Pope Francis

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-ideological-faith-adores-a-disincarnate-god

Pope: Ideological faith adores a 'disincarnate' god
2017-03-02 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) The compass of the Christian directs him to follow Christ crucified, not a disincarnate god, but God made flesh, Who bears in Himself the wounds of our brothers. That was the message of Pope Francis at the morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta on Thursday.

The invitation to be converted resounds strongly at the beginning of Lent. And the liturgy of the day, Pope Francis said, places this exhortation in the context of three realities: man, God, and the journey. The reality of man is that of choosing between good and evil: God has made us free, the choice is ours,” the Pope said, but He does not leave it to us alone; rather, he points out the path of goodness with the Commandments. Then there is the reality of God: “for the disciples, it was difficult to understand” the path of the Cross of Jesus. “Because God has taken all of human reality, except sin. There is no God without Christ. A God without Christ, ‘disincarnate,’ is a god that is not real”:
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-speaks-to-rome-parish-priests-on-progress-of

Pope speaks to Rome parish priests on ‘progress of faith’
2017-03-02 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday addressed the parish priests of the Diocese of Rome, reflecting with them on the ‘progress of faith’ in the life of a priest.

He was welcomed to Rome’s Cathedral by his Vicar, Cardinal Agostino Vallini, and heard the confessions of around a dozen priests before delivering his address.

Pope Francis spoke to Rome’s parish priests on Thursday about the progress of faith in the life of a priest in three main points: memory, hope, and discernment of the moment.

In remarks prepared for the event, the Holy Father said, “Memory, as the Catechism says, is rooted in the faith of the Church, in the faith of our fathers; hope is that which sustains our faith; and discernment of the moment I hold present at the moment of acting, of putting into practice that ‘faith which operates through charity’.”
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-true-fasting-is-helping-others

Pope: true fasting is helping others
2017-03-03 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) True fasting is helping your neighbour; while false fasting mixes religiosity with dirty deals and the bribes of vanity. That was the message of Pope Francis at the morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta on Friday.

The readings of the day speak about fasting; that is, the Pope explained, “about the penance that we are called to do in this time of Lent,” in order to draw closer to the Lord. God delights in the “contrite heart,” the Psalm says, “the heart of one who feels himself a sinner, who knows he is a sinner.” In the first Reading, taken from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, God rebukes the false religiosity of the hypocrites who fast, while at the same time carrying out their own pursuits, oppressing their workers, “striking with wicked claw”: on the one hand, doing penance, while on the other being unjust, making “dirty deals.” The Lord calls us, instead, to a true fast, where we are attentive to our neighbour:
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/03/03/pope_to_receive_european_union_heads_of_state_/1296397

Pope to receive European Union heads of State
03/03/2017 14:00

(Vatican Radio) The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Greg Burke, said Friday that Pope Francis will hold an audience with the heads of State and government of the European Union on March 24, 2017.

The EU leaders will be in Rome to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome.
 
The Holy Father previously addressed EU leaders last May at his acceptance speech for the Charlemagne prize for promoting European unity.

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Video at the link

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/03/02/popes_prayer_intention_for_march_support_for_persecuted/1296026

Pope's prayer intention for March: Support for Persecuted Christians
02/03/2017 12:09

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis’ prayer intention for March is Support for Persecuted Christians: That persecuted Christians may be supported by the prayers and material help of the whole Church.

The Apostleship of Prayer has produced the Pope’s Video on this prayer intention, with the help of Aid to the Church in Need.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/03/03/vatican_releases_popes_liturgical_calendar_for_march,_april/1296425

Vatican releases Pope's liturgical calendar for March, April
03/03/2017 17:08

 
The list includes the Masses to be celebrated during the Holy Father's pastoral visits to Milan on March 25 and Carpi on April 2, as well as other events surrounding Holy Week and Easter.

Please find below the full list:

MARCH
Friday 17: at 5 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, penitential celebration.

Saturday 25: Solemnity of the Assumption of the Lord. Pastoral visit to Milan.

APRIL
Sunday 2: Fifth Sunday of Lent. Pastoral visit to Carpi.

Sunday 9: Palm Sunday and the Passion of the Lord: At 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, commemoration of the entry of the Lord in Jerusalem, and Holy Mass.

Thursday 13: Holy Thursday. At 9.30 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica, Chrism Mass.

Friday 14: Good Friday. At 5 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, celebration of the Passion of the Lord.

At 9.15 p.m. at the Colosseum, Rome: Via Crucis (Way of the Cross).

Saturday 15: Holy Saturday. At 8.30 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, Easter vigil.

Sunday 16: Easter Sunday. At 10 a.m., in the Vatican Basilica, Holy Mass.

At midday, from the Central balcony of the Vatican Basilica, “Urbi et Orbi” blessing.

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-calls-for-renewal-of-sacred-music-tra

Pope Francis calls for renewal of sacred music tradition
2017-03-04 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Saturday received the participants in a major international conference on sacred music, a half-century after the promulgation of the Conciliar document, Musicam sacram on music in the sacred liturgy.

Over 400 people taking part in the gathering organized by the Congregation for Catholic Education and the Pontifical Council for Culture around the theme: Music and the Church: cult and culture fifty years after Musicam sacram, met in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace to hear the Holy Father.

“Certainly,” said Pope Francis, “the encounter with modernity and the introduction of [vernacular] tongues into the Liturgy stirred up many problems: of musical languages, forms and genres.”

The Holy father went on to say, “Sometimes a certain mediocrity, superficiality and banality have prevailed, to the detriment of the beauty and intensity of liturgical celebrations.”

The Pope encouraged the various actors in the field of liturgical music – from composers, conductors, musicians and choristers, to liturgical animators – to do their best to contribute to the renewal of sacred music and liturgical chant, especially as far as the quality of sacred music is concerned.
 
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-education-is-key-to-the-renewal-of-sacred-music-36722/
Pope Francis: Education is key to the renewal of sacred music

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/03/04/vatican_publishes_consolidated_financial_statement_for_2015/1296541

Vatican publishes consolidated financial statement for 2015
04/03/2017 13:20

(Vatican Radio) A communiqué released on Saturday by the Vatican’s Secretariat for the Economy provides a synopsis of the Annual Accounts of the Holy See, Vatican City State and Related Entities for 2015.

Please find the full text of the communiqué below:
 
 The Holy See recorded a deficit of Euros 12.4 million in 2015. The main sources of income for 2015, in addition to investments, include the contributions made pursuant to Canon 1271 of the Code of Canon Law (Euros 24 million) and the contribution from the Institute of Works of Religion (Euros 50 million). As in previous years, the most significant expense for the Holy See is the cost of personnel. The Governatorato of the Vatican City State indicates a surplus of Euros 59.9 million for 2015, largely due to continued revenue from the cultural activities, especially those linked to the Museums. The 2015 Annual Accounts represent the first set of financial information prepared following the Vatican Financial Management Policies (VFMP), approved by Pope Francis on 24 October 2014, which are based on International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). The Secretariat for the Economy informed the Council for the Economy that the journey towards a full implementation of the VFMP is firmly underway and highlighted that, however, a few more years will be necessary for this process to be completed and a full audit to be performed. 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/03/03/vatican_workshop_on_‘twitter_diplomacy_at_holy_see’/1296421

Vatican workshop on ‘Twitter Diplomacy at Holy See’
03/03/2017 17:02

(Vatican Radio) A one-day workshop was held on Friday in the Vatican on ‘Twitter Diplomacy at the Holy See’. The event was hosted by the Vatican Secretariat for Communications (SPC), in conjunction with the British Embassy to the Holy See.

Participants in the workshop included Britain’s Ambassadors to the Holy See, Sally Axworthy, and to Austria, Leigh Turner, along with Hungary’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Eduard Habsburg, and Professor Giovanni Maria Vian, Director of the Osservatore Romano.

Pope Francis touches minds and hearts on social networks

“Where people are, the Church is. This is why the Pope is present on Twitter and Instagram.” That was the explanation given by the SPC’s Secretary, Msgr. Lucio Adrian Ruiz.

The event brought together diplomats and other personalities who, in the Vatican and the Church, seek to spread the message of the Gospel through social media, especially on Twitter.
 

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http://magister.blogautore.espresso.repubblica.it/2017/03/05/sacred-music-an-appeal-to-restore-hearing-to-the-deaf/

05 mar
Sacred Music. An Appeal To Restore Hearing To the Deaf

Today, March 5, marks the fiftieth anniversary of “Musicam Sacram,” the last great document on this subject, published in 1967 with the joint signature of Cardinal Giacomo Lercaro, archbishop of Bologna and president of the “Consilium” for the implementation of the conciliar constitution on the liturgy, and of Cardinal Arcadio Larraona, prefect of the sacred congregation of rites, with the approval of Paul VI.

And now the declaration presented below, published today all over the world, sketches an overview of the current state of sacred music in the Catholic Church half a century after that document, an overview that is inevitably critical, and follows this up with eight proposals for a change for the better.

The statement has been promoted by two famous musician-musicologists: the Italian Aurelio Porfiri, director of the international magazine “Altare Dei” published in Macao and Hong Kong and an author of books and essays on sacred music and liturgy, and the American Peter A. Kwasniewski, professor of theology and philosophy and choir director at Wyoming Catholic College.

They have been promptly joined by more than two hundred experts in the field of liturgical music, all over the world. The list of signers is on the website of the website directed by Porfiri, together with the text of the declaration in six languages:
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-consult-the-bible-as-often-as-your-ce

Pope Francis: ‘consult the Bible as often as your cellphone’
2017-03-05 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday called on Christians to consult the Bible with the same frequency as they might consult their cellphones for messages.

Speaking to the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square following his weekly Angelus blessing, the Pope urged those present to give the Bible the same place in daily life as cellphones and asked: “What would happen if we turned back when we forget it, if we opened it more times a day, if we read the message of God contained in the Bible the way we read messages on our cellphones?”

The Bible, he explained, contains the Word of God, the most effective tool in fighting evil and keeping us close to God.

Clearly, Francis said, the comparison between the Bible and the cellphone is paradoxical, but it induces us to reflect.

“If we always carried God’s Word in our hearts, no temptation would distance us from the Father, and no obstacle would take us off the path towards good” he said.

He pointed out that in this first Sunday of Lent, the Gospel of Matthew tells of Jesus’s forty days in the desert and of how he was tempted by the devil.

With his temptations, the Pope said, Satan wanted to divert Jesus from the path of obedience and humbleness – because he knew that this was the way to conquer evil – and he wanted him to take the false shortcut towards glory and success.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/angelus-address-facing-the-lenten-spiritual-combat-with-the-strength-of-the-word-of-god/
ANGELUS ADDRESS: Facing the Lenten Spiritual Combat with the Strength of the Word of God
March 5, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeHCJMiwCCw
2017.03.05 Angelus Domini 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/03/05/pope_francis_begins_lenten_spiritual_exercises/1296744

Pope Francis begins Lenten Spiritual Exercises
05/03/2017 18:34

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis and members of the Vatican Curia travelled on Sunday afternoon to the "Casa del Divin Maestro,” a retreat centre in Ariccia, located in the Alban hills just outside Rome. They are taking part in the week-long Curial Spiritual Exercises.

The Pope himself reminded the faithful of his annual retreat after praying the Angelus in St Peter’s Square and asked them for prayers for himself and for his collaborators.

Each day will include moments of prayer, meditation, and Eucharistic adoration.

At the heart of this year’s meditations is the theme of the Passion, the Death and the Resurrection of Christ according to the Gospel of Matthew.

The spiritual exercises will be led by Franciscan Friar Giulio Michelini.
 

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http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2017/gods-voice-is-heard-through-humility-franciscan-tells-pope-curia.cfm

God's voice is heard through humility, Franciscan tells pope, Curia
By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service
3.7.2017 8:47 AM ET

CNS/L'Osservatore Romano

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Humility is needed in order to recognize the voice of God in others, especially those who are perceived to be weak or subject to prejudice, a Franciscan friar told Pope Francis and members of the Roman Curia during their Lenten retreat.

God not only speaks through Jesus, but also speaks to him through Peter, who recognizes Christ as the Messiah "by revelation," Franciscan Father Giulio Michelini said March 6, according to Vatican Radio.

"Do I have the humility to listen to Peter? Do we have the humility to listen to one another, paying attention to prejudices that we certainly have, but attentive to receive that which God wants to say despite -- perhaps -- my closures? Do I listen to the voice of others, perhaps weak, or do I only listen to my voice?" he asked.

The pope and top members of the Roman Curia attended their annual Lenten retreat March 5-10 at the Pauline Fathers' retreat center in Ariccia, 20 miles southeast of Rome.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/03/06/abp_auza_explains_pope_francis%e2%80%99_diplomacy_to_us_university/1296994

Abp Auza explains Pope Francis’ diplomacy to US university
06/03/2017 18:00

Archbishop Bernardito Auza (C-L) welcomes Pope Francis to New York on 24 September 2015, along with Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York (L) and Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio - EPA

(Vatican Radio)  Archbishop Bernardito Auza has given a talk at the Seton Hall University in the US state of New Jersey, speaking about Pope Francis’ diplomacy to the students and faculty at the School of Diplomacy and International Relations.

The Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent ******* of the Holy See to the United Nations said the Church speaks “of continuity – as seamless as possible – of a journey guided by perennial doctrine discerned in the context of a world in constant flux.”

He said, “Holy See diplomacy is a ministry and task carried out in the secular world by the Church and in the name of the Church. Thus, like all Church ministries and actions, it is also bound by the principle of salus animarum suprema lex [‘The salvation of souls is the supreme law of the Church’].”

Encounter and dialogue at heart of Pope Francis’ diplomacy
 

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A newly-released interview with Pope Francis
Also, the status of Cardinal Burke

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-has-some-ideas-on-how-to-fix-the-priest-shortage-18800/

Pope Francis has some ideas on how to fix the priest shortage

Vatican City, Mar 8, 2017 / 12:22 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- In a newly-released interview Pope Francis discussed the shortage of vocations to the priesthood, saying the first response must be prayer. He also mentioned working with youth, the low birthrate, and the ordination of married men.

“The first [response]  – because I speak as a believer – the Lord told us to pray. Prayer, prayer is missing,” Pope Francis said in an interview with German weekly Die Zeit published March 8.

He called the lack of priests, to the point that some parishes are cared for by female “community leaders” in Switzerland, “a problem that the Church must resolve.”
 
Tensions spiked again in December when Burke, Patron of the Order of Malta (a quasi-liaison role between the Order and the Vatican), was reportedly involved on the ousting of Knights' Grand Chancellor Albrecht Freiherr von Boeselager.

A public row between the Order and the Holy See eventually resulted in resignation of the Order's Grand Master, Matthew Festing, at Pope Francis' request, the reinstatement of Boeselager as Grand Chancellor and the appointment of a papal delegate to oversee the "spiritual reform" of the Order, prompting rumors that Francis had either fired Burke or sidelined him in favor of his own man.

In his response to the question, Pope Francis said Cardinal Burke "is not my enemy," and affirmed that the American prelate still has his job.

"I didn’t take his title as Patron of Malta: he continues to be the Patron of Malta. But someone must repair the Order, and to do this I named a delegate capable of repairing it, with a charisma that Cardinal Burke didn’t have."
 

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https://zenit.org/articles/feature-presentation-of-revolutionary-vaticans-womens-consulation-group/

FEATURE: Presentation of ‘Revolutionary’ Vatican’s Women’s Consultation Group 
Women of All Types and Backgrounds Will Offer Vatican Dicastery Unprecedented Insight
March 7, 2017

The “Women’s Consultation Group,” a permanent body within the Pontifical Council for Culture, has been created and is ready to offer in an unprecedented way the unique contributions of women.

The group of 37, with the exception of a few who couldn’t escape work, was presented during a “meeting point” held in the Holy See Press Office on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 11 a.m.

Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, was speaking along with Consuelo Corradi, coordinator of the Women’s Consultation Group and vice rector for research and international relations at the LUMSA University of Rome, and the Iranian theologian Shahrazad Houshmand, member of the Consultation Group.

A further twenty women, also members of the Consultation Group, were also present. On the same occasion, the monographic issue of the dicastery’s journal, “Culture and Faith”, edited by the Women’s Consultation Group, was presented.
 

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http://www.lastampa.it/2017/03/06/vaticaninsider/eng/the-vatican/cardinal-muller-responds-to-collins-and-defends-not-answering-survivors-letters-17ukvhhVHXxXXyEEIxRvdN/pagina.html

Cardinal Muller responds to Collins and defends not answering survivors’ letters
Pubblicato il  06/03/2017

Cardinal Gerhard Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, says in a new interview it is “a misunderstanding” to think that his office “could deal with all the dioceses and religious orders in the world.”

“It is good that personal contact with victims be done by pastors in their area,” Muller said in an interview Sunday with Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper. “When a letter arrives, we always ask the bishop that he might take pastoral care of the victim, clarifying to him or her that the Congregation will do all that is possible to give justice.”

Having the Vatican congregation respond to the letters, the cardinal states, “would not respect the legitimate principle of diocesan autonomy and subsidiarity.”

Muller was speaking four days after Marie Collins, an Irish abuse survivor, resigned her post on Pope Francis’ Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. In a statement for NCR March 1, Collins explained she was resigning due to frustration with Vatican officials’ reluctance to cooperate with the commission’s work to protect children and care for survivors.
 

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http://www.lastampa.it/2017/03/08/vaticaninsider/eng/world-news/prince-charles-to-meet-pope-francis-9MisG8oopNZ0e73o31i3KK/pagina.html

Prince Charles to meet Pope Francis 
Pubblicato il  08/03/2017

The Prince of Wales will meet Pope Francis in a private audience at the Vatican, Clarence House confirmed today.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall are due to be received by the Pope at some point during their visit of Italy which is taking place from March 31st until April 5th. A spokeswoman for Clarence House said the precise date of the papal audience was not being released at the moment. 

In a statement, the British Embassy to Italy said the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will include the Holy See in a European tour starting on the 29th March. The visit is to take place after the UK government triggers Article 50 and starts the formal process of leaving the European Union.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-thanks-director-of-spiritual-exercises-in-ari

Pope thanks director of Spiritual Exercises in Ariccia
2017-03-10 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis has thanked Fr. Giulio Michelini for directing the Spiritual Exercises from which the Holy Father returned on Friday.

Before returning to the Vatican, the Pope expressed his and the Roman Curia’s appreciation for Fr. Michelini’s preparation and direction.

“I would like to thank you for the good you wanted to do for us and the good you have done us. Above all, thank you for having shown yourself as you are and for being natural without ‘putting on a face from a holy card’.”

Pope Francis also thanked him for the work put into his preparation: “This implies responsibility, taking things seriously.”
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-returns-to-vatican-after-spiritual-exercises

Pope returns to Vatican after Spiritual Exercises, sends donation to Syria
2017-03-10 Vatican Radio

 
On Friday morning, before leaving Arricia – where the retreat was taking place – the Holy Father celebrated Mass for Syria.

He also sent €100,000 to the poor of Aleppo, thanks to a contribution of the Roman Curia. The donation will be made by the Office of Papal Charities, the Elemosineria Apostolica (Apostolic Almoner).

On Friday evening, Pope Francis is set to travel to the Vicariate of Rome where he will meet with the prefects of the Diocese. The meeting, a normal part of the life of the local Church, will be strictly private.