Pope Francis

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-angelus-catechesis-on-humility-genero

Pope Francis: Angelus catechesis on humility, generosity
2016-08-28 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis prayed the Angelus with the faithful in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, the final Sunday in the month of August and the twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time. In remarks to the pilgrims and tourists gathered in the Square ahead of the traditional prayer of Marian devotion, Pope Francis reflected on the Gospel reading of the day, taken from the Gospel according to St. Luke (14:1, 7-14), in which Jesus dines as the guest of a leading Pharisee, and teaches a hard truth about pride and the Kingdom of God and issues a challenge to all present to focus their thoughts and order their actions to the promise of the Resurrection.

As often happens, Jesus taught the Gospel lesson through parables, the first of which regarded the behavior of guests at a banquet:

When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, “Give your place to this man,” and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, “My friend, move up to a higher position.” Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

The Second, equally famous lesson regarded the attitude and behavior of the one, who gives the banquet:
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-angelus-appeal-for-quake-victims-in-c

Pope Francis: Angelus appeal for quake victims in central Italy
2016-08-28 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis offered words of encouragement to the people of the quake-damaged border area in central Italy where the regions of Latium, Umbria and the Marches meet, renewing his appeal for prayerful and concrete solidarity, and expressing the desire to visit the stricken places as soon as possible.

Addressing the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square following the traditional Sunday Angelus prayer, Pope Francis said, “Dear Brothers and Sisters, I wish to renew my spiritual closeness to the inhabitants of Latium, the Marches and Umbria, hard hit by the earthquake in these past days.”
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-heralds-upcoming-day-of-prayer-for-ca

Pope Francis heralds upcoming Day of Prayer for Care of Creation
2016-08-28 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis called attention on Sunday to the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, to be celebrated this coming Thursday, September 1st. A major global ecumenical stewardship initiative, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation began in 1989 under the leadership of the Orthodox Church.

Pope Francis established the Day for the Catholic Church by a letter dated August 6th, 2015, and addressed to Cardinals Peter Turkson and Kurt Koch, respectively the President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity.
 

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http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2016/pope-meets-with-facebook-founder-mark-zuckerberg.cfm

Pope meets with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg
By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service
8.29.2016 10:50 AM ET

CNS/L'Osservatore Romano
Pope Francis accepts a model aircraft from Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, and his wife, Priscilla Chan, during a private audience at the Vatican Aug. 29. The model is of Aquila, a solar-powered aircraft being developed by Facebook to beam internet coverage to remote parts of the world. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano, handout) See POPE-FACEBOOK-ZUCKERBERG Aug. 29, 2016

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Continuing his dialogue with leaders in the world of social media and technology, Pope Francis met with Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, met the pope Aug. 29 in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, where the pope lives.

"It is an honor to be with you today," Zuckerberg told the pope, adding that he hoped to help spread the pope's "message of mercy and tenderness."

He also presented Pope Francis with a model replica of Aquila, a solar-powered aircraft that will beam internet connectivity to areas with limited or no connection.

Greg Burke, Vatican spokesman, said the pope and Zuckerberg spoke about "how communications technology can be used to alleviate poverty, encourage a culture of encounter and help deliver a message of hope, especially to the most disadvantaged people."

Pope Francis presented Zuckerberg and his wife with a copy of "The Name of God is Mercy," a book-length interview he did with Italian journalist, Andrea Tornielli. In the book, he told them, "are my thoughts on tenderness and mercy."
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/08/30/hungarys_orb%C3%A1n_tells_pope_francis_of_pledge_to_tackle_perse/1254659

Hungary's Orbán tells Pope Francis of pledge to tackle persecution of Christians
30/08/2016 18:44

(Vatican Radio) Officials say Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has met Pope Francis after he pledged that his nation wants to tackle the persecution of Christians at a time when Europe faces a massive refugee crisis. 

The Hungarian government's international press office confirmed to Vatican Radio that Orbán met the Pope last weekend on the sidelines of the annual International Catholic Legislators Network meeting.

That gathering, held in Frascati, near Rome, was described as the "largest forum for Christian heads of government".
 

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http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/6056/0/vatileaks-monsignor-begins-18-month-prison-term-in-vatican

Vatileaks monsignor begins 18-month prison term in Vatican
30 August 2016 | by Catholic News Service   

Former Vatican official was found guilty of stealing and passing on sensitive documents to Italian journalists

A Spanish monsignor found guilty of leaking confidential documents about the Vatican's financial reform has begun serving his 18-month prison sentence at the Vatican.

Msgr Lucio Vallejo Balda, secretary of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, was found guilty on 7 July of stealing and passing on documents to Italian journalists Gianluigi Nuzzi and Emiliano Fittipaldi.

"The sentence became definitive," Greg Burke, Vatican spokesman, told Catholic News Service. In accordance with Vatican law, the prosecution had 40 days to contest the sentence, which had been considerably reduced from its original request.

Following the court's ruling, Balda was allowed limited freedom of movement within the confines of Vatican City State. However, he was formally arrested on 22 August by Vatican police and placed in a prison cell to begin his sentence.
 

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http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/08/29/soros-paid-leftist-groups-silence-pope-abortion-marriage/

Soros Paid Leftist Groups to Silence Pope on Abortion and Marriage
by Austin Ruse29 Aug 2016

Newly released documents from Wikileaks have exposed the efforts of hard-left billionaire George Soros to make Pope Francis quiet down on social issues like abortion and man-woman marriage and make income equality and global warming the centerpiece of his visit last year to the U.S. The documents show how these wealthy groups worked closely with the Pope’s closest advisers including two U.S. Bishops and one Latin American Cardinal.

The plan was first advanced at a board meeting of Soros’s Open Society U.S. Programs Board in May, 2015, where the radical group boasts of direct influence with Pope Francis. At that meeting, the board announced a $650,000 grant to a wealthy radical group called PICO “in order to seize this moment..to engage the Pope on economic and racial justice issues, including using (emphasis added) the influence of Cardinal Rodriquez, the Pope’s senior advisor, and sending a delegation to visit the Vatican in the spring or summer to allow him to hear directly (emphasis added) from low-income Catholics in America.”
 

Edited to add an earlier article--
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-leaked-e-mails-show-george-soros-paid-to-influence-bishops-during
BREAKING: Leaked e-mails show George Soros paid $650K to influence bishops during Pope’s US visit
Tue Aug 23, 2016 - 5:03 pm EST

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http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-creates-new-vatican-office-for-integral-human-development-34673/

Pope Francis creates new Vatican office for integral human development

Vatican City, Aug 31, 2016 / 04:00 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Wednesday the Vatican announced Pope Francis’ decision to form a new mega-dicastery merging the Vatican offices for Justice and Peace, Migrants, charity and healthcare.

Dedicated to “Promoting Integral Human Development,” the new department – also called a dicastery – was announced in an Aug. 31 communique from the Vatican.

The announcement was accompanied by the Motu Proprio “Humanam progressionem,” meaning “Human Development,” by which Pope Francis formally established the dicastery “Promoting Integral Human Development.”

Set to take effect Jan. 1, 2017, the new congregation will take on the tasks of the Pontifical Councils for Justice and Peace, Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, Cor Unum, and Healthcare Workers.

It will be headed by Cardinal Peter Turkson, who since March 2013 has served as president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

Francis’ decision to establish the new dicastery is part of his ongoing reform of the Roman Curia, and is a fruit of meetings with his Council of Cardinals, who advise him on matters of Church governance and reform.
 

The full text of Pope Francis’ Motu Proprio--
http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/08/31/migrants_and_refugees_at_heart_of_popes_new_motu_proprio/1254747
Migrants and refugees at the heart of Pope's new 'Motu Proprio'
31/08/2016 12:04

http://www.news.va/en/news/cardinal-turkson-address-to-the-christian-social-c
Cardinal Turkson: Address to the Christian Social Congress
2016-08-31 Vatican Radio

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-social-systems-should-serve-the-needs

Pope Francis: Social systems should serve the needs of all people
2016-08-31 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday sent greetings to the Christian Social Congress taking place in Doorn, in the Netherlands.

In a message sent through the Secretary of State, the Pope encouraged the participants “to promote a greater awareness of the particular dignity of human relationships, which inculcates esteem for each person and respect for others.”

It continued by stating Pope Francis “prays that those gathered will give particular attention to the concerns of the poor and marginalized, so that every economic, political and social system may serve the needs and advancement of all peoples, and protect the created world which God has entrusted to humanity’s stewardship.”

The President of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace, Cardinal Peter K.A. Turkson, also addressed the Congress.

The full text of the message is below
 

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http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2016/jesus-mercy-extends-to-even-the-greatest-of-sinners-pope-says.cfm

Jesus' mercy extends to even the greatest of sinners, pope says
By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service
8.31.2016 9:35 AM ET

CNS/Paul Haring
Pope Francis speaks during his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Aug. 31. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) See POPE-AUDIENCE-MERCY Aug. 31, 2016

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Jesus' loving gaze of tenderness and mercy extends to all who seek forgiveness no matter how great or small their sins may be, Pope Francis said.

While many often feel "cast aside" because of their sins, Jesus offers encouragement and "tells us, 'Courage, come to me,'" the pope said Aug. 31 at his weekly general audience.

"It is the moment of forgiveness, of inclusion in Jesus' life and the life of the church. All of us are sinners; whether great or small, we all are. The Lord tells us, 'Courage, come, you are no longer discarded. I forgive you, I embrace you.' This is mercy," he said.

Reflecting on the Gospel reading of Jesus' miraculous healing of a woman suffering from hemorrhages, Pope Francis noted the woman's persistence in trying to reach out to Jesus despite the fact that she was excluded from society because of her condition.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-pleased-over-finalization-of-peace-ta

Pope Francis pleased over finalization of peace talks in Colombia
2016-08-31 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis is “pleased” that negotiations between the government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have been finalized after four years of peace talks.

A statement issued by the Secretariat of State said the Holy Father “reiterates his support for the goal of attaining the peace and reconciliation of the entire Colombian people, in light of human rights and Christian values, which are at the heart of Latin American culture.”

The conflict between the government and the Marxist rebels has lasted over 50 years, and killed over 200,000 people.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Tuesday called a plebiscite for 2 October to ratify the agreement.

The full statement is below
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-encourages-religious-to-be-architects-of-a-ne

Pope encourages religious to be architects of a new society
2016-08-31 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has expressed appreciation for the opening of the 20th Renovabis Congress taking place in Freising, Germany.

The event, from  31 August to  2 September focusses on the theme “Witnessing to the Gospel – Shaping the World. The Role of Religious Orders in Central and Eastern Europe".

A message from the Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, on behalf of Pope Francis highlights his profound belief that the Lord’s call to bring peace and mercy to mankind continues to be an urgent and significant one in today’s world.

This – the message continues – is especially true for missionaries who leave the safety of their homelands to bring the light of the Gospel and the solidarity of the Church to the ends of the earth. 

To respond to the Lord’s call in this way, the message says, is a constant witness of God’s love for each creature.

The message of good wishes to the participants of the congress concludes with the wish that this kind of testimony may contribute to the building of a society based on dignity  and social responsibility, and that they may become the ‘architects of a new society’. 
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/presentation-of-pope-francis-message-of-day-of-pra

Presentation of Pope Francis' Message of Day of Prayer for Creation
2016-09-01 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) The Message of Pope Francis for the World Day of Prayer for Creation was presented on Thursday at a Press Conference in the Holy See Press Office.

Presentations were given by the President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Cardinal Peter Turkson; the Secretary for the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Bishop Brian Farrell; and the author of the book The Guardian of Mercy, Terence Ward.

The full text of the prepared remarks are below

Press Conference / Conferenza Stampa, 1.09.2016

Presentation of the Message of Pope Francis, “Show Mercy to our Common Home” for the celebration of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation

Cardinal Peter K.A. Turkson

Last year, following the launch of his encyclical Laudato Si’, Pope Francis announced that the Catholic Church would follow the good example our Orthodox brothers and sisters and institute a “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.” This is in recognition of the leadership of the beloved Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who has long understood that when human beings abuse the gifts of creation, they commit sin. The idea of a common day of prayer for our common home came at the suggestion of his representative, my brother Metropolitan Ioannis of Pergamon, who—to my great joy—came to Rome to help launch the encyclical last year. We also stand together with other Christian communities and with other religions too—because care for our common home is something that truly unites us all.

When Pope Francis announced that the Catholic Church would also mark this day of prayer for creation, he noted that it would “offer individual believers and communities a fitting opportunity to reaffirm their personal vocation to be stewards of creation, to thank God for the wonderful handiwork which he has entrusted to our care, and to implore his help for the protection of creation as well as his pardon for the sins committed against the world in which we live.”

So for a first papal message for the Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation to come during this Jubilee Year of Mercy is very appropriate. For we are being asked to show mercy to our common home—to acknowledge and repent for our sins against creation, and to amend our ways through the merciful grace of God.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-message-on-world-day-of-prayer-for-cr

Pope Francis: Message on World Day of Prayer for Creation
2016-09-01 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has issued a Message to mark the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. Taken from the Extraordinary Jubilee Year and his encyclical letter, Laudato si’, the theme of the Holy Father’ Message is: Show mercy to our common home.

Below, please find the full text
*******************************************************
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS
POPE FRANCIS
 FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE  WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE CARE OF CREATION
1 SEPTEMBER 2016

Show Mercy to our Common Home

United with our Orthodox brothers and sisters, and with the support of other Churches and Christian communities, the Catholic Church today marks the “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation”. This Day offers “individual believers and communities a fitting opportunity to reaffirm their personal vocation to be stewards of creation, to thank God for the wonderful handiwork which he has entrusted to our care, and to implore his help for the protection of creation as well as his pardon for the sins committed against the world in which we live.” [1]

It is most encouraging that concern for the future of our planet is shared by the Churches and Christian communities, together with other religions. Indeed, in past decades numerous efforts have been made by religious leaders and organizations to call public attention to the dangers of an irresponsible exploitation of our planet. Here I would mention Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople who, like his predecessor Patriarch Dimitrios, has long spoken out against the sin of harming creation and has drawn attention to the moral and spiritual crisis at the root of environmental problems. In response to a growing concern for the integrity of creation, the Third European Ecumenical Assembly in Sibiu in 2007 proposed celebrating a “Time for Creation” during the five weeks between 1 September (the Orthodox commemoration of God’s creation) and 4 October (the commemoration of Francis of Assisi in the Catholic Church and some other Western traditions). This initiative, supported by the World Council of Churches, has since inspired many ecumenical activities in different parts of the world. It is also encouraging that throughout the world similar initiatives promoting environmental justice, concern for the poor and responsible social commitment have been bringing together people, especially young people, from diverse religious backgrounds. Christians or not, as people of faith and goodwill, we should be united in showing mercy to the earth as our common home and cherishing the world in which we live as a place for sharing and communion.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/new-work-of-mercy-enshrined-in-first-papal-message

New work of mercy enshrined in first papal message for creation
2016-09-01 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) To mark the September 1st day of prayer for creation, Pope Francis has added a new work of mercy for Catholics to perform: caring for our common home, the planet and all its inhabitants.

At a press conference on Thursday morning, Cardinal Peter Turkson, head of the new Vatican office for Promoting Integral Human Development, and Bishop Brian Farrell from the Council for Christian Unity, introduced the Pope’s message for this annual observance, together with Irish author Terence Ward.

‘It’s not every day that you have a new work of mercy in the Catholic Church!’ That was how the new director of the Vatican press office, American Greg Burke introduced the briefing, focused on the papal message entitled ‘Show Mercy to our Common Home’.

Since biblical times, Christians have been called to carry out 6 acts of mercy, listed in St Matthew’s Gospel – giving food and drink to the hungry and thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and the prisoners – with a 7th one, burying the dead, added in medieval times.

Now the new papal message adds an eighth one to that list and, as Terence Ward, author of ‘The Guardian of Mercy’ pointed out, it could be seen as the most significant of them all…

“Caring for our Common Home. Groundbreaking and visionary, ecumenical and ecological. One could argue that this is the highest work of mercy because it includes all the others, a modern work of mercy for our modern epoch.”
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/homily-by-fr-cantalamessa-at-vespers-for-world-day

Homily by Fr Cantalamessa at Vespers for World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation
2016-09-01 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Father Raniero Cantalamessa, the preacher of the Papal Household, urged Christians to glorify God for creation, saying "the primary duty of human beings towards creation is to lend it a voice." He said St Francis of Assisi did not pray “for creation” but instead prayed “with creation” or “because of creation.” The preacher noted that "the sovereignty of human beings over the cosmos" does not entail "the triumphalism of our species but the assumption of responsibility toward the weak, the poor, the defenseless."

Fr Cantalamessa ‘s remarks came during the homily delivered by him  at the Vespers in St Peter’s Basilica on September 1st  for the World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation, presided over by Pope Francis.

Please find below an English translation of Fr. Cantalamessa’s homily:

Father Raniero Cantalamessa, OFMCap.

PRAYING FOR CREATION OR PRAYING WITH CREATION?

Homily at Vespers for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
Presided over by the Holy Father Francis
St. Peter’s Basilica, September 1, 2016

Why then, man, are you so worthless in your own eyes and yet so precious to God? Why render yourself such dishonor when you are honored by him? Why do you ask how you were created and do not seek to know why you were made?

The words we have just heard were spoken by St. Peter Chrysologus, the Bishop of Ravenna in the 5th century AD, more than 1500 years ago. Since that time the reason for human beings to consider themselves worthless has changed, but the fact remains. At the time of Chrysologus the reason was that people are “taken from the ground,” that they are dust and will return to dust (see Gen 3:19). Today the reason for that sense of worthlessness is that human beings count for less than nothing in the endless vastness of the universe.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ICAVJ2Kw3s
World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation - 01.09.2016
Streamed live 8 hours ago
On the occasion of the first World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Pope Francis presides at the Liturgy of the Word

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http://www.news.va/en/news/vatican-press-conference-on-mother-teresa-canoniza

Vatican press conference on Mother Teresa Canonization
2016-09-02 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) The Director of the Holy See’s Press office, Greg Burke said it would be impossible to predict how many people will attend Sunday’s Canonization Mass for Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Speaking at a Vatican press conference giving details about the highly-anticipated event, Burke said all 100,000 tickets had been distributed for the Mass but that the crowd would likely be far greater, spilling into the streets around St. Peter’s Square.

Some 600 journalists from all over the world have flocked to Rome to cover Mother Teresa’s Canonization Mass which is being seen by many as the highlight of this Jubilee Year of Mercy. More than a dozen heads of state or government will be among the many dignitaries attending the Mass.

Among those speaking at the packed press conference on Friday morning was Sister Mary Prema Pierick, the Superior General of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity Order, Father Brian Kolodiejchuk, the postulator for her sainthood cause and the Brazilian man, Marcilio Haddad Andrino, who was declared miraculously healed through Mother Teresa’s intercession.
 

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http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2016/miracle-is-sign-of-mercy-says-brazilian-who-prayed-to-mother-teresa.cfm

Miracle is sign of mercy, says Brazilian who prayed to Mother Teresa
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service
9.2.2016 10:55 AM ET

CNS/Paul Haring

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The inexplicable recovery from a severe brain infection -- attributed to the intercession of Blessed Teresa of Kolkata -- is a sign that God's mercy is for everyone, said the Brazilian man who was healed.

"Merciful God looks over all of us, without distinction. Today it was me, perhaps tomorrow it will be someone else. I don't feel special. Merciful God watches over everyone," Marcilio Haddad Andrino told reporters at a Vatican news conference Sept. 2.

Andrino's reported cure was the miracle that cleared the way for Mother Teresa's canonization Sept. 4, which is the day before the 19th anniversary of her death.

Through a translator, Andrino told reporters that he started experiencing severe head pain, convulsions and fainting spells in 2006.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/mother-teresas-postulator-saint-of-darkness

Mother Teresa’s Postulator: "Saint of Darkness"
2016-09-02 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)  Tens of thousands of faithful are expected to turn out for the canonization Sunday 4 September of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Founder of the religious order, Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa dedicated her life to helping the poorest of the poor, the sick, the dying and unloved. She received numerous awards for her work, including the Nobel peace prize in 1979.  Mother Teresa died on September 5th, 1997 at the age of 87.  She was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2003.

Missionaries of Charity Fr. Brian Kolodiejchuk is postulator for her cause for Sainthood.  He told Vatican Radio’s Tracey McClure  “She was very gifted humanly speaking.  She was intelligent, very practical, a born teacher, organizer… she sang, had a beautiful voice; she played the instrument, she wrote poetry. She had many gifts”

He added that Mother Teresa expected the four thousand sisters who now make up the order to be devoted to Jesus and to live a life of simplicity: “the sisters who joined were very talented doctors, nurses and others – but they were supposed to live simply as all the other sisters.  And she herself did it.”

“She disguised the profundity of her holiness by the exterior simplicity of her life and of her words, even.”

 “If I ever become a saint, I will surely be one of Darkness”

“If I ever become a saint, I will surely be one of Darkness,”  Mother Teresa once said.  She also believed she would be “absent from heaven.” Asked what she meant by this, Fr. Brian explained:
 

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Hmmm...

https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/but-vatican-ii-said-pope-francis-couldnt-do-that

Fri Sep 2, 2016 - 5:16 pm EST
But Vatican II said Pope Francis couldn’t do that

September 2, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) — Pope Francis’ recent message calling on Catholics to repent of “sins” against the environment seems to come with the fullness of Church authority, not in form but in content. Although issued only as a papal message, it uses forceful language of repentance, forgiveness, and the need for conversion to introduce a novel category of sin heretofore foreign to Catholic understanding. And given that the science of global warming is still under hot contention, and indeed is a matter outside of the Church's competence, the Pope is simply not at liberty to require Catholics to adhere to it.

The Second Vatican Council taught, “It is necessary for people to remember that no one is allowed” (it did not make an exception for popes) “to appropriate the Church's authority for his opinion” (Gaudium et Spes 43). Pope Benedict XVI reiterated the same teaching even more explicitly, saying in 2011, “No one can claim to speak ‘officially’ in the name of the entire lay faithful, or of all Catholics, in matters freely open to discussion.”

Benedict noted that it is altogether appropriate, however, to insist on what he referred to as the non-negotiable matters.