Pope Francis

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Pope Francis' trip to Romania -- May 31-June 2, 2019

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.
 
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.
 
Saturday, June 1 (Bucharest, Bacau, Miercurea Ciuc, Iasi, Bucharest)

- 9:30 a.m. (2:30 a.m.) Departure by plane for Bacau.
- 10:10 a.m. (3:10 a.m.) Arrival at Bacau airport, transfer by helicopter to the air base in Miercurea Ciuc.
- 11:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m.) Celebration of Mass at the Marian shrine in Sumuleu Ciuc. Homily by pope.
- 4:10 p.m. (9:10 a.m.) Transfer by helicopter to the Iasi airport.
- 5:25 p.m. (10:25 a.m.) Visit to the Our Lady Queen of Iasi Cathedral.
- 5:45 p.m. (10:45 a.m.) Marian gathering with young people and families in the square outside the government Palace of Culture in Iasi. Speech by pope.
- 7 p.m. (Noon) Departure by plane for Bucharest.
- 8 p.m. (1 p.m.) Arrival at Bucharest’s Henri Coanda International Airport in Otopeni, near Bucharest.
 

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Pope Francis' trip to Romania -- May 31-June 2, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-06/pope-at-marian-shrine-of-sumuleu-ciuc-we-are-pilgrims.html
Pope at Marian Shrine of Şumuleu Ciuc: We are pilgrims
01 June 2019, 13:48

Holy Mass at the Marian Shrine of Şumuleu Ciuc  (Vatican Media)
On an overcast and foggy day in Romanian, tens of thousands of pilgrims took part in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the Sanctuary at Şumuleu Ciuc
By Christopher Wells

“We have come here as children to meet our Mother, and to acknowledge that we are all brothers and sisters”, Pope Francis said at the Marian Shrine at Şumuleu Ciuc. “Shrines”, he explained, “are like ‘sacraments’ of a Church that is a field hospital: they keep alive the memory of God’s faithful people who, in the midst of tribulation, continue to seek the source of living water that renews our hope”.

The Shrine at Şumuleu Ciuc is one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations in eastern Europe. Each year, tens of thousands of pilgrims, many from Hungary, travel to the shrine on the Saturday before Pentecost to commemorate a 16th century victory over a Protestant force that had been sent to convert them.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-06/pope-mass-shrine-of-sumuleu-ciuc-full-text.html
Pope's Mass at Shrine of Sumuleu-Ciuc in Romania: Full text
01 June 2019, 10:38

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis – Shrine of Sumuleu-Ciuc- Holy Mass 2019-06-01
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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Pope Francis' trip to Romania -- May 31-June 2, 2019

https://zenit.org/articles/romania-holy-father-visits-our-lady-queen-of-cathedral-in-iasi/
Romania: Holy Father Visits Our Lady Queen of Cathedral in Iasi 
A Memorial dedicated to Blessed Anton Durcovici, Martyred in 1951
June 01, 2019 16:30•Jim Fair

Vatican Media Screenshot
Pope Francis on June 1, 2019, visited Our Lady Queen of Iasi Cathedral, where he prayed at the memorial to Blessed Anton Durcovici (1888-1951), Bishop of Iasi martyred in 1951. Iasi is the most important political, economic and cultural center of the Romanian Moldavian province as well as one of Romania’s oldest cities. The Cathedral is the Cathedral Church of the Diocese of Isai.

As usual, during his apostolic journeys, the Pope draws a big crowd. Local officials estimated roughly 100,000 people filled the streets and sidewalks around the cathedral during the Pope’s visit.
 
Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - Iași – Visit to the Cathedral of Our Lady Queen of Heaven 2019-06-01
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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Pope Francis' trip to Romania -- May 31-June 2, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-06/pope-in-romania-mary-encourages-her-children-s-hopes-and-dreams.html
Pope in Romania: Mary encourages her children’s hopes and dreams
01 June 2019, 17:45

Pope Francis on Saturday addresses a Marian encounter with Young People and Families telling them, don’t be afraid to dream along life’s journey.

“Today is Children’s Day in Romania – let’s greet them with a round of applause.” Those were the Pope’s words to young people and families on Saturday who had gathered for a Marian encounter with him against the backdrop of the Palace of Culture.

He invited everyone present to pray for all children “asking the Blessed Virgin to shelter them under her mantle.”

The Pope told the children, young people, families and elderly in the Square in Iasi, who had come from different traditions and places, that “the Holy Spirit has called us here and He helps us discover the beauty of being together, of being able to meet and journey together.” “This is the experience of a new Pentecost”, he said.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/popes-address-at-marian-meeting-with-young-people-and-families-in-iasi-romania-full-text/
Pope’s Address at Marian Meeting with Young People and Families in Iasi, Romania (Full Text) 
In Square in Front of Palace of Culture
June 01, 2019 17:39

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - Iași - Marian meeting with Young People and Families 2019-06-01
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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In other news...

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/new-global-catholic-rules-against-sex-abuse-build-on-decades-of-work-17942

New global Catholic rules against sex abuse build on decades of work
By Kevin J. Jones

Vatican City, May 31, 2019 / 03:05 pm (CNA).- The Vatican’s global norms mandating sex abuse reporting take effect June 1, but two North American archdioceses say their recent decades’ work against clergy sex abuse means they are largely already compliant with the new global requirements for the Catholic Church.

“We recognize that trust needs to be regained and that we must work every day to earn that trust. That’s why viewing this from a global perspective is important,” Neil MacCarthy, director of public relations and communications at the Archdiocese of Toronto, told CNA. “It’s not just about Toronto having a responsible approach in place. It’s trying to ensure that this is a priority of the global Church – that we are all concerned for the safety and well-being of those involved in our ministries.”

“When any diocese experiences a case of sexual abuse, it is a wound to every one of us. People don’t tend to distinguish between one diocese or another so it really is a ‘Catholic Church issue’,” MacCarthy added. “That’s a huge challenge and in our own dioceses we need to do all that we can to regain that trust, one day at a time.”

Pope Francis promulgated the new norms May 9 in a document titled Vos estis lux mundi, or “You are the Light of the World.”
 
https://zenit.org/articles/us-bishops-issue-2018-report-on-protection-of-children-and-young-people/
US: Bishops Issue 2018 Report on Protection of Children and Young People 
Reported Cases up ‘Significantly’ from Previous Year
May 31, 2019 18:27

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In other news...

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/cardinal-pell-source-refutes-reports-that-he-will-not-request-a-reduced-sen

May. 30, 2019
Cardinal Pell Source Refutes Reports That He Will Not Request a Reduced Sentence
Cardinal Pell’s appeal will be broadcast live from the Victorian Supreme Court June 5.
Edward Pentin

SYDNEY — A source close to Cardinal George Pell and his legal team said the cardinal has denied not requesting a reduced sentence if his appeal trial fails to overturn his conviction next week.

“Neither the cardinal nor his legal team have made any comment about his sentence or appealing the sentence,” a source close to the cardinal told the Register May 30. “The main and only focus at this time is the appeal next Tuesday and Wednesday against his conviction.”

The source added: “I am sure it is not by chance recent stories have been framed in such a way to cast doubt on the cardinal’s view of the trial decision, but there is no basis for it.”
 

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Pope Francis' trip to Romania -- May 31-June 2, 2019

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
 
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
 
Sunday, June 2 (Bucharest, Sibiu, Blaj, Sibiu, Rome)

- 9 a.m. (2 a.m.) Departure by plane for Sibiu.
- 9:40 a.m. (2:40 a.m.) Arrival at the Sibiu airport and transfer by helicopter to Blaj.
- 11 a.m. (4 a.m.) Celebration of the Divine Liturgy and the beatification of seven martyred bishops of the Eastern-rite Romanian Catholic Church at Blaj’s Liberty Field. Homily by pope. Recitation of the “Regina Coeli” prayer.
- 1:25 p.m. (6:25 a.m.) Lunch with the papal entourage.
- 3:45 p.m. (8:45 a.m.) Meeting with members of the Roma community. Greeting by pope.
- 4:35 p.m. (9:35 a.m.) Transfer by helicopter to the Sibiu airport.
- 5:20 p.m. (10:20 a.m.) Farewell ceremony at the airport.
- 5:30 p.m. (10:30 a.m.) Departure by plane for Rome’s Ciampino airport.
- 6:45 p.m. (12:45 p.m.) Arrival at Rome’s Ciampino airport.

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Pope Francis' trip to Romania -- May 31-June 2, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-06/pope-francis-romania-beatification-7-greek-catholic-martyrs.html
Pope in Romania: Who are the 7 Greek-Catholic martyrs?
02 June 2019, 16:30

Pope Francis with an icon showing the seven beatified martyrs together with the Virgin Mary  (ANSA)
During a Divine Liturgy in the city of Blaj on Sunday, Pope Francis beatifies seven Greek- Catholic bishops who were martyred under the communist regime in Romania.
By Vatican News

All seven of the Greek-Catholic bishops were arrested in 1948. All of them were imprisoned and left to die of hunger, exposure, disease, or the effects of hard labour, and then buried in unmarked graves. The liturgical chair used during the Divine Liturgy in Blaj on Sunday, was made from the wooden planks of the prison beds, and from the iron bars of the prison windows where some of the martyrs died.

Iuliu Hossu

Romania was under Soviet occupation and ruled by Nicolae Ceausescu, when Iuliu Hossu returned there after completing his theology studies in Rome. He spent 22 years in prison. His last words were: "My battle is over, yours continues". He never knew that Pope Paul VI had created him a Cardinal "in pectore" in 1969.
 

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Pope Francis' trip to Romania -- May 31-June 2, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-06/pope-francis-romania-beatification-martyrs-dviine-litury-blaj.html
Pope in Romania: Be witnesses to freedom and mercy
02 June 2019, 11:41

Pope Francis celebrates the Divine Liturgy and Beatification ceremony for seven martyrs in Blaj  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis celebrates the Divine Liturgy in the city of Blaj, and beatifies seven Greek Catholic bishops who were martyred under the communist regime.
By Vatican News

The city of Blaj is in Transylvania and is the principal religious and cultural centre of the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church in the region. Pope Francis arrived there from Bucharest on Sunday morning, and was joined by over 100,000 people for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.

The Pope’s Homily

The Pope took his inspiration from the Gospel of the day (John 9:2), in which we hear how Jesus restores the sight of the man born blind. Instead of acknowledging the miracle, the Pharisees question everything about it, including the authenticity of the man’s blindness, and Jesus’ right to heal on the Sabbath. “The whole scene and the arguments that follow show how hard it is to understand the actions and priorities of Jesus, who brings someone from the periphery into the centre”, said Pope Francis.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-06/pope-francis-divine-liturgy-beatification-martyrs-blaj.html
Pope celebrates Divine Liturgy, beatifies martyrs in Blaj: full text
02 June 2019, 11:04

https://zenit.org/articles/regina-coeli-pope-tells-romanian-catholics-i-thank-god-for-opportunity-to-pray-with-you/
Regina Coeli: Pope Tells Romanian Catholics ‘I Thank God for Opportunity to Pray With You’ 
June 02, 2019 12:29•Deborah Castellano Lubov

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis – Blaj- Divine Liturgy and Regina Coeli 2019-06-02
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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Pope Francis' trip to Romania -- May 31-June 2, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-06/pope-romania-forgiveness-roma-community.html
Pope in Romania asks forgiveness for sins against Roma community
02 June 2019, 15:43

A boy reacts as Pope Francis arrives to meet with members of the Roma community in the Barbu Lautaru district of Blaj
Pope Francis wraps up his 3-day apostolic visit to Romania on Sunday meeting the nation’s Roma community.
By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis ended his pilgrimage to the Balkan country of Romania asking forgiveness, in the name of the Church, for the injustice perpetrated against some of the country’s – and the world’s - most marginalized and discriminated people.

His apology and call for social inclusion came during a meeting with representatives of the Roma community that makes up about 10 percent of the nation’s 20 million people.

He chose the Barbu Lautaru district of the city of Blaj, where the majority of the inhabitants are Roma to ask forgiveness for all the times in history the Church has discriminated or mistreated them. 
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-06/pope-francis-romania-roma-community-forgiveness.html
Pope in Romania asks forgiveness to Roma community: full text
02 June 2019, 14:48

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - Blaj - Meeting with the Roma Community 2019-06-02
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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Pope Francis' trip to Romania -- May 31-June 2, 2019

https://www.romereports.com/en/2019/06/02/pope-francis-bids-farewell-to-romania-to-return-to-rome/
Pope Francis bids farewell to Romania to return to Rome
2019/06/02

After concluding his last event in Blaj, Romania, Pope Francis went to Sibiu airport to prepare for his flight back to Rome.

There the farewell ceremony was attended by the Romanian president, Klaus Iohannis and his wife, where they had a brief private meeting before the pope departed.

Pope Francis made sure to say goodbye to all the people lining the path to the airplane.
 
Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - Sibiu- Departure Ceremony 2019-06-02
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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Pope Francis' trip to Romania -- May 31-June 2, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-06/pope-francis-inflight-press-conference-romania.html
Pope Francis: Pray for Europe, for unity
02 June 2019, 20:39

Pope Francis answers questions during the inflight press conference as he returns from Romania  (ANSA)
Pope Francis addresses a number of topics during the return flight from Romania, including the need for solidarity in the face of global problems; relations between Catholics and Orthodox; and the current situation in Europe.
By Vatican News

“If Europe does not look well at the challenges ahead, Europe will wither, it will be withered.,” Pope Francis said in response to a question about recent trends in European politics. Asked about groups “that do not desire fraternity” but “prefer to go it alone,” the Pope said Europe needs to “take up again the mysticism of the founding fathers." Europe needs "to be itself," to rediscover "its own identity, its own unity," in order to overcome "divisions and borders.” He acknowledged that nations have their own proper identity, which they must protect; but, he continued, “with the mysticism of the polyhedron.” There is a “globalization,” he said, “where all cultures are respected, but all are united.”
 

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Pope Francis' trip to Romania -- May 31-June 2, 2019

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/full-text-of-pope-francis-in-flight-press-conference-from-romania-53358
Full text of Pope Francis' in-flight press conference from Romania

Aboard the papal plane, Jun 3, 2019 / 06:09 am (CNA).- Please read below for CNA's full transcript of the pope's June 2 in-flight press conference from Sibiu, Romania to Rome:

Alessandro Gisotti, interim director of the Holy See Press Office: Good evening. Welcome, Holy Father. Welcome. Return flight: Holy Father, the motto of this journey was “we walk together,” but we also fly together because I think we have really flown a lot, also the busyness, the fatigue -- in your speech to the foreign press a few days ago, you concluded by saying the fatigue is in apostolic journeys in particular. Here, the effort, the passion, the diligence of colleagues who have told of this journey. Today is the day of social communications, obviously, as you know, dedicated to journalists and those who work in communications, with the theme: “we are members one of another.” And so the Holy Father, before the questions, offers us a brief reflection on this day dedicated to us.

Pope Francis: Good evening. Thank you for your company. As Gisotti said, today, this day, is calls you [to mind], calls you to our thoughts. You work in communications, you are workers, as Alessandro said, but first of all you should also be witnesses of communication. Today communication goes behind, generally; connection goes on, to make connections and not arrive at communication. And you all, for vocation, you are witnesses to communicating. It’s true, you should make connections, but do not stop yourselves there, going there. I wish you to go forward in this vocation, this testimony to communicating. This period needs less connection and more communication. Thank you and now, congratulations for your day and proceed with the questions
 

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Update--Cardinal Pell

https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/11752/pell-to-return-to-court-to-appeal-sex-abuse-conviction-
03 June 2019, The Tablet
Pell to return to court to appeal sex abuse conviction
by Mark Bowling

Jailed Cardinal George Pell, Australia’s highest-ranking Catholic, will return to court on 5 and 6 June for an appeal against his conviction for sexually abusing two Melbourne choirboys in the 1990s.

In recognition of the high public interest in the case, the appeal will be broadcast live from the Victoria Supreme Court in Melbourne, and will be accessible on the court’s website around the world.

Lawyers for Cardinal Pell, 77, who is three months into his six-year gaol term, will argue his guilty verdict was “unreasonable”.
 
His legal team is expected to argue the verdicts were “unreasonable” because the jury could not have been satisfied beyond reasonable doubt Cardinal Pell was guilty, based on the word of the single surviving complainant against “unchallenged exculpatory evidence” of more than 20 Crown witnesses.

“… It was not open to the jury to be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt on the word of the complainant alone,” the notice of appeal states.

The Cardinal’s legal team is also set to argue a  County Court judge was mistaken in not allowing the defence to use a video in Mr Richter’s closing arguments, which he said would demonstrate the offending was impossible.

The video depicted where people involved in Sunday mass at St Patrick's Cathedral could have been in the church after the ceremony

A third ground claims there was a “fundamental irregularity” in the trial because Cardinal Pell was not arraigned – asked if he pleaded guilty or not guilty – in front of the chosen jury.

If the judges accept the first ground, Cardinal Pell’s conviction would be overturned and he would be released.

A new trial could be ordered if they accept the second or third grounds.

During the broadcast of Cardinal Pell’s appeal hearing, the camera will be focused solely on the three Court of Appeal justices, even when the lawyers are talking.

Pell will not be shown on camera.

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-06/pope-summit-social-justice-franciscan-doctrine-judges.html

Pope appeals to judges to ensure social justice for the most vulnerable
04 June 2019, 18:58

Pope Francis closes the Pan-American Judges' Summit on Social Rights and Franciscan Doctrine, organized by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences warning against injustice, lack of opportunity for many, and calling for the transformation of the judicial system.
By Linda Bordoni

Wrapping up the “Pan-American Judges' Summit on Social Rights and Franciscan Doctrine” in the Vatican, Pope Francis addressed the over 100 magistrates present urging them to commit to defending social rights.

The Summit focused on the responsibilities and work of judges from the three Americas whose competences include the effective implementation of Social Economic and Cultural Right.

Organized and hosted by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, it came in the wake of a successful first conference on the same subject that was held in June 2018 in Buenos Aires, during which magistrates and judicial officials discussed the legal inspiration ingrained in the fundamental documents of the Magisterium of Pope Francis.

During his long discourse in Spanish, the Pope expressed his concern for what, he said, appears to be a growing improper use of legal procedures and a consensus that sees social rights as “old, obsolete and having nothing to contribute to our societies”.
 

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Update--Cardinal Pell

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cardinal-pells-lawyers-set-out-case-for-appeal-56071

In opening arguments, Cardinal Pell’s lawyers set out case for appeal

Melbourne, Australia, Jun 4, 2019 / 09:45 pm (CNA).- The legal team for Cardinal George Pell set out its case for appeal at the Supreme Court of Victoria Wednesday morning. Judges heard the opening arguments for the defense as they sought leave to appeal.

Bret Walker SC, arguing on June 4, told the three-judge Court of Appeal, led by Chief Justice Anne Feguson, that Pell was seeking leave to appeal on the grounds that his conviction by a jury was “unsafe.”

In a controversial verdict, the cardinal was convicted in on December 11 of five counts of sexual abuse of minors.

Pell’s legal team is seeking appeal on three separate grounds, the first of which is that a guilty verdict was returned despite the lack of proof beyond reasonable doubt. If successful, an appeal on that ground would see Pell’s conviction overturned and the cardinal set free.

In March, Pell was sentenced to six years in prison.

The secondary appeals, made on more procedural grounds, could lead to a retrial if successful.

At the opening of the two-day hearing, Justice Ferguson noted that the judges had reviewed the evidence from the trial, visited Melbourne’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and inspected the vestments Pell is alleged to have been wearing at the time of the supposed abuse.

Ferguson explained that the purpose of the hearing was not to re-litigate the trial, or for the defense or prosecution to present the whole of its argument, which had been submitted in writing.

Walker argued that the evidence used to convict Pell was clearly insufficient to allow the jury to reach a unanimous finding of guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
 
Pell, who was present in court, turns 78 this week. The hearing is set to continue throughout Wednesday and Thursday. The judges could deliver their verdict at any point during the two days, or reserve their judgement to a later date.

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-06/pope-at-audience-walking-together-in-the-richness-of-diversity.html

Pope at Audience: Walking together in the richness of diversity
05 June 2019, 11:22

Pope Francis during his General Audience
Pope Francis reflects on his recent Apostolic Visit to Romania during his Wednesday General Audience, saying it was a joy to be able to walk as a pilgrim among the Romanian people.

During his Catechesis at the Wednesday General Audience, Pope Francis recalled his recent visit to Romania following in the footsteps of Saint John Paul II.

The motto of the visit was "Let’s walk together" and the Pope expressed his joy at being able to walk as a pilgrim among the Romanian people.

The Pontiff said that the various meetings whilst there “highlighted the value and the need to walk together both among Christians, on the level of faith and charity, and among citizens, on the level of civil commitment.”
 
https://zenit.org/articles/one-minute-for-peace-popes-appeal-for-june-8th-fifth-anniversary-of-prayer-for-peace-in-vatican-gardens/
‘One Minute for Peace,’ Pope’s Appeal for June 8th (Fifth Anniversary of Prayer for Peace in Vatican Gardens) 
Remembers Historic Encounter With Presidents of Israel, Palestine, Patriarch Bartholomew, and Francis Himself
June 05, 2019 13:54•Deborah Castellano Lub

https://zenit.org/articles/holy-fathers-general-audience-full-text-3/
Holy Father’s General Audience: Full Text 
June 05, 2019 15:39•Virginia Forrester

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - General Audience 2019-06-05
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2019/06/05/syracuse-bishop-retires-ogdensburg-priest-named-successor/

Syracuse bishop retires; Ogdensburg priest named successor
Catholic News Service   Jun 5, 2019

(Credit: CNS photo/courtesy Diocese of Syracuse.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Robert J. Cunningham of Syracuse, New York, and has named as his successor Father Douglas J. Lucia, a priest of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, New York, who is a pastor and diocesan director of vocations and seminarians.

Cunningham has headed the Syracuse Diocese since 2009. He is 75, the age at which canon law requires bishops to turn in their resignation to the pope. He turns 76 June 18.

Bishop-designate Lucia, 56, is a native of Plattsburgh, New York. He was ordained to the priesthood May 20, 1989.
 

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https://www.americamagazine.org/pope-francis-putin-july-meeting

Pope Francis to meet Putin for third time in July
Gerard O’Connell
June 05, 2019

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Pope Francis for the third time in the first week of July, a senior Vatican source has confirmed to America.

The two leaders first met on Nov. 25, 2013, and again on June 10, 2015. The fact that they are meeting for a third time shows that President Putin considers Pope Francis an influential player and moral authority on the global stage.

Though the agenda for their private conversation is not known, sources say the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East, particularly in Syria and the Holy Land, will be high on the list, since both have political and religious dimensions that are of concern to both sides. Venezuela is also expected to be discussed.

Both leaders have a particular interest in the situation in Ukraine. Pope Francis has invited the major archbishop, the members of the permanent synod and the metropolitans of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church to Rome on July 5 and 6.
 

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https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2019/06/06/pope-to-meet-putin-before-vatican-ukraine-meeting/

Pope to meet Putin before Vatican Ukraine meeting
Nicole Winfield and Nataliya Vasilyeva
Jun 6, 2019
ASSOCIATED_PRESS

(Credit: Gregorio Borgia/AP.)
ROME — Pope Francis will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Vatican next month, a day before Catholic leaders from Ukraine gather at the Holy See to discuss the continuing conflict there and the fallout from the schism between the Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox churches.

The Vatican confirmed the July 4 audience Thursday. It will be the third meeting between Francis and Putin.

Francis and Moscow Patriarch Kirill sat down for talks in 2016 in the first meeting of the heads of both churches. That summit, in Cuba, was seen as a possible step toward a papal visit to Russia. Not a single pope has set foot in Russia.

Asked if Putin would extend an invitation for Francis to visit Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Thursday that it was too early to say.