Pope Francis

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-receives-her-highness-sheikha-moza-bi

Pope Francis receives Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser of Qatar
2016-06-04 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Today Pope Francis met with Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser of Qatar. The Holy See Press Office provides the following details of the meeting:

Today at 11 a.m., in the Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Pope Francis received in a private audience Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, president of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.

Her Highness Sheikha Moza provided information to the Holy Father on her many activities in the fields of educational and social development, at both national and international levels, and on the grave situation of schools in various areas of conflict, and received his encouragement.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-issues-motu-proprio-on-removal-of-bishops

Pope issues motu proprio on removal of Bishops
2016-06-04 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) In a new Apostolic Letter, issued motu proprio, Pope Francis has established new norms providing for the removal of Bishops (or those equivalent to them in Canon Law) from their offices in cases where they have “through negligance, committed or omitted acts that have caused grave harm to others, either with regard to physical persons, or with regard to the community itself.”

The Apostolic Letter “Come una madre amorevole” (As a Loving Mother) also clarifies that, with regard “to abuse of minors or vulnerable adults, it is sufficient that the lack of diligence be grave.”

The full text of the Apostolic Letter, in Italian, can be found here.

In a note explaining the new procedures, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, said, “The Apostolic Letter insists on the importance of vigilant care for the protection of minors and vulnerable adults, calling for a ‘particular diligence.” Therefore, he continued, “it clarifies that negligence regarding cases of sexual abuse committed against children or vulnerable adults are among the ‘grave causes’ that justify removal from ecclesiastical Offices, even of Bishops.”

The new Letter, according to Father Lombardi, establishes a procedure for carrying out a Canon already present in both the Code of Canon Law and the Code of Canons of Eastern Churches. It is not a penal procedure, he said, because it concerns cases of negligence, rather than with a crime that has been committed. For the same reason, the Dicasteries charged with following through on the procedures include the Congregations for Bishops, for the Evangelization of Peoples, for Oriental Churches, and for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, instead of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Father Lombardi drew attention especially to two points in the Apostolic Letter. First, the “lack of diligence” necessary for removal from office can exist even be “without grave moral fault” on the part of the Bishop.

Second, in cases concerning the abuse of minors “it is sufficient that the lack of diligence be ‘grave,’ while in other cases it is required that the lack of diligence be ‘very grave’.” This effectively lowers the standard necessary for a Bishop to be removed from office when there is negligence with regard to cases of sexual abuse.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-approves-pontifical-council-for-the-l

Pope Francis approves Pontifical Council for the Laity, the Family and Life
2016-06-04 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) On Saturday, 4 June the Holy See issued a press release announcing that Pope Francis has approved a new Pontifical Council for the Laity, the Family and Life. The full text of the release follows:

Today, June 4, 2016, the Holy Father Pope Francis, as proposed by the Council of Cardinals, has approved ad experimentum the Statute of the new Pontifical Council for the Laity, the Family and Life which will combine, from 1 September 2016, the current Pontifical Council for the Laity and the Pontifical Council for the Family. 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/06/05/pope_francis_canonizes_two_new_saints/1234989

Pope Francis canonizes two new saints
05/06/2016 13:07

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Sunday morning in St. Peter’s Square during the course of which he canonized two new Saints: Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary Papczyński, and Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad.

St. Stanislaus was born and baptized Jan Papczyński in Poland in 1631 and was ordained a priest while in the Piarist congregation, which he left to found the Marians of the Immaculate Conception.

St. Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad was a Swedish-born convert to Catholicism who re-founded the Order of St. Bridget (Patron of Sweden and original foundress of the order of religious women that took her name and followed – follows her charism) in the early 20th century.

In the homily he prepared for the occasion and delivered Sunday morning before a crowd of some 40 thousand faithful, Pope Francis praised the two new saints as outstanding models of Christian faith and faithful perseverance in the face of trial. “In the Passion of Christ, we find God’s response to the desperate and at times indignant cry that the experience of pain and death evokes in us,” said Pope Francis. “He tells us that we cannot flee from the Cross, but must remain at its foot, as Our Lady did.”
 

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/06/05/pope_francis_homily_for_mass_with_canonization/1234940
Pope Francis: homily for Mass with canonization
05/06/2016 11:30

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZTpu-RQxfo
Holy Mass and Canonization - 2016.06.05

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-the-beatitudes-guide-us-on-the-path-of-christ

Pope: 'The Beatitudes guide us on the path of Christian life'
2016-06-06 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has urged Christians to follow the indications provided in the Beatitudes in order to avoid taking the path of greed, vanity and egoism.

Speaking on Monday morning during Mass at the Casa Santa Marta the Pope drew inspiration from the Gospel of Matthew and said the Beatitudes can be used as “navigators” that shine the light on the pathway of Christian life.

Reflecting on the famous Sermon on the Mount, Pope Francis said Jesus’ teaching on that occasion did not erase the old law; rather it ‘perfected’ it bringing it to its fullness:

   "This is the new law, the one we call ‘the Beatitudes’. It’s the Lord’s new law for us”.

He described it as the roadmap for Christian life which gives us the indications to move forward on the right path.

The Pope continued his homily commenting on the words of the evangelist Luke who also speaks  of the Beatitudes and lists what he calls the ‘four woes’: ‘Woe to the rich, to the satiated, to those who laugh now, to you when all speak well of you’.

And recalling the fact that many times he has said that riches are good, what’s bad the Pope reminded us is ‘the attachment to riches’ which becomes idolatry.

"This is the anti-law, the wrong navigator. The three slippery steps that lead to perdition, just as the Beatitudes are the steps that take us forward in life” he said.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-on-how-to-be-salt-of-the-earth-and-light-of-t

Pope on how to be salt of the earth and light of the world
2016-06-07 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has urged believers to be true Christians and give flavor to the life of others, not to be tempted to shine light upon themselves but to bring the light of faith to their neighbors and to mankind.

The Pope was speaking on Tuesday morning during Mass at the Casa Santa Marta.

 Drawing inspiration from the Gospel reading of the day, Pope Francis spoke of when Jesus told his disciples “you are the salt of the earth”, “you are the light of the world”.

Christians, he said, must be salt and light, but never self-serving: salt must add flavor and light must illuminate the other.

The Pope continued his homily with the question: “what must a Christian do in order for the salt not to  run out, so that the oil to light the lamp does not come to an end?”

The “battery” a Christian uses to generate light, the Pope explained, is simply prayer.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/06/07/pope_francis_sends_message_eucharistic_congress_in_argentina/1235492

Pope Francis sends message to Eucharistic Congress in Argentina
07/06/2016 17:31

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent his greetings to the 11th National Eucharistic Congress of Argentina, currently taking place in Tucuman.

In a Message sent through the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy Father gave urged all the faithful to “continue in deepening their love for the Eucharist, which is the daily food which strengthens faith, as well as nourishing fraternity and the commitment to those most in need.”
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/06/07/card_dziwisz_mercy_at_the_heart_of_wyd_in_krakow/1235320

Card Dziwisz: Mercy at the heart of WYD in Krakow
07/06/2016 11:06

Cardinal Dziwisz pictured presenting the official WYD logo

(Vatican Radio) The countdown is well and truly on to the start of World Youth Day in Krakow which will take place with Pope Francis from the 26th to the 31st of July. Speaking about the event, the Cardinal Archbishop of Krakow, Stanislaw Dziwisz said the theme of mercy will be at the heart of the celebrations.

In less than two months time young people from 194 countries around the globe will be packing their bags and heading to Poland for World Youth Day which will take place in Krakow.

This celebration will have special significance as it is taking place in the homeland of its founder Pope Saint John Paul II.

According to the Cardinal Archbishop of Krakow, Stanislaw Dziwisz, who was also personal secretary to the Polish Pope, there is great enthusiasm in his country ahead of the event.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-christs-miracles-reveal-gods-love-for-us

Pope: Christ's miracles reveal God's love for us
2016-06-08 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)  Jesus’ first miracle, at the Wedding Feast of Cana, was the focus of Pope Francis’ catechesis at the General Audience Wednesday 8 June 2016.  Following on from his earlier reflections on parables of mercy during this Jubilee Year, the Pope said Christ’s miracles were not performed so that people would “marvel” at them, but rather, through them, Christ revealed the Father’s love for us. They are also, he said, an invitation for the renewal of our faith.

Below, please find Pope Francis’ remarks to English speaking pilgrims:

Dear Brothers and Sisters:  In our continuing catechesis for this Holy Year of Mercy, we now consider the first of Jesus’ miracles, the changing of water into wine at the wedding feast of Cana.  Saint John fittingly calls these miracles “signs”, for by them the Lord reveals the Father’s merciful love.  Jesus’ choice of a wedding feast points to the deeper meaning of this miracle.  It is a sign of the new covenant that he came to inaugurate, the messianic banquet promised for the end times, where he is the Bridegroom and the Church his bride.  By changing the water kept for ritual purification into new wine, Jesus signals that he is the fulfilment of the Law and the prophets.  Mary’s command to the servants – “Do whatever he tells you” – can serve as a programme of life for the Church.  We are called constantly to renew our love for the Lord, and to draw new wine, new life, from his saving wounds.  The miracle at Cana reminds us that we are invited, as members of the Lord’s family, the Church, to draw near to him in faith, and thus to share in the joy of the wedding feast of the new and eternal covenant.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/06/08/pope_institutes_italian_working_group_for_motu_proprio_/1235649

Pope institutes Italian working group for Motu proprio implementation
08/06/2016 13:40

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has has established a working group coordinated by the Secretary General of the Italian Bishops’ Conference – the CEI – regarding the implementation in the country of the Holy Father’s Apostolic Letter Motu proprio, Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus, which deals with the adjudication of cases of marital nullity.

Italy faces particular challenges in implementing the Pope’s changes, due to the number of dioceses in Italy and the inter-diocesan structure of regional and provincial tribunals in place – challenges the CEI addressed in a recent plenary meeting.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/06/08/council_of_cardinals_concludes_meeting_about_ongoing_reforms/1235686

Council of Cardinals concludes meeting about ongoing reforms
08/06/2016 15:09

(Vatican Radio) The Council of Cardinals concluded three days of meetings in the Vatican on Wednesday, continuing their discussions on the ongoing reform of the different Vatican offices and institutions. The head of the Holy See Press Office, Fr Federico Lombardi briefed journalists on the contents of the meetings, noting that Pope Francis was present for most of the time with the nine cardinals in the group.

Fr Lombardi said a large part of the consultations was dedicated to discussing the reforms regarding the Secretariat of State, the Congregations for Catholic Education, for Oriental Churches, for the Clergy and for Bishops, as well as the Pontifical Councils for Culture, for Christian Unity and for Interreligious Dialogue.

He also noted that the results of previous consultations regarding the Congregations for the Doctrine of the Faith, for Worship and the Sacraments, for the Causes of Saints and for Consecrated Life, as well as the new Charity, Justice and Peace office, have been handed over to Pope Francis for his deliberations.

Fr Lombardi said that the reforms were focused on the criteria of simplifying and harmonizing the work of the different offices, as well as exploring ways of decentralizing tasks to the different bishops conferences.
 

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/simplification-decentralization-the-keywords-in-ongoing-curial-reform-66666/
Simplification, decentralization the keywords in ongoing curial reform

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-those-who-say-this-or-nothing-are-heretics-no

Pope: Those who say “this or nothing” are heretics not Catholics
2016-06-09 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis warned on Thursday against an excessive rigidity, saying those within the Church who tell us “it’s this or nothing” are heretics and not Catholics. His remarks came during the morning Mass on Thursday celebrated at the Santa Marta residence.

In his homily the Pope reflected on the harm caused by Churchmen who do the opposite of what they preach and urged them to free themselves from a rigid idealism that prevents reconciliation between each other.

Taking his cue from Jesus’ warning to his disciples that unless their righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees they will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, Pope Francis stressed the importance of Christian realism. Jesus, he said, asks us to go beyond the laws and love God and neighbour, stressing that whoever is angry with their brother will be liable to judgement.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-in-suffereing-life-shines-with-more-s

Pope Francis: in suffering, life shines with more splendor
2016-06-09 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Health professionals are the “true personification” of mercy, Pope Francis said Thursday in his address to the Medical Associations of Spain and Latin America in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican. And, he says, it fits with the Jubilee of Mercy to express gratitude for those who through dedication and professionalism help those who suffer.

The identity of the physician, the Pope said, relies not only on skills but mainly on a compassionate and merciful attitude towards those who suffer in body and spirit. Compassion is the very soul of medicine and compassion is not pity, it is suffering-with.

He continued: Compassion is not always well received in our individualistic and highly technological culture because sometimes it is seen as a humiliation. There are even some who hide behind alleged compassion to justify killing a patient. True compassion, says Pope Francis, does not marginalize, humiliate or exclude and doesn’t celebrate the passing away of a patient. No, this is the triumph of selfishness, of the “culture of disposability” that rejects people who do not meet certain standards of health, beauty or utility.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-receives-first-resident-malaysian-ambassador

Pope receives first Resident Malaysian Ambassador to the Holy See
2016-06-09 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has received in audience the first Resident Ambassador of Malaysia to the Holy See, Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok.

During a private audience in the Vatican on Thursday morning, Ambassador Dompok presented his Credentials.

The Ambassador is the former minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities in Malaysia and prior to that he was Chief Minister of the State of Sabah.

Born in 1949 in what was then British North Borneo, Dompok received his education at the mission schools of St. Michael and La Salle Secondary School before graduating at the University of East London.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-sets-up-committee-to-distribute-funds

Pope Francis sets up committee to distribute funds to war victims in Ukraine
2016-06-09 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis has decided to set up a committee to oversee the distribution of money to Ukrainians who are affected by the conflict in the east of the nation. The money was collected by Catholic churches across Europe on Sunday 24th April in response to a personal appeal by the Pope. The setting up of the committee came just days before a scheduled visit to Ukraine by the (Vatican) Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Speaking to journalists, the Director of the Holy See’s Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, said the money would be distributed to all those impacted by Ukraine’s conflict, regardless of their religion or ethnic group.  He said the committee will consist of a President, Jan Sobilo, auxiliary Bishop of Kharkiv-Zaporizhia, and four other members and its mandate will run for one year and will be renewed if deemed necessary.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/programme-of-pope-francis-visit-to-poland-for-wyd

Programme of Pope Francis’ visit to Poland for WYD
2016-06-09 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)  The Vatican on Thursday released the programme for Pope Francis’ 27-31 July visit to Poland for the 31st World Youth Day celebrations.

The Pope will depart from Rome's Fiumicino airport at 2 p.m. and will arrive at the John Paul II airport of Balice-Krakow two hours later. After the welcome ceremony he will transfer to the Castle of Wawel, where he will address the civil authorities and diplomatic corps, followed by a courtesy visit to the president of the Republic. The Pope's first day in Poland will conclude with a meeting with bishops in Krakow Cathedral.
 

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http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2016/the-holy-and-great-council-pope-sending-observers-to-orthodox-meeting.cfm

The Holy and Great Council: Pope sending observers to Orthodox meeting
6.9.2016 10:42 AM ET

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis will send high-level observers to the pan-Orthodox council meeting in Crete as a sign of respect, support and encouragement of the Orthodox Church.

The Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church was scheduled to open June 19, which is Pentecost on the Julian calendar, and run through June 26.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople invited Pope Francis to send observers to the meeting on the Greek island of Crete, and the pope chose Cardinal Kurt Koch and Bishop Brian Farrell, respectively the president and secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

Sending the Vatican's top ecumenical officers demonstrates that "it is the Holy Father's judgment that this is supremely important for the Orthodox, for our relationship with the Orthodox Church and, beyond that, it's supremely important for the Christian witness in a world that is ever more confused about the role of religion," Bishop Farrell told Catholic News Service June 8.
 

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http://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/cardinal-pell-turns-75-pope-to-keep-him-on-as-vatican-finance-chief

Cardinal Pell Turns 75, Pope to Keep Him on as Vatican Finance Chief
by Edward Pentin  06/08/2016

Cardinal George Pell will continue in his role as prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, despite being obliged to submit his resignation on turning 75 today, the Vatican has said.

Holy See Press Office director Father Federico Lombardi told reporters this afternoon there are no grounds to believe that Cardinal Pell won’t stay in his permanent role as prefect, and reminded media that on a recent courtesy visit to the Secretariat, Pope Francis expressed his “full confidence” in Cardinal Pell and that he wished him to continue as prefect.

All cardinals and bishops have to submit their resignations on turning 75 (since 2014, this applies also to Vatican cardinals), but they are not always accepted if the Pope wishes them to continue in their posts. Father Lombardi pointed out that Cardinal Angelo Amato also celebrated his birthday today, and at 78 continues as prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-at-mass-the-lesson-of-elijah

Pope Francis at Mass: the lesson of Elijah
2016-06-10 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis celebrated Mass in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta on Friday morning. In remarks to the faithful following the Readings of the Day, the Holy Father focused on three attitudes that are characteristic of the Christian: “standing” before God in “silence” to hear His voice and readiness to “go out” into the world to proclaim what one has heard to others. The Pope also warned against the danger of paralyzing fear in Christian life, no matter where one is in one’s journey with God and regardless of one’s state of life in the Church:

Standing upright and walking

To explore this issue, and how to escape the tunnel of fear, the Pope focused on the the prophet Elijah, from whose book the First Reading of the Day was taken. The Holy Father recalled how Elijah was victorious, how he “fought so much for the faith,” and defeated hundreds of idolaters on Mount Carmel. Then, he reaches a breaking point: one of the many acts of persecution aimed at him finally hit its mark, and he collapses in discouragement under a tree, waiting to die – except that God does not leave him in that state of prostration, but sends an angel with an imperative: get up, eat, go out:
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-urges-reformed-churches-to-promote-shared-mis

Pope urges Reformed Churches to promote shared mission of service
2016-06-10 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis told leaders of the Reformed Churches on Friday that there is an urgent need for an ecumenism capable of promoting “a shared mission of evangelization and service”. Unless people find in the Church a spirituality offering healing and liberation, he said, they will end up being taken in by solutions which “neither make life truly human, nor give glory to God”.

In his meeting with the delegation from the World Communion of Reformed Churches, the Pope said we must be grateful to God for our rediscovered brotherhood. Quoting from his predecessor, Saint John Paul II, he said this is not the consequence of a big-hearted philanthropy or “a vague family spirit”, but rather it is rooted in recognition of “the oneness of Baptism” which compels us to strive to “grow together in order to better serve the Lord”.

Speaking in Spanish, Pope Francis noted especially the recent conclusion of the fourth phase of theological dialogue between the WCRC and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, which dealt with ‘Justification and Sacramentality: the Christian Community as an Agent for Justice’.

Justification and Justice