Pope Francis

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2019-02/pope-francis-santa-marta-mass-conversion.html

Pope at Mass: 'humility and meekness open hearts'
07 February 2019, 13:46

2019.02.07 Messa Santa Marta  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis’s homily at morning Mass on Thursday focused on the conversion and healing we are all in need of.
By Linda Bordoni

Urging believers never to feel superior, Pope Francis said that in order to make a breach in people’s hearts and invite them to conversion, we must be meek and humble, following in the footsteps of Christ.

He was speaking during the homily at Mass at the Casa Santa Marta as he reflected on the Gospel reading of the day.

It tells, he said, of how Jesus sends his disciples into the world to bring healing, just as He Himself came into the world to heal, the Pope noted, “to heal the root of sin in us”, “the original sin”.

Healing, the Pope said, is a bit like “creating from anew”:

“Jesus recreated us from the root and then allowed us to move forward with his teaching, with his doctrine, a doctrine that heals” he said.

But, the first requisite is that there be conversion.

“Conversion is the first step of healing in the sense that it opens the heart so that the Word of God may enter” he said.

The Pope compared it to seeking to be cured from a medical doctor saying that “if someone is sick and refuses to go to the doctor he will not be healed”.

He also noted that, as Christians, we may do many good things, but if our hearts our closed, it’s only a façade.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-staff-can-help-make-prisons-places-of-redemption.html#.XFxDTA-cruA.twitter

Pope: Staff can help make prison a place of redemption
07 February 2019, 13:06

Pope Francis greet personnel of Regina Coeli prison in Rome  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis meets with the directors and staff of Rome’s Regina Coeli prison, telling them that prison, with the help of its staff, can truly become a place of redemption.
By Lydia O’Kane

On Holy Thursday last year Pope Francis paid a visit to Rome’s Regina Coeli prison to celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper with inmates and staff. Nearly a year on the directors and staff of the prison were greeted by the Pope on Thursday in the Paul VI Hall. Addressing the 600 people present, Pope Francis spoke of jail as being a place of punishment and suffering, adding that, “it needs much attention and humanity.” 
 

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Video at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-francis-prayer-intention-february-2019.html#play

Pope's February prayer intention: Human Trafficking
07 February 2019, 14:13

Pope Francis on Thursday released a video message accompanying his prayer intention for February, which this month is "Human Trafficking ".

In his prayer intention for the month of February 2019, Pope Francis calls us to pray for a generous welcome of the victims of human trafficking, of enforced prostitution, and of violence.

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

The full text of his intention is below:
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2019-02/pope-francis-mass-santa-marta-john-baptist-martyr-life-value.html

Pope at Mass: life has value only when given
08 February 2019, 14:50

Pope at Mass at Casa Santa Marta, Vatican, February 8, 2019.   (Vatican Media)
In his homily at Mass, Friday morning, Pope Francis drew lesson from the martyrdom of John the Baptist and the other characters involved in it.
By Robin Gomes

According to Jesus, the martyrdom of John, the greatest man born of a woman, is a great witness to the fact that life has value only in giving it to others "in love, in truth, in daily life, in the family".  Pope Francis made the point in his homily at Mass, Feb. 8, at the Casa Santa Marta.

The Pope reflected on the Gospel episode of John’s martyrdom analyzing the characters of King Herod who is “corrupt and undecided”, Herodias, his brother’s wife, who “only knew how to hate”, Salome, "the vain dancer", and the beheaded prophet.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-duty-of-christians-to-raise-awareness-of-human-trafficking.html#.XF1xqGZ0-kY.twitter

Pope: Duty of Christians to raise awareness of Human Trafficking
08 February 2019, 12:32

Pope Francis with members of the Galileo Foundation  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis on Friday receives in audience members of the Galileo Foundation, telling them on the feast day of Saint Josephine Bakhita, the patron of victims of human trafficking, that Christians can follow her great example.
By Lydia O'Kane

The aim of the Galileo Foundation is “to strive for a society where no one is left behind or deprived through poverty.” It also places particular emphasis on the elimination of modern slavery and human trafficking in all its forms.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-francis-missionaries-of-africa-150-anniversary.html#.XF17ze_nCw8.twitter

Pope Francis: ‘A true missionary is a disciple first’
08 February 2019, 13:13

Pope Francis greets members of the Missionaries of Africa  (Vatican Media)
As the Missionaries of Africa celebrate the 150th anniversary of their foundation, Pope Francis urges them first to be disciples with their gaze fixed on Jesus Christ.
By Devin Watkins

Known as the White Fathers and Sisters, the Society of the Missionaries of Africa and the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa have spent the last 3 years preparing for the 150th anniversary of their foundation.

During an audience to mark the event on Friday, Pope Francis expressed his closeness to the entire spiritual family founded by Cardinal Charles Lavigerie in 1869, and thanked them for their service to the mission of the Church, which he said is “lived with passion and generosity”.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-francis-italy-judges-association-justice-truth-idea.html

Pope to Italian judges: justice is for the good of society
09 February 2019, 11:49

Pope Francis addressing the National Association of Judges of Italy on Feb. 9, 2019.   (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis on Feb. 9 received in audience representatives of the National Association of Judges of Italy on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of their association this year.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis on Saturday met Italian judges and spoke to them about the importance of justice for the equilibrium and good of society in the changing contexts of time.

Justice is a "cardinal virtue" because it "indicates the right direction", and "without  justice  all social life remains jammed", the Pope told a group of representatives of the National Association of Judges of Italy who met him in the Vatican on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of their group.

The promotion of constitutional values, surveillance of democratic rules and service to the common good, the Pope said, are important tasks of judges who, he said, are "privileged interlocutors" for the legislative bodies of the state, because it gives them direct knowledge of the lives of citizens and their problems.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-moral-theology-must-get-hands-dirty-with-concrete-issues.html

Pope: moral theology must get “hands dirty” with concrete issues
09 February 2019, 12:40

Pope addressees Alphonsian Acadamy   (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis on Saturday meets students and staff from Rome’s Alphonsian Academy inviting them to be an example of a church that “goes forth” and dialogues.

In 1949 the Alphonsian Academy was founded by the Redemptorists, in the spirit of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, patron saint of moral theologians. Since then, the Academy has provided scientific training to clerics, religious and lay people and since 1960 it has been part of the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Lateran University.

Marking the 70th anniversary of the institute, Pope Francis on Saturday invited its members to "look forward", to "regain missionary enthusiasm", and to "outline courageous steps to meet the expectations of the people of God".

University institutes and ecclesiastical faculties, noted the Pope, must be examples of a church that “goes forth” in order to "carry out a wide-ranging dialogue".  He said, it was necessary to network with ecclesial and academic institutions from all over the world in order to "propose appropriate and realistic paths of resolution" to "problems of epochal proportions that affect humanity today”.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/vatican-releases-program-for-apostolic-journey-to-morocco.html

Vatican releases program for Apostolic Journey to Morocco
09 February 2019, 16:04

Logo for the Apostolic Journey of Pope Francis to Morocco 
Among the stages of the visit to Morocco is a meeting with migrants at the headquarters of the diocesan branch of Caritas; and encounter with priests, religious men and women, and ecumenical leaders at the Cathedral in Rabat.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis will travel to the North African country at the end of March. On Saturday 30 March, the Holy Father will be received by King Mohammed VI, before meeting with the Moroccan people, the civil authorities, and the diplomatic corps. The Pope will also pay a visit to the tomb of King Mohammad V.

During the visit, the Holy Father will meet with migrants at the offices of the local branch of aid agency Caritas.

On Sunday, 31 March, Pope Francis will visit a rural centre for social services in the town of Témara, and later will meet with priests, religious women and men, and members of the ecumenical council of churches.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-francis-angelus-god-accomplishes-great-things.html

Pope: When we are generous, God accomplishes great things in us
10 February 2019, 15:15

Pope Francis waves to the crowd at the weekly Angelus.  (Vatican Media)
At the Angelus on Sunday, the Holy Father reflects on the Gospel account of the miraculous catch of fish, and the calling of St Peter.
By Christopher Wells

Sunday’s Gospel, Pope Francis said in remarks at the weekly Angelus, “concerns a miraculous sign” — the prodigious catch of fish — “a sign of the power of the word of Jesus.” When we respond generously to God’s call, he said, Jesus “accomplishes great things in us.”

Put into the deep

The Holy Father was reflecting on the days Gospel, which tells how Jesus “surprised” Simon by climbing in his boat, and going out a little ways from the shore to teach the people. Then, the Pope said, Jesus made another “surprising ‘move’” by asking Simon to “put out into the deep” and lower his nets for a catch.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-francis-angelus-josephine-bakhita-end-human-trafficking.html
Pope at Angelus: Join forces to end human trafficking
10 February 2019, 12:27

https://zenit.org/articles/angelus-address-jesus-call-to-peter-and-the-miraculous-catch/
Angelus Address: Jesus’ Call to Peter and the Miraculous Catch 
•February 10, 2019 15:07•Virginia Forrester

Video with English commentary
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/angelus/2019-02/pope-s-angelus-of-10-february-2019.html#play
or
Youtube video
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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Video, with English text, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-francis-sends-videomessage-to-world-government-summit.html#play

Pope to World Government Summit: There is no development without solidarity
10 February 2019, 14:39

Pope Francis delivers a video-message to participants in the World Government Summit, taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

World leaders are currently meeting at the World Government Summit, taking place in Dubai from 10-12 February. In his video message, Pope Francis greets those participating in the Summit, and recalls his own visit to the United Arab Emirates earlier this month. “I encountered a modern country which is looking  to the future without forgetting its roots”, he said. “I also saw how even in the desert the flowers spring up and grow. I returned home with the hope that many deserts in the world can bloom like this.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2019-02/holy-see-strengthens-anti-corruption-authority.html

Holy See strengthens Anti-Corruption Authority
09 February 2019, 13:07

St Peter's Basilica
Pope Francis introduces the new Statutes of the Office of the Auditor General in the Vatican, elevating it to an Anti-Corruption Authority.
By Vatican News

The first Statute came into force in 2015, following the creation of the Council for the Economy. The Motu proprio Fidelis dispensator et prudens of 24 February 2014, established “A new coordinating agency for the economic and administrative affairs of the Holy See and Vatican City State”. It also created the office of the Auditor General, with the task of “auditing the annual individual budgets of the Departments of the Roman Curia, of the Institutions connected with or referring to the Holy See, and of the Administrations of the Governorate of Vatican City State”.

Article 1, Paragraph 3, of the new Statute names this office the "Anti-corruption Authority", within the definition of the Mérida Convention, and in force for the Holy See and for Vatican City State since 19 October 2016. The Mérida Convention is the United Nations Convention against Corruption, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 31 October 2003.

Greater power to the Auditor

The new Statutes, signed by Pope Francis on 21 January, will come into force on 16 February 2019. They strengthen the functions of the Auditor, now held ad interim by Dr. Alessandro Cassinis Righini.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/benedict-xvi-relevance-magisterium-tornielli-editorial.html#.XGF8XC1aGcs.twitter

Benedict XVI six years later: the relevance of a Magisterium
11 February 2019, 12:13

Benedict XVI   (Vatican Media)
On February 11th 2013, Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation. Vatican News’ Editorial Director looks back at this event and suggests it would be a mistake to remember the Pope Emeritus for this reason only.
By Andrea Tornielli

Six years have passed since that bolt from the blue: the announcement of the first papal resignation for reasons of health and old age. After eight years as Pope, Benedict XVI announced his intention to resign from the Petrine ministry at the end of February, because he no longer felt able, physically and spiritually, to carry the weight of that ministry – one that has changed greatly over the past century in the way it is exercised: in terms of celebrations, commitments, and international journeys.

Testimony of Benedict XVI
 
https://zenit.org/articles/pope-benedicts-address-on-resignation-from-the-see-of-rome/
Pope Benedict’s 11 February 2013 Address on Resignation From the See of Rome 
February 11, 2019 12:39

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/venezuelan-delegation-received-in-the-vatican.html

Venezuelan delegation received in the Vatican
11 February 2019, 15:44

The dome of St Peter's Basilica
The Pope's closeness to the people of Venezuela and his concern about a crisis there was discussed Monday during the visit of a delegation from the Latin American country to the Vatican
 
In the meeting, "the closeness of the Holy Father and the Holy See to the Venezuelan people was reaffirmed, especially to those who suffer".  "In addition”, said Gisotti, “grave concern was underlined that a just and peaceful solution be urgently sought to overcome the crisis, respecting human rights and seeking the good of all of the inhabitants of the country and avoiding bloodshed".
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-francis-to-visit-naples-in-june.html

Pope Francis to visit Italian city of Naples in June
11 February 2019, 14:58

The Holy See Press Office announces that Pope Francis will visit the Italian city of Naples on 21 June.
By Devin Watkins

During his visit to Naples on 21 June 2019, Pope Francis will take part in a meeting on “Theology after Veritatis Gaudium in the Mediterranean context”.

In a communiqué released on Monday, the interim Director of the Vatican Press Office, Alessandro Gisotti, said the Pope will arrive around 9 AM and will address participants in the conference.

Pope Francis will be welcomed by Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, the Archbishop of Naples, Bishop Francesco Marino of Nola, and Fr. Arturo Sosa, Superior General of the Society of Jesus.

The conference is being hosted by the San Luigi section of the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Southern Italy.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-to-discuss-veritatis-gaudium-in-naples-42602
Pope Francis to discuss 'Veritatis Gaudium' in Naples

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/dellaire-initiative-pope-audience-child-soldiers.html

Dellaire Initiative seeks Pope’s support to end use of child soldiers
12 February 2019, 19:53

Pope Francis receives in audience General Roméo Dellaire and Dr Shelly Whitman 
The Roméo Dellaire Initiative brings the perspective of the security sector to the urgent need to end the use of child soldiers in conflicts across the globe. The Founder and the Executive Director of the Initiative were recently in the Vatican to tell Pope Francis about their work and to ask him for his support.
By Linda Bordoni

February 12th is the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers.

On various occasions Pope Francis has expressed his concern for the global phenomenon and called for an end to the practice which he has called a “form of slavery.”

Responding to a call from an organization that aims to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers, he recently received in audience retired Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire, and Dr Shelly Whitman.

They are respectively the founder and the Executive Director of the Roméo Dellaire Child Soldiers Initiative, a global partnership that brings the perspective of the security sector to the issue of child soldiery, equipping leaders with the training and tools to prevent the recruitment and use of child soldiers worldwide.

As General Dallaire and Dr Whitman told Vatican News immediately after the papal audience that took place on January 17th, the meeting with Pope Francis came about in a harmonious and constructive atmosphere of “significant mutual interest”:
 

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https://cnstopstories.com/2019/02/11/pope-to-visit-school-for-imams-muslim-preachers-in-morocco-in-march/

Pope to visit school for imams, Muslim preachers in Morocco in March
Posted on February 11, 2019
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis’ trip to Morocco March 30-31 will include a visit to a school training an international group of Muslim prayer leaders and preachers, including women.

He also will visit to a Caritas center assisting migrants, many of whom ended up in the North African country with hopes of eventually making it to Europe.

Returning to Rome from the United Arab Emirates Feb. 5, Pope Francis told journalists he had hoped to go to Marrakech, Morocco, in December for the signing of the U.N. Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, but protocol dictated that he make a full visit to the country and there was not time in December.

The trip in March will include a full slate of formal events, including a meeting with King Mohammed VI and a visit to the mausoleum of King Mohammed V, who negotiated the country’s independence from France and ruled until his death in 1961.

The visit to Morocco, where more than 99 percent of the population is Muslim, will give Pope Francis an opportunity to continue the reflections on Christian-Muslim relations he began in Abu Dhabi in February. As he did in the United Arab Emirates, he is expected to highlight 2019 as the 800th anniversary of the encounter of St. Francis of Assisi and Sultan al-Malik al-Kamil of Egypt.

When the Vatican first announced the trip in November, it said the pope would visit both Rabat, the capital, and Casablanca. But the Vatican said Feb. 9 it had accepted “the proposal by Moroccan authorities to limit the trip to the city of Rabat to facilitate the visit of the Holy Father.”

The Vatican released the following schedule Feb. 9, leaving out the exact times for many events. Times listed are local, with Eastern Daylight Time in parentheses. (Rome goes on daylight time early March 31; Morocco does not change times.)
 
   

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-true-prayer-is-compassionate-no-hypocrisy-or-tricks.html

Pope: True prayer is compassionate, no hypocrisy or tricks
13 February 2019, 11:32

Pope Francis during the weekly General Audience  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis tells the faithful during his weekly General Audience that prayer with God is a silent dialogue with love at its core, where there is no pretence.

In his ongoing catechesis on the “Our Father”, Pope Francis told pilgrims gathered in the Paul VI hall for the General Audience on Wednesday, that “true prayer is made in the intimate depths of a heart visible only to God. “It is a silent dialogue”, he said, with love at its core. “To look at God and to let oneself be looked at by God is to pray”.

Compassion for others

The Pope commented that in this way, the Christian does not forget the world, but rather brings its people and its needs into prayer. He continued by saying, that the person who prays, tells God about the pain of someone he or she met that day.

"If you don't realize that there's so many people who suffer", the Pontiff underlined, then that means one's heart is withered. “Feeling compassion" is "one of the key verbs of the Gospel".

"Let us ask ourselves”, said the Pope, “when I pray, do I open myself to the cry of so many people near and far? Or do I think of prayer as some kind of anesthesia so you can relax?”
 
https://zenit.org/articles/pope-at-general-audience-on-jesus-way-to-pray-full-text/
Pope at General Audience on Jesus’ way to Pray (Full Text) 
•February 13, 2019 15:35•Virginia Forrester•

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

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-francis-causes-saints-decrees-newman-thresia.html

Card. Newman and Indian Sr. Mariam Thresia cleared for sainthood
13 February 2019, 12:40

Pope Francis on 12 Feb. authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate 8 decrees including those of Card. Newman and Sr. Mariam Thresia.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis on Tuesday cleared the way for the sainthood of renowned English Cardinal John Henry Newman and an Indian  nun,  and brought 6 others a step closer to canonization.

The Pope received in audience Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints and authorized him to promulgated two decrees on miracles for sainthood, a decree on martyrdom and 5 on heroic virtues.
 
The other decrees on the causes of saints are as follows:

- the martyrdom of the Ecuadoran Servant of God, Victor Emilio Moscoso Cárdenas, a Jesuit priest.  He was born in Cuenca (Ecuador) on 21 April 1846 and killed, in hatred of the Faith, in Riobamba (Ecuador) on May 4, 1897.

- the heroic virtues of the Hungarian Servant of God Cardinal Joseph Mindszenty, Archbishop of Esztergom and primate of Hungary.  Born in Csehimindszent (Hungary) on 29 March 1892, he died in Vienna (Austria) on 6 May 1975.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-approves-canonization-of-john-henry-newman-34200
Pope Francis approves canonization of John Henry Newman

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-francis-meeting-jesuits-panama.html#.XGV3l0kgv80.twitter

Pope tells Panamanian Jesuits to remember their roots
14 February 2019, 13:36

A transcript of Pope Francis’ conversation with members of the Society of Jesus on 27 January in Panama has been published by “La Civiltà Cattolica” magazine.
By Linda Bordoni

During Pope Francis’ recent apostolic visit to Panama to celebrate World Youth Day, he took time on the sidelines of the event to meet with his brother Jesuits of the Central American nation.

The meeting took place behind closed-doors but, as reported by the Jesuit-run magazine “La Civiltà Cattolica” headed by Father Antonio Spadaro, the conversation centered on the example of martyrs, on  the vocation of those belonging to the Society of Jesus and on ministering to young people in a ‘fluid’ world.

According to “La Civiltà Cattolica” some 30 Jesuits were present at the meeting including 18 novices, and all of them were able to participate in an informal conversation with the Pope.

Topics touched upon included the witness provided by Saint Oscar Romero and by Romero’s close friend, the Jesuit priest Rutilio Grande who was assassinated in 1977, a tragedy that led to Romero’s own mission and martyrdom.
 
https://laciviltacattolica.com/put-your-lives-at-stake/
‘Put your lives at stake’: Pope Francis in dialogue with the Jesuits of Central America
14 February 2019