Pope Francis

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https://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/coronavirus-latest-italys-bishops-call-for-all-churches-to-be-closed

Apr. 1, 2020
Coronavirus Latest From Rome
Latest updates from the Eternal City in lockdown since March 10.
Edward Pentin
UPDATES (Rome time)
 
April 2, 1.20pm

Another Vatican employee has tested positive for the coronavirus, the Vatican said today.

According to a new statement from Holy See Press Office spokesman Matteo Bruni:

“To the six cases already communicated, another Holy See employee has tested positive who had already been placed in isolation since mid-March because his wife had tested positive for Covid-19 after serving in the Italian hospital where she works.

On this occasion it is useful to clarify that, as with all institutional organisations, the various bodies and departments of the Holy See and the Vatican City State continue only essential, mandatory and unavoidable activities, clearly adopting, to the maximum extent possible, the appropriate measures already communicated, which include remote work and rotational procedures, in order to safeguard the health of the staff.”
 

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2020-04/pope-mass-casa-santa-marta-homeless-homily.html
Pope prays for the homeless and those who suffer out of sight
02 April 2020, 11:15

During morning Mass on Thursday, Pope Francis turned his thoughts to those who are living this time of sorrow and fear, hidden in the cracks of society. (playback included)
By Vatican News

In his opening words at Mass at the Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis said “these days of sorrow and sadness highlight so many hidden problems.”

He mentioned a photograph featured in the daily papers, which he said, touches the heart: “So many homeless people in a city, huddling in a parking lot... there are so many homeless people today.”

And he invited the faithful to ask St. Teresa of Calcutta to awaken in us a sense of closeness to those who live, hidden, in the cracks of society, like the homeless whose plight is particularly evident in this moment of crisis.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-04/pope-message-500-anniversary-first-mass-argentina.html

Pope sends message for 500th Anniversary of first Mass in Argentina
02 April 2020, 13:42

In a message for the 500th Anniversary of the first Mass celebrated in what is now Argentina, Pope Francis invites the faithful to live out the words of Jesus: “Do this in memory of me”.
By Christopher Wells

On Wednesday, 1 April, the Bishop of Río Gallegos, Bishop Jorge García Cuerva, presided over a Eucharistic celebration in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the first Mass celebrated on Argentinian soil.

The Liturgy was originally scheduled to take place in Puerto San Julián, where the first Mass in Argentina was celebrated in 1520. However, in view of restrictions imposed on account of the Covid-19 pandemic, Bishop García Cuerva celebrated the anniversary Mass in the Bishop’s chapel in Rio Gallegos, without the presence of the faithful.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-03/covid-19-vatican-tribunal-hearings-suspended.html

COVID-19: Vatican Tribunal hearings suspension prolonged
19 March 2020, 14:34

A Rescript, signed by the Cardinal Secretary of State on Wednesday, and published on Thursday, prolongs the period in which hearings by the Vatican Tribunal are suspended.
By Vatican News

In an audience with the Substitute of the Secretary of State on 31 March, Pope Francis gave his consent that the date of 3 April 2020, designated in the Rescript dated 18 March 2020 on which the Vatican's Tribunal would resume normal activity, would be prolonged until 4 May. A Rescript to this effect was signed by the Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin on 1 April, and published the following day.

Rescript of 18 March, 2020
 

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2020-03/cardinal-sandri-calls-on-catholics-to-support-holy-land.html
Cong. for Oriental Churches announces postponement of annual Holy Land collection
05 March 2020, 11:10

The Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches postpones the annual ‘Pro Terra Sancta’ collection, fromGood Friday to 13 september
By Francesca Merlo, updated by Sr Bernadette Reis, fsp

Cardinal Leonardi Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, has announced the postponement the annual Good Friday collection for the Holy Land to 13 September. The postponement was made public on Thursday, 2 April, in a statement released by the same Congregation. The statement says that Pope Francis "approved the proposal" that the collection be moved to Sunday, 13 September, "near the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross".

It is due to the "current Covid-19 pandemic" that the collection has been postponed. The measures taken to prevent its spread "impede the normal communal celebration of the Holy Week Liturgies", the statement says.
 
This article was updated on 2 April 2020

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Video, with English text, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-04/pope-francis-prayer-intention-april-2020-addictions.html
Pope's April prayer intention: 'Liberation from addictions'
02 April 2020, 17:00

Pope Francis on Thursday releases a video message accompanying his prayer intention for April, which this month is that "those suffering from addiction may be properly helped and accompanied."

In his prayer intention for the month of April 2020, Pope Francis asks everyone to pray for those who suffer from addiction, especially addiction to gambling, pornography, and the internet.

It has become the custom of Pope Francis to release a video message detailing his prayer intention for each month.

The full text of his intention is below:
 

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Update:  Cardinal Pell

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-oceania/2020/04/australias-highest-court-to-rule-on-pells-appeal-next-week/
Australia’s highest court to rule on Pell’s appeal next week
Rod McGuirk  Apr 2, 2020

CANBERRA, Australia - Australia’s highest court will deliver its ruling next week on whether to overturn the convictions of Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Catholic convicted of child sex abuse.

The 78-year-old Pell is one year into a six-year sentence for molesting two 13-year-old choirboys in Melbourne’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral while he was the city’s archbishop in the late 1990s.

The High Court said Thursday a single judge will deliver the verdicts of all seven at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the east coast city of Brisbane. It had heard his appeal March 11-12 before the court’s hearings were canceled due to the coronavirus risk.
 

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2020-04/pope-prays-for-those-helping-to-solve-problems-caused-by-covid-1.html
Pope prays for those helping to solve problems caused by Covid-19
03 April 2020, 10:05

During Mass at the Casa Santa Marta on Friday morning, Pope Francis turns his thoughts to the problems that will be caused after the coronavirus pandemic. In his homily, he recalls Our Lady of Sorrows, inviting us to thank her for being our Mother.
By Vatican News

In his prayer intention for Friday, during Mass at the Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis remembered those who are already focusing on the issues that will arise after the Covid-19 pandemic, including poverty, unemployment, and hunger. “We pray for all the people who help today, but also think of tomorrow, to help us all”, he said.

On this Passion Friday, which commemorates Mary's sorrows, Pope Francis dedicated his homily to Our Lady of Sorrows. Today, he said, “it will do us good to think about Our Lady's Sorrows and to thank her because she accepted to be a Mother.”
 

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Video, with English text, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-04/pope-francis-holy-week-2020-message-coronavirus.html
Pope’s Holy Week message: ‘Creativity of love can overcome isolation’
03 April 2020, 20:07

Pope Francis sends a video message as Christians around the world prepare to celebrate Holy Week in an unusual manner due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.
By Devin Watkins

“This evening I have the chance to enter your homes in a different way than usual.”

That was how Pope Francis opened his video message sent on Friday ahead of Holy Week 2020.

He noted how difficult and full of suffering these weeks have been for the many people whose lives have been affected by Covid-19. “I can imagine you in your families, living an unusual life to avoid contagion.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-04/pope-appoints-new-bishop-of-belleville-usa.html

Pope appoints new Bishop of Belleville, USA
03 April 2020, 12:21

Pope Francis has appointed Father Michael G. McGovern Bishop of the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois, USA.
By Vatican News

Pope has appointed Father Michael McGovern Bishop of Belleville Diocese following the resignation of Bishop Edward K. Braxton. Bishop Braxton headed the diocese since 2005 and resigned after reaching the retirement age of 75.

Father McGovern, 55, is currently the interim Episcopal Vicar of Vicariate I, Dean of Deanery 1 – A, and Pastor of St. Raphael the Archangel Parish, Old Mill Creek, Illinois.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/vatican-extends-lockdown-measures-through-easter-monday-59633

Vatican extends lockdown measures through Easter Monday
By Hannah Brockhaus

Vatican City, Apr 3, 2020 / 09:00 am (CNA).- The Holy See has extended its lockdown measures through April 13, the Monday of the Octave of Easter, in accordance with Italy’s recently extended national lockdown, the Vatican announced Friday.

St. Peter’s Basilica and square, the Vatican Museums, and several other public offices in the Vatican City State have been closed for more than three weeks. Originally scheduled to last through April 3, these measures have now been extended an additional nine days.

A total of seven confirmed cases of the coronavirus have been diagnosed among Vatican employees to date.

According to a statement from Matteo Bruni, the director of the Holy See press office, departments of the Roman Curia and of the Vatican City State have continued working only “in essential, obligatory activities which cannot be deferred.”
 

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Hmmm...

https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/12708/the-mysterious-disappearance-of-the-vicar-of-christ
03 April 2020, The Tablet
The mysterious disappearance of the Vicar of Christ
by Cindy Wooden, CNS

From the moment he was introduced to the world after his election, Pope Francis has emphasised his identity as "the bishop of Rome".

The 2020 Annuario Pontificio, the official Vatican yearbook, has made the same emphasis typographically by listing other descriptions of the papal office as "historic titles".

Like the 2019 edition, there is a page that says simply, "Francis, bishop of Rome."

But unlike last year's edition, the new yearbook does not precede the biography of "Jorge Mario Bergoglio" with the titles: "Vicar of Jesus Christ. Successor of the Prince of the Apostles. Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church. Primate of Italy. Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Province of Rome. Sovereign of Vatican City State. Servant of the Servants of God."

Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, told Catholic News Service that unlike in 2006 when Pope Benedict XVI had the title "Patriarch of the West" removed from the list, this time "there has been no suppression" of a title.

"The definition of 'historic' in relation to the titles attributed to the pope on one of the pages dedicated to him in the Annuario Pontificio of 2020 seems to me to indicate the bond with the history of the papacy," Bruni said. All of the other titles "are understood to be tied historically to the title of bishop of Rome because at the moment he is designated by the conclave to guide the church of Rome, the one elected acquires the titles tied to this nomination."
 
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/pope-francis-drops-vicar-of-christ-title-in-vatican-yearbook
Pope Francis drops ‘Vicar of Christ’ title in Vatican yearbook
The title 'Vicar of Jesus Christ' stems from Holy Scripture where Jesus grants St. Peter the power of the keys in the Church
Thu Apr 2, 2020 - 5:32 pm EST

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U. S. national prayer for Good Friday--the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Plenary indulgence granted

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2020-04/usccb-national-prayer-good-friday-plenary-indulgence.html

US Bishops announce national prayer for Good Friday
03 April 2020, 16:52

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) calls for a national moment of prayer on Good Friday, inviting Catholics to join together in praying the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
By Vatican News

Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, the President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has invited the faithful to join him in a moment of prayer on Good Friday (April 10) to pray the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. "Praying together as a nation, the archbishop asks that we seek healing for all who are unwell, wisdom for those whose work is halting the spread of coronavirus, and strength for all God’s children", according to a media advisory from the USCCB.
 
Plenary indulgence granted

The USCCB has also announced that, with the special permission of the Apostolic Penitentiary of the Holy See, a plenary indulgence is available "for all those who join Archbishop Gomez in praying the Litany of the Sacred Heart on Good Friday".

A livestream of the Litany of the Sacred Heart with Archbishop Gomez will be available on the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ website: www.lacatholics.org . . . and on the USCCB Facebook page: www.facebook.com/usccb.

For more information on how to join Archbishop Gomez for the moment of prayer on Friday, please visit the USCCB website.

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2020/04/usccb-president-calls-for-national-moment-of-prayer-on-good-friday/
USCCB president calls for national moment of prayer on Good Friday
Catholic News Service  Apr 3, 2020

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EWTN will be offering full live coverage--at the link

https://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/coronavirus-latest-italys-bishops-call-for-all-churches-to-be-closed

Apr. 4, 2020
Coronavirus Latest From Rome
Latest updates from the Eternal City in lockdown since March 10.
Edward Pentin
UPDATES (Rome time)
 
April 4, 2.40pm

Pope Francis will celebrate Palm Sunday Mass at 11 o’clock tomorrow morning at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s basilica, the Vatican has announced.

For the first time in modern history, the Pope's Palm Sunday Mass, like all of the papal Holy Week liturgies this year, will be held without the faithful due to the coronavirus but televised instead on Vatican Media.

In a statement, the Vatican said that in the presbytery are placed the Crucifix of St. Marcellus, processed in Rome during the Great Plague, and the Salus Populi Romani icon of Our Lady.

The Vatican said the rite of Commemoration of the entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem would take place at the foot of the Altar of Confession and process towards the Chair, where palm and olive trees have been placed.

At the Altar, the Mass will take place as usual, it said, except there will be no offertory procession.

EWTN will be offering full live coverage of the Mass and the Angelus:
 

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2020-04/pope-homily-temptation-coronavirus-upright-conscience.html
Pope at Mass: the fight against temptation
04 April 2020, 08:56

Pope Francis offers his Mass on Saturday morning at the Casa Santa Marta for those who are tempted to take advantage of the current crisis. In his homily, he explains the process of temptation.
By Sr Bernadette M. Reis, fsp

“In these turbulent, difficult and painful times, people have the possibility of doing one thing or another, many of them good”, Pope Francis said, introducing Saturday morning’s liturgy at the Casa Santa Marta. He admitted there is also the possibility some “might get the idea of doing something not so good, to take advantage of the situation, to profit personally from it”.

“We pray today that the Lord might grant an upright and transparent conscience to everyone, that they might allow God to look on them without shame”.

During his homily, Pope Francis explained how temptation works in us, using the doctors of the law and the high priest in the day’s Gospel as an example (John 11:45-58).
 

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-04/pope-homily-palm-sunday-service-youth-day-coronavirus.html
Pope on Palm Sunday: love and service during Covid-19
05 April 2020, 10:03

During Palm Sunday Mass in St Peter’s Basilica, celebrated with a limited congregation due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis dedicates his homily to the theme of service. (Playback included)
By Vatican News

For the first time in history, Pope Francis celebrated Palm Sunday Mass alone in St Peter’s Basilica. Out of respect for Covid-19 regulations limiting large gatherings, the Mass was held without a congregation. Millions of people joined the Holy Father, however, via the internet, radio and television.

The Pope based his homily on St Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, where the Apostle describes Jesus as emptying Himself and “taking the form of a servant” (Phil 2:7).

“Let us allow these words of the Apostle Paul to lead us into these holy days”, said Pope Francis, “when the Word of God, like a refrain, presents Jesus as servant”.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-04/pope-palm-sunday-homily-full-text.html
Pope Palm Sunday Homily: Full Text
05 April 2020, 10:06

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-04/pope-francis-angelus-palm-sunday-young-people-witness-hope.html
Pope at Angelus encourages young people to be witnesses of hope
05 April 2020, 12:40
 
YouTube video (original sound) at the link below--
April 05 2020 Celebration of Palm Sunday-Angelus prayer|Pope Francis
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-04/holy-week-crucifix-marcello-restored-peter-basilica.html

Holy Week under the gaze of the “Miraculous Crucifix”
05 April 2020, 13:34

After having been displayed for the special moment of prayer on 27 March on the steps of St Peter’s Basilica, the miraculous crucifix venerated by Romans is once again in our midst during the liturgy.
By Vatican News

Holy Week, the most important season of the liturgical year, begins in St Peter’s under the gaze of the Crucifix from the Church of San Marcello. It is in the background at the center of the altar. It is the Miraculous Crucifix, which escaped the fire of 1519 unharmed and was borne in procession to halt the plague. Dating back to the late fourteenth century, this wooden image has gone through the city of Rome many times. The last time was twenty-five years ago when St John Paul II wanted it present during the Day of Forgiveness during the Jubilee Year in 2000. During this crisis, Pope Francis had decided to pay a visit to the Church in order to pray before the crucifix. Then, he wanted it to be present before an empty St Peter’s Square for the Statio Orbis, the prayer over which he presided to implore and end to the pandemic.

Slight restoration

Friday, 27 March: it was raining. That Crucifix, that image on which the Bishop of Rome, together with tens of millions of people connected through TV, radio and internet, gazed. Even though it had been placed near the façade of the Basilica, the Crucifix got wet by the pouring rain. Contrary to what some people had reported, the work of art did not undergo grave or significant damage. This can be seen, thanks to the fact that it has once again reappeared central to the Palm Sunday liturgy. It required only some minor retouching, done on a single morning, by art restoration experts from the Vatican Museum, in agreement with the appropriate Italian authorities. The minor retouching were related to small pieces that had become detached. Some of the damage was pre-existent, while other damage happened as a result of being moved. These minor and rapid interventions secured the safety of the work of art, which will return to the Church of St Marcello after the Easter Triduum.
 

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(All timings are in Rome time)

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-03/pope-francis-holy-week-liturgies-schedule-marini-coronavirus.html
Coronavirus: Pope’s Holy Week celebrations in St. Peter’s Basilica
27 March 2020, 16:02

The Office of the Liturgical Celebration of the Supreme Pontiff notifies that the liturgical celebrations of Pope Francis from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday will take place in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, without the presence of the faithful. The Stations of the Cross will take place in front of the Basilica.
By Robin Gomes

There is no exception to the schedule of Pope Francis regarding restrictions as demanded by measures against the coronavirus pandemic.  So are the liturgical celebrations that he will preside over during Holy Week, without the presence of the faithful.

The Holy Week, which is the culmination of the 40-day Lenten period, is the most solemn period for Christians worldwide, who celebrate the solemn mysteries of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection.

"Following the extraordinary situation that has arisen, due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, and taking into account the provisions of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, through a Decree dated 25 March 2020, an update was needed regarding the upcoming liturgical celebrations presided over by the Holy Father Pope Francis, with regard to the calendar and participation,” said a statement on Friday released by Monsignor Guido Marini, the Master of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff. 

The communique states that Pope Francis will celebrate all of the Holy Week Rites in St. Peter's Basilica, starting with Palm Sunday at 11.00 am, 5 April.

As for the Triduum, or the 3 days preceding Easter, the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper will begin at 6:00 pm on April 9.
 

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https://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2020/archdiocese-to-livestream-display-shroud-of-turin-on-holy-saturday.cfm

Archdiocese to livestream display Shroud of Turin on Holy Saturday
By Catholic News Service
4.5.2020 8:40 AM ET

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- With people forced to stay home, even during Holy Week, because of the coronavirus pandemic, the archbishop of Turin has announced a special online exposition of the Shroud of Turin, which many believe is the burial cloth of Jesus.

On Holy Saturday, April 11, as Christians contemplate Jesus lying in the tomb, Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia will lead a liturgy of prayer and contemplation before the shroud at 5 p.m. local time (11 a.m. EDT).

The prayer service will be live-streamed along with live images of the 14-foot-by-4-foot shroud, which has a full-length photonegative image of a man, front and back, bearing signs of wounds that correspond to the Gospel accounts of the torture Jesus endured in his passion and death.

As of April 5, the Archdiocese of Turin said it was finalizing the plans and would publish a list of participating television stations and links to the livestream later in the week.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-04/coronavirus-pope-emergency-fund-pontifical-mission-societies.html

Covid-19: Pope establishes emergency fund
06 April 2020, 13:35

Pope Francis establishes an emergency fund to aid those being “tragically impacted” by the Covid-19 virus.
By Vatican News

On Monday, it was announced that Pope Francis has “established an emergency fund at the Pontifical Mission Societies”. The revenue contributed to this fund is destined to aid “aid of those people and communities who are being tragically impacted by the spread of COVID-19”.

The statement issued on Monday by Agenzia Fides, the Information Service of the Pontifical Mission Societies, went on to say that the money will directly go to “mission countries” through the Church’s “structures and institutions”.

Cardinal Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, had this to say about the creation of this fund: