Pope Francis

[grace-land]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/excerpts-from-pope-francis-first-news-conference-en-route-to-rome-from-brazil/2013/07/29/b042bb5e-f848-11e2-a954-358d90d5d72d_story.html

Excerpts from Pope Francis’ first news conference en route to Rome from Brazil
Updated: Monday, July 29, 7:16 AM

 
THAT MYSTERIOUS BLACK BAG HE CARRIED ONTO THE PLANE HELD ONLY HIS RAZOR AND BOOKS: “The keys to the atomic bomb weren’t in it.”

HE’S TIRED AND HE HURT HIS SCIATIC NERVE USING A BAD CHAIR IN HIS FIRST MONTH AS POPE: “It was so painful. So painful! I wouldn’t wish it in anyone.”

HE LIKES HIS ADVISERS TO CHALLENGE HIM: “I like it when someone tells me ‘I don’t agree.’ This is a true collaborator. When they say ‘Oh, how great, how great, how great,’” that’s not useful.

HE LOVES RETIRED POPE BENEDICT XVI LIKE A GRANDFATHER: “The last time there were two or three popes, they didn’t talk among themselves and they fought over who was the true pope!” Having Benedict living in the Vatican “is like having a grandfather — a wise grandfather — living at home.”

[grace-land]

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/07/29/pope_holds_press_conference_on_flight_back_from_brazil/en1-715192

2013-07-29 18:06:54
Pope holds press conference on flight back from Brazil

 
Discussing future papal journeys, he confirmed he’ll be travelling to Sardinia in September, to Assisi in October and said he hopes to visit his relatives in northern Italy because they’ve been asking to see him. He also spoke of plans for a meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Jerusalem, but said there was no definite decision yet. He also confirmed that former Popes John XXIII and John Paul II will be canonized at the same time, either this October or, most likely, the week after Easter next year.

Asked about relations with the Orthodox Church, Pope Francis spoke of the sense of beauty and adoration in the Eastern liturgies and how a consumerist mentality in the West has weakened our sense God. The author Dostoevsky, he added, should be required reading for anyone seeking to understand the soul of Russia and its people.

Commenting on the Vatican bank, as the Institute for Works of Religion is commonly called, Pope Francis acknowledged the difficulties in deciding whether to change its status or close it altogether – he said he was relying on the advice of a commission of experts called in to promote ‘honesty and transparency’.

Speaking of other problems within the administration of the Holy See, including rumours of a ‘gay lobby’ within the Vatican, Pope Francis said there are many saintly people working in the Curia but also those who are not so saintly and cause scandals which harm the Church. Quoting from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, he said that people with homosexual tendencies must not be excluded but should be integrated into society. “If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge him?” he asked.

Questioned about the role of women in the Church, the Pope said the issue of ordination is ‘a closed door’ but he said he would like to see more women in leadership roles. Just as Mary was more important than the Apostles, he said, so women today are more important than bishops and priests and there is a great need for theology to explore and explain this better.

Finally on a very personal level, Pope Francis shared how he misses the freedom of being able to walk and meet people in the streets, how he lives in the Santa Martha guesthouse because he needs to talk to others and how he has always found pleasure as a priest, bishop and now pastor of the universal Church in following the Lord’s will.

[Tamikosmom]

What Pope Francis really said about gays -- and no, it's not new
By Fr. Jonathan Morris
Published July 29, 201

<snipped>

What Pope Francis really said, in response to a reporter’s question about homosexual priests who are living a celibate life was this: “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” ....

Pope Francis simply and compassionately reiterated Biblical teaching. The Bible and the Catholic Church have never taught that it is a “sin” to be homosexual.  They teach it is a sin to have homosexual sex because it goes against the laws of God’s nature, specifically his plan for human sexuality.

<snipped>

Read more:
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/07/29/what-pope-francis-really-said-about-gays-and-no-it-not-new/?test=latestnews


Father Jonathan Morris is a Fox News contributor and program director of "The Catholic Channel" on SiriusXM radio, Channel 129. He is author of "God Wants You Happy: From Self-Help to God's Help" and "The Promise: God's Purpose and Plan for When Life Hurts." For more visit www.FatherJonathan.com.

[grace-land]

http://pauline.org/StrengthforYourDay/Blog/tabid/1005/ArticleID/91/Pope-Franciss-Remarks-on-Alleged-Gay-Lobby-within-Vatican.aspx

Pope Francis's Remarks on Alleged Gay Lobby within Vatican
7/29/2013 8:40:00 PM

Pope Francis gave a memorable press conference yesterday on the airplane which brought him back from Brazil to Rome. Speaking to journalists for about 80 minutes, Francis was startlingly candid on many issues, but his remarks on homosexuality, priests with homosexual tendencies, and a "gay lobby" in the Vatican, raised the most eyebrows.

When these comments were reported in various secular newspapers, an explanation of the surrounding context of the question the Pope was answering was omitted. Below is an email sent out on behalf of the Vatican Press Office by Father Tom Rosica, of the Salt and Light Television Network of Toronto, Canada, which gives the full text of this portion of the Pope's remarks.

Here is the email circulated by Father Rosica:

RIO DE JANEIRO
Dear Friends and Colleagues,

In response to many messages and calls earlier today regarding Pope Francis' meeting with journalists aboard the return flight to Rome from Rio de Janeiro last night, I have received the full working transcript of his remarks from Fr. Lombardi.

Since most of your questions relate to his response to the question about Monsignor Ricca and the gay lobby, I have done a working translation of the question and the full answer of the Pope.

I have also included the original Italian transcription and the full paragraph from the Catechism of the Catholic Church on homosexuality to which the Pope referred.
 
The Question to Pope Francis from Ilse, a journalist on the Papal flight

Ilse: I would like to ask permission to pose a rather delicate question. Another image that went around the world is that of Monsignor Ricca and the news about his personal life. I would like to know, your Holiness, what will be done about this question. How should one deal with this question and how does your Holiness wish to deal with the whole question of the gay lobby?

The Pope’s Answer
[Pope Francis's response:] Regarding the matter of Monsignor Ricca, I did what Canon Law required and did the required investigation. And from the investigation, we did not find anything corresponding to the accusations against him. We found none of that. That is the answer.

But I would like to add one more thing to this: I see that so many times in the Church, apart from this case and also in this case, one looks for the "sins of youth," for example, is it not thus? And then these things are published. These things are not crimes. The crimes are something else: child abuse is a crime.

But sins, if a person, or secular priest or a nun, has committed a sin and then that person experienced conversion, the Lord forgives and when the Lord forgives, the Lord forgets and this is very important for our lives.

When we go to confession and we truly say “I have sinned in this matter,” the Lord forgets and we do not have the right to not forget because we run the risk that the Lord will not forget our sins, eh? This is a danger. This is what is important: a theology of sin.

So many times I think of St. Peter: he committed one of the worst sins denying Christ. And with this sin they made him Pope. We must think about fact often.

But returning to your question more concretely: in this case [Ricca] I did the required investigation and we found nothing. That is the first question.

Then you spoke of the gay lobby. Agh… so much is written about the gay lobby. I have yet to find on a Vatican identity card the word gay. They say there are some gay people here. I think that when we encounter a gay person, we must make the distinction between the fact of a person being gay and the fact of a lobby, because lobbies are not good. They are bad. If a person is gay and seeks the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge that person? The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains this point beautifully but says, wait a moment, how does it say, it says, these persons must never be marginalized and “they must be integrated into society.”

The problem is not that one has this tendency; no, we must be brothers, this is the first matter. There is another problem, another one: the problem is to form a lobby of those who have this tendency, a lobby of the greedy people, a lobby of politicians, a lobby of Masons, so many lobbies. This is the most serious problem for me. And thank you so much for doing this question. Thank you very much!
 

[grace-land]

Video of press conference on the plane--with English translation and text below the video

http://www.romereports.com/palio/pope-francis-talks-to-press-about-benedict-xvi-vatican-bank-and-gay-lobby-english-10723.html#.UfiCzb4o7IU

Pope Francis talks to press about Benedict XVI, Vatican Bank and 'gay lobby'
2013-07-29 18:53:15

[Sister]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/excerpts-from-pope-francis-first-news-conference-en-route-to-rome-from-brazil/2013/07/29/b042bb5e-f848-11e2-a954-358d90d5d72d_story.html

Excerpts from Pope Francis’ first news conference en route to Rome from Brazil
Updated: Monday, July 29, 7:16 AM

 
THAT MYSTERIOUS BLACK BAG HE CARRIED ONTO THE PLANE HELD ONLY HIS RAZOR AND BOOKS: “The keys to the atomic bomb weren’t in it.”

HE’S TIRED AND HE HURT HIS SCIATIC NERVE USING A BAD CHAIR IN HIS FIRST MONTH AS POPE: “It was so painful. So painful! I wouldn’t wish it in anyone.”

HE LIKES HIS ADVISERS TO CHALLENGE HIM: “I like it when someone tells me ‘I don’t agree.’ This is a true collaborator. When they say ‘Oh, how great, how great, how great,’” that’s not useful.

HE LOVES RETIRED POPE BENEDICT XVI LIKE A GRANDFATHER: “The last time there were two or three popes, they didn’t talk among themselves and they fought over who was the true pope!” Having Benedict living in the Vatican “is like having a grandfather — a wise grandfather — living at home.”

Thanks grace-land for giving all the updates on the Pope.  I read with great interest.

[grace-land]

You're welcome, Sister!

He never fails to amaze me!  He was prepared to bring a message to all in Brazil, and I think that he succeeded.  Now it is time for the clergy, dignitaries, and people to reflect on his message and make the necessary changes in their lives and country--especially the youth!

[grace-land]

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-thinking-about-declaring-pius-xii-a-saint/

Pope Francis thinking about declaring Pius XII a saint

Vatican City, Jul 31, 2013 / 11:05 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis is considering whether he will make Pope Pius XII a saint, in the same way that he approved the cause of John XXIII.
 
A source who works at the Vatican’s Congregation for Causes of Saints, who asked for anonymity, told CNA July 25 that “just as Pope Francis moved ahead with John XXIII’s canonization, he is considering the same thing for Pius XII.”
 

[grace-land]

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/07/31/world_day_of_peace:_fraternity,_the_foundation_and_pathway_to_peace/en1-715709

2013-07-31 12:19:00
World Day of Peace: "Fraternity, the foundation and pathway to peace"

Pope Francis on Wednesday announced the theme for the celebration of the 47th World Day of Peace.

The theme chosen for this occurence, celebrated every year on January 1, is : "Fraternity, the foundation and pathway to peace". It's the first World Day of Peace to be celebrated during the pontificate of Pope Francis.
 

[grace-land]

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/07/31/ior_launches_website/en1-715812

2013-07-31 14:22:44
IOR launches website

(Vatican Radio) On Wednesday the Institute for Religious Works – otherwise know by the acronym of its Italian title, IOR – launched its website: www.ior.va.

In an interview with Vatican Radio’s Bernd Hagenkord, IOR president Ernst von Freyberg spoke about the objectives of this new website. Listen: RealAudioMP3

“In May we said we would focus over the coming months on transparency and on the Moneyval process, that is the anti-money laundering obligations which the Vatican has accepted in the EU reparative framework."

“It is an important part of transparency to launch a website,” he said, explaining that its purpose “is to tell our customers, the Church, the interested public, what we are doing, how our reform efforts are progressing, and what the scope of our work is.”
 

[grace-land]

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/07/31/pope_francis_celebrates_mass:_a_jesuit_perspective_/en1-715795

2013-07-31 15:00:35
Pope Francis celebrates Mass: a Jesuit perspective



(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis celebrated Holy Mass on Wednesday morning, marking the Feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, the Order to which the Pope belongs.

The Church chosen for the celebration was the Jesuits’ Mother Church in Rome, known simply as the “Gesù”.

Father Bernd Hagenkord SJ, director of Vatican Radio’s German Programme, was part of the congregation. He told Vatican Radio’s Linda Bordoni that the experience was a fantastic one…

Listen to the interview… RealAudioMP3

Father Hangenkord says that having a Jesuit Pope, celebrating the Feast of Saint Ignatius together at the tomb of Ignatius was something, up to now, unheard of: “I had never imagined this could have happened. It was very prayerful; it was a private Mass, so the Pope was not very ‘Popish’ with all sorts of people helping him”. He celebrated Mass himself with the help of the Jesuit Father General, Father Nicolas and with Archbishop Ladaria, who is also a Jesuit.

“The rest were Jesuits and friends from other congregations, celebrating St. Ignatius together: fantastic!”
 

[Sister]

You're welcome, Sister!

He never fails to amaze me!  He was prepared to bring a message to all in Brazil, and I think that he succeeded.  Now it is time for the clergy, dignitaries, and people to reflect on his message and make the necessary changes in their lives and country--especially the youth!

I agree.  He is an amazing man with a lot of wisdom.

[grace-land]

Unofficial translation in English of 18 questions asked of Pope Francis by the press on the plane back to Italy...

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/detail/articolo/gmg-26831/

07/29/2013
From the IOR to the gay lobby: Pope Francis tells all on flight from Rio to Rome

On the flight from Rio to Rome, Francis answered dozens of questions, some personal, some about the sensitive and burning issues concerning the Vatican

Andrea Tornielli
on flight from Rio de Janeiro to Rome

Journalists fired improvised questions at the Pope for one hour and twenty minutes. The Pope agreed to hold the press conference straight after take-off, despite how tired he was after an eventful World Youth Day week in Brazil. Francis surprised journalists with his willingness to answer all questions put to him, even those which touched on really thorny issues like the reform of the Vatican Bank (IOR), the Ricca case, the gay lobby, Vatileaks and even the content of the black leather bad he carried on to the plane which flew him to Brazil last week. This article captures some of what was said on the flight back to Rome today, a conversation which shows how truly at ease Francis is with journalists. It is clear he had decided right from the start to hold a press conference on the return flight instead of the outgoing one, so as to prevent his comments from overshadowing the World Youth Day events. This was further confirmation of the Pope’s ability to communicate and shows he does not need any spin doctors to bolster his image.
 

[grace-land]

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/08/02/pope_to_muslims_for_end_of_ramadan:_promoting_mutual_respect_through/en1-716319

2013-08-02 12:24:11
Pope to Muslims for end of Ramadan: Promoting Mutual Respect through Education

(Vatican Radio) The Vatican has published a message from Pope Francis to the world's Muslims for the conclusion of Ramadan. This year, the Islamic period of prayer and fasting concludes between August 8th and 9th.

Though it’s usually issued by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Pope Francis says at the start of his pontificate, he wished to personally send this message of good wishes to the world’s Muslims himself as they celebrate Id al-Fitr, breaking their fast. Tracey McClure tells us more: RealAudioMP3

In the message, the Pope proposes a theme of common reflection “that concerns both Muslims and Christians: Promoting Mutual Respect through Education.”

Saying respect is a mutual “process” of kindness, Pope Francis invited Muslims and Christians to respect each person “first of all his life, his physical integrity, his dignity and the rights deriving from that dignity, his reputation, his property, his ethnic and cultural identity, his ideas and his political choices. We are therefore called to think, speak and write respectfully of the other, not only in his presence, but always and everywhere, avoiding unfair criticism or defamation. Families, schools, religious teaching and all forms of media have a role to play in achieving this goal.”

Where interreligious relations are concerned, “especially between Christians and Muslims,” the Pope said, “ we are called to respect the religion of the other, its teachings, its symbols, its values. Particular respect is due to religious leaders and to places of worship. How painful are attacks on one or other of these!”

In educating our Muslim and Christian youth, the Pope said, “we have to bring up our young people to think and speak respectfully of other religions and their followers, and to avoid ridiculing or denigrating their convictions and practices.”

Reiterating “the great importance of dialogue and cooperation among believers, in particular Christians and Muslims,” Pope Francis said these need to be “enhanced” and he expressed his hope that people of both faiths “may be true promoters of mutual respect and friendship, in particular through education.”
******************************
Below, please find the text of Pope Francis’ message:
 

[grace-land]

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1303351.htm

Aug-2-2013
Senate confirms Hackett, retired CRS leader, as ambassador to Vatican
 
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Ken Hackett, retired president of Catholic Relief Services, received Senate confirmation Aug. 1 as U.S. ambassador to the Vatican.

"We are overjoyed that the country will be represented by a man who through his decades of service has demonstrated his commitment to the dignity and sanctity of life and fighting global poverty," said Carolyn Woo, current CRS president and chief executive officer, in an Aug. 2 statement. "We look forward to working with the new ambassador as he engages the Vatican and Pope Francis towards the common goal of advancing peace and justice in the world."
 

[grace-land]

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/08/02/vatican_forwards_request_to_italy_concerning_monsignor_scarano/en1-716620

2013-08-02 17:36:33
Vatican forwards request to Italy concerning Monsignor Scarano

(Vatican Radio) The Promoter of Justice at the Vatican Tribunal, Giampiero Milano, has forwarded to the Italian judicial authorities a formal request asking them to interrogate Monsignor Nunzio Scarano as part on the ongoing investigation into the prelate’s activities.
 

[grace-land]

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/08/03/pope_appoints_new_secretary_to_“ecclesia_dei”/en1-716793

2013-08-03 13:24:42
Pope appoints new secretary to “Ecclesia Dei”

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Guido Pozzo as secretary of the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei.” Until now Archbishop Pozzo has served as the Almoner of His Holiness.

The Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei” was set up by Pope John Paul II in 1988 with the aim of facilitating full Ecclesial communion with those members of the Fraternity founded by Mons Marcel Lefèbvre who wish to remain united to the successor of Peter in the Catholic Church.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=23065

Pope Francis in August  
Posted: Saturday, August 3, 2013 12:21 am

Pope Francis will be reducing his public activities over the summer months, the Vatican has announced. There will be no General Audiences on the following Wednesdays in August: 7, 14, 21 and 28. 

On Sundays during the month of August, Pope Francis will preside at the Angelus prayer in the Vatican. On the Feast of the Assumption on 15 August, the Holy Father will celebrate Holy Mass in the Parish of Castel Gandolfo and later recite the Angelus prayer with the faithful at the papal summer residence in the Roman hill town.

 

[grace-land]

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/brazilian-president-signs-law-permitting-abortion-after-papal-visit/

Brazilian president signs law permitting abortion after papal visit

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Aug 2, 2013 / 03:31 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Four days after Pope Francis left Brazil, President Dilma Rousseff signed into a law a measure that opens the door to the distribution of abortion-causing drugs in the country’s public health care system.

Upon its publication in the government’s official journal, the August 1 law requires health care centers in Brazil to administer the “morning-after pill” to women who say they have been raped up to 72 hours after the crime.

The head of Brazil’s Special Secretariat for Women’s Policies, Eleonora Menicucci, an avid abortion proponent, defended Rousseff saying the decision to sign the law was out of “respect for Congress and for women.”

The new norm, she said, will have “a positive impact in preventing abortion in women who have been the victims of rape,” although she acknowledged that it allows for abortifacient “emergency contraception.”
 

[grace-land]

http://www.silive.com/opinion/columns/index.ssf/2013/08/pope_francis_needs_a_devils_ad.html

Pope Francis needs a devil's advocate (Commentary)
on August 04, 2013 at 11:11 AM, updated August 04, 2013 at 11:12 AM



 
Conservative and traditionalist Catholics have been anxious to point out that there’s no substantive change — no dogmatic evolution — signaled in Pope Francis’ remarks at all. They have a point. When Francis said that gays should not be marginalized, he was referring to the church’s Catechism. His whole statement as quoted seems to be a gentle paraphrase of paragraph 2358 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which has been in place since 1994: “They ‘homosexuals~ must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.”

Translation: Even if you are attracted to members of the same sex, so long as you are sincerely trying to live by the strict moral standards of ancient faith of the One True Church, Francis isn’t going to judge you. Not exactly the long-desired capitulation of the Roman Church to modern sexual mores.