Pope Francis

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2018-11/pope-francis-homily-daily-mass-witness-complaining-questions.html

Pope at Mass: Bearing witness, complaining, asking questions
08 November 2018, 13:39

At the Mass Thursday morning at Casa Santa Marta, the Pope warns against the sin of “murmuring,” which is a part of our daily life. And he reminds us that the logic of the Gospel is contrary to the logic of the world.
By Debora Donnini

Witness, complaining, questions. These were the three words which Pope Francis focused on in his homily at the morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta on Thursday. He reflected on the day’s Gospel (Lk 15:1-19), which begins with the witness given by Jesus: tax collectors and sinners approach Him and listen to Him; and He eats with them.

Testimony causes the Church to grow

The first word, then, is the “witness” of Jesus, which, the Pope said, “was a new thing for the time, because going to sinners made you unclean, like touching a leper.” For this reason, the doctors of the law kept away from them. Pope Francis noted that bearing witness has never “been a convenient thing, either for the witnesses – who often paid with martyrdom – or for the powerful.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-11/pope-francis-decrees-causes-saints.html

Pope authorizes decrees on the causes of saints
08 November 2018, 13:49

Pope Francis met Cardinal Angelo Becciu, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on November 7, and authorized the promulgation of 16 decrees concerning 24 persons.

Pope Francis on Wednesday authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate a special decree on the heroic virtues and the confirmation of the cult from time immemorial of the Servant of God Michael Giedrojć, regarding him as Blessed.  This act of the Pope declaring a person Blessed without the need for a beatification ceremony is called “equipollent” beatification, or “equivalent” beatification. Michael Giedrojć, a professed layman of the Order of St. Augustine, was born in Giedrojce (Lithuania) around the year 1420 and died in Krakow (Poland) on May 4, 1485.

The Pope also authorized 15 other decrees regarding miracles, martyrdom and heroic virtues of 23 people, bringing them a step closer to sainthood.

They include 9 men and 6 women, 11 of them martyrs.  Two decrees are on miracles attributed to the intercession of two Italian laywomen, clearing them for beatification.  Three decrees are on martyrdom and 10 on heroic virtues.

Below is the complete list of decrees:
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/francis-makes-appointments-to-roman-rota-vatican-court-of-appeal-49798

Francis makes appointments to Roman Rota, Vatican Court of Appeal

Vatican City, Nov 8, 2018 / 05:01 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis appointed Thursday two lay lawyers to tribunals of the Holy See and Vatican City.

On Nov. 8 Enrico Ferrannini was appointed substitute promoter of justice for the Vatican Court of Appeal, and Maria Fratangelo was named defender of the bond of the Roman Rota.

Fratangelo is likely the first woman to hold the position of defender of the bond of the Roman Rota.

The promoter of justice of the Court of Appeal is Raffaele Coppola, appointed by Pope Francis in 2013. The promoter of justice is the equivalent of a public prosecutor.

Ferrannini will be his substitute, or deputy. A canon lawyer, he was also a member of the ecclesiastical court of Benevento, and is an official of the Roman Rota.

Fratangelo, already a lawyer within the Roman Rota, now takes over as defender of the bond.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2018-11/parolin-secretary-state-bones-nunziature.html

Cardinal Pietro Parolin on the bones found in Vatican Nunziature
08 November 2018, 11:12

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State
Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, responds to journalists’ questions about the bones found in the Vatican Nunziature to Italy.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State responded to journalists asking about the bones found in the Vatican Nunziature to Italy in Rome at the end of October.

“There has been no connection made with Emanuela Orlandi by the Holy See”, Cardinal Parolin stated. He went on to say, “I do not know who connected this case with Orlandi”.
 
https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2018/11/01/fueling-speculation-bones-found-on-vatican-property-belong-to-woman/
Fueling speculation, bones found on Vatican property belong to woman
Elise Harris   Nov 1, 2018

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2018-11/pope-francis-santa-marta-church-money-idolatry-sacraments.html#.W-WHUU5tdBY.twitter

Pope at Mass warns against idolatry of money in the Church
09 November 2018, 13:19

At Mass, Friday morning, Pope Francis invited Christians to respect churches as the house of God and not turn them into marketplaces of money and worldliness.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis on Friday urged that churches be given due respect as the “house of God” and not be transformed into markets or social lounges dominated by “worldliness”.   Celebrating his morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican, he warned that churches risked transforming themselves into marketplaces with sacraments on sale, which are free.

He was reflecting the Gospel reading on the feast of the Dedication of Rome’s St. John Lateran Basilica, where Jesus cleanses the temple of Jerusalem of all buyers and sellers, warning them against turning his Father’s house into a marketplace. 
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-11/pope-german-journalist-students-christian-journalism.html

Pope to German journalists: 'Thanks for focusing on people'
09 November 2018, 12:50

Pope Francis meets with German journalism faculty and students in the Clementine Hall  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis welcomes journalism students and faculty from the German Institute for the Promotion of Young Journalists celebrating it’s 50th anniversary.
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

A group of students and faculty from the Institute for the Promotion of Young Journalists (IFP) in Germany celebrating the 50th anniversary of its foundation, met in audience with Pope Francis on Friday. The Pope thanked them for their commitment to forming journalists and said that Germany is fortunate to have so many professionally trained Catholic journalists.

Germany is fortunate

“A warm welcome to all of you” Pope Francis began.  The Pope then thanked the Institute’s Directors as well as all the faculty, alumni, friends and supporters—past and present—who founded and sustained it through it’s 50 years of existence. “Germany can consider itself fortunate,” he said, ”knowing that there are many IFP graduates among the many journalists, that is, both in the secular and ecclesial media.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-11/pope-francis-message-anniversary-poland-independence.html

Pope sends message for 100th anniversary of Polish Independence
09 November 2018, 14:52

Pope Francis   (ANSA)
Pope Francis sends a message to the President of the Polish Bishop’s conference, Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Poland’s independence, commending Poles for their pursuit of freedom.
By Francesca Merlo

November 11th marks the end of the first world war and the day that Poland regained its independence after the Russian, Prussian and Austrian domination over the nation.

Putting differences aside

Pope Francis, in his message to Archbishop Gadecki, recalls the contributions Poland made to the “history of Christian Europe” prior to the partitions of the eighteenth century. The Pope pays homage to the many sons of Poland, whom he says “were ready to sacrifice their personal freedom, their own good, and even their lives for their lost homeland”.

In quoting Saint John Paul II he reiterates the support their faith offered when “after independence”, these same brothers “had to seek unity despite differences, in order to rebuild the country together and defend its borders.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-11/pope-francis-mar-gewargis-statement-persecution.html

Pope and Mar Gewargis condemn persecution of Christians
09 November 2018, 12:05

Pope Francis and Mar Gewargis III sign the Common Statement  (Vatican Media)
During a meeting on Friday, Pope Francis and Mar Gewargis III sign a common statement appealing for an end to the persecution of Christians in the Middle East.
By Devin Watkins

Pope Francis signed a Common Statement on Friday with Mar Gewargis III, Catholicos Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East.

The two religious leaders signed the statement at the end of their meeting in the Vatican, following a moment of prayer for persecuted Christians in the Middle East.

In the statement, the Pope and the Patriarch encourage their ongoing theological dialogue, and call for an end to violence against Christians in the Middle East.

They say it is impossible to imagine a Middle East without Christians.

“This conviction is founded not simply on religious grounds, but also on social and cultural realities, since Christians, with other believers, greatly contribute to the specific identity of the region: a place of tolerance, mutual respect and acceptance.”
 

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https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2018/11/07/new-bones-found-on-vatican-property-as-others-go-for-testing/

New bones found on Vatican property as others go for testing
Elise Harris   Nov 7, 2018

ROME - Two days after bones found on Vatican property last week were sent for DNA testing and comparisons, more remains were uncovered in the same area, and are believed to belong to the same individual.

According to Italian agency ANSA, the new remains, found Tuesday, consist of part of a skull and jawbone. Authorities believe the fragments belong to the same partial-skeleton uncovered last week by workers carrying out restoration on a building attached to the Vatican’s embassy to Italy.

In addition to the skeleton, a separate set of bone fragments were found last week which, according to experts, appear to be older than the skeleton and are believed to belong to a second individual.

After an initial examination of the skeleton’s pelvis, it was believed that the remains belonged to a woman, however, confirmation of the age and gender of the person, as well as a rough estimate of when they died, will not come until the DNA testing is complete.

Before the new bones were found, Gianni Arcudi, director of Pathology at Rome’s Tor Vergata University and a consultant in the case, said that at first sight, the skeleton did not appear to be overly decomposed, despite having been buried in humid ground.

In comments to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Arcudi said in his view, the skeleton likely belongs to someone between 25-35 years of age - an analysis which, if true, would debunk theories that the remains belong to one of two missing teenagers who disappeared in 1983.

For many Italians, the discovery of the bones has reawakened curiosity and speculation over the cold cases of Emanuela Orlandi, whose father worked at the time for the Vatican bank and lived on Vatican property, and Mirella Gregori, who went missing about a month before Orlandi.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-11/pope-francis-eucharistic-congress-plenary-assembly-budapest.html

Pope: communion, service and mercy foster “Eucharistic culture”
10 November 2018, 14:13

Pope Francis on November 10 met participants in the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis is encouraging attitudes of communion, service and mercy in Christian communities in order to create a “Eucharistic culture” through prayer and action grounded in the Eucharist.

In an audience to participants in the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses on Saturday in the Vatican, he said this will help the Church to meet the challenges of a secularized and globalized world.

National delegates of bishops’ conferences from around the world participated in the plenary assembly, in preparation for the next International Eucharistic Congress in 2020 in the Hungarian capital, Budapest.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-11/pope-francis-alumni-heaven-music-spirit.html

Pope Francis: ‘Singing elevates soul to listen to the Spirit’
10 November 2018, 13:06

Pope Francis listens to the 'Alumni of Heaven' choir members  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis encourages the “Alumni of Heaven” Choir Association to continue proclaiming the Gospel through song and to cultivate a rich spiritual life through the Sacraments.
By Devin Watkins

Singing elevates the soul, making it "more sensitive to the voice of the Spirit.”

Pope Francis described the musical art in this way, while speaking to 300-odd members of the “Alumni of Heaven” Choir Association on Saturday.

The Association is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its foundation by Fr. Giuseppe Arione SJ. The Alumni seek to evangelize through music and concerts, which they perform throughout Italy and Europe.

Singing builds communion

Pope Francis reflected on the art of singing, which can express “joy, trust, repentance, and love.”

“Singing is a language that leads to the communion of hearts,” he said. “Crossing every boundary, you spread a message of peace and solidarity.”

The Pope said the Association’s charism is rooted in Scripture, especially in the Psalms: “Give thanks to the Lord on the harp; on the ten-stringed lyre offer praise” (Psalm 33:2).
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-11/pope-francis-angelus-poor-widow-11-november.html

Pope at Angelus: ‘Let’s think of the widow’
11 November 2018, 12:19

Pope greets the faithful gathered in St Peter's Square before reciting the Angelus  (Vatican Media)
Like Jesus, Pope Francis asks us to imitate the poor widow who gives everything, saying that she is the “model of the Christian life”.
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

Before reciting the Angelus Pope Francis addressed the faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square on Sunday. Basing himself on the Gospel of the day, the Pope asks us to emulate the “poor and generous widow as the model of Christian life.”
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-11/pope-beatification-world-war-i-world-day-poor.html
Pope draws attention to three important dates
Pope Francis draws attention to the beatification of 16 people in Spain, the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, and the World Day of the Poor.
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

https://zenit.org/articles/angelus-address-on-the-proud-scribe-and-the-poor-widow/
Angelus Address: On the Proud Scribe and the Poor Widow 
November 11, 2018 14:38•Virginia Forrester

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

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-marks-world-war-i-centenary-with-message-of-peace-60811

Pope Francis marks World War I centenary with message of peace
By Courtney Grogan

Vatican City, Nov 11, 2018 / 05:22 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The bells of St. Peter’s Basilica rang out in unison with thousands of other church bells around the world Sunday as Pope Francis commemorated the 100 year anniversary of the end of World War I.

“While we pray for all the victims of that terrible tragedy, let us say forcefully: invest in peace, not on war!” Pope Francis said at the end of his Angelus address Nov. 11.

The memory of World War I should be a warning to “reject a ‘culture of war’ and seek every legitimate means to put an end to the conflicts that still bleed several regions of the world,” he said and added, “It seems that we do not learn.”

Francis quoted Pope Benedict XV, an advocate for peace during WWI, who denounced the war as “useless slaughter” in his 1917 peace plan. As pope throughout the entirety of the first world war, Benedict wrote five encyclicals and three apostolic exhortations concerning peace.

Around 17 million people, soldiers and civilians, were killed during the Great War. November 11, 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the signing of the armistice between Germany and the Allies in France, which ended World War I in 1918.

At 1:30 p.m. in Rome, the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica tolled in honor of this centenary in coordination with church bells all over Europe and around the world.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2018-11/mass-casa-santa-marta.html

Pope at Mass: bishop, a humble and meek servant, not a prince
12 November 2018, 13:26

During Mass, Monday morning, Pope Francis spoke about the qualities of a bishop that St. Paul speaks about in his letter to Titus.
By Robin Gomes

A humble and meek servant, not a prince.  This is what a bishop should be according to Pope Francis.  Celebrating Holy Mass, Monday morning, at the Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican, he delivered a homily outlining the qualities of a bishop.

He took his cue from the Letter of St. Paul to Titus in the day’s Mass, that describes in detail the figure of a bishop, to bring order in the Church.

Church not born in complete order

The Pope pointed out that the Church was born amidst zeal and disorder but also "admirable things" were accomplished.  He noted that there is always confusion and disorder with the power of the Holy Spirit but we must not be afraid because it is a beautiful sign.

Speaking in Italian, the Pope explained that the Church was never born with everything in order, in place, without problems, or confusion - never.  However this confusion, this disorder, he said, must be resolved and put in order.  As an example, he pointed to the first Council of Jerusalem where there was a struggle between  judaizers  and  non  -  judaizers  ,  but the Council finally fixed the problem. 

Bishop, administrator of God not of goods
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-11/pope-francis-audience-switzerland-president.html

Pope Francis meets with President of Switzerland
12 November 2018, 14:46

Pope Francis with Swiss Confederation's President, Alain Berset   (ANSA)
Pope Francis meets with the President of the Swiss Confederation and expresses his desire for the collaboration between Switzerland and the Vatican to keep growing.

During an audience in the Apostolic Palace on Monday, Pope Francis addressed the President of the Swiss Confederation, Alain Berset.

Pope Francis highlighted the loyalty of the Swiss Guards, who surround him so professionally. The information came in a communiqué released by the Holy See Press Office.

The Pope also expressed his hope for an ever-growing collaboration on numerous interests shared by the Catholic Church and Switzerland.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-11/pope-francis-letter-foundation-bose-monastic-community.html

Pope thanks Bose Monastics for 'fruitful presence' in Church and society
12 November 2018, 16:11

Pope Francis and Enzo Bianchi, founder of the Bose Monastic Community
Marking 50 years from the writing of the Rule of the Monastic Bose community, Pope has expressed gratitude for its witness and for its fruitful presence in the Church and in society.
Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis on Monday thanked Enzo Bianchi, founder of the ecumenical Monastic Bose Community for years of “fruitful presence in the Church and in society”.

In a letter addressed to Bianchi, who planted the first seeds of the community in 1965 – significantly on the day the Second Vatican Council ended – the Pope said “its simple beginning has become a significant mission which has favoured the renewal of religious life”.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-11/pontifical-academy-science-pope-plenary.html

Pope to PAS: science provides the ‘charity of knowledge’
12 November 2018, 14:31

Pope Francis meets in audience with members of the Pontifical Academy of Science gathering in Rome on Monday for the Plenary Assembly, thanking them for their contribution to contemporary world problems.
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

The Pontifical Academy of Science (PAS) is meeting in Rome for its Plenary Assembly. Members of the Academy met in audience with Pope Francis on Monday. The Pope welcomed them and thanked them for their contribution to providing solutions for many of the world’s contemporary problems.

Scientific world and society

Pope Francis began his address acknowledging that the scientific world is more aware of how complex the world and human beings are. He noted that this has led science to be less isolated and more open to spiritual and religious values. “Commonly shared opinions” and the “desire for happiness” often influence scientific research, the Pope added. Therefore, the relationship between values and people, society and science “demands a rethinking” that promotes the “integral advancement” of each person and the common good. As a part of society, the scientific community is called to serve humanity and its integral development, the Pope said.

Science at the service of the human family
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2018-11/bishops-usccb-fall-general-assembly-abuse-racism-bowman.html

United States Bishops gather for Fall General Assembly
11 November 2018, 11:35

Following a day of spiritual discernment and prayer, US Bishops will “discuss and vote on concrete measures to respond to the abuse crisis”, and approval of the Pastoral Letter Against Racism.
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) meets on 12-14 November for the Fall General Assembly in Baltimore, MD. Monday will be dedicated to addresses from USCCB President, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, and the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Christoph Pierre, along with spiritual discernment, prayer and the celebration of Mass in the evening. The next two days will be filled with discussions and voting.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2018-11/us-bishops-usccb-day-one-fall-general-assembly.html

US Bishops begin three-day General Assembly
12 November 2018, 19:33

The three-day Fall General Assembly of the United States Bishops begins on Monday in Baltimore, MD with the day spent in prayer and listening.
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, opened the Fall General Assembly on Monday in Baltimore, MD. His opening remarks communicated a last minute change to the agenda made at the request of the Holy See

Foreseen vote delayed

The agenda previously proposed for day two of the Assembly (Tuesday) contained discussion and voting regarding “the standards of accountability for Bishops”, and a “special commission for receiving complaints against Bishops”, regarding abuse Cardinal DiNardo said. On Sunday afternoon, Cardinal DiNardo said, he was informed that the Holy See “asked that we delay voting on these so that our deliberations can inform and be informed by the global meeting of the conference presidents that the Holy Father has called for February 2019”. He concluded his remarks saying that even though he is disappointed that the votes will not take place, he is hopeful that this “additional consultation will ultimately improve our response to the crisis we face”.

Holy See takes abuse crisis seriously
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cardinal-dinardo-vatican-directive-came-from-congregation-for-bishops-64505

Cardinal DiNardo: Vatican directive came from Congregation for Bishops

Baltimore, Md., Nov 12, 2018 / 01:00 pm (CNA).- The directive not to vote on the proposals which had been expected to form the basis for the response of the Church in the US to the sexual abuse crisis came from the Congregation for Bishops, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston said Monday.

The president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops was speaking at the first press conference held at the bishops' autumn General Assembly in Baltimore Nov. 12.

He indicated that the directive came not from Pope Francis, but directly from the Congregation for Bishops.

Bishop Christopher Coyne of Burlington, who spoke at the press conference, told CNA that he did not know whether the American members of the congregation played a role in the decision.

The American members of the Congregation for Bishops are Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago, and Donald Wuerl, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington.

A source close to Wuerl told CNA that he did not believe the cardinal had been involved in the decision.