Pope Francis

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/11/03/pope_at_mass_our_faith_makes_us_men_and_women_of_hope/1346817

Pope at Mass: 'our faith makes us men and women of hope'
03/11/2017 16:08

Pope Francis arrives at St. Peter's Basilica to celebrate Holy Mass for Deceased Cardinals and Bishops - AP
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Friday celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica for all those Cardinals and Bishops who have died over the past year.

During his homily the Pope reflected on the reality of death, but he also reminded us of the promise of eternal life which is grounded in our union with the risen Christ.

“Today’s celebration, Pope Francis said, once more sets before us the reality of death.  It renews our sorrow for the loss of those who were dear and good to us.”

But more importantly, reflecting on the liturgical reading of the day, he said it increases our hope for them and for ourselves, as it expresses speaks of the  resurrection of the just.

The resurrection of the just
 
http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/11/03/pope_francis_homily_for_deceased_cardinals_and_bishops/1346673
Pope Francis' homily for Deceased Cardinals and Bishops
03/11/2017 11:10

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2017/11/03/pope-francis-sides-benedict-says-christ-shed-blood-many/
Pope Francis sides with Benedict, says Christ shed his blood ‘for many’
Inés San Martín
November 3, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tYJux9nHhs
2017.11.03 - Holy Mass in suffrage of deceased Cardinals and Bishops
Streamed live 16 hours ago
INTERNATIONAL SOUND - Pope Francis celebrates Holy Mass in suffrage of the Cardinals and Bishops deceased during the year

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Video at the link

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/11/03/pope_francis’prayer_intention_november_witness_gospel_asia/1346779

Pope Francis’ prayer intention for November: To witness the Gospel in Asia
03/11/2017 14:55

Indian Christians offer prayers for the peace of the departed at a graveyard on All Souls Day in Bhopal - EPA
(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis has released a video message accompanying his monthly prayer intention for November 2017.

This month’s intention is for Evangelization: To witness to the Gospel in Asia. That Christians in Asia, bearing witness to the Gospel in word and deed, may promote dialogue, peace, and mutual understanding, especially with those of other religions

The text of the video message reads:

The most striking feature of Asia is the variety of its peoples who ar  heirs of ancient cultures, religions and traditions.
 On this continent where the Church is a minority, the challenges are intense.
 We must promote dialogue among religions and cultures.
 Let us pray that Christians in Asia may promote dialogue, that peace and mutual understanding, especially with those of other religions.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/11/04/pope_francis_highlights_importance_of_education_for_migrants/1346872

Pope Francis highlights importance of education for migrants and refugees
04/11/2017 10:11

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Saturday addressed members of the International Federation of Catholic Universities at the conclusion of their conference entitled,  "Refugees and Migrants in a Globalized World: Responsibilities and Responses of Universities".

Addressing the International Conference participants on Saturday in the Vatican the Pope, congratulating them on their work, also pointed out the importance of their contribution in three areas:  research, teaching and social promotion in order, he said, to bring about “the construction of a more just and humane world.”

Studying migration

Reflecting on the theme of their conference "Refugees and Migrants in a Globalized World: Responsibilities and Responses of Universities", the Holy Father spoke about the need “to do further studies into the root causes of forced migration with the aim of identifying viable solutions…” He also added, that it was equally important to reflect on the negative, sometimes discriminatory, and xenophobic reactions that migrants face in countries of ancient Christian traditions and look also to creating more awareness of this issue.
 
http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/11/04/the_university_of_the_people_transforming_lives_to_build_a_b/1347050
The University of the People transforming lives to build a better world
04/11/2017 19:36

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/11/04/pope_encourages_sixt_childrens_aid_charity_in_its_committme/1346937

Pope encourages Sixt Children's Aid charity in its committment
04/11/2017 13:28

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Saturday greeted members of the Sixt Family encouraging them to pursue their work which is aimed at helping children in various situations of need.

Headed by Regine Sixt, the main purpose of the Regine Sixt Children’s Aid Foundation is the worldwide improvement of humane living conditions for children through program areas that include health, care, education and emergency aid.

Please find below the Pope’s address below:
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/11/05/pope_at_angelus_christians_must_have_fraternal_attitude/1347070

Pope at Angelus: Christians must have fraternal attitude
05/11/2017 12:47

Pope Francis waves to the crowds during his weekly Angelus address. - AFP
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis’ Angelus address focused on the words of Jesus from Sunday’s Gospel, including the Lord’s “severe criticisms” of the scribes and Pharisees, and His directions to Christians “of all times,” including our own.

Christ’s saying that “the scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses” and His command to “do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you” means that they have the authority to teach what is in conformity to the Law of God, the Pope said. But, the Lord immediately adds, “do not follow their example; for they preach but they do not practice.” Pope Francis said this is a “frequent defect” of those in authority: They are demanding towards others, and they are often correct; but while their directions are just, they fail to practice them themselves. “This attitude is a wicked exercise of authority,” the Pope said, which should instead lead by good example, “helping others practice what is right and due, supporting them in the trials that they encounter on the path of goodness.” If authority is exercised badly, he said, “it becomes oppressive, it does not allow people to grow and it creates a climate of distrust and of hostility, and also brings corruption.”
 
https://zenit.org/articles/angelus-address-on-practicing-what-one-preaches/
Angelus Address: On Practicing What One Preaches 
November 5, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOiHl-82Xks
2017.11.05 - Angelus Domini

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/11/06/pope_at_mass_gods_gifts_are_irrevocable/1347189

Pope at Mass: God's gifts are irrevocable
06/11/2017 12:57

Pope Francis preaches the homily during the morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta. - AP
(Vatican Radio) When God gives a gift, it is irrevocable: He does not give something one day, and take it away the next. When God calls us, that call remains our whole life. Pope Francis began his homily with this reflection, inspired by the theme of our “election by God,” God’s choice of each of us, which is taken from the day’s reading from the Letter of St Paul to the Romans.

In the history of salvation, the Pope said, there are three “gifts and calls of God to His people”: “the gift of election, of the promise, and of the covenant.” All are irrevocable, because God is faithful. This was the case for Abraham, and it is true for all of us as well:

“Each one of us is elect, chosen by God. Each one of us bears a promise that the Lord has made: ‘Walk in my presence, be irreproachable, and I will do this for you.’ And each one of us makes some covenant with the Lord. You can do it, you can’t will it – it is free. But this is a fact. And also, there must be a question: How do I experience ‘election’? Or do I consider myself a Christian ‘by accident’ [It.: ‘per caso’]? How do I live the promise, a promise of salvation of my path, and how am I faithful to the covenant? Like He is faithful?”
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/11/06/pope_francis_meets_the_elders_to_discuss_global_concerns/1347338

Pope Francis meets 'The Elders' to discuss global concerns
06/11/2017 19:14

Pope Francis meets at the Casa Santa Marta with members of 'The Elders', who are marking the 10th anniversary of their foundation by Nelson Mandela - REUTERS
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis had a private meeting at Santa Marta on Monday afternoon with members of The Elders, an independent group of global leaders working for peace and human rights around the world.

The Elders was established 10 years ago by former South African President Nelson Mandela and is currently marking the group’s 10th anniversary with a campaign called “Walk Together”  - continuing Mandela’s long walk to freedom.

Just after the audience, Philippa Hitchen spoke to two of the founding members of The Elders, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Mary Robinson, former Irish President, former UN high commissioner for human rights and, more recently, UN envoy on climate change. Philippa began by asking Kofi Annan about the issues they were able to discuss during their papal audience…
 

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http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/pope-francis-approves-amazon-debate-on-ordaining-married-men-to-the-priesth

Nov. 6, 2017
Pope Francis Approves Amazon Debate on Ordaining Married Men to the Priesthood
Mary Rezac/CNA/EWTN News

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has reportedly said he will allow Latin-Rite bishops at a 2019 regional synod focusing on the Church in the Amazon basin to debate whether they should ordain married men of proven virtue to the priesthood.

According to the newspaper Il Messaggero, the Holy Father gave his permission in response to a question on the matter posed by Cardinal Claudio Hummes, the president of the Episcopal Commission for the Amazon.

The comments have been broadly interpreted in media outlets to mean that Pope Francis is considering opening the door for priests throughout the Catholic Church to get married. However, neither the Catholic nor the Orthodox Churches allow priests to marry after ordination.
 

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http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/8030/0/vatican-denies-utterly-false-reports-of-ecumenical-mass-

Vatican denies 'utterly false' reports of Ecumenical Mass
06 November 2017 | by Christopher Lamb

A news report said that Archbishop Roche was involved in a commission looking at the possibility of an 'ecumenical Mass'

The Vatican has strongly denied reports that a commission has been established examining the possibility of a setting up an “ecumenical Mass” which would allow Catholics and Protestants to celebrate a shared Eucharist.

Archbishop Arthur Roche, the number two official at the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, told The Tablet that reports of a joint Mass were “utterly false” while Greg Burke, Director of the Holy See Press Office, described them as “simply untrue.”

A report in First Things quoted anonymous sources saying that Archbishop Roche and Archbishop Piero Marini - the former Master of Ceremonies for John Paul II - were both involved in the commission while the Prefect of the congregation, Cardinal Robert Sarah, whose views on the liturgy have sometimes clashed with Pope Francis', had not been informed. The First Things story was later followed up in The Australian who put the claims of a possible joint Mass to the Vatican but did not receive a response.

Church teaching prevents Catholics and other Christian denominations from sharing communion although a joint prayer services with an ecumenical liturgy was agreed between Catholics and Lutherans to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
 

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https://cruxnow.com/book-review/2017/11/06/relaxed-pope-muses-latin-america-says-ratzinger-candidate-2005/

Relaxed pope muses on Latin America, says Ratzinger ‘only candidate’ in 2005
Austen Ivereigh  November 6, 2017

Pope Francis lets his hair down in a new interview book with a journalist from his native Argentina, among other things revealing that in 2005 he urged his fellow cardinals to support the election of Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI. He felt Latin America wasn't ready -- in part because the Aparecida conference which he helped shape hadn't happened yet.

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/11/07/pope_francis_salvation_is_not_for_sale/1347463

Pope Francis: 'Salvation is not for sale'
07/11/2017 14:58

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has urged Christians not to lose the capacity to feel loved.

Speaking during the homily on Tuesday morning at the Casa Santa Marta, the Pope said that while it is possible to recuperate a lost capacity to love, if one no longer has the capacity feel loved, all is lost.

Pope Francis reflected on the reading from the Gospel of Luke in which Jesus says “Blessed are those who will take food in the Kingdom of God” and explained that the Lord asks us to open our doors to those who cannot reciprocate.

The parable of the man who gave a dinner to which he invited many
 
 The parable tells of a man who gave a great dinner to which he invited many. But when the time for the dinner came, those who had been invited declined the invitation because they were taken by their own interests which seemed to them more important than the invitation itself.

They were asking themselves – the Pope noted – what benefit they could get out of the dinner, just like that man who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.

They were so concerned with their own interests the Pope said they were “incapable of understanding the gratuity of the invitation”.

Salvation is not for sale
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/11/07/papal_condolences_for_victims_of_texas_shooting/1347514

Papal condolences for victims of Texas shooting
07/11/2017 16:35

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has expressed his condolences to the families of the victims of a deadly shooting Texas.

Twenty-six people were killed in the attack, including the unborn child of a young mother, who was also killed. The dead ranged in age from 18 months to 77 years. Twenty others were wounded, with 10 still in critical condition late on Monday.

In a telegram addressed to Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller of San Antonio, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin noted Pope Francis was “deeply grieved by news of the loss of life and grave injuries caused by the act of senseless violence perpetrated at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs.” The Holy Father, the Cardinal said, “asks you kindly to convey his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and the wounded, to the members of the congregation, and to the entire local community.”
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/11/07/pope_meets_egypts_muslim_leader_ahmed_al-tayeb/1347523

Pope meets Egypt's Muslim leader Ahmed al-Tayeb
07/11/2017 16:52

Pope Francis greets the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb in the Vatican on Tuesday - EPA
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met on Tuesday with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed Muhammad al-Tayeb who is in Rome to attend a conference organised by the St Egidio community.

No details of the private encounter were released, but the meeting marked the second trip to the Vatican in two years by Egypt’s top Muslim leader. His first meeting with the pope in May 2016 marked an important step forward after five years of suspended dialogue between the Holy See and the prestigious Al-Azhar university.

Pope's visit to Cairo
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/11/08/pope_general_audience_through_the_eucharist_we_receive_god/1347690

Pope at General Audience: through the Eucharist we receive God
08/11/2017 15:16

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has reminded the faithful that the Eucharist is a wonderful event during which Jesus Christ, our life, becomes present.

Speaking to the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Wednesday General Audience, Pope Francis began a new series of reflections focusing on the Eucharist and highlighting the importance of how we attend and of how we participate in Mass in order to really experience our relationship with God.

To the some 13,000 pilgrims present for the weekly audience, Pope Francis said that while at Mass “the Lord is present with us but many times we talk among ourselves and we are not close to Him” during the celebration.

Importance of rediscovering the meaning of the Sacraments

He explained that for us Christians it is essential to understand the meaning and the value of Holy Mass in order to be able to fully live our relationship with God.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/popes-catechesis-on-the-heart-of-the-church/
Pope’s Catechesis on the Heart of the Church 
Holy Father Begins News Series of Teachings on the Eucharist
November 8, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_PKF1Hhn2M
2017.11.08 - General Audience 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-names-two-laywomen-to-key-positions-in-vaticans-family-office-82082

Pope names two laywomen to key positions in Vatican's family office

Vatican City, Nov 7, 2017 / 07:16 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Tuesday, the Vatican announced Pope Francis’ appointment of two lay women – experts in bioethics and canon law – as the first two under-secretaries of the mega-dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.

The appointment of Dr. Gabriella Gambino for the section on life and Dr. Linda Ghisoni for the section on laity was announced in a Nov. 7 Vatican communique, bringing the leadership of the dicastery more clearly into shape after its establishment in 2016.

The Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life officially began its work Sept. 1, 2016, replacing the former Pontifical Council for the Laity and Pontifical Council for the Family, which were dissolved.

The department is responsible for projects relating to the apostolate of laity, families, and the institution of marriage, within the Church, and is responsible for the organization of events such as the World Meeting of Families, which will take place in Dublin in August 2018.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/11/09/pope_mass_marta_homily_/1347883

Pope at Mass: building and purification of Church begins from us
09/11/2017 13:03

Pope Francis on Thursday spoke about the duty of every Christian  of  "building the Church, safeguarding the Church and Purifying the Church".  Delivering a homily at his morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta residence in the Vatican, he spoke about the three tasks on the liturgical feast the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the Cathedral of Rome Diocese, known as the "mother of all the Churches".  The Pope said this title is not a “cause of pride but of service and of love.” 

Building

Regarding building the Church, the Pope said one must first of all know that Jesus Christ is its foundation.  The Pope said, “He is the corner stone of this building,” and  “without Jesus Christ there is no Church.”  A Church without foundation will just collapse, he warned.  A Church without a living Jesus will come down.

He further explained that "we are the living stones" of this Church. All are not same but each one is different, and this, the Pope stressed, is the wealth of the Church.  Each one of us builds according to the gift God has given us, he said, adding, a uniform Church is not a Church.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/11/09/pope_approves_the_heroic_virtues_of_pope_john_paul_i_/1347820

Pope approves the heroic virtues of Pope John Paul I
09/11/2017 10:23

Pope John Paul I has moved a step closer to sainthood with the recognition of his heroic virtues.  Pope Francis on Wednesday authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the decree approving his predecessor’s heroic virtues which confers on him the title ‘Venerable’.

Pope Francis also authorized 7 other decrees along with that of John Paul I – two of them on martyrdom and 5 on heroic virtues.

Venerable Servant of God Pope John Paul I

Pope John Paul I whose heroic virtues Pope Francis has approved and declared him ‘Venerable Servant of God’  had a brief papacy of just 33 days, yet has left an indelible mark on the Catholic Church.   

A ‘Smiling Pope’ as he is called in that short duration of his pontificate gave nine speeches, three messages, wrote three Apostolic letters and four other official letters, gave two homilies and had five Sunday ‘Angelus’ prayers and four Wednesday general audiences. This short encounter if not his vast experience as a priest, bishop, Patriarch of Venice and then the  Cardinal has proved him to be a person of faith, humble and meek person yet tough when it comes to Church teachings.   Love of God and love of neighbor was his special hallmark.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/11/09/pope_francis_sends_message_to_conference_on_paul_vi/1347928

Pope Francis sends message to conference on Paul VI
09/11/2017 14:37

Pope Paul VI with Cardinal Karol Wojtyla in 1978 - ANSA
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a message to participants at a conference taking place in Rome on the theme ‘Pope Paul VI, the pope of modernity”.

In the message Pope Francis notes that the conference is taking place 50 years after the publication of his predecessor’s encyclical ‘Popolorum Progressio’, often described as one of the key Catholic Social Teaching documents.

That encyclical, he said, sought to be a “solemn appeal for concerted action in favour of integral human development”. The appeal remains just as urgent today, Pope Francis said, as poverty increases and peace is threatened on a daily basis in different parts of the world.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/11/09/mr_san_lwin_myanmar’s__first_ambassador_to_the_holy_see/1347905

Mr. San Lwin Myanmar’s first ambassador to the Holy See presents his Credentials
09/11/2017 13:26

Pope Francis received in audience Mr. San Lwin, ambassador of the Republic of the union of Myanmar, on the occasion of the presentation of his Credential Letters on Thursday.

The following is a brief biography of the new ambassador:

H.E. Mr. San Lwin
Ambassador of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar

H.E. Mr. San Lwin was born on 20 December 1955 in Yangon, and is married with two daughters. He holds a degree in Industrial Chemistry (1977).

He has held the following offices: junior staff member at the International Organizations and Economic Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; deputy assistant director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and official in the Consular Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; official in the Department of Planning and Administration, at the International Organizations and Economic Department and in the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1984-1987); third embassy secretary in Peking (1987-1991); section head of the Political Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1991-1993); consul in the People’s Republic of China (1993-1997); assistant director of the Political Department and in the Department of Training, Research and Foreign Language of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1997-2000); first secretary and embassy counsellor in Singapore (2000-2005); vice director and director of the Political Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2005-2008); minister counsellor and deputy permanent representative at the United Nations in New York (2008-2011); director of the Division of International Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2011); vice director general of the Political Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2011-2013); director general of the Political Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2013-2015); ambassador in Austria, where he resides (from July 2015 to date); ambassador in Lithuania (from 2017 to date).

He speaks English.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/11/09/the_pope_urges_ukrainian_seminarians_to_sow_culture_of_peace/1347971

The Pope urges Ukrainian seminarians to sow culture of peace
09/11/2017 16:28

Pope Francis receives members of the community of the Pontifical Ukrainian College in Rome
(Vatican Radio) Celebrating 85 years since the foundation of Saint Josaphat's Ukrainian Pontifical College in Rome, Pope Francis encouraged Ukrainian seminarians to become shepherds of communities in which love and respect for others will flourish.

The Saint Josaphat College was founded upon the wish of Pope Pius XI and is currently run by the Basilian monastic order.

In his message to future Ukrainian priests, Pope Francis recalled that the institution was built with the intent of conveying a message of love and closeness to those faithful “who live in areas of suffering and persecution”.

He invited them to prepare for their apostolic mission as deacons and priests studying the Church's Social Doctrine and recalling the example of Pope Pius XI whom, he said, “always and firmly raised his voice in defending the faith, the freedom of the Church and the transcendent dignity of every human person” while condemning the atheistic and inhumane ideologies that bloodied the 20th century.