Pope Francis

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Report -- the  Day of Prayer for Peace:  this year’s International Meeting on the theme “No One Is Saved Alone. Peace and Fraternity,” October 20. 2020

At the link--
  HOMILY AT CHRISTIAN PRAYER SERVICE
  ADDRESS AT PRAYER FOR PEACE – Piazza del Campidoglio

https://zenit.org/2020/10/20/feature-lets-ask-crucified-god-to-grace-us-with-more-unity-fraternity-pope-appeals-for-peace-at-santegidios-prayer-for-peace/
FEATURE: ‘Let’s Ask Crucified God to Grace Us With More Unity & Fraternity’ — Pope Appeals for Peace at Sant’Egidio’s Prayer for Peace
Ceremony Held Safely in Italian Capitol During Pandemic
OCTOBER 20, 2020 17:02DEBORAH CASTELLANO LUBOV

“Let us ask the crucified God to grant us the grace to be more united and more fraternal…”

Pope Francis encouraged this when participating today, Oct. 20, in this year’s International Meeting on the theme “No One Is Saved Alone. Peace and Fraternity,” promoted by the Community of Sant’Egidio. Every year, the Encounter recalls the historic Day of Prayer for Peace convoked in Assisi by St. Pope John Paul II in 1986, with representatives of all the world religions.

The title of this year’s Meeting was inspired by Pope Francis’ words during his March 27 Extraordinary Urbi et Orbi in a pouring St. Peter’s Square, for the end of the coronavirus. This 2020 Meeting marks the second time Pope Francis has participated in the encounter, following his traveling to Assisi for the event in 2016.
Normally at meetings, hundreds of religious leaders and representatives gather from more than 50 countries worldwide. This year, to be safe amid the COVID pandemic, the Ceremony to Pray for Peace is taking place in the afternoon at Rome’s iconic Campidoglio with interfaith leaders and important officials, including President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella and the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I.

ZENIT’s Senior Vatican Correspondent was present at the Campidoglio today as this year’s meeting is in Rome.

Ahead of the event she had interviewed the President of the Community of Sant’Egidio, Marco Impagliazzo, who noted that this year’s 34th Prayer for Peace was organized in full compliance with all hygiene and health rules, “because in this difficult time, there is a need for words of peace and hope, which indicate a future for humanity overwhelmed by the pandemic.”

After having presided over the moment of ecumenical prayer for peace with other Christian confessions in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli this afternoon, Pope Francis took part in the ceremony with the representatives of the great world religions in the Piazza of the Campidoglio, where the Holy Father spoke.
There was a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the pandemic and all wars, immediately followed by the reading of the Rome 2020 Appeal for Peace. Some children received the appeal text from the religious leaders and delivered it to the ambassadors and representatives of national and international politics present.
At the end of the meeting, after the lighting of the candles of peace by the Holy Father and the religious leaders and exchanging, without contact, a sign of peace.
 
ON THE NET:
FOLLOW LIVE, on WEBSITE OF COMMUNITY OF SANT’EGIDIO:
https://www.santegidio.org/
https://preghieraperlapace.santegidio.org/pageID/31256/langID/en/Roma-2020.html
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YouTube video at the link below--
20 October 2020 Prayer for Peace Pope Francis
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-10/pope-francis-moment-christian-prayer-peace.html

Pope participates in Moment of prayer for peace
20 October 2020, 15:47

Pope Francis participated in an ecumenical prayer service which was followed by an interreligious Meeting for Peace together with leaders of the world’s major religions in Rome. The event, entitled “No one is saved alone. Peace and Fraternity” was organized by the Community of saint Egidio.
By Vatican News staff writer

The seeds of the spirit of Assisi were planted on 27 October 1986 by Pope Saint John Paul II when he invited leaders of other religions to join him in prayer for peace for the human family.

The Cold War hadn’t ended yet, civil wars were raging in Mozambique, Sri Lanka and Guatemala, Eritrea was fighting for independence and the US bombed Libya in a retaliation attack while Zimbabwe’s national army massacred thousands of ethnic Ndebele civilians.

So many of God’s children were suffering because of violence across the globe, but  St John Paul II was convinced that peace is holy and that at the heart of every religious tradition is the search for peace and that  “Peace is a building site that is open to everyone.”
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-10/pope-francis-homily-moment-christian-prayer-peace-rome.html
Pope at Prayer Meeting: Love alone is path to peace and communion
20 October 2020, 16:30

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-10/pope-francis-interreligious-meeting-peace-rome.html

Pope Francis: ‘No one is saved alone’
20 October 2020, 18:33

Pope Francis is inviting leaders of other faiths to work together “with the gentle strength of faith to end all conflicts.” His appeal comes as part of his discourse at an International Meeting for Peace, held in Rome and organized by the Community of Saint Egidio, entitled “No one is saved alone. Peace and Fraternity.”
By Vatican News staff writer

Pope Francis set the tone of his speech on Tuesday by recalling the historic Assisi Meeting desired by Saint Pope John Paul II on 27 October 1986, in which for the first time in Church history the Pope invited leaders of other religions to join him in prayer for peace for the human family.

That meeting, he said, contained a prophetic seed “that by God’s grace has gradually matured through unprecedented encounters, acts of peacemaking and fresh initiatives of fraternity.” 

He noted that since that Meeting many painful events have taken place, at times in the name of religion, but that we also acknowledge the fruitful steps undertaken since then in interreligious dialogue. 

“This is a sign of hope that encourages us to continue cooperating as brothers and sisters,” he said, recalling the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, which he signed with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, in 2019.

Pope Francis also referred to his just-released encyclical, Fratelli tutti, in which he reiterates that “the commandment of peace is inscribed in the depths of the religious traditions.”
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-10/pope-appeal-for-peace-2020-rome.html
Pope signs Rome 2020 Appeal for Peace
20 October 2020, 20:44

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2020-10/patriarch-bartholomew-fratelli-tutti-pope-francis.html

Patriarch Bartholomew on “Fratelli tutti”: abandon indifference and cynicism
20 October 2020, 12:00

The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, grants an interview to Vatican media about Pope Francis’ Encyclical, saying Christians dream of our world as a united family.
By Andrea Tornielli

“We completely agree" with Pope Francis' invitation to "abandon indifference or even the cynicism that governs our ecological, political, economic and social life in general, including our self-centered form of unity, and to dream of our world as a united human family.”

With these words, Patriarch Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, on a visit to Rome, commented on Pope Francis’s Encyclical Fratelli tutti in a conversation with the Vatican media.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2020-10/nominations-zayed-award-human-fraternity-document.html

Nominations open for 2021 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity
20 October 2020, 10:00

The Higher Committee for Human Fraternity launches a world-wide search for persons embodying the “values of humility, humanitarianism and respect”.
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

A committee of experts has been formed by the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity to handle nominations for the 2021 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity. The Higher Committee made the announcement on Monday.

Zayed Award for Human Fraternity

Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed el-Tayeb were the first receipients of this award in 2019. Sheik Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced that the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity would become an annual event during a ceremony marking the first anniversary of the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity. That event took place in Abu Dhabi on 4 February 2020, exactly one year to the date that the award’s first two recipients signed the historic Document on Human Fraternity and World Peace and Living Together.
 

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https://www.ncregister.com/news/cardinals-deplore-german-bishops-slide-as-schism-fears-arise

Cardinals Deplore German Bishops’ Slide, as Schism Fears Arise
Edward Pentin  Vatican  October 20, 2020

VATICAN CITY — As reports emerged recently of Pope Francis’ “dramatic concern” about the state of the Catholic Church in Germany and news that he received Germany’s apostolic nuncio for private talks on Monday, the country’s bishops pressed ahead on their goal of shared Communion with Protestants despite strong objections from the Vatican.

The leaders of both churches said their intercommunion proposal “still needs to be clarified” even though the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said last month that differences in the Catholic and Protestant understanding of the Eucharist were “still so grave” that they ruled out attendance at each other’s services.

The increasing divergence between Rome and the German bishops, amplified by the ongoing Synodal Path — a two-year reform program of German bishops and laity that questions some of the Church’s established teaching on faith and morals — demonstrates the real dangers of the Church in Germany one day breaking with Rome.

In September, a leading German prelate raised the possibility of schism for the first time.
 

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Update:  Cardinal Becciu

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/alleged-vatican-money-transfers-during-pell-trial-referred-to-police-by-australian-intelligence-agency-36542

Alleged Vatican money transfers during Pell trial referred to police by Australian intelligence agency

CNA Staff, Oct 20, 2020 / 09:46 am MT (CNA).- The Australian financial intelligence agency has handed information to federal police concerning allegations that international money transfers, amounting to hundreds of thousands of euros in Vatican funds, were sent to Australia during the trial of Cardinal George Pell.

During a Senate committee hearing on Tuesday, Nicole Rose, the chief executive of AUSTRAC, the Australian government’s financial intelligence service, was asked about allegations, first published in Italian media on Oct. 2, that approximately 700,000 euros in Church funds had been sent to Australia at the behest of Cardinal Angelo Becciu for the purposes of influencing Cardinal Pell’s trial on charges of sexual abuse.

Sen. Concetta Fierravanti-Wells asked Rose about media reports of the transfers "allegedly from Vatican funds to a person or persons in Australia."

"Yes, I can confirm AUSTRAC has looked into the matter and we've provided information to the AFP [Australian Federal Police] and to Victoria Police,” Rose told the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee on Oct. 20.

The exchange during the parliamentary committee session confirmed that AUSTRAC, which is charged with monitoring financial transactions to prevent money laundering, organized crime, tax evasion, fraud and terrorism financing, is aware of the allegations and has apparently identified information meriting police attention or investigation.

Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera first reported Oct. 2 that the alleged transfer is part of a dossier of evidence being compiled by Vatican investigators and prosecutors against Cardinal Becciu, who was forced to resign by Pope Francis on Sept. 24, in apparent connection to multiple financial scandals dating back to his time as sostituto at the Vatican’s Secretariat of State.
 

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-10/pope-francis-general-audience-prayer-psalms-conclusion-love.html
Pope at audience: psalms lead to adore God and love His children
21 October 2020, 12:22

In his General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis concludes his reflection on the Psalms in the series of catechesis on prayer. He says the psalms allow us to "contemplate reality with God’s very eyes".
By Vatican News staff writer

Pope Francis began Wednesday’s General taking into account the rising numbers of Covid-19 infections worldwide, including in Italy.  Even though he would like to come close to those attending the audience, he cannot do so because of the danger of contagion for all. “I am sorry to do this but it is for your safety,” he said. Hence instead of shaking hands, he suggested to those present that they greet each other at a distance, but assured they were close to his heart.

The Pope then said his attention had been caught during the reading of the Bible passage at the start of the catechesis by a mother in the crowd who was cuddling her crying child. He said, “this is what God does with us, like that mamma." These beautiful images of a mother's tenderness, the Pope said, are the image of the Church, the symbol of God's tenderness for us. Hence, he said, “Never silence a crying baby in Church, never, because it is the voice that attracts God's tenderness.”

Pope Francis then began the second and final catechesis on the Psalms in his series on prayer.  The Psalms, he says, “help us not to fall into the temptation of the 'wicked', that is, of living, and perhaps also of praying, as if God does not exist, and as if the poor do not exist”.
 
https://zenit.org/2020/10/21/general-audience-pope-completes-catechesis-on-prayer-of-psalms-full-text/
General Audience: Pope Completes Catechesis on Prayer of Psalms (Full text)
OCTOBER 21, 2020 13:59  JIM FAIR

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-10/pope-francis-contribution-families-crew-ship-capsize.html

Pope’s charity reaches out to families of shipwrecked crew
21 October 2020, 15:41

Pope Francis has sent an economic contribution to the families of crewmembers of the cargo ship Gulf Livestock, which capsized near Japan in September.
By Vatican News staff writer

Pope Francis has reached out to the families of crewmembers of a cargo ship that capsized over a month ago in the Sea of Japan, the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development said in a statement on Wednesday.   

It said that through the Dicastery, the Pope decided to send an economic contribution to all the families of the crewmembers of the ship, Gulf Livestock 1. The cargo ship sailing from Napier (New Zealand) to Jingtang, Tangshan (China), sank in the Sea of Japan near the island of Amami Ōshima on September 2, after experiencing engine failure amid the raging typhoon Maysak. The beneficiaries of the Pope’s charity are the families of 39 Filipinos, 2 Australians and 2 New Zealanders.

The Dicastery explained that in collaboration with the Apostolic Nunciatures and the seafarers’ Stella Maris centres in the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand, the Pope’s economic aid along with a small personal gift from him will be delivered personally to the families of the missing and the two survivors, to show his closeness and solidarity.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-10/new-film-documentary-francesco-pope-francis-rome-film-fesival.html

"Francesco": new documentary on the life and teaching of Pope Francis
21 October 2020, 13:44

The new film entitled "Francesco" tells the story of Jorge Mario Bergoglio and tackles some of the main themes of his pontificate through a series of interviews.
By Vatican News staff writer

The documentary “Francesco”, by director Evgeny Afineevsky, interweaves voices and stories from past and present. It includes exclusive interviews with Pope Francis himself, with Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, with members of the Pope’s family and many others. In it, Afineevsky highlights the challenges of our time, the urgencies that need answering and the mission of the Church in looking to those who suffer injustices.

The Kinéo Prize

The film premieres on Wednesday afternoon at the Rome Film Festival in the Special Events Section. Then on Thursday, in the Vatican Gardens, it will receive the 18th Kinéo Prize. The "Kinéo Movie for Humanity Award" is awarded to those who promote social and humanitarian themes. This year, it will be personally awarded by Rosetta Sannelli, the creator of the award, who  underlined the film's historic value. "Every one of Pope Francis' journeys to various parts of the world," she said, "is documented in Afineevsky's work through images and news footage, and reveals an authentic glimpse into the events of our time."
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-calls-for-civil-union-law-for-same-sex-couples-in-shift-from-vatican-stance-12462
Pope Francis calls for civil union law for same-sex couples, in shift from Vatican stance

CNA Staff, Oct 21, 2020 / 06:35 am MT (CNA).-  In a documentary that premiered Wednesday in Rome, Pope Francis called for the passage of civil union laws for same-sex couples, departing from the position of the Vatican’s doctrinal office and the pope’s predecessors on the issue.

The remarks came amid a portion of the documentary that reflected on pastoral care for those who identify as LGBT.

“Homosexuals have a right to be a part of the family. They’re children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out, or be made miserable because of it,” Pope Francis said in the film, of his approach to pastoral care.

After those remarks, and in comments likely to spark controversy among Catholics, Pope Francis weighed in directly on the issue of civil unions for same-sex couples.

“What we have to create is a civil union law. That way they are legally covered,” the pope said. “I stood up for that.”
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/what-did-pope-francis-say-about-civil-unions-a-cna-explainer-57625

What did Pope Francis say about civil unions? A CNA Explainer
by JD Flynn

Denver Newsroom, Oct 21, 2020 / 06:49 pm MT (CNA).- “Francesco,” a newly released documentary on the life and ministry of Pope Francis, has made global headlines, because the film contains a scene in which Pope Francis calls for the passage of civil union laws for same-sex couples.

Some activists and media reports have suggested that Pope Francis has changed Catholic teaching by his remarks. Among many Catholics, the pope’s comments have raised questions about what the pope really said, what it means, and what the Church teaches about civil unions and marriage. CNA looks at those questions.

What did Pope Francis say about civil unions?

During a segment of “Francesco” which discussed Pope Francis’ pastoral care of Catholics who identify as LGBT, the pope made two distinct comments.

He said first that: “Homosexuals have a right to be a part of the family. They’re children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out, or be made miserable because of it.”

While the pope did not elaborate on the meaning of those remarks in the video, Pope Francis has spoken before to encourage parents and relatives not to ostracize or shun children who have identified as LGBT. This seems to be the sense in which the pope spoke about the right of people to be a part of the family.

Some have suggested that when Pope Francis spoke about a “right to a family,” the pope was offering a kind of tacit endorsement of adoption by same-sex couples. But the pope has previously spoken against such adoptions, saying that through them children are “deprived of their human development given by a father and a mother and willed by God,” and saying that “every person needs a male father and a female mother that can help them shape their identity.”
On civil unions, the pope said that: “What we have to create is a civil union law. That way they are legally covered.”

“I stood up for that,” Pope Francis added, apparently in reference to his proposal to brother bishops, during a 2010 debate in Argentina over gay marriage, that accepting civil unions might be a way to prevent the passage of same-sex marriage laws in the country.

What did Pope Francis say about gay marriage?

Nothing. The topic of gay marriage was not discussed in the documentary. In his ministry, Pope Francis has frequently affirmed the doctrinal teaching of the Catholic Church that marriage is a lifelong partnership between one man and one woman.

While Pope Francis has frequently encouraged a welcoming disposition to Catholics who identify as LGBT, the pope has also said that “marriage is between a man and a woman,” and said that “the family is threatened by growing efforts on the part of some to redefine the very institution of marriage,” and that efforts to redefine marriage “threaten to disfigure God's plan for creation."
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-10/pope-francis-appoints-new-bishop-in-canada.html

Pope Francis appoints new Bishop in Canada
22 October 2020, 12:25

Pope Francis appoints Bishop Thomas Dowd to the Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie in Canada.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Thomas Dowd as the new Bishop of Sault Sainte Marie, Canada, transferring him from the titular See of Treba and the office of Auxiliary of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Montreal[/color.

Curriculum vitae

Bishop Thomas Dowd was born on September 11, 1970, in Lachine, Montreal. Before entering the seminary, he obtained a University Diploma in International Trade from Concordia University of Montreal.
 

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https://cruxnow.com/church-in-europe/2020/10/pope-names-new-archbishop-of-lyon-after-resignation-of-cardinal-barbarin/

Pope names new archbishop of Lyon after resignation of Cardinal Barbarin
Catholic News Service  Oct 22, 2020

ROME — Pope Francis has named Bishop Olivier de Germay of Ajaccio, Corsica, to be the new archbishop of Lyon, France, succeeding a cardinal whose conviction on charges of failing to report clerical sex abuse was overturned.

Cardinal Philippe Barbarin’s conviction was overturned in January, but he said he asked the pope to allow him to resign for the good of the archdiocese. The pope accepted his resignation in March, seven months before the cardinal’s 70th birthday.

De Germay was born Sept. 18, 1960, in Tours. He studied at a French military high school and military academy, earning a degree in engineering and reaching the rank of captain.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/vatican-and-china-renew-provisional-agreement-on-appointment-of-bishops-38737

Vatican and China renew provisional agreement on appointment of bishops
By Courtney Mares

Vatican City, Oct 22, 2020 / 04:00 am MT (CNA).- The Vatican and China have renewed a provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops for two more years, the Holy See announced Thursday.

An Oct. 22 Vatican communique said that the Chinese government and Vatican authorities agreed “to extend the experimental implementation phase” of the two-year provisional agreement first signed on Sept. 22, 2018, concerning the nomination of bishops. It added that the two parties intended to pursue “an open and constructive dialogue.”

“The Holy See considers the initial application of the agreement -- which is of great ecclesial and pastoral value -- to have been positive, thanks to good communication and cooperation between the parties on the matters agreed upon, and intends to pursue an open and constructive dialogue for the benefit of the life of the Catholic Church and the good of Chinese people,” the communique said.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-10/cardinal-parolin-holy-see-agreement-china-syria-bartholomew.html
Cardinal Parolin: “All will go well” with the Holy See/China Agreement
21 October 2020, 18:50

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/where-chinas-bishops-stand-as-the-sino-vatican-deal-is-renewed-25725
Where China's bishops stand as the Sino-Vatican deal is renewed

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Update:  Pope Francis on civil unions in the documentary “Francesco."

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/questions-emerge-regarding-pope-francis-statement-on-same-sex-civil-unions-47666
Questions emerge regarding Pope Francis' statement on same-sex civil unions

CNA Staff, Oct 22, 2020 / 09:28 am MT (CNA).- Fr. Antonio Spadaro, SJ, director of the Jesuit magazine La Civiltà Cattolica, said on Wednesday evening that an expression of support for same-sex civil unions from Pope Francis is “nothing new” and does not signify a change of Catholic doctrine. But the priest’s remarks have raised some question about the origin of comments from Pope Francis on civil unions, which were featured in the newly-released documentary “Francesco.”

In a video released by Tv2000, a media apostolate of the  Italian bishops’ conference, Spadaro said that "the director of the film ‘Francesco’ compiles a series of interviews that have been conducted with Pope Francis over time, giving a great summary of his pontificate and the value of his travels.”

“Among other things, there are various passages taken from an interview with Valentina Alazraki, a Mexican journalist, and within that interview Pope Francis speaks of a right to the legal protection of homosexual couples but without in any way affecting doctrine,” Spadaro said.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-homosexuality-comments-heavily-edited-in-documentary-no-vatican-comment-on-civil-union-88210
Pope Francis' homosexuality comments heavily edited in documentary, Vatican has no comment on civil unions

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2020/10/plot-thickens-over-origins-of-popes-civil-union-endorsement/
Plot thickens over origins of pope’s civil union endorsement
Nicole WinfieldOct 22, 2020  ASSOCIATED PRESS

https://edwardpentin.co.uk/statement-from-cardinal-raymond-burke-on-pope-francis-civil-unions-remarks/
Statement From Cardinal Raymond Burke on Pope Francis’ Civil Unions Remarks
22/10/2020  Edward Pentin

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/francesco-director-receives-film-award-in-vatican-gardens-80573

'Francesco' director receives film award in Vatican Gardens
By Hannah Brockhaus

Vatican City, Oct 22, 2020 / 11:22 am MT (CNA).- The director of a new documentary about Pope Francis received an Italian film award in a ceremony in the Vatican Gardens on Thursday, amid international controversy over his documentary on the life and ministry of Pope Francis.

Filmmaker Evgeny Afineevsky, the director of “Francesco,” was presented with the Kinéo Movie for Humanity Award Oct. 22.

Now in its 18th year, the award is given to those who promote social, humanitarian, and environmental issues in cinema.

Accepting the award, Afineevsky said “I’m so proud that finally ‘Francesco’ is on its way to the world to change hearts and minds.”
 

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Update:  Cardinal Becciu/cardinal Pell

https://www.news.com.au/world/europe/cardinal-george-pell-new-claim-of-mystery-2m-sent-from-vatican-to-australia/news-story/cfa03f2eb01c673296a7fb5274882beb
Cardinal George Pell: New claim of mystery $2m sent from Vatican to Australia
OCTOBER 22, 2020  12:52PM

New claims of a mystery $2 million wired from the Vatican to Australia between early 2017 and mid-2018 have emerged in the alleged corruption scandal linked to Cardinal George Pell’s trial.

The Australian has revealed Vatican prosecutors are investigating almost double the original amount of reported unauthorised transfers from the Holy See secretariat, starting with $415,000 in February 2017.

While Italian newspapers originally reported an alleged $1.1 million had been transferred as payments to affect the outcome of Cardinal Pell’s sex abuse trial, the figure could be much higher.

This allegedly occurred in the lead-up to the trial of Cardinal Pell, who was accused of molesting choir boys in Melbourne in the 1990s, was convicted, sentenced and imprisoned, but later cleared and released.

In February 2017, Victoria Police filed a brief of evidence for alleged sexual assault allegations against the Cardinal to the state Office of Public Prosecutions.

The then Vatican Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, Cardinal Pell had already clashed with Cardinal Becciu, the influential deputy secretariat of state at the Holy See.

Considered his arch rival, Cardinal Becciu, who resigned last month from the Vatican and renounced his rights as a cardinal, has strongly denied any interference with Cardinal Pell’s trial.
 

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Update:   Cardinal Angelo Becciu

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/report-vatican-requests-evidence-in-cardinal-angelo-becciu-embezzlement-investigation-66586
Report: Vatican requests evidence in Becciu embezzlement investigation
By Hannah Brockhaus

Rome Newsroom, Oct 23, 2020 / 08:00 am MT (CNA).- Vatican prosecutors have requested evidence from Rome in an ongoing investigation into allegations that Cardinal Angelo Becciu used Secretariat of State funds to help family members, according to an Italian newspaper.

La Repubblica reported Friday that Vatican prosecutors have sent letters rogatory to Rome’s public prosecutor’s office as they investigate claims that Becciu used his position to give money to companies owned by several of his brothers. Letters rogatory are a formal request from courts in one country to the courts of another country for judicial assistance.

The Italian cardinal has insisted that the accusations that he misused Vatican funds to benefit his brothers are false.
 

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Update:  Cardinal Becciu/Cardinal Pell

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/australian-state-police-rule-out-probe-into-vatican-money-transfers-during-pell-trial-88981
Australian state police rule out probe into Vatican money transfers during Pell trial

CNA Staff, Oct 23, 2020 / 09:00 am MT (CNA).- Police in the Australian state of Victoria said Friday that they have no plans for a further investigation into reports of money transfers from the Vatican during the trial of Cardinal George Pell, while federal police have said the information they have received is under their review, and been shared with an anti-corruption commission.

Victoria Police told journalists Oct. 23 that AUSTRAC, Australia’s financial intelligence agency, had shared information with the force regarding the transfers.

“AUSTRAC has made Victoria police aware of transfer of monies from the Vatican over a period of time to Australia,” a police statement said.

“They have not advised Victoria Police of any suspicious activity related to these transactions. In the absence of any other evidence or intelligence, Victoria Police has noted the advice from AUSTRAC. We are not at this time conducting any further investigation.”
 

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https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2020/10/media-report-pope-met-covid-19-infected-bishop-at-vatican/

Media report pope met COVID-19 infected bishop at Vatican
Rod McGuirkOct 23, 2020  ASSOCIATED PRESS

CANBERRA, Australia — Pope Francis has been warned of potential exposure to COVID-19 after a Vatican diplomat was infected, Australian media reported on Friday.

Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, the Holy See’s ambassador to Australia, had a face-to-face meeting with Francis at the Vatican on Oct. 6, less than two weeks before testing positive to COVID-19 in Australia, Nine News reported.

Australian authorities say a diplomat who flew into Sydney on Oct. 9 had tested positive to the coronavirus. They won’t reveal the diplomat’s identity.