Pope Francis

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https://cruxnow.com/notre-dame-cathedral-fire/2019/04/18/france-honors-notre-dame-firefighters-protects-rose-window/

France honors Notre Dame firefighters; protects rose window
Elaine Ganley and Nicolas Vaux-Montagny
Apr 18, 2019
ASSOCIATED PRESS

(Credit: Christophe Ena/AP.)
PARIS - France paid a daylong tribute Thursday to the Paris firefighters who saved the internationally revered Notre Dame Cathedral from collapse and rescued many of its treasures. As the ceremonies took place, construction workers hurriedly secured key sections of the fire-weakened cathedral, including an area above one of its famed rose-shaped windows.

Fire officials warned that the massive cathedral still remains very fragile and extremely dangerous for construction workers and other specialists. On Thursday, workers using a crane were removing some statues to lessen the weight on the cathedral’s fragile gables, or support walls, and to keep them from falling, since the section lacked the support of the massive timber roof that burned up in Monday evening’s devastating blaze.

They were also securing the support structure above one of Notre Dame’s rose windows with wooden planks.

Several hundred Paris firefighters, who are members of the French military, filed into the presidential Elysee Palace courtyard for a gathering hosted by President Emmanuel Macron to share what his office said were “words of thanks.” Top government ministers also attended.

Paris City Hall was holding a ceremony in the firefighters’ honor later in the day, with a Bach violin concert, two giant banners strung from the monumental city headquarters and readings from Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

More than 400 firefighters took part in the nine-hour battle to save the 12th-century Notre Dame on Monday. Its spire collapsed and roof was destroyed, but its iconic towers, rose windows, famed organ and precious artworks were saved.

Remarkably, no one was killed in the fire, which began during a Mass, after firefighters and church officials speedily evacuated those inside.

Among the firefighters being honored Thursday is Paris fire brigade chaplain Father Jean-Marc Fournier, who says he was falsely credited with helping salvage the crown of thorns believed to have been worn by Jesus at his crucifixion.

The chaplain says a team of rescuers broke the relic’s protective covering and an official who had the secret code to unlock the protection finished the job. Fournier told France Info on Thursday that his own team arrived on the heels of the salvaging and praised the action “to preserve this extraordinary relic, this patrimony of humanity.”

However, Fournier told the daily Le Parisian that he himself was able to save the most precious thing for Catholics from the fire, the cathedral’s consecrated hosts. The paper said he climbed on altars to remove large paintings, but that he felt especially proud of another personal salvaging operation: “To have removed Jesus” from the Cathedral.

For Catholics, consecrated hosts are the body of Christ.
 
https://cruxnow.com/notre-dame-cathedral-fire/2019/04/18/police-official-short-circuit-likely-caused-notre-dame-fire/
Police official: Short-circuit likely caused Notre Dame fire
Elaine Ganley and Sylvie Corbet
Apr 18, 2019
ASSOCIATED PRESS

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-chrism-mass-holy-thursday.html

Pope Francis to priests: We are anointed in order to anoint
18 April 2019, 12:18

A deacon pours the fragrances into the vessel filled with oil to make the Chrism  (Vatican Media)
On the morning of Holy Thursday, during the Chrism Mass in St Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis reflected on “three graces that characterize the relationship between Jesus and the people”.
By Christopher Wells

In his homily during the Chrism Mass, Pope Francis noted that the Gospels often show Jesus in the midst of a crowd, beginning with the shepherds, kings, “and elderly dreamers” at the Nativity, to the “Veronicas” of this world, the “Cyreneans, thieves, and centurions” that surrounded Him on the Cross.

The Lord, he continued, “never lost that direct contact with the people”. Although some might hear the word “crowd” and think of a “faceless, nameless throng”, in the Gospel, “we see that when the crowd interacts with Jesus” it is transformed, it is personalized.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-holy-thursday-chrism-mass-homily.html
Pope’s Holy Thursday Chrism Mass: full text of homily
18 April 2019, 10:07

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-gift-book-homilies-priests-chrism-mass.html
Pope gifts priests with homilies of his Chrism Masses
18 April 2019, 13:03

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - Chrism Mass 2019-04-18
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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At the link:  A translation of Pope Francis’ off-the-cuff homily

https://zenit.org/articles/this-holy-thursday-pope-washes-feet-of-12-detainees-at-velletri-correctional-facility-reminding-them-we-all-must-humbly-serve-others/

This Holy Thursday, Pope Washes Feet of 12 Detainees at Velletri Correctional Facility, Reminding Them We All Must Humbly Serve Others 
April 18, 2019 20:26•Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis has visited the Velletri Correctional Facility, presiding, as is tradition, over the celebration of the Mass in Coena Domini with the Rite of the washing of the feet, beginning the Paschal Triduum.

After delivering an off-the-cuff homily, in which he stressed that everyone–no one excluded–must serve others, the Holy Father washed the feet of 12 detainees, including nine Italians, one Brazilian, one from the Ivory Coast and one from Morocco.

“All of us must also be servants,” he said in the homily. “It’s true that in life there are problems: we quarrel among ourselves . . . however, this must be something that passes, a passing thing, because in our heart there must always be this love of service of the other; to be at the service of the other.”
 
Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - Mass "in Coena Domini" 2019-04-18
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-greetings-rome-rabbi.html

Pope exchanges greetings with the Chief Rabbi of Rome
19 April 2019, 12:57

Pope Francis with Rome Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni (file photo)
Pope Francis and the Chief Rabbi of Rome, Riccardo Di Segni, exchange greetings for the Christian feast of Easter and the Jewish festival of the Passover, respectively.
By Vatican News

While Christians prepare to celebrate the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus at Easter, Jewish communities around the world celebrate Pesach. Also known as the feast of the Passover, the celebration commemorates the liberation of the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt, as described in the Book of Exodus.

Pope Francis’ message to Rabbi Di Segni

In a message of good wishes sent to the Chief Rabbi of Rome, Riccardo Di Segni, Pope Francis writes: "May the God of mercy accompany you with his blessing and grant you peace and harmony". "In renewing, on this happy occasion, the bonds of friendship and commitment towards the most needy of our society”, continues the Pope’s message, “I assure you of my remembrance and ask you to continue to pray for me”. The Pope concludes with the traditional Jewish greeting of “Chag Sameach", literally meaning “joyous festival”.

Rabbi Di Segni’s message to Pope Francis

Rome’s Chief Rabbi sent his personal wishes to the Pope in a hand-written note, which reads: "In the run-up to the Easter festivities I thank you and offer my cordial wishes for joy, serenity and health, for consolidation and beneficial relations of friendship and collaboration. May your prayers for good be heard".
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-celebrates-the-solemn-liturgy-of-the-lord-s-passion.html

Pope Francis celebrates the Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion
19 April 2019, 15:06

Pope Francis celebrates Good Friday Passion of Our Lord  (Vatican Media)
During the Liturgy of the Lord's Passion in St Peter’s Basilica, presided over by Pope Francis, the Preacher to the Pontifical Household, Fr Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. Cap., preached on the passage “He was despised and rejected by men”.
By Christopher Wells

Tens of thousands of faithful from Rome and around the world joined Pope Francis in St Peter’s Basilica on Good Friday for the liturgical commemoration of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Good Friday is the only day of the year on which Holy Mass is not celebrated. In its place, the Church celebrates the Solemn Liturgy of the Passion of the Lord, consisting of three parts: the Liturgy of the Word, culminating in the chanting of the Passion according to St John; the Adoration of the Cross; and Holy Communion.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/homily-of-fr-cantalamessa-for-good-friday-full-text.html
Homily of Fr Cantalamessa for Good Friday - full text
19 April 2019, 14:58

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - Celebration of the Passion of the Lord 2019-04-19
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-via-crucis-rome-colosseum-good-friday.html

Pope Francis leads Via Crucis at Rome's Colosseum on Good Friday
19 April 2019, 19:10

Pope Francis sits in front of the Colosseum  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis leads the Way of the Cross against the iconic backdrop of Rome’s Colosseum on Good Friday evening, and reflects on meditations that show how Christ continues to suffer in the world today.
By Vatican News

The Via Crucis is a devotion that has been practiced by the Christian faithful for centuries. The tradition of celebrating the Way of the Cross at Rome’s Colosseum dates back to Pope Benedict XIV in the 18th century. It was Pope St Paul VI who revived the practice in 1964. 

Every year a different person is chosen to prepare the texts that accompany a brief reflection at each of the 14 Stations. Pope St John Paul II wrote them himself for the Jubilee Year 2000, and then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger did the same in 2005.

New forms of crucifixion

This year, Pope Francis asked a woman religious to prepare the meditations. She is Sr Eugenia Bonetti, a Consolata Missionary and President of the Association "Slaves no more", well known for her work in fighting against human trafficking. In fact, Sr Bonetti’s reflections make a point of highlighting the plight of those who suffer new forms of crucifixion in society today.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/text-for-the-way-of-the-cross-led-by-pope-francis-april-19-2019-colesseum/
Text for the Way of the Cross Led by Pope Francis, April 19, 2019, Colesseum 
Meditations by Sister Eugenia Bonetti
April 19, 2019 01:44

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-prays-via-crucis.html
Pope Francis recalls present-day crosses at Way of the Cross
19 April 2019, 19:21
At the conclusion of the Via Crucis at Rome’s Colosseum on Good Friday evening, Pope Francis prays that we may recognize, in the Cross of Christ, all the crosses of those who suffer various forms of pain and injustice in the world today.
By Vatican News

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - The Way of the Cross 2019-04-19
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://cruxnow.com/notre-dame-cathedral-fire/2019/04/19/fire-ravaged-notre-dame-now-stabilized-firefighters-leave/

Fire-ravaged Notre Dame now stabilized, firefighters leave
Sylvie Corbet and Nicolas Vaux-Montagny
Apr 19, 2019
ASSOCIATED PRESS

With Notre Dame cathedral, background right, religious officials pray during the Good Friday procession, Friday, April 19, 2019 in Paris. Top French art conservation officials say the works inside Notre Dame suffered no major damage in the fire that devastated the cathedral, and the pieces have been removed from the building for their protection.(Credit: Francois Mori/AP.)

PARIS - Architects and construction workers have now stabilized the damaged structure of Notre Dame cathedral, four days after a fast-spreading fire ravaged the iconic Paris building, and firefighters will leave the site Friday night, a fire brigade spokesman said.

“There is no more risk the edifice’s walls could fall down,” Lt. Col. Gabriel Plus told The Associated Press, adding that firefighters have been able to cool down the walls and debris from the roof inside the cathedral.

“It’s a miracle that the cathedral is still standing, and that all the relics were saved,” he said.

Earlier, the cathedral’s rector said a “computer glitch” may have been behind the rapidly spreading blaze that devastated the 850-year-old architectural masterpiece.

Rector Patrick Chauvet did not elaborate on the exact nature of the glitch. “We may find out what happened in two or three months,” he told a meeting of local business leaders.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-easter-vigil-homily.html

Pope at Easter Vigil: Roll away the stones that crush hope
20 April 2019, 21:52

Pope Francis carries a lighted candle at the Easter Vigil  (Vatican Media)
“Why do you seek the living among the dead?” is the recurring theme in Pope Francis’ homily during the Easter Vigil Mass in St Peter’s Basilica, as he challenges us to roll away the stones of sin and discouragement.
By Vatican News

Many people consider the Easter Vigil liturgy to be the most beautiful of all Catholic liturgies. Celebrated on Holy Saturday evening, it provides a dramatic introduction to Easter. Through the powerful symbols of fire, light, music, and the water of baptism – everything speaks of hope and rebirth. And Pope Francis did the same in his homily.

Rolling away the stone

The Pope began with the image of the women bringing spices to the tomb: they found a stone blocking the entrance, and feared their journey had been in vain. “The journey of those women is also our own”, said the Pope. “At times, it seems that everything comes up against a stone… We can be tempted to think that dashed hope is the bleak law of life”.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-easter-vigil-mass-homily-text.html
Pope Francis' homily at Easter Vigil Mass: Full text
20 April 2019, 21:55

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - The Easter Vigil 2019-04-20
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-urbi-et-orbi-shines-light-on-conflict-zones.html#.XLxi8PmPmhs.twitter

Pope at Easter Urbi et Orbi: Risen Christ shines light on darkness of conflict
21 April 2019, 12:12

Pope Francis imparts his Apostolic Blessing at the Easter Urbi et Orbi  (Vatican Media)
In his Easter Urbi et Orbi address, Pope Francis prays that the light of the Risen Christ shine in the darkness of conflicts around the world, especially those in Syria, Yemen, Israel and Palestine, Libya, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Sudan, South Sudan, eastern Ukraine, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.
By Devin Watkins

“Christ is alive and he remains with us.”

With those words of hope, Pope Francis addressed the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday for the Urbi et Orbi (“to the City and to the World”) message and blessing.

He said the morning of Easter represents “the perennial youth of the Church and of humanity as a whole”.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-laments-sri-lanka-attacks-on-easter.html#.XLxjAoRGszw.twitter
Pope Francis laments Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka
21 April 2019, 12:21

https://zenit.org/articles/holy-fathers-urbi-et-orbi-blessing-full-text/
Holy Father’s ‘Urbi et Orbi’ Blessing (Full Text) 
‘Today the Church renews the proclamation made by the first disciples: Jesus is risen!’
April 21, 2019 14:17

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - Easter - Message and “Urbi et Orbi” Blessing 2019-04-21
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-at-regina-coeli-the-risen-jesus-walks-beside-us.html

Pope at Regina Coeli: “The risen Jesus walks beside us”
22 April 2019, 12:11

Pope Francis during the Regina Coeli  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis prays the Regina Coeli in St Peter’s Square on Easter Monday and reflects on the Gospel of St Matthew that describes the women meeting Jesus at the empty tomb.
By Vatican News

The role of women as the first witness of the Resurrection: before praying the Regina Coeli, which takes the place of the Angelus during the Easter season, the Pope reflected on the Gospel of the day for Easter Monday, in which St Matthew takes us back to the empty tomb of Jesus.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-regina-coeli-easter-monday-full-text.html
Pope at Regina Coeli on Easter Monday: Full text
22 April 2019, 10:46

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - Recitation of the Regina Coeli prayer 2019-04-22
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2019/04/22/vatican-publishes-updated-schedule-for-popes-visit-to-balkan-nations/

Vatican publishes updated schedule for pope’s visit to Balkan nations
Catholic News Service
Apr 22, 20

ROME - Pope Francis will visit the Balkan nations of Bulgaria and North Macedonia May 5-7, encouraging the nations’ small Catholic communities, reaching out to the Orthodox and to Muslims and paying tribute to two popular saints.

St. Teresa of Kolkata was born Aug. 26, 1910, in Skopje, which is now the capital of North Macedonia. And St. John XXIII served as apostolic delegate in Bulgaria from 1925 to 1935; for the theme of Pope Francis’s trip, the Bulgarian bishops chose the title of St. John’s 1963 encyclical, Pacem in Terris (“Peace on Earth”).

The Vatican April 17 released a full schedule for the trip, updating the an outlined itinerary, which was published in early March. Here is the full schedule; times listed are local, with Eastern Daylight Time in parentheses:

Sunday, May 5 (Rome, Sofia)
 

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https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2019/04/22/new-vatican-document-to-put-evangelization-ahead-of-doctrine/

New Vatican document to put evangelization ahead of doctrine
Inés San Martín   Apr 22, 2019

ROME - A new “super dicastery” on evangelization might be one of the most significant reforms of the governing structures of the Vatican, according to a new report.

Spanish journalist Dario Menor Torres, writing for the weekly Vida Nueva, reveals several elements of the new Vatican constitution that has been in development for years.

The biggest novelty in the document, called Praedicate Evangelium [“Preach the Gospel”], will be the creation of the “super dicastery” for evangelization, which will potentially be more important than the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), often called “The Supreme Congregation.”

Having its roots in the Roman Inquisition, the doctrinal office is the oldest among the congregations of the Roman Curia, and insiders still call it the Holy Office, as it’s tasked with promulgating and defending Catholic doctrine and defending the Church from heresy.

Today, in addition to defending doctrine, it is also tasked with judging priests who’ve been accused of sexually abusing minors, with 17 officials dedicated almost exclusively to this task.

Another of the novelties in the new constitution is that the curia will no longer be divided into “congregations” and the less prestigious “pontifical councils;” instead all autonomous Vatican departments will be called “dicasteries,” which has already been applied to several new bodies established by Pope Francis.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-name-day-saint-george-wyd-rosaries-young-people.html

On feast of St George, Pope gives Rosaries to young people
23 April 2019, 12:37

One of the Rosaries given by Pope Francis to young people from Milan
On his Name Day, Pope Francis donated — through the Office of Papal Charities — six thousand Rosaries from World Youth Day to young people from the Archdiocese of Milan. The youth were taking part in a Mass celebrated in St Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday by Milan’s Archbishop, Mario Delpini.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis, baptized Jorge (George) Mario Bergoglio, celebrates his Name Day on April 23, the feast of St George the Martyr. It is traditional in some parts of the world for people to celebrate in a special way the feasts of the saints for whom they are named.

The Rosaries donated to the young pilgrims were made with olive wood from the Holy Land specifically for the most recent World Youth Day, which took place in Panama in January; and for Youth Day at the Diocesan level on Palm Sunday. Caritas Jerusalem organized the production of the Rosaries, which gave work to the poor, to refugees, and to families of prisoners.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-gifts-6000-rosaries-asks-for-prayers-on-name-day-95790
Pope Francis gifts 6,000 rosaries, asks for prayers on name day
By Hannah Brockhaus

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-audience-our-father-forgiven-as-forgive.html#.XMBNnvABkh8.twitter

Pope at Audience: ‘We are forgiven as we forgive others’
24 April 2019, 13:27

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims at the weekly General Audience  (Vatican Media)
In his continuing catechesis on the Our Father at the Wednesday General Audience, Pope Francis reminds us that we are forgiven in the measure with which we forgive those who trespass against us.
By Devin Watkins

Pope Francis reflected – at the weekly General Audience – on the words of the Lord’s prayer: “as we forgive those who trespass against us”.

The Holy Father began by reminding the faithful in St. Peter’s Square that everything we have, even our very existence, is a gift from God.

“Our life was not only willed by God,” he said, “but was loved by God.”

He said there is no space in the Church for “self-made men”, because we are all indebted to God. But, he said, we often leave out the words “thank you” when we pray, as if forgetting that we owe all to God who forgives us when we go astray.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/april-24-2019-general-audience-full-text/
April 24, 2019 General Audience (Full Text) 
April 24, 2019 15:49•Virginia Forrester

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - General Audience 2019-04-24
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2019/04/24/vatican-publishes-updated-schedule-for-popes-visit-to-romania/

Vatican publishes updated schedule for pope’s visit to Romania
Catholic News Service   Apr 24, 2019

ROME - Visiting Romania May 31-June 2, Pope Francis will stop at six destinations, including a popular Marian shrine in Transylvania.

He also will beatify seven bishop-martyrs of the Eastern-rite Romanian Catholic Church, who died during a fierce anti-religious campaign waged under the communist regime.

His visit to the predominately Orthodox country will be his 30th foreign trip after visiting Bulgaria and North Macedonia in early May.

The trip will include visits to the Romanian Orthodox and Roman Catholic cathedrals, celebration of a Latin-rite Mass and an Eastern-rite Divine Liturgy, as well as separate meetings with political leaders, young people and families as well as members of the Roma community.

He will visit the capital, Bucharest, the cities of Bacau, Iasi, Sibiu, Blaj and the Marian shrine in Sumuleu Ciuc, an important place of pilgrimage for Hungarian Catholics, especially on Pentecost, which is June 9.

The overwhelming majority - almost 82 percent - of Romania’s 20 million inhabitants say they belong to the Romanian Orthodox Church led by Patriarch Daniel. About 6 percent of the population identifies itself as Protestant and over 4 percent identify as Catholic.

The Vatican April 24 released a full schedule for the trip, updating an itinerary published in late March. Times listed are local, with Eastern Daylight Time in parentheses.

Friday, May 31 (Rome, Bucharest)
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-italian-federation-deaf-associations-audience.html#.XMGpitxItzs.twitter

Pope invites the deaf to help others “hear” the voice of God
25 April 2019, 13:47

Pope Francis' audience with Italian Federation of Associations for the Deaf (FIAS)   (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis receives members of the Italian Federation of Associations for the Deaf in audience in the Vatican, and stresses the need for inclusion and a culture of encounter.
By Vatican News

The Italian Federation of Associations for the Deaf was founded in 1920. In the words of its original mission statement, it was created in order to “counter the isolation, marginalization, and humiliation of the hearing and speech impaired”.

Inclusion and quality of life

Pope Francis met with members of the Federation in the Vatican on Thursday and expanded that mission, saying the Federation is now dedicated to “tackling the culture of waste, and encouraging greater inclusion in all environments”. This work is necessary, he said, in order “to ensure a better quality of life for the deaf person and the overcoming of this disability by valuing all dimensions, including the spiritual one”.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-young-french-pilgrims-diocese-aire-dax-speech.html

Pope to young French pilgrims: I'm counting on you!
25 April 2019, 15:47

Pope Francis with young pilgrims from the Diocese of Aire and Dax
Young people from the Diocese of Aire and Dax meet with Pope Francis on Thursday, during a pilgrimage to Rome as part of Youth Days for the Landes region of France.
By Christopher Wells

Pope Francis told the young people that their pilgrimage to Rome gave them the opportunity to “revive within themselves the gift of faith”, as they remembered the Apostles St Peter and St Paul, and the many witnesses —“including young people” — “who suffered martyrdom for choosing to remain faithful to Jesus Christ”. Some people, the Pope said, think that it is more difficult to be Christian and live the faith than it was in the past. But Pope Francis insisted that being Christian now is different from previous eras, but not more difficult
 
https://zenit.org/articles/the-church-is-in-need-of-your-faith-pope-tells-french-young-people/
‘The Church Is in Need of Your Faith’, Pope Tells French Young People 
Also Reminds Youth to Root Themselves in God’s Love, Be Transformed & Renewed by the Holy Spirit
April 25, 2019 16:40•Deborah Castellano Lubov

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-04/pope-francis-bible-brings-god-s-breath-into-the-world.html

Pope Francis: Bible brings God's breath into the world
26 April 2019, 13:29

Pope Francis meets with Catholic Biblical Federation  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis on Friday meets with the Catholic Biblical Federation on the occasion of their fiftieth anniversary, telling them the Bible is not a beautiful collection of sacred books to study, it is the Word of life to be proclaimed through the streets of the world.

In order to highlight the fruits of its 50 years of activity, the Catholic Biblical Federation has been holding an International Biblical-Pastoral Congress this week under the theme "Word and Life, Biblical Animation of the life and pastoral activity of the Church".

And it was on this theme of “Word and life” that the Pope dwelt on in his remarks on Friday to those gathered in the Vatican’s Clementine Hall
 
https://zenit.org/articles/pope-receives-participants-in-international-congress-promoted-by-catholic-biblical-federation/
Pope Receives Participants in International Congress promoted by Catholic Biblical Federation 
Stresses that Word of God is Living, Never Grows Old
April 26, 2019 16:38

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https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/11634/francis-condemns-anti-lgbt-bias-in-meeting-with-pilgrims

25 April 2019, The Tablet
Francis condemns anti-LGBT bias in meeting with pilgrims
by Liz Dodd

Pope Francis has told a group of celebrity pilgrims who walked to Rome from the Alps for a BBC Easter documentary that anyone who “discards” a gay person “doesn’t have a human heart”.

His remarks came during a private audience with the eight UK celebrities, including actor Les Dennis, comedian Katy Brand and Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford, that marked the end of their 1,000 km walk along a section of the ancient Via Francigena pilgrim route.

During the audience, broadcast in the final episode of Pilgrimage: The Road To Rome on BBC2 on Good Friday, British comedian Stephen K. Amos told Pope Francis that, as a gay man, he didn’t feel accepted by the Church.

In response Pope Francis said: “Giving more importance to the adjective [gay] rather than the noun [man], this is not good. We are all human beings and have dignity. It does not matter who you are, or how you live your life – you do not lose your dignity.” He went on: “There are people that prefer to select or discard people because of the adjective. These people don’t have a human heart.” His comments were welcomed by LGBT Catholics and their supporters.
 

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Photo at the link

https://zenit.org/articles/pope-meets-with-chairman-of-bosnia-herzegovina-collegial-presidency/

Pope Meets With Chairman of Bosnia-Herzegovina Collegial Presidency 
Spoke About Catholic Presence in the Country
April 26, 2019 16:08•Deborah Castellano Lubov 

This morning in the Vatican, Pope Francis received in audience Milorad Dodik, the chairman in the collegial presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

According to a communique issued by the Holy See, the discussions were “cordial,” and satisfaction “was expressed for the good bilateral relations and the presence of the Catholic community” in the country.

The Pope and chairman spoke about the situation of the country and the economic and social challenges it faces.

“In addition,” the statement noted, “the need to guarantee effective parity of the constituent peoples and reconciliation among them was reiterated, underlining the importance of dialogue and mutual respect also in the institutional field, so as to overcome divisions and to achieve peace.”