Pope Francis

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Pope Francis' interview with journalist Jordi Evole...

https://zenit.org/articles/pope-francis-tackles-tough-topics-in-spanish-tv-interview/

Pope Francis Tackles Tough Topics in Spanish TV Interview 
April 01, 2019 16:31•Jim Fair
 
La Sexta Screenshot
Pope Francis took on some of the controversial topics of the times in an interview journalist Jordi Evole aired Sunday on Spanish TV channel La Sexta.

In one segment, he said he understands the anguish a woman faces who has been raped and is expecting a child but abortion is not an option. He stressed that it is never right to eliminate a life to solve a problem.

On the issue of homosexuality, the Holy Father reminded viewers that tendencies are not the same as sinful acts.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-even-in-desperation-abortion-wont-solve-problems-80967
Pope Francis: Even in desperation, abortion won’t solve problems

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/dont-jump-to-conclusions-about-childrens-sexuality-pope-francis-says-47992
Don't jump to conclusions about your children's sexuality, Pope Francis says

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-christus-vivit-english-synthesis.html#.XKNE0HxH2LA.twitter

Pope to Young People: God loves you, the Church needs you
02 April 2019, 11:30

Young people and Synod Fathers with Pope Francis at the 2018 Synod for Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis’ post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation is presented at a Press Conference in the Vatican. The result of last October’s Synod on Young People, the message of the document is summed up in its title: “Christ is alive”.
By Seàn-Patrick Lovett

“Christ is alive and He wants you to be alive!” The opening lines of the Apostolic Exhortation set both the tone and the content of the Pope’s message. But the closing lines are what make the document an “exhortation” in the true sense of the word: “The Church needs your momentum, your intuitions, your faith”, writes Pope Francis”. “And when you arrive where we have not yet reached, have the patience to wait for us”.

Pope Francis’ message is addressed not only to young people, but also to “the entire People of God”. The Pope says he was “inspired by the wealth of reflections and conversations” that took place during last October’s Synod, on the theme of “Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment”, and he divides his reflections into nine chapters.

Chapter 1: The Word of God and Young People

Pope Francis begins by giving Old Testament examples of how, “in an age when young people were not highly regarded, some texts show that God sees them differently”. Turning to the New Testament, he reminds us that, as far as Jesus was concerned, “age did not establish privileges, and being young did not imply lesser worth or dignity”.
 
Read the full text of the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Christus vivit!" at the Vatican website.
____________
Link to the full text of "Christus vivit!" --
http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20190325_christus-vivit.html
or
https://zenit.org/articles/christus-vivit-full-text/

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-apostolic-exhortation-christ-is-alive-synthesis.html#.XKNE6X7sLpI.twitter

Christ is alive: Synthesis of the Apostolic Exhortation
02 April 2019, 11:30

Andrea Tornielli, the editorial director for the Dicastery of Communication, provides a detailed synthesis of the Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Christ is Alive!"

Christ is alive

“Christ is alive! He is our hope, and in a wonderful way he brings youth to our world.  The very first words, then, that I would like to say to every young Christian are these: Christ is alive and he wants you to be alive!”.

Thus begins the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation, “Christus vivit”, by Pope Francis, signed on Monday 25 March in the Holy House of Loreto and addressed to young people , and to “the entire People of God”. In the document, composed of nine chapters divided into 299 paragraphs, the Pope explains that he allowed himself to be “inspired by the wealth of reflections and conversations of the Synod” on Young People, celebrated in the Vatican in October 2018.

Chapter one: “What does the Word of God have to say about young people?”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-rainbow-choir-elderly-alzheimer-audience.html

Pope greets Rainbow Choir: the elderly are humanity’s memory
03 April 2019, 15:23

Pope Francis meeting a group of people with Alzheimer's and choir members from Belgium on April 3, 2019.   (Vatican Media
Before his general audience on Wednesday in the Vatican, Pope Francis greeted representatives of a home for the elderly with Alzheimer’s from Bonheiden, Belgium. Among them was the Rainbow Choir that is attached to the home.

A group of elderly people with Alzheimer’s disease, on a pilgrimage to Rome, was welcomed by Pope Francis Wednesday morning in the Vatican’s Paul VI audience hall before he held his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square.

The group from a home in Bonheiden, Belgium, were accompanied by the Rainbow Choir that was born there.  The Pope was moved to see the elderly and the choir sing together for him.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-at-audience-building-bridges-through-hope.html

Pope at Audience: Building bridges through hope
03 April 2019, 11:40

Pope Francis during the weekly General Audience  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis devotes the General Audience to his recent visit to Morocco. Drawing on the theme of the trip, "Servant of Hope”, he tells the faithful in St Peter’s Square that “to serve hope in our day is to build bridges between cultures.”

The General Audience on Wednesday gave Pope Francis the opportunity to give thanks for his Apostolic visit to Morocco last weekend. In particular, he expressed his gratitude to King Mohammed VI for his warm welcome. Above all, he thanked the Lord for “allowing me to take another step along the road of dialogue and encounter with our Muslim brothers and sisters, as a “Servant of hope” in today’s world.”
 
https://zenit.org/articles/general-audience-pope-recalls-highlights-of-morocco-visit-full-text/
General Audience: Pope Recalls Highlights of Morocco Visit (Full Text) 
‘My pilgrimage followed in the footsteps of two Saints: Francis of Assisi and John Paul II.’
April 03, 2019 15:11•Virginia Forrester

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - General Audience 2019-04-03
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2019/pope-to-celebrate-holy-thursday-with-prisoners.cfm

Pope to celebrate Holy Thursday with prisoners
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service
4.3.2019 9:25 AM ET

CNS photo/Vatican Media
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis will celebrate the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper with prisoners in Velletri, about 36 miles south of Rome.

The pope will celebrate the Mass and the foot-washing ritual at the Velletri Correctional Facility April 18, the Vatican announced April 3.

The late-afternoon visit will include a meeting with prisoners, prison staff, police and local leaders, as well as an exchange of gifts with the head of the facility.

The pope was to wash the feet of 12 prisoners, the Vatican said.

Pope Francis has made it a tradition to celebrate the Holy Thursday Mass with people who could not come to the Vatican or the Basilica of St. John Lateran for the celebrations.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2019-04/pope-francis-santa-marta-mass-jesus-our-courage.html#.XKXwZuEDd-s.twitter

Pope at Mass: ‘Pray with courage, putting it all on the line’
04 April 2019, 13:02

Pope Francis delivers the homily at Mass in the Casa Santa Marta  (Vatican Media)
In his homily at Mass in the Casa Santa Marta on Thursday, Pope Francis invites us to pray courageously to the Lord, especially during Lent.
By Devin Watkins

Pope Francis invited the faithful at Mass on Thursday to pray face-to-face to the Lord, bringing all our lives to Him with courage.

Prayer, he said, is one of three ways – along with fasting and acts of charity – with which we prepare ourselves for Lent.

Pray with boldness

“Much courage is needed to pray. And we are often lukewarm… True prayer is this: with the Lord. And when I need to intercede, I need to do so with courage. In common parlance, people use an expression that I really like when they have a goal: ‘I put it all on the line’… But perhaps the doubt may arise: ‘I do it, but how do I know the Lord listens to me?’ We have a certainty: Jesus. He is the great intercessor.”

Pope Francis said prayer requires parrhesia – boldness or freedom of speech – to address the Lord with courage.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2019-04/pope-francis-appoints-new-archbishop-for-washington.html

Pope Francis appoints new Archbishop for Washington
04 April 2019, 12:01

Archbishop Wilton Daniel Gregory
The Holy Father appoints Archbishop Wilton Daniel Gregory, Metropolitan Archbishop of Washington D.C. in the United States.

Up to now Archbishop Gregory has been in charge of the Archdiocese of Atlanta in Georgia. He was appointed Archbishop in December 2004, and took office on 17 January 2005.

The Archbishop, who was born in 1947 in Chicago, Illinois, studied philosophy at Niles College and theology at Saint Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois. He was ordained a priest on May 9, 1973 for the Archdiocese of Chicago.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/analysis-gregorys-road-to-washington-13815
Analysis: Gregory’s road to Washington

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2019/04/04/archbishop-gregory-coming-to-washington-as-a-pastor-not-a-politician/
Archbishop Gregory coming to Washington as a pastor, not a politician
Christopher White   Apr 4, 2019
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-to-journalists-champion-factual-reporting-human-dignity.html

Pope to journalists: Champion factual reporting, human dignity
04 April 2019, 13:29

Pope addresses a delegation of German journalists  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis during an address to German journalists in the Vatican on Thursday, stresses the importance of factual reporting, dialogue and the dignity of the human person.
By Lydia O'Kane

In his address to the delegation of Catholic, and Evangelical journalists and public service broadcasters, Pope Francis focused his attention on three key points.

Dialogue

The first of those was dialogue and the Pope praised, what he called “the living dialogue between the Churches and public broadcasting in Germany. He added, that this “dialogue generates understanding, opens up horizons, and it finds itself creating space for a free and open exchange of information, opinions and analysis.”

Factual Reporting

The Pope’s second point dealt with the issue of factual reporting and he encouraged the delegation in their efforts “to ensure that there are facts instead of fake news, objectivity instead of rumours, precise research instead of approximate titles.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-prayer-intention-april-2019.html

Pope's April prayer intention: For medical personnel in conflict zones
04 April 2019, 16:00

Pope Francis on Thursday released a video message accompanying his prayer intention for April, which this month is for doctors and their humanitarian collaborators in conflict zones.

In his prayer intention for the month of April 2019, Pope Francis calls us to pray for doctors and their humanitarian collaborators in war-torn areas, who risk their lives to save the lives of others.

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://cruxnow.com/church-in-oceania/2019/04/04/rejecting-appeal-vatican-hands-down-final-ruling-against-guam-bishop/

Rejecting appeal, Vatican hands down final ruling against Guam bishop
Carol Glatz   Apr 4, 2019
CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

ROME - The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has rejected an appeal by the now-former Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron of Agana, Guam, upholding its judgment of finding him guilty of abuse against minors.

The doctrinal tribunal’s decision is final and no further appeals are possible, it said in a communique published April 4.

“The penalties imposed are as follows: the privation of office; the perpetual prohibition from dwelling, even temporarily, in the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Agana, and the perpetual prohibition from using the insignia attached to the rank of bishop,” it said

The 73-year-old member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin was ordained a bishop in 1984 and he “sacramentally” remains a bishop, Alessandro Gisotti, interim director of the Vatican press office, told reporters April 4.

However, Gisotti added, Apuron has been formally removed from the “office” of archbishop of Agana, where he was installed in 1986, and his removal from “ecclesiastical office” means he may no longer wear the usual “insignia” associated with it, such as a bishop’s ring, miter and staff.
 

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https://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2019/pope-asks-antitrafficking-nun-to-write-way-of-cross-meditations.cfm

Pope asks anti-trafficking nun to write Way of Cross meditations
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service
4.5.2019 9:07 AM ET

CNS photo/Vatican Media
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis has asked an Italian nun, who has been on the frontlines in the fight against human trafficking, to write this year's Way of the Cross meditations.

Consolata Sister Eugenia Bonetti, 80, will prepare the texts for the evening service April 19, Good Friday, at Rome's Colosseum, Alessandro Gisotti, interim director of the Vatican press office, said April 5.

Gisotti said, "The suffering of many people who are victims of human trafficking will be the central theme of the meditations," which are meant to help participants walk in Christ's footsteps and reflect on today's sins and sufferings, and how Christians should respond.

Each year, the pope asks a different person to write the commentary and prayers.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-prays-for-storm-victims-in-nepal.html

Pope Francis prays for storm victims in Nepal
05 April 2019, 13:44

People search for belongings following a storm in Nepal  (AFP or licensors)
Pope Francis expresses his solidarity to the people of Nepal following a recent storm that left at least 28 dead and caused widespread damage.
By Lydia O’Kane

Pope Francis on Friday expressed his closeness to all those who have been affected by the recent storm to hit Southern Nepal which left dozens of people dead and caused extensive damage to homes.

In a telegramme, signed on his behalf by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pope Francis conveys “his solidarity with all affected by this disaster and assures those grieving for deceased and injured family members of his prayers at this difficult time.”

He also offers his prayers "especially for the victims and encourages the emergency personnel as they continue to aid those in need."
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2019-04/cardinal-parolin-holy-see-press-office-homosexuality.html

Card. Parolin meets with group opposed to criminalization of homosexuality
05 April 2019, 18:00

Alessandro Gisotti, interim director of Holy See Press Office
 
By Vatican News

Responding to questions from journalists on Friday, the “ad interim” Director of the Holy See Press Office, Alessandro Gisotti, confirmed that the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, received a group of approximately 50 persons working in various ways against the criminalization of homosexuality.

During the meeting, research on the criminalization of homosexual relationships in the Caribbean was presented to the Vatican Secretary of State.

Cardinal Parolin extended a brief greeting to those present, repeating the Catholic Church’s position in defense of the dignity of every human person and against every form of violence.

After having listened to the presentations of some of the participants at the meeting, Cardinal Parolin then assured that he would inform the Holy Father of the contents of the research.

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/top-vatican-cardinal-receives-LGBT-activists-working-to-decriminalize-homosexual-sex-acts
Fri Apr 5, 2019 - 11:34 am EST
Top Vatican cardinal receives LGBT activists working to decriminalize homosexual sex acts
Diane Montagna

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-school-youth-teachers-parents.html#.XKjmAJ1tUCI.twitter

Pope’s lesson on suffering, war, culture of encounter
06 April 2019, 17:40

Pope addressing students and staff of San Carlo Institute.  (ANSA)
Pope Francis on Saturday received a delegation of students, teachers and parents of San Carlo Institute, a high school in Milan, Italy, on the occasion of its 150th anniversary. The Pope engaged in a Q&A session, responding to their queries off the cuff.
By Robin Gomes

QUESTION 1

A student from a privileged family, a volunteer who had been on a mission with his friends to Peru witnessed people suffering from abject poverty and injustice.  He wondered whether God is partial.

Suffering

The Pope said that questions such as why children suffer, don’t and wo n’t have answers. And those who rely on ready-made “packaged answers” will go the wrong way in life. 

He gave the example of a curious child who, never satisfied with the answers of his parents, continues to ask, “why?”.  The questions show there is so much insecurity in the child that he needs the assuring gaze of dad and mom, and that gives him the strength to move forward.  “This is not a packaged answer. This gaze of his parents cannot be bought in the shops.”  “Questions that have no answers will make you grow in the sense of mystery, the Pope said, adding, “one needs to question.”

Regarding suffering in the world, the Pope said it is not God who is partial but we.  It is we who create differences, including differences, pain and poverty.  The fact that there are so many children hungry in the world today, is not something created by God but by an “unjust economic system where every day people become poorer with nothing.”

This, the Pope said is not Communism, but the teaching of Jesus who will thank and tell us, “I was hungry and you gave me to eat.”   And to those of this system who starve children and people to death, he will say: “no, you go, because I was hungry you didn't look at me.”   

War

The Pope said that all seek peace, yet are there are wars in many countries such as in Yemen, Syria and Afghanistan.  The Pope said, “If they didn't have the weapons, they wouldn't wage wars.”  They wage wars “because we, the rich, Europe and America, sell weapons to kill children and people.”  “It's us who make create differences.”  “This,” the Pope said, “is something you must say clearly in the face, without fear.”  “And if you young people are not able to ask these questions, to say these things,” the Pope said, “you are not young, something is missing in your heart that makes you boil.”
 
Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - Paul VI Hall - Audience 2019-04-06
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-addresses-franciscan-mission-centre-on-its-50th-anniversary.html

Pope addresses Franciscan Mission Centre on its 50th anniversary
06 April 2019, 12:26

Pope meets with members of the Franciscan Mission Centre Foundation  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis on Saturday met with members of the German based Franciscan Mission Centre on Saturday, telling them to persevere in their commitment to help the most needy and marginalized throughout the world achieve a better future.
By Lydia O’Kane

The Franciscan Mission Centre is a development charity which arose from parish activities in the German district of Bonn-Bad Godesber in 1969.

It runs projects in Africa, Asia, Oceania, Latin America as well as in Eastern Europe, focusing on humanitarian development, social and pastoral projects, and on education, information and human rights.

Most recently, the charity has been providing emergency aid for Mozambique following Cyclone Idai.

Addressing members of the Franciscan foundation in the Vatican on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, Pope Francis told them, “It is beautiful that you, as a community of religious friars and committed lay faithful, turn to all people of good will to motivate them to help the needy and marginalized throughout the world to achieve a better future.”
 

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Video at the link with English commentary

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-at-angelus-every-true-conversion-is-directed-to-new-future.html#.XKneVqWhlGg.twitter

Pope at Angelus: Every true conversion is directed to a new future
07 April 2019, 12:24

Pope Francis at the Sunday Angelus  (Vatican Media)
On the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Pope Francis reflects on the Gospel account of Jesus’ merciful response to the woman caught in adultery.
By Christopher Wells

The Gospel of the day presents us with two conflicting attitudes, the Pope said: the attitude “of the scribes and Pharisees, on the one hand; and that of Jesus on the other”.

Jesus, the embodiment of God's mercy

The former, he explained wanted to condemn the woman caught in adultery, precisely because “they considered themselves the guardians of the law and of its faithful application”. Jesus, however, desired to save her, “because He incarnates the mercy of God who redeems by forgiving and renews by reconciling”.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/angelus-address-on-the-episode-of-the-woman-caught-in-adultery/
Angelus Address: On the Episode of the Woman Caught in Adultery 
April 07, 2019 15:20•Virginia Forrester

Youtube video at the link below--
Pope Francis - Angelus prayer 2019-04-07 
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-parish-visit-san-giulio-papa-monteverde.html

Pope Francis visits the church of San Giulio Papa a Monteverde
07 April 2019, 17:41

Pope Francis visits the Parish of San Giulio Papa (Pope St Julius) in the Monteverde district in Rome  (Vatican Media )
The Sunday evening visit is Pope Francis’ 19th parish visit in Rome.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis celebrated the Fifth Sunday of Lent on a pastoral visit to the Parish of San Giulio in Monteverde, in the western sector of the Diocese of Rome. The visit comes at the conclusion of three years of renovation work following the collapse of the roof.

Dedication of the new Altar

During his visit, the Holy Father will take the occasion to dedicate the church’s new altar, in which the relics of St John Bosco, St Margaret Mary Alocoque, and St Maria Goretti will be placed. Pope Francis was welcomed by Bishop Paolo Selvadagi, the auxiliary with care of the western sector of the Diocese; the Pastor, Fr Dario Frattini; and Fr Rinaldo Guarisco, the Superior General of the Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception, to whom the pastoral care of the parish is entrusted.
 
Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - Pastoral visit to the Parish of "San Giulio" – Holy Mass 2019-04-07
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2019-04/pontifical-commission-protection-minors-plenary-meeting-vatiab.html

Listening, learning at heart of Meeting on Protection of Minors
08 April 2019, 12:42

Pope Francis with Cardinal Séan Patrick O'Malley, president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (file photo)  (Vatican Media)
Taking their cue from Pope Francis, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, during their tenth Plenary Meeting, focuses on learning, listening, assisting, and protecting victims of clerical sexual abuse. At the conclusion of the Meeting, the Commission published the following press release:
By the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors

“The best results and the most effective resolution that we can offer to the victims, to the People of Holy Mother Church and to the entire world, are the commitment to personal and collective conversion, the humility of learning, listening, assisting and protecting the most vulnerable.” Pope Francis, February 24, 2019

Listening and Learning

The 10th ordinary Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors began in Rome Thursday April 4, with the testimony of a mother from sub-Saharan Africa, who was the victim of clerical sexual abuse as a child. 
 
For more information on the work of the Pontifical Commission visit our website at www.protectionofminors.va

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-appoints-new-bishop-for-cork-ireland.html

Pope appoints new Bishop for Cork, Ireland
08 April 2019, 12:01

Cathedral of St. Mary and St.Anne, Cork 
Pope Francis appoints Father Fintan Gavin, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Dublin, as the new Bishop of Cork & Ross.

To mark the appointment he concelebrated Mass on Monday morning in the Cathedral of Saint Mary & Saint Anne in Cork City with the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo.

Bishop-elect Gavin was born in Dublin in 1966. He completed his philosophical and theological studies at Holy Cross College in Clonliffe, Dublin. He then obtained a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Dublin on 7 June 1991.
 
https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/11565/fr-fintan-gavin-to-be-next-bishop-of-cork-and-ross
08 April 2019, The Tablet
Fr Fintan Gavin to be next Bishop of Cork and Ross
by Sarah Mac Donald