Pope Francis

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-evangelization-love.html

Pope: need to be the living signs of our encounter with Jesus
21 September 2019, 17:18

Pope Francis meeting participants in the International Meeting of Academic Centres and Schools of New Evangelization.  (ANSA)
Pope Francis on 21 September met some 300 participants in the International Meeting of Academic Centres and Schools of New Evangelization and spoke to them about how to make the hearts of men and women of our times burn like those of the disciples of Emmaus.
By Robin Gomes

The international meeting had as its theme, "Is it possible to meet God? The paths of the New Evangelization”.  In this regard, the Pope spoke about how to kindle the desire for God in our times despites the signs that obscure Him.  Many, he said, have the desire of God within, but are unable to recognize His closeness, as it happened with the disciples of Emmaus.

The challenge, therefore, is of making the heart “burn”.  For many, the Pope pointed out, the Church is a cold memory of the past, with many in the west feeling it does not understand them and their needs.  Some consider it as too weak in relation to the world, while others consider it too powerful in the face of great poverties of the world.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-carmelite-order-general-chapter-audience.html

Pope Francis to Carmelites: Contemplate God and seek Him, especially in the poor
21 September 2019, 13:53

Pope Francis meeting the General Chapter members of the Carmelite Order.  (Vatican Media)
Receiving the General Chapter members of the Carmelite Order on September 21, Pope Francis urged them in the contemplation of God and in the service of His people, especially the poor.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis on Saturday encouraged members of the Carmelite Order in their contemplation of God by seeking Him in the poor and in accompanying people in their friendship with God by teaching them to pray and live their faith in the ways of the Holy Spirit.

He made the exhortation to some 100 members of the Order of the Carmelites, formally known as the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, who are holding their General Chapter in Rome. They are discussing the theme, “‘You are my witnesses’ from one generation to the next: called to be faithful to our Carmelite charism”.

The Carmelite charism consists in living their fidelity to Jesus and serving Him faithfully through a commitment to seek the face of the living God through prayer, fraternity and service. In this regard, the Pope offered them three lines of action.
 

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https://cruxnow.com/church-in-europe/2019/09/21/new-lithuanian-cardinal-strong-internally-spent-time-in-soviet-prison/

New Lithuanian cardinal, ‘strong internally,’ spent time in Soviet prison
Jonathan Luxmoore   Sep 21, 2019
CATHOLIC_NEWS_SERVICE

(Credit: CNS photo/Vatican Media.)
WARSAW, Poland - Lithuania’s new cardinal, a veteran of Soviet prisons and labor camps, counts on not being assigned “specific duties” following his elevation so he can continue serving his local church.

Cardinal-designate Sigitas Tamkevicius told Lithuania’s Kauno Diena daily that Pope Francis could “expect me to be a committed witness to the faith, which is what’s most important to the present-day church. If you want to have real influence, you must set an example through your life.”

“A cardinal’s ministry consists of faithfulness to church and Gospel, but this is also the ministry of every normal Catholic,” he said.

The retired Kaunas archbishop will receive the red hat from Francis Oct. 5 at the Vatican. He was one of 13 new cardinals announced Sept. 1. At age 80, he will be ineligible to vote in a conclave for a new pope.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-mass-homily-albano.html

Pope's Mass in Albano: We are not inspectors of the lives of others
21 September 2019, 18:36

Pope Francis in Albano  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis presides over Mass in Albano, and reminds the faithful gathered that Jesus’ love anticipates us and changes our life.
By Francesca Merlo

Pope Francis began his Homily in Albano by reminding the faithful gathered that the Lord “remembers us”. He does not forget, said the Pope, and “he does not lose sight of us despite the obstacles that may keep us far from Him."

Zacchaeus the tax collector

The Pope made reference to Luke’s Gospel, in particular, to Zacchaeus, the tax collector of Jericho. Upon hearing that Jesus would be passing through the city, Zacchaus, due to his “short stature” ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a tree in order to see Him better. When Jesus arrived, he noticed Zacchaeus in the tree and said to him that he should come down so that he may be a guest in his house.

This made Zacchaeus very joyful but the crowd complained as they considered him a sinner. However, Zacchaeus, who was a wealthy man, proceeded to give half of his belongings to the poor, because, through Jesus, he had been saved.
 
Video at the link below--
Pope Francis in Albano 2019-09-21
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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Pan-Amazonian Synod Participants

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/pan-amazonian-synod-participants-include-former-un-head-liberation-theology
Sep. 21, 2019
Pan-Amazonian Synod Participants Include Former UN Head, Liberation Theologians

The appointments appear to align with the synod’s expected emphases on environmental concerns, and on indigenous spirituality.
Edward Pentin

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has personally invited Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston and Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego as well as ex-United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to take part in the Amazon Synod next month, according to a full list of participants published Sept. 21 by the Vatican.

The two U.S. prelates are among 185 members to be invited to the Oct. 6-27 event, whose other participants include every bishop of the region, religious superiors, experts, fraternal delegates, and the heads of Vatican departments.

Cardinal O’Malley, a trusted member of the Pope’s Council of Cardinals as well as head of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, has a strong interest in Latin America and is a fluent Spanish speaker. 

Bishop McElroy has been a vocal proponent of combatting climate change, saying in July this year it should be a “central priority” for the U.S. Church. The synod, whose theme is “New Paths for the Church and for an Integral Ecology,” is expected to focus on environmental concerns.

A third U.S. bishop, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, will also be taking part, as will all the heads of Vatican departments, including Cardinal Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship. 
 
http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/german-catholic-relief-agencies-fuel-synods-push-for-change
Jul. 19, 2019
German Catholic Relief Agencies Fuel Synod’s Push for Change

Working through REPAM, which has been assigned a key role in organizing the synod, the German Church agencies have provided substantial funding related to the controversial upcoming Pan-Amazon synod.
Edward Pentin

Full list of participants published Sept. 21 by the Vatican--
http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2019/09/21/0723/01479.html

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-angelus-st-peters-square-sunday.html

Pope at Angelus: People are worth more than possessions
22 September 2019, 12:12

Pope Francis  (Vatican Media)
At the Angelus in St Peter’s Square on Sunday, Pope Francis says that Jesus invites us to befriend wealth so as to transform good and riches into relationships.
By Francesca Merlo

Before the recitation of the Marian Prayer, the Pope recalled the Sunday Gospel in which the protagonist is a cunning and unjust steward.

Accused of having squandered his master’s goods, the steward is about to be fired. Faced with this situation, he devises a way out to secure himself a peaceful future: he calls his master’s debtors and reduces their debts. His aim is to make friends with them, in hope of being rewarded in the future, when he is most in need.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-angelus-appeal-migrants-refugees-mass.html
Pope Francis to celebrate Mass on World Day for Migrants and Refugees
22 September 2019, 12:34

https://zenit.org/articles/angelus-address-on-the-lesson-of-the-dishonest-steward-commended-for-his-shrewdness/
Angelus Address: On the Lesson of the Dishonest Steward Commended for His Shrewdness 
September 22, 2019 15:28

Video, with English commentary, at the link below--
Pope's Angelus of 22 September 2019
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/angelus/2019-09/pope-francis-angelus-22-09-19.html#play
or
Pope Francis - Angelus prayer 2019-09-22
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2019-09/year-tolerance-document-human-fraternity-uae.html

2019 Year of Tolerance goes global
22 September 2019, 01:28

The Higher Committee meets for the second time in New York
The 2019 Year of Tolerance proclaimed in the United Arab Emirates in December 2018 goes global as world leaders converge on New York City for the opening of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly.
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

What began as a national initiative in the United Arab Emirates has now become a global enterprise. In December 2018, the President of the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, declared that 2019 would be the Year of Tolerance. One of the hoped-for goals was that of positioning the UAE as a global centre for promoting tolerance through projects aimed at encouraging dialogue between cultures and across civilizations.

Pope Francis in the UAE

In February 2019, His Holiness Pope Francis travelled to Abu Dhabi after receiving an invitation from His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. It was there that on 4 February the Pope and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, His Eminence Dr. Ahmed el-Tayeb, signed a historic Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-francis-uae-grand-imam-declaration-of-peace.html
Pope and the Grand Imam: Historic declaration of peace, freedom, women’s rights
04 February 2019, 17:35

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-02/pope-francis-uae-declaration-with-al-azhar-grand-imam.html
Document on Human Fraternity for world peace and living together: Full text
04 February 2019, 17:38

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-audience-italian-union-catholic-press.html

Pope to Catholic Press: Give a voice to those who have none
23 September 2019, 10:12

Pope Francis with the members of the Italian Union of the Catholic Press  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis meets with the Italian Union of the Catholic Press and reminds them that through words of peace they can help others distinguish good from evil.
By Francesca Merlo

Pope Francis began by encouraging members of the Italian Catholic Press to carry their founders’ dream, which, according to their Statute, is to be: "a professional and ecclesial association inspired by the service of persons, the Gospel and the Magisterium of the Church".

Good from evil

Journalists, said the Pope, are “chroniclers of history”. He urged those present to “be the voice of conscience” of a journalism which distinguishes “good from evil” and “human choices from inhumane ones”.

“Tell the truth at any cost”, said the Pope, being always “respectful and never arrogant”.

World-shaping words

The Pope went on to express the importance of “real words in the midst of so many empty” ones. Because, he said, “your words narrate and shape the world” Your stories can generate spaces, these can be spaces that promote freedom or slavery; responsibility or dependence on power.

Only through using words of “peace, justice and solidarity” can a more just and supportive societies be built. Therefore, he continued, “may you contribute to exposing false and destructive words”.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-meeting-dicastery-for-communications-witness-truth.html

Pope to Communications Dicastery: Be Christian witnesses to Truth
23 September 2019, 12:30

Pope Francis meeting members of the Dicastery for Communication  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis meets with members of the Vatican Dicastery for Communications on the occasion of their Plenary Assembly and gives them a series of examples of what communication should, and should not, be.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis is known to be a great communicator. But on Monday morning in the Vatican he gave an example of communication skills that surprised even those whose job it is to communicate him and his message throughout the world.

Communicating from the heart

The Pope began by playfully suggesting that his “seven-page discourse” (which was really only three) risked putting his audience to sleep. Which is why he preferred to talk to them informally about communication, in terms of what was “in his heart”.

Communicating without holding back

Pope Francis reminded members of the Dicastery that communication begins with an attitude: that of God who communicates Himself to us. In the same way, true communicators give of themselves, he said, “putting all your irons on the fire”, and holding back nothing.
 
Pope’s prepared remarks by Vatican News at the link bellow--
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-dicastery-communication-plenary-prepared-text.html
Pope: communication becomes effective only when it is witness
23 September 2019, 13:35

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Update: Cardinal Marx, German bishops’ conference...

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/after-cardinal-marx-visits-vatican-germanys-synodal-way-up-for-bishops-vote-93050
After Cardinal Marx visits Vatican, Germany's 'synodal way' up for bishops' vote
By Ed Condon

Fulda, Germany, Sep 23, 2019 / 01:00 pm (CNA).- The German bishops are set this week to vote upon statutes for a “binding synodal process,” days after Cardinal Reinhard Marx, president of the German bishops’ conference, held talks about the plans with Pope Francis and Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

On Monday, the German bishops began a three-day plenary session in Fulda, which will conclude Sept. 25.

Sources close to the conference told CNA that the bishops plan to debate a “substantially unchanged” draft of statutes for the creation of a Synodal Assembly in partnership with the Central Committee of German Catholics, despite concerns about the plan expressed in a Sept. 4 letter from the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops and the Pontifical Commission for Legislative Texts.

According to senior sources at the conference, Marx has sought to reassure the bishops that he was able to “clarify” the Germans’ intentions during meetings in Rome last week.

“Cardinal Marx wished to return with an unambiguous sign of support from the pope, preferably in a letter or statement,” one senior Churchman told CNA. “He did not, but has said that the misunderstandings are resolved.”

Speaking last week, Marx called his meetings with the pope and Ouellet “constructive,” but did not elaborate. Cardinal Ouellet has not spoken publicly about the meetings.

Senior officials in the Congregation for Bishops told CNA that Marx had used the meeting to attempt to “minimize” the significance of the synodal plans, and to insist that Vatican criticisms are unfounded.

“Marx told the cardinal [Ouellet] that they would not have a synod, certainly not a [particular] council, according to canon law, but only a forum for discussion called a synod,” one official told CNA after the meeting.

“If this is true, there is nothing for the Congregation to do – a discussion is a discussion, it does not touch the power to teach or govern and there can be no intervention.”

The German bishops have previously defined their synodal plans as a “binding” path, and the statutes for the assembly that received preliminary approval in August indicate that the assembly can pass “binding” resolutions, even while conceding that individual bishops need not observe them.

On Sept. 20, Matthias Kopp, a spokesman for the German bishops’ conference told Catholic News Service that the term “binding” was not meant to imply any Church figure would be bound by the synodal conclusions. “Binding means it is a vote,” not simply a discussion, Kopp said.

Senior sources at the Congregation for Bishops told CNA on Monday that Marx’s reassurances in Rome run contrary to the August draft of the synodal statutes, which proposed to form a “deliberative” and “decision-making” body to pass resolutions on the subjects of sexual morality, clerical discipline (including celibacy), and women’s inclusion in Church offices and ministry.
 

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Video, with English text, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-videomessage-climate-action-summit-united-nations.html#play

Pope Francis sends video message to UN Climate Action Summit
23 September 2019, 19:30

Pope Francis sends a video message to participants at the United Nations Climate Action Summit 2019, taking place in New York on September 23.

The full text of the Holy Father's message is below:

Greetings to participants at the UN Climate Action Summit 2019.

          I would like to thank the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr António Guterres, for convening this meeting and for drawing the attention of Heads of State and Government - and of the entire international community and world public opinion - to one of the most serious and worrying phenomena of our time: climate change.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-cittadella-cielo-nuovi-orrizonti.html

Pope Francis spends the day at “Cittadella Cielo”
24 September 2019, 18:56

Pope Francis visits “Cittadella Cielo” in Frosinone  (Vatican Media)
On Tuesday, Pope Francis visited “Cittadella Cielo”, a facility staffed by members of the “Nuovi Orizzonti” community.
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

Pope Francis paid a surprise visit to “Cittadella Cielo” (Heavenly Citadel), a work of the “Nuovi Orizzonti” community founded by Chiara Amirante. He was accompanied by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization.

The Pope among his flock

When the Pope arrived around 9:40 in the morning, those present welcomed him in the facility’s auditorium. Chiara Amirante spoke briefly, after which a young man and a young woman gave their testimonies. Internationally known opera singer, Andrea Bocelli, was also present with his son. Together, they sang “Follow Me” and described their own connection with the community. Several other young people and adults present explained how their lives had changed and how they encountered the Christian faith through the “Nuovi Orizzonti” community. Some of them asked the Pope questions, as well. This went on until 12:20pm.

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-nuovi-orizzonti-community-mass.html
Pope at Mass with ‘Nuovi Orizzonti’ Community: God always helps you rebuild your lives
24 September 2019, 18:41

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Update: Cardinal Marx, German bishops’ conference...

 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/germanys-nuncio-encourages-attention-and-fidelity-to-pope-francis-21214
Germany’s nuncio encourages attention and fidelity to Pope Francis

Berlin, Germany, Sep 24, 2019 / 04:00 pm (CNA).- The apostolic nuncio to Germany has written to the country’s bishops, comparing a recent letter from Pope Francis to German Catholics with a historic Nazi-era encyclical of Pius XI.

In a letter to mark the opening of the German bishops’ conference’s plenary session on Monday, Archbishop Nicola Eterovic reiterated the appeal of Pope Francis to the bishops that they focus on evangelization and maintain unity with the universal Church during their “binding synodal process.”

In June, Francis wrote to German Catholics about the state of the Church in their country, and to offer his own priorities and methodology for the syndoal path being undertaken there.

The German bishops’ plenary meeting runs from Sept. 23-25, at the end of which they will vote on draft statutes for the creation of a “Synodal Assembly.”

“The letter of the Holy Father deserves special attention,” Archbishop Nicola Eterovic wrote in his welcoming address to the German bishops on Monday, Sept. 23.

“It is indeed the first time since the encyclical of Pius XI, Mit brennender sorge -- ‘With burning concern’ -- that the pope has dedicated a letter to the members of the Catholic Church in Germany in particular.”

Eterovic – originally from Croatia – pointed out that while “the encyclical of 14 March 1937 denounces the inadmissible interventions of the National Socialist regime in the affairs of the Catholic Church, the current letter deals with issues within the Church.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-general-audience-acts-deacons-stephen-martyrdom.html

Pope: martyrs ensure growth and fruitfulness to People of God
25 September 2019, 13:47

Pope Francis at his weekly general audience in the Vatican on 25 September, 2019. 
In his catechesis on the Acts of the Apostles at the weekly General Audience, Pope Francis reflects on how the Apostles create the first batch of Deacons, and how one of them, Saint Stephen, became the Church’s first martyr.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis began his catechesis, explaining that there have always been problems in the Church, including in the early Christian community, as St. Luke points out in the Acts of the Apostles.   This first community made up of faithful from various cultural backgrounds and faiths created “fragile and precarious balances”.  Hence “weeds” arise, and the worst weed that destroys a community, the Pope said, is slander.  The Greeks grumbled that the community was neglecting their widows.
 
https://zenit.org/articles/general-audience-on-the-acts-of-the-apostles-st-stephen/
GENERAL AUDIENCE: On the Acts of the Apostles & St Stephen 
September 25, 2019 13:49

Video at the link below--
Pope Francis - General Audience 2019-09-25
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2019-09/pope-francis-mass-casa-santa-marta.html

Pope at Mass: lukewarm faith turns our lives into graveyards
26 September 2019, 12:09

Pope Francis celebrates Mass at Casa Santa Marta  (ANSA)
Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the Casa Santa Marta on Thursday inviting the faithful not to content themselves with a fake inner peace that bears no fruit.
By Linda Bordoni

Reflecting on the reading from the Book of Haggai, Pope Francis spoke of how the Lord urges His people to reflect on their behavior and to change it by working to rebuild the House of God.

Procrastinating conversion

The prophet Haggai, the Pope explained, was trying to move the heart of the lazy people who had resigned themselves to a life of defeat. The Temple had been destroyed by enemies, all was in ruin, but those people let the years go by without taking any action.

Then, he said, the Lord sent the prophet to “rebuild the Temple,” but the hearts of the people were bitter and they had no wish to take risks and to work.

Those people, the Pope continued, “did not want to pick themselves up, to start again. They would not let the Lord help them to do so”, and their excuse was that the time had not yet come.

This, he continued, is the same drama of so many lukewarm Christians who say “Yes, yes, Lord, it's fine ... but slowly, slowly, Lord, let's leave it like this ...  I’ll do it tomorrow!”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-emmanuel-community-audience.html

Pope to Emmanuel Community: Being with people in difficulty is the key
26 September 2019, 16:56

Pope meets members of the Emmanuel Community  (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis meets with members of the Emmanuel Community from Lecce, celebrating 40 years of activity and thanks them for embodying faith in service.
By Vatican News

The Emmanuel Community in Lecce, southern Italy, is a non-profit organization that works with individuals and families in difficulty. The Organization also runs a treatment centre for  drug addiction. Its motto is “Welcoming and Sharing”.       

Doing and being

Pope Francis focused on these words when he met members of the Community in audience in the Vatican. He thanked them for all they have done in these almost 40 years, “for the welcome, the accompaniment, the work”. He also praised the Community for “always nourishing the ‘doing’ with the ‘being’”. This is important, he said, “otherwise you will become a welfare agency or a company”.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-francis-talitha-kum-human-trafficking-commitment-church.html

Pope: more Church sectors needed in fight against human traffficking
26 September 2019, 14:23

Pope Francis with participants in the general assembly of Talitha Kum in the Vatican on 26 September, 2019.   (Vatican Media)
Pope Francis on 26 September met participants in the general assembly of Talitha Kum, a worldwide network of religious congregations fighting against trafficking in human persons. He urged more congregations and Church sectors to join in this fight .
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis is urging the collaboration and commitment of other sectors of the Church in order to make the fight against the scourge of trafficking in persons more prompt, effective and widespread.

He made the call on Thursday while meeting in the Vatican some 120 participants in the first general assembly of Talitha Kum, an international network of consecrated men and women fighting human trafficking.

Talitha Kum is a project of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG), that brings together the women’s religious congregations, in collaboration with the men’s Union of Superiors General (USG).
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-09/pope-conversations-jesuits-mozambique-madagascar-spadaro.html

Pope's meeting with Jesuits in Mozambique and Madagascar
26 September 2019, 12:37

Pope Francis meets Jesuits in Mozambique   (Vatican Media (Dicastero per la Comunicazone))
The Jesuit publication, “La Civiltà Cattolica”, publishes the full text of the conversations between Pope Francis and his Mozambican and Malagasy Jesuit brothers on 5 and 8 September last, during his Apostolic Visit to three south east African nations.

The Editor in Chief of “La Civiltà Cattolica” has entitled his report on the conversations that took place between Pope Francis and the Jesuits of Mozambique and Madagascar “The Sovereignty of the People of God.”  The Pope’s meetings with the Jesuits took place at the beginning of the month, during his  31st Apostolic Journey abroad, Pope Francis’ second to the African content. Please find below the full text of the colloquium:

By Antonio Spadaro, SJ

On Thursday, September 5, 2019, during his trip to Mozambique, Pope Francis met privately with a group of 24 Jesuits, 20 from Mozambique, three from Zimbabwe and one from Portugal. Among them was the provincial, Fr. Chiedza Chimhanda. The meeting took place in the nunciature at about 6:15 p.m. at the end of a full day of events. The Jesuit Province of Zimbabwe-Mozambique was established at the end of December 2014. It currently has 163 members, 90 of whom are young people in formation.[1] On his arrival, the Jesuits applauded the pope. He asked those present to form a circle with chairs. The conversation lasted a good hour. The provincial gave a word of welcome, then the pope invited the Jesuits to ask questions to start the conversation.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-clericalism-linked-to-fixation-on-sexual-morality-75667
Pope Francis: Clericalism linked to fixation on sexual morality
By Courtney Mares

Vatican City, Sep 26, 2019 / 10:25 am (CNA).- In a meeting with Jesuits in Mozambique earlier this month, Pope Francis said that clericalism is a direct result of rigidity and linked to a fixation on sexual morality.

“One dimension of clericalism is the exclusive moral fixation on the sixth commandment,” Pope Francis said according to the Jesuit-run journal La Civilta Cattolica transcript published online Sept. 26.

“We focus on sex and then we do not give weight to social injustice, slander, gossip and lies. The Church today needs a profound conversion in this area,” the pope said.

“Once a Jesuit, a great Jesuit, told me to be careful in giving absolution, because the most serious sins are those that are more angelical: pride, arrogance, dominion… And the least serious are those that are less angelical, such as greed and lust,” he explained.

Pope Francis said: “Clericalism has a direct consequence in rigidity. Have you never seen young priests all stiff in black cassocks and hats in the shape of the planet Saturn on their heads? Behind all the rigid clericalism there are serious problems.”
 

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https://zenit.org/articles/pope-to-consecrate-four-bishops-on-october-4/

Pope to Consecrate Four Bishops on October 4 
Three Apostolic Nuncios and a Dicastery Secretary
September 26, 2019 16:03•Anne Kurian•Rome
 
Pope Francis will consecrate four bishops on October 4, 2019, at a Mass at 5 pm in St. Peter’s Basilica: three apostolic nuncios – two Italians and a Maltese – and the Czech Undersecretary of the Migration and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for the service of integral human development.

They are:

– Mgr. Michael Czerny, of the Company of Jesus, 73, from Brno, Czech Republic. Ordained a priest on June 9, 1973, he was appointed undersecretary – number 3 – of the section “migrants and refugees” of the Dicastery for the service of integral human development on December 14, 2016. He will be created cardinal on October 5, the next day of his episcopal consecration.
 

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https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2019/09/26/u-s-cardinal-william-levada-former-doctrinal-head-dies-in-rome/

U.S. Cardinal William Levada, former doctrinal head, dies in Rome
Catholic News Service   Sep 26, 2019

(Credit: Paul Haring/CNS..)
ROME — U.S. Cardinal William J. Levada, former head of the Vatican’s doctrinal congregation and retired archbishop of San Francisco and Portland, Oregon, died Sept. 26 in Rome. He was 83.

When Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, he named then-Archbishop Levada to replace him as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican agency charged with protecting and promoting the Church’s teachings on faith and morals. It was the first time a U.S. prelate had headed the congregation, and Levada served in that position until 2012.

Before his Vatican appointment, he had served as archbishop of San Francisco since 1995; archbishop of Portland, Oregon, 1986-95, and as an auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles, 1983-86.