Pope Francis

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Sunday, July 31, 2016 -- World Youth Day 2016, Poland
(Activities are in Polish time)

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2016/07/25/wyd-2016-full-schedule/

World Youth Day 2016: full schedule
posted Monday, 25 Jul 2016

 
Sunday, July 31

Pope’s arrival at Campus Misericordiae (8.45am), including blessing of two Caritas buildings and a passage among the faithful

Closing Mass (10am), including the sending out of youth as witnesses of Divine Mercy and the announcement of the location and year of the next World Youth Day.

Pope Francis arrives at Tauron Arena for meeting with WYD volunteers (5pm)

Pope arrives at Krakow–Balice Airport for farewell ceremony (6.15pm)
 

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Sunday, July 31, 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djXcSQFQ0Hg
Pope Francis in Poland: Holy Mass
Scheduled for Jul 31, 2016
Holy Mass on the occasion of the World Youth Day in Campus Misericordiae

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgtLMv8pviA
Pope Francis in Poland: Meeting with the volunteers & the organizing Committee
Scheduled for Jul 31, 2016
Meeting with the Volunteers of WYD and with the Organizing Committee and Benefactors in the Tauron Arena in Krakow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4cAQGzFmRY
Pope Francis in Poland: Farewell Ceremony
Scheduled for Jul 31, 2016
Farewell ceremony at Balice-Kraków

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/07/31/pope_at_wyd_mass_says_mercy_matters_more_than_fashions_/1248308

Pope at WYD Mass says mercy matters more than fashions
31/07/2016 13:06

(Vatican Radio) Over a million and a half young people from across the globe gathered on the outskirts of Krakow on Sunday morning for the final mass of World Youth Day. The celebration, led by Pope Francis, culminated in the announcement of the venue for the next event, scheduled to take place in 2019.

During the Mass, the Pope told the young people that each one of them is precious and valued by God, who doesn’t care what clothes they wear or what kind of cell phone they use. He urged them to be courageous and to share God’s love with others, as our correspondent in Krakow, Lydia O’Kane reports….

As the sun came up at the Campus Misericordia on Sunday morning the many thousands of pilgrims who had remained in these grounds overnight prepared themselves for the final Mass of this World Youth Day.

Pope Francis was entering this camp for the second time in 24 hours, and as he travelled through this field greeting the sea of youth, the Israeli singer Noah gave a rendition of the Ave Verum and the Ave Maria.
 
http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-wyd-krakow-2016-final-mass-homily-ful
Pope Francis: WYD Krakow 2016 final Mass homily (full text)
2016-07-31 Vatican Radio

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-at-angelus-panama-to-host-wyd-2019

Pope Francis at Angelus: Panama to host WYD 2019
2016-07-31 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday announced that Panama is to host the 2019 edition of World Youth Day. He made the announcement at the conclusion of the closing Mass for WYD Krakow 2016, just ahead of the Angelus prayer.

The full text of the Holy Father's prepared remarks, including the announcement, can be found below
******************************************************
At the conclusion of this celebration, I join all of you in thanking God, the Father of infinite mercy, for allowing us to experience this World Youth Day.  I thank Cardinal Dziwisz and Cardinal Ryłko for their kind words and especially for the work and prayer with which they have prepared for this event.  I also thank all those who have contributed to its successful outcome.  Also, a big word of thanks goes to you, dear young people!  You filled Krakow with the contagious enthusiasm of your faith.  Saint John Paul II has rejoiced from heaven, and he will help you spread the joy of the Gospel everywhere.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-i-dont-know-whether-i-will-be-in-pana

Pope Francis: ‘I don’t know whether I will be in Panama’
2016-07-31 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has told young people that he doesn’t know whether he will still be around for the next World Youth Day, “but Peter certainly will”.

In the last address of his 5-day visit to Poland as he thanked World Youth Day volunteers for their hard work, the Pope handed over his prepared remarks and spoke off-the-cuff, touching on a number of questions.

He reminded the young people that if they want to represent hope for the future they must remember their origins.

“I must ask myself where I come from… the memory of my people, the memory of my family, and the memory of my history. […] The memory of a path that has already been trodden and all that we have received from adults. A young person with no memory cannot be a beacon of hope for the future” he said.
 
http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-thanks-wyd-volunteers-full-text-of-pr
Pope Francis thanks WYD volunteers: full text of prepared remarks
2016-07-31 Vatican Radio

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Press conference on flight from Poland to Rome

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/full-text-of-pope-francis-in-flight-presser-from-poland-70432/

Full text of Pope Francis' in-flight presser from Poland

Aboard the papal plane, Jul 31, 2016 / 05:06 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- During his flight from Krakow to Rome on Sunday, Pope Francis gave a press conference to the journalists assembled aboard the papal plane. He reflected on the World Youth Day gathering in the Polish city, and the recent attempted coup in Turkey.

He also addressed abuse accusations against Cardinal Pell, the crisis in Venezuela, Islam and violence, and Panama – which will host the next World Youth Day.

Please find below the full text of the July 31 press conference, translated by Catholic News Agency:

Fr. Lombardi: Holy Father, thanks a lot for being here with us on the return from this trip. Despite the storm tonight it seems that everything went very well and we are all happy and content and we hope that you are as well in these days. As usual, we will ask you some questions. We are here, if you want to say something for an introduction, we are at your disposal.

Pope Francis: I would like to thank you for your work and your company. I would also like to give you, because you are colleagues, condolences for the death of Anna Maria Jacobini (Editor’s note: Jacobini is an Italian journalist who died unexpectedly in Krakow while covering the trip). Today I met her sister, niece and nephew: they were so saddened by this. Then, I would like to thank Lombardi and Mauro, because this will be the last trip they take with us. Fr. Lombardi was at Vatican Radio for more than 25 years and then on the flights 12-13, 10 (years). Mauro: 37. Thirty-seven years in charge of the bags on the flight. I thank you very much, Mauro and Fr. Lombardi. And then at the end we’ll thank them with a cake. I am at your disposal; the trip is short, so we’ll do it in a hurry this time.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-message-to-argentine-bishops-on-patro

Pope Francis: Message to Argentine bishops on patronal feast
2016-08-01 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a Message to the Bishops of Argentina on the occasion of the Feast of St. Cajetan, the priest and founder of the Theatine order of priests, who is greatly venerated in the Pope’s native land as the Patron of Labour.

Millions of pilgrims flock to the Buenos Aires neighbourhood of Liniers each year around St. Cajetan’s August 7th feast day, to ask for bread, and the work by which to get it with dignity.
 

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Video at the link

http://www.news.va/en/news/popes-video-message-on-his-universal-prayer-intent

Pope’s video message on his universal prayer intentions for August
2016-08-02 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis released on Tuesday a video message on his universal prayer intentions for August where he speaks of his desire that sports may build a culture of encounter among everyone for a world of peace.
 
English translation of his message:

Sports, a culture of encounter

Sports make it possible to build a culture of encounter among everyone for a world of peace. I dream of sports as the practice of human dignity, turned into a vehicle of fraternity. Do we exercise together this prayer intention? That sports may be an opportunity for friendly encounters between people and may contribute to peace in the world.

Pope Francis’ prayer intention in August for evangelization was entitled: Living the Gospel – That Christians may live the Gospel, giving witness to faith, honesty, and love of neighbor.

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http://www.news.va/en/news/the-pope-expresses-sorrow-for-the-death-of-cardina

The Pope expresses sorrow for the death of Cardinal Macharski
2016-08-02 L’Osservatore Romano

Pope Francis expressed deep sorrow over the death of Cardinal Franciszek Macharski, Archbishop emeritus of Krakow, who died on Tuesday, 2 August, at 9:37 am. In a telegram addressed to his successor, Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, the Pontiff recalled that the episcopal motto of the deceased prelate – Jesus, I trust in you! – which guided his life and his ministry, “today, in the Jubilee Year of Mercy, it has become an eloquent invocation which proclaims the fulfillment of the work that the Lord had entrusted to him in Baptism, introducing him into the ranks of the sealed with His Redeeming Blood, and later together with the gift of priesthood, when he sent him with the task of sanctifying the People with the word and with the grace of the sacraments”.
 
Referring to his travels for World Youth Day, the Pope expressed gratitude “to Providence, that I was able to visit him during my recent journey to Krakow. In the last phase of life he was greatly tried by suffering which he accepted with peace of mind. Even in this trial”, Francis contniued, “he remained a faithful witness to confidence in the goodness and the mercy of God. He will thus remain in my memory and prayers. May the Lord welcome him into his glory!”.
 

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http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2016/pope-names-six-women-six-men-to-panel-to-study-women-deacons.cfm

Pope names six women, six men to panel to study women deacons
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
8.2.2016 4:15 PM ET

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis has appointed six men and six women to a commission to study the issue of women deacons, particularly their ministry in the early church.

In addition to the 12 members named Aug. 2, the pope tapped Archbishop Luis Ladaria Ferrer, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, to serve as president of the commission.

The pope set up the commission at the request of the International Union of Superiors General, the organization for the leaders of women's religious orders around the world. Meeting the group in May, Pope Francis said that while his understanding was that the women described as deacons in the New Testament were not ordained as male deacons are today, "it would be useful for the church to clarify this question."

The International Theological Commission, a body that advises the doctrinal congregation, included the question of women deacons in a study on the diaconate almost 20 years ago. While its report, issued in 2002, did not offer recommendations for the future, it concluded that biblical deaconesses were not the same as ordained male deacons.

In June, Pope Francis told reporters that he had asked Cardinal Gerhard Muller, prefect of the doctrinal congregation, and Sister Carmen Sammut, president of the superiors' group, to suggest scholars to include in the study group.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/fr-lombardi-sj-farewell-letter-to-holy-see-press-c

Fr Lombardi SJ: farewell letter to Holy See press corps
2016-08-02 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) The former Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, has sent a farewell letter to the Holy See press corps. Fr. Lombardi’s term as Director of the Press Office ended with the month of July. In the letter, Fr. Lombardi thanks the journalists for their assistance and professional support during his time in the post, saying, “[You] helped me and encouraged me in the job, day in and day out – in the days of trial and the days of joy.”

Fr. Lombardi also looked back on his decade of service.

“Together, we followed the ministry of two great Popes, we lived through very significant moments in the history of the Church – and, let us say it, of the human family, as well – trying to make sense of those moments and to help others understand their significance.”

Below, please find Vatican Radio’s translation of Fr. Lombardi’s letter
 

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https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/secularized-culture-leads-orphaned-christians-pope-tells-bishops

Secularized culture leads to 'orphaned' Christians, pope tells bishops
Aug. 2, 2016

Pope Francis warned Poland's Catholic bishops that an increasingly secularized and de-Christianized culture leaves people orphaned, being vaguely spiritual without Christ or his church.
 
Speaking July 27 with the 117-member bishops' conference in the Krakow cathedral, the pope also said that behind the exploitation of people and creation "ideological colonization" is at work and is seen, for instance, in the promotion of "gender theory" -- the idea that people choose to be male or female -- which seeks to "annihilate humankind as the image of God."

Six days after the pope met the bishops privately, the Vatican released the transcript of the question-and-answer portion of the 90-minute meeting. The highly anticipated meeting came at time of reported disagreements within the Polish church over certain aspects of the pope's teaching, including his appeals for sheltering refugees.
 
Pope Francis told the bishops of a conversation he had with retired Pope Benedict XVI who told him, "Your Holiness, we are living in an age of sin against God the Creator."

Among those sins, the pope continued, is ideological colonization, and particularly that of gender theory, which argues that male and female characteristics are not biologically determined but are malleable social constructs.

"Today, children are taught this at school: that everyone can choose their own sex. And why do they teach this? Because the books come from those people and institutions who give money," he said.

"God created man and woman; God created the world like this and we are doing the exact opposite," the pope said.

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http://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/islamic-state-answers-pope-francis-ours-is-a-religious-war-and-we-hate-you

Islamic State Answers Pope Francis: Ours Is a Religious War and We Hate You
August 2, 2016

(Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D) - The Islamic State terror group has come out publicly to reject Pope Francis' claims that the war being waged by Islamic terrorists is not religious in nature, assuring the pontiff that their sole motivation is religious and sanctioned by Allah in the Qur’an.

In the most recent issue of Dabiq, the propaganda magazine of the Islamic State, ISIS criticizes Pope Francis for his naïveté in clinging to the conviction that Muslims want peace and that acts of Islamic terror are economically motivated.

"This is a divinely-warranted war between the Muslim nation and the nations of disbelief," the authors state in an article titled "By the Sword."

The Islamic State directly attacks Francis for claiming that "authentic Islam and the proper reading of the Quran are opposed to every form of violence," saying that by doing this, "Francis continues to hide behind a deceptive veil of 'good will,' covering his actual intentions of pacifying the Muslim nation."
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-general-audience-focused-on-trip-to-p

Pope Francis: General Audience focused on trip to Poland
2016-08-03 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis renewed his condemnation of the holocaust on Wednesday, and decried once again the persistent violence in the world as a “piecemeal” world war. The Holy Father’s remarks came during the course of the General Audience on Wednesday – the first since suspending the weekly appointment with pilgrims and tourists for the month of July, and the first since his return from Poland and the 2016 edition of World Youth Day.

While in Poland, Pope Francis visited the extermination camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, where German National Socialists murdered a million European Jews (one in every six victims of Shoah perished at Auschwitz) as part of their programme of Jewish extermination.

“The great silence of the visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau,” said Pope Francis, “was more eloquent than any word spoken could have been. In that silence I listened: I felt the presence of all the souls who passed through that place; I felt the compassion, the mercy of God, which a few holy souls were been able to bring even into that abyss. In that great silence, I prayed for all the victims of violence and war: and there, in that place, I realized more than ever how precious is memory; not only as a record of past events, but as a warning, and a responsibility for today and tomorrow, that the seed of hatred and violence not be allowed to take root in the furrows of history.”
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-meets-with-refugee-children

Pope Francis meets with refugee children
2016-08-03 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met with a group of 65 child refugees from Syria and Eritrea on Wednesday during his General Audience.

The children are staying in the small town of Castelnuovo di Porto, located 25 kilometres north of Rome.

The children were wearing shirts saying “Grazie Papa Francesco” [Thank you, Pope Francis], and gave the Holy Father a large teddy bear. They also held up a sign saying “Our house is where peace resides.”

Pope Francis washed the feet of refugees from the Centre for Asylum Seekers at Castelnuovo di Porto on Holy Thursday in March.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-message-for-rio-olympics-fight-the-go

Pope Francis' message for Rio Olympics: 'fight the good fight'
2016-08-03 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) At the conclusion of his Wednesday General Audience, Pope Francis delivered his message for the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, urging Brazilians to work for a more just and safe country.

With the Olympic Games 2016 getting underway in Rio on Saturday, August 6th, Pope Francis told all those involved to ‘fight the good fight’ and finish the race together.

He said “in a world thirsting for peace, tolerance, and reconciliation”, the prize for all participants and spectators of the Games consisted in something much more precious than a medal.

Their prize, he said, is “the construction of a civilization in which solidarity reigns and is based upon the recognition that we are all members of the same human family, regardless of the differences of culture, skin color, or religion.”
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-asks-for-prayers-for-his-assisi-trip

Pope Francis asks for prayers for his Assisi trip on Thursday
2016-08-03 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday asked for prayers for his upcoming trip to Assisi.

The Holy Father will travel to the Umbrian town on Thursday, to mark the eight centenary of the “Pardon of Assisi.” This is an indulgence granted to those who on 2 August visit the “Porziuncola,” the small church located within the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli (“St. Mary of the Angels”) which is where is where St. Francis of Assisi began the Franciscan Order.

The “Pardon of Assisi” was established by Pope Honorius III at the request of St. Francis in 1216.

It will be a very simple pilgrimage, but very significant in this Holy Year of Mercy,” – Pope Francis said – “I ask everyone to accompany me with prayer, invoking the light and the strength of the Holy Spirit and the heavenly intercession of Saint Francis.”
 
http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-prepares-to-mark-the-pardon-of-assisi
Pope prepares to mark the “Pardon of Assisi”
2016-08-03 Vatican Radio

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-to-dominican-general-chapter-preaching-witnes

Pope to Dominican General Chapter: ‘Preaching, witness, charity’
2016-08-04 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met with participants in the Dominican General Chapter on Thursday ahead of his afternoon visit to Assisi, speaking to them about the need to incarnate the Gospel through preaching, witness, and charity.

The audience with Pope Francis concludes the General Chapter marking 800 years since the founding of the Order of Preachers by St. Dominic.

Beginning with a joke about his day’s activities, Pope Francis laughingly said his day could be called “A Jesuit among Friars”, since it saw him meet with the spiritual children of the contemporaries St. Dominic and St. Francis.

Putting jokes aside, the Holy Father got to the heart of the matter, speaking to the Dominicans gathered about the need to incarnate the Gospel through preaching, witness, and charity.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-in-assisi-forgiveness-can-truly-renew-church

Pope in Assisi: forgiveness can truly renew Church and world
2016-08-04 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis made a private pilgrimage on Thursday to the Italian town of Assisi and spoke about the importance of forgiveness, saying only the path of forgiveness can truly renew the Church and the world. He lamented that “too many people are caught up in resentment and harbour hatred because they are incapable of forgiving.” “These people,” he went on, “ruin their own lives and the lives of those around them.”

The Pope’s words came during an address delivered inside the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels in Assisi after earlier going to pray in silence inside the small Porziuncola chapel where the Italian saint founded the Franciscan order in the 13th century. The purpose of Pope Francis’ pilgrimage there was to mark the 800th anniversary of the “Pardon of Assisi” during this Jubilee Year of Mercy. 

After addressing those inside the basilica, the Pope spent about an hour hearing the confessions of 19 people before greeting the friars and local religious authorities including an Imam from Perugia. He then went to the nearby infirmary to visit a number of friars who are ill before going outside where he briefly greeted pilgrims waiting outside in the square and once again stressed the importance of forgiving others.

Please find below a translation into English of Pope Francis’ prepared remarks inside Assisi's Basilica of St Mary of the Angels:
 

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https://twitter.com/roccopalmo
Rocco Palmo ‏@roccopalmo  · 2h  2 hours ago 

Amid fury from LGBT groups over gender comment, full English of Pope's hourlong Q&A to Polish bishops released: http://bit.ly/2aGQKvm
 

http://m.vatican.va/content/francescomobile/en/speeches/2016/july/documents/papa-francesco_20160727_polonia-vescovi.html
 
Bishop Krzysztof Zadarko (Auxilary of Koszalin-Kołobrzeg):

Holy Father, one of the most troubling problems facing Europe today is the question of refugees. How can we help them, since they are so numerous? And what can we do to counter fears of an invasion or aggression on their part, which would paralyze society as a whole?

Pope Francis:

Thank you! The problem of refugees… It wasn’t always like this. Let’s speak of migrants and refugees, considering the two together. My father was a migrant. I told the President [of Poland] that in the factory where my father worked, there were many Polish immigrants, in the period after the war. I was a child and I knew many of them. My country is a country of immigrants, everybody… And there were no problems. Other times, really…

Why is there so much migration today? I am not talking about emigration from one's own country to another. This is due to lack of work; it is clear that people leave to seek employment abroad. This is a domestic problem, which you yourselves have to some extent… Here I am speaking of those who come to us, fleeing from wars, from hunger. The problem is back there. Why is the problem there? Because in those countries people are exploited, the earth is being exploited, there is exploitation for the sake of making more money. In talking with world economists who see this problem, they say: “We need to invest in these countries. Investments will lead to employment and then there will be no need to emigrate”. But there is war! There is tribal warfare, ideological wars or other artificial wars created by arms traffickers who make a living from this. They give weapons to you, who are against them, and to them, who are against you. That is how they make a living!

Corruption is really at the origin of migration. What can be done? I believe that every country has to look at times and means. Not all countries are alike; not all countries have the same possibilities. But they do have the possibility of being generous! Generous as Christians. We cannot invest there, but for those who come here…

How many and how? There is no one answer that fits every case. For acceptance depends on the situation of each country and culture. But certainly many things can be done. For example, weekly prayer to the Blessed Sacrament, prayer for those who knock at Europe’s door and are unable to enter. Some do, but others don’t… Then one does enter and takes a path that generates fear. We have countries that for years have done a good job of integrating migrants. They have integrated them well. In others, unfortunately, certain ghettos have formed. A whole reform has to take place, on a worldwide level, with regard to this commitment and acceptance. But that is something relative: what is absolute is a welcoming heart. That is absolute! With prayer and intercession, by doing what I can. What is relative is the way I am able to do it. Not everyone can do it the same way. The problem is worldwide! The exploitation of creation, and the exploitation of persons. We are experiencing a moment of the annihilation of man as the image of God.

I would like to conclude with this aspect, since behind all this there are ideologies. In Europe, America, Latin America, Africa, and in some countries of Asia, there are genuine forms of ideological colonization taking place. And one of these - I will call it clearly by its name – is [the ideology of] “gender”. Today children – children! – are taught in school that everyone can choose his or her sex. Why are they teaching this? Because the books are provided by the persons and institutions that give you money. These forms of ideological colonization are also supported by influential countries. And this terrible!

In a conversation with Pope Benedict, who is in good health and very perceptive, he said to me: “Holiness, this is the age of sin against God the Creator”. He is very perceptive. God created man and woman; God created the world in a certain way… and we are doing the exact opposite. God gave us things in a “raw” state, so that we could shape a culture; and then with this culture, we are shaping things that bring us back to the “raw” state! Pope Benedict’s observation should make us think. “This is the age of sin against God the Creator”. That will help us.

But you will say to me: “What does this have to do with migrants?” It has to do with the overall situation, no? As for migrants, I would say: the problem is there in their native lands… But how do we welcome them? Everyone has to determine how. But all of us can have an open heart and think of spending an hour in the parishes, an hour of adoration and prayer for migrants. Prayer moves mountains!