Pope Francis

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http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/1456/0/pope-asks-ecumenical-patriarch-to-bless-me-and-the-church-of-rome-during-joint-prayer-service-in-orthodox-cathedral

Pope asks Ecumenical Patriarch to ‘bless me and the Church of Rome’ during joint prayer service in orthodox cathedral
29 November 2014 19:03



Pope Francis bowed to receive a kiss and the blessing of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew during a joint service of thanksgiving this evening in Istanbul.

"I ask a favour: bless me and the Church of Rome," Francis said, before turning to Patriarch Bartholomew and bowing.

The request was spontaneous, Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi said afterwards, but not unprecedented.

During the service the Patriarch prayed that the Churches be restored to “full union”.

After welcoming Pope Francis, whom he had accompanied to a Mass at Istanbul’s Catholic cathedral earlier in the afternoon, to the Patriarchal Cathedral of St George at Phanar, Bartholomew thanked him for his “fraternal” visit.

“May these Holy Fathers, on whose teaching our common faith of the first millennium was founded, intercede for us to the Lord so that we may rediscover the full union of our Churches, thereby fulfilling his divine will in crucial times for humanity and the world,” he said.
 

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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-s-last-day-in-turkey-starts-with-visiting-chief-rabbi

Pope's Last Day in Turkey Starts With Visiting Chief Rabbi
Istanbul,  November 30, 2014

The Pope has taken another step in advancing interreligious relations during his apostolic trip to Turkey.

In the final day of Pope Francis’ three-day visit to the nation of Turkey, which is majority Muslim, the Holy Father met with the Chief Rabbi of Turkey, Isak Haleva.

This was Francis' second stop of the morning, which began with a private Mass in the chapel of the Apostolic Delegation in Istanbul.

After the meeting with the chief rabbi, the Holy Father traveled by car to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in the Church of St. George in Phanar, on the liturgical feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-gift-to-bartholomew-a-mosaic-image-of

Pope Francis' gift to Bartholomew: a mosaic image of Christ
2014-11-30 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis’s gift to the Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew I, during their meeting in Istanbul, was a mosaic reproduction of the image of Christ depicted in the confession of St. Peter inside the Vatican basilica.

Please find below a description of the Pope’s gift:

The mosaic is taken from the image of Christ depicted in the Confession of St. Peter,  that is of his tomb, where the Sacred Pallia are kept, under the papal altar of St. Peter’s Basilica.

The mosaic is originally attributed to the Ninth Century and some parts of it are retraceable to this period, for example the face, while other parts prove to have been successively altered. This image is certainly a representative element of the Constantinian Basilica, which has since remained in its original place. It is the Christ, blessing and Teacher, while holding out the Book of the Gospel open at the words: “EGO SUM VIA VERITAS ET VITA QUI CREDIT IN ME VIVET”.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/francis-participates-in-the-divine-liturgy-on-the

Pope Francis participates in the Divine Liturgy on the Solemnity of St. Andrew, patron of the Church of Constantinople



 
Following the celebration and after listening to the Patriarch's words, the Pope addressed those present, recalling how as Archbishop of Buenos Aires he had frequently participated in the Divine Liturgy of the city's Orthodox communities, but “today, the Lord has given me the singular grace to be present in this Patriarchal Church of Saint George for the celebration of the Feast of the holy Apostle Andrew, the first-called, the brother of Saint Peter, and the Patron Saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate”.

He continued, “Meeting each other, seeing each other face to face, exchanging the embrace of peace, and praying for each other, are all essential aspects of our journey towards the restoration of full communion. All of this precedes and always accompanies that other essential aspect of this journey, namely, theological dialogue. An authentic dialogue is, in every case, an encounter between persons with a name, a face, a past, and not merely a meeting of ideas.
 

http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/ecumenical-patriarch-s-address-at-the-divine-liturgy-in-the-church-of-st-george
Ecumenical Patriarch's Address at the Divine Liturgy in the Church of St. George
Istanbul,  November 30, 2014

Here below is the Vatican-provided translation of the address Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew gave to Pope Francis at the end of today's Divine Liturgy:
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/patriarch-bartholomew-christian-martyrdom-makes-un

Patriarch Bartholomew: Christian martyrdom makes unity urgent
2014-11-30 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio)  Calling Pope Francis his “beloved brother in Christ,” the head of the Orthodox Church, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I on Sunday recalled their gathering last May at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem on the fiftieth anniversary of the historic ecumenical meeting of their predecessors, Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras.

Welcoming the Pope after a celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Church of St. George in Istanbul, Patriarch Bartholomew said “the path toward unity is more urgent than ever for those who invoke the name of the great Peacemaker.”

Citing the “diverse divisions, conflicts and animosities, frequently even in the name of God,” the Patriarch said Christians have a “great” responsibility “before God, humankind and history.” 

He noted that the Orthodox Church is preparing for its Great Council planned for 2016  and asked Pope Francis to pray for its success.  The Patriarch expressed satisfaction that members of both Churches are present as observers in each other’s synodal life and said he hoped that once full communion is restored, “the significant and special day” of holding a joint Great Ecumenical Council will “not be prolonged.”

In concluding, the Patriarch said “the challenges presented to our Churches by today’s historical circumstances oblige us to transcend our introversion in order to meet them with the greatest degree of collaboration.  We no longer have the luxury of isolated action.  The modern persecutors of Christians do not ask which Church their victims belong to.  The unity that concerns us is regrettably already occurring in certain regions of the world through the blood of martyrdom.”

Below, please find the complete text of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I’s address to Pope Francis:
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-patriarch-bartholomew-sign-joint-decl

Pope Francis & Patriarch Bartholomew sign joint declaration
2014-11-30 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, spiritual leader of the Orthodox world, on Sunday signed a Joint Declaration reaffirming their desire to overcome the obstacles dividing their two Churches. The two leaders also deplored the terrible situation facing Christians and all who are suffering in the Middle East and called for an appropriate response from the international community.

Please find below the full text of the Joint Declaration:

JOINT  DECLARATION

We, Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, express our profound gratitude to God for the gift of this new encounter enabling us, in the presence of the members of the Holy Synod, the clergy and the faithful of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, to celebrate together the feast of Saint Andrew, the first–called and brother of the Apostle Peter. Our remembrance of the Apostles, who proclaimed the good news of the Gospel to the world through their preaching and their witness of martyrdom, strengthens in us the aspiration to continue to walk together in order to overcome, in love and in truth, the obstacles that divide us.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-meets-young-refugees-from-mideast-and-africa

Pope meets young refugees from Mideast and Africa
2014-11-30 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis’s final engagement in Turkey was a meeting with a group of around 50 young people that included many refugees from Syria, Iraq and other countries of the Middle East and Africa.  The youths are being cared for by the local Salesian community in Istanbul. In his address, the pope assured the young people that he shares their sufferings and deplored the degrading conditions in which so many refugees are forced to live, calling it “intolerable.”

Please find below an English translation of his remarks:

Dear Young People,
 

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At the link:  YouTube videos of the trip to Turkey by Pope Francis (A selection of videos is listed on the right side of the page.)
November 28-30, 2014

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fyp4NEYUZMg

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http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2014/11/30/pope-urges-global-condemnation-of-terrorism-by-muslim-leaders/

Pope urges Muslim leaders to condemn terrorism and say, 'This is not Islam'
November 30, 2014
 
ROME — Pope Francis Sunday called on Muslim leaders to be more forceful about condemning violence committed in the name of their faith, asking them to declare that “this is not Islam.”

The pontiff said he raised the point in a private meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan two days ago.

“I told the president it would be beautiful if all Islamic leaders, [including] politicians, religious leaders, and academics, clearly spoke out” in this sense, he said.

Francis made the comments during a 45-minute press conference on his return flight to Rome after a three-day stop in Turkey.

Among other things, Francis met Erdogan and other Turkish leaders during the trip, as well as sharing two liturgies with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and issuing a joint declaration with the Orthodox leader.

Shortly before leaving on Sunday, the pope also met a group of about 100 young refugees in Turkey, mostly Iraqi and Syrian, to say he “shares their sufferings.”

In other topics raised in the news conference, Pope Francis:

Argued that the “substance” of a controversial interim report from a recent Synod of Bishops, calling for a greater opening to gays, remained intact in the meeting’s final document despite some “amendments”. Many critics saw the final report as a significant retreat from the earlier position.

Confirmed that he did pray in Istanbul’s Blue Mosque on Saturday, despite Vatican attempts to describe his gesture with a Muslim cleric as a “moment of silent adoration.” The pope said he prayed for Turkey, for peace, for the mufti, and for himself, adding, “I need it.”

Said he would go to Moscow immediately if the Russian Orthodox leader invited him, and stressed his willingness to find a form of exercising papal power more acceptable to the Orthodox.

Acknowledged that some conservatives on both the Catholic and Orthodox sides have doubts about gestures of ecumenical openness, saying “we have to be respectful” of conservatives and “never tire of talking to them, without insulting them” and “don’t expel them.”

Said he wanted to visit a refugee camp during his three-day trip to Turkey, and still would like to go to Iraq, but both have been ruled out in part for security reasons.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/12/01/pope_to_swiss_bishops_be_the_body_of_christ,_not_ngo/1113129

Pope to Swiss Bishops: Be the Body of Christ, not just another NGO
01/12/2014 11:31

(Vatican Radio) Straight off the plane from Turkey, Pope Francis resumed his daily activities at the Vatican Monday morning which included a meeting with Swiss bishops who are on their 5 yearly Ad limina visit.

The Pope handed them a pre-prepared text and then greeted them one by one.  In the text the Pope praises Switzerland’s history of being at the forefront of  working for peace, through its witness to cultural and religious coexistence.

He writes “although many citizens are distant from the Church, the majority recognize the positive role played by Catholics and Protestants in the social field”.

Here Pope Francis urges the bishops to look back on their nations long Christian tradition – and next year’s celebration of 1500 years of continuous religious life in the iconic Abbey of Saint-Maurice – to keep the faith alive in Switzerland. “Without a living faith in the risen Christ the beautiful churches and monasteries gradually become museums, the commendable works and institutions lose their soul, leaving only empty spaces and lost people”.
 

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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-francis-writes-consecrated-persons-as-brother-also-consecrated-to-god

Pope Francis Writes Consecrated Persons as Brother Also Consecrated to God
Washington, D.C.,  December 01, 2014

The Pope begins his beautiful message for the Year of Consecrated Life with his characteristic simplicity and humility, in stating that he sends his message not only by virtue of his office as Successor of Peter, but also “as a brother who, like yourselves, is consecrated to God.”  It is a simple and short opening line, yet already contains the kernel of what he will expand at greater length as he first explains the aims and then the expectations for the year, and most especially where he lastly elucidates the horizons to which this year ought to reach: a strong emphasis on unity and communion amongst all those who are in Consecrated Life, amongst the entire Church in appreciation and support of it, between those Consecrated within the Catholic Church and those in the Orthodox and Reformed Churches, and even with those living a life fully given to God in the other great religions.

The aims of the Year of Consecrated Life are for those living such a life to look to their past with gratitude and re-discover their founding charism, so as to engage the present with passion, and surrender the future of their labors and their religious institutes to Christ who is our hope.  The Holy Father then elaborates his expectations from this Year of Consecrated Life, following upon its given aims: 1) that Consecrated Persons “know and show” their life to be one that is truly happy and fulfilled; 2) that they be prophets, pointing to the reality of God, who is Life and Love Incarnate, by their lives and concrete works, offering a true alternative to the mirage of the various utopias that are presented by the world; 3) that the different religious communities will come together, mutually enriching one another and serving as a source of mutual help and apostolic synergy; 4) that Consecrated persons “ come out of yourselves and go forth to the existential peripheries”; and 5) that they consider seriously what God is asking of them, and what the world in its current state is asking of them. 
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-mass-a-humble-heart-knows-god-theology-is-don

Pope Mass: a humble heart knows God, theology is done on one’s knees
2014-12-02 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Those who study the mystery of God are brought to their knees because God reveals more to a humble heart. Those were the Pope’s words during his Homily at Mass Tuesday morning at the Casa Santa Martha.

The eyes of the poor, said Pope Francis, are most likely to see Christ and, through him, to see the face of God. Others who claim to fathom this mystery with the resources of intelligence must first get down on their "knees", in an act of humility , otherwise "they will not understand anything."

During his Homily the Pope focused on the Gospel of St Luke from the morning’s liturgy, reflecting on Christ’s relationship to the Father, both praising and thanking him.

"He makes us know the Father, introduces us to this inner life that He has. And tp whom does the Father reveal this? To whom does he give this grace? 'I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little ones'. Only those whose hearts are like the young are capable of receiving this revelation, the humble of heart, the meek, who feel the need to pray, to open up to God, who feel poor; only he who goes forward with the first Beatitude: the poor in spirit. "
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/religious-leaders-gathered-in-the-vatican-for-the

Religious leaders gathered in the Vatican for the eradication of modern slavery - Pope Francis' address



Vatican City, 2 December 2014 (VIS) – For the first time in history, the leaders of the world's major religions gathered together in the Vatican this morning with the aim of eliminating modern slavery. Today, International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, a ceremony was held in the seat of the Pontifical Academy for Sciences in the Vatican's Casina Pio IV for the signing of the Declaration of Religious Leaders against Slavery. This solemn act follows the agreement signed of 17 March in the Vatican, established by the Global Freedom Network to eradicate, by 2020, modern forms of slavery and human trafficking. The Declaration was signed by Pope Francis, along with eminent Orthodox, Anglican, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu representatives.

The following is the full text of Pope Francis' address, which he began by thanking all religious leaders for their commitment to assisting survivors of human trafficking, and all those present for their active participation in this act of fraternity, “especially for our brothers and sisters who suffer most”.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/declaration-of-religious-leaders-for-the-eradicati

Declaration of religious leaders for the eradication of slavery



Vatican City, 2 December 2014 (VIS) – The following is the full text of the Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders against Modern Slavery

“We, the undersigned, are gathered here today for a historic initiative to inspire spiritual and practical action by all global faiths and people of good will everywhere to eradicate modern slavery across the world by 2020 and for all time.
 
*The Grand Imam of Al Azhar uses the word “religions”.

- Catholicism: Pope Francis;

- Hinduism: Her Holiness Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma);

- Buddhism: Venerable Bhikkhuni Thich Nu Chan Khong, representing Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, Thailand; Venerable Datuk K. Sri Dhammaratana, Chief High Priest of Malaysia;

- Judaism: Rabbi Abraham Skorka and Rabbi David Rosen KSG, CBE;

- Orthodox: His Eminence Emmanuel, Metropolitan of France, representing the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomaios I;

- Islam: Abbas Abdalla Abbas Soliman, undersecretary of State of Al Azhar Alsharif, representing Mohamed Ahmed El-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar; the Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi al-Modarresi; Sheikh Naziyah Razzaq Jaafar, special advisor, representing Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Basheer Hussain al Najafi; Sheikh Omar Abboud;

- Anglicanism: His Grace Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, archbishop of Canterbury.

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http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/holy-freedom-as-one-united-family-the-world-meeting-of-families-hymn-90254/

'Holy freedom' as one united family: the World Meeting of Families hymn

Philadelphia, Pa., Dec 2, 2014 / 12:07 am (CNA/EWTN News).- One week after Pope Francis announced he will attend the 2015 World Meeting of Families, the event’s organizers have released an official hymn that speaks of family unity, “holy freedom,” and the Holy Family’s example for mankind.

“This event has the power to transform the lives of families – both Catholic and non-Catholic alike – in positive and charismatic ways. I’m confident that this hymn will affirm that spirit,” Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia said Dec. 1.
 
The Philadelphia World Meeting of Families will take place Sept. 22-27, 2015. A global Catholic event, the world meeting seeks to support and strengthen families. St. John Paul II founded the event in 1994, and it takes place every three years.

The World Meeting of Families website is worldmeeting2015.org.
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Link to the website:  http://www.worldmeeting2015.org/

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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-francis-press-conference-on-flight-from-turkey-part-i

Pope Francis Press Conference on Flight from Turkey (Part I)
Rome,  December 02, 2014

Here is Part I of the transcript of the Holy Father's press conference with journalists aboard his flight from Apostolic Visit to Turkey.

(Father Lombardi)

So, Holiness, thank you so much for being with us; thank you so much for the very kind and friendly greeting you have expressed to all, to each one of us. Now we pass to the second part, the cultural, the one with the questions. We have some persons who have put themselves on the list, and in the first place we have the two Turkish colleagues, who are, of course , interested because the questions we expect will be about the trip. It is a trip in which you have done so many things, so we can reflect further on many aspects. At this point I invite Yasemin to come to ask the first question. Yasemin is from Turkish television; she has already made a trip here with Pope Benedict, so she is an expert on Papal trips to Turkey.

(Yasemin Taskin)

Good evening, Your Holiness. My question is, of course, about the trip. President Erdogan spoke of “Islamophobia”; you, naturally, reflected more on the present Christianophobia in the Middle East, what is happening to Christians, to the minorities. Considering, also, the call for interreligious dialogue, what more can be done? That is, is interreligious dialogue enough? Can we go further? And, in your opinion, what should world leaders do? I ask you this because you are not only the spiritual head of Catholics, but you are now a global moral leader and, therefore, I would like to know concretely in this connection what can be done, if we can go beyond …

(Pope Francis)
 

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http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/thousands-of-tango-dancers-to-perform-for-popes-birthday-38085/

Thousands of Tango dancers to perform for Pope's birthday

Rome, Italy, Dec 2, 2014 / 02:43 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis enjoys the customs of his native Argentina. He drinks mate – an Argentinean tea – he follows soccer, and likes to listen to Tango music.

Consequently, some 7,000 Tango dances have decided to perform a flash mob for the pontiff to celebrate his 78th birthday this month.

Touted on social networks as “the largest milonga in the world,” nearly 9,000 dancers were invited to take part. The event is planned for Pope Francis’ birthday, Dec. 17, at 4 p.m. at Rome's Risorgimento Square, just steps away from St. Peter's.

Cristina Camaroni, who is organizing the flash mob, posted on Facebook that she is very happy with the event.

“We have gotten all of the permits and we will dance a milonga with the official permission of the city of Rome and the Vatican gendarmerie!” she said.

The flash mob dance is expected to last two hours, and the city will block traffic as the Tango dancers give their performance.

About 3,000 of the dancers are expected to take part that same morning in the Pope's Wednesday General Audience in St. Peter's Square. They will each be wearing a white handkerchief around their necks.
 

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http://marksilk.religionnews.com/2014/12/02/pope-seeks-to-heal-catholic-orthodox-schism/

Pope seeks to heal Catholic-Orthodox schism
Mark Silk | Dec 2, 2014

Pope Francis made news on his trip to Istanbul last weekend by visiting the headquarters of the Patriarch of Constantinople and pledging that in its efforts to achieve full unity with Eastern Orthodoxy the Catholic Church “does not intend to make any demands, other than the profession of a common faith.” Thereby, wrote Vatican Insider’s Gianni Valente, “Francis gave Orthodox Churches the perfect chance to come out of the cocoon-like and sometimes gelatinous environment of ecumenical good manners and take the first concrete steps to overcome the most serious effects of the split that came about in the second millennium.”

Don’t hold your breath. For the Orthodox, profession of a common faith means resolving four issues — in ascending order of gnarliness:

1. Communion. Catholics use unleavened bread; the Orthodox, leavened. Both sides must be prepared to swallow Communion in both kinds.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-at-audience-fruits-of-pilgrimage-to-turkey

Pope at Audience: Fruits of pilgrimage to Turkey
2014-12-03 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis had words of praise and thanks for Turkey and the Salesian fathers of Istanbul, for all the good and “hidden” work they do for countless refugees from the Iraqi and Syrian wars.

Retracing the steps of his recent pilgrimage to Turkey during his general audience Wednesday, the Pope also highlighted the constant need for prayer on the journey towards full communion with the Orthodox Church and reiterated the importance of Christians and Muslims working together in solidarity for peace.

Rain pounded umbrellas in St. Peter’s Square Wednesday, forcing the audience to be split in two – as the Pope himself noted greeting the ‘brave’ pilgrims before him.  Before heading out among the thousands in the Square the Pope had first greeted the sick and disabled who were gathered in the Paul VI audience hall, urging them to pray to Jesus this Advent season for the strength to carry on and blessing them before he left.

After touring through the square – despite the driving rain – the Pope also invited pilgrims to greet  the sick and disabled who were following the catechesis through giant screens with applause. Then he began to speak of his three day trip to Turkey over the weekend, highlighting the ecumenical and interfaith elements of his visit.

Below please find a Vatican Radio transcript and translation of the Holy Father’s catechesis:
 

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Cardinal Pell is a member of the Council of Cardinals

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2014/12/03/weve-discovered-hundreds-of-millions-of-euros-off-the-vaticans-balance-sheet-says-cardinal/

We’ve discovered hundreds of millions of euros off the Vatican’s balance sheet, says cardinal
posted Wednesday, 3 Dec 2014

Cardinal George Pell offers candid account of financial reforms in an exclusive article in the first issue of the new Catholic Herald magazine

Vatican reformers have discovered hundreds of millions of euros that did not appear on the Holy See’s balance sheet, the cardinal charged with sorting out the Curia’s financial affairs has said.

Writing exclusively in the first issue of the new Catholic Herald magazine, Cardinal George Pell says that the discovery means that the Vatican’s finances are healthier than they first appeared.