Pope Francis

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/24/us-pope-christmas-idUSBRE9BN0MA20131224

At first Christmas as pope, Francis urges openness to God
VATICAN CITY  Tue Dec 24, 2013 5:14pm EST


4 of 6. Pope Francis asperges incense on the baby Jesus statue as he leads the Christmas night mass in the Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican December 24, 2013.
Credit: REUTERS/Tony Gentile

(Reuters) - Pope Francis, celebrating his first Christmas as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, on Tuesday urged people to shun pride and selfishness and open up their hearts to God and their fellow man.

Francis, who last March became the first non-European pope in 1,300 years, celebrated a solemn Christmas Eve Mass for some 10,000 people in a packed St. Peter's Basilica as hundreds of others watched on mega-screens in the square outside.

The great bells of the basilica, the same that rang to announce his election on March 13, sounded when the Sistine Chapel Choir intoned the Gloria, a prayer which starts with the words the Bible says angels sang on the night Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

Francis delivered a short homily that was as simple as his white vestments: Man can choose between darkness and light.
 

 

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http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/12/24/22036966-pope-francis-delivers-his-first-christmas-homily?chromedomain=usnews

25 minutes ago
Pope Francis delivers his first Christmas homily



http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/12/24/text-pope-francis-prepared-homily-for-christmas-eve-mass-at-vatican/
Text of Pope Francis' prepared homily for Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican
Published December 24, 2013

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YouTube links for the Christmas Eve Mass (Tuesday) and the Christmas Message and Urbi et Orbi Blessing (Wednesday)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoH_hK-ynXU#t=395

Christmas Eve Mass - English
Streamed live on Dec 24, 2013 
Pope Francis presides over the Christmas Eve Mass on the Solemnity of the Birth of our Lord
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JcNkSvKN8w

Christmas Message and Urbi et Orbi Blessing
Scheduled for Dec 25, 2013 
Christmas Message and Urbi et Orbi Blessing

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http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/national_world&id=9372107
Pope delivers Christmas greetings -- in one language
Updated at 12:42 PM today



http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/12/25/pope_francis:_urbi_et_orbi_message/en1-758615
2013-12-25 13:26:25
Pope Francis: Urbi et Orbi Message

(Vatican Radio) “I take up the song of the angels who appeared to the shepherds in Bethlehem on the night when Jesus was born. It is a song which unites heaven and earth, giving praise and glory to heaven, and the promise of peace to earth and all its people.”

In his traditional Urbi et Orbi Christmas message, Pope Francis dwelt on the announcement of the angels to the shepherds of Bethlehem: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours (Lk 2:14).

“Above all else,” the Pope said, Christmas calls us “to give glory to God, for He is good, He is faithful, He is merciful.” He prayed that all people would come to know “the true face of the God the Father, who has given us Jesus.” And he encouraged everyone to glorify God by spending their lives “for love of Him and of all our brothers and sisters.”

The majority of the Holy Father’s message was taken up with the theme of “Peace to mankind.” Pope Francis reminded us that “true peace . . . is not a balance of opposing forces,” a façade hiding conflicts and divisions. Rather “peace calls for daily commitment . . . starting from God’s gift, from the grace which He has given us in Jesus Christ.
 

After concluding his Christmas Message, the Holy Father imparted the Urbi et Orbi Blessing to the faithful gathered in Saint Peter's Square, and to all those listening to his words via all the modern means of communications. Having delivered his Blessing, Pope Francis wished everyone throughout the world a Merry Christmas:

"To you, dear brothers and sisters, gathered from throughout the world in this Square, and to all those from different countries who join us through the communications media, I offer my cordial best wishes for a merry Christmas!

"On this day illumined by the Gospel hope which springs from the humble stable of Bethlehem, I invoke the Christmas gift of joy and peace upon all: upon children and the elderly, upon young people and families, the poor and the marginalized. May Jesus, who was born for us, console all those afflicted by illness and suffering; may he sustain those who devote themselves to serving our brothers and sisters who are most in need. Happy Christmas!"

Below, please find the complete text of Pope Francis' Urbi et Orbi Message for Christmas 2013:
 

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Photo Gallery at the link

http://darkroom.baltimoresun.com/2013/12/pope-francis-christmas-day-address/#3

Dec 25, 2013
Pope Francis delivers first Christmas Day address

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  Wishing you and your family a Very Merry and Blessed Christmas!...

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http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/26/world/europe/popes-christmas-message-for-atheists.html?_r=0

Pope, Off Script, Nods to Atheists in Holiday Call for World Peace
Published: December 25, 2013

 
He proved unpredictable again on Wednesday, when he went off script to include atheists in his call for peace, rare for a Catholic leader.

“I invite even nonbelievers to desire peace,” he said. “Let us all unite, either with prayer or with desire, but everyone, for peace.”
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/12/26/pope_francis:_angelus_appeal_on_behalf_of_persecuted_christians/en1-758837

2013-12-26 12:21:01
Pope Francis: Angelus appeal on behalf of persecuted Christians

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis appealed on Thursday for Christians who suffer violence, discrimination and all manner of injustice because of their faithfulness to Christ and His Gospel. The Pope’s call for prayerful solidarity with persecuted faithful came on the Feast of St Stephen, the first martyr, and a day after bomb attacks on a Catholic church and a Christian neighbourhood market in Baghdad, Iraq, that killed thirty-eight people. “We are close to those brothers and sisters who, like St. Stephen, are unjustly accused and subjected to violence of various kinds,” said Pope Francis. He went on to say, “This happens especially where religious freedom is still not guaranteed or not fully realized.” Listen: RealAudioMP3

The Holy Father explained that, even in countries that have protections for freedom and human rights “on paper,” believers in general, “and especially Christians, encounter [abridgements of their liberty – It. limitazioni] and discrimination.”

Pope Francis departed from his prepared remarks to note that there are indeed a great many Christians who suffer in these ways – more even than in the time of the first Christians – and paused to lead the faithful in praying the Ave, Maria! on their behalf. He went on to say that Christians ought not be surprised by such mistreatment, since Jesus said such things would happen and that they offer good occasion for profound witness. “Nevertheless,” he said, “Injustice in the civil [sphere] must be denounced and eliminated.”
 

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/10538339/Pope-Francis-to-share-daily-Mass-with-locals.html

Pope Francis to share daily Mass with locals
5:11PM GMT 26 Dec 2013

From the new year a handful of Romans will be invited to celebrate morning mass with the pope inside the Vatican.

The 77-year-old pontiff is well-known for embracing the young, old and disabled when they gather in St Peter’s Square, or picking up the phone to make personal calls to individuals or families in distress.

As the pope is also formally recognised as the bishop of Rome, he will have the chance to get to know the Catholics closest to him.

In another first, around 30 people will be selected from Rome parishes chosens on a rotational basis to attend mass in the intimate chapel inside the Santa Marta residence where the pontiff lives next to St Peter’s Basilica.

He celebrates mass there every morning but this is the first time members of the public will be invited to share the pope's daily ritual on a regular basis.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/12/27/roman_parishioners_to_attend_popes_daily_mass/en1-759065

2013-12-27 11:01:57
Roman parishioners to attend Pope's daily Mass

(Vatican Radio) It has been confirmed by the Director of the Holy See Press Office that parishioners of Roman parishes will soon be attending Mass with Pope Francis in the Casa Santa Marta. Responding to Italian press reports over Christmas, Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, said beginning in January the Cardinal Vicar of Rome will be informing pastors how to apply to attend the Pope’s daily Mass with a group from their parish - probably about 25 people. 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/12/27/pope_francis_lunches_with_benedict_xvi/en1-759266

2013-12-27 16:57:19
Pope Francis lunches with Benedict XVI

(Vatican Radio) Benedict XVI, the Pope Emeritus, joined Pope Francis for lunch today at the papal residence at Casa Santa Marta.

Earlier this week, Pope Francis had paid a visit to his predecessor (pictured) to offer his Christmas greetings. It was during that visit that Pope Francis invited Benedict to Casa Santa Marta for a holiday meal.
 
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Video at the link

http://www.romereports.com/pg155249-benedict-xvi-makes-a-short-trip-to-have-lunch-with-pope-francis--en

Benedict XVI makes a short trip to have lunch with Pope Francis
2013-12-27

When the Pope visited Benedict XVI at his Vatican residence, they got to catch up just like old friends. They met for about 30 minutes, but there was still lots more to talk about. That's why during that brief get-together, Pope Francis invited Benedict XVI to lunch.

On Friday afternoon, Ratzinger made a short trip to Casa Santa Marta to have lunch with the Pope. At age 86, this is actually the first time Benedict XVI has publicly gone to the Pope's residence to meet him. Usually it's Pope Francis who goes out to visit him.

In the past, Pope Francis has publicly said he enjoys having Benedict XVI around the Vatican, describing him as a wise grandfather.
 

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/27/old-pope-francis-photos_n_4453648.html

Old Pope Francis Photos: From Jorge Mario Bergolio To The Supreme Pontiff (PHOTOS)
Posted: 12/27/2013 8:44 am EST

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http://www.jacksonsun.com/viewart/20131227/NEWS01/312270028/Biggest-religion-stories-2013-Survey-Election-Pope-Francis-leads-list-top-faith-related-events-year

Biggest religion stories of 2013 - Survey: Election of Pope Francis leads list of top faith-related events this year
Dec. 27, 2013 4:37 PM

COLUMBIA, MO. — The selection of a reform-minded Argentinian as the new leader of the world’s largest religious institution was voted the Top Religion Story of the Year by the nation’s religion journalists.

Members of the Religion Newswriters Association chose as the No. 1 Religion Story of the Year the election of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who took the name Pope Francis. Pope Francis’ predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, was in the No. 2 spot because of his historic resignation.
 

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http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1305410.htm

Dec-27-2013
Prospects for the new year in Vatican news
By Francis X. Rocca
Catholic News Service

 VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- After a year that included the historic resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and a series of celebrated innovations by Pope Francis, it is hard to imagine 2014 at the Vatican could be nearly as eventful. Of course, the biggest stories are likely to be those that come by surprise, but in the meantime, here are developments bound to loom large in Vatican news over the coming year:

 -- New Cardinals: Pope Francis is scheduled to create new cardinals Feb. 22. By that time, no more than 106 members of the College of Cardinals will be under the age of 80 and thus eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope. Under rules established by Pope Paul VI, the college should not have more than 120 such members, though subsequent popes have occasionally exceeded that number. So Pope Francis can be expected to name at least 14 new cardinal electors.

 The election of the first Latin American pope has raised expectations of greater geographical diversity among cardinal electors, so the new slate might prove relatively heavy on names from statistically underrepresented regions, especially Latin America and Africa.

 -- Vatican reform: The eight-member Council of Cardinals that Pope Francis formed to advise him on governance of the universal church and reform of the Vatican bureaucracy has already joined him for two rounds of meetings at the Vatican and will do so again in February. The body is working on the first major overhaul of the Roman Curia, the church's central administration at the Vatican, since 1988.

 Although the council has not announced a timeline for its work, Pope Francis has established a record of acting fast; in December, he approved an idea for an international commission on the sexual abuse of children just one day after the council proposed it. So few will be surprised if the council gives him a draft of an apostolic constitution reorganizing the curia before the end of 2014.

 -- Canonization of two popes: The double canonization ceremony of Blessed John XXIII and Blessed John Paul II, scheduled for April 27, is almost certain to draw crowds larger than the more than 1 million who attended the latter's beatification in May 2011.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/12/28/pope_sends_message_to_taizé_encounter/en1-759433

2013-12-28 13:26:32
Pope sends message to Taizé encounter

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis issued a message through his Secretary of State, Archbishop Pietro Parolin, to the 25,000 young adults participating at the 36th annual European encounter of the Taizé community. The meeting begins on Saturday and this year is being held in Strasbourg, France.

In the message, Archbishop Parolin spoke of the closeness the Pope feels to the young adults gathered for the meeting. He spoke of the region as “a land lacerated by wars, which had innumerable victims, but a land that also brings great hope, that of the building of the European family”.

“Europe, which has lived and continues to live difficult moments, needs your commitment, your faith, your courage,” he wrote.

Addressing the theme of the gathering—“Seek the visible communion of all those who love Christ”—he recognized that the young adults “are aware that the division among Christians constitutes an huge obstacle for the realization of the mission that was entrusted to the Church” and that the credibility of the Christian message would be much greater if Christians could overcome their divisions.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/12/28/syrian_delegation_brings_message_to_pope_francis/en1-759526

2013-12-28 16:00:39
Syrian delegation brings message to Pope Francis

(Vatican Radio) A delegation from the Syrian government met on Saturday morning with the Vatican Secretary of State, Archbishop Pietro Parolin, and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States.

According to a statement issued by the director of the Vatican Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, “the delegation brought a message from President Assad for the Holy Father and explained the position of the Syrian government”.
 

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http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/28/world/meast/syria-civil-war/

In message to Pope, Syrian President says he's ready for peace talks
updated 3:43 PM EST, Sat December 28, 2013

(CNN) -- In a message to Pope Francis, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said his government is ready to participate in next month's peace talks but noted outside countries must stop supporting what he called terrorist groups in the country's civil war, Syria's state-run news agency said Saturday.

Al-Assad sent the message through intermediaries and expressed appreciation for how the Pope on Christmas urged an end to the violence and suffering in Syria, state-run SANA reported.

"The message also highlighted that stopping terrorism requires having the countries which are involved in supporting the armed terrorist groups stop providing any sort of military, logistic or training support, noting that this support was provided by some of Syria's neighbors and other known countries in the Middle East and abroad," SANA said.

The Syrian president's message said that "the crisis will be solved through national dialogue among the Syrians and under a Syrian leadership without foreign intervention as to enable the Syrians to determine their future and leadership through ballots."

The message was delivered during a meeting between Syrian Minister of State Joseph Sweid and the Pope's secretary of state, Archbishop Pietro Parolin, SANA said.

Parolin told Sweid that the pope "is constantly following the situation in Syria" and "Pope Francis affirms the need to solve the crisis in Syria through dialogue among the Syrians without foreign intervention," SANA said.
 

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Video at the link

http://www.catholicreview.org/article/home/vatican-news-highlights-of-2013-the-year-of-two-popes

Vatican news highlights of 2013: The year of two popes
December 29, 2013
By Francis X. Rocca
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY - In terms of Vatican news, 2013 was surely one of the most eventful years in living memory. Here are the highlights at a glance:

-- Feb. 11: Pope Benedict XVI announces that he will become the first pope in more than 600 years to resign.

-- Feb. 25: Cardinal Keith O'Brien of Scotland, under accusation of "inappropriate conduct" with priests, announces that he will not vote in the upcoming papal conclave.

-- Feb. 28: On his last day in office, Pope Benedict flies to the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo in a spectacular helicopter ride televised around the world.

-- March 13: Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina, is elected pope. The first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit to hold the office, he is also the first to take the name Francis.

-- March 26: The Vatican announces that Pope Francis will not move into the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace but remain in the Vatican guesthouse, where he stayed during the conclave.

-- April 13: The Vatican announces that Pope Francis has named an international group of eight cardinals to advise him on governance of the universal church and reform of the Vatican bureaucracy. (The pope formally establishes the body as the Council of Cardinals in September.)

-- May 2: Retired Pope Benedict returns from Castel Gandolfo and moves into a refurbished monastery within the Vatican walls.

See video highlights from the year:
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/12/29/pope_francis_prayer_to_the_holy_family/en1-759667

2013-12-29 14:13:36
Pope Francis' prayer to the Holy Family

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday invited the faithful to join him sprititually in prayer for the upcoming Concistory and for the next Synod of Bishops which will focus on the theme of the Family.

Celebrating the Feast of the Holy Family on this first Sunday after Christmas, the Pope entrusted the work of the bishops to Jesus, Mary and Joseph and recited this prayer:

PRAYER TO THE HOLY FAMILY

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http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-prays-for-upcoming-synod-of-bishops/

Pope prays for upcoming Synod of Bishops

Vatican City, Dec 29, 2013 / 05:26 am (CNA).- In his Angelus address given on the feast of the Holy Family, Pope Francis prayed especially for the approaching Synod of Bishops which will discuss pastoral challenges to the family.

“The next Synod of Bishops will address the theme of the family, and the preparatory phase has already begun some time ago. For this reason, today, (on) the feast of the Holy Family, I wish to entrust this synodal work to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, praying for families around the world,” he said on Dec. 29 in St. Peter’s Square.

 Asking the crowds that packed St. Peter’s Square and the surrounding streets to join with him spiritually, Pope Francis prayed, “Holy Family of Nazareth, may the approaching Synod of Bishops make us once more mindful of the sacredness and inviolability of the family, and its beauty in God’s plan.”

The Pope dedicated his Angelus message to considering Jesus’ own family as an example for families everywhere. “God wanted to be born in a human family, he wanted to have a mother and a father, like us,” he explained.