals Baldisseri, Schönborn to present Papal exhortation
06/04/2016 09:41

(Vatican Radio) The Press Office of the Holy See has called a conference and briefing for journalists in connection with the publication of Pope Francis’ highly anticipated post-Synodal Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, on “The Joy of Love”, for 11:30 AM Rome Time on Friday, April 8th, in the John Paul II Hall of the sala stampa facility.

Presenting the document will be the General Secretary of the Synod of Bishops, Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, and the Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn OP, along with a couple of married academics, Professor Francesco Miano and Professor Giuseppina De Simone, of the University of Tor Vergata (Rome) and the Theological Faculty of Southern Italy, respectively.

Below, please find the official announcement in English
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-everyday-saints-and-martyrs-carry-the-church

Pope: Everyday saints and martyrs carry the Church forward
2016-04-07 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) At his daily Mass on Thursday, Pope Francis said it is “the saints of ordinary life, and the martyrs of today that carry the Church forward.” They do so, he said, “with their consistent and courageous witness to the Risen Christ, thanks to the working of the Holy Spirit.”

The Christian “puts his life on the line” by giving a true witness

The first Reading taken from the Acts of Acts of the Apostles, speaks of the courage of Peter, who, after the healing of the crippled man, preached the Gospel before the leaders of the Sanhedrin. Enraged at his boldness, they wanted to put Peter to death. They had already forbidden the Apostles to preach in the Name of Jesus, but Peter continued to proclaim the Gospel – because, as he said, “We must obey God rather than men.” This “courageous” Peter, the Pope said, has nothing in common with “Peter the coward” who denied Christ three times on the night of Holy Thursday. Now Peter is strong in his testimony. Christian witness, Pope Francis continued, follows the path of Jesus, even to the point of giving one’s life. In one way or another, he said, the Christian “puts his life on the line” by giving true witness:
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-receives-prime-minister-of-croatia

Pope Francis receives Prime Minister of Croatia
2016-04-07 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received the Republic of Croatia’s head of government, Prime Minister Tihomir Orešković, on Thursday morning at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. The Prime Minister subsequently met with the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin,  who was accompanied by Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, Under-Secretary for Relations with States.

A communiqué from the Press Office of the Holy See informs that the Pope and the Prime Minister held cordial talks, in which they remarked the good relations existing between the Holy See and the Republic of Croatia, of which the Thursday visit was “a significant expression”. They confirmed their shared desire to continue constructive dialogue on bilateral issues arising in relations between the ecclesial and civil community, and focused on the prominent place the Croat faithful assigned to the figure of Blessed Aloysius Stepinac (the great Archbishop of Zagreb from 1937 until 1960, who was martyred under Communism in the country and beatified by Pope St. John Paul II in 1998), as well as the situation of the Croatian minority in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/catholics-and-methodists-walking-together-in-servi

Catholics and Methodists: Walking together in service to the world
2016-04-07 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis said on Thursday that Catholics and Methodists have much to learn from one another as they work together in loving service to the world. His words came in an audience with leaders of the World Methodist Council, the Methodist Council of Europe and the Methodist Church in Britain who here for the opening of a new ecumenical centre in Rome.

“If we cannot as yet think alike in all things, at least we may love alike”. Those words were written by John Wesley, one of the founders of the Methodist movement, in his ‘Letter to a Roman Catholic’ in the mid-18th century. Wesley also stressed that Catholics and Methodists are called “to help each other in whatever…leads to the Kingdom”.

In his meeting with the global Methodist leadership, Pope Francis said it’s true we do not as yet think alike in all things, noting that especially on issues of ordained ministry and ethics, much work remains to be done. But, he stressed, none of these differences constitutes such an obstacle as to prevent us from loving in the same way and offering a common witness to the world.
 
http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-addresses-methodist-guests-full-text
Pope Francis addresses Methodist guests: full text
2016-04-07 Vatican Radio

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-to-visit-the-greek-island-of-lesbos

Pope Francis to visit the Greek island of Lesbos
2016-04-07 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis will travel to the Greek island of Lesbos on Saturday, April 16. In a statement Thursday, the Vatican Press Office confirmed next week’s papal visit which aims to show support and solidarity for refugees on the front line of Europe’s migrant crisis.

The communiqué says Pope Francis has accepted the invitations of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His Holiness Bartholomew I, and of the Greek President, Prokopis Pavlopoulos.

The Pope will meet with refugees on the island together with the Ecumenical Patriarch and with His Beatitude Hieronimus II, Archbishop of Athens and of Greece and primate of the Orthodox Church of Greece.

One million refugees have made their way to Greece over the past year - tens of thousands of them, many fleeing the war in Syria, have poured onto Lesbos.

This is a particularly delicate moment for refugees there because, under a contested plan, the European Union began returning newcomers to neighbouring Turkey this month.
 

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http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/the-popes-family-apostolic-exhortation-amoris-laetitia-whats-in-play

The Pope’s Family Apostolic Exhortation ‘Amoris Laetitia’: What’s In Play
NEWS ANALYSIS: The much-anticipated papal document will be unveiled on Friday in Rome.
by EDWARD PENTIN 04/06/2016

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http://www.news.va/en/news/papal-foundation-gives-10-million-to-pope-francis

Papal Foundation gives $10 million to Pope Francis' charities
2016-04-08 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) The Papal Foundation announced to Pope Francis today it will give $10 million US to support his charitable work around the world. Members of the Foundation enjoyed an audience with the Holy Father in the course of their pilgrimage to Rome which also coincides with the Jubilee Year of Mercy.

“We are called by Christ to share this mercy,” said Pope Francis, “with those who are spiritually and materially in need through the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.” We do this with a spirit of generosity and tenderness that reflects God’s immeasurable goodness, he added.

He thanked the Papal Foundation for having the works of mercy at the heart of its mission and for generously supporting diocesan, parish and community projects around the world.

“Your charity reverberates throughout the world,” Pope Francis said, “offering new initiatives that help to extend the merciful embrace of the Father.”

The Papal Foundation was set up by US clergy and laity in 1988 as a sustainable way to support the Holy Father’s charitable priorities. Income generated from the $215 million fund creates a perpetual source of revenue but the fund does not invest in any companies that engage in activities inconsistent with the Catholic faith.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-encourages-anti-trafficking-conferenc

Pope Francis encourages anti-trafficking conference
2016-04-08 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis sent a message offering his support for a conference at the United Nations in New York discussing modern slavery and human trafficking. The conference (on April 7th) was organized by the Santa Marta Group and in his message to the participants the Pope encouraged them to strengthen the bonds of cooperation and communication which are essential for ending the suffering of the victims of those who are trafficked.

Please find below the Pope’s message sent to Archbishop Bernardito Auza, the Holy See’s permanent ******* to the United Nations in New York: