Pope Francis

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/papal-liturgical-celebrations-for-september

Papal liturgical celebrations for September
2014-09-03 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) A solemen commemoration of the lives lost in World War I, Mass with the elderly, with Albania’s Catholic community and the celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage with couples in St Peter’s basilica are just some of Pope Francis' liturgical appointments this September.

Wednesday morning the Office for Papal Liturgical Celebrations issued the month’s schedule confirming four main liturgies that will be presided by the Holy Father.

On Saturday September 13, Pope Francis travels to the Northern Italian region of Friuli-Venezia- Giulia. There he will visit the monumental World War I military cemetery in Redipuglia and pay homage to the 100 thousand soldiers buried there with a solemn Eucharistic celebration.

The next day, September14, Pope Francis will celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross with Mass in St. Peter’s basilica, during which he will witness the Sacrament of Marriage of 20 couples.

On September 21, during his one day Apostolic Visit to the Church in Albanian the Holy Father will preside at Sunday Mass.
 
All of these liturgies will be streamed live with audio available in English on Vatican Radio’s Vatican Player.

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-shows-solidarity-with-workers-of-tern

Pope Francis shows solidarity with workers of Terni: Do not let "logic of profit" prevail
2014-09-03 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday once again called for a logic of “solidarity and justice” to prevail over a “logic of profit”.  He was voicing his concern for the workers at the ThyssenKrupp steel plant in the central Italian city of Terni. During the summer, the German company announced it was laying off 550 workers at the plant, about 20% of the workforce. The announcement has led to strikes, and the objections of Italy’s Economic Minister.

Recently, the Bishop of Terni-Narni-Amelia, Giuseppe Piemontese, called on ThyssenKrupp to remember the spirit of the “Mitbestimmung” [Co-determination], the German business model in which workers have a say in the running of the company, including seats on the board.

"It is true that in Italy, labor relations are mainly based on other models, but with a great German company, one would expected  that at least the spirit of Mitbestimmung would be encultured and promoted,” Bishop Piemontese wrote on August 30th.  He said the business plan presented by the company failed to meet up to those standards, which express the idea of “participation, sociality, fraternity, family, and teamwork in a market economy.”

At the end of Wednesday’s General Audience, Pope Francis said he wanted to add his voice to the words of the Bishop of Terni-Narni-Amelia.

“I express my profound concern over the grave situation being experience by many of the families in Terni due to the proposals of ThyssenKrupp,” Pope Francis said.

“Once again, I make a heartfelt appeal, that a logic of profit does not prevail, but one of solidarity and justice,” he continued. “At the center of every question, even those dealing with work, we should put the human person and his dignity.”
 

[grace-land]

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-decadent-christians-have-forgotten-christ-96054/

Pope Francis: Decadent Christians have forgotten Christ

Vatican City, Sep 4, 2014 / 09:42 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In his daily homily on Thursday, Pope Francis spoke on the importance of having an encounter with Christ, saying without it one becomes lukewarm and unable to evangelize.

“If a Christian is not able to feel themselves a sinner and saved by the blood of Christ, this crucified one, they are a half-way Christian, a tepid Christian,” Pope Francis told mass attendees Sept. 4.

“When we find decadent churches, when we find decadent parishes, decadent institutions, surely the Christians who are there have never encountered Jesus Christ or have forgotten about this encounter with Jesus Christ.”

Pope Francis took his cue from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians in the first reading when he says that “If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool, so as to become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God.”

Speaking to those gathered in the chapel of the Vatican’s Saint Martha guesthouse, the pontiff referred to how the apostle tells us that “the power of the Word of God, which changes the heart, which changes the world, which gives us hope, which gives us life,” is not found “in human wisdom.”
 

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/peace-dialogue-at-centre-of-audiences-with-peres-a

Peace, dialogue at centre of audiences with Peres and Hassan
2014-09-04 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis held two private audiences on Thursday morning, one with the ex-President of Israel, Shimon Peres, and another with Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan. The Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, briefed journalists on the audiences. “Peres,” explained Fr. Lombardi, “asked for the audience in order to inform the Pope about his activities and his projects for peace,” which include a joint youth sporting initiative involving “twinned” Israeli and Palestinian cities, in which more than eighty children will participate during the course of the year, and a “United Religions” organization modelled on the United Nations.
 
Fr. Lombardi also briefed journalists on a wide array of other topics, including the meeting of the Council for the Economy – taking place all day Thursday in order to examine technical legal issues associated with the reform of the Vatican’s financial and administrative institutions – and the possibility of a meeting between the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, and the head of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X, Bishop Bernard Fellay, which Fr. Lombardi was able to confirm is being planned, though a firm date has not yet been set for it.

[grace-land]

http://ncronline.org/news/global/peres-pope-francis-only-leader-respected-enough-end-todays-wars

Peres: Pope Francis is only leader respected enough to end today's wars
Sep. 4, 2014

Vatican City --   Former Israeli President Shimon Peres asked Pope Francis to head a parallel United Nations called the "United Religions" to counter religious extremism in the world today.
 
"In the past, most wars were motivated by the idea of nationhood. Today, however, wars are incited above all using religion as an excuse," Peres told the Catholic magazine Famiglia Cristiana ahead of the papal meeting Thursday.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-receives-scholas-directors

Pope Francis receives Scholas directors
2014-09-04 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met with the world meeting of the directors of the "Scholas Occurentes" organization – an international project based in Argentina that brings together schools and educational networks from different cultures and beliefs. Scholas was a principal sponsor of the “Match for Peace” played in Rome’s Olympic Stadium earlier this week, featuring some of the world’s greatest living soccer stars.

Speaking without a prepared text, the Holy Father congratulated the Scholas directors on the success of the initiative, and encouraged them to continue in their efforts to build interreligious and intercultural bridges of understanding and brotherhood.
 

[grace-land]

Video at the link

http://www.bustle.com/articles/38568-watch-pope-francis-host-a-google-hangout-because-hes-truly-the-internet-pope

Watch Pope Francis Host A Google Hangout, Because He's Truly The Internet Pope
6 hours ago

The papacy has officially entered the 21st century. Pope Francis chatted on Google Hangout with schoolchildren Thursday morning in honor of his new global education initiative, Scholas. The pontiff, who’s shared his love for social media and technology in the past, talked with groups of students from five different schools from around the globe: Israel, Australia, South Africa, El Salvador and Turkey.

During the 20-minute-long Google+ conversation, Francis spoke mainly in his native language, Spanish. The children came prepared with some questions about discrimination, world peace and the Catholic faith — you know, all the easy questions. Of course, the ever-affable pontiff handled it well, emphasizing respect and communication between communities and faiths, and taking a strong stance against inequality and intolerance.

There was one answer, however, that Francis didn’t exactly have. When the students from Istanbul, Turkey, asked the pontiff if the world will be “better or worse” in the future, Francis said: “I don’t have a crystal ball that the brujas [witches] would look at.”

Despite not having a crystal ball (they unfortunately don’t give those out to popes), Francis told the children we can all make the world a better place with love and faith.

You can watch the full video of the Google Hangout chat below (Francis’ answers are in Spanish).
 

[grace-land]

http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/text-of-francis-q-and-a-with-youth-of-the-scholas-project

Text of Francis' Q-and-A With Youth of the Scholas Project
Vatican City,  September 05, 2014 

Here is a translation of Pope Francis' dialogue via video conference on Thursday with youths from across the globe regarding the Scholas initiative.
 

[grace-land]

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/09/05/pope_francis_at_mass_good_news_brings_joy,_renewal/1105961

Pope Francis at Mass: Good News brings joy, renewal

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis celebrated Mass in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence in the Vatican on Friday morning. In remarks to the gathered faithful following the readings of the day, the Holy Father reflected on the “newness” of the Gospel – as Good News, and as a bringer of New Things – that frees the person who believes it from slavery to automatic legalism, and opens the heart to the new commandment: love.

The Gospel reading for Friday told the story of the Scribes, who badgered Jesus about the behavior of His disciples, by pointing out that they did not – as the disciples of John the Baptist regularly did – fast and offer prayers. The Lord would not let Himself be provoked, however:

“New wine, new wineskins: the ‘novelty’ of the Gospel – and what does the Gospel bring us? Joy and renewal [It. novità]. These Doctors of the Law were hidebound by their commandments, their rules. St. Paul, speaking of them, tells us that, before faith came – that is, Jesus – we were all kept in custody, as prisoners under the Law. This Law, of this people, was not bad: they were cared for, but they were prisoners, awaiting the advent of faith – that faith, which would be revealed in Christ, itself.”
 

[grace-land]

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/09/05/pope_francis_meets_with_president_of_panama/1105989

Pope Francis meets with President of Panama
05/09/2014



(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Friday met the President of the Republic of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez, who subsequently met with the Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States.

During the discussions, which the Holy See Press Office said took place in a cordial atmosphere, the Parties focused on the collaboration between the Church and the State in facing a number of social problems, especially those pertaining to the young, the poor and the most vulnerable.
 

[grace-land]

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/09/05/council_of_the_economy_meets_in_vatican_/1105997

Council of the Economy meets in Vatican, examines new financial institutions
05/09/2014

(Vatican Radio) The Holy See’s Council of the Economy met on Thursday, 4 September, in the Sala Bologna of the Apostolic Palace, holding morning and evening sessions. The meetings were held under the presidency of Cardinal Reinhardt Marx and with the participation of Cardinals Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, and George Pell, Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy.
 
The meeting focused mainly on the examination of the Statutes of the Secretariat for the Economy and the Auditor General, as well as the notice of the transfer of the Ordinary Section of the APSA to the aforementioned Secretariat (cf. Motu proprio 8.7.2014) and the instructions for Vatican bodies regarding budget preparation and accounting.

The next meetings of the Council for the Economy will take place on 2 December 2014 and on 6 February 2015. It is expected that these meetings will conclude the work of defining the Statutes of the main administrative organs (Council, Secretariat, Auditor General).

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-urges-dialogue-of-life-to-counter-anti-christ

Pope urges dialogue of life to counter anti-Christian violence in Africa
2014-09-06 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)  There is an urgent need to promote a dialogue of life with Muslims to discourage violence against Christians on the African continent, said Pope Francis Saturday in his address to the Bishops of Cameroon at the conclusion of their Ad Limina pilgrimage to the Holy See.

Cameroon lies in west central Africa and is home to an estimated  4.25 million Catholics, or  26% of the population, spread throughout 24 Dioceses. It shares a border with Nigeria to the West and Chad and the Central African Republic to the east – a region that is experiencing increasing insecurity because of the Boko Haram Islamist threat.

Just this week, Cameroon's army said that militants crossed into Cameroonian territory but pushed back after a three-hour battle. The incursion followed Boko Haram’s capture of the border town Banki which prompted the flight of tens of thousands of residents.

Pope Francis met with the bishops in the Clementine Hall where he delivered a prepared text, in which he touched on the theme of inter-religious dialogue.  He noted the significant presence of Muslims in some dioceses and said there is an urgent need to develop a dialogue of life with Muslims in a spirit of mutual trust  to maintain a climate of peaceful coexistence, and discourage the development of violence of which Christians are the victims in some parts of the continent.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-joins-cubans-celebrating-our-lady-of

Pope Francis joins Cubans celebrating Our Lady of Charity
2014-09-06 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) On the Feast day of Our Lady of Charity of Cobre Pope Francis has sent a message of participation and encouragement to all Cubans who love her and entrust their prayers to “her immaculate heart.”

In a letter addressed to the Metropolitan Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, Dionisio Guillermo Garcia Ibanez who is also the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Cuba, the Pope recalled with joy that a replica of Our Lady of Charity of Cobre has recently been placed in the Vatican Gardens. He described her presence as a reminder of the love and the vitality of the pilgrim Church in the Caribbean.
 

[Sister]

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/09/05/pope_francis_at_mass_good_news_brings_joy,_renewal/1105961

Pope Francis at Mass: Good News brings joy, renewal

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis celebrated Mass in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence in the Vatican on Friday morning. In remarks to the gathered faithful following the readings of the day, the Holy Father reflected on the “newness” of the Gospel – as Good News, and as a bringer of New Things – that frees the person who believes it from slavery to automatic legalism, and opens the heart to the new commandment: love.

The Gospel reading for Friday told the story of the Scribes, who badgered Jesus about the behavior of His disciples, by pointing out that they did not – as the disciples of John the Baptist regularly did – fast and offer prayers. The Lord would not let Himself be provoked, however:

“New wine, new wineskins: the ‘novelty’ of the Gospel – and what does the Gospel bring us? Joy and renewal [It. novità]. These Doctors of the Law were hidebound by their commandments, their rules. St. Paul, speaking of them, tells us that, before faith came – that is, Jesus – we were all kept in custody, as prisoners under the Law. This Law, of this people, was not bad: they were cared for, but they were prisoners, awaiting the advent of faith – that faith, which would be revealed in Christ, itself.”
 

I have enjoyed reading all the new technology His Holiness is using.  Meeting folks where they stand.  And yes to the, "new wine, new wineskins."

thanks for posting all of this grace-land.  I do appreciate it.

 

[grace-land]

You're welcome, Sister.   

There are many articles, almost daily, that relate to Pope Francis or the work that others are doing on his behalf.  So, if you come across an article that you like or find interesting, feel free to post it...really.

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-appeals-for-peace-in-ukraine-and-in-l

Pope Francis appeals for peace in Ukraine and in Lesotho
2014-09-07 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis has expressed the hope that Ukraine’s current ceasefire can promote efforts to achieve a lasting peace in the east of the country. He also condemned recent violence in the African nation of Lesotho and appealed for a return of peace.   His twin appeals came after his Angelus address on Sunday in the Vatican before crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square. Afterwards he praised Italian Red Cross volunteers leaving for  Iraqi Kurdistan for their generous support on behalf of all those persecuted in Iraq. Earlier during his Angelus address, the Holy Father reflected on the theme of fraternal reprimands, taken from the Sunday Gospel reading of St. Matthew. 

Please find below a Vatican Radio translation into English of the Pope’s appeals about Ukraine and Lesotho:

“In recent days, significant steps have been taken in the search for a ceasefire in the regions affected by conflict in eastern Ukraine.   Despite having heard worrying news today  I nevertheless hope that they can provide relief to the population and contribute to the efforts for a lasting peace.  Let us pray that in the logic of the meeting, the dialogue which has begun can continue and bring the hoped-for fruits.
 
In his earlier Angelus address, the Pope reflected on the theme of fraternal reprimands taken from the Sunday Gospel reading of St. Matthew.   “Jesus teaches us,”  he said, that if my brother in Christ commits a sin against me , offends me, I must use charity towards him when pointing out his mistake.  He also suggests that we should use a gradual approach in helping our brother to see the error of  his ways, first speaking to him alone and then if he still doesn’t listen to me, come back with two or three people and finally, if that still doesn’t work, then speaking to the community at large. 

The Pope said the various steps of this process “show the efforts that our Lord requests from the faithful to be close to whoever makes a mistake,”  in order that “he is not lost” to the community.   Above all, he stressed,  “it’s necessary to avoid the sensationalism of the media and the gossiping of the community.”   “Our attitude is one of discretion, caution, humility and of concern for the person who has sinned, and to avoid using words that can hurt or kill our brother,” as even words can kill a person.     
 

[grace-land]

Oh, dear...and many were looking forward to his beatification next year by Pope Francis. 

Catholic Diocese Fight Over Late Archbishop Fulton Sheen's Body As Beatification Approaches
Posted:  09/06/2014 8:23 am EDT    Updated:  09/06/2014 8:59 am EDT

NEW YORK (RNS) In life, Archbishop Fulton Sheen was exceptional, a riveting Catholic preacher on radio who outpolled star comedian Milton Berle in the early days of television, winning two Emmys and a following that was the envy of Bible-thumping Protestants.

After his death in 1979, it was no surprise that Sheen would be pushed for sainthood. But now two bishops have clashed in an unusual public dispute over who holds claim to Sheen’s body: the Archdiocese of New York, where he is buried, or the Diocese of Peoria, where he was raised and ordained.

The fight between Illinois Bishop Daniel Jenky and Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York erupted into public view on Wednesday (Sept. 3), when Jenky issued a statement blasting the New York archdiocese for thwarting Sheen’s expected beatification next year by reneging on an agreement to return the late archbishop’s body to Peoria.
 

[Sister]

Oh, dear...and many were looking forward to his beatification next year by Pope Francis. 

Catholic Diocese Fight Over Late Archbishop Fulton Sheen's Body As Beatification Approaches
Posted:  09/06/2014 8:23 am EDT    Updated:  09/06/2014 8:59 am EDT

NEW YORK (RNS) In life, Archbishop Fulton Sheen was exceptional, a riveting Catholic preacher on radio who outpolled star comedian Milton Berle in the early days of television, winning two Emmys and a following that was the envy of Bible-thumping Protestants.

After his death in 1979, it was no surprise that Sheen would be pushed for sainthood. But now two bishops have clashed in an unusual public dispute over who holds claim to Sheen’s body: the Archdiocese of New York, where he is buried, or the Diocese of Peoria, where he was raised and ordained.

The fight between Illinois Bishop Daniel Jenky and Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York erupted into public view on Wednesday (Sept. 3), when Jenky issued a statement blasting the New York archdiocese for thwarting Sheen’s expected beatification next year by reneging on an agreement to return the late archbishop’s body to Peoria.
 

good grief!

[grace-land]

Ooops...sorry.  Here is the link to the article above.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/06/archbishop-fulton-sheen-body_n_5774198.html
Catholic Diocese Fight Over Late Archbishop Fulton Sheen's Body As Beatification Approaches
Posted:  09/06/2014 8:23 am EDT    Updated:  09/06/2014 8:59 am EDT

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-at-santa-marta-god-walks-with-saints-and-sinn

Pope at Santa Marta: God walks with saints and sinners
2014-09-08 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) On the day the Church celebrates the Nativity of Our Lady, Pope Francis dedicated his homily to Creation and God’s journey with us through history. He said when we read the Book of Genesis,  "there is the danger of thinking that God was a magician" who did things "with a magic wand." But, he warned, "it was not so because, God made things and allowed them to proceed with internal, interior laws that He gave to each one, so that they could develop and arrive at fullness”.  “The Lord gave autonomy but not independence to the things of the universe”.

"For God is not a magician, He is the Creator! But when on the sixth day, of that story, He comes to create man, He gives him another autonomy, somewhat different, but not independent: an autonomy that is freedom. He tells the man to go forward in history, He makes man responsible for the creation, so that he would dominate creation, bring it forward and arrive at the fullness of time. And what was the fullness of time? What He had in his heart: the arrival of His Son. Because God – as we heard from Paul - has predestined us, all of us, to be conformed to the image of the Son".