Pope Francis

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Pope Francis's trip to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, 2019  

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-mozambique-clergy-address.html
Pope invites Church in Mozambique to be a “Church of the Visitation"
05 September 2019, 17:18

Pope attends a meeting with the clergy 
Pope Francis addresses bishops, priests, men and women religious, seminarians and catechists, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Maputo, and explains how to find identity in change.
By Vatican News

The encounter began with a series of testimonies that expressed, what the Pope himself described as: “the difficult times and serious challenges that you faced, conscious of your own limitations and weaknesses, yet marvelling at God’s mercy”.

Setting hearts on fire

Pope Francis began by reminding his listeners that “whether we like it or not, we are called to face reality as it is”. Times change, he said, “and we need to realize that often we do not know how to find our place in new scenarios”. Instead of proclaiming the Good News, the Pope continued, “we announce a dreary message that attracts no one and sets no one’s heart on fire”.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-address-clergy-mozambique-full-text.html
Pope addresses Mozambique's clergy: Full text
05 September 2019, 17:15

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis-Maputo- Meeting with Bishops 2019-09-05
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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Pope Francis's trip to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, 2019

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-africa/2019/08/05/vatican-revises-schedule-for-popes-visit-to-africa-sept-4-10/
Vatican revises schedule for pope’s visit to Africa Sept. 4-10
Catholic News Service  Aug 5, 2019
 
The Vatican released a full schedule for the trip Aug. 5, updating an itinerary published in late June. Times listed are local, with Eastern Daylight Time in parentheses.
 
Friday, Sept. 6 (Maputo-Antananarivo, Madagascar)

- 8:45 a.m. (2:45 a.m.) Visit to Zimpeto Hospital outside Maputo. Greeting by pope.

- 10 a.m. (4 a.m.) Mass in Zimpeto Stadium. Homily by pope.

- 12:25 p.m. (6:25 a.m.) Farewell ceremony at Maputo airport.

-12:40 p.m. (6:40 a.m.) Departure from Maputo for Antananarivo, Madagascar.

- 4:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m.) Arrival ceremony at Antananarivo airport.
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis's trip to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-mass-mozambique-apostolic-visit.html
Pope at Mass in Mozambique: Hold onto hope and stay united
06 September 2019, 12:49

Pope Francis celebrates Holy Mass in Maputo's Zimpeto Stadium  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis celebrates a Votive Mass for the Progress of Peoples in Maputo’s Zimpeto Stadium and encourages the people of Mozambique to keep working for peace and reconciliation, loving their enemies, and loving one another.
By Vatican News

The Mass was Pope Francis’ last public event in Mozambique. It was also the culmination of two days of encounters, emotions, and excitement. The stadium erupted in sound and song when the Pope entered, while music and movement enlivened the whole celebration.

Love your enemies

The Pope took the inspiration for his homily from the Gospel of Saint Luke where, after choosing His disciples and proclaiming the Beatitudes, Jesus adds: “But I say to you that listen, love your enemies”.  These words are also addressed to us today, said the Pope. “Jesus is no idealist”, continued Pope Francis. “He is talking about specific enemies… those who hate, exclude, revile and defame us”.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-apostolic-visit-mass-homily-maputo-mozambique.html
Pope's homily at Mass in Maputo: full text
06 September 2019, 10:44

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis-Maputo-Holy Mass 2019-09-06
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

Pope Francis's trip to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-apostolic-visit-mozambique-hospital.html
Pope visits hospital in Mozambique and comforts HIV-AIDS patients
06 September 2019, 10:25

Pope Francis blesses a mother with a baby during his visit at the Zimpeto hospital in Maputo   (AFP or licensors)
Pope Francis begins his last day in Mozambique with a visit to the Zimpeto Hospital and says caring for mothers and children with HIV-AIDS reminds him of the parable of the Good Shepherd.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis always makes a point of visiting the sick, whether on an Apostolic journey abroad, or back home in Rome. But his visit to the Zimpeto Hospital, outside the Mozambican capital of Maputo, was special. 

The DREAM Project

That is because the hospital houses the “Dream Center” for people suffering from HIV-AIDS. “DREAM” is an acronym for “Disease Relief through Excellent and Advanced Means”. The project was launched in 2002 by Sant’Egidio, a lay Catholic movement centered on peace and helping the poor. The programme offers free healthcare to the economically disadvantaged and to those who cannot easily access medical facilities.   
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-apostolic-visit-mozambique-zimpeto-hospital-visit.html
Pope visits Zimpeto Hospital in Mozambique: full text
06 September 2019, 09:20

[grace-land]

Pope Francis's trip to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-apostolic-visit-mozambique.html
Pope Francis concludes visit to Mozambique with a colourful Mass
06 September 2019, 12:19

Pope Francis leaves Zimpeto stadium after a Holy Mass, in Maputo
The climax of Pope Francis’ visit to Mozambique had to be the Mass, celebrated this morning, in Maputo’s forty-two thousand capacity stadium known locally as the Estádio Nacional do.
Paul Samasumo – Maputo, Mozambique

Not even the cold and steady rain could dampen the spirits of the Catholic faithful of Mozambique gathered for the Papal Mass.

The faithful of Mozambique have waited for this moment for months. I heard stories of far-flung communities contributing money to send at least one of their own to Maputo for this Mass. Many others have come from neighbouring countries of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Swaziland, South Africa and Tanzania. I met some Mozambicans from the United States who have come with their families to be at Mass.
 
Pope ends visit to Mozambique

Back to the Mass in Zimpeto:

As the Papal Mass ended, many were visibly moved to tears.

As we speak, the Pope has now left Mozambique for Madagascar as he proceeds on the second leg of this Apostolic Voyage.

Pope Francis’ visit to Mozambique will be remembered for a long time to come.

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis-Maputo-Departure Ceremony 2019-09-06
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

Pope Francis's trip to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-madagascar-arrival-apostolic-visit.html
Pope Francis begins his Apostolic Journey to Madagascar
06 September 2019, 15:19

The papal plane taking Pope Francis to Madagascar, for the second leg of his Apostolic Visit to three southern African nations, has arrived in the capital, Antananarivo.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis touched down on Malagasy soil just after 4 pm local time on Friday, 6 September.

The Pope’s 31st Apostolic Journey abroad sees him visiting the people and the Church of Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius.

After wrapping up the first leg of his journey in Mozambique with the celebration of Holy Mass in a packed stadium in the capital, Maputo, the Pope bade farewell to the people urging them to continue to pursue reconciliation and peace.

In Madagascar, he was greeted at the airport by the President and an official delegation. Two children in traditional dress offered him flowers and crowds of faithful expressed their joy at his arrival.

The visit begins in earnest on Saturday morning as the Pope pays a courtesy visit to political authorities at the Presidential Palace, addresses authorities, diplomats and leaders of civil society, and then goes on to recite the Midday Prayer at a Carmelite Convent.
 
Video at the link below==
Pope Francis-Antananarivo- Welcome Ceremony 2019-09-06
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

Pope Francis's trip to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, 2019

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-africa/2019/08/05/vatican-revises-schedule-for-popes-visit-to-africa-sept-4-10/
Vatican revises schedule for pope’s visit to Africa Sept. 4-10
Catholic News Service  Aug 5, 2019
 
The Vatican released a full schedule for the trip Aug. 5, updating an itinerary published in late June. Times listed are local, with Eastern Daylight Time in parentheses.
 
Saturday, Sept. 7 (Antananarivo)

— 9:30 a.m. (2:30 a.m.) Courtesy visit to the president in the Iavoloha Palace.

— 10:15 a.m. (3:15 a.m.) Meeting with government authorities, leaders of civil society and the diplomatic corps in the Ceremony Building. Speech by pope.

— 11:15 a.m. (4:15 a.m.) Recitation of midday prayer in the Discalced Carmelite monastery. Homily by pope.

— Lunch in the apostolic nunciature.

— 4 p.m. (9 a.m.) Meeting with the bishops of Madagascar in the Andohalo cathedral. Speech by pope.

— 5:10 p.m. (10:10 a.m.) Visit to the tomb of Blessed Victoire Rasoamanarivo.

— 6 p.m. (11 a.m.) Vigil with young people at the Soamandrakizay diocesan field. Speech by pope.
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis's trip to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-madagascar-apostolic-journey-discourse-authorities.html
Pope to authorities in Madagascar: Promote integral human development
07 September 2019, 09:52 

Pope Francis greets the civil authorities of Madagascar  (Vatican Media)
On the second leg of his 3-nation Apostolic Journey, Pope Francis delivers his first speech in Madagascar to authorities, representatives of the civil society, and the diplomatic corps, and invites them to promote solidarity and mutual sharing among all who live in the country.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis on Saturday called for the integral human development of all in Madagascar - no one excluded - in a spirit of brotherhood, sharing, mutual help, and solidarity.

He made the call in his first speech on Madagascan soil at the presidential palace in the capital, Antananarivo, when he addressed the country’s authorities, representatives of the civil society and the diplomatic corps.

Speaking in Italian, he pledged the collaboration of the country’s Catholic Church with other Christian confessions, various religions, and all sectors of civil society in this task.

He began by commending the principle of “fihavanana”, a Malagasy word in the Preamble to the Constitution, which “evokes the spirit of sharing, mutual help and solidarity” and the “importance of family, friendship and goodwill between people and with nature”.  Saying that  fihavanana reveals the “soul” of the Malagasy people, he urged that it be recognized, esteemed, and appreciated.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-madagascar-authorities-full-text.html
Pope addresses Madagascar’s civil authorities: Full text
07 September 2019, 09:36

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis-Antananarivo- Meeting with Authorities 2019-09-07
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

Pope Francis's trip to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-nuns-madagascar-little-acts-love-save-world.html
Pope to nuns in Madagascar: Little acts of love save the world
07 September 2019, 13:16

Pope Francis laughs with Carmelite nuns in Madagascar  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis departs from his prepared text and speaks from the heart during his visit on Saturday with a group of contemplative sisters in Madagascar at the Monastery of Discalced Carmelites in Antananarivo.
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

Pope Francis visited the Discalced Carmelite Monastery dedicated to St Joseph in Antananarivo on Saturday morning. After praying Midday Prayer with a group of 100 sisters from all over Madagascar, Pope Francis decided to leave his prepared text with them in order to speak to them from his heart.

Exquisite love

Pope Francis began by recounting a story from the life of St Therese the Little Flower that many religious and contemplatives can relate to. While St Therese helps an elderly sister to get from one place in the convent to the other, helps to feed her, etc., the older sister repays her with continual complaints. The Pope repeated several times that, notwithstanding how St Therese was being treated by the older sister, “she kept smiling”.

“This is a story that reflects a small part of what happens in community life”, the Pope said. St Therese is a model because “with the strength of obedience she carried out this task with exquisite love” to the point that St Therese was able to say to Jesus that all the parties in the world could never make her happier than even one act of love for this older sister
 
Video at the link below--
Pope Francis-Antananarivo- Recitation of Midday Prayer 2019-09-07
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

Pope Francis's trip to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-apostolic-visit-madagascar-bishops-discourse.html
Pope to Madagascar Bishops: Be pastors with the heart of Jesus
07 September 2019, 16:08

Pope Francis addressing the bishops of Madagascar in Andohalo Cathedral, in Antananarivo.  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis addresses the Bishops of Madagascar in Andohalo Cathedral, in Antananarivo, and describes what it means to be a pastor according to the heart of God.
By Vatican News

There are 21 dioceses in Madagascar and 5 archdioceses. All of their bishops and archbishops were present in Antananarivo’s Cathedral on Saturday to listen to Pope Francis on the first full day of his visit to the country.         

A land of contradictions

The Pope began by describing Madagascar as a land of contradictions: “a rich land with widespread poverty; an ancestral culture and wisdom that respect the life and dignity of the human person, but also the presence of inequality and corruption”.

Sowing in hope

“The task of a shepherd in such circumstances is not easy”, said the Pope. But bishops are sowers, called “to spread seeds of faith” on this earth”, and to “do so in hope”. The sower “never stops loving the field entrusted to his care”, continued Pope Francis. “Even if he is tempted, he does not abandon it or leave it to another”.
 
Video at the link below--
Pope Francis-Antananarivo- Meeting with the Bishops 2019-09-07
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

Pope Francis's trip to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-madagascar-apostolic-visit-tomb-victoire-biography.html
Who is Blessed Victoire that the Pope speaks of?
07 September 2019, 15:42

Blessed Victoire Rasoamanarivo of Madagascar.
One of the stops in the programme of Pope Francis in Madagascar is a visit to the tomb of Blessed Victoire Rasoamanarivo in Antananarivo in the afternoon on Saturday, 7 September.
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp / Robin Gomes

Pope Francis mentioned her at the end of his discourse to Madagascar’s government authorities, representatives of the civil society and the diplomatic corps.  Calling for the integral development of all, he held her out as a model of how to go about it.

“As a Church, we wish to imitate the attitude of dialogue of your fellow citizen, Blessed Victoire Rasoamanarivo,” the Pope said.  “Her witness of love for this land and its traditions, her service to the poor as a sign of her faith in Jesus Christ, show us the path that we too are called to pursue.” 

Catholic faith

Blessed Victoire was born in Antananarivo in 1848, in one of the most powerful families in the country. She was educated according to the indigenous beliefs of her ancestors. But when, in 1861, some French Jesuit missionaries arrived in Madagascar, the young woman enrolled in the mission school and in 1863 was baptized. Her parents reacted to this by enrolling her in a protestant school. When that did not work, they threatened to disown her.
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis's trip to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, 2019

https://zenit.org/articles/pope-joins-madagascars-youth-for-joyful-celebration/
Pope Joins Madagascar’s Youth for Joyful Celebration 
September 07, 2019 19:25•Jim Fair

There were dancing and singing and moving to the music. It may have officially been a “youth vigil” but it certainly looked and sounded like a party.

Pope Francis addressed young people from all parts of Madagascar September 7, 2019, at Soamandrakizay Diocesan Field, Antananarivo. He is on the second leg of this September 4-10 apostolic journey to Africa.

“Thank you too, dear young people, who have come from every corner of this beautiful island, despite the efforts and difficulty this has entailed for many of you,” the Holy Father said. “And yet, here you are! That makes me all the more happy to join you for this prayer vigil to which the Lord Jesus has invited us. Thank you for the songs and traditional dances you performed with such enthusiasm. People told me beforehand of your remarkable joy and enthusiasm, and they were not wrong!”
 
https://zenit.org/articles/popes-address-to-youth-september-7-full-text/
Pope’s Address to Youth, September 7: Full Text 
September 07, 2019 19:00

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis- Antananarivo-Vigil with Young People 2019-09-07
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

Pope Francis's trip to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, 2019

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-africa/2019/08/05/vatican-revises-schedule-for-popes-visit-to-africa-sept-4-10/
Vatican revises schedule for pope’s visit to Africa Sept. 4-10
Catholic News Service  Aug 5, 2019
 
The Vatican released a full schedule for the trip Aug. 5, updating an itinerary published in late June. Times listed are local, with Eastern Daylight Time in parentheses
 
Sunday, Sept. 8 (Antananarivo)

- 10 a.m. (3 a.m.) Mass at the Soamandrakizay diocesan field. Homily by pope.

- Lunch with the papal entourage at the nunciature.

- 3:10 p.m. (8 a.m.) Visit to the Akamasoa “Community of Good Friends.” Greeting by the pope.

- 4 p.m. (9 a.m.) Prayer for workers at the Mahatzana building site. Prayer by pope.

- 5:10 p.m. (10:10 a.m.) Meeting with priests, religious and seminarians in the College of St. Michael. Speech by pope.
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis's trip to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, 2019

Photo gallery at the link
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-mass-antananarivo-madagascar-following-jesus.html
Pope at Mass in Madagascar: Following in Jesus’ footsteps is demanding
08 September 2019, 10:51

Pope Francis blesses a statue of Mary at Mass in Antananarivo  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis celebrates Holy Mass before one million people in the Diocesan Grounds of Soamandrakizay, in the capital of Antananarivo. In his homily, he focuses on the Gospel description of what Jesus’ asks of His disciples in order fulfill God’s plan.
By Vatican News

Saint Luke’s Gospel this Sunday describes how “great multitudes accompanied Jesus”. As if to illustrate that Gospel, a great multitude of nearly one million people gathered in Antananarivo on Sunday morning to attend the Mass celebrated by Pope Francis.

Catholics make up 35% of Madagascar’s population of 26 million people.

Following Jesus is not easy

The Pope began his homily by acknowledging how “you too have come in great numbers to receive Jesus’ message and follow in His footsteps. But you also know that following Jesus is not easy”. Today’s Gospel, he added, “reminds us of how demanding that commitment can be”.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-madagascar-homily-full-text.html
Pope's homily at Mass in Madagascar: Full text
08 September 2019, 09:42

https://zenit.org/articles/on-marys-nativity-pope-prays-she-accompanies-madagascars-journey-in-peace-hope-full-angelus/
On Mary’s Nativity, Pope Prays She Accompanies Madagascar’s Journey in Peace & Hope (Full Angelus)
September 08, 2019 15:43•Deborah Castellano Lubov

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis-Antananarivo-Holy Mass 2019-09-08
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

Pope Francis's trip to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-city-of-friendship-madagascar-poverty-not-inevitabl.html
Pope at “City of Friendship” in Madagascar: poverty is not inevitable
08 September 2019, 14:55

Pope Francis greets children at the Akamasoa Association  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis visits the Akamasoa Association in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on Sunday afternoon, and calls it “an expression of God’s presence in the midst of his people who are poor”.
By Vatican News

When the founder of the Akamasoa Association, Fr Pédro Opeka, invited Pope Francis to visit the Community, he never really believed the Pope would come. Even though Jesuit Father Mario Bergoglio had been Fr Pedrò’s theology professor back home in Argentina.

But Pope Francis did come.

The testimony

He met with many members of the Association, and listened as 13 year-old Fanny told him how she came to Akamasoa six years ago, how her life has changed since then, how she studies, and looks forward to putting the Pope’s message into practice.

The message

The Pope’s message included an invitation to remain faithful “to the values of hard work, discipline, honesty, self-respect and respect for others”.

The Pope stressed how this experience has helped them understand that “God’s dream is not only for our personal development, but essentially for the development of the community, and that there is no worse form of slavery… than to live only for ourselves”.
 
Video at the link below--
Pope Francis-Antananarivo-Visit to the City of Friendship 2019-09-08
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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Pope Francis's trip to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-madagascar-prayer-workers-mahatazana.html
Pope in Madagascar: Prayer for workers at Mahatazana quarry
08 September 2019, 15:26

Pope prays for workers in Antananarivo  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis recites a prayer for workers at the Mahatazana Quarry in Antananarivo, on the second day of his Apostolic Journey to Madagascar.
By Vatican News

The Mahatazana quarry is run by the Akamasoa “City of Friendship” Association, which is a community founded by Fr Pédro Opeka to give Malagasy poor a way to provide for their families.

Pope Francis visited the quarry immediately after he met with around 8,000 young people who belong to the Association.

At the quarry in Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo, the Pope prayed for workers there and throughout the world, with these words:

God our Father, Creator of heaven and earth,
 we thank you for gathering us as brothers and sisters in this place.
 Before this rock, split by human labour,
 we pray to you for workers everywhere.
 
Video at the link below--
Pope Francis-Antananarivo- Prayer for Workers 2019-09-08
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

Pope Francis's trip to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-apostolic-visit-madagascar-clergy-religious.html
Pope to clergy and religious in Madagascar: ‘be a sign of His living presence’
08 September 2019, 18:11

Pope Francis’ last official engagement in Madagascar saw him meeting with priests, men and women religious, consecrated persons, seminarians, novices and postulants whom he encouraged to continue to fight their battles in prayer and in praise.
By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis wrapped up his two-day Apostolic Visit to Madagascar on Sunday evening at Antananarivo’s Saint Michel College, an institute founded by French Jesuit missionaries in 1888 and that has become a well-known center for higher education throughout the region. 

The Pope’s message to the men and women gathered in Antananarivo to be with their pastor, was one of thanks for their hard work – often carried out in difficult situations – and of encouragement in times of difficulty.

“Even those things you see as problems are signs of a Church that is alive, dynamic and striving to be each day to be a sign of the Lord’s presence,” he said.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/holy-father-concludes-madagascar-visit-with-address-to-priests-religious-consecrated-seminarians/
Holy Father Concludes Madagascar Visit with Address to Priests, Religious, Consecrated, Seminarians: FULL TEXT 
September 08, 2019 19:15

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis-Antananarivo- Meeting with Priests 2019-09-08
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

Pope Francis's trip to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, 2019

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-africa/2019/08/05/vatican-revises-schedule-for-popes-visit-to-africa-sept-4-10/
Vatican revises schedule for pope’s visit to Africa Sept. 4-10
Catholic News Service  Aug 5, 2019
 
The Vatican released a full schedule for the trip Aug. 5, updating an itinerary published in late June. Times listed are local, with Eastern Daylight Time in parentheses
 
Monday, Sept. 9 (Antananarivo-Port Louis, Mauritius-Antananarivo)

- 7:30 a.m. (12:30 a.m.) Departure by air for Port Louis.

- 10:40 a.m. (2:40 a.m.) Arrival ceremony at the Port Louis airport.

- 12:15 p.m. (4:15 a.m.) Mass at the monument to Mary, Queen of Peace. Homily by pope.

- Lunch with members of the Episcopal Conference of the Indian Ocean.

- 4:25 p.m. (8:25 a.m.) Private visit to the Shrine of Blessed Jacques-Desire Laval, the “apostle of Mauritus.”

- 4:55 p.m. (8:55 a.m.) Courtesy visit with the president in the presidential palace.

- 5:15 p.m. (9:15 a.m.) Meeting with the prime minister in the presidential palace.

- 5:40 p.m. (9:40 a.m.) Meeting with government authorities, civil society leaders and the diplomatic corps in the presidential palace. Speech by pope.

- 6:45 p.m. (10:45 a.m.) Farewell ceremony at the Port Louis airport.

- 7 p.m. (11 a.m.) Departure by air to Antananarivo.

- 8 p.m. (1 p.m.) Arrival at Antananarivo airport
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis's trip to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-mass-mauritius-youthful-missionary-church.html
Pope at Mass in Mauritius: Be a youthful, joyful, missionary Church
09 September 2019, 11:57

Pope Francis carries St John Paul II's crozier at Mass, 30 years later  (Vatican Media)
Around 100,000 people attended the Pope’s Mass in Port Louis. That’s roughly 10% of the entire population of Mauritius.

A symbolic location

The Mass was celebrated at the Monument of Our Lady, on the slopes of a mountain overlooking the city. The Monument was inaugurated on the Feast of the Assumption in 1940, and was dedicated to Mary Queen of Peace in thanksgiving for keeping the country safe during World War I.

This is where Pope St John Paul II celebrated Mass when he visited the island nation in 1989. In a deeply symbolic gesture of continuity, Pope Francis chose to use the same crozier carried here by his predecessor 30 years ago.

A great multitude

“Before this altar dedicated to Mary Queen of Peace, on this mountain from which we can see the city and the sea beyond, we are part of a great multitude”, said the Pope, “a sea of faces come from Mauritius and other islands of this Indian Ocean region to hear Jesus preach the Beatitudes”.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-apostolic-journey-mauritius-homily-full-text.html
Pope's homily at Mass in Mauritius: Full text
09 September 2019, 11:05

https://zenit.org/articles/pope-expresses-gratitude-after-mass-in-mauritius-full-remarks/
Pope Expresses Gratitude After Mass in Mauritius (Full Remarks) 
September 09, 2019 12:08

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis-Port Louis-Holy Mass 2019-09-09
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

Pope Francis's trip to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, 2019

https://zenit.org/articles/pope-francis-visits-shrine-of-father-laval-in-mauritius/
Pope Francis Visits Shrine of Father Laval in Mauritius  
September 09, 2019 16:45•Jim Fair

Today, September 9th is the feast of Blessed Jacques Désiré Laval, often called the Apostle of Mauritius. And as you might imagine, it was a moment of great joy for people on the island nation that Pope Francis was present on this day and visited the Shrine of Father Laval.

In the Holy Father’s homily earlier today, Francis stressed that Father Laval, through his missionary outreach and his love, gave to the Mauritian Church a new youth, a new life, that today we are asked to carry forward.

Blessed Father Laval, Francis acknowledged, also experienced moments of disappointment and difficulty with the Christian community, “but in the end, the Lord triumphed in his heart. For he had put his trust in the Lord’s power,” Francis noted.
 
Video at the link below--
Pope Francis- Port Louis-Visit to the Santuary of Père Laval 2019-09-09
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican