Pope Francis

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-meets-young-patients-from-romes-bambino-gesu

Pope meets young patients from Rome's Bambino Gesù hospital
2017-04-11 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met on Monday afternoon with a group of young patients, doctors and nurses from Rome’s ‘Bambino Gesù’ children’s hospital. The children, aged between 5 and 18, are taking part in a documentary programme on Italian television exploring the experiences of young patients and their families at the Catholic hospital.

The ‘Bambino Gesù’ hospital, just a stone’s throw away from the Vatican, is the largest pediatric research facility in Europe. It treats over a million and a half young patients each year, with children travelling from all over the world to make use of its specialized services and equipment.

This was the second time the youngsters had come for a papal audience, which was being filmed for the TV series showing every Sunday evening on the RAI 3 channel.
 

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https://zenit.org/articles/popes-daily-masses-at-casa-santa-marta-resume-april-24/

Pope’s Daily Masses at Casa Santa Marta Resume April 24 
April 11, 2017

The Masses Pope Francis celebrates every morning at 7 a.m., in the Holy Spirit Chapel of his residence Casa Santa Marta, are suspended until Monday, April 24, 2017.

Therefore, his daily Mass there, in the presence of a group of faithful, will be suspended for all of Holy Week and the Easter Octave.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-calls-consistory-to-approve-causes-for-canoni

Pope calls Consistory to approve causes for canonization
2017-04-11 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) On 20 April 2017, Thursday of Easter Week, Pope Francis will hold an ordinary public Consistory for the vote of the Cardinals on several causes for canonization.
 
The Martyrs of Natal, Brazil: Andrea de Soveral, Ambrogio Francesco Ferro, diocesan priests, along with Matteo Moreira, a layman, and 27 companions, martyrs;
Cristóbal, Antonio, and Juan, of Mexico, young martyrs;
Faustino Míguez, Spanish Piarist priest, and founder of the Calasanzian Institute of the Daughters of the Divine Shepherdess;
Angelo da Acri (in the world: Luca Antonio Falcone), Italian professed priest of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor – Capuchin;
The visionaries of Fatima, Francesco Marto and Jacinto Marto, children.

The vote of the Cardinals is the final formality after Pope Francis gave approval for the causes to move forward. Upon receiving the approval of the Cardinals in Consistory, the Church will set dates for the canonization of the Blesseds.

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http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/6972/0/vatican-warns-that-any-ruling-on-marian-apparitions-at-medjugorje-will-take-a-long-time-

Vatican warns that any ruling on Marian apparitions at Medjugorje will 'take a long time'
10 April 2017

'A pastoral phenomenon can't be built on false foundations', declares prefect of the Congregation for Doctrine of the Faith

The prefect of the Congregation for Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, has warned it could "take a long time" for the Vatican to rule on Marian apparitions at Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina, whose sanctuary is currently hosting a Papal visitation.

"A pastoral phenomenon can't be built on false foundations, and we can't separate pastoral concerns from questions around the authenticity of these visions", Mueller told Poland's Catholic Information Agency (KAI).

"But the great mass of faithful is too fascinated by Medjugorje for the future good of its church to be made, dependent on the truth of these alleged apparitions and appeals. The position is needed to be nuanced even if the Mother of God's appearances are recognised, as with Lourdes and Fatima".
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-celebrate-holy-days-of-love-leading-to-easter

Pope: "celebrate Holy days 'of love' leading to Easter"
2017-04-12 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has invited Christians to contemplate the Cross and to celebrate the holy days leading to Easter.

Continuing his catechesis on Christian hope, the Pope was addressing the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square for the weekly Wednesday General Audience.

Unlike worldly hopes, which fail to bring lasting satisfaction Pope Francis told the faithful that “our Christian hope is grounded in God’s eternal love”.

Reflecting on the Gospel of John, the Pope recalled Jesus’ words as he entered Jerusalem: “unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit”.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/general-audience-on-unfailing-hope-born-from-the-cross/
GENERAL AUDIENCE: On Unfailing Hope Born From the Cross 
April 12, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWY6g7tjqhU
2017.04.12 General Audience

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-to-celebrate-liturgy-of-word-for-new

Pope Francis to celebrate Liturgy of Word for 'New Martyrs'
2017-04-12 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis will celebrate a special Liturgy of the Word in memory of the "New Martyrs" of the 20th and 21st centuries on Saturday, 22 April.

A communique from the Holy See Press Office said the prayer will take place in the Basilica of St. Bartholomew on the Tiberian Island, which is located in the heart of Rome on the Tiber River.

The Liturgy of the Word celebration is organized by the Sant'Egidio Community and takes place at 5 PM.

A separate communique released by the Sant'Egidio Community said the Basilica of St. Bartholomew held special significance:
 

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http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2017/vatican-stamps-mark-pope-benedicts-birthday-fatima-apparitions.cfm

Vatican stamps mark Pope Benedict's birthday, Fatima apparitions
By Catholic News Service
4.12.2017 9:00 AM ET

CNS

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican stamp and coin office has big plans for early May: the release of stamps marking retired Pope Benedict XVI's 90th birthday and important events in the life of the church spanning almost 2,000 years.

The Philatelic and Numismatic Office said the stamp sheet celebrating Pope Benedict's April 16 birthday was designed to "offer our affectionate tribute to him."

Designed by the artist Daniela Longo, the sheet features a drawing of Pope Francis and Pope Benedict embracing, while the actual stamps show the retired pope praying his rosary.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-leads-chrism-mass-for-rome-diocese

Pope Francis leads Chrism Mass for Rome diocese
2017-04-13 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis celebrated the Chrism Mass of the Rome diocese on the morning of Holy Thursday in St. Peter’s Basilica.

The liturgy is held every year in every diocese, and is typically celebrated on the morning of Holy Thursday, with the clergy gathered around the bishop in a sign of unity.

It is called the “Chrism Mass” because it is during the liturgy that the sacred oils to be used in the Sacraments are blessed: the Oil of the Infirm, the Oil of the Catechumens, and the Sacred Chrism – which is used to anoint the newly baptized and in conferring Confirmation, and to consecrate priests and bishops to their special and peculiar divine service.
 
http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-homily-at-holy-thursday-chrism-mass-f
Pope Francis’ homily at Holy Thursday Chrism Mass: Full text
2017-04-13 Vatican Radio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gKcxlkQv7Q
2017.04.13 Chrism Mass

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-urges-faithful-to-help-and-serve-each-other

Pope urges faithful to help and serve each other
2017-04-13 Vatican Radio

Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Holy Thursday washed the feet of inmates at Paliano prison, south of Rome, during the Mass of Our Lord’s Supper.

The Pope traveled to the penitentiary for a private visit and the celebration of Mass marking Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples on the day before his Crucifixion.

In his off-the-cuff homily Pope Francis invited those present – and all Christians -  to serve the other.

"The disciples, the Pope said, used to argue about who was the most important amongst them".

“He who feels or thinks he is important, he continued, must become small and be a servant to the others. That is what God – who loves us as we are – does every day”.

The center hosts some 70 inmates, and amongst those whose feet the Pope washed, there are 10 Italians, 1 Argentinean and 1 Albanian. Amongst them 3 are women and 1 is a Muslim who will receive the Sacrament of Baptism in the coming month of June.

The Paliano detention center is the only such institute in Italy reserved in particular for former members of criminal gangs who collaborate with police and the judiciary.
 
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/you-can-show-gods-love-even-behind-bars-pope-francis-tells-inmates-76735/
You can show God's love even behind bars, Pope Francis tells inmates

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/04/12/pope_appoints_13_consulters_to_secretariat_for_communication/1305291

Pope appoints 13 consulters to Secretariat for Communications
12/04/2017 15:22
(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis on Wednesday appointed 13 new Consulters for the Vatican's Secretariat for Communications.

The appointments were released in a communique from the Holy See Press Office.

These include:

- Rev. Fr. Ivan Maffeis, under-secretary for the Italian Episcopal Conference;

- Fr. José María La Porte, dean of the Faculty of Institutional Social Communication of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross;

- Dr. Peter Gonsalves, S.D.B., dean of the Faculty of Social Communication Sciences of the Pontifical Salesian University;

- Fr. Eric Salobir, O.P., Promoter General for social communications for the Order of Preachers;

- Fr. James Martin, S.J., Jesuit Magazine America;
 
- Dr. Michael P. Warsaw, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of EWTN Global Catholic Network;
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/04/13/pope_to_la_repubblica_newspaper_‘world_must_stop_lords_of_w/1305420

Pope to La Repubblica newspaper: ‘World must stop lords of war’
13/04/2017 10:02

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis granted an interview with the Italian newspaper, La Repubblica, published Thursday morning, in which he spoke about why he always celebrates the Mass of the Lord's Supper with prisoners and about the current “terrible world war being fought piecemeal”.

This year, the Holy Father celebrates the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday at the Paliano Detention Centre, near Rome, where he will once again wash the feet of prisoners on the margins of society.

The Pope said his decision to continue to celebrate the In Coena Domini Mass with prisoners “is a duty which comes from my heart.”

“The Gospel passage of the last judgment says, ‘I was a prisoner and you visited me’. This is Jesus’ task for each of us, but especially for the bishop who is the father of all.”
 

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https://zenit.org/articles/pope-francis-to-visit-italian-cities-of-cesena-and-bologna/

Pope Francis to Visit Italian Cities of Cesena and Bologna 
April 13, 2017

Pope Francis will visit the northern Italian cities of Cesena and Bologna on Oct.1, 2017, welcoming the invitation of the respective diocesan bishops, Bishop of Cesena-Sarsina, Msgr. Regattieri Douglas, and Archbishop of Bologna, Msgr. Matteo Maria Zuppi.

Announcing the visit, the Vatican press office stressed that the visit to Cesena will coincide with the 300-year anniversary of the birth there of Pope Pius VI, and that the visit to Bologna will take place during the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress.

Here is the Vatican-provided program of the visit:
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/preacher-of-papal-household-christs-cross-is-world

Preacher of Papal Household: Christ's Cross is world's hope
2017-04-14 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis presided over the Passion Liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica on Good Friday.

In keeping with tradition, the Preacher of the Papal Household, Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM. Cap., preached the sermon on the occasion.

This year, the Preacher’s remarks focused entirely on the Cross of Christ: the only hope of the world.
 
http://www.news.va/en/news/fr-cantalamessa-passion-teaches-cross-our-only-hop
Fr. Cantalamessa: Passion teaches Cross our only hope
2017-04-14 Vatican Radio


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reQOJKKdLLM
2017.04.14 Celebration of the Passion of our Lord 

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https://zenit.org/

https://zenit.org/articles/popes-via-crucis-at-colosseum-shame-for-our-sins-but-hope-in-mercy-of-god/
Pope’s Via Crucis at Colosseum: ‘Shame for Our Sins, But Hope in Mercy of God’
April 14, 2017

About 20,000 faithful were present tonight, April 14, 2017, at the traditional Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) presided over by Pope Francis near the Colosseum in Rome. With much security amidst a climate of meditation and prayer, thousands of small flames of the candles that illuminated the night. The texts of this year’s meditations for the Stations of the Cross were prepared by French biblical scholar, and winner of the prestigious Ratzinger Prize, Anne-Marie Pelletier.

Shortly before leaving the Vatican, the Pope launched a tweet full of hope: “O Cross of Christ, teach us that the dawn of the sun is stronger than the darkness of the night, and that the eternal love of God always wins.”
 
***
Below is a working translation of Pope Francis’ prayer at the end of the Via Crucis:

O Christ, left alone and even betrayed and sold out by your own people.
 O Christ, judged by sinners, delivered by leaders.
 O Christ, in anguished flesh, crowned with thorns and clothed in purple. O Christ, scourged and nailed horribly.
 O Christ, pierced by the lance that pierced Your heart.
 O Christ, dead and buried, You Who are the God of life and existence.
 O Christ, our only Savior, we come back to you again this year with eyes downcast with shame and with a heart full of hope:
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOU-J7aK7uQ
2017.04.14 Way of the Cross

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https://twitter.com/FatherRosica

Thomas Rosica‏ @FatherRosica · 5h  5 hours ago 

Here is Anne-Marie Pelletier's text of this evening's Stations of the Cross with #PopeFrancis at Rome's Colosseum: http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/2017/documents/ns_lit_doc_20170414_via-crucis-meditazioni_en.html …
-----
OFFICE FOR THE LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS
 OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF 

GOOD FRIDAY
 PASSION OF THE LORD

 WAY OF THE CROSS LED BY HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS

COLOSSEUM
 ROME, 14 APRIL 2017
 
MEDITATIONS
 by
 Anne-Marie Pelletier
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/


http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/christ-renews-a-weary-humanity-pope-francis-says-at-easter-vigil-37043/
Christ renews a weary humanity, Pope Francis says at Easter Vigil

Vatican City, Apr 15, 2017 / 01:46 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- During Easter Vigil at the Vatican Pope Francis noted that many people today mirror the sadness and grief of the women who went to Jesus' tomb thinking he was still dead.

However, the Resurrection, he said, offers new hope for those who have perhaps lost it.

“That is what this night calls us to proclaim: the heartbeat of the Risen Lord. Christ is alive!” the Pope said April 15.

It is the excitement of this message, he said, that made them hurry back to tell the others that Jesus had risen: “That is what made them return in haste to tell the news. That is what made them lay aside their mournful gait and sad looks. They returned to the city to meet up with the others.”

Like the women, each us has also visited the tomb during the vigil, he said, and urged Christians to “go back” with the women into their cities with news of Jesus’ rising.

“Let us all retrace our steps and change the look on our faces,” he said. “Let us go back with them to tell the news in all those places where the grave seems to have the final word, where death seems the only way out.”

The Pope told them go back and proclaim the truth that “the Lord is alive! He is living and he wants to rise again in all those faces that have buried hope, buried dreams, buried dignity.”

“If we cannot let the Spirit lead us on this road, then we are not Christians,” he said.

Pope Francis spoke during his homily for the Easter Vigil, which he celebrated, as usual, in St. Peter's Basilica as the culmination of his Holy Week events. Apart from the vigil, Pope Francis will also celebrate Mass in St. Peter’s Square Easter morning and give his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/popes-easter-vigil-homily-2/
Pope’s Easter Vigil Homily 
April 15, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foC0gcOwDTs
2017.04.15 Easter Vigil

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-easter-sunday-mass-hold-fast-to-faith

Pope Easter Sunday Mass: Hold fast to faith
2017-04-16 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) On Easter Sunday morning Pope Francis presided over Mass in St Peter’s Square festooned for the occasion with colourful tulips from Holland.

Breaking with tradition the Pope gave an off the cuff homily encouraging Christians to keep the faith despite the wars, sickness and hatred in the world.

``The Church never ceases to say, faced with our defeats, our closed and fearful hearts, `stop, the Lord is risen.' But if the Lord is risen, how come these things happen?''
 
http://www.lastampa.it/2017/04/16/vaticaninsider/eng/the-vatican/lets-look-ahead-we-are-pebbles-with-a-purpose-in-life-Sk7zk8Pn8LBqJY9lB6WzqJ/pagina.html
“Let’s look ahead, we are pebbles with a purpose in life”
Pubblicato il  16/04/2017
Ultima modifica il 16/04/2017 alle ore 14:04

"We are pebbles on the ground in this land of pain, tragedy, but with faith in the risen Christ we have a purpose, in the midst of so many calamities, we can look ahead. Look there is no wall, there is a horizon, there is life, joy ..." Taking everyone by surprise, Pope Francis pronounced an unprompted homily during this Easter morning Mass, which traditionally ends with the Pope’s message Urbi et Orbi.

"Today the Church sings, cries, Jesus is risen! – Bergoglio said - Peter, John and the women went to the tomb and it was empty! He was not there! And they left with their hearts closed by sadness, the sadness of defeat. Their teacher, their master, the one they loved so much, was executed, he was dead. And one can’t come back from the death. This is the defeat, the way towards defeat, the way of the sepulchre."
 
https://zenit.org/articles/easter-2017-there-is-a-bit-of-holland-in-st-peters-square/
Easter 2017: There Is a Bit of Holland in St. Peter’s Square 
It Will Be Transformed into a Flowering Garden for the Celebration of the Solemnity of Easter
April 14, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEkEnNmHymI
2017.04.16 Easter Mass
Streamed live 10 hours ago
The Holy Father presides over the Holy Mass of Easter Day
Easter message and Urbi et Orbi blessing of the Holy Father

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-to-the-the-city-and-the-world

Pope Francis: To the the city and the world
2017-04-16 Vatican Radio

Vatican Radio) “Jesus is risen!” – “He is truly risen, as he said!”

Those were Pope Francis’ words as he delivered his traditional Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) message from the central loggia of St Peter’s Basilica on a sunny Easter Sunday.

The Pope said that “by his resurrection, Jesus Christ has set us free from the slavery of sin and death, and has opened before us the way to eternal life.”
 
http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-delivers-his-urbi-et-orbi-message
Pope delivers his Urbi et Orbi message
2017-04-16 Vatican Radio

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-prays-for-persecuted-christian-commun

Pope Francis prays for persecuted Christian communities
2017-04-17 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) On Easter Monday Pope Francis greeted pilgrims and visitors gathered in St Peter’s Square, praying especially for Christians who are persecuted for their faith.

Speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace before the recitation of the Regina Coeli midday prayer, the Pope said the day’s liturgy echoes the great cry of Easter Sunday, ‘Christ is Risen, Hallelujah!’

We hear the words of the angel to the women at the tomb, saying ‘Go quickly and tell his disciples, he has been raised from the dead.”

Those words are directed at us too, the Pope said, inviting us to go quickly and proclaim this message of joy and hope to the women and men of our day. The message that death and the tomb have not had the last word, but that Christ is Risen, bringing new life to all.

Solidarity and welcome
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zgAXO1qwQA
2017.04.17 Regina Coeli

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/04/18/benedict_xvi_thanks_god_for_native_bavaria_on_90th_birthday/1306503

Benedict XVI thanks God for native Bavaria on 90th birthday
18/04/2017 16:21

(Vatican Radio) Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI celebrated his 90th birthday with German friends, family, and traditional Bavarian music and beer on Monday.

In brief remarks to a crowd which included his brother, Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, and Bavarian prime minister, Horst Seehofer, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI thanked God for “the 90 years that the good God has given me”.

“There have been challenges and difficult times, but He has always guided me and pulled me out [of those situations], so that I could continue my path. And I am full of gratitude above all that He gave me such a beautiful homeland.”

The Pope Emeritus went on to sing the praises of his native Bavaria.

“Bavaria has been beautiful ever since her Creation, for her bell towers, the houses with balconies full of flowers, and the goodness of her people. It is beautiful, in Bavaria, because one knows God, knows that He has created the world, and knows that it is good when we work to better it with Him.”

To the Gebirgsschützen (Bavarian mountain riflemen) present in the gardens of his Vatican residence, he said, “Thank you so much for having brought Bavaria here, that Bavaria open to the world, alive, happy, which can be so because its roots are embedded in faith.”

Finally, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI sent his greetings and blessings to his native land.

“I wish upon you the blessing of God. Bring my greetings home and my thankfulness to you. With what pleasure in my heart, I continue to walk and live in our landscapes. And I hope that it stays the same. ‘Vergelt’s Gott’ (May God reward you.)”
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPIe5hP8EfU
Benedict XVI's 90th Birthday 17APR2017 - CTV