Pope Francis

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-07/pope-angelus-catechesis-good-samaritan-mercy.html

Pope Francis: ‘Mercy is the true face of love’
14 July 2019, 13:46

Pope Francis during the Angelus  (� Vatican Media)
The Pope reflects on the Parable of the Good Samaritan and says the trait of a true Christian is to always be merciful and compassionate.
By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis on Sunday upheld the example of the Good Samaritan as a model for Christians, explaining that only by loving our neighbours as ourselves, do we show love for God, and at the same time express true religiosity and humanity.

Addressing the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Sunday Angelus, the Pope reflected on the Gospel reading of the day which recounts the parable of the Good Samaritan, a parable the Pope described as a treasure.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-07/pope-appeal-venezuela-angelus.html
Pope appeals for political dialogue in Venezuela
14 July 2019, 11:50

https://zenit.org/articles/popes-angelus-address-on-the-parable-of-the-good-samaritan-full-text/
Pope’s Angelus Address: On the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Full Text) 
July 14, 2019 20:11

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - Angelus prayer 2019-07-14
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-07/pope-francis-telegram-condolences-cardinal-sardi.html

Pope sends his condolences for the death of Cardinal Sardi
14 July 2019, 13:24

Cardinal Paolo Sardi
Pope Francis expresses his sadness upon hearing of the death of Cardinal Paolo Angelo Sardi.
By Francesca Merlo

Pope Francis’ “heartfelt” condolences are addressed to Mr PietroSardi, late Cardinal Sardi’s brother. In his note, the Pope expresses his gratitude to the Cardinal for having placed “the greater part of his life at the service of the Holy See”. Pope Francis continues saying that Cardinal Sardi “has made a valid contribution to the Magisterium of Saint Paul VI, Saint John Paul I, Saint John Paul II and Benedict XVI”. The Pope concludes the telegram by saying that Cardinal Sardi was a good and vigilant servant, and so, faithful to his episcopal motto: esto vigilans (be watchful). Finally, he says “we trust that, accompanied by the Virgin Mary, Saints Peter and Paul and the Holy Bishop Guido of Acqui, he [Cardinal Sardi] will be welcomed into the eternal banquet of Heaven.”
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/italian-cardinal-paolo-sardi-dies-at-age-84-42327
By Hannah Brockhaus

Vatican City, Jul 14, 2019 / 04:35 am (CNA).- Cardinal Paolo Sardi, who served under five popes, died Saturday at Gemelli Hospital in Rome after a short illness.

The 84-year-old Piemontese cardinal had been retired from his work in the Secretariat of State, where he coordinated the office which edits papal speeches and texts.
 
In 2012, Sardi was accused alongside two others, in an article in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, of being complicit in the leaking of sensitive papal information to the media, in the event now referred to as "Vatileaks."

At the time of the article's publication, the Vatican denied the claims, releasing a statement from the Secretariat of State expressing "firm and total disapproval of those publications, which are not based on objective criteria and seriously damage the honor of the people concerned, who have served the Holy Father faithfully for many years."
 

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Update:  Emanuela Orlandi

https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/11867/vatican-hunt-for-missing-teenager-uncovers-two-sets-of-bones

15 July 2019, The Tablet
Vatican hunt for missing teenager uncovers two sets of bones
by Rose Gamble

The Vatican’s hunt for the body of missing teenager Emanuela Orlandi has uncovered two sets of bones under a stone manhole cover in the Teutonic cemetery.

Last week, the Vatican had opened the tombs of two 19th-century German princesses in the Teutonic cemetery on Holy See territory after the Orlandi family had received a tip that Emanuela's remains might be buried there. The tombs were found to be empty.

The Vatican pledged further investigation and on 13 July announced they had identified two ossuaries, located under the pavement of an area inside the Pontifical Teutonic College.

Vatican spokesperson Alessandro Gisotti said the area was immediately sealed off and the ossuaries will be opened in the presence of forensic experts on 20 July for further investigations.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/this-roman-basilica-is-dedicated-to-20th-century-martyrs-99014

This Roman basilica is dedicated to 20th century martyrs

Pope Francis prays in Basilica of St Bartholomew on Tiber Island April 22, 2017. Credit: Vatican Media.
By Courtney Grogan

Rome, Italy, Jul 14, 2019 / 04:08 pm (CNA).- On an island in Rome’s Tiber River, there is a basilica devoted to the Christian martyrs of the 20th century, the bloodiest century in the history of the Catholic Church.

Flanked on either side by relics of Christians martyred under Communism and Nazism respectively, the main altar of the Basilica of St. Bartholomew on Tiber Island connects the tradition of Rome’s apostolic martyrs to the persecution of Christians today.

The church was first commissioned in 998 by German Emperor Otto III to receive the remains of St. Bartholomew, who was flayed alive for his faith, and St. Adalbert, bishop of Prague who was martyred in 997 during the evangelization of Poland.

Today the basilica houses relics of the apostle and medieval evangelist alongside those of St. Maximilian Kolbe, martyred in Auschwitz, and Sr. Leonella Sgorbati, a missionary nurse in Somalia in the height of the country’s civil war. Her last words as she was murdered in 2006 were: “I forgive them, I forgive, I forgive.”
 
On July 15, the basilica will host the launch of an independent review into the global persecution of Christians by the UK government, hosted by the UK Embassy to the Holy See.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/orange-diocese-to-dedicate-christ-cathedral-49946

Orange diocese to dedicate Christ Cathedral
By Kate Veik

Orange, Calif., Jul 15, 2019 / 05:01 pm (CNA).- The Diocese of Orange will dedicate its Christ Cathedral July 17 after a seven-year, $77-million renovation process.

“I would pray and hope that it (the Christ Cathedral) will build on the heritage we have and help bring new life and commitment and joy in the age we live and that through here the diocese will have a focal point of unity where God will be known and loved,” Bishop Kevin Vann of Orange told CNA.

Christ Cathedral was formerly named the Crystal Cathedral. The property was purchased by the Orange diocese in February 2012 for $57.5 million from the Protestant community which founded it. The building with its campus was sold after the community, founded by Robert Schuller, filed for bankruptcy in October 2010 when some of its creditors sued for payment.
 
Photos at the link
https://rectoremeritus.org/blog/2019/5/2/from-crystal-to-christ-planning-for-a-new-cathedral-wzkzt
From Crystal to Christ - A Guide to the Nation's newest Cathedral
July 15, 2019

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-07/pope-francis-appointments-bishops-philippines-india-png.html

Pope makes appointments in Philippines, India, Papua New Guinea
16 July 2019, 16:24

Pope Francis on Tuesday appointed an auxiliary bishop in Cebu (the Philippines), a bishop in Srikakulam (India) and another bishop in Bereina (Papua New Guinea).

The Holy Father appointed 3 bishops in Asia on July 16.

Philippines

He appointed Father Midyphil B. Billones as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cebu in the central Visayas regions of the Philippines.
 
https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/11870/pope-francis-appoints-fr-michael-duignan-as-new-bishop-of-clonfert-
16 July 2019, The Tablet
Pope Francis appoints Fr Michael Duignan as new Bishop of Clonfert
by Rose Gambl

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https://zenit.org/articles/feature-vatican-diplomats-decry-alarming-reality-of-persecuted-christians/

FEATURE: Vatican & Diplomats Decry ‘Alarming Reality’ of Persecuted Christians 
British Ambassador to Holy See, Sally Axworthy, Presents Rome Launch of the UK Independent Review on Persecution of Christians
July 16, 2019 18:23•Deborah Castellano Lub

The Vatican has decried the ‘alarming reality’ of persecuted Christians.

Monsignor Antoine Camilleri, Vatican Under-Secretary for Relations with States, did so yesterday, July 15, at the Basilica of San Bartolomeo all’Isola in Rome, on the occasion of the launch of the Bishop of Truro’s Independent Review for the UK Foreign Secretary of Foreign and Commonwealth Office Support for Persecuted Christians.

The event–organized by the British Ambassador to the Holy See, Sally Axworthy, and the embassy–coincided with the launch of the Review in London. In December 2018, the British Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, asked the Anglican Bishop of Truro, Rt. Revd. Philip Mountstephen, to conduct an independent review into the global The Vatican has decried the ‘alarming reality’ of persecuted Christians.

Monsignor Antoine Camilleri, Vatican Under-Secretary for Relations with States, did so yesterday, July 15, at the Basilica of San Bartolomeo all’Isola in Rome, on the occasion of the launch of the Bishop of Truro’s Independent Review for the UK Foreign Secretary of Foreign and Commonwealth Office Support for Persecuted Christians.

The event–organized by the British Ambassador to the Holy See, Sally Axworthy, and the embassy–coincided with the launch of the Review in London. In December 2018, the British Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, asked the Anglican Bishop of Truro, Rt. Revd. Philip Mountstephen, to conduct an independent review into the global persecution of Christians.

Ambassador Axworthy told those present how, according to the independent review, “eighty percent of persecuted believers are Christians.” During the encounter, the diplomat introduced the review and presented it to Monsignor Camilleri.

Moreover, there was a panel followed by a Q&A session, in which Cardinal Louis Raphaël I Sako, Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Babylon, Iraq, participated along with Fr. Dr. Boniface Mendes, Diocese of Faisalabad, Pakistan, a Representative from Niger.
 

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Christ Cathedral

https://twitter.com/roccopalmo

Rocco Palmo‏ @roccopalmo · 17m17 minutes ago 
For those turning in back East, #ChristCathedral Dedication Mass begins at 10.30am Pacific/1.30pm ET Wednesday.
Whispers and the other usual suspects will be running the livefeed from 10am local... meantime, full diocesan site is up: https://dedication.rcbo.org

Rocco Palmo‏ @roccopalmo · 42m42 minutes ago 
Live now – on eve of #ChristCathedral Dedication, Vespers with 9 relics to be placed in altar of OC hub (among them Ss. Serra, Andrew-Kim Taegon, Andrew Dung Lac, JPII), ending with solemn procession placing them at Cathedral doors for all-night vigil: http://bit.ly/2NZvvwp

Rocco Palmo‏ @roccopalmo · 5h5 hours ago 
From the “Hour of Power” Archive on this Dedication Eve, with his beatification now in the bag, a 1972 apparition of Blessed-to-Be Fulton Sheen at what’s now #ChristCathedral...
The topic would prove itself providential – “Transference”:
___________

Link to youtube for Fulton Sheen:   
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwlZs3Te7gU
Archbishop Fulton Sheen on the Hour of Power from 1972

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-07/pope-francis-appointments-press-office-director-bruni.html

Pope makes appointments in Vatican media
18 July 2019, 14:49

Pope Francis shaking hands with Matteo Bruni during his visit to Romania.  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis has appointed Matteo Bruni as Director of the Holy See Press Office. Alessandro Gisotti and Sergio Centofanti have been appointed deputy directors of the Editorial Directorate at the Dicastery for Communication.

Pope Francis on Thursday appointed a new Director of the Holy See Press Office.  British-born Matteo Bruni is the new spokesperson of the Holy See, with effect from 22 July.

Born on 23 November 1976 in Winchester, Bruni graduated in modern and contemporary foreign languages and literature from Rome’s La Sapienza University.  He has been working since July 2009 at the Holy See Press Office, where he has been overseeing the accreditation of journalists and operational communications as coordinator of the Accreditation Section.

In this role, he has organized reporters accompanying the Holy Father on papal trips outside Italy.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-07/pope-francis-appoints-new-bishop-for-des-moines-usa.html

Pope Francis appoints new Bishop for Des Moines, USA
18 July 2019, 12:00

Cathedral of Saint Ambrose, Des Moines; and Bishop-elect William Joensen
Bishop-elect Fr William Joensen will succeed Bishop Richard Pates, whose resignation from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Des Moines was accepted by the Holy Father.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis has named Father William M Joensen as the new Bishop of Des Moines, USA. Father Joensen, a priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, has been serving as Associate Professor of Philosophy and Dean of Campus Spiritual Life at Loras College, a Catholic liberal arts college in Dubuque.
 

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Audio at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2019-07/pope-paul-vi-moon-landing-50-anniversary.html

20 July 1969: Pope Paul VI sends blessings to first men on the moon
18 July 2019, 16:57

Pope Paul VI watches the moonlanding on television on 20 July 1969   (©CATHOLICPRESSPHOTO)
Marking the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 historic moon landing, Vatican Radio brings you the voice of Pope Paul VI sending his blessings to the astronauts who "conquered the moon."
By Veronica Scarisbrick and Linda Bordoni

As millions of men, women and children did across the world on the night of 20 July 1969, Pope Paul VI spent his time glued to the television to watch Neil Armstrong as he became the first man ever to land, and then to walk, on the moon.

50 years after that historic event, scientists agree humanity will have to take another giant step forward to try to equal the achievement and legacy of Apollo 11 and its crew.

The powerful significance of the event was not lost on the Pope of the time who became the first Roman Pontiff to send a message hurtling through space in which he blessed the three astronauts who had just landed on the moon, before sending a congratulatory telegramme to then US President, Richard Nixon.

But as Veronica Scarisbrick notes in this picture in sound, for Pope Paul VI, the moonwalk was a recognition of the “greatness of God's handiwork”, and the moon “the poetic pale lamp of our nights and dreams”.

“Pope Paul VI is speaking to you astronauts: Honor, greetings and blessings to you, conquerors of the moon.”
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/vatican-announces-new-restrictions-on-disgraced-bishop-bransfield-10186

Vatican announces sanctions on disgraced Bishop Bransfield

Bishop Michael Bransfield (CNA file photo) with Vatican communique announcing restrictions

Wheeling, W.V., Jul 19, 2019 / 01:57 pm (CNA).- Bishop Michael J. Bransfield, Bishop emeritus of Wheeling-Charleston, will no longer be allowed to participate in public Masses or live within his former diocese. He must “make personal amends” for the harm he brought to the diocese, Pope Francis announced in a communique released on Friday afternoon.

Bransfield is reported to have sexually harassed, assaulted, and coerced seminarians, priests, and other adults during his time as Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston. He was also found to have given large cash gifts to high-ranking Church leaders, using diocesan funds.

The July 19 Vatican communique, which was published Friday on the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston’s website, was sent from the Apostolic Nuncio of the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre.
 
Link -- Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston’s website: https://dwc.org/

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-07/pope-francis-video-message-protection-minors-course-mexico.html

Pope: ‘Apostolate of prevention’ needed to protect minors from sexual abuse
20 July 2019, 16:28

Pope Francis sends a video message to participants in a course held in Mexico on the protection of minors, saying the Church must work tirelessly to prevent minors from being sexually abused.
By Devin Watkins

Participants in a month-long course held at the Pontifical University of Mexico received an unexpected surprise.

In the middle of their third week learning methods to prevent the sexual abuse of minors, Pope Francis sent a video message encouraging their efforts to protect the Church’s vulnerable members.

The course is important because all minors need to be protected, said the Pope, “so that no one – not a single person – abuse them, that no one might keep them from coming to Jesus.”

“Any person – be they a religious, lay person, bishop, or any person – who prevents a child from coming to Jesus must be stopped in his attitudes, corrected if we are in time, or punished if there is a crime involved,” he added.
 

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Update:  Emanuela Orlandi

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2019-07/vatican-orlandi-teutonic-cemetery-ossuaries-princesses.html

Orlandi case: New probe begins into ossuaries inside Vatican City
20 July 2019, 13:52

Inspection of the ossuaries at the Teutonic College inside the Vatican on July 20, 2019.   (ANSA)
Investigations began on Saturday into 2 ossuaries found near the Vatican’s Teutonic Cemetery adjacent to the tombs of two 19th century German princesses whose tombs were recently found empty. The probe is connected with the mysterious disappearance 15-year old teenage girl 36 years ago, Emanuela Orlandi.

A new investigation began in the Vatican Saturday morning into two ossuaries found in an area adjacent to the tombs of two German princesses of the 19th century who were buried in the cemetery inside the walled city. 

“At 9 a.m. this morning, operations began regularly at the Teutonic Cemetery as part of the investigation of the Orlandi case,” said a statement by Alessandro Gisotti, the “ad interim” Director of the Holy See Press Office.
 
Gisotti said that Saturday’s probe, decreed by the Promoter of Justice of the Court of Vatican City State,  Prof. Gian Piero Milano, was regarding the ossuaries adjacent to the tombs of Princess Sophie von Hohenlohe, who died in 1836, and of Princess Charlotte Federica of Mecklenburgh, who died in 1840.

He said that the investigation that was being carried out according to internationally recognized protocols.  Among several officials and authorities were Prof. Milano and the expert appointed by the Orlandi family.

At the moment, Gisotti noted, it was not possible to predict how long it would take to complete the “morphological analysis of the remains found in the ossuaries".

He said that the probe, following that of July 11, is yet another proof of the Holy See’s openness to the Orlandi Family.  Since the beginning, he explained, the Holy See has shown its availability in accepting the request for a probe into the Teutonic Cemetery, even on the basis of a mere anonymous tip.

In a separate statement later on Saturday, Gisotti said that the probe ended with the remains of the ossuaries taken out and subjected to an initial evaluation. 

Further studies would be made on them on July 27, he said.

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-07/pope-francis-angelus-catechesis-martha-mary.html

Pope at Angelus: Welcoming those at our door brings peace and hope
21 July 2019, 13:35

Pope waves to pilgrims in St Peter's Square during the Angelus  (Vatican Media)
At the Sunday Angelus address, Pope Francis speaks of the importance of not feeling burdened when offering a warm welcome and a sense of fraternity to those in need as a way of combining contemplation and action.
By Francesca Merlo

Pope Francis focused his catechesis at the Angelus, Sunday, on the importance of not allowing life’s events to overwhelm us, encouraging the faithful to listen to the Lord, whose voice is a guidance.

The day’s Gospel describes Jesus’ visit to the house of Martha and Mary. The two sisters welcome Him, and whilst one sister, Mary, sits at His feet - with the desire to listen to each and every word He speaks - the other sister, Martha, tends to Jesus’ needs. The Pope expressed the importance of Mary’s actions, explaining that when we really listen to Him, the Lord surprises us, “the clouds disappear, doubts give way to truth, fears to serenity…”. The Pope underlined the importance of always making room for the Lord, as listening to Him will help us “carry out well the tasks that life assigns to you".
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-07/pope-francis-angelus-50th-anniversary-moon-landing.html
Pope: 50th anniversary of moon landing ‘inspiration for common good'
21 July 2019, 12:53

Video, with English commentary, at the link below--
Pope's Angelus of 21 July 2019
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/angelus.html#play
or
Pope Francis - Angelus prayer 2019-07-21
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-07/card-parolin-pope-asking-assad-to-help-syrian-population.html

Card. Parolin: “Pope asking Assad for concrete initiatives on behalf of Syrian population”
22 July 2019, 10:34

Smoke rising above Idlib following an airstrike last week  (AFP or licensors)
Acts of war and bombardments against defenseless civilians continue to occur in Syria. With dozens of health facilities destroyed or closed in Idlib Province, Pope Francis asks Cardinal Turkson to deliver a letter to the Syrian President.
By Andrea Tornielli

Protection of civilian life, an end to the humanitarian catastrophe in Idlib Province, concrete initiatives for a safe return of displaced persons, the release of detainees and access for families to information regarding their loved ones, and humane conditions for political prisoners. All this and a renewed appeal for a resumption of dialogue and negotiations with the involvement of the international community.

These are the concerns and concrete requests contained in a letter that Pope Francis addressed to Syrian President Bashar Hafez al-Assad. The Pope’s letter, dated 28 June 2019, was delivered only hours ago by Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

The Cardinal, bearing the missive written in English, was accompanied by Fr. Nicola Riccardi, O.F.M., Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, and by Cardinal Mario Zenari, the Apostolic Nuncio to Syria.

Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, the Pope’s primary collaborator, spoke to Vatican News about the content and purpose of the letter.

Q: Your Eminence, why did the Pope decide to write to President Assad?

Cardinal Parolin: “At the heart of this new initiative lies Pope Francis’ and the Holy See’s concern for the emergency humanitarian situation in Syria, in particular in Idlib Province. More than 3 million people live in the area, of which 1.3 million are internally displaced, forced by the long conflict in Syria to find refuge in the area, which last year was declared demilitarized. The recent military offensive has added to the already extreme living conditions they had to endure in the camps, forcing many of them to flee. The Pope follows with apprehension and great sorrow the tragic fate of the civilian population, children in particular, caught up in the bloody fighting. Unfortunately, the war grinds on – it has not ended: the bombings continue, various health facilities have been destroyed in that area, while many others have had to suspend their activities, either completely or partially.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-07/pope-francis-message-secam-golden-jubilee.html

Pope to SECAM: 50 years of evangelising in fraternal communion
22 July 2019, 17:04

Bishops attend the opening Mass of SECAM's Golden Jubilee
Pope Francis sends a message to the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) on the occasion of an event to mark their Golden Jubilee, 50 years since the institution was founded.
By Francesca Merlo

As African Bishops gather in Kampala, Uganda, for their July 21st to 28th Symposium, Pope Francis wrote to the President of SECAM, Archbishop Gabriel Mbilingi of Lubango, saying he is joining all those gathered for the event “in thanking Almighty God for the many graces received by SECAM and for the fraternal communion that has characterized its work over these fifty years”.

In quoting his 2015 address to the institution, he assured his prayers that members of SECAM might be strengthened in missionary discipleship, for “the great work of evangelization consists in striving to make the Gospel permeate every aspect of our lives so that we, in turn, can bring it to others”.  In this way, he concluded “SECAM will continue to be valuable service to the local Churches throughout the entire continent of Africa.”

SECAM and Pope Paul VI
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2019-07/pope-francis-appointment-pontifical-academy-sciences.html

Pope appoints Nobel laureate as member of Pontifical Academy of Sciences
23 July 2019, 12:42

Professor Stefan Walter Hell  (Foto: © Bernd Schuller)
Pope Francis appoints Professor Stefan Walter Hell as an Ordinary Member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
By Devin Watkins

The Pope added another illustrious name to the prestigious Pontifical Academy of Sciences on Monday.

Professor Stefan Walter Hell is a director both of the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen, and of the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg, in Germany.

Born in Romania on 23 December 1962, Professor Hell was awarded the 2014 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his work on improving the resolution of microscopes.
 

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https://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2019/baltimore-auxiliary-bishop-brennan-named-to-head-west-virginia-diocese.cfm

Update: Baltimore Auxiliary Bishop Brennan named to head West Virginia diocese
By Catholic News Service
7.23.2019 11:18 AM ET

CNS photo/Colleen Rowan, The Catholic Spirit
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope Francis has appointed Auxiliary Bishop Mark E. Brennan of Baltimore to head the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia.

A native of Boston, Bishop Brennan, 72, has been a Baltimore auxiliary since his episcopal ordination Jan. 19, 2017.

In West Virginia, he fills the vacancy left by the resignation of Bishop Michael J. Bransfield last September; he turned 75 Sept. 8, 2018, the age at which canon law requires bishops to turn in their resignation to the pope. When Pope Francis accepted his resignation Sept. 13, 2018, he left under a cloud of allegations of sexual and financial misconduct. The same day, Pope Francis named Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori apostolic administrator of the statewide diocese.

Bishop Brennan's appointment was announced July 23 in Washington by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Vatican nuncio to the United States.
 

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Update:  Emanuela Orlandi

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/thousands-of-bones-discovered-in-search-for-long-missing-vatican-teen-40036

Thousands of bones discovered in search for long-missing Vatican teen

The Teutonic Cemetery. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA.
By Christine Rousselle

Vatican City, Jul 22, 2019 / 07:00 pm (CNA).- The search for the remains of missing 15-year-old Emanuela Orlandi took another twist as Vatican officials discovered “thousands” of human bones in a previously unknown ossuary on Saturday. It is unclear if any of the bones belong to Orlandi, or how old they are.

On July 11, the Vatican opened two tombs belonging to Princess Sophie von Hohenlohe and Duchess Charlotte Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, who both died in the mid-19th century. The tombs, located in the cemetery of the Teutonic College, adjacent to the Vatican City State, were found to be completely empty of any human remains. Scientists were initially puzzled by this unforeseen development.

Afterwards, Vatican officials realized that restoration and structural work done in the 1960s and 1970s likely resulted in remains being moved. This led to the discovery of two ossuaries underneath the Teutonic College, which held containers of bones. Ossuaries are container, or even rooms, used to store skeletal remains after the rest of the body has decomposed. They are common in areas where underground burial space is limited.

Members of Orlandi’s family, as well as their lawyer and a forensic expert, were present at the opening of the containers.

Orlandi’s sister, Frederica, described the opening as an “emotional experience” and thinks that Emanuela’s remains are possibly in the ossuary.

Her brother, Pietro, described the discovery as “a large number of diverse bones,” and noted the need to identify and date the remains. Giorgio Portera, a forensic expert working with the family, estimated the total number of bones found indicated “the presence of the remains of a few dozen people.”