Pope Francis

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-12/pope-francis-general-audience-christmas-surprises.html

Pope at Audience: Christmas, the surprises that God likes
19 December 2018, 11:10

At his General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis reflected on the upcoming feast of Christmas, which is filled with “the surprises of Jesus.”
By Christopher Wells

Pope Francis’ catechesis on Christmas was focused on the idea of “surprises.” While the world insists on exchanging presents, the Holy Father asked, “what gifts and surprises would God want?”

Looking back at the first Christmas, the Pope said it was “full of surprises,” for Mary, for Joseph. From the Angel’s announcement of Mary’s pregnancy, to the Flight into Egypt, that first Christmas “brought unexpected changes” to their lives.

“But it was in the middle of the night of Christmas,” Pope Francis said, “that the biggest surprise of all arrived: The Most High is a little baby.” Christmas, he said, means celebrating the “unprecedented things of God,” or rather, “the unprecedented God.”
 
https://zenit.org/articles/popes-general-audience-on-christmas/
POPE’S GENERAL AUDIENCE: On Christmas 
•December 19, 2018 15:33•Deborah Castellano Lubov

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

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-12/pope-francis-accepts-resignation-auxiliary-los-angeles.html

Pope accepts resignation of Los Angeles auxiliary bishop
19 December 2018, 16:02

Pope Francis accepts the resignation of US Bishop Alexander Salazar, and the Archbishop of Los Angeles releases a letter detailing his response to an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor made against the auxiliary bishop.

On Wednesday, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Auxiliary Bishop Alexander Salazar of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in the United States.

In a letter to the faithful sent the same day, Archbishop José Gomez detailed the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ response to an allegation of sexual abuse made against Bishop Salazar.

He writes: “I regret to inform you that in 2005, a year after he had been ordained a bishop, the Archdiocese was made aware of an allegation against Bishop Salazar of misconduct with a minor. Although the allegation was never directly reported to the Archdiocese, it was investigated by law enforcement in 2002 and the District Attorney did not prosecute.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2018-12/pope-francis-the-annunciation-rivolutionizes-history.html#.XBuDDplBg44.twitter

Pope Francis: The Annunciation revolutionizes history
20 December 2018, 11:27

During Mass celebrated at the Casa Santa Marta, the Pope reflects on the mystery of the Annunciation, the moment in which human history completely changes.

A passage from Luke's Gospel (Lk 1:26-38) that is "difficult to preach", in which the "God of surprises" changes man's destiny. This is what Pope Francis underlined during Mass celebrated in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta.

“The passage from Luke’s Gospel that we have heard tells us the decisive moment in history, the most revolutionary. It is a turbulent situation, everything changes, history turns upside down. It is difficult to preach about this passage. And when at Christmas or on the day of the Annunciation we profess the faith to say this mystery we kneel down. It is the moment that everything changes, everything, from the root. Liturgically, today is the day of the root. The Antiphon that marks the meaning today is the root of Jesse, "from which a shoot will be born". God lowers himself, God enters history and does so in his original style: a surprise. The God of surprises surprises us (again).”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-12/pope-francis-catholic-action-children.html

Pope urges children of Catholic Action to be “channels” of goodness
20 December 2018, 13:45

Pope Francis and children of Azione Cattolica Ragazzi (ACR).  (Vatican Media)
Some 65 children and their formators belonging to Italy’s Azione Cattolica Ragazzi (ACR) organization met Pope Francis in the Vatican on the occasion of Christmas.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis on Thursday urged children members of Italy’s Catholic Action lay movement to be generous with their "channels" of goodness and welcome in building a “world that is more fraternal, more supportive, more Christian”.

Azione Cattolica Ragazzi (ACR), made up of youngsters between 4 and 14 years of age, is the children’s wing of Catholic Action of Italy (AC), a lay organization under the bishops founded in 1922 for the spiritual and moral renewal of society through the education and formation of young people.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2018-12/third-advent-sermon-jesus-christ-living-god-raniero-cantalamessa.html

Third Advent Sermon: Jesus Christ is the living God
21 December 2018, 16:24

Father Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap., preaching the Third Advent Sermon for 2018.  (Vatican Media)
In his third sermon for Advent, the Preacher to the Pontifical Household, Fr Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap., focused on the figure of Jesus Christ, who “is not only the revealer of the living God,” but is Himself “the living God.”
By Vatican News

Jesus Christ is the definitive place of the encounter between God and man. The third Advent sermon for the Pontifical Household, preached in the presence of the Holy Father, revolved around the idea of this “bridge,” which unites the eternity of the Father with our existence in time. “Jesus Christ,” said Fr Raniero Cantalamessa, “is the living God.” Christ gave His life as “a ransom,” and for love of all human beings, without distinction.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-12/pope-francis-christmas-vatican-employees-families.html

Pope’s Christmas wish for Vatican employees: be saints to be happy
21 December 2018, 12:44

Pope greeting Vatican employees and their families on December 21, 2018.   (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis on Friday spoke to Vatican employees and their families in a traditional meeting to exchange Christmas greetings.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis on Friday received Vatican employees and their families in Paul VI Hall. In his talk, he urged families to allow themselves to be infected by the joy of the Babe of Bethlehem saying it is the path to holiness.

“Therefore this is my wish: be saints in order to be happy… Holy in flesh and blood, with our character, our defects, even our sins, but ready to let ourselves be ‘infected’ by the presence of Jesus in our midst, ready to rush to Him, like the shepherds, to see this event, this incredible sign that God has given us,” the Pope told his Vatican employees and their families on December 21 in a traditional meeting in the Vatican’s Paul VI audience hall to exchange Christmas greetings.
 

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http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2018/church-will-spare-no-effort-to-end-abuse-pope-tells-curia.cfm

Update: Church will spare no effort to end abuse, pope tells Curia
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
12.21.2018 5:52 AM ET

CNS photo/Vatican Media
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Acknowledging the gravity of the clerical sexual abuse crisis, Pope Francis told members of the Roman Curia that the church's strength does not depend on its members' perfection, but on the willingness to recognize its failings and correct them.

"Let it be clear that before these abominations, the church will spare no effort to do all that is necessary to bring to justice whosoever has committed such crimes," the pope said Dec. 21 during his annual pre-Christmas meeting with officials of the Curia.

And speaking directly to clerics who have abused children, Pope Francis said: "Convert and hand yourself over to human justice and prepare for divine justice."

While it is "undeniable" that in the past many allegations of abuse were not handled with the necessary "seriousness and promptness," the pope said, "that must never happen again."

"The church," he said, "will never seek to hush up or not take seriously any case."

Pope Francis' 35-minute speech to the Curia included a review of the "joys and afflictions" of the church in the past year and a meditation on the message Christmas proclaims to the church and its members.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/pope-francis-address-to-roman-curia-4/
Pope Francis’ Address to Roman Curia 
December 21, 2018 11:23

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

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https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2018/12/21/pope-francis-meets-with-nobel-peace-prize-winner-nadia-murad/

Pope Francis meets with Nobel Peace prize winner Nadia Murad
Courtney Grogan   Dec 21, 2018
CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY

Pope Francis meets with Nobel Peace prize winner Nadia Murad Dec. 20, 2018. (Credit: Vatican Media via CNA.)
ROME - Pope Francis met Thursday with the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner Nadia Murad, a survivor of ISIS enslavement and an advocate for human rights and persecuted Iraqi minorities.

Murad, who first met the pontiff at a weekly general audience last year, returned to the Vatican for a private audience with the pope after receiving the Nobel prize in October for her “efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict.”

Militants of the Islamic State captured Murad four years ago after killing 6 of her brothers, her mother, and more than 600 Yazidis in her Iraqi village. She was enslaved, along with most of the young women in her community, and repeatedly raped by the ISIS fighters.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-12/pope-francis-pays-christmas-visit-to-pope-emeritus-benedict-xvi.html

Pope Francis pays Christmas visit to Pope emeritus Benedict XVI
22 December 2018, 11:24

On Friday evening, Pope Francis visited the Pope emeritus in order to exchange Christmas greetings.

As he has done every year since his election, Pope Francis on Friday made the short journey to the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, for a Christmas visit with his predecessor, Pope emeritus Benedict XVI
 

More photos--
http://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/pope-francis-and-benedict-xvi-exchange-christmas-greetings
Dec. 21, 2018
Pope Francis and Benedict XVI Exchange Christmas Greetings

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-12/pope-francis-meets-with-italian-civil-protection-service.html

Pope Francis meets with Italian Civil Protection Service
22 December 2018, 12:34

Pope Francis greets members of the National Civil Protection Service of Italy  (Vatican Media)
On Saturday, the Holy Father received members of Italy’s National Civil Protection Service in audience at the Vatican.
By Christopher Wells

In an audience with members of Italy’s civil protection service, Pope Francis remembered victims of disasters, as well as aid workers who gave their lives in order to save the lives of others.

Commitment and generosity

The National Service of Civil Protection in Italy has the duty of protecting life, property, and the environment from damage arising from disasters. In his address to workers and volunteers involved in civil protection, the Holy Father acknowledged their “commitment and generosity,” which ensures the effectiveness of the system of public solidarity “for the defence of individual and collective security.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-12/pope-francis-decrees-martyrdom-heroic-virtues-sainthood.html

Pope takes 12 candidates a step closer to sainthood
22 December 2018, 13:58

Pope Francis and Cardinal Angelo Becciu.  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis has authorized the promulgation of 12 decrees on the causes of saints, among which is the martyrdom of German Pallotine priest Father Richard Henkes. Indian Syro-Malabar priest Fr. Augustine John Ukken is among 11 others whose heroic virtues have been recognized.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis Friday evening received in audience Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints, and authorized the promulgation of 12 decrees regarding 9 men and 3 women, taking them a step closer to sainthood.   They concern the martyrdom of a German priest and the heroic virtues of 11 men and women, among whom is an Indian priest.

The candidates hail from 9 nations: 5 of them Italians and one each from Germany, Poland, India, Spain, Belarus, Mexico and the United States.   Three of them are Italian sisters
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-12/pope-francis-christmas-gift-clinic-homeless-pilgrims-apostolic-c.html

Pope gives new clinic to poor and pilgrims for Christmas
22 December 2018, 17:35

The Pope’s “Ambulatorio-Madre di Misericordia”, or Mother of Mercy Clinic under the collonade of St. Peter's Square will provide health and first aid services to the poor, the homeless and pilgrims.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis has gifted a new medical clinic as a Christmas gift for the homeless and pilgrims set up just next to the colonnade of St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.

Called “Ambulatorio-Madre di Misericordia”, or Mother of Mercy Clinic, the clinic replaces the San Martino centre that has been providing first aid to the homeless since February 2016, with a shower and barber  service  added more recently. 

In a statement, the Office of Papal Charities headed by the Pope’s Polish Cardinal Konrad Krajewski said that the initiative was planned and executed by the Governorate of Vatican City State in coordination with the Department of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-12/pope-francis-angelus-4th-sunday-advent-catechesis.html

Pope at Angelus: Mary, model of faith and charity
23 December 2018, 14:29

Pope Francis during the Sunday Angelus  (AFP or licensors)
Pope Francis has invited Christians to avoid being self-referenced – especially at Christmas – and to put Jesus and our brothers and sisters in need at the heart of festivities.
By Linda Bordoni

Addressing the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Angelus on the 4th Sunday of Advent, Pope Francis reflected the figure of Mary whom he described as a model of faith and charity.

Reflecting on the Gospel reading of the day that tells of Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth, he said that the Holy Spirit gave the Virgin the strength and energy “to go to the service of her elderly relative”.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-12/pope-francis-appeal-indonesia-tsunami-angelus.html#.XB9zsjDreqF.twitter
Pope appeals for solidarity for victims of Indonesia disaster
23 December 2018, 12:11

https://zenit.org/articles/angelus-address-fourth-sunday-of-advent-which-highlights-the-figure-of-mary/
Angelus Address: Fourth Sunday of Advent, Which Highlights the Figure of Mary 
December 23, 2018 14:26•Virginia Forrester

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

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-12/pope-francis-christmas-schedule-liturgical-office.html

Pope Francis' schedule for Christmas celebrations
11 December 2018, 11:22

The Office for Liturgical Celebrations issues details of the Pope's Christmas schedule.

Pope Francis has his usual busy schedule for the upcoming Christmas Season starting with Christmas Eve Mass.  Monsignor Guido Marini, the Master of the Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations has issued the following programme of the Pope’s liturgical celebrations this Christmas Season:

° December 24, 2018, 09.30 pm: Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica

° December 25, 2018, 12.00 pm:  Christmas message and blessing “ Urbi  et Orbi” from the  central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica

° December 31, 2018, 05.00 pm: First Vespers for the feast of Mary the Mother of God, followed by the exposition of the Holy Eucharist, the traditional singing of the “Te Deum” in thanksgiving for the concluding year 2018, and the Eucharistic blessing.

° January 01, 2019, 10.00  am:  Mass for the feast of Mary the Mother of God in St. Peter’s Basilica.  World Day of Peace on the theme, “Good Politics is at the Service of Peace”.

° January 06, 2019, 10.00  am:  Mass of the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord in St. Peter’s Basilica.
 

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https://www.ibtimes.com/pope-francis-christmas-message-where-watch-midnight-mass-urbi-et-orbi-2745419

Pope Francis Christmas Message: Where To Watch Midnight Mass, ‘Urbi et Orbi’
By Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan   
12/24/18 AT 7:01 AM

The pope will deliver his yearly “Urbi et Orbi” blessing from Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome at 12 noon local time on Dec.25 (6.am EST). The address is being live-streamed on the Vatican News YouTube Channel or the Catholic television channel EWTN.

Pope Francis’ Christmas schedule begins with a midnight mass on Christmas eve also known as the Solemnity of the Lord’s Birth which is attended by thousands of worshipers, including cardinals, archbishops and bishops. The mass starts at 9:30 p.m. local time (3:30 p.m. EST) on Dec.24. The Midnight Mass can be watched online via the Centro Televisivo Vatican.
 

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https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2018/12/24/christmas-an-invitation-to-be-generous-not-selfish-pope-says/

Christmas an invitation to be generous, not selfish, pope says
Elise Harris   Dec 24, 2018

Pope Francis kisses a statue of Baby Jesus as he celebrates the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017. (Credit: AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino.)
ROME - In an era in which Christmas is often criticized for fostering a consumerist frenzy, Pope Francis on Christmas Eve insisted that simplicity and solidarity with the poor are actually the true meaning of the season.

Referring to the biblical moment when Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden, Francis in his Christmas Eve homily said this is the moment when “mankind became greedy and voracious.”

“In our day, for many people, life’s meaning is found in possessing, in having an excess of material objects. An insatiable greed marks all human history, even today, when, paradoxically, a few dine luxuriantly while all too many go without the daily bread needed to survive,” he said.

However, noting how the Hebrew and Aramaic meaning for Bethlehem, the city of Christ’s birth, is “house of bread,” Francis said the birth of Jesus in a stable on the fringes of the town “is the turning point that alters the course of history.”
 
https://zenit.org/articles/pope-francis-christmas-eve-homily-4/
Pope Francis’ Christmas Eve Homily 
December 24, 2018 11:43

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

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http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2018/in-christmas-message-pope-prays-for-peace-brotherhood.cfm

In Christmas message, pope prays for peace, brotherhood
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
12.25.2018 6:38 AM ET

CNS photo/Paul Haring
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Delivering his formal Christmas message and blessing, Pope Francis prayed for a world where all people would recognize that they are brothers and sisters and would work for justice and for peace.

The birth of Jesus proclaims that "God is a good father and we are all brothers and sisters. This truth is the basis of the Christian vision of humanity," the pope said Dec. 25 before giving his blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world) and appealing for peace in Syria, Ukraine, the Holy Land, Yemen, Venezuela, Nicaragua and throughout Africa.

Tens of thousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square under clear blue skies for the blessing and millions more watched on television or on computers, tablets and phones; the pope's blessing went to all of them.

"May the little child whom we contemplate today in the manger, in the cold of the night, watch over all the children of the world, and every frail, vulnerable and discarded person," Pope Francis said.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/popes-urbi-et-orbi-blessing-4/
Pope’s ‘Urbi et Orbi’ Blessing 
December 25, 2018 12:35

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

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-12/pope-francis-angelus-saint-stephen.html#.XCN3jdOpiBo.twitter

Pope at Angelus: ‘St. Stephen teaches us to forgive’
26 December 2018, 12:36

Praying the Angelus on the Feast of Saint Stephen, Pope Francis says the first Christian martyr teaches us to trust in God and always to forgive others.
By Devin Watkins

Pope Francis prayed the Angelus on Wednesday with pilgrims and tourists gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

As the Church celebrates the feast of the first Christian martyr, the Holy Father reflected on St. Stephen’s example of trust in God and forgiveness.

“Forgiveness,” he said, “broadens the heart, generates sharing, and gives serenity and peace.”
 
https://zenit.org/articles/angelus-address-on-the-feast-of-st-stephen-full-text-2/
ANGELUS ADDRESS: On the Feast of St. Stephen (Full Text) 
•December 26, 2018 13:28•Deborah Castellano Lubov

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

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2018-12/vatican-court-money-laundering-verdict.html

Vatican court hands down historic money laundering verdict
27 December 2018, 14:57

The Holy See Press Office announces that the first person in the Vatican’s history has been tried and found guilty of money laundering.

On Thursday, the Holy See Press Office released a statement announcing that Angelo Proietti was found guilty of money laundering on 17 December. The statement says that Proietti  was handed a prison sentence of two years and six months. In addition, the judge ordered the confiscation of the more than € 1 million seized by Vatican authorities in 2014.

The Holy See’s statement continues to say that the investigation was a collaborative one between the Office of the Promoter of Justice, the Financial Intelligence Authority, the Vatican City State Gendarmerie, and Italy.