Pope Francis

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https://zenit.org/

Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria (Photo: Ancora Online - Youtube)

A link to the full text of the letter can be found in the article.

http://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-03/congregation-doctrine-faith-placuit-deo-christian-salvation.html#.Wpffz3iGh4s.twitter

Faith in Christ defaced by neo-pelagianism and neo-gnosticism
01 March 2018, 11:20

In a Letter addressed to the Bishops of the Church, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, drawing on the tradition of the faith and the ordinary magisterium of Pope Francis, considers “some aspects of Christian salvation that can be difficult” for the modern world to understand.
By Christopher Wells

A new document from the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith highlights “some aspects of Christian salvation that can be difficult to understand today because of recent cultural changes.”

The Letter, entitled Placuit Deo, is dated 22 February, the feast of the Chair of Peter, and is addressed to the Bishops of the Catholic Church --and more generally, to all the faithful.

What is neo-pelagianism? What is neo-gnosticism?
 
Placuit Deo focuses especially on two modern tendencies: on the one hand, a kind of “neo-pelagianism,” an individualism that believes human beings can save themselves; and, on the other, a form of “neo-gnosticism,” a vision of salvation that would consist entirely in interior union with God, while disregarding relationships with other people, and with all of creation.

Pope Francis, the Letter recalls, “has often made reference,” in his ordinary magisterium (or authoritative teaching), to these two tendencies, which “resemble certain aspects of two ancient heresies,” without being identical to them. “Both neo-Pelagian individualism and the neo-Gnostic disregard of the body deface the confession of faith in Christ, the one, universal Saviour.”
 

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More articles about the release of the letter, Placuit Deo, or “Pleasing to God.”

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2018/03/01/vatican-revives-fine-art-smacking-heresy-time-modern-guise/
Vatican revives fine art of smacking down heresy, this time in modern guise
Claire Giangravè   Mar 1, 2018

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/8658/vatican-issues-new-condemnation-of-old-heresy
01 March 2018   
Vatican issues new condemnation of old heresy

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/vatican-reaffirms-teaching-on-salvation-to-reflect-cultural-changes
Mar. 1, 2018
Vatican Reaffirms Teaching on Salvation in Response to ‘Cultural Changes’
In a Letter to bishops, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith tackles two modern tendencies which it argues make the true salvation offered by the Catholic Church ‘difficult to understand.’
Edward Pentin

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https://zenit.org/articles/father-cantalamessa-on-genuine-love/

Father Cantalamessa on Genuine Love 
March 2, 2018•Jim Fair

© Vatican Media
Citing the words of Lumen Gentium, Fr. Father Raniero Cantalamessa, ofmcap, recalled Vatican II’s simple formula for holiness: “perfect holiness” is “perfect union with Christ” (LG 50).

This was at the heart of his second Lenten homily given this year as the preacher of the Pontifical Household.  He went on to explain a key difference between the scholastic vision of holiness – based on “right reason” as in the writings of Aristotle – and the biblical version of holiness, which means following the person of Christ.

“The most complete and most compact biblical synthesis of holiness based on the kerygma is the one outlined by St Paul in the exhortation section of the Letter to the Romans (chapters 12-15),” the Capuchin Father said. “At its beginning, the apostle lays out a comprehensive vision of the path for the believer’s sanctification—its essential content and its goal:
 

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http://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-03/pope-francis-mercy-friday-casa-leda-mothers-children.html

Mercy Friday: Pope visits women in semi-detention with young children
02 March 2018, 16:45

Pope Francis spends Mercy Friday at Casa di Leda with mothers and their children  (Vatican Media)
Today Pope Francis continues his Mercy Friday tradition, surprising mothers, their children, and the staff of “Casa di Leda” in Rome’s EUR district.
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

Pope Francis continues expressing his closeness to those who find themselves living in difficult situations. Today, he visited “Casa di Leda," home to 5 mothers and their children. His visit was a complete surprise. Pope Francis was accompanied by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President of the Council for the New Evangelization, that organizes this initiative.
 

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Video at the link

http://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-03/pope-francis--prayer-intention-for-march.html

Pope's prayer intention for March: 'For formation in spiritual discernment'
02 March 2018, 15:37

Pope Francis on Friday released a video message accompanying his prayer intention for March, which this month is “For formation in spiritual discernment”.

In his prayer intention for the month of March, Pope Francis said: "Let us pray together that the Church may appreciate the urgency of formation in spiritual discernment, both on the personal and communitarian levels."

It has become the custom of Pope Francis to release a video message detailing his new prayer intention each month.

The full text of the message is below:

The times in which we live demand that we develop a profound capacity of discernment… To discern, from among all the voices we hear, which is the Lord’s voice, which is the voice of Him who guides us to the Resurrection, to Life, and the voice that frees us from falling into the “culture of death”.
 

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http://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-03/pope-to-visit-geneva-for-world-council-of-churches-anniversary.html

Pope to visit Geneva for World Council of Churches anniversary
02 March 2018, 12:53

Pope Francis meets in the Vatican with WCC General Secretary Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit
The theme of the visit, marking the 70th anniversary of the global Christian fellowship, will be ‘Walking, Praying, Working Together’
By Philippa Hitchen

Pope Francis will travel to Geneva on June 21st to mark the 70th anniversary of the World Council of Churches. The announcement was made on Friday at a press conference in the Vatican by the WCC General Secretary, Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit and by Cardinal Kurt Koch, head of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

The WCC was founded in 1948 with a membership of 147 Christian Churches, largely in Europe and North America. Today it brings together 348 members in countries across the globe, including most of the world's Orthodox, Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed churches, as well as many United and Independent churches.

Since 1965 the Catholic Church has worked closely together with the WCC through a Joint Working Group, as well as through participation in specific commissions or practical initiatives.
 

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http://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-03/pope-institutes-new-celebration-of-mary--mother-of-church.html#.WpqdrvhH654.twitter

Pope institutes new celebration of Mary, Mother of Church
03 March 2018, 12:40

Pope Francis inserts the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, into the Roman Calendar on the Monday following Pentecost Sunday.
By Devin Watkins

Pope Francis has decreed that the ancient devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of Mother of the Church, be inserted into the Roman Calendar.

The liturgical celebration, B. Mariæ Virginis, Ecclesiæ Matris, will be celebrated annually as a Memorial on the day after Pentecost.

In a decree released on Saturday by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Cardinal Robert Sarah, its Prefect, said the Pope’s decision took account of the tradition surrounding the devotion to Mary as Mother of the Church.

He said the Holy Father wishes to promote this devotion in order to “encourage the growth of the maternal sense of the Church in the pastors, religious and faithful, as well as a growth of genuine Marian piety”.

‘Mother of the Church’ in tradition

The decree reflects on the history of Marian theology in the Church’s liturgical tradition and the writings of the Church Fathers.
 
Please find below the official English-language text of the Decree:
 

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http://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2018-03/cardinal-sarah--new-marian-memorial-aid-to-christian-life.html#.Wpqd-xeLkpc.twitter

Cardinal Sarah: ‘New Marian memorial aid to Christian life’
03 March 2018, 12:52

The newly-instituted Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, will help Christians plant their lives on the Cross, the Eucharist, and the Mother of God, according to Cardinal Robert Sarah.
By Devin Watkins

Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, on Saturday issued a statement on the newly-instituted Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church.

He said the Decree – dated 11 February 2018, the 160th anniversary of the first apparition of the Virgin at Lourdes – is a result of a decision by Pope Francis to insert the Memorial in the General Roman Calendar.

‘Mary, Mother of the Church’

Cardinal Sarah said the new Memorial is a result of the “maturation of liturgical veneration given to Mary following a better understanding of her presence ‘in the mystery of Christ and of the Church’, as explained in Chapter 7 of Vatican II’s Lumen gentium.”

The title of Mother of the Church, he said, was bestowed upon Mary by Pope Paul VI in November of 1964.

“The feeling of Christian people through two millennia of history,” said Cardinal Sarah, “has cultivated the filial bond, which inseparably binds the disciples of Christ to his Blessed Mother in various ways.”

He said Poland and Argentina had already inserted the celebration into their liturgical calendars on the Monday after Pentecost with approval from the Apostolic See. The memorial is also held, he noted, in St. Peter’s Basilica and in certain Religious Orders and Congregations
 

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http://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-03/pope-angelus-catechesis-lent-avoid-idolatry-in-heart-and-works-.html#.WpwGJ0nWeYc.twitter

Pope at Angelus: Lent is a time to remove every form of idolatry from our hearts and our works
04 March 2018, 12:20

Pope Francis addresses the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for the Angelus Prayer   (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis has warned against exploiting charitable works carried out in the name of God for personal interest and has invited the faithful to make Lent a good time to remove all forms of idolatry from our hearts and works.
By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis addressed the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Sunday Angelus on the 3rd Sunday of Lent with a reflection on how to avoid the temptation of seeking only to increase our own advantages and interests and to live for the glory of God.

Reflecting on the Gospel reading of the day which narrates the episode in which Jesus drives the merchants and the money changers from the temple of Jerusalem, Pope Francis said the message contained in the reading is an invitation to all of us to not live our lives in search of personal profit, but for the glory of God, which is love.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/angelus-address-jesus-cleanses-the-temple-of-jerusalem/
Angelus Address: Jesus Cleanses the Temple of Jerusalem 
His Attitude ‘Exhorts Us to Live Our Life Seeking Not Our Own Advantage and Interests, but for the Glory of God Who Is Love’
March 4, 2018

Video at the link below--
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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http://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2018-03/pope-francis-homily-santa-marta-spectacle-thinking-like-christ.html#.Wp1BqU3EZrM.twitter

Pope at Mass: Faith is not a show but thinking like Christ
05 March 2018, 13:24

Pope celebrating Holy Mass in the chapel of Santa Marta in the Vatican, 5 March, 2018.  (Vatican Media)
In his morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta, 5 March, Pope Francis said that the Church urges us to to covert our way of thinking in line with Christ’s teaching.
By Robin Gomes

According to Pope Francis, faith and religion are not a “show”, but a way of converting our thoughts to the ways of Christ.  Delivering a homily at his morning Mass on Monday at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta chapel, Pope Francis said that through the readings of the day, the Church wants us to reflect on the conversion of our thoughts, way of thinking, as well as our actions and feeling in conformity with Christ.

The first reading narrates the healing of the leprosy of Naaman the Syrian by the Prophet Elisha and Luke’s Gospel shows Jesus not accepted by his own people who want to kill him.
 

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http://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-03/pope-francis-meets-austrian-chancellor-kurz.html

Pope Francis meets Austrian Chancellor Kurz
05 March 2018, 14:02

At a private audience in the Vatican, Pope Francis and the Austrian Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, discuss the two countries’ bilateral relations and the importance of the protection of life, the family, and the weakest members of society.

Pope Francis on Monday held a private audience with Mr. Sebastian Kurz, Chancellor of the Republic of Austria, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace.

A communiqué from the Holy See Press Office said their discussions were “cordial” and that they spoke about “the fruitful collaboration existing between the Holy See and Austria”.

The Pope and the Austrian Chancellor also underlined “importance of the protection of life and the family and the promotion of the common good of society, especially with regard to the weakest sectors of the population.”

Pope Francis and Mr. Kurz, the press statement said, went on to talk about various current international issues, “including peace, nuclear disarmament, and migration.”
 

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http://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2018-03/pope-francis-santa-marta-homily-forgiveness.html#.Wp6W6v3v1Uk.twitter

Pope at Mass: God forgives only if we forgive others
06 March 2018, 13:03

Pope Francis at Mass at the Vatican's Santa Marta chapel, 6 March, 2018.  (Vatican Media)
During Mass on Tuesday, the Pope Francis focused on admitting our sinfulness and forgiving others in order to obtain God’s pardon.
By Robin Gomes

God will forgive us only if we forgive others without any rancor. Delivering a homily during Mass Tuesday morning at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta chapel, Pope Francis once more returned to one of his favourite themes -  forgiveness.  He warned about the danger of allowing ourselves to being enslaved by hatred.  He reminded Christians that the first requisite for being pardoned by God is to recognize ourselves as sinners.

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http://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-03/pope-francis-to-open-24-hours-for-the-lord-initiative.html

Pope Francis to open ‘24 Hours for the Lord’ initiative
06 March 2018, 17:21

Pope Francis bows his head in prayer  (Vatican Media)
The annual ’24 Hours for the Lord’ initiative will be kicked off on Friday with a penitential celebration in St. Peter’s Basilica presided over by Pope Francis.

Pope Francis on Friday is to preside over the opening of the ‘24 Hours for the Lord’ with a penitential celebration in St. Peter’s Basilica.

The annual event is organized and promoted by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization.

The 24 Hours for the Lord initiative is an opportunity for people to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. A church in every diocese around the world will be open for 24 consecutive hours as part of the initiative.

Pope Francis, in his Lenten Message for 2018, invited the faithful to live the occasion as an opportunity “to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation in the context of Eucharistic adoration.”
 

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http://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-02/pope-francis-lenten-message-2018.html

Pope Francis releases 2018 Lenten message: Full text
06 February 2018, 12:01

Pope Francis has released his 2018 Lenten message  (AFP or licensors)
Pope Francis on Tuesday released his message for the 2018 liturgical season of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, 14 February. The theme of this year’s message is: ‘Because of the increase of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold’ (Mt 24:12). This is the full text of the Pope’s Lenten message:

2018 Lenten Message of His Holiness Pope Francis

“Because of the increase of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold” (Mt 24:12)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Once again, the Pasch of the Lord draws near!  In our preparation for Easter, God in his providence offers us each year the season of Lent as a “sacramental sign of our conversion”.[1]  Lent summons us, and enables us, to come back to the Lord wholeheartedly and in every aspect of our life.
 

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https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2018/03/06/434735/

Vatican confirms that canonization of Paul VI set for October
John L. Allen Jr.   Mar 6, 2018

Blessed Pope Paul VI is carried on the "sedia gestatoria," a ceremonial throne, during a meeting of the Second Vatican Council in 1964. (Credit: Giancarlo Giuliani/Catholic Press Photo via CNS.)
ROME - Adding specificity to what was already known about the impending canonization of Blessed Paul VI in 2018, Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the pope’s top deputy as the Vatican’s Secretary of State, said Tuesday that the sainthood rite will take place in late October at the close of a meeting of the Synod of Bishops, an institution Paul VI himself founded.

Pope Francis in mid-February confirmed that Paul VI would be elevated to the ranks of the saints within the year during a Q&A session with priests and deacons from the Diocese of Rome, with the Vatican afterwards releasing an official transcript of the pontiff’s remarks.
 

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http://www.pewforum.org/2018/03/06/pope-francis-still-highly-regarded-in-u-s-but-signs-of-disenchantment-emerge/

March 6, 2018
Pope Francis Still Highly Regarded in U.S., but Signs of Disenchantment Emerge

Five years into Francis’ papacy, the vast majority of U.S. Catholics continue to have a favorable opinion of the Argentinian pontiff, and most say he represents a major – and positive – change for the Roman Catholic Church. At the same time, a new Pew Research Center survey finds signs of growing discontent with Francis among Catholics on the political right, with increasing shares of Catholic Republicans saying they view Francis unfavorably, and that they think he is too liberal and naïve.
 

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http://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-03/pope-audience--the-mass-is-christ-s-sacrifice-which-is-free.html

Pope Audience: The Mass is Christ's sacrifice which is free
07 March 2018, 10:55

Pope Francis during his weekly General Audience  (ANSA)
Pope Francis during his General Audience on Wednesday continued his catechesis on the Mass focusing his attention on the Eucharistic Prayer.

One does not pay to go to Mass, those were Pope Francis’ words during his catechesis at his General Audience on Wednesday. The Pope emphasized that “the Mass is the sacrifice of Christ which is free. If you want you can make an offering, but you do not pay.”

Three attitudes for disciples of Christ

Pope Francis in his continuing study of the Mass also said, there were three approaches that should never be lacking in disciples of Jesus: the first is, learn how to give thanks, the second, to make our life a gift of love, and third, to build concrete communion in the Church and with everyone.
 
http://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-03/pope-appeals-paralympics-korea-.html
Pope sends greetings to Paralympic Committee and athletes
07 March 2018, 11:10

https://zenit.org/articles/general-audience-on-the-eucharistic-prayer/
GENERAL AUDIENCE : On the Eucharistic Prayer 
March 7, 2018

Video at the link below--
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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http://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2018-03/pope-francis-paul-vi-saints-miracle-martyrdom-heroic-virtues.html

Pope Francis approves decrees of miracles for Paul VI and Oscar Romero
07 March 2018, 11:00

Blesseds Paul VI and Oscar Romero 
The Congregation for the Causes of Saints is making public the following decrees which Pope Francis authorized in a meeting with Cardinal Angel Amato, Prefect of the Congregation.

— a miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Paul VI (Giovanni Battista Montini), Supreme Pontiff; born in Concesio (Italy) on 26 September 1897 and died inCastel Gandolfo (Italy) on 6 August 1978;

— a miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez, Archbishop of San Salvador (El Salvador), Martyr; born in Ciudad Barrios (El Salvador) on 15 August 1917 and murdered in San Salvador (El Salvador) on 24 March 1980;
 

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http://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-03/pope-to-migration-commission--dialogue-essential-to-end-sufferin.html

Pope to Migration Commission: Dialogue essential to end suffering
08 March 2018, 11:05

Pope Francis greets members of the International Catholic Migration Commission  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis on Thursday met members of the International Catholic Migration Commission on the occasion of their Plenary Council.

In prepared remarks to members of the Commission in the Vatican’s Clementine Hall, Pope Francis expressed his thanks to them for their work carried out in the Church’s name to assist migrants and refugees in great need. The multiple projects initiated on five continents, he said represented “exemplary instances of the four verbs – welcome, defend, promote and integrate.”

The Pope underlined that “today as in the past, liberating the poor, the oppressed and the persecuted is an integral part of the mission entrusted by God to the Church.”

The Pontiff noted that much had changed since the Commission was established in 1951.  Needs have grown ever more complex, he said, “tools for responding ever more sophisticated, and your service increasingly professional.”
 

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http://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-03/pope-special-assembly-synod-of-bishop-pan-amazon-theme.html

Pope announces theme for Special Synod of Bishops of Amazon Region
08 March 2018, 16:30

some representatives of Indigenous people in the Peruvian Amazon 
The Pope has announced the theme for the 2019 Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops of the Pan Amazon Region.

Pope Francis has established that the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops of the Pan-Amazon Region, to take place in October 2019, will have the following theme:

Amazonia: new pathways for the Church and for an integral ecology

The Vatican Press Office on Thursday issued a press statement in which it revealed the theme for the Assembly and said the Pope has appointed eighteen members of the pre-Synodal Council, which will collaborate with the General Secretariat in the preparation of the aforementioned Special Assembly.