Pope Francis

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-12/pope-to-the-curia-changes-are-necessary-to-better-serve-humanit.html

Pope to the Curia: changes are necessary to better serve humanity
21 December 2019, 11:04

During the traditional exchange of Christmas greetings, Pope Francis addresses the Roman Curia about the transformations taking place in the Vatican structures. He stresses the needs and aims of the new dicasteries, and says the Curia is changing in order to overcome inflexibility and fear, and to better announce the Gospel to a de-Christianized world.
By Alessandro De Carolis

In a changing world, the Roman Curia does not change for the sake of changing, in order to “follow fashions”, began the Pope. The Church lives development and growth from God's perspective. Even the Bible is "a journey marked by starting and starting again". One of our most recent saints, Cardinal Newman, speaking of "change", really meant "conversion", he said.
 

English translation of the address at the link below--
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2019/12/21/1022/02087.html#inglese
Udienza del Santo Padre alla Curia Romana in occasione della presentazione degli auguri natalizi, 21.12.2019
 
Traduzione in lingua inglese

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14)

Dear brothers and sisters,

I offer all of you a cordial welcome. I express my gratitude to Cardinal Angelo Sodano for his kind words and in a particular way I thank him, also in the name of the members of the College of Cardinals, for the valued service he has long provided as Dean, in a spirit of helpfulness, dedication and efficiency, and with great skill in organization and coordination. In the manner of “la rassa nostrana”, as the Piedmontese writer Nino Costa would say. Now the Cardinal Bishops have to elect a new dean. I am hoping they will elect someone who can carry this important responsibility full time. Thank you.
 

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis-Audience Roman Curia 2019-12-21
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-12/pope-francis-motu-proprio-dean-cardinals-sodano.html

Pope issues Motu proprio regarding Dean of College of Cardinals
21 December 2019, 11:38

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of the former Secretary of State and Dean of the College of Cardinals, Angelo Sodano, and with a special Motu proprio, establishes new guidelines for the role of the Dean.
By Vatican News

The Pope on Saturday accepted the resignation of Cardinal Angelo Sodano as Dean of the College of Cardinals, who has stepped down because of his advanced age.  At the same time, with a special Motu proprio, he established that from now on the post will be for five years, that it can be renewed if necessary, and that at the end of the mandate the outgoing cardinal will receive the title of "Dean Emeritus".

The decision was made public after the Pope’s traditional meeting before Christmas with members of the Roman Curia, which opened with an address from Cardinal Angelo Sodano. The 92-year-old Italian cardinal has been a Bishop and Apostolic Nuncio since 1978, Secretary of State from 1990 to 2005, and successor of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as Dean of the College of Cardinals, as provided for in the norms of the Cardinals of the Order of Bishops.
 
https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2019/12/cardinal-tainted-by-abuse-scandals-steps-down-as-dean-pope-sets-term-limit/
Cardinal tainted by abuse scandals steps down as dean, pope sets term limit
Elise Harris  Dec 21, 2019

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Hmmm...

http://magister.blogautore.espresso.repubblica.it/2019/12/21/the-popes-latest-speech-to-the-cardinals-has-a-backstory-that-was-supposed-to-stay-secret/
di Sandro Magister
21 dic
The Pope's Latest Speech To the Cardinals Has a Backstory. That Was Supposed To Stay Secret

This time as well, in the speech he gives every year to the Vatican curia before Christmas, Pope Francis has come out swinging at his unfortunate listeners.

Last year he went after the the Judases “who hide behind good intentions to stab their brothers and sow weeds.”

Two years ago he had pilloried the “trusted traitors” who “let themselves be corrupted by ambition or vainglory and, when they are gently removed, falsely declare themselves martyrs of the system, of the ‘uninformed pope,’ of the ‘old guard,’ … instead of reciting the ‘mea culpa’.”

And who is in the pope’s crosshairs this year? Below are the most biting passages from the speech given by the pope to the Roman curia on the morning of Saturday, December 21.

First, however, comes the news of another meeting that took place a few days ago between Francis and the cardinals. A meeting that started badly and ended even worse.

*
No Vatican news organization has so far mentioned this meeting. And yet it happened. It took place in the Vatican chapel of Santa Marta on the morning of Friday December 13, the fiftieth anniversary of the first Mass of Jorge Mario Bergoglio.

The one who had suggested to Pope Francis that he celebrate this occasion with a Mass together with the cardinals residing in Rome had been, a few weeks earlier, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, in his capacity as dean of the college of cardinals.

Francis had replied no. But Sodano had not given up, and thanks to a second effort by college sub-dean Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, he was finally able to overcome his resistance.

In sending to the cardinals the letter of invitation for the gathering, Sodano made mention of Francis’s initial resistance.

Who, however, only slightly attenuated his impulse of distaste. On December 13 the Mass took place, but in the most absolute silence on both sides. The pope did not deliver the homily and did not say a single word either before or after the ceremony. And even Sodano was unable to read the address of good wishes he had prepared, in the name not only of those present but of the entire college of cardinals. After the Mass Francis quickly greeted the cardinals one by one and left.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-12/pope-audience-santa-marta-dispensary-christmas.html

Pope Francis tells children to nurture Hope, Love and Peace
22 December 2019, 11:27

Pope Francis offers Christmas wishes and thanks to staff and volunteers of the Santa Marta Dispensary and to many of the families it assists.
By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis on Sunday was treated to a musical show with songs and dances performed by the children of the staff and volunteers of the Santa Marta Dispensary. The audience took place in the Vatican’s Paul VI hall in the presence of some 800 people, including volunteers, doctors, nurses and families assisted by the Dispensary.

For over ninety years the Santa Marta Dispensary has provided medical assistance to children and families in need and is based just a stone’s throw away from the Pope’s residence inside the Vatican.

After the performance, the children presented the Pope with a large cake, a belated gift marking Francis’ 83rd birthday last Tuesday, 17 December.

The Pope thanked those present and praised the children’s parents whom, he noted, clearly know how to play and give joy to their offspring: “Children are the promise of good things to come,” he said.

He then engaged in conversation with the children highlighting three boxes the Magi in the performance had brought to the baby Jesus, and that contained “Hope, Love and Peace.”
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-12/pope-angelus-gospel-joseph.html

Pope at Angelus: ‘the meek and wise Joseph teaches us to trust in the Lord'
22 December 2019, 12:06

Pope Francis marks the fourth and last Sunday of Advent inviting the faithful to look to Joseph as a model of unshakable faith and trust in the Lord.
By Linda Bordoni

Reflecting on the reading of the day from the Gospel of Matthew, Pope Francis highlighted the role of the meek and humble Joseph, whose capacity to listen to and trust in God provides us with a model to be upheld and imitated.

Addressing the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Sunday Angelus, the Pope reflected on Joseph, “a person apparently in second place, but whose attitude contains the entirety of Christian wisdom.”

Joseph, the Pope recalled, together with John the Baptist and Mary, is one of the characters the liturgy proposes during the season of Advent.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/angelus-address-on-the-gospel-of-the-fourth-sunday-of-advent/
Angelus Address: On the Gospel of the Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 22, 2019 15:02  Virginia Forrester

Video, with English commentary, at the link below--
Pope's Angelus of 22 December 2019
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/angelus/2019-12/pope-angelus-22-december-2019.html
or
Pope Francis - Angelus prayer 2019-12-22
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-12/pope-francis-christmas-mass-god-love-revelation.html

Pope at Christmas Night Mass: “Tonight God’s love is revealed”
24 December 2019, 22:19

The Christmas Night liturgy in St Peter’s Basilica began with the chanting of the Kalenda, the proclamation of historic events leading up to Jesus’ birth. Immediately afterwards, the Pope unveiled the image of the Christ Child at the foot of the altar.
By Vatican News

The Christmas Night liturgy in St Peter’s Basilica began with the chanting of the Kalenda, the proclamation of historic events leading up to Jesus’ birth. Immediately afterwards, the Pope unveiled the image of the Christ Child at the foot of the altar.

The grace of God has appeared

In his homily during the Mass, Pope Francis focused on the theme of God’s grace: “bringing salvation to all” and shining “on our world this night”.
The Pope described this grace as “divine love, the love that changes lives, renews history, liberates from evil, fills hearts with peace and joy”. This love is revealed to us as Jesus, he explained: “In Jesus, the Most High made Himself tiny, so that we might love Him”.

In a world where “everything seems to be about giving in order to get, God comes down freely. His love is non-negotiable”, said the Pope.
 
Video at the link below--
Pope Francis-Holy Mass of the Christmas Vigil 2019-12-24
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-12/pope-urbi-et-orbi-christmas.html
Pope at 'Urbi et Orbi' prays for the suffering children of the world
25 December 2019, 12:50

The theme of Pope Francis’ annual Christmas Day “Urbi et Orbi” Message is “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light”.
By Vatican News

Addressing the faithful gathered in the Square on Christmas Day Pope Francis pronounced his annual “Urbi et Orbi” Message.

Urbi et Orbi, means literally “to the city and to the world”, and as always, this year the Pope highlighted the plight of many suffering people and nations across the globe, praying for the peace of the Lord who has come to save us. 
     
Referring to the theme of this year’s Message, he said that “There is darkness in human hearts, yet the light of Christ is greater still.”

There is darkness, he said, in “personal, family and social relationships, but the light of Christ is greater.  There is darkness in economic, geopolitical and ecological conflicts, yet greater still is the light of Christ.”
 
https://zenit.org/articles/popes-urbi-et-orbi-blessing-full-text/
Pope’s ‘Urbi et Orbi’ Blessing (Full Text)
December 25, 2019 12:20

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-12/pope-francis-angelus-feast-st-stephen.html

Pope at Angelus: Learn from St Stephen, fix your gaze on Jesus
26 December 2019, 12:22

During his Angelus to mark the Feast Day of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr, Pope Francis tells the faithful gathered in St Peter's Square to learn from Stephen, to become more similar to Jesus.
By Francesca Merlo

Pope Francis began his address by saying that the celebration of St Stephen, who died, stoned, as he stood to defend his Christian faith, may appear “out of place” in the midst of the joys of Christmas. In reality, he said, “specifically in the perspective of faith, today’s celebration is in harmony with the true meaning of Christmas”.

The Pope went on to explain that in Stephen’s martyrdom, “violence is defeated by love, and death by life”. In the hour of supreme witness, he continued, Stephen “offers pardon to his persecutors”.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-12/pope-francis-appeal-victims-typhoon-philippines.html
Pope Francis prays for victims of deadly Philippines typhoon
26 December 2019, 12:46

Video, with English commentary, at the link below--
Pope's Angelus of 26 December 2019
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/angelus/2019-12/pope-francis-angelus-26-december-2019.html
or
Pope Francis - Angelus prayer 2019-12-26
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

[grace-land]

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2019/12/bishop-conlon-takes-medical-leave-from-diocese-of-joliet-illinois/

Bishop Conlon takes medical leave from Diocese of Joliet, Illinois
Catholic News Service  Dec 27, 2019

JOLIET, Illinois - Bishop R. Daniel Conlon of Joliet announced he is taking a medical leave of absence starting Dec. 27.

Retired Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des Moines, Iowa, will be apostolic administrator of the diocese while Conlon is away.

A statement from the diocese did not disclose the exact reason for the medical leave.
 
http://dioceseofjoliet.org/communications/newsdetail.php?id=112
Statement from the Diocese of Joliet - Apostolic Administrator Appointed
12/27/2019

STATEMENT FROM THE DIOCESE OF JOLIET

Bishop R. Daniel Conlon, leader of the Diocese of Joliet, has received permission from His Holiness, Pope Francis, to take a medical leave of absence, beginning on December 27, 2019.  During his absence, Bishop Richard E. Pates, Bishop Emeritus of Des Moines, will serve as Apostolic Administrator of the diocese.

Bishop Conlon expresses his deep affection for the clergy, religious and laity of the Diocese of Joliet and will keep them in his prayers during his time away. He also asks for their prayers.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-asks-families-to-put-down-their-phones-on-holy-family-feast-23990

Pope Francis asks families to put down their phones on Holy Family feast
By Courtney Mares

Vatican City, Dec 29, 2019 / 05:30 am (CNA).- On feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth Sunday, Pope Francis encouraged families to get off their cell phones and talk to one another.

“In your family, do you know how to communicate with each other, or are you like those kids at the table -- each one has their own cell phone, chatting? In that table there is a silence as if they were at Mass, but they don't communicate with each other,” Pope Francis said in his Angelus address Dec. 29.

“We need to retake communication within the family: parents, children, grandparents and siblings must communicate with each other,” the pope said. “This is your assignment for today for the feast of the Holy Family.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-12/pope-francis-angelus-holy-family-nazareth.html

Pope at Angelus: Sustain each other within the family - just as Jesus, Mary and Joseph did
29 December 2019, 12:25

During his Angelus on Sunday, feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Pope Francis describes each person in the Family, explaining why they, together, sustain each other.
By Francesca Merlo

Adressing the faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square for the Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis explained that the Holy Family of Nazareth is made holy through “a gift of God”, and at the same time, because of their “free and responsible adherence to his plan”. The family of Nazareth, he explained “was open to God’s will”.

Looking at the Holy Family, Pope Francis began by analysing Mary, describing her “docility” at the action of the Holy Spirit. “How can one not remain amazed by it?” he asked. 
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-12/pope-francis-prayes-for-victims-of-somalia-car-bomb-attack.html
Pope Francis prays for victims of Somalia terror attack
29 December 2019, 12:13

https://zenit.org/articles/angelus-address-on-the-feast-of-the-holy-family-of-nazareth-full-text/
ANGELUS ADDRESS: On the Feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth (Full Text)
December 29, 2019 13:50

Video, with English commentary, at the link below--
Pope Angelus of 29 December 2019
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/angelus/2019-12/pope-francis-angelus-29-december-2019.html
or
Pope Francis - Angelus prayer 2019-12-29
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-12/pope-s-message-for-170th-anniversary-of-la-civilta-cattolica.html

Pope’s message for 170th Anniversary of “La Civiltà Cattolica"
30 December 2019, 14:41

Pope Francis sends hand-written note to the Jesuit magazine, “La Civiltà Cattolica”, to mark 170 years since its first publication. The Pope’s message will appear on the cover of the first issue of January 2020. "Thank you for the help you offer me as well", writes Pope Francis. "I want you to be creative... practice discernment and combat hatred, small-mindedness and prejudice".

“170 years ago Blessed Pius IX asked the Society of Jesus to found 'La Civiltà Cattolica'. Since then it has faithfully accompanied the Pope. Thank you for the help you offer me as well.

“Continue living the dynamism between life and thought with listening eyes, knowing that 'La Civiltà Cattolica' [“Catholic civilization”] is that of the Good Samaritan.
“My wish for you is that you may be creative in God, exploring new paths, thanks also to the new international outlook that inspires the magazine: rising from the pages we hear the voices of so many frontiers listening to one another.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/pope-lauds-la-civilta-cattolica-on-publications-170th-anniversary/
Pope Lauds ‘La Civiltà Cattolica’ on Publication’s 170th Anniversary
Sends Handwritten Note
December 30, 2019 16:35  Jim Fair

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-12/2019-the-year-in-review-with-pope-francis.html

2019: The Year in Review with Pope Francis
30 December 2019, 11:48

As 2019 draws to a close, we look back at the events, encounters, discourses and journeys that have marked this year for Pope Francis.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis constantly reminds us that the most important task is to proclaim the Gospel. 2019 saw him doing exactly that, through 41 General Audiences (reflecting on the Our Father and Acts of the Apostles), 56 Angelus and Regina Caeli addresses, over 60 public homilies, and 44 homilies delivered during his private morning Masses in the Casa Santa Marta. All this without counting the messages, letters, documents, interviews, and about 260 speeches, delivered in Rome and on his Apostolic Journeys abroad.

Certainty not confusion

Throughout the year, the Pope has reminded us of one consoling certainty: that God loves us and that, in Jesus, He gave His life for us. This is the central message of Pope Francis’ entire mission, as expressed in Evangelii gaudium. He invites us to remember the “simple and robust faith” of mothers and grandmothers, which gave, and continues to give, “strength and constancy to go forward”. The kind of “home-made faith, which goes unnoticed, but which gradually builds the kingdom of God”. A faith that is never confused, because it is based on the essentials of the Gospel.
 
Sunday of the Word of God

With an Apostolic Letter Aperuit illis, dated 30 September, Pope Francis established the Sunday of the Word of God, a special day to encourage all the faithful to read and meditate on the Bible because, as Saint Jerome said, “ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ”. The annual celebration will take place on the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (the first being on 26 January 2020).
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2019-12/cardinal-prosper-grech-dies-augustinian.html

Cardinal Prosper Grech dies suddenly in Rome
30 December 2019, 17:52

On Monday afternoon, just days after celebrating his 94th birthday, Maltese Cardinal Prosper Grech dies suddenly.
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

Augustinian Cardinal Prosper Grech died suddenly on Monday afternoon. He had just celebrated his 94th birthday.

Biography

Born in Malta, Cardinal Grech entered the Order of St Augustine in 1943 and was ordained in 1950.

He earned a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, a licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute, and a diploma in educational philosophy at the University of Fribourg. In addition, he also studied Hebrew at Oxford University and did research on Maltese literature at Cambridge University.

After teaching theology at the Augustinian College and at the Mater Admirabilis College in Malta, he was appointed dean of the Augustinian Theological Institute in 1965. In 1969 he founded the "Augustinianum" Institute for Patristic Studies, where he was dean from 1971 until 1979.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-francis-marks-50th-anniversary-of-augustinianum.html
Pope Francis marks 50th anniversary of Augustinianum
16 February 2019, 12:57

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https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2019/12/youth-interfaith-dialogue-and-peace-dominate-popes-foreign-trips-in-2019/

Youth, interfaith dialogue, and peace dominate Pope’s foreign trips in 2019
Inés San Martín  Dec 30, 2019

Pope Francis, known in his native Argentina for never leaving home, collected more frequent-flyer miles in 2019 than in any of the previous six years of his pontificate, traveling to Panama, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bulgaria and North Macedonia, Romania, Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, Thailand and Japan.

Though each trip had its own raison d’etre, there were three major themes, all among the top priorities of Francis’s pontificate, which were front and center.

Youth

Though Francis’s Jan. 23-27 visit to Panama was decided long before he was elected as Successor of Peter because it was hosting World Youth Day (WYD), a Vatican-sponsored youth festival that takes place every two or three years with the almost-mandatory presence of the pope, the visit nevertheless served as a testing ground for the lessons of the 2018 Synod of Bishops on the Youth.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-12/pope-francis-te-deum-vespers-god-enters-world-in-least.html

Pope at Te Deum: God enters the world in the least among us
31 December 2019, 17:43

Pope Francis closes the year 2019 with Evening Prayer and the singing of the Te Deum, and urges us to contemplate the presence of God in those who cry out for our assistance.
By Devin Watkins

At the end of the calendar year, Pope Francis prayed Vespers and the Te Deum in St. Peter’s Basilica, in thanksgiving to God for the blessings of 2019.

In his homily, the Pope reflected on how God choses those on the margins of society, in the smallest of cities, to enter our world.

“God’s decision is clear,” he said, “to reveal His love, he chooses a small city, a despised city, and when He reaches Jerusalem, He joins the population of sinners and castaways.”
 
https://zenit.org/articles/celebration-of-first-vespers-of-solemnity-of-mary-most-holy-mother-of-god-and-te-deum-of-thanksgiving-for-past-year/
Celebration of First Vespers of Solemnity of Mary Most Holy, Mother of God and ‘Te Deum’ of Thanksgiving for Past Year
December 31, 2019 18:25Jim Fair

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis-Vespers and Te Deum 2019-12-31
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2019-12/turin-shroud-public-display-2020-taize.html

Extraordinary public display of Turin Shroud in 2020
31 December 2019, 17:08

The Shroud of Turin, believed by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus, will be publicly displayed again on the occasion of the Taizé Community’s next annual meeting of Europe’s youth in Turin, Italy, in December 2020.
By Robin Gomes

The announcement of the extraordinary display of the revered cloth was made by Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia of Turin at Wroclaw, Poland, where this year’s annual meeting of Europe’s young people, known as the “Pilgrimage of Trust on Earth”,  is currently taking place.

The Taizé Community has chosen the northern Italian city of Turin as the venue of its next meeting of Europe’s young people, scheduled from December 28, 2020, to January 1, 2021.

There is no official teaching or dogma on the authenticity of the Shroud, which is housed in the Cathedral of Turin. Next year will be the fifth time that the shroud will be on public display since 2000.
  ‎
The last time it was on display was from April 19 to ‎June ‎‎24, 2015, ‎in the cathedral of Turin. Visiting the city, June 21-22, Pope Francis prayed silently for several minutes before the Shroud without any comment.  However, at the end of the Mass in the square that followed, he regarded the Shroud as an icon of Christ’s love.
 

[grace-land]

Photo and video at the link

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/religion/disgruntled-pope-francis-swats-hand-woman-tugging-his-arm-n1109206

Disgruntled Pope Francis swats hand of woman tugging his arm
In video of the incident, a woman reaches out, grabs the pope's hand and then jerks him forcefully toward her.
Dec. 31, 2019, 11:46 PM CST
By Richie Duchon and Reuters

Pope Francis grew visibly angry and even swatted at the hand of a woman who tugged his arm as the head of the Roman Catholic Church greeted pilgrims in St. Peter's Square on New Year's Eve.

In video of the incident, Francis walks down a line of admirers separated by fencing, clasping their hands, waving and smiling with the basilica and the Vatican obelisk in the background.

Just as the pope appears to turn to walk away from the crowd, a woman reaches out, grabs his hand and then jerks him forcefully toward her.

Francis immediately recoils and swats at her hand to free himself as the pope's security detail also moves to intervene.
 

[grace-land]

Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-01/pope-francis-mass-mother-of-god-women-dignity.html
Pope on Feast of Mary, Mother of God: The dignity and gifts of women
01 January 2020, 12:36

Pope Francis presides over Holy Mass in St Peter’s Basilica on the first day of the year, celebrating the Feast of Mary, Mother of God, and marking the 53rd World Day of Peace.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis’ first homily of the year was dedicated to the figure of Mary, on the day the Church celebrates her as Mother of God. Mary was declared Mother of God at the Council of Ephesus in 431, and it was Pope Saint Paul VI who restored this solemnity to January 1st in 1974.

Women as sources of life

“On the first day of the year”, began Pope Francis, we celebrate a “nuptial union between God and humanity”, one that was inaugurated “in the womb of a woman”. “The rebirth of humanity began from a woman”, continued the Pope: “Women are sources of life”.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/pope-on-new-years-day-lets-stand-acclaim-the-lady-the-holy-mother-of-god-all-together-now-three-times/
Pope on New Year’s Day: ‘Let’s Stand & Acclaim the Lady, the Holy Mother of God’ … ‘All Together Now, Three Times’
On Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, Francis Says in Our Lady, Church Rediscovers Herself (Full Homily)
January 01, 2020 14:55  Deborah Castellano Lubov

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-12/pope-wrold-peace-day-message.html
Pope’s World Peace Day message: 'Every war is a form of fratricide'
12 December 2019, 11:57

[grace-land]

Today, during the Angelus...

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-01/pope-francis-angelus-mary-mother-of-god-2020.html
Pope at Angelus: 2020 a year to cultivate hope and peace
01 January 2020, 12:07

At the Angelus prayer on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Pope Francis urges us to live the year 2020 in gratitude for the blessing of God’s love in Jesus Christ. The Pope also apologizes for losing his patience yesterday while greeting the faithful near the Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square.
By Devin Watkins

Pope Francis addressed the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, at the start of the new year.

“Last night we concluded the year 2019 by thanking God for the gift of time and all its benefits,” he said. “Today we begin the year 2020 with the same attitude of gratitude and praise.”

Show us the Son

The Pope recalled the liturgical feast of Mary, the Mother of God, which recurs on January 1st, saying she “blesses us by showing us her Son.”

“She blesses the whole Church; she blesses the whole world. Jesus, as the Angels sang in Bethlehem, is ‘joy for all people’. He is the glory of God and peace for humanity.”
Pope Francis said Jesus, the Savior, is God’s blessing for every man and woman, because He defeated evil at its root.

Apology for ‘bad example’

“His salvation is not magical, but it is a ‘patient’ salvation, that is, it involves the patience of love, which takes on wickedness and removes its power. The patience of love: love makes us patient,” said the Pope. “We often lose patience. So do I. And I apologize for yesterday's bad example...”

The apology Pope Francis offered was in connection with a moment from his visit to the Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square on Tuesday evening.

As he greeted the faithful, a woman tugged his arm, causing a shooting pain to which the Pope reacted with an impatient gesture to free himself from her grip.
 
Video, with English commentary during the Angelus. at the link below--
Pope's Angelus of 1 January 2020
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/angelus/2020-01/video-pope-francis-angelus-1-january-2020.html

Last night, after the Vespers...
At the Time Mark, 1:26:00, Pope Francis enters St. Peter's Square, at the link below--
https://zenit.org/articles/pope-francis-asks-pardon-for-impatience-with-woman-who-grabbed-him-abruptly-last-night/
Pope Francis Asks Pardon for Impatience With Woman Who Grabbed Him Abruptly Last Night
January 01, 2020 15:41 Deborah Castellano Lubov