Pope Francis

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Pope Francis' trip to Thailand and Japan -- November 19-26, 2019

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2019/10/vatican-publishes-updated-schedule-for-papal-trip-to-thailand-japan/
Vatican publishes updated schedule for papal trip to Thailand, Japan
Catholic News Service  Oct 28, 2019
 
Here is the updated schedule released by the Vatican Oct. 28, which does not include times for some meetings in Japan. Times listed are local, with Eastern Time in parentheses:
 
Sunday, Nov. 24 (Tokyo, Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Tokyo)

- 7:20 a.m. (5:20 p.m. Nov. 23) Departure by plane for Nagasaki.
- 9:20 a.m. (7:20 p.m. Nov. 23) Arrival at the Nagasaki airport.
- 10:15 a.m. (8:15 p.m. Nov. 23) Message about nuclear weapons at Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park. Message by pope.
- 10:45 a.m. (8:45 p.m. Nov. 23) Homage to the holy martyrs at the martyrs’ monument on Nishizaka Hill. Greeting by pope.

- Lunch at the archbishop’s residence.

- 2 p.m. (Midnight) Mass at the Nagasaki baseball stadium. Homily by pope.

- 4:35 p.m. (2:35 a.m.) Departure by plane for Hiroshima.
- 5:45 p.m. (3:45 a.m.) Arrival at the Hiroshima airport.
- 6:40 p.m. (4:40 a.m.) Meeting for peace at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial. Message by pope.
- 8:25 p.m. (6:25 a.m.) Departure by plane to Tokyo.
- 9:50 p.m. (7:50 a.m.) Arrival at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.
 

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Pope Francis' trip to Thailand and Japan -- November 19-26, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-11/pope-thailand-japan-apostolic-journey-full-texts.html
Pope Francis' 32nd Apostolic Journey: Full texts and more
21 November 2019, 09:18

The entire programme and full texts of Pope Francis' 32nd Apostolic Journey to Thailand and Japan.

By clicking on each element listed below, you will be able to find all the information and full texts associated with Pope Francis' 32 Apostolic Journey to Thailand and Japan. This list will be updated as soon as definitive texts are made available.
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' trip to Thailand and Japan -- November 19-26, 2019

Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-11/pope-in-nagasaki-we-cannot-repeat-the-mistakes-of-the-past.html
Pope in Nagasaki: We cannot repeat the mistakes of the past
24 November 2019, 02:42

During his visit to the Peace Memorial in Nagasaki, Pope Francis affirms that a world without nuclear weapons is possible, but only by involving everyone through cooperation, trust, dialogue, and prayer.
By Vatican News

At 11:02 on the morning of 9 August 1945, an atomic bomb exploded in Nagasaki, Japan. One-third of the city was destroyed and around 150,000 people were killed or injured. Many more died later from the effects of radioactive poisoning.

Today, a commemorative monument to peace marks the spot where the bomb fell.

The Peace Memorial

Pope Francis visited the Peace Memorial in Nagasaki on Sunday morning. He placed flowers at the foot of the monument, and noted how “This place makes us deeply aware of the pain and horror that we human beings are capable of inflicting upon one another.”

Beside the Atomic Bomb Hypocentre stand the remains of Urakami Cathedral. Once the largest church in East Asia, it was completely destroyed by the bomb.

In his discourse, Pope Francis referred to a damaged cross and a statue of Our Lady that were recently discovered on the Cathedral site: “They remind us once more of the unspeakable horror suffered in the flesh by the victims of the bombing and their families”, he said.
 

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Pope Francis' trip to Thailand and Japan -- November 19-26, 2019

Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-11/pope-the-witness-of-the-martyrs-confirms-us-in-faith.html
Pope in Japan: Witness of Catholic martyrs confirms us in faith
24 November 2019, 03:13

Visiting the Monument to the Martyrs in Nagasaki, Pope Francis describes the Japanese martyrs as a living memory, and a spur to renewed evangelization in Japan.
By Lydia O’Kane

In his words at the Martyrs Monument in Nagasaki, Pope Francis told those gathered that he had come as a pilgrim to pray, and to confirm Catholics in Japan in the faith.

Reflecting on the images and names of those inscribed on this monument, including Saint Paulo Miki, the Pope noted that this shrine does more than speak of death.

"It also speaks of the triumph of life over death," he said.

Recalling his predecessor Saint John Paul II, the Pope said that he saw this place “not simply as the mount of the martyrs, but a true Mount of the Beatitudes."
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' trip to Thailand and Japan -- November 19-26, 2019

Video, with English commentary, at the link
Photo gallery at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-11/pope-francis-apostolic-visit-japan1.html
Pope at Mass in Nagasaki: compassion as the authentic way to shape history
24 November 2019, 14:19

Celebrating his first public Mass in Japan on the Feast of Christ the King on Sunday, Pope Francis draws attention to the good thief in Luke’s Gospel. His attitude and profession of faith, the Pope says, makes the horror and injustice of Calvary, become a message of hope for all humanity.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis chose the plea of the good thief as the base of his homily: “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingly power”.  “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” is what Jesus assures the thief.   “And that moment does nothing more than confirm the entire meaning of Jesus’ life: always and everywhere to offer salvation,” the Pope said at the afternoon Mass at Nagasaki’s Baseball Stadium.
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' trip to Thailand and Japan -- November 19-26, 2019

Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-11/pope-in-hiroshima-use-and-possession-of-atomic-energy-for-war-i.html
Pope in Hiroshima: Use and possession of atomic energy for war is immoral
24 November 2019, 11:44

On his first full day in Japan, Pope Francis visits the Hiroshima Peace Memorial and describes it as a place where death and life, loss and rebirth, suffering and compassion have met. He reaffirms that the use and possesson of atomic energy for purposes of war is immoral.
By Vatican News

Over 70,000 people died instantly. Another 70,000 died later from radiation burns. At 8:15 on the morning of 6 August 1945, the first wartime atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima, destroying it completely.

The only building to survive the blast was the Genbaku Dome. Today its iconic ruin stands at the heart of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park as a reminder of the most destructive force ever unleashed by humanity, on humanity.   
 

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Pope Francis' trip to Thailand and Japan -- November 19-26, 2019

https://cruxnow.com/pope-in-thailand-and-japan/2019/11/the-latest-what-do-japanese-call-the-pope/
What do Japanese call the pope?
Associated Press  Nov 24, 2019

NAGASAKI, Japan - Is the pope “Kyoko,” or “Ho-o” in Japanese?

The Japanese government adopted the term “Kyoko” (教皇) as the official translation of his title ahead of his visit this weekend, in line with the policy of the Catholic Church in Japan, replacing “Ho-o” (法王).

Catholics also used both titles but adopted the new title “Kyoko” following the 1981 visit to Japan by St. John Paul II. The faithful say it includes the Chinese character that clearly shows that the pope is a man of teachings. The Chinese characters used in the new title literally mean “emperor of teachings.” The earlier one meant “king of law.”
 

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Pope Francis' trip to Thailand and Japan -- November 19-26, 2019

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2019/10/vatican-publishes-updated-schedule-for-papal-trip-to-thailand-japan/
Vatican publishes updated schedule for papal trip to Thailand, Japan
Catholic News Service  Oct 28, 2019
 
Here is the updated schedule released by the Vatican Oct. 28, which does not include times for some meetings in Japan. Times listed are local, with Eastern Time in parentheses:
 
Monday, Nov. 25 (Tokyo)

- 10 a.m. (8 p.m. Nov. 24) Meeting with victims of the 2011 “triple disaster” (earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant meltdown) at Bellesalle Hanzomon. Speech by pope.
- Private meeting with Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace.
- 11:45 a.m. (9:45 p.m. Nov. 24) Meeting young people in St. Mary’s Cathedral. Speech by pope.

- Lunch with the papal entourage in the apostolic nunciature.

- 4 p.m. (2 a.m.) Mass in the Tokyo Dome. Homily by pope.
- Meeting with the prime minister at the Kantei.
- Meeting with government authorities, civic leaders and members of the diplomatic corps at the Kantei. Speech by pope.
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' trip to Thailand and Japan -- November 19-26, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-11/pope-thailand-japan-apostolic-journey-full-texts.html
Pope Francis' 32nd Apostolic Journey: Full texts and more
21 November 2019, 09:18

The entire programme and full texts of Pope Francis' 32nd Apostolic Journey to Thailand and Japan.

By clicking on each element listed below, you will be able to find all the information and full texts associated with Pope Francis' 32 Apostolic Journey to Thailand and Japan. This list will be updated as soon as definitive texts are made available.
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' trip to Thailand and Japan -- November 19-26, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-11/pope-to-victims-of-triple-disaster-we-are-part-of-one-another.html
Pope to victims of Japan's "triple disaster": We are part of one another
25 November 2019, 02:48

Pope Francis meets with victims of the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear accident that struck the Japanese city of Fukushima in 2011.
By Christopher Wells

Survivors of the earthquake, tsuanami, and nuclear disaster that struck Japan in 2011 shared their experiences on Monday during a meeting with Pope Francis in Tokyo on Monday.

Survivor testimonies

Kindergarten teacher Toshito Kato, whose town was swept away by the tsunami, said that despite the disaster, “I received much more than I lost”. She spoke of “the importance of teaching children the preciousness of life”.

Tokuun Tanaka, a Buddhist priest whose temple is not far from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, asked how we can respond to natural disasters, saying “honest and humble reflection, deep understanding, and decisions about what to be done are necessary”. He insisted, “The most important thing is to hear the voice of the earth”.

Matsuki Kamoshita was eight years old when she and her family were evacuated to Tokyo following the nuclear accident at Fukushima. She said adults must tell the truth about the effects of radioactive contamination.

She asked Pope Francis to join in prayer, “so that we can appreciate each other’s pain and love our neighbours”. And she asked, “Please pray with us that people from all over the world will work to eliminate the threat of radiation exposure from our future”.
 
Video, with English commentary, at the link below--
Pope Francis-Meeting with victims of the Triple Disaster 2019-11-25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnmWFh6zss0

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Pope Francis' trip to Thailand and Japan -- November 19-26, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-11/pope-francis-private-meeting-japan-emperor.html
Pope Francis meets with Japan’s Emperor Naruhito
25 November 2019, 04:01

Pope Francis meets with the Emperor of Japan, Naruhito, at the Tokyo Imperial Palace on Monday.
By Devin Watkins – Tokyo, Japan

The private meeting at the Imperial Palace lasted around 30 minutes.

Pope Francis gave Emperor Naruhito a mosaic of the “View of the Arch of Titus”, based on a watercolor painting by the Roman artist Filippo Anivitti (1876-1955).

After the brief meeting, the Pope traveled to Tokyo’s St Mary Cathedral to meet with young people.

New emperor

Emperor Naruhito acceded to the Chrysanthemum Throne on May 1, 2019. His reign is officially known as the Reiwa Era, translated as “Beautiful Harmony”.

The Emperor has some family connection to Catholicism.
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' trip to Thailand and Japan -- November 19-26, 2019

Video, with English commentary, at the link
Photo gallery at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-11/pope-francis-tokyo-japan-meeting-young-people.html
Pope to young people in Tokyo: ‘Japan needs you, the world needs you!'
25 November 2019, 05:01

One rendezvous Pope Francis never misses during an Apostolic Visit abroad is meeting with young people, “the builders of tomorrow’s society”. That meeting took place on the penultimate day of his visit to Japan, when he took time to meet with the youth in Tokyo.
By Linda Bordoni

According to a well-rehearsed formula, the meeting between Pope Francis and young people in Tokyo’s St Mary Cathedral began with some first-hand testimonies.

Representing the cultural and religious diversity of young people living in Japan today, a young Catholic, a young Buddhist, and a young migrant were able to voice their deepest fears and aspirations and ask the Pope some important questions.

Miki highlighted a reality in which lack of time and fraught competitiveness often cause young people to “fail to see the uncountable stars and lose the joy-filled chance to experience the greatness of God and their own weakness and realize that God is with them”.
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' trip to Thailand and Japan -- November 19-26, 2019

Video, with English commentary, at the link
Photo gallery at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-11/pope-francis-apostolic-journey-japan-mass-tokyo0.html
Pope at Mass in Tokyo: Gospel of life urges us to be a “field hospital”
25 November 2019, 08:54

Pope Francis celebrates Mass on Monday afternoon at the Tokyo Dome stadium. In his homily, the Pope says we need to get our priorities right, in line with the life of Jesus.
By Robin Gomes

As the starting point of his homily on Monday, Pope Francis drew attention to the Sermon on the Mount, saying it indicates the beauty of the path we are called to take to reach Jesus, in whom we have the freedom of becoming God’s beloved children.

Hurdles to being God’s children

Yet along the way, the Pope observed, the freedom of being God’s children can be repressed and weakened by a vicious circle of anxiety and competition. A frenetic pursuit of productivity and consumerism becomes the sole criterion for measuring or defining who we are or what we are worth.

The Pope warned that this criterion slowly makes us insensitive to the really important things and yearn for things that are superfluous or ephemeral.

The Pope noted that in Japan, with its highly developed economy, many people are socially isolated on the margins who are unable to grasp the meaning of their life and existence. He lamented that home, school, and community, which are meant to be places where we support and help one another, are being eroded by excessive competition in the pursuit of profit and efficiency. As a result, many lose their peace and stability.
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' trip to Thailand and Japan -- November 19-26, 2019

Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-11/pope-francis-address-authorities-civil-society-japan.html
Pope to authorities: your heritage is precious, your morals high
25 November 2019, 10:41

Pope Francis addresses members of civil society and the diplomatic corps, in Japan, and urges them to cherish their precious cultural heritage, maintaining solidarity with all members of our human family.
By Francesca Merlo

Pope Francis began his address to authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps by recalling “the friendly relations existing between the Holy See and Japan are long-standing”. He described these relations as being “rooted in the appreciation and admiration felt by the first missionaries for these lands”.

A sensitive nation

The Pope referred to one missionary in particular, the Jesuit Alessandro Valignano, “who in 1579 wrote: ‘Whoever wishes to see what our Lord has bestowed upon man need only come to Japan to see it’”.

“As a nation”, the Pope continued, “Japan is particularly sensitive to the suffering of those less fortunate”. On this note, he recalled the theme of his visit: Protect all life, “in the recognition of its inviolable dignity and the importance of showing solidarity and support to our brothers and sisters in any kind of need”.

“We know that, in the end, the civility of every nation or people is measured by the attention it devotes to those in need and its capacity to be fruitful and promote life”.
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' trip to Thailand and Japan -- November 19-26, 2019

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2019/10/vatican-publishes-updated-schedule-for-papal-trip-to-thailand-japan/
Vatican publishes updated schedule for papal trip to Thailand, Japan
Catholic News Service  Oct 28, 2019
 
Here is the updated schedule released by the Vatican Oct. 28, which does not include times for some meetings in Japan. Times listed are local, with Eastern Time in parentheses:
 

Tuesday, Nov. 26 (Tokyo, Rome)

- 7:45 a.m. (5:45 p.m. Nov. 25) Private Mass with members of the Society of Jesus in the Kulturheim Chapel of Sophia University, followed by breakfast.
- 9:40 a.m. (7:40 p.m. Nov. 25) Visit to priests at Sophia University who are elderly or ill.
- 10 a.m. (8 p.m. Nov. 25) Visit to Sophia University. Speech by pope.

- 11:20 a.m. (9:20 p.m. Nov. 25) Farewell ceremony at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.
- 11:35 a.m. (9:35 p.m. Nov. 25) Departure by plane for Rome.
- 5:15 p.m. (11:15 a.m.) Arrival at Rome’s Fiumicino airport.

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' trip to Thailand and Japan -- November 19-26, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-11/pope-thailand-japan-apostolic-journey-full-texts.html
Pope Francis' 32nd Apostolic Journey: Full texts and more
21 November 2019, 09:18

The entire programme and full texts of Pope Francis' 32nd Apostolic Journey to Thailand and Japan.

By clicking on each element listed below, you will be able to find all the information and full texts associated with Pope Francis' 32 Apostolic Journey to Thailand and Japan. This list will be updated as soon as definitive texts are made available.
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' trip to Thailand and Japan -- November 19-26, 2019

Photo gallery at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-11/pope-francis-apsotolic-journey-japan-sholas-occurrentes-inaugura.html
Pope receives Scholas Occurrentes on its launch in Japan
25 November 2019, 11:51

On the penultimate day of his November 19-26 Apostolic Journey in Thailand and Japan, Pope Francis met representatives of the Scholas Occurrentes at the Apostolic Nunciature in Japan.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis on Monday met a  delegation of the Scholas Occurentes Foundation as it launched its office in Japan, the first of its kind in Asia.
 
The Scholas Occurrentes, the Latin for “schools that meet”, is today an educational project of pontifical right launched by Pope Francis in Argentina 2001, when he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires.  Its aim is to encourage social integration ‎and the culture of encounter through sports, arts and technology.  The Pope made it into a foundation in 2013.

Pope Francis, who is on an Apostolic Journey to Thailand and Japan, November 19-26, received 5 representatives of the group at the Apostolic Nunciature in Tokyo, in the morning.  While narrating their experiences and concerns to the Pope, they also made their proposals for change as future leaders.

The meeting with the Pope took place after the first educational experience of the Foundation, in which young people between 15 and 18 years of age from various religious communities in Tokyo, Osaka, Chiba, Saitama and Gunma participated.
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' trip to Thailand and Japan -- November 19-26, 2019

Video, with English commentary, at the link
Photo gallery at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-11/pope-at-sophia-university-seek-find-and-spread-divine-wisdom.html
Pope at Sophia University in Japan: Seek, find, and spread Divine Wisdom
26 November 2019, 02:14

Pope Francis visits Sophia University in Tokyo at the conclusion of his Apostolic Visit to Japan, and affirms that “quality education should not be the privilege of a few."
By Vatican News

The name of Sophia University means, literally, “University of Higher Wisdom." Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1913, and located in the heart of Tokyo, today it is considered one of Japan’s leading private research universities.

Pope Francis addressed students, professors, and staff of the University on Tuesday morning, just prior to his departure for Rome.

Study and meditation

Study and meditation, he said, are part of every culture, and Japanese culture “is rightly proud of its ancient and rich heritage in this regard.”  “Japan has been able to integrate the thinking and the religions of Asia as a whole, and to create a culture with a well-defined identity”, said the Pope.

“Since universities continue to be the primary place where future leaders are trained”, he continued, “it is necessary that a breadth of knowledge and culture inspire every aspect of the life of educational institutions, making them ever more inclusive and capable of generating opportunities and social advancement.”
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' trip to Thailand and Japan -- November 19-26, 2019

Photo gallery at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-11/pope-francis-departs-japan-journey-overview.html
Pope bids farewell to Japan, leaves hearts overflowing with gratitude
26 November 2019, 03:41

Pope Francis concludes his Apostolic Journey to Japan, fulfilling his dream to be a missionary to the country and spurring the Japanese Church to protect all life.
By Devin Watkins – Tokyo, Japan

It was a bittersweet farewell that Pope Francis bade to the people of Japan on Tuesday, as he boarded the papal plane at Tokyo-Haneda airport.

His visit fulfilled a life-long desire to come to this East Asian nation as a missionary, a dream that was truncated by illness as a young Jesuit.

Yet Divine Providence has a special way of turning patient hope into reality.
 
As the Pope prepared to leave the Land of the Rising Sun, he gave voice to the impact his long-awaited missionary expedition to Japan left on him.

“I promise you,” he said off-script with a smile, “that you will all be in my prayers and in my heart.”

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' trip to Thailand and Japan -- November 19-26, 2019

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-11/pope-francis-telegrammes-heads-of-state-apostolic-journey.html
Pope arrives in Rome after Apostolic Journey
26 November 2019, 11:13

Pope Francis has arrived in Rome at the conclusion of his 32nd Apostolic Journey abroad that took him to Thailand and Japan. During the flight from Tokyo to Rome, he sent messages to the Heads of those States flown over along the route, praying for the peace and prosperity of their respective nations.
By Vatican News

The plane carrying Pope Francis from Tokyo to Rome touched down at Fiumicino International Airport just after 4.15pm local time. During its journey, the plane flew over twelve  countries. As is customary, the Pope sent a telegram to the Heads of those states, expressing his greetings and invoking God’s blessings on the people of those nations.