Pope Francis

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Pope Francis' visit to Milan--March 25, 2017

http://www.news.va/en/news/vatican-releases-programme-of-pope-francis-visit-t

Vatican releases programme of Pope Francis’ visit to Milan
2017-03-09 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) The Vatican has released the programme for Pope Francis’ one-day visit to Milan on Saturday, 25 March 2017.
 
Below please find the full programme:

07:10               Departure from Roma-Fiumicino Airport

08:00               Arrival at Milano-Linate Airport

08:30               Visit to the Forlanini quarter – “White Houses” of Milan

                        Meeting with two families in their respective apartments

                        Meeting with residents in the square of the “White Houses” quarter

                        Encounter with representatives of Rom, Islamic and immigrant families and inhabitants

10:00               Meeting with priests and consecrated persons in the Duomo

11:00               Angelus prayer and blessing in the Duomo

11:30               Visit to the San Vittore Prison

12:30               Lunch with a hundred detainees in the Terzo Raggio of the San Vittore Prison

13:45               Transfer by car to Monza Park

15:00               Holy Mass in Monza Park

16:30               Transfer by car to the Meazza-San Siro di Milano Stadium

17:30               Meeting with recently confirmed young people at the Meazza-San Siro di Milano Stadium

18:30               Farewell and departure from Milano-Linate Airport

19:30               Arrival at Roma-Fiumicino Airport

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Videos:  Pope Francis' visit to Milan--March 25, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db81ObkIF_A
2017.03.25 Pope in Milan - Meeting with the residents of the 'White Houses'
Scheduled for Mar 25, 2017
Pope Francis visits the Forlanini quarter and meets with the residents of the 'White Houses' during his pastoral visit to Milan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtFJ_5tMgkE
2017.03.25 Pope in Milan - Meeting with priests and consecrated persons
Scheduled for Mar 25, 2017
Pope Francis meets with priests and consecrated persons; at the end of the encounter he goes to the Duomo square to greet those present.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJaTGruXryM
2017.03.25 Pope in Milan - Holy Mass in Monza Park
Scheduled for Mar 25, 2017
Pope Francis celebrates Holy Mass with the faithful of the Archdiocese of Milan, during his pastoral visit to the city.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBgHdhNp20Q
2017.03.25 Pope in Milan - Meeting with recently confirmed young people
Scheduled for Mar 25, 2017
Pope Francis meets with recently confirmed young people, along with their parents, teachers, and godparents, during his pastoral visit to Milan

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/03/25/pope_francis_arrives_in_milan/1301080

Pope Francis arrives in Milan
25/03/2017 08:44

Pope Francis arrives at Milan-Linate airport for a one day visit in Milan - AFP
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has arrived in Milan in Northern Italy for a one day pastoral visit. The Pope departed from Rome’s Fiumicino airport earlier this morning.

Thousands of people turned out to meet the Holy Father as he travelled by "Pope Mobile" to meet with the Rom, Islamic, and immigrant families of the ‘White Houses’ in the Forlanini quarter of the city.

Later this morning after speaking with priests and consecrated persons, he will visit the inmates of the San Vittore Prison for lunch and then celebrate Holy Mass in Monza Park.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-greets-immigrant-families-in-milan

Pope Francis greets immigrant families in Milan
2017-03-25 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis on Saturday greeted the Rom, Islamic, and immigrant families of the ‘White Houses’ in the Forlanini quarter of Milan at the beginning of his one-day pastoral visit to the city.

Upon his arrival, residents gave the Holy Father two gifts: a priestly stole and a picture of a statuette of the Madonna.

Pope Francis thanked them for their gifts and said it was important for him to be welcomed to Milan by a community of families.

He said the stole was a reminder that he comes “as a priest: I come to Milan as a priest”.

He also recognized that it had been handmade by several residents of the Forlanini quarter: “It’s a reminder that the Christian priest is chosen from among the people and at the service of the people. My priesthood…is a gift from Christ, but it is ‘woven’ by you, by our people with their faith, labours, prayers, and tears.”

Pope Francis then said the statuette of Our Lady is a sign of his being welcomed to Milan by the Madonna.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-on-one-day-visit-to-milan

Pope speaks to Milan's religious, prays Angelus at Duomo
2017-03-25 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Saturday is making a one day pastoral visit to Milan. This morning he paid a call on Milan’s Duomo and traveled to the peripheries of the city to meet with immigrant families.

For the curious pilgrim or tourist a trip to Milan is not complete without a visit the “Duomo” or Cathedral Church. And it was here in front of this iconic building that Pope Francis recited the Angelus on Saturday greeted by thousands of well- wishers.

A short time earlier inside this magnificent building, the Pope met with priests and consecrated persons, listening to their questions and offering words of advice. During the question and answer session the Holy Father said that in a world that is multicultural, multi-religious, and multi-ethnic,  the Church, over its entire history, has had much to teach us and to help us towards a culture of diversity. The Holy Spirit, Pope Francis noted “is the master of diversity.” The Pope also underlined the importance of prayer and of service in the church; service by priests, religious and consecrated to the poor and to the Word of God.

Responding to a question from a religious mother who asked how it was possible to continue to be a significant presence today despite being fewer and older, the Pope said, that it was most important not to become resigned to one’s fate. He said that realities today were a challenge, but religious orders who were in the minority were being invited to rise again like yeast with the help of the Holy Spirit, who also inspired the hearts of their founders.
 
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/dont-fret-about-numbers-but-your-mission-pope-tells-milan-religious-15728/
Don't fret about numbers, but your mission, Pope tells Milan religious

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-spends-time-with-prison-inmates-in-mi

Pope Francis spends time with prison inmates in Milan
2017-03-25 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) One of the highlights of Pope Francis’ 1-day pastoral journey to the Italian city of Milan is his visit to the city’s main detention center, the San Vittore Prison.

Shortly after midday and the recitation of the Angelus, the Pope travelled to the prison where he was welcomed by the director,Gloria Manzelli, and by the prison chaplain, don Marco Recalcati.

San Vittore currently hosts over 900 inmates – both men and women – as well as a number of infants who live with their detained mothers in a special unit. The Pope met briefly with them before exchanging greetings with a large group of the San Vittore staff and volunteers.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/pope-visits-lunches-with-prisoners-in-milan/
Pope Visits, Lunches With Prisoners in Milan 
March 25, 2017

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http://www.news.va/en/news/popes-mass-in-milan-a-people-at-the-peripheries

Pope’s Mass in Monza: ‘A people at the peripheries’
2017-03-25 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis celebrated Holy Mass in Monza Park for the people of the Archdiocese of Milan, Italy on Saturday during a pastoral visit, reflecting on the annunciation of Jesus as a message of joy at the peripheries of society.

The Holy Father invited them to be joyful members of God’s people and to avoid “speculating” on the future of others.

Two were the questions Pope Francis put to the people gathered for Mass in Monza Park: “How can we live the joy of the Gospel today within our cities? Is Christian hope possible in this situation, here and now?”

The Holy Father said these two questions “touch our identities” and “require of us a new way of seeing our place in history”.

He was reflecting on the difference between the two annunciation stories in the first chapter of Luke’s Gospel: that of John the Baptist (Lc 1,26-38), which took place in the inner sanctuary of the Temple in Jerusalem, and that of Jesus (Lc 1,5-10).

He said the annunciation of Jesus’ birth to Mary by the Angel Gabriel took place in Galilee: “a peripheral city with a less-than-excellent reputation (Jn 1,46)”.

The Pope said the contrast indicates that “God’s new encounter with His people will take place in places we would not normally expect: on the margins and peripheries”.
 

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https://zenit.org/articles/pope-meets-recently-confirmed-text-of-prepared-q-a/

Pope Meets Recently Confirmed (Text of Prepared Q & A)
Pope Responds Off-the-cuff During Last Encounter on His Agenda for Pastoral Visit to Milan
March 25, 2017

At 5:30 pm today, March 25, 2017, Pope Francis met with recently confirmed young people in the Meazza-San Siro Stadium of Milan. Roberto Ruozzi, President of the Stadium, received the Pope at the entrance of the establishment.

In the course of the meeting, the Pontiff answered some questions posed by a recently confirmed young man, a married couple and a catechist.

This was the last event on the Pope’s itinerary during his pastoral visit to the northern Italian city before returning to Rome.

Here is a working Zenit translation of the questions posed to the Holy Father and his prepared responses. However, the Holy Father spoke off-the-cuff. Therefore, Zenit will bring our readers his improvised responses to the questions posed once the text has been released and has been translated:
 
At the end of the meeting, the Holy Father went to the Milan-Linate airport from where, at 6:30 pm he took leave of the personalities that received him in the morning, to return to Rome. He is due to land in the Rome-Fiumicino airport at 7:30 pm. Then the Pope will return to the Vatican.

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/03/25/pope_wraps_up_day_in_milan_meeting_newly_confirmed_youngster/1301311

Pope wraps up day in Milan meeting newly confirmed youngsters
25/03/2017 20:20

Pope Francis meets with recently confirmed young people at the end of his one-day visit to Milan - RV
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis wrapped up his one-day pastoral journey to the northern Italian city of Milan with an encounter with newly confirmed youngsters.

At the end of his busy day in the city, the Pope travelled to the football stadium of San Siro where he was welcomed by almost 80,000 people, including parents, god-parents, catechists, teachers and volunteers.

The Pope took questions from some of those present and in his off-cuff answers he focused on the importance of education and formation.

A good teacher he said knows how to enhance and promote the qualities of his pupils without neglecting the person as a whole.
“Education is “head-hands-heart” he said.
 
The Pope concluded the encounter with a strong appeal to defeat ‘bullying’: “Please be careful, be on the look-out for the phenomenon of bullying” he said and invited the tens of thousands of boys and girls to reflect in silence and ask themselves whether there is someone in their school or in their community that teases them for whatever reason or whether they themselves are mean and even aggressive towards others. “This is bullying” he said and asked them to promise the Lord never to be bullies or to allow others to be victims of bullies.

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/in-milan-pope-makes-youth-promise-to-never-be-a-bully-42372/
In Milan, Pope makes youth promise to never be a bully

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-angelus-look-to-the-light-of-christ

Pope Angelus: look to the light of Christ
2017-03-26 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday during the Angelus in a sunny St Peter’s Square took inspiration from the Gospel reading in which Jesus restores the sight of the blind man.

With this miracle the Holy Father explained, “Jesus reveals himself as light of the world”. Each of us, the Pope said, is blind from birth, in that, “we were created to know God, but because of sin we are like the blind, we need a new light, that of faith, that Jesus has given us.”

In fact, Pope Francis went on to say, “the blind man of the Gospel regaining his vision is opened up to the mystery of Christ.”

This man represents us when we do not realize that Jesus is "the light of the world" and when we look elsewhere when we prefer to rely on small lights when fumbling in the dark,” the Pope said.
 
Following the recitation of the Marian prayer the Pope remembered José Álvarez-Benavides y de la Torre, and one hundred and fourteen companion martyrs who were beatified on Saturday in Spain. He said, “these priests, religious and lay people have been heroic witnesses of Christ and his Gospel of peace and fraternal reconciliation. Their example and their intercession sustain the Church's involvement in building a civilization of love.”

Pope Francis also recalled his one day pastoral visit to Milan on Saturday expressing his thanks to the organisers and those who took part, both believers and non-believers, adding, it felt home.

https://zenit.org/articles/angelus-address-on-walking-in-the-true-light/
ANGELUS ADDRESS: On Walking in the True Light 
March 26, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ge_91El2MY
2017.03.26 Angelus Domini 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-to-have-faith-is-to-live-our-lives-with-joy

Pope: 'to have faith is to live our lives with joy'
2017-03-28 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis on Tuesday encouraged Christians to get on with things, living life with joy.

Speaking during the homily during Mass at the Casa Santa Marta, he urged them to avoid complaining and not to let themselves be paralyzed by the ugly sin of sloth.

The Gospel story at the heart of Pope Francis’ reflection tells of a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years. He was lying at the side of a pool called Bethesda with a large number of ill, blind, lame and crippled who believed that when an angel came down and stirred up the waters the first to bathe in the pool would be healed. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him: “Do you want to be well?”
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-sends-message-to-un-conference-on-nuclear-wea

Pope sends message to UN conference on nuclear weapons
2017-03-28 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a message to the “United Nations Conference to Negotiate a Legally Binding Instrument to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons, Leading Towards their Total Elimination,” the first part of which is taking place in New York from 27-31 March. The message was read by Msgr Antoine Camilleri, Under-Secretary for Relations with States, and Head of the Delegation of the Holy See to the meeting.

Below, please find the full text of Pope Francis’ Message:
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-activities-for-holy-week-and-easter

Pope Francis' activities for Holy Week and Easter
2017-03-28 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) The Vatican on Tuesday released details of the celebrations that Pope Francis will preside over for Holy Week and Easter.

A note from the liturgical office said that on Palm Sunday, April 9th, the Pope will lead a procession for the blessing of the olive and palm branches in St Peter’s Square, starting at 10am, and then celebrate the Mass of Our Lord’s Passion. Palm Sunday also marks the XXXII World Youth Day with the theme taken from St Luke’s Gospel ‘The Mighty One has done great things for me’

On Thursday April 13th Pope Francis will preside at the Chrism Mass with the blessing of the holy oils in St Peter’s Basilica, starting at 9.30am.
 

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https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/cardinal-burke-we-simply-will-have-to-correct-the-situation-if-pope-francis

Mon Mar 27, 2017 - 9:55 am EST
Cardinal Burke: If Pope won’t answer dubia, ‘we simply will have to correct the situation’

SPRINGFIELD, Virginia, March 27, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) – Cardinal Raymond Burke said Friday the four dubia cardinals will "simply have to correct the situation" in "a respectful way" if Pope Francis doesn't respond to questions seeking moral clarity on Amoris Laetitia.

Burke answered questions submitted by the audience after speaking at St. Raymond of Peñafort Catholic Church as part of its distinguished speaker series.

He was asked, "There are a lot of rumors circulating about the dubia that you and three other esteemed cardinals sent to the Holy Father about divorce, remarriage, and Communion…do you know if there will be a response to the dubia from the Holy Father or the CDF?"

"I certainly hope that there will be because these are fundamental questions that are obviously raised by the text of the...post-synodal apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia," Burke responded. "Until these questions are answered, there continues to spread a very harmful confusion in the Church."
 

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The Vatican and the Order of Malta...

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/6907/0/knights-of-malta-called-to-contribute-to-order-s-reform-ahead-of-crucial-election-of-new-leader-reveals-letter

Knights of Malta called to contribute to order's reform ahead of crucial election of new leader, reveals letter
28 March 2017 | by Christopher Lamb in Rome   

The knights’ former Grand Master, Matthew Festing, has hinted at a re-election bid

Knights of Malta from across the world have been asked to help with Pope Francis’ reform of the ancient Catholic lay order ahead of a crucial gathering in Rome to elect a new leader.

But the plans for an overhaul come as the knights’ former Grand Master, Fra’ Matthew Festing, has hinted at a re-election bid, a move that sources in Rome say would throw the order on to a collision course once again with the Vatican.

Next month’s election takes place after a bruising public fallout between the order and the Holy See which led to the resignation of Festing and the appointment by the Pope of a personal delegate to assist with a “spiritual and moral” renewal of the knights. 

Archbishop Giovanni Becciu, a senior official in the Secretariat of State and Francis’ point man with the 800-year-old order, has, along with the knights’ acting leader, asked all members to send proposed changes by the end of this month.
 

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https://zenit.org/articles/general-audience-on-hoping-against-hope/

GENERAL AUDIENCE: On Hoping Against Hope
March 29, 2017

This morning’s General Audience was held at 9:30 in St. Peter’s Square, where the Holy Father Francis met with groups of pilgrims and faithful from Italy and from all over the world.

In his address in Italian, the Pope focused his meditation on the theme: “Hoping against hope” (cf. Romans 4:16-25).

After summarizing his catechesis in several languages, the Holy Father expressed special greetings to groups of faithful present. Then, after greeting the delegation of the Iraqi super-intendancy, made up of representatives of different religious groups present at the Audience, he invited to pray for reconciliation in Iraq.

The General Audience ended with the singing of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic Blessing.
* * *
The Holy Father’s Catechesis

Dear Brothers and Sisters, good morning!
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLLHWpQQwbs
2017.03.29 General Audience 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-appeals-for-protection-for-iraqi-civilians-tr

Pope appeals for protection for Iraqi civilians trapped in war
2017-03-29 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has appealed for a concerted effort to protect Iraqi civilians who are victims of the ongoing bloody war in their nation and he prayed in particular for those who are trapped in the embattled city of Mosul.

Iraqi forces backed by US-led coalition air strikes are fighting to clear Islamic State militants from Iraq's second city where the coalition allegedly had a role in a March bombing which killed over 200 people..

The Pope’s appeal came at the end of his catechesis during the General Audience in St. Peter’s Square.

Expressing deep pain for the victims of the bloody conflict in Iraq, Pope Francis appealed to all to  make every possible effort to protect civilians, which he said is an  “imperative and urgent” obbligation.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/03/29/pope_to_interreligious_iraqi_group_‘abraham_our_father/1301968

Pope to interreligious Iraqi group: ‘Abraham our common father’
29/03/2017 13:28

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday greeted the members of a delegation from the Iraqi Supervisory Boards and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

“Your visit is a true, fraternal richness, and is, therefore, a path towards peace among all, peace in the heart, in the family, in your country, and in the world,” the Pope told the group in a private audience ahead of his weekly General Audience.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/popes-words-to-participants-in-meeting-of-permanent-committee-for-dialogue-between-pontifical-council-for-interreligious-dialogue-and-iraqi-superintendancy/
Pope’s Words to Interreligious Iraqi Group  
March 29, 2017

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-at-mass-god-weeps-when-we-go-astray-from-his

Pope at Mass: ‘God weeps when we go astray from His love’
2017-03-30 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Beware of following fantasies and false idols, for only God loves us and waits for us like a father.  That was Pope Francis’ message at Mass on Thursday morning in the Casa Santa Marta.

Commenting on the First Letter from the Book of Exodus, the Holy Father focused on God’s love for His people, despite their infidelity. Even today, he said, it is good for us to ask whether we distance ourselves from the Lord to follow after idols and worldliness.

Pope Francis took inspiration from the Book of Exodus to reflect on the “dreams and disappointments of God”. The people, he said, is “God’s dream. He dreamed of them because he loved them.” But the people betrayed the Father’s dreams and so God “began to be disappointed,” asking Moses to come down from the mountain where he had gone to receive the Law. The people “did not have the patience to wait for God” for even 40 days. They had made themselves a golden calf and “they forgot God who had saved them”.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-tells-somascan-fathers-to-continue-to-serve-a

Pope tells Somascan Fathers to continue to serve abandoned youth
2017-03-30 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis on Thursday encouraged Somascan Fathers to continue and further develop their mission to serve the poor and take care of orphans and abandoned youth.

Receiving a group of Somascan Fathers who are holding their General Chapter, the Pope expressed appreciation for the theme chosen for the Chapter: “Let's cross to the other side with our brothers with whom we live and die” and he highlighted their missionary openness.

Pope Francis recalled the shining example provided by the Somascan Fathers’ founder, St. Girolamo Emiliani, and quoted the words of Pope Benedict XVI in a message to the Order asking them  “to take to heart every kind of poverty experienced by our youth: moral, physical, existential poverty; and above all the poverty of love, the root of every serious human problem”.

He pointed out that the ideal at the root of St. Girolamo Emiliani’s mission was to reform the Church through works of charity.