Pope Francis

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Happy 78th Birthday, Pope Francis!   

http://www.news.va/en/news/happy-birthday-pope-francis

Happy Birthday, Pope Francis!
2014-12-17 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) There was a festive atmosphere at the weekly General Audience on Wednesday, as Pope Francis celebrated his 78th birthday.

As he made his way through the crowds, Pope Francis stopped by a group of seminarians from the Legion of Christ, who offered him a birthday cake, complete with lighted candles. The Holy Father also took the opportunity to take a sip of maté, a traditional Argentinian drink, offered my pilgrims at the Audience. On the Via della Conciliazione, which leads up to St Peter's Square, tango enthusiasts danced in the street to celebrate the Pope's birthday.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/general-audience-jesus-chose-to-come-to-the-world

General Audience: Jesus chose to come to the world as part of a family



Vatican City, 17 December 2014 (VIS) – The family is the “great gift that the Lord has given to the world ever since the beginning, when he entrusted to Adam and Eve the mission of multiplying and filling the earth; the gift that Jesus confirmed and sealed in His Gospel”, said the Holy Father during this Wednesday's general audience, in the first of the new cycle of catechesis dedicated to the family, which will continue throughout the coming year.

The proximity to Christmas illuminates the mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God, which opens a new chapter in the universal history of man and woman. “And this new beginning occurs within a family, in Nazareth. He could have come spectacularly, or as a warrior, an emperor… No – he came as the son of a family, in a family”, he emphasised.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-asks-for-prayers-for-the-victims-of-t

Pope Francis asks for prayers for the victims of terrorist attacks



Vatican City, 17 December 2014 (VIS) – The Pope, at the end of today's general audience, asked for prayers for the victims of the inhuman terrorist acts that have occurred in recent days in Yemen, Australia and Pakistan. 

At the end of the audience, 2,500 people danced the milonga to the sound of the bandoneon in St. Peter's Square to celebrate Pope Francis' 78th birthday. The initiative, “A tango for Francis”, emerged on the social networks and, as was shown today, thousands of people joined in.

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Let's dance the tango for Pope Francis on his birthday! 

Video at the link
https://cnsblog.wordpress.com/2014/12/17/it-takes-more-than-two-to-tango-for-pope-francis-birthday/



It takes more than two to tango for Pope Francis’ birthday
Posted on December 17, 2014

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis always asks for prayers, especially for his birthday, but this year he also got some tango.

Thousands of tango dancers, mostly from Italy, flocked to St. Peter’s Square to wave their white scarves “A Tango for Pope Francis” and cheer along with tens of thousands of other people at the Wednesday general audience.

Before the general audience, children gave him flowers, presents and handmade cards:
 

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At the link--another video of the festivities in St. Peter's Square with Pope Francis and the tango dancers and a video with excerpts from a speech by President Raúl Castro of Cuba

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/18/world/americas/breakthrough-on-cuba-highlights-popes-role-as-diplomatic-broker.html?_r=0

Pope Francis Is Credited With a Crucial Role in U.S.-Cuba Agreement
DEC. 17, 2014

ROME — Pope Francis had quite a 78th birthday. The pontiff began Wednesday with prayers and a birthday celebration with tango dancers near St. Peter’s Square. His day ended with a historic diplomatic breakthrough between Cuba and the United States — and the disclosure that the Argentine pope played a key role as broker.

Francis is being credited for helping bridge the divide by first sending letters to President Obama and President Raúl Castro of Cuba, and then having the Vatican host a diplomatic meeting between the two sides in October.

“The Holy Father wishes to express his warm congratulations for the historic decision,” Francis said in a statement issued Wednesday night by the Vatican.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-welcomes-us-and-cuban-moves-to-normalise-rela

Pope welcomes U.S. and Cuban moves to normalise relations
2014-12-17 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis on Wednesday offered his congratulations to the governments of the United States and Cuba, as they announced the two countries will start talks on resuming diplomatic relations. A statement from the Vatican Secretariat of State said that in recent months the Pope had written to both Cuban President Raul Castro and U.S. President Barack Obama, inviting them to “resolve humanitarian questions of common interest”. The Holy See also met with delegations from both countries in the Vatican last October, providing what the statement calls “its good offices to facilitate a constructive dialogue”. The communiqué says the Holy See will continue to offer support for initiatives on the part of both countries to strengthen bilateral relations and promote the wellbeing of their respective citizens.

Please find below the full communiqué from the Secretariat of State
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-god-walks-in-history-with-us-and-adjusts-its

Pope: God walks in history with us and adjusts it's course
2014-12-18 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday invited the faithful to rely on God even in the darkest hours, even if sometimes we do not understand how He is working, because he always walks with us in the history of Salvation.

The Pope’s words came during his homily at morning Mass in the Casa Santa Marta.

"God’s will has been to save us in history" - the Pope said - our Salvation "is not sterile, as in a laboratory. No! It’s history. He has walked through history with his people. "Therefore – he said - "there is no salvation without history. And to get to the point: history goes back a long time":

"And so, step by step, history is made. God makes history, we make history; and when we fail, God makes adjustments and sets history back on course, walking with us all the time. If this is not clear to us, we will never understand Christmas! We will never understand the Incarnation of the Word! Never! It’s a story that goes forward in time. 'Father, is history over with the story of Christmas?'; 'No! The Lord continues to save us in history. And he walks with his people. '"

In this story - Pope Francis continued – there are those chosen by God, those people that He chooses "to help his people to move forward," like Abraham, Moses, Elijah. For them "there are some bad times", "dark moments, awkward moments, bothersome moments". Perhaps they are people who just want to live peacefully, but "the Lord inconveniences them. The Lord inconveniences us to make history! So often he puts us on roads that we don’t want to walk". So much so that Moses and Elijah, at a certain point, would rather die, but then they trust in the Lord.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-pleased-about-us-and-cuba-agreement

Pope Francis: pleased about U.S. and Cuba agreement
2014-12-18 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis spoke on Thursday at his joy over the rapprochement between the United States and Cuba, two nations who have been estranged for many years, saying this was a result of diplomacy. His remarks came in a  brief off-the-cuff address to non-resident Ambassadors to the Holy See; Bahamas, Bangladesh, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Finland, Malaysia, Mali, Mongolia, New Zealand, Rwanda, Tanzania  and Togo. He said the work of an Ambassador is to take small steps aimed at building peace, bringing the hearts of people closer together and sowing brotherhood between peoples and nations.

Please find below an English translation of the pope’s remarks to the non-resident Ambassadors:
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-urges-lutherans-and-catholics-to-take-further

Pope urges Lutherans and Catholics to take further steps towards unity
2014-12-18 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met on Thursday with a delegation of German Lutheran and Catholic leaders, urging them to continue working towards the goal of unity among all Christians. The delegation was headed by the presiding bishop of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany, Gerhard Ulrich, together with members of the ecumenical commission of the German Catholic Bishops Conference. Philippa Hitchen reports:

In his words to the German Church leaders, the Pope said half a century of significant progress in the dialogue between Lutherans and Catholics is grounded in sincere friendship and growing cooperation between the two communities. He said the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, signed 15 years ago in the Bavarian city of Augsburg, is a milestone which enables us to continue with confidence along the ecumenical journey  which St John Paul II described as an essential task of the Catholic Church.

Noting how the bells in all cathedrals across Germany were rung last month to mark the 50th anniversary of the Vatican II decree on ecumenism, the Pope said we must celebrate past progress, while looking towards the future with hope. While the goal of full unity sometimes seems to be clouded by different views of the nature of Church, Pope Francis said we must never resign ourselves but rather be focused on the next step forward.
 
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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-s-address-to-german-lutheran-delegation
Pope's Address to German Lutheran Delegation
Vatican City,  December 18, 2014

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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-gives-400-sleeping-bags-to-rome-s-homeless

Pope Gives 400 Sleeping Bags to Rome's Homeless
Rome,  December 18, 2014

Most people celebrate their birthdays by receiving gifts, but Pope Francis did the opposite. To celebrate his 78th birthday on Wednesday, he gave 400 sleeping bags to Rome’s poor.

Some 400 homeless people of Rome now have a sleeping bag with the papal coat of arms on it.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-the-church-is-not-an-entrepreneur-but

Pope Francis: The Church is not an entrepreneur but a mother
2014-12-19 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis said on Friday that there is much sterility within the Church and the people of God, a sterility that comes from power and egoism.  The Church, he stressed, is a mother and not an entrepreneur. His remarks came during his homily at morning Mass celebrated at the Santa Marta residence.

The Pope’s reflections on the themes of sterility and motherhood were taken from the biblical account of two miraculous births, those of Samson and John the Baptist, both born to women who were formerly sterile. He said this symbol of sterility as recounted in the Bible is seen as the sign of a human person incapable of moving forward. Therefore the Church, he said, wants to make us reflect on the issue of human sterility.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-meets-italys-national-olympic-committee

Pope meets Italy’s National Olympic Committee
2014-12-19 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) “Sports are at home in the Church” – that’s what Pope Francis told managers and athletes of Italy’s National Olympic Committee Friday.  In a meeting in the Vatican, the Pope congratulated them on Rome’s candidacy as a possible venue for the 2024 Olympics, but quipped; “I won’t be here!”

He observed that Italy’s National Olympic Committee celebrates its first centenary this year and recalled that it draws inspiration from the fundamental values laid out in the Olympic Charter, which places at the forefront the “centrality of the person and the harmonious development of humankind, the defence of human dignity.”  He remarked that the Charter stipulates that sport can contribute to the building of a better world, without wars and tensions, educating young people through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind ... in a spirit of friendship, solidarity and loyalty.
 

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http://www.aleteia.org/en/religion/article/megachurch-pastor-rick-warren-joins-pope-francis-in-support-of-common-mission-5887178068459520

December 19, 2014
Megachurch Pastor Rick Warren Joins Pope Francis in Support of Common Mission

Pastor Rick Warren has called on non-Catholic Christians to join with Pope Francis and the Catholic Church in pursuit of their common goals.

Warren is founder and pastor of California's well-known Saddleback Church and author of best-selling books including The Purpose-Driven Life, which has sold 36 million copies, and The Purpose-Driven Church. 

Pastor Warren was among the speakers in November 2014 at Humanum, the Vatican's International Religious Colloquium on the Complementarity of Man and Woman.  Humanum brought together faith leaders from both Christian and non-Christian religions around the world, to examine and propose anew the beauty of the relationship between man and woman in marriage. 

In an interview with EWTN's Raymond Arroyo which aired after the conference, Warren called for adherents of various Christian denominations to unite with Roman Catholics and Pope Francis to work together on three shared goals, focusing on the sanctity of life, the sanctity of sex, and the sanctity of marriage.  He went on to defend Catholicism and to clarify some of the most common misconceptions about Catholic teaching, pertaining to Marian dogmas and prayer to the saints. 
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-thanks-verona-and-catanzaro-for-crib-and-tree

Pope thanks Verona and Catanzaro for crib and tree
2014-12-19 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met on Friday with religious and civil authorities from the Italian cities of Verona and Catanzaro to thank them for the Christmas tree and nativity scene that they donated for St Peter’s Square. The life sized crib figures, given by Verona’s Arena Foundation, and the giant fir tree from Calabria, he said, will be admired by many pilgrims coming to the Vatican from all corners of the globe. Philippa Hitchen reports:

Christmas trees and Nativity scenes touch the hearts of all people with their message of light, hope and love, Pope Francis said. These symbols of Christmas, he continued, have permeated and enriched the culture, literature, music and art of the different Italian regions and remain an important heritage to hand on to future generations. Drawing inspiration from its operatic tradition, staged in the city’s famous amphitheatre, the nativity figures from Verona were originally created for a performance of Donizetti’s two act opera ‘The Elixir of Love’.
 

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December 18, 2014 Tweets
https://twitter.com/FatherRosica

Thomas Rosica @FatherRosica    ·   Dec 18   
Bethlehem almost ready by night in Piazza San Pietro


Thomas Rosica @FatherRosica    ·   Dec 18   
Bethlehem in the making by day in Piazza San Pietro

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http://tinyurl.com/q46y5uu

12/19/14   
Pope Says Christmas Tree, Creche Inspire All, Even Nonbelievers, to Love, Share


CNS/Paul Haring
CHRISTMAS IS COMING—The Christmas tree and Nativity scene decorate St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican after a lighting ceremony Dec. 19. New LED lighting was also unveiled on the facade and dome of the basilica during the ceremony.
 
God did not come to the world with arrogance to impose his might; he offered his powerful love through a fragile child, Pope Francis said.

The Christmas tree and Nativity scene are reminders of this mystery of the Incarnation and they both carry “a message of light, hope and love,” he said Dec. 19, meeting the people who donated the centerpieces of the Vatican Christmas decorations.

The Italian city of Verona donated the Nativity scene, and the southern Italian city of Catanzaro donated the 82-foot white spruce tree, which both adorn St. Peter’s Square. The tree was lit and the scene officially unveiled during an early evening ceremony in the square Dec. 19.

Earlier in the day, the pope thanked the delegates for their generosity and highlighted the importance of the Christmas creche and tree for Christians, as they are a sign of how “God made man to save us and the light that Jesus brought to the world with his birth.”

But the Nativity scene and Christmas tree touch the hearts of everyone, “even those who do not believe because they speak of fraternity, intimacy and friendship, calling all people of our time to rediscover the beauty of simplicity, sharing and solidarity,” he said.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/new-ambassador-of-netherlands-presents-credentials

New Ambassador of Netherlands presents credentials to Pope
2014-12-20 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) His Royal Highness Jaime de Bourbon de Parme is the new Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Holy See.

He presented his Letters of Credence to Pope Francis on Saturday morning in the Vatican and spent time discussing a series of issues of mutual concern including peace, the environment and Cuba.

Speaking to Vatican Radio’s Sean-Patrick Lovett straight after that encounter, the Ambassador highlighted his wish to continue his work in building peace economies.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-receives-john-xxiii-community

Pope Francis receives John XXIII Community
2014-12-20 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received nearly 8 thousand members and associates of the Pope St. John XXIII Community on Saturday. Now recognized as an Association of Lay Faithful, the  Pope John XXIII Community was founded by Fr. Oreste Benzi of the clergy of the Diocese of Rimini in 1968, on the basis of his decade of experience with young people – mostly teenagers – who had accepted his invitation and participated in his initiatives encouraging what he called, “A friendly encounter with Christ,” especially through service to and with the disabled, marginalized, the excluded, and forgotten.
 

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http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/francis-names-new-camerlengo-interim-leader-church-popes-death

Francis names new Camerlengo, interim leader of Vatican at pope's death
Dec. 20, 2014

Rome --   Pope Francis has named a new cardinal to the symbolic role of Camerlengo of the Roman Catholic church, the official who will be charged with acting as the head of state of Vatican City upon Francis' death or resignation.
 
The Vatican announced Saturday that the pope has appointed French Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran to the post, replacing retired Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone, who had held the role since April 2007.

Tauran, the president of the pontifical council for interreligious dialogue, is known to many as the cardinal who first introduced Francis to the world after his election in March 2013, announcing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica that the cardinals in conclave had elected a new pontiff.

While Tauran's role as Camerlengo is not exactly influential, it is symbolic. In the event of the death or resignation of the pope, the Camerlengo is one of only two officials who retain their roles in the Vatican bureaucracy and he is charged with administering the temporal goods of the church until the election of a new pope.

In the event of the death of the pope, the Camerlengo is also charged with verifying the pontiff's death and then destroying his ring, one of the symbols of the late pontiff's authority.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-at-christmas-jesus-knocks-at-the-doors-of-you

Pope: at Christmas Jesus knocks at the doors of your heart
2014-12-21 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday invited the faithful to listen carefully when God knocks at their door. “Too often – he said – Jesus passes by in our lives, he sends an angel and we are so caught up in our thoughts and concerns we do not even notice”.

Speaking to the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Angelus Prayer, the Pope reflected on the liturgy of the last Sunday of Advent that tells of the  Annunciation of the Archangel Gabriel to Mary and on how she simply, and humbly – with an attitude of total faith in the Lord – said “yes”. She said “I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1, 38).

Mary – Pope Francis said - did not know what had been laid out for her in the future, she did not know what pains and what risks she would be called to face. But she was aware that the Lord had asked something of her and she trusted in him completely. This – he said – is the faith of Mary!

Another aspect to take note of – Francis continued – is this capacity of Mary to “recognize the time of God”. Thanks to her the Incarnation of the Son of God was possible.

Mary teaches us – the Pope said – to be aware of the favorable moment in which Jesus passes in our lives asking for a ready and generous answer.