Pope Francis

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https://zenit.org/articles/popes-january-prayer-intention-young-people-and-the-example-of-mary/

Pope’s January Prayer Intention: Young People and the Example of Mary 
‘That young people, especially in Latin America, follow the example of Mary and respond to the call of the Lord to communicate the joy of the Gospel to the world.’
•January 03, 2019 16:51•Jim Fair•Francis
 
Pope Francis prayer intention for January 2019 is Young People and the Example of Mary: That young people, especially in Latin America, follow the example of Mary and respond to the call of the Lord to communicate the joy of the Gospel to the world.

Pope Francis’ prayer intention is promoted throughout the world by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network.
 

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https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2019/01/03/vaticans-doctrine-czar-approves-hysterectomies-in-extreme-cases/

Vatican’s doctrine czar approves hysterectomies in ‘extreme cases’
Elise Harris   Jan 3, 2019

Cardinal Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, speaks at a news conference to present the document "Placuit Deo" at the Vatican March 1. (Credit: CNS photo/Paul Haring.)
ROME - In response to a “dubia,” or doubt, posed about the moral implications of a woman getting a hysterectomy, the Vatican’s doctrinal office said Thursday the removal of the uterus is licit in “extreme cases” where health risks are imminent and where sterilization is not an issue.

In a Jan. 3 statement, the Vatican responded to a question on whether a hysterectomy is valid when “the uterus is found to be irreversibly in such a state that it is no longer suitable for procreation and medical experts have reached the certainty that an eventual pregnancy will bring about a spontaneous abortion before the fetus is able to arrive at a viable state.”

The brief response from the Vatican’s doctrine chief, Jesuit Cardinal Luis Ladaria, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, ruled that in this case, it is licit “because it does not regard sterilization.”

Ladaria’s answer is an affirmation of longstanding Church teaching forbidding intentional sterilization with the goal of removing the possibility of procreation. It also upholds a July 31, 1993, ruling from the Vatican’s doctrine office titled “Responses to Questions Proposed Concerning Uterine Isolation and Related Matters,” which held that while intentional sterilization was forbidden, a hysterectomy was permitted “when there is a grave and present danger to the life or health of the mother.”
 

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https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2019/01/04/vatican-argentine-bishop-at-holy-see-under-investigation/

Vatican: Argentine bishop at Holy See under investigation
Nicole Winfield and Debora Rey
Jan 4, 2019
ASSOCIATED PRESS

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - The Vatican has confirmed that an Argentine bishop, who resigned suddenly in 2017 for stated health reasons and then landed a top administrative job at the Holy See, is under preliminary investigation after priests accused him of sexual abuse and other misconduct.

In a statement to The Associated Press, Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti stressed that the allegations against Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta only emerged in recent months, nearly a year after Pope Francis created the new position for him as “assessor” of the Holy See’s office of financial administration.

At the time of his July 2017 resignation, Zanchetta had only asked Francis to let him leave the northern Argentine diocese of Oran because he had difficult relations with its priests and was “unable to govern the clergy,” Gisotti said. Pending the preliminary investigation into allegations of sexual abuse underway in Argentina, the 54-year-old Zanchetta will abstain from work at the Vatican, he said.

But the case could become yet another problem for Francis, who is already battling to gain trust from the Catholic flock over his handling of sex abuse and sexual misconduct, stemming in particular from the scandal of ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. Francis’ standing would take another hit if he personally intervened to help out a bishop from his native Argentina - finding a job for him during a Vatican hiring hold-down - and the man later turned out to have credible allegations of misconduct against him.
 

Photos and statement by Alessandro Gissoti, interim director of the Vatican Press Office, at the link below--
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/argentine-bishop-promoted-by-pope-francis-at-vatican-accused-of-abusing-sem
Jan 4, 2019 - 1:40 pm EST
Argentine bishop promoted by Pope Francis at Vatican accused of abusing seminarians

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2019-01/missionaries-killed-2018-fides.html#.XDCUPSXOW_s.twitter

Forty “missionaries” killed worldwide in 2018
04 January 2019, 14:46

The Vatican’s Fides news agency has brought out its annual year-end tally of “missionaries” and pastoral workers killed last year.
By Robin Gomes

In the course of the year 2018, 40 “missionaries” and pastoral workers were killed around the world, almost double the previous year’s toll of 23, the Vatican’s Fides news agency reported. 

Until 2017, the Americas led the way for 8 consecutive years for the highest number of missionaries killed.  In 2018, Africa topped the list.

Fides data showed that of the 40 killed, 35 were priests, 1 was a seminarian and 4 were lay people. Africa accounted for 21 deaths, with 19 priests, a seminarian and a  lay  woman    .    South America came second with 15, including 12 priests and 3 lay people.  Asia came next with 3 priests and 1 priest in Europe.

“Missionary” according to “Evangelii Gaudium”

Fides explained that it preferred using the word “missionary” for those killed, referring to the Apostolic Exhortation, “Evangelii Gaudium”, where Pope Francis says that “in virtue of their baptism, all the members of the People of God have become missionary disciples.”  “All the baptized, whatever their position in the Church or their level of instruction in the faith, are agents of evangelization, and it would be insufficient to envisage a plan of evangelization to be carried out by professionals while the rest of the faithful would simply be passive recipients,” the Pope says.

This is why the annual list of Fides does not just include missionaries “ad gentes” in the strict sense, or missionaries in mission lands, but comprises all the baptized engaged in the life of the Church dying in a violent way and not strictly “in hatred of the faith”.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2019-01/christmas-10-cribs-vatican-exhibition.html

“100 Cribs at the Vatican” continues until Jan. 13
05 January 2019, 12:00

“100 Cribs at the Vatican” 
Pilgrims and tourists have until Jan. 13 to visit an exhibition in the Vatican of Christmas Nativity scenes from all over Italy and from about 25 foreign countries. No tickets – it’s all free!

By Robin Gomes

Christmas is the commemoration of the birth of Jesus who was born in a stable in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago.  Besides decorations, lights, Christmas trees, gifts and goodies, this annual event is especially celebrated with Holy Mass and the representation of the birth of Jesus Christ or the Nativity scene as narrated in the Gospel.
 
Vatican

As organizers found it difficult to continue the exhibition because of financial constraints, the “100 Cribs” moved to the Vatican in 2018 after 42 years at Piazza del Popolo. 

The  Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization that is sponsoring the event at the St. Pius X Hall on Via  della  Conciliazione, has named it "100 Cribs at the Vatican".  It was opened on December 7, 2018, and will continue until January 13.

Pilgrims and tourists intending to visit the Vatican exhibition can consult its website.   
_____________
Vatican exhibition website:  https://www.100presepi.it/en/

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https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2019/01/05/vatican-investigating-third-accusation-of-abuse-against-ex-cardinal-mccarrick/

Vatican investigating third accusation of abuse against ex-Cardinal McCarrick
Christopher White   Jan 5, 2019

Then-Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick attends a Mass in Rome April 13, 2018. On July 28 Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Cardinal McCormick from the College of Cardinals after allegations surfaced that he had sexually abused minors as well as adult seminarians. (Credit: CNS.)
NEW YORK - Six months after the scandal surrounding former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick first came to light - wherein accusations of sexual abuse from a former altar boy prompted subsequent revelations of abuse and misconduct - Crux has learned that the Vatican is now investigating a total of three cases of abuse against the former archbishop of Washington, one of which has yet to be publicly reported.

In June 2018, the Archdiocese of New York announced that a review board had substantiated claims of abuse against McCarrick by a former altar boy at Saint Patrick’s who reported two incidents of abuse dating back to 1971 and 1972.

In response, the Vatican suspended McCarrick from public ministry pending an investigation by the Holy See.

The following month, the New York Times first reported the case of James Grein, the child of close family friends of McCarrick, who alleged the then-priest commenced years of abuse against him beginning in the 1970s when he was 11 years old.

Since then, multiple accusations of abuse and misconduct against adult seminarians have been reported, and on July 28, Pope Francis took the highly unusual step of accepting McCarrick’s resignation from the College of Cardinals.

Meanwhile, both the unidentified altar boy’s case and that of Grein’s have been under review by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), the Vatican body responsible for handling clergy sex abuse claims.

While many observers have eagerly been awaiting the review of the two cases to see if they result in the eventual laicization of McCarrick, Crux has confirmed that a third case is currently being investigated, also from the Archdiocese of New York.
 
Vatican observers have noted that Grein’s case against McCarrick is, canonically, much stronger, as the original allegations by the altar boy against him took place when the individual was 16 years old and, under the Church’s Code of Canon Law, would not have been considered a minor at the time.
 
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/stunner-vatican-said-to-have-deemed-mccarrick-sex-acts-with-16-year-old-alt
Fri Jan 4, 2019 - 8:20 pm EST
Is the Vatican trying to recast McCarrick abuse of teen as ‘consensual’?

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-01/pope-francis-epiphany-mass-gods-gentle-light.html

Pope at Epiphany Mass: God’s gentle light shines in humble love
06 January 2019, 10:43

Pope Francis at Mass on the Solemnity of the Epiphany  (Vatican Media)
In his homily at Mass on the Solemnity of the Epiphany, Pope Francis invites us to imitate the Magi by recognizing God’s gentle light and by freely helping those who suffer.
By Devin Watkins

Jesus reveals himself to all the nations in a gentle light that shines in humble love.

Pope Francis made that remark in his homily on Sunday, as he reflected on the Epiphany of the Lord. “Epiphany”, he noted, indicates the manifestation of the Lord. “The symbol of this event is light, which reaches and enlightens everything.”

He said the manner in which God revealed Himself is surprising. The Gospels contrast the powerful of the earth and their palaces with the humble abode where Jesus is born. “None of the powerful of the time realized that the Lord of history was born exactly in their days,” he said.

“Herein lies the surprise: God does not emerge at the forefront of the world in order to manifest Himself.”
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-01/pope-francis-epiphany-mass-homily-full-text.html
Pope Francis homily at Mass on Epiphany: Full text
06 January 2019, 10:41

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

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-01/pope-francis-angelus-epiphany-jesus.html#.XDHyH1P04-0.twitter

Pope at Angelus: ‘Epiphany opens us to newness of Jesus’
06 January 2019, 12:14

Pope Francis waves to pilgrimis present at the Angelus prayer  (Vatican Media)
At the Angelus prayer on Sunday, Pope Francis urges us to open ourselves to Jesus, like the Magi, rather than being afraid of losing our status and power, like Herod.
By Devin Watkins

Pope Francis prayed the Angelus with pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square on the Solemnity of the Epiphany.

He reflected on the manifestation of Jesus, which is symbolized by light.

The prophets in the Old Testament promised this light, he said. “Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you” (Is 60:1).
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-01/pope-francis-appeal-migrants-mediterranean.html
Pope appeals for migrants stranded aboard rescue ships
06 January 2019, 13:14

https://zenit.org/articles/angelus-address-on-the-solemnity-of-the-lords-epiphany/
Angelus Address: On the Solemnity of the Lord’s Epiphany 
•January 06, 2019 15:16•Virginia Forrester

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

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2019-01/pope-francis-santa-marta-concreteness-christianity.html

Pope at Mass: concreteness is the criterion of Christianity
07 January 2019, 14:35

Pope Francis at Mass at Casa Santa Marta on January 7, 2019.  (Vatican Media)
In his homily at Mass at the Casa Santa Marta on January 7, Pope Francis said that God became "concrete, born of a concrete woman, lived a concrete life, died a concrete death, and asks us to love concrete brothers and sisters".

God's commandments are "concrete”, hence this concreteness is the "criterion" of Christianity.  Pope Francis made the point in his homily at Mass, Monday morning, at the Casa Santa Marta, resuming his morning Masses after the Christmas holidays.

Describing saints as “madmen of concreteness”, the Pope said they will help us walk on this path and discern the concrete things that the Lord wants, which are contrary to the fantasies and illusions of false prophets that St. John speaks about in his First Letter.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-01/diplomatic-corps-to-pope-francis-promoting-humanity.html

Diplomatic Corps to Pope: Grateful for ministry on behalf of humanity
07 January 2019, 16:26

The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, George Poulides  (Vatican Media)
The Ambassador of Cyprus greets Pope Francis in the name of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, and reviews some of the Pope’s priorities during 2018.
By Seàn-Patrick Lovett

It was the first time the Ambassador of Cyprus, His Excellency George Poulides, addressed Pope Francis as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See. He did so on behalf of his colleagues, representing some 183 States that currently have diplomatic relations with the Holy See.

Challenges

In his address to the Holy Father, Ambassador Poulides focused primarily on Pope Francis’ “tireless commitment to the defense of human dignity”, calling it the “cornerstone on which to build a truly just, free and peaceful world”.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-01/pope-francis-address-to-diplomatic-corps.html

Pope Francis' address to Diplomatic Corps
07 January 2019, 11:37

Pope gives address to Diplomatic Corps  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis addresses members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, on theme of multilateral diplomacy.


ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS
Monday, 7 January 2019

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

         The beginning of a new year allows us to interrupt for a few moments the frenetic pace of our daily activities in order to review the events of past months and to reflect on the challenges facing us in the near future.  I thank you for your numerous presence at this annual gathering, which provides a welcome opportunity for us to exchange cordial greetings and good wishes with one another. Through you, I would like to convey to the peoples whom you represent my closeness and my prayerful hope that the year just begun will bring peace and well-being to each member of the human family.

         I am most grateful to the Ambassador of Cyprus, His Excellency Mr George Poulides, for the gracious words of greeting he addressed to me in your name for the first time as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See.  To each of you I would like to express my especial appreciation for your daily efforts to consolidate relations between your respective Countries and Organizations and the Holy See, all the more so through the signing or ratification of new accords.
 

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

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-01/andrea-tornielli-comment-pope-francis-diplomatic-corp.html

China: A path for the good of the Church
07 January 2019, 13:26

Pope Francis greets 2 Chinese Bishops at the Synod on Young People
In one portion of his speech to the Diplomatic Corps on Monday, Pope Francis emphasizes the purpose of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China.
By Andrea Tornielli

In his speech on the "State of the World" seen through the eyes of the Holy See, Pope Francis dedicated several significant lines to the signing of the Provisional Agreement with the People’s Republic of China.

His words are important because they bring out once again the intention underlying the Holy See’s long-standing commitment to “a lengthy and thoughtful institutional dialogue”.

The first significant fruit of this dialogue is represented by the Agreement signed in Beijing on 22 September 2018 by the Holy See’s Under-Secretary for Relations with States, Antoine Camilleri, and by China’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Chao.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-01/pope-francis-coptic-orthodox-new-cathedral-video-message.html#.XDM2F7hBRz0.twitter

Pope’s video message to Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt
07 January 2019, 11:29

Egypt's new Cathedral of the Nativity of the Coptic Orthodox Church.   (ANSA)
In a video message on the occasion of the inauguration of the new Cathedral of the Nativity of Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox near Cairo, Pope Francis invoked peace and prosperity on Egypt, the Middle East and the whole world.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis has sent a video message on the occasion of the inauguration of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria in Egypt, the biggest church in the Middle East.  Located in the territory of what will be the administrative capital of Egypt, in a desert area about 45 km east of Cairo, the cathedral was inaugurated on Sunday, January 6, the eve of Coptic Christmas.

“May the Prince of Peace give Egypt, the Middle East and the whole world the gift of peace and prosperity,” Pope Francis said in Italian in the video message screened in the presence of Patriarch Tawadros II of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and other authorities.

The Holy Father thanked Coptic Christians for their testimony of faith and love, including martyrdom.

The first Mass in the new cathedral was held under heavy security, a day after a bomb blast near a Coptic church in Nasr City in which a policeman died trying to defuse an explosive device.  The church suffered no serious damage.

"We are one and we will remain one," said El-Sisi who also inaugurated the Al-Fattah Al-Aleem mosque the same day.

The Cathedral of the Nativity can accommodate some 8,000 worshippers and the mosque almost twice that number.

Below is the official translation of the Pope’s video message:
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2019-01/pope-francis-mass-indifference-opposed-to-love.html

Pope at Mass: ‘Indifference is opposed to God’s love’
08 January 2019, 12:23

In his homily at Mass in the Casa Santa Marta on Tuesday, Pope Francis says God takes the first step towards us and loves us because He is compassionate and merciful, despite our indifference.
By Alessandro Di Bussolo

Pope Francis offered Tuesday’s Mass for the eternal rest of Archbishop Giorgio Zur, who died late Monday night. He lived in the Casa Santa Marta with the Pope and once served as Apostolic Nuncio to Austria.

In his homily, Pope Francis reflected on the day’s Gospel (Mk 6:34-44) about the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, and on the First Reading, taken from the First Letter of John (4:7-10).
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-01/pope-francis-message-world-day-sick.html

World Day of the Sick: Pope calls for a culture of generosity
08 January 2019, 13:38

In his message for the 27th World Day of the Sick, Pope Francis urges believers to promote a culture of generosity, noting that the joy of generous giving is a barometer of the health of a Christian.
By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis says that those who care for the sick and give of themselves with generosity and straightforward love – like St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta - are amongst the Church’s most credible evangelizers.

In his message for the World Day of the Sick, celebrated on 11 February, the Pope focused on Jesus’s words to the Apostles: “You received without payment; give without payment” (Mt 10:8 ).
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-01/pope-francis-morocco-visit-logo-hope-interreligious-dialogue.html

Vatican releases logo for Pope Francis' visit to Morocco
07 January 2019, 18:05

Logo of Morocco visit
The Vatican releases the logo for Pope Francis' Apostolic Journey to Morocco, whose theme is hope.
By Robin Gomes

“Servant of Hope” is the theme of the Pope's visit to Morocco on March 30-31.

The Holy Father is making the Apostolic Visit in response to the invitation of King Mohammed VI and the Bishops of the country.  The trip to the Muslim-majority nation includes the cities of Rabat and Casablanca, and will be the Pope’s 26th outside Italy.

Logo design

The official logo of the Pope’s visit was chosen from about 50 entries in a competition. An explanatory note accompanying the logo's release says that a cross and a crescent in the logo are symbols of Christianity and Islam which highlight the interreligious relations between Christians and Muslims.

In fact, during the 2-day trip, Pope Francis will meet the leader of Moroccan Muslims, 800 years after the meeting between St. Francis of Assisi and Sultan Al-Malik al-Kāmil of Egypt.

The logo has the colours of the two countries: green and red for Morocco, yellow and white (background) for the Vatican.

Under Pope Francis' name is the motto of the visit: "Servant of Hope" because the Pope is known as the Servant of the Servants of God.  The motto is also the title of the pastoral letter that the Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa (known by its French acronym CERNA) gave to Pope Francis during its last ‘ad  limina ’ visit to Rome in 2015.

"Morocco" is written in Arabic to honour the country that is hosting the Pope.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/analysis-the-non-trial-of-theodore-mccarrick-25046

Analysis: The non-trial of Theodore McCarrick
By Ed Condon

Vatican City, Jan 7, 2019 / 12:30 pm (CNA).- While recent media reports suggest that a trial of Archbishop Theodore McCarrick is underway, Vatican sources have told CNA that his case is not being handled by a full judicial process.

Sources at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith have confirmed that allegations against McCarrick are being considered through an abbreviated approach called an “administrative penal process.”

That decision gives insight into the strength of evidence against McCarrick, and suggests that resolving sexual abuse allegations against the archbishop is a top priority for Pope Francis and other senior Vatican officials.

Canon law outlines specific processes for handling allegations of sexual abuse by clerics. All of these are reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome. When the charges involve a bishop, the CDF requires specially delegated authority from the pope to handle the case.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-01/pope-francis-audience-our-father-prayer-answered.html#.XDXWOEqxumY.twitter

Pope at Audience: ‘Every prayer answered, in God’s time’
09 January 2019, 11:53

In his continuing catechesis on the Our Father at the weekly General Audience, Pope Francis says no prayer goes unanswered, but reminds us that God’s timing is not our own.
By Devin Watkins

Pope Francis took up the age-old question about why, at times, it seems that God does not answer our prayers.

Speaking at the Wednesday General Audience, the Holy Father said Jesus reminds us in the Our Father of the need to persevere in prayer.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/pope-proposes-persistence-in-prayer/
God is Father and does not Forget His Suffering Children
•January 09, 2019 17:10•Jim Fair

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

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2019-01/pope-francis-mass-casa-santa-marta.html#.XDdG1xurKZU.twitter

Pope at Mass: whoever loves God must also love his brother
10 January 2019, 13:53

2019.01.10 Messa Santa Marta  (Vatican Media)
If you don't love your brother, you can't love God. This was the message at the heart of Pope Francis’ homily during Mass at the Casa Santa Marta.
By Linda Bordoni

Speaking during his homily at Mass on Thursday morning, Pope Francis said that in order to love God concretely, one must also love one's brothers and sisters – all of them: both those we like and those we don’t like.

The Pope also said good Christians must not neglect to pray even for “the enemy”, nor give way to feelings of jealousy or engage in harmful gossip.

At the heart of his message was an encouragement to overcome a deceitful and divisive “worldly” spirit with the strength of faith.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2019-01/tornielli-editorial-february-meeting-abuse.html

Meeting among Pastors with a specific purpose
10 January 2019, 15:22

Looking ahead toward the meeting with Presidents of Episcopal Conferences regarding the protection of minors and vulnerable adults.
By Andrea Tornielli

There are excessive media expectations in view of the upcoming meeting called by Pope Francis on the subject of protecting minors and vulnerable adults, as if it were an event halfway between a council and a conclave. These expectations risk overshadowing the ecclesial significance of a meeting among Pastors, among Presidents of Episcopal Conferences of the whole world who, together with the Successor of Peter, will reflect on the theme of abuse.

What needs to be emphasized, above all, is the universality that is typical of the Catholic Church and that reverberates in the meeting. The presence of bishops from all over the world, called together for the first time to address this painful plague which has been, and is, a source of enormous suffering for victims and of counter-witness to the Gospel, will help to increase everyone's awareness of the seriousness of the crisis. The phenomenon of the abuse of minors, the horrific experiences of the victims, the procedures to be applied in the face of accusations, and the indications to ensure a safe environment for children and young people, will thus be examined from a perspective that is not solely European or American.

The purpose of the meeting is very specific: to ensure that everyone taking part in it can return to their own country being absolutely clear about what must (and must not) be done with regard to addressing these cases. Namely, what steps must be taken to protect the victims, with respect for the truth and the people involved, in order to ensure that no more cases are stonewalled or covered up.