Pope Francis

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-08/cdf-baptisms-with-arbitrarily-modified-formulas-are-not-valid.html

CDF: Baptisms conferred with arbitrarily modified formulas are not valid
06 August 2020, 12:00

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith affirms that Baptisms administered with modified formulas are invalid, including: “We baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.
By Vatican News

The Sacrament of Baptism administered with an arbitrarily modified formula is not valid, and those for whom “baptism” was celebrated in this way must be baptized “in forma absoluta” — that is unconditionally — by repeating the rite according to the liturgical norms stipulated by the Church.

That is what the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith affirms in response to two questions regarding the validity of Baptism conferred with the formula, “In the name of the father and of the mother, of the godfather and of the godmother, of the grandparents, of the family members, of the friends, in the name of the community we baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. The responses from the CDF were confirmed by Pope Francis at the end of June and published on Thursday.

It is Christ who baptises

In an explanatory Doctrinal Note accompanying the responses, the CDF says that “the deliberate modification of the sacramental formula was introduced to emphasize the communitarian significance of Baptism, in order to express the participation of the family and of those present, and to avoid the idea of the concentration of a sacred power in the priest to the detriment of the parents and the community that the formula in the Rituale Romano might seem to imply”. On the contrary, the note says, quoting Vatican II’s Sacrosanctum Concilium, “when one baptizes it is really Christ himself who baptizes… the Lord has the principal role in the event being celebrated.”

The Doctrinal Note recognizes that “the parents, godparents and the entire community are called to play an active role, a true liturgical office” — but this, according to the conciliar text, requires that “each person, minister or layman, who has an office to perform, should do all of, but only, those parts which pertain to his office by the nature of the rite and the principles of liturgy” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, n. 28).
 
https://zenit.org/2020/08/06/cdf-publishes-responses-regarding-validity-of-baptism-formula/
Publishing Responses Regarding Validity of Baptism Formula, CDF Reminds Only Christ Baptizes & Says No Arbitrary Formulas
AUGUST 06, 2020 10:55  DEBORAH CASTELLANO LUBOV

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-08/pope-francis-in-solidarity-with-the-people-of-lebanon.html

Pope Francis in solidarity with the people of Lebanon
07 August 2020, 15:08

Pope Francis donates 250,000 Euros to assist the Church in Lebanon following a massive explosion on Tuesday in Beirut which killed over a hundred people and injured thousands.
By Vatican News

In a gesture of solidarity with the people of Lebanon, Pope Francis has donated 250,000 Euro as initial aid to assist the Church in these moments of difficulty and suffering.

The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development announced the Pope’s donation in a statement on Friday. The donation “is intended as a sign of His Holiness’s attention and closeness to the affected population and of his fatherly closeness to people in serious difficulty," the statement reads.
 

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https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2020/08/pope-francis-accepts-resignation-of-bishop-john-levoir-of-new-ulm-minn/

Pope Francis accepts resignation of Bishop John LeVoir of New Ulm, Minn.
Catholic News Service  Aug 7, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop John M. LeVoir of New Ulm, Minnesota. He has headed the diocese since 2008.

The resignation was announced in Washington Aug. 6 by Msgr. Walter Erbi, charge d’affaires at the apostolic nunciature in Washington.

Born in 1946 in Minneapolis, LeVoir turned 74 Feb. 7 and is just a few months shy of 75, the age at which bishops are required by canon law to turn in their resignation to the pope.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-08/pope-francis-condolence-message-funeral-hume-northern-ireland.html

Pope’s condolence for the death of John Hume of Northern Ireland
05 August 2020, 14:21

The 83-year old veteran politician, a leading figure in the Northern Ireland peace process, died on August 3.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis has expressed his condolences at the death of John Hume, a leading Northern Ireland politician regarded as one of the architects of the Northern Ireland peace process.  Hume, who along with David Trimble was awarded the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to forge a peaceful solution to the conflict in Northern Ireland, died on Monday in a Londonderry nursing home following a long period of illness.  He was 83.

“His Holiness Pope Francis was saddened to learn of the death of Mr. John Hume, and sends the assurance of his prayers to his family and to all who mourn his loss,” Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin wrote in a condolence message on behalf of the Pope.
 

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-08/gospel-calls-us-to-abandon-ourselves-to-god-with-trust.html
Pope at Angelus: Gospel calls us to trusting abandonment to God
09 August 2020, 12:07

Pope Francis reflects on the Gospel account of Jesus calming the storm, reminding us that Jesus “is the Father’s hand who never abandons us.”
By Vatican News

In his Angelus reflection on the readings from Sunday’s Mass, Pope Francis said the Gospel account of Jesus walking on the water “is a call to abandon ourselves trustingly to God in every moment of our life, especially in moments of trial and fear.”

The Gospel tells how Jesus, walking on the water in the midst of a storm, calls Peter to come to him on the water. Peter takes a few steps, but becomes frightened and begins to sink. He calls to Jesus, “Lord, save me!” and “Jesus grasps him by the hand and says to him, ‘O man of little faith, why did you doubt’.”
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-08/pope-at-angelus-appeal-for-solidarity-with-lebanon.html
Pope at Angelus: Appeal for solidarity with Lebanon
09 August 2020, 12:20

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-08/pope-francis-calls-for-world-free-of-nuclear-weapons.html
Pope Francis calls for world free of nuclear weapons
09 August 2020, 12:11

https://zenit.org/2020/08/09/popes-angelus-address-o-man-of-little-faith-why-did-you-doubt-full-text/
POPE’S ANGELUS ADDRESS: ‘O Man of Little Faith, Why Did You Doubt?’ (FULL TEXT)
AUGUST 09, 2020 13:22

YouTube video at the link below--
"August 09 2020 Angelus prayer Pope Francis"
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/archbishop-gnswein-benedict-xvis-illness-is-subsiding-21638

Archbishop Gänswein: Benedict XVI’s 'illness is subsiding'
By Courtney Mares

Rome Newsroom, Aug 11, 2020 / 03:30 am MT (CNA).- Benedict XVI’s personal secretary Archbishop Georg Gänswein has said that the pope emeritus’ illness is “subsiding.”

In an interview with the German newspaper Südkurier, Archbishop Gänswein is reported to have said that Benedict XVI’s “illness is subsiding” and that his medication has been reduced.

Benedict XVI has been suffering from facial shingles, a bacterial infection of the skin which causes a painful, red rash. "The pain started after the death of his brother,” Gänswein told Südkurier.

"Whilst very unpleasant and painful, the illness was not life-threatening,” the archbishop said in the article published Aug. 9.

“This is pain that I do not wish for my worst enemy,” Gänswein said.

The pope’s personal secretary gave the interview with German media while visiting his hometown of Riedern am Wald in the Black Forest.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-08/pope-baptism-separated-siamese-twins-bambino-gesu-mother-letter.html

Pope baptizes Siamese twins, mother thanks him
11 August 2020, 11:12

Hermine Nzotto, the mother of conjoined baby girls who were successfully separated in an extraordinary surgery at Rome’s Bambino Gesù hospital in June, writes to Pope Francis, thanking him for baptizing her daughters a few days ago.
By Robin Gomes

Hermine Nzotto wrote a letter to Pope Francis who recently baptized her twin baby girls.

In her letter, Hermine Nzotto, a native of the Central African Republic (CAR), recounts her life as a "peasant girl from the forest" in the town of  Mbaiki, some 100 km from the capital Bangui, where her Siamese twins were born with fused skulls on June 29, 2018.
 
https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2020/08/pope-baptizes-formerly-conjoined-twins-who-were-separated-at-vatican-hospital/
Pope baptizes formerly conjoined twins who were separated at Vatican hospital
Inés San Martín  Aug 10, 2020

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-08/pope-francis-expresses-closeness-to-knights-of-columbus.html

Pope expresses gratitude to Knights of Columbus for 'creativity of charity'
11 August 2020, 11:50

Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin writes on behalf of Pope Francis to the Knights of Columbus, saying Pope Francis is grateful for their contribution to the Church's mission of evangelization.
By Vatican News

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, has conveyed Pope Francis’s warm greetings to Supreme Knight, Carl Anderson of the Knights of Columbus on the 138th Supreme Convention which took place last week.

“His Holiness Pope Francis was pleased to be informed that the 138th Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus will be held this year both in person and virtually on 4-5 August... He has asked me to convey his warm greetings to all taking part, together with the assurance of his closeness in prayer,” read the letter dated 14 July.

“On this occasion, His Holiness renews his profound gratitude for your Order’s historic contribution to the Church’s mission of evangelization and its unswerving solidarity with the Successor of Peter in his concern for all the Churches (2 Cor 11:28).”

“In a particular way, he offers heartfelt thanks to the Knights for their steadfast support of our Christian brothers and sisters persecuted for the sake of the Gospel,” said Cardinal Parolin.

The theme of the Convention was “Knights of Columbus: Knights of Fraternity.”
 

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https://zenit.org/2020/08/11/pope-appoints-bishop-of-nantes-france/

Pope Appoints Bishop of Nantes, France
AUGUST 11, 2020 15:00

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Laurent Percerou, currently Bishop of Moulins, as Bishop of Nantes, Francs.

HE Mons. Laurent Percerou was born on September 11, 1961, in Dreux, in the Diocese of Chartres. After his higher studies at the Faculty of History of the University of Tours, he entered the seminary des Carmes in Paris. He completed his studies in Philosophy and Theology at the Institut Catholique in Paris, where he also obtained a Licentiate in Biblical and Systematic Theology. He also studied Canon Law at the University of Salamanca, Spain.

He was ordained a priest on June 14, 1992, for the Diocese of Chartres.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-08/pope-at-audience-recognize-human-dignity-in-every-person.html

Pope at Audience: Recognize human dignity in every person
12 August 2020, 10:07

Pope Francis at his General Audience says in responding to the Coronavirus pandemic Christians are called to combat all violations of human dignity as contrary to the Gospel, and to work for the wellbeing of the whole human family and our common home.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis, continuing his catechesis on the effects of the current pandemic in light of the Church’s social doctrine, noted how Covid-19 has highlighted how vulnerable and interconnected everyone is.

“If we do not take care of one another, starting with the least, with those who are most impacted, including creation”, he said, “we cannot heal the world.”
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-08/pope-francis-audience-appeal-mary-help-fight-coronavirus.html
Pope asks for Mary’s intercession to overcome pandemic
12 August 2020, 10:14

https://zenit.org/2020/08/12/popes-general-audience-if-we-do-not-take-care-of-one-another-we-cannot-heal-the-world-full-text/
POPE’S GENERAL AUDIENCE: If We Do Not Take Care of One Another, We Cannot Heal the World (FULL TEXT)
AUGUST 12, 2020 09:41

Video, with English commentary, at the link below--
POPE'S GENERAL AUDIENCE OF 12 AUGUST 2020
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/papal-audience/2020-08/video-pope-francis-general-audience-12-august-2020.html
or
"August 12 2020 General Audience Pope Francis"
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2020/08/academy-for-life-criticizes-new-italian-rules-for-ru-486/

Academy for Life criticizes new Italian rules for RU-486
Catholic News Service  Aug 14, 2020

ROME — The Italian health ministry’s liberalization of recommendations for using RU-486 to induce an abortion is a further sign that the government is moving away from its promise to help women and families facing an unplanned pregnancy, the Pontifical Academy for Life said.

Guidelines issued Aug. 12 by the health department remove the recommendation that pharmaceutical abortions take place only in a hospital, and they allow the use of the drugs up until the ninth week of pregnancy, rather than the seventh.

A pharmaceutical or chemical abortion involves the administration of mifepristone — commonly called RU-486 — which blocks the hormone progesterone that is needed for a pregnancy to continue, and misoprostol, taken two days later, which stimulates uterine contractions to expel the fetus.

In a statement Aug. 14, the Pontifical Academy for Life noted that Italy’s 1978 law legalizing abortion “opens with the demanding affirmation that the state, guaranteeing the right to conscious and responsible procreation, ‘recognizes the social value of motherhood and protects human life from its beginning.'”

“It is in this perspective that, while allowing the voluntary termination of pregnancy under certain conditions, the same Article 1 goes on to deny that the latter can be considered ‘a means of birth control,'” the note said.
 

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https://zenit.org/2020/08/13/pope-francis-visted-by-un-high-commissioner-for-human-rights/

Pope Francis Visited by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
AUGUST 13, 2020 12:14  DEBORAH CASTELLANO LUBOV

Pope Francis has received United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet.

The visit to the Pope in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on Aug. 12, 2020, was confirmed in a Holy See Press Office bulletin.

The UN Official had served two non-consecutive terms as President of Chile. During her 2006-2010 term, she met Pope Benedict XVI.
 

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-08/pope-francis-angelus-mary-assumption.html
Pope: Mary's Assumption huge step forward for humanity
15 August 2020, 11:33

During the Angelus on the feast of the Assumption, Pope Francis said that the Virgin Mary shows us that our goal is not to gain the things here on earth, which are fleeting, but the homeland above, which is forever.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis on Saturday invited Christians to thank and praise God for the good that He has done in our life just as the Virgin did in the Magnificat, which became the source of her joy.

Pope Francis made the exhortation at the midday “Angelus” prayer in Rome’s St. Peter’s Square, on the day the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary into heaven.

The dogma of faith that Pope Pius XII proclaimed on November 1, 1950, asserts that the Virgin Mary "having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory".  Pope Francis said that the Assumption shines “as a sign of sure hope and solace to the People of God during its sojourn on earth”, as the Second Vatican Council puts it.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-08/pope-angelus-northern-nigeria-violence-terrorist-attacks.html
Pope prays for people in northern Nigeria
15 August 2020, 12:20

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-08/pope-francis-nile-negotiations-egypt-ethiopia-sudan.html
Pope Francis appeals for dialogue in negotiations regarding the Nile
15 August 2020, 12:43

https://zenit.org/2020/08/15/popes-angelus-address-on-the-feast-of-the-assumption-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-full-text/
POPE’S ANGELUS ADDRESS: On the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (FULL TEXT)
AUGUST 15, 2020 12:44

https://zenit.org/2020/08/15/pope-invites-today-it-would-be-a-beautiful-gesture-to-visit-a-shrine-to-venerate-the-madonna/
Pope Invites: ‘Today It Would Be a Beautiful Gesture to Visit a Shrine to Venerate the Madonna’
Appeals for Nigeria and Dialogue in Nile Negotiations (Full Text of Pope’s Remarks and Greetings Following His Sunday Angelus)
AUGUST 15, 2020 12:51

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/the-history-of-the-assumption-and-why-its-a-holy-day-of-obligation-30528

What's the Assumption, anyway? A CNA Explainer
By Adelaide Mena

Washington D.C., Aug 15, 2020 / 03:30 am MT (CNA).- On Aug. 15, Catholics around the world mark the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, commemorating the end of her earthly life and assumption into Heaven.

But while the feast day is a relatively new one, the history of the holiday – and the mystery behind it – has its roots in the earliest centuries of Christian belief.

The Catholic Church teaches that when Mary ended her earthly life, God assumed her, body and soul into heaven.

The dogma of the Assumption of Mary – also called the “Dormition of Mary” in the Eastern Churches – has its roots in the early centuries of the Church.

While a site outside of Jerusalem was recognized as the tomb of Mary, the earliest Christians maintained that “no one was there,” theologian and EWTN senior contributor Matthew Bunson told CNA.

According to St. John of Damascus, the Roman emperor Marcian requested the body of Mary, Mother of God at the Council of Chalcedon, in 451.

St. Juvenal, who was Bishop of Jerusalem told the emperor “that Mary died in the presence of all the Apostles, but that her tomb, when opened upon the request of St. Thomas, was found empty; wherefrom the Apostles concluded that the body was taken up to heaven,” the saint recorded.

By the 8th century, around the time of Pope Adrian, the Church began to change its terminology, renaming the feast day of the Memorial of Mary to the Assumption of Mary, Bunson noted. 

The belief in the Assumption of Mary was a widely-held tradition, and a frequent meditation in the writings of saints throughout the centuries. However it was not defined officially until the past century.

In 1950, Pope Pius XII made an infallible, ex-cathedra statement in the Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus deus officially defining the dogma of the Assumption.

“By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory,” the pope wrote.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-08/the-pope-extends-lauretan-jubilee-to-december-2021.html

The Pope extends Lauretan Jubilee, to December 2021
15 August 2020, 11:16

Archbishop Fabio dal Cin, Pontifical Delegate to the Shine at Loreto announces that Pope Francis is extending the Lauretan Jubilee to December 2021. In his words, he thanks the Pope for a gift that allows people to enjoy for another twelve months the benefits of this spiritual jubilee in this time of pandemic.
By Vatican News

On Saturday evening, to the applause of the faithful, Archbishop Fabio Dal Cin, Pontifical Delegate to the Shrine at Loreto announced the Pope’s decision to extend the Lauretan Jubilee until 10 December 2021. The Jubilee was granted on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the proclamation by Pope Benedict XV of Our Lady of Loreto, Patroness of all airmen.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2020-08/lourdes-director-visit-of-cardinal-parolin-a-sign-of-encouragem.html

Lourdes Director: Visit of Cardinal Parolin a sign of encouragement
15 August 2020, 09:34

The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, presides at Mass for the Solemnity of the Assumption at the Sanctuary at Lourdes as part of celebrations marking the annual French National Pilgrimage to the shrine.
By Lydia O’Kane

Over the past few months’ people around the world have had to adapt to a different way of living, working and also praying due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

But it hasn’t stopped the four-day annual French National Pilgrimage to Lourdes getting underway.

On Wednesday, the 147th edition of the pilgrimage began with Holy Mass in the Church of St Bernadette.

The event, which is organised by the Congregation of the Assumptionists, runs from the 12-16 August and has as its theme: “Going to the Source of Love”.

Although the pilgrimage is going ahead, this edition will not see the vast crowds of previous years due to social distancing restrictions.
 
This is the Cardinal’s third visit to Lourdes since become Vatican Secretary of State. In 2017 he visited the Shrine as Pope Francis' representative for the World Day of the Sick; and in 2018 for the St Francis de Sales Days.
 

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-08/pope-angelus-faith-canaanite-woman-healing.html
Pope at Angelus: humble faith has no bounds
16 August 2020, 12:15

Pope Francis reflected on the Sunday’s Gospel of the healing of the daughter of the Canaanite woman who provoked the Lord to admire her faith.
By Sr. Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

On Sunday Pope Francis focused his words before reciting the Angelus on the day’s Gospel. He highlighted the faith of the Canaanite woman who sought healing for her daughter and showed that humble faith has no bounds.

Cry of suffering
While Jesus is in foreign territory to the north of Galilee a Canaanite woman approached him begging Him to heal her daughter. “Have mercy on me, Lord” is the cry from a mother who feels helpless, a “cry that is born out of a life marked by suffering”, Pope Francis said.

The mother insists, even though “Jesus initially ignores her,” and even after Jesus says His mission "is directed only to ‘the lost sheep of the house of Israel’." At that point, Pope Francis said, Jesus “puts her to the test, citing a proverb: It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs”.

Jesus's admiration
Her response, said the Pope, shows that the woman senses the Most High God present in Jesus: “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” That trust-filled wisdom “touches the Master’s heart,” provoking Him to admire her faith with the words “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish” (v. 28).
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-08/pope-francis-prays-for-lebanon-belarus-at-sunday-angelus.html
Pope Francis prays for Lebanon, Belarus at Sunday Angelus
16 August 2020, 12:41

https://zenit.org/2020/08/16/popes-angelus-address-lord-if-you-will-it-you-can-heal-me-full-text/
POPE’S ANGELUS ADDRESS: ‘Lord, If You Will It, You Can Heal Me!’ (FULL TEXT)
AUGUST 16, 2020 13:37

https://zenit.org/2020/08/16/pope-appeals-for-belarus-lebanon-all-suffering-from-covid-its-effects/
Pope Appeals for Belarus, Lebanon & Remembers All Still Suffering from COVID & Its Effects
Also Encourages Consecrated Life (Full Text of Pope’s Remarks and Greetings Following His Sunday Angelus)
AUGUST 16, 2020 13:32

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-08/pope-donation-medical-devices-brazil-hope-association-krajewski.html

Pope donates ventilators, ultra- sound scanners for hospitals in Brazil
17 August 2020, 16:20

Hope Association, an Italian-based non-profit organization has mobilized the procurement and delivery of the devices, the Office of Papal Charities says.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis continues to make his heartfelt appeal for generosity and solidarity for communities and countries hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic by personally leading the way through concrete acts of closeness and affection.

This he carries out through the Office of Papal Charities, a department of the Holy See headed by the Apostolic Almoner, or papal almsgiver, Polish Cardinal Konrad Krajewski.

In the latest move, the Cardinal says in a Statement released by the Holy See Press Office on Monday, the Pope’s charity is being directed to Brazil.  Eight Draeger intensive care ventilators and 6 portable Fuji ultrasound scanners are being shipped to needy hospitals in Brazil.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-08/pope-francis-message-brazil-week-consecrated-life.html

Pope to Brazil's religious: Jesus our first and only love
17 August 2020, 13:45

Pope Francis sends a message to Brazil’s men and women religious on the occasion of the first Week of Consecrated Religious Life.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis is urging Brazil’s consecrated men and women to fight worldly tendencies is "to give priority to prayer" beccause the "person who keeps his or her eyes fixed on Jesus learns that to live to serve."

He makes this exhortation in a message to them as they observe the first Week of Consecrated Religious Life, August 16 to 22.  In the message addressed to Sister  Maria Inês Vieira Ribeiro, the national president of the Conference of the Religious of Brazil (CRB), the Pope expresses his joy at the initiative which “aims to promote and renew the mission” of each consecrated religious in the Land of the Holy Cross, as the first explorers of the unknown territory called it. 
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-08/pope-francis-sends-message-for-meeting-for-friendship-amongst1.html

Pope Francis sends message to annual Rimini Meeting wishing it success
17 August 2020, 13:20

Pope Francis sends a message of closeness through Cardinal Pietro Parolin on the occasion of the opening of the 41st Meeting for Friendship amongst Peoples.
By Vatican News

Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin has conveyed Pope Francis’s warmest greetings to Bishop Francesco Lambasi of Rimini, on the occasion of the opening of the Meeting for Friendship between Peoples.

“The Holy Father wishes to convey through you his wish for the success of the 41st Meeting for Friendship amongst Peoples,” reads the letter dated 5 August. “To the organizers and all those who will participate, Pope Francis assures his closeness and his prayer.”

Every year since 1980, the Meeting for Friendship between Peoples takes place in August, in Rimini, Italy.

This year’s meeting is themed: “Devoid of wonder we remain deaf to the sublime” from A.J. Heschel’s book God in Search of Man. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the meeting is taking place online.