Pope Francis

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Meeting:  The Protection of Minors in the Church
Vatican, February 21-24, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2019-02/protection-minors-marx-transparency-traceability-abuse-vatiab.html
Protection of minors: Card. Marx - traceability, transparency make Church credible
23 February 2019, 10:51

Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich and Freising, Germany.
Speaking on day 3 of the meeting in the Vatican on the Protection of Minors in the Church, German Cardinal Reinhard Marx called for traceability and transparency in dealing with cases of sexual abuse of minors in the Church.
By Robin Gomes

Traceability and transparency in Church administration in dealing with and preventing the sexual abuse of minors are a “decisive factor in the trustworthiness and credibility of the Church.” “It is not transparency which damages the Church, but rather the acts of abuse committed, the lack of transparency, or the ensuing cover-up,” said German Cardinal Reinhard Marx on Saturday in his presentation to the “Meeting on the Protection of Minors in the Church,” taking place in the Vatican. 
 
English text of the presentation
https://zenit.org/articles/cardinal-marx-builds-case-for-transparency/
Cardinal Marx Builds Case for Transparency 
February 23, 2019 17:02

Video at the link below--
2nd Relation - Cardinal Marx 2019-02-23 (The presentation is in English)
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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Meeting:  The Protection of Minors in the Church
Vatican, February 21-24, 2019

Photo Gallery at the link
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2019-02/protection-minors-press-briefing-day-3-morning-session-vatiab.html
Protection of Minors: Press Briefing on Day Three
23 February 2019, 15:22

Day Three of the “Protection of Minors in the Church” Meeting in the Vatican focusses on the theme of “Transparency”. Among the participants at the Press Briefing, an African woman religious, the Jesuit Superior General, and the President of the German Bishops’ Conference.
By Vatican News

The Press Briefing began with the Moderator of the “Protection of Minors” Meeting, Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi, presenting what he called his four “observations” of the last 24 hours. He described the testimony of a victim-survivor on Friday evening, as “the most intense moment of our encounter so far”. “Everyone was deeply touched” by her testimony, he said, confirming how the fact of “personal listening” achieves important results.

The contribution of women

Fr. Lombardi then commented on the contribution of women at this Meeting: Dr Linda Ghisoni, Undersecretary for the Section for Laity of the Vatican Dicastery, who spoke on the theme of “Communio: to work together”; and Sr Veronica Openibo from Nigeria, who addressed the Bishops about “Openness: sent out into the world”.

Attitudes and sensitivities among the Bishops have already changed in three days, continued Fr. Lombardi. He stressed the special importance of follow-up based on the reflections and conclusions of the small working groups.

Working groups

The Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, Paolo Ruffini, provided a brief summary of those working group interventions, one of which described this “Protection of Minors” Meeting as a “positive point of no-return”. Some groups discussed the importance of accompanying victims and re-building relationships with survivors and their families. Others explored the themes of collegiality and synodality, and how to apply them.

Further issues included the role of the laity and of the family, seminary training and priestly formation, and the need for more accurate screening and selection of candidates. The crisis in the family was identified as one cause of “affective immaturity” in some individuals. The universal conclusion was that “all the People of God are called to exercise responsibility” to ensure the protection of minors in the Church and the world.
 
Video at the link below--
Briefing 2019-02-23
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

Meeting:  The Protection of Minors in the Church
Vatican, February 21-24, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2019-02/protection-minors-church-meeting-alazraki-transparency-vatiab.html
Protection of Minors: a journalist offers some advice
23 February 2019, 14:40

Mexican writer and journalist Valentina Alazraki (right) addressing the summit on the "Protection of Minors in the Church".  (Vatican Media)
A veteran Vatican ******* and journalist shares her views on why it is so important to report on clerical sex abuse, calling for trust on the part of the Church.
By Linda Bordoni

The last speaker to take to the podium at the Meeting on “The Protection of Minors in the Church” was Valentina Alazraki, writer and journalist with long-standing experience in Vatican matters.

Alazraki, who is Mexican, has reported on papal activities since 1974, travelling on 100 of Pope Saint John Paul II’s 104 apostolic journeys as well as all those undertaken by Pope Benedict XVI and by Pope Francis.

She began her presentation, during the session dedicated to “Transparency”,  explaining she had been invited to speak about communication, “in particular, about how transparent communication is indispensable to fight the sexual abuse of minors by men of the Church”.
 
English text of the presentation
https://zenit.org/articles/jouanalist-valentina-alazraki-urges-bishops-to-reject-secrecy/
Journalist Valentina Alazraki Urges Bishops to Reject Secrecy 
February 23, 2019 18:03

Video at the link below--
3rd Relation - Dr. Alazraki 2019-02-23
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

Meeting:  The Protection of Minors in the Church
Vatican, February 21-24, 2019

Video, with English commentary and translation, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/protection-minors-penitential-service-pope-francis-vatiab.html
Pope, Bishops confess faults in penitential liturgy
23 February 2019, 19:27

Church leaders bow their heads in prayer and repentance during the Penitential service at the Vatican  (Vatican Media)
On Day 3 of the "Protection of Minors" Meeting, church leaders examined their consciences and confessed their sins during a penitential service at the Vatican.
By Vatican News

“We confess that bishops priests, deacons, and religious in the Church have done violence to children and youth… that we have shielded the guilty… that we have not acknowledged the suffering of many victims… that we bishops did not live up to our responsibilities”.

The collective confession of faults by Pope Francis and almost two hundred Cardinals, Bishops, and other church leaders, was perhaps the most striking portion of the Penitential Service that marked the end of the final working day of the Meeting for the Protection of Minors in the Church.

“Lord Jesus Christ”, they prayed, “we ask for your mercy on us sinners. Kyrie eleison”. Lord, have mercy.
 
English text of the homily
https://zenit.org/articles/homily-at-penitential-liturgy-of-summit-on-protection-of-minors/
Homily at Penitential Liturgy of Summit on Protection of Minors  
February 23, 2019 17:59

YouTube video at the link below--
Pope Francis - Penitential Liturgy 2019-02-23
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

Meeting:  The Protection of Minors in the Church
Vatican, February 21-24, 2019

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/what-have-i-failed-to-do---pope-leads-bishops-in-abuse-crisis-examination-of-conscience-72259
'What have I failed to do?' - Pope leads bishops in abuse crisis examination of conscience
By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis takes part in a penitential liturgy during a Vatican summit on sex abuse Feb. 23, 2019. Credit: Vincenzo Pinto/AFP/Getty Images.
Vatican City, Feb 23, 2019 / 11:38 am (CNA).- Pope Francis Saturday led the presidents of the world’s bishops’ conferences in a penitential liturgy and examination of conscience on their failures in handling abuse within the Catholic Church.

“For three days we have spoken to each other and listened to voices of victim survivors about the crimes that children and young people have suffered in our Church,” the pope said to bishops Feb. 23.

“We have asked each other: how can we act responsibly and what steps do we now need to take? But so that we can go into the future with new courage, we must say, like the prodigal son: ‘Father, I have sinned.’”

Francis spoke during a penitential liturgy held inside the apostolic palace of the Vatican on the third day of a global summit on sexual abuse and child protection, held Feb. 21-24.

In attendance at the summit and penitential liturgy were, from around the world, about 190 heads of bishops’ conferences, Eastern Catholic Churches, and religious communities, as well as several members of the Roman Curia.

“We need to examine,” the pope stated during the liturgy, “where concrete actions are needed for the local Churches, for the members of our Episcopal Conferences, for ourselves. This will require that we look honestly at the situation in our countries and our own actions.”

Following his words, a lector read a series of questions, punctuated by intervals of reflection, for an examination of conscience.

Among them were the questions: “In the Church of my country, how have we dealt with bishops, priests, deacons and religious accused of sexual assault? What abuses have been committed against children and young people by clergy and others in the Church of my country?”

They were also asked to reflect on what “I know about the people in my diocese who have been abused and violated by priests, deacons and religious.”

The bishops were asked to examine their consciences regarding the response of the Church in their country and how they have treated those who have been abused.

“How did we deal with those whose crimes were established? What have I personally done to prevent injustice and establish justice? What have I failed to do?” they were asked.

The final questions looked to the future: “What steps have we taken in my country to prevent new injustice? Did we work to be consistent in our actions? Were we consistent? In my diocese, have I done what is possible to bring justice and healing to victims and those who suffer with them? Have I neglected what is important?”

Following the examination of conscience, the bishops and other religious leaders made a “confession of faults,” praying: “Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we are sinful human beings.”

After each of the nine faults, they prayed together: “Kyrie, eleison.”

“We confess that bishops, priests, deacons and religious in the Church have done violence to children and youth, and that we have failed to protect those who most needed our care,” they prayed.

They confessed to shielding the guilty and silencing the harmed, to not acknowledging the suffering of victims, or helping them when needed, and that “often we bishops did not live up to our responsibilities.” They concluded by asking for the mercy of Jesus Christ and forgiveness for their sins.

The penitential liturgy also included the praying of psalms and other prayers; and music by an accomplished violinist who also gave his testimony as a victim of abuse.

The bishops also listened to the Parable of the Prodigal Son and a homily given by Archbishop Philip Naameh of Tamale, the president of the Ghana bishops’ conference.
 

[grace-land]

Meeting:  The Protection of Minors in the Church
Vatican, February 21-24, 2019

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2019/02/23/u-s-cardinal-expects-new-abuse-accountability-measures-in-june/
U.S. cardinal expects new abuse accountability measures in June
Christopher White   Feb 23, 2019

Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, attends the third day of the meeting on the protection of minors in the church at the Vatican Feb. 23, 2019. (Credit: CNS.)
ROME - As U.S. bishops craft new measures for bishop accountability, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo says he will work to ensure they are on the same page with the Vatican and plans to introduce new policies at June’s bishops’ meeting.

DiNardo, who is archbishop of Galveston-Houston and serves as president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), told Crux on Saturday that “I think we can go forward once we get back,” referring to the Vatican’s request that the USCCB delay its plans last November to vote on new protocols.

At the time, the Vatican said they had only been given four days to review the proposed protocols, which included a new protocol for bishops’ conduct and would have created a new lay-led committee to evaluate complaints made against bishops.

The Texas cardinal is representing the United States at a closely watched summit on sex abuse, which concludes Sunday at the Vatican, where Pope Francis has convened the head of every bishops’ conference around the world.

“I’m more happy right now over what I see and what has happened in these days, and when I get back home, I think I can go before the bishops’ administrative committee and all the bishops and say, that I think there is some affirmation from this meeting of what we wanted to do.”

The administrative committee of the USCCB will meet in March to prepare for the June meeting with all U.S. bishops
 

[grace-land]

Meeting:  The Protection of Minors in the Church
Vatican, February 21-24, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2019-02/protection-minors-church-mass-homily-coleridge-vatiab.html#.XHJ_fJq5k8A.twitter
Protection of Minors: Archbp. Coleridge says the Church dare not fail
24 February 2019, 11:31

Archbishop Mark Coleridge delivers the homily at the Mass closing the Meeting on "The Protection of Minors in the Church"  (Vatican Media)
Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, delivers the homily at Mass closing the Meeting on “The Protection of Minors in the Church” pledging to make the Church a safe place for everyone.
By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis celebrated Holy Mass in the Vatican’s Sala Regia on Sunday in the presence of all participants at the just concluded Meeting on “The Protection of Minors in the Church”.

The homily was delivered by Archbishop Mark Coleridge who reflected on the sins that have led to the clerical sex abuse crisis, called for conversion and promised a new season of mission in which the horrors of the past are not repeated.

The Archbishop reflected on how, in the Gospel just proclaimed, one voice alone is heard: the voice of Jesus.

“It is good that, after all our words, there are now only the words of Christ: Jesus alone remains, as on the mount of the Transfiguration” he said.

The Archbishop said Jesus speaks to us of power, words that resonate in this “place where earthly and heavenly powers meet, touched at times by infernal powers as well”.

Power must never be separated from service
 

[grace-land]

Meeting:  The Protection of Minors in the Church
Vatican, February 21-24, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-francis-address-conclusion-protection-minors-abuse-vatiab.html#.XHJ_kBGC7xQ.twitter
Pope Francis: Protecting children. Eradicating abuse
24 February 2019, 11:03

Pope Francis speaks to Presidents of Episcopal Conferences at the conclusion of the Meeting on the Protection of Minors in the Church  (Vatican Media)
In a major address on Sunday, Pope Francis contextualizes the “scourge” of abuse, and appeals for an “all-out battle against the abuse of minors, both sexually and in other areas.”
By Vatican News

“The time has come, then, to work together to eradicate the evil” of child abuse, Pope Francis said, in a speech delivered at the close of the final Mass for the Meeting on the Protection of Minors in the Church. “The time has come to find a correct equilibrium of all values in play and to provide uniform directives for the Church, avoiding the two extremes of a ‘justicialism’ provoked by guilt for past errors and media pressure, and a defensiveness that fails to confront the causes and effects of these grave crimes”.

Speaking to church leaders, primarily the presidents of the world’s episcopal conferences, the Holy Father said, “the Church’s aim will be to hear, watch over, protect, and care for abused, exploited, and forgotten children, wherever they are”. To achieve that goal, he continued, “the Church must rise above the ideological disputes and journalistic practices that often exploit, for various interests, the very tragedy experienced by little ones”.
 
https://www.ncronline.org/news/accountability/francis-ends-vatican-summit-promise-church-will-decisively-confront-abuse
Francis ends Vatican summit with promise church will 'decisively confront' abuse
Feb 24, 2019
by Joshua J. McElwee

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis – Holy Mass 2019-02-24
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/protection-of-minors-pope-angelus-vatiab0.html

Pope Angelus: Culture of love generates a revolution of mercy
24 February 2019, 12:25

Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer in Saint Peter's Square
Pope Francis during his Angelus address invites the faithful to follow a culture of mercy and forgiveness which allows love to triumph over hatred.

“Love your enemies… and pray for those who mistreat you”. “It is not an optional extra, it is a command.” Those were the Pope’s words during his Angelus address in St Peter’s Square.

He was referring to Sunday’s Gospel from St Luke, in which Jesus calls to those who hear, to “do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you”.  Pope Francis said that Jesus knew very well that “loving our enemies goes beyond our possibilities, but for this reason he became man: not to leave us as we are, but to transform us into men and women capable of a greater love, that of his Father and ours.”
 
https://zenit.org/articles/angelus-address-on-love-of-enemies/
Angelus Address: On Love of Enemies 
February 24, 2019 14:45•Virginia Forrester•

Here is a ZENIT translation of the address Pope Francis gave February 24, 2019, before and after praying the midday Angelus with those gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
 

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - Angelus prayer 2019-02-24
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

Meeting:  The Protection of Minors in the Church
Vatican, February 21-24, 2019

Video, with English commentary and translation, at the link...

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2019-02/protection-minors-press-briefing-concrete-initiatives-vatiab.html#.XHLKC4lT-K4.twitter
Protection of Minors: Press briefing announces concrete initiatives
24 February 2019, 16:17

Press Conference on the Meeting on "The Protection of Minors in the Church"
The “Protection of Minors in the Church” Meeting concludes with a Press Briefing in the Vatican and the announcement of concrete commitments and initiatives to protect children, and to combat abuse.
By Vatican News

There have been four Press Conferences, coinciding with the four days of the Meeting. Each one has provided a synthesis of the day’s discussions and reflections, and allowed journalists an opportunity to engage with participants and speakers in what was often a lively Q&A session.

One implicit (and explicit) question underscored the concluding press briefing on Sunday: “What now”? Expectations were high, especially given Pope Francis’ mandate to participants, at the start of the Meeting, to come up with “concrete” initiatives to help the Church in protecting minors.

Concrete initiatives

It fell to Fr. Federico Lombardi SJ, as Moderator of the Meeting on the “Protection of Minors in the Church”, to announce three such initiatives:

1. The imminent publication of a Motu proprio by the Pope, providing rules and regulations to safeguard minors and vulnerable adults within Vatican City State.

2. The distribution of a “vademecum” (or rulebook) to Bishops around the world, explaining their juridical and pastoral duties and responsibilities with regard to protecting children.

3. The creation of an operative “task force”, comprising competent experts, to assist those Bishops’ Conferences that may lack the necessary resources or expertise to confront the issue of safeguarding minors, and deal with abuse.

There was a fourth response to the “what now” question: the fact that the Organizing Committee will be meeting with heads of Vatican Curia departments to discuss follow-up and reflect on a related question: “What next?”
 
https://zenit.org/articles/fr-lombardi-lists-important-next-steps-in-addressing-abuse-crisis/
Fr. Lombardi Lists Important Next Steps in Addressing Abuse Crisis 
February 24, 2019 15:04•Jim Fair

YouTube video at the link below--
Briefing 2019-02-24
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://zenit.org/articles/vatican-announces-pope-will-go-to-loreto-offer-post-synodal-document-to-virgin-mary-2/

Vatican Announces Pope Will Go to Loreto & Offer Post-Synodal Document to Virgin Mary 
•February 24, 2019 09:38•Deborah Castellano Lubov
 
“On March 25th, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, the Holy Father Pope Francis will visit Loreto.”

This was announced in a statement by Alessandro Gisotti, the Director ad interim of the Holy See Press Office.

“On this occasion,” statement added, “the Pope intends to offer the Virgin Mary the Post-Synodal Exhortation of the Synod of Bishops on the theme: “Youth, faith and vocational discernment”, held in the Vatican from Oct. 3-28, 2018.”

Loreto is a hill town in the Marche region of Italy, on the Adriatic Sea. The Basilica of the Holy House of Mary makes Loreto a popular pilgrimage site.

During the visit, the Pope will celebrate Mass in the Holy House. At its conclusion, Francis will sign the Post-Synodal Letter to the Youth.

The Holy Father will also greet the Community of Capuchin Friars in the sacristy. In the Sanctuary, the Pope is expected to greet the sick present and go out to the churchyard of the Sanctuary to meet the faithful.
***
Working translation of Vatican-provided program:
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-francis-march-visit-loreto-italy.html
Pope Francis to visit Loreto in March
24 February 2019, 13:27

Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto

[grace-land]

Meeting:  The Protection of Minors in the Church
Vatican, February 21-24, 2019

Vatican-provided text of the Pope’s address at the link

https://zenit.org/articles/saying-it-is-time-to-eradicate-abuse-and-cover-up-pope-reminds-lords-words-saying-those-who-harm-little-ones-would-be-better-off-being-drowned-in-the-depths-of-the-sea/

Saying It Is Time to Eradicate Abuse and Cover Up, Pope Reminds Lord’s Words Saying Those Who Harm Little Ones Would Be Better Off Being Drowned in the Depths of the Sea
•February 24, 2019 12:03•Deborah Castellano Lubov

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”

Pope Francis told some 190 bishops to never forget these words from the Master, decrying scandal and saying we must “keep ever before us the innocent faces of the little ones.” The harsh reminder was given by Francis in  his concluding addressing follow today’s closing Mass which took place at 9:30 this morning, in the Sala Regia of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, on the final day of the Summit on the Protection of Minors in the Church, Feb. 21-24, 2019.
 

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http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/the-vatican-abuse-meeting-analysis

Feb. 25, 2019
The Vatican Abuse Meeting: Passing the McCarrick Test
ANALYSIS: By its end, the Vatican summit felt incomplete, with scant mention made of the root cause and other aspects of abuse.
Matthew Bunson

In his opening address to the “Meeting on the Protection of Minors in the Church” on Feb. 21, Pope Francis placed before the assembly — and himself — a very clear task: “The holy People of God look to us and expect from us not simple and predictable condemnations, but concrete and effective measures to be undertaken. We need to be concrete.”

It was a stern demand and a high bar going forward. By the end of the gathering, Catholics were still angry and victims lamented what they described as yet another missed opportunity.
 
https://cruxnow.com/february-abuse-summit/2019/02/24/popes-end-to-anti-abuse-summit-sunday-disappoints-survivors/
Pope’s end to anti-abuse summit Sunday disappoints survivors
Inés San Martín   Feb 24, 2019

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/vatican-abuse-summit-follow-up-decides-to-hold-more-follow-ups-74625

Vatican abuse summit follow-up decides to hold more follow-ups
By Hannah Brockhaus

Vatican City, Feb 25, 2019 / 10:11 am (CNA).- On Monday, in the Vatican’s first follow-up to last week’s child abuse summit, officials emphasized “encounter” and the need for concrete responses as called for by Catholics.

The focus of the four-hour meeting Feb. 25 was “first and unanimously” on Pope Francis’ desire for encounter, according to a statement by papal spokesman Alessandro Gisotti.

In attendance were some senior officials of the Secretariat of State, the heads of several Vatican dicasteries, and abuse summit organizers Fr. Federico Lombardi, Fr. Hans Zollner, Archbishop Charles Scicluna, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, and Cardinal Blase Cupich.

The group agreed to continue to hold similar interdicasterial meetings “in the name of synodality and synergy” to monitor progress on commitments made at the summit.

Gisotti said that dicastery heads, speaking openly, affirmed their commitment to following “the example of Pope Francis in the fight against abuses,” with an emphasis on encounter and on listening to victims.

Other discussion topics during the meeting were the need for better child protection training and greater involvement from laity, Gisotti said.

Organizers outlined for officials the principles behind the forthcoming documents and task forces – the promised outcomes of the abuse summit which were announced Sunday.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/inter-dicastery-meeting-is-first-action-in-wake-of-abuse-summit/
Inter-Dicastery Meeting is First Action in Wake of Abuse Summit 
Statement of the Director ‘Ad Interim’ of the Holy See Press Office, Alessandro Gisotti
February 25, 2019 17:18

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https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/11411/vatican-admits-to-guidelines-for-when-priests-father-children

25 February 2019, The Tablet
Vatican admits to guidelines for when priests father children
by Ruth Gledhill

The Vatican has confirmed for the first time the existence of internal guidelines for when Catholic priests break their vows and father children.

In response to a query from the New York Times, Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti said: “I can confirm that these guidelines exist. It is an internal document.”

Such children are referred to in the Vatican as "children of the ordained".

The existence of the guidelines first came to light in 2017, when one child of a priests, Vincent Doyle, a psychotherapist from Ireland, was shown them by Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic, the Vatican’s envoy to the United Nations in Geneva.

While the number of children of Catholic priests is not known, Doyle's support website set up to help them, Coping International, has more than 50,000 registered users worldwide.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-audience-apostoliki-daiconia-greek-orthodox.html#.XHQY1nkT5qE.twitter

Pope to Greek Orthodox: ‘we have more in common than what keeps us apart'
25 February 2019, 12:32

Pope Francis receives the Apostoliki Diaconia of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Athens  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis receives in audience the Apostolikí Diaconía, the authority of the Orthodox Church of Greece, thanking it for its work to promote Christian Unity and to serve families.
By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis on Monday reflected on the fruitfulness and importance of Catholic Orthodox dialogue on the journey to full communion.

He was speaking to the Apostolikí Diaconía and the Centre for the Family of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Athens whom he received in the Vatican.

The Apostolikí Diaconía is the authority of the Orthodox Church responsible for missions and evangelization and has a large press centre for the dissemination of theological and liturgical texts.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/pope-to-greek-orthodox-working-together-helps-us-to-see-one-another-as-brothers-and-sisters/
Pope to Greek Orthodox: ‘Working together helps us to see one another as brothers and sisters’ 
•February 25, 2019 16:42•Jim Fair

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-francis-address-human-technology-academy-life.html#.XHQY5U1F4u4.twitter

Pope on artificial intelligence: Technology is a human characteristic
25 February 2019, 14:44

Pope francis addressing the members of the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Academy for Life  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis addresses the Pontifical Academy for Life in a Plenary Assembly marking 25 years of activity, on the theme “Roboethics. People, machines and health”.
By Francesca Merlo

Despite all of the potential that science has, the accumulation of it all does not always obtain the results hoped for, says Pope Francis when addressing the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Academy for life.

All that science could offer

We know the problems our world is facing, says the Pope, and one of them is that we seem to be closing in more and more on ourselves. This, he says, underlines a “dramatic paradox”: that at the point in which science could offer the equal well-being that God wished for to all people, “we observe an embittering of conflicts and a growth of inequality”.

There are two sides to technology, continues the Pope. On the one hand, we cannot go without it; on the other hand, it imposes its logic upon us. “Yet,” says the pope, “technology is a human characteristic”.

However, what we must understand, continues the pope, is that the artificial devices that simulate human capacities, are in fact, lacking in human qualities. These machines, says the Pope cannot take into consideration the phenomena of experience or that of conscience.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/pope-francis-address-to-pontifical-academy-for-lifes-plenary-assembly-for-25th-anniversary-full-text/
Pope Francis’ Address to Pontifical Academy for Life’s Plenary Assembly for 25th Anniversary (Full Text)  
February 25, 2019 16:53

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-francis-repam-pan-amazonia-synod-indigenous.html#.XHQY-dOe6c4.twitter

Pope meets members of Pan-Amazon Ecclesial Network ahead of Synod
25 February 2019, 14:03

Pope Francis being felicitated by indigenous people in Puerto Maldonado, Peru, on January 19, 2018.  (AFP or licensors)
Pope Francis on Feb. 25 received in private audience 3 members of REPAM, the Pan-Amazon Ecclesial Network that is collaborating with the Vatican General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops in organizing the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon Region, in the Vatican in October.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis on Monday met 3 members of the Pan-Amazon Ecclesial Network (REPAM), an organism that is collaborating with the Vatican General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops in organizing the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon Region, in the Vatican in October.

The Pope received in private audience Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes, the prefect emeritus of the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy, Colombian Bishop Carlos Barreto Barreto of Quibdò and Mauricio Lopez Oropeza, the executive secretary of REPAM.

Also on Monday, the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops announced that the Synod on the Pan-Amazon Region will take place in the Vatican, October 6 to 27.

The theme is: “Amazonia: New Paths for the Church and for an Integral Ecology.” 
 

[grace-land]

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/prosecutors-drop-second-trial-against-cardinal-george-pell-99978

Prosecutors drop second trial against Cardinal George Pell
By Ed Condon

Melbourne, Australia, Feb 25, 2019 / 06:21 pm (CNA).- Prosecutors have abandoned a planned second trial against Australian Cardinal George Pell, who was convicted in December 2018 on five charges of the sexual abuse of minors.

Pell is reported to be filing an immediate appeal against the December verdict. The cardinal is expected to be sentenced in the coming days - as soon as Feb. 27.

Given the nature of the charges, it remains to be seen if the court will permit Pell to remain free on bail during the appeal process if a custodial sentence is imposed, as is expected.

After the planned second trial was dropped, an Australian court has lifted a months-long gag order preventing media from reporting on Pell’s initial trial and conviction. Chief Judge Peter Kidd of the County Court of Victoria lifted the reporting ban February 26.

CNA initially reported the guilty verdict in December 2018.
 
http://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/suppression-order-lifted-on-cardinal-pell-trial
Feb. 25, 2019
Suppression Order Lifted on Cardinal Pell Trial
The prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy is appealing against a guilty verdict handed down last December while a second trial has been dropped.
Edward Pentin

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2019-02/synod-amazonia-baldisseri-interveiw-vatican-seminar.html

Baldisseri: the Pan-Amazon Synod is ecclesial not political event
26 February 2019, 12:45

Pope Francis among the indigenous people of Puerto Maldonado, Peru, on Jan. 19, 2018.   (AFP or licensors)
Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, the general secretary of the Synod of Bishops on Monday opened a 2-day seminar in the Vatican in preparation for the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in the Vatican for the Pan-Amazon Region, October 6-27., 2019.
By Robin Gomes

"Towards the Special Synod for the Amazon: Regional and Universal Dimension" is the theme of the Feb. 25-27 seminar in the Vatican.

The seminar is one of the many initiatives that the General Secretariat has organized in preparation for the upcoming synod on the theme: “Amazonia: New Paths for the Church and for an Integral Ecology.”   

The idea of the synod was born out of Pope Francis’ 2015 environmental encyclical “Laudato Si – On Care for Our Common Home”, which calls for action on global warming and pinpoints the Pan-Amazon Region as an area of concern.

The Pope first announced the synod on 15 October 2017.