Pope Francis

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https://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/coronavirus-latest-italys-bishops-call-for-all-churches-to-be-closed

Apr. 6, 2020
Coronavirus Latest From Rome
Latest updates from the Eternal City in lockdown since March 10.
Edward Pentin
UPDATES (Rome time)
 
April 6, 1.50pm

Pope Francis has established an emergency fund to aid people and communities in mission countries who have been hit by the spread of COVID-19.

An initial contribution of $750,000 is to be given through the Pontifical Mission Societies and the Pope has asked that those Church entities that are able and desirous to help, to contribute to this fund through the Pontifical Mission Societies in each country.

The Emergency Fund will be used to accompany impacted communities in mission countries via Church structures and institutions, Agenzia Fides reported.
 
April 6, 12.43pm
 

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2020-04/pope-francis-mass-monday-jesus-poor-prisoners.html
Pope at Mass: Pray for detainees in overcrowded prisons
06 April 2020, 09:08

Pope Francis offers his Mass on Monday morning in the Casa Santa Marta for detainees in overcrowded prisons, and reminds us in his homily that we will be judged for our attitude toward the poor. (playback included)
By Devin Watkins

Dedicating his daily Mass to prisoners, Pope Francis asked everyone to pray for the serious problem of overcrowded prisons in many parts of the world.

‘Where there is overcrowding, there is the danger in this pandemic that it winds up being a grave tragedy. Let us pray for those responsible, and for those who need to make decisions in this area, that they might find a correct and creative way to resolve the problem.”

The poor always with you

In his homily, the Pope reflected on the day’s Gospel reading (Jn 12:1-11) in which Mary – the sister of Lazarus and Martha – anoints Jesus’ feet with costly perfumed oil.

The event provokes an indignant response from Judas to which Jesus replies with an enigmatic statement.

Pope Francis focused his homily on Jesus’ words: “You always have the poor with you.”
 
Victims of economic systems

Pope Francis said many poor people are victims of economic and financial systems, but are too embarrassed to ask for help. They struggle to make it to the end of the month, even if they have a job.

The Pope then told a story from his time as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in Argentina.

“Once, someone told me about an abandoned factory in which around 15 families had lived for the previous few months. I went there. There were families with children, and each had claimed a part of the factory to live in. Looking closer, I saw that every family had good furniture, indicative of the middle class, with a television set. But they wound up there because they couldn’t pay their rent. These are the new poor who are forced to leave their homes because they can’t afford them. This is the injustice of the economic or financial system that has left them like that.”
 

https://zenit.org/articles/pope-shares-memory-from-buenos-aires-full-text-of-pope-francis-morning-homily/
Pope Shares Memory from Buenos Aires (Full Text of Pope Francis’ Morning Homily)
April 06, 2020 15:10  Deborah Castellano Lubov

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Update:  Cardinal Pell...acquitted!

https://twitter.com/EdwardPentin?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Edward Pentin@EdwardPentin· 8m

BREAKING: Cardinal Pell’s conviction has been quashed — the full judgement of the High Court:
-----------
https://www.hcourt.gov.au/assets/publications/judgment-summaries/2020/hca-12-2020-04-07.pdf

HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA
Please direct enquiries to Ben Wickham, Senior Executive Deputy Registrar Telephone: (02) 6270 6893          Fax: (02) 6270 6868           Email: enquiries@hcourt.gov.au          Website: www.hcourt.gov.au       
 
PELL v THE QUEEN [2020] HCA 12
 
Today, the High Court granted special leave to appeal against a decision of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Victoria and unanimously allowed the appeal. The High Court found that the jury, acting rationally on the whole of the evidence, ought to have entertained a doubt as to the applicant's guilt with respect to each of the offences for which he was convicted, and ordered that the convictions be quashed and that verdicts of acquittal be entered in their place. 
 

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Update:  Cardinal Pell

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cardinal-george-pells-abuse-convictions-overturned-by-australias-high-court-66750
Cardinal George Pell's abuse convictions overturned by Australia's High Court
By Ed Condon and JD Flynn

Washington D.C., Apr 6, 2020 / 06:25 pm (CNA).- After an ordeal that began nearly four years ago, and more than 13 months of imprisonment, Cardinal George Pell is expected to be released from prison imminently, after his conviction for five alleged counts of sexual abuse was overturned Tuesday by Australia’s High Court.

Pell is expected to be released from prison within two hours.

“The High Court found that the jury, acting rationally on the whole of the evidence, ought to have entertained a doubt as to the applicant's guilt with respect to each of the offences for which he was convicted, and ordered that the convictions be quashed and that verdicts of acquittal be entered in their place,” the court said in a judgment summary April 7

After a March hearing at the High Court in Canberra, which Pell was not permitted to attend, the cardinal will soon be released from HM Prison Barwon, a maximum-security facility southwest of Melbourne. Pell is expected to celebrate with a private Mass of thanksgiving, the first he will celebrate since his incarceration in February 2019.
 

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Update:  Cardinal Pell

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/the-only-basis-for-justice-is-truth---with-conviction-overturned-cardinal-pell-speaks-79908
'The only basis for justice is truth' - With conviction overturned, Cardinal Pell speaks

CNA Staff, Apr 6, 2020 / 07:12 pm (CNA).- After his conviction for child sexual abuse was overturned Tuesday by Australia’s High Court, Cardinal George Pell has released a statement expressing gratitude to his family, friends, and legal team, and noting that he does not bear resentment toward his accuser.

“I have consistently maintained my innocence while suffering from a serious injustice,” Pell said April 7, according to a statement published by the Archdiocese of Sydney.

“This has been remedied today with the High Court’s unanimous decision,” Pell added. “I look forward to reading the Judgment reasons for the decision in detail.”

“I hold no ill will to my accuser. I do not want my acquittal to add to the hurt and bitterness so many feel; there is certainly hurt and bitterness enough.”

“The only basis for long term healing is truth and the only basis for justice is truth, because justice means truth for all,” the cardinal added.

Pell is expected to be released from prison April 7.
 
https://www.sydneycatholic.org/casys/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/STATEMENT-FROM-CARDINAL-GEORGE-PELL-070420.pdf
STATEMENT FROM CARDINAL GEORGE PELL

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2020-04/pope-mass-pray-for-persons-suffering-from-unjust-sentences.html
Pope at Mass: Pray for persons suffering from unjust sentences
07 April 2020, 09:54

Pope Francis offers his Mass on Tuesday morning in the Casa Santa Marta for people who suffer unjust sentences because of persecution. He also reminds us that we are chosen to serve.
By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ

Introducing Tuesday morning’s liturgy, Pope Francis said: “I would like to pray today for all those persons who suffer an unjust sentence because someone had it in for them.”
Pope Francis explained that Jesus was hounded by the doctors of the law even though He was innocent.

In his homily, Pope Francis focused on the vocation of servant presented in the First Reading.

We are all chosen

Isaiah’s prophecy (Is 49: 1-6) relates to the Messiah and the People of God. God chose the prophet before he was born, explained Pope Francis. In the same way, each one of us is chosen from our mother’s womb with the vocation of serving. None of us “fell into this world by chance”, he said.

“Each one of us has a destiny, a free destiny, the destiny of being chosen by God. I am born with the destiny…chosen to be a child of God, to be a servant of God with the task of serving.”
 
https://zenit.org/articles/pope-prays-for-those-serving-unjust-sentences-full-text-of-pope-francis-morning-homily/
Pope Prays ‘for Those Serving Unjust Sentences’ (Full Text of Pope Francis’ Morning Homily)
At Casa Santa Marta on Day Cardinal Pell Was Acquitted, Reminds that From the Womb, God Had a Plan for Each of US
April 07, 2020 15:27  Deborah Castellano Lubov

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-04/pope-francis-rabbi-rome-segni-greetings-jews-pesach.html

Pope and Rome Rabbi exchange greetings
07 April 2020, 10:10

Pope Francis and the Chief Rabbi of Rome have exchanged greetings on the occasion of the Jewish feast of Pesach, or Passover, that starts on the evening of Wednesday and continues till the evening of April 16, this year.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis is inviting Jews and Christians to "renew the bonds of friendship and commitment towards the most needy of our society, particularly in the current ordeal we are all going through."  The Popes’ invitation came in a message to Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni of Rome, in which he offered his “heartiest wishes” to him and the entire Jewish community of the city, on the occasion of the Jewish feast of Pesach or Passover.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-04/almoner-kajewski-invite-papal-chapel-contribution.html

Coronavirus: Papal Almoner invites collection from "Papal Chapel" members
07 April 2020, 11:28

In a letter, Cardinal Krajewski invites the members of the Papal Chapel to make an offering in solidarity with those suffering because of the pandemic.
By Robin Gomes

The Apostolic Almoner, or the Pope’s official almsgiver, has addressed the cardinals, archbishops, bishops and prelates who are members of the “Papal Chapel”, or “Capella Papale”, inviting them to an act of solidarity during the current Holy Week.   

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the liturgical celebrations presided over by the Holy Father during Holy Week will be without the presence of those who, in accordance with the Motu Proprio “Pontificalis Domus”, make up the Papal Chapel.

Apostolic Almoner, Polish Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, who heads the Office of Papal Charities, has written to the members of the Papal Chapel inviting them to make a contribution to a collection, in order to share in the sufferings of “those in trial” during the current health emergency in Italy and in the Vatican.
 

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https://zenit.org/articles/vatican-publishes-meditations-for-good-friday-way-of-the-cross/

Vatican Publishes Meditations for Good Friday Way of the Cross

Faithful Can Follow Via Live Broadcast
April 06, 2020 17:48

Pope Francis on Friday, April 10, 2020, will preside over the Via Crucis in the courtyard of Saint Peter’s Basilica.

As with all Holy Week services this year, the event will not include the crowds of the faithful as in past years, this in light of the coronavirus pandemic. However, the faithful can follow the Holy Father in the service via live video.

Vatican YouTube

Thie year’s meditations were prepared by prisoners from the “Due Palazzi” penitentiary in Padua, Italy. Below is the full text to this year’s meditation, released April 6 by the Vatican.

Full Holy Week Schedule
 

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Update:  Cardinal Pell

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-04/holy-see-welcomes-high-court-decision-in-pell-case.html
Holy See welcomes High Court decision in Pell case
07 April 2020, 12:32
 
STATEMENT OF THE HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE

The Holy See, which has always expressed confidence in the Australian judicial authority, welcomes the High Court’s unanimous decision concerning Cardinal George Pell, acquitting him of the accusations of abuse of minors and overturning his sentence.

Entrusting his case to the court’s justice, Cardinal Pell has always maintained his innocence, and has waited for the truth to be ascertained.

At the same time, the Holy See reaffirms its commitment to preventing and pursuing all cases of abuse against minors.

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2020-04/australia-pell-overturn-cardinal-pell-sentence-conviction.html
Australia's High Court overturns Cardinal Pell's conviction
07 April 2020, 04:10

On Tuesday morning, the judges serving on Australia's High Court announced their decision to overturn Cardinal Pell's conviction saying that the "evidence did not establish guilt to the requisite standard of proof".
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/analysis-freed-from-prison-will-cardinal-pell-now-face-vatican-trial-24675

Analysis: Freed from prison, will Cardinal Pell now face Vatican trial?
By Ed Condon

Washington D.C., Apr 6, 2020 / 10:20 pm (CNA).- The High Court of Australia ordered the acquittal of Cardinal George Pell on Tuesday.

While Pell’s criminal trials in Australia are now at an end, the same accusations which saw him first convicted, then denied appeal, then acquitted, must now be addressed by the Church’s own legal process. That canonical process, on hold while the Australian justice system ran its course, can now begin.

While many of Pell’s supporters might consider any further legal ordeal for the cardinal to be unnecessary, even cruel, Vatican efforts to restore faith in its ability to handle accusations of sexual abuse fully and fairly – no exceptions – mean that there will have to be some kind of canonical process.

The necessity for some canonical process to formally address the accusations against Pell does not, however, mean it need be lengthy. While the pope alone is competent to determine how a case against a cardinal proceeds, in practice Francis is almost sure to depute the process to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith – something provided for in the motu proprio Sacromentorum sanctitatis tutela. Unless there is pressing evidence on both sides of the case, the CDF rarely convenes a full trial-  especially when the matter has received a full litigation in a secular court.

The decision the CDF will face is how, and if, to proceed with the preliminary investigation.
 

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2020-04/pope-at-mass-prays-for-unity-in-europe.html
Pope at Mass prays for unity in Europe
29 April 2020, 08:36

Pope Francis offers his Wednesday morning Mass in the Casa Santa Marta for unity on the continent of Europe, and reflects in his homily on the grace of concreteness.
By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ

At the start of Mass at the Casa Santa Marta on Wednesday, the Feast of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church, Pope Francis prayed for Europe.

“Let us pray for Europe, for the unity of Europe, for the unity of the European Union, so that everyone together might move forward as brothers and sisters,” said the Pope.

Call to concreteness

In his homily, Pope Francis noted that the First Reading (1 Jn 1:5–2:2) contains contrasts between light and darkness, falsehood and truth, sin and innocence. As Christians, however, we are called to concreteness, since we cannot be in union with Jesus and walk in darkness. We cannot be in a grey area between the two.

The danger with the grey area, the Pope explained, is that “the grey makes you think that you are walking in the light because you are not in the darkness, and this soothes you.” The grey area, in this sense, is “treacherous.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-04/pope-francis-general-audience-29-april-2020-final-beatitude.html

Pope at General Audience: Love the world that persecutes you
29 April 2020, 11:07

At his General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis concludes his series of catecheses on the Beatitudes, focusing on the final Beatitude, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”.
By Christopher Wells

Pope Francis concluded his catechesis on the Beatitudes during his General Audience on Wednesday, 29 April. His reflection focused on the last of the Beatitudes: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-04/pope-at-audience-may-catherine-of-siena-protect-italy-and-europ.html
Pope Francis: May Catherine of Siena protect Italy and Europe
29 April 2020, 14:20

Following his catechesis at the General Audience, Pope Francis noted that today the Church celebrates the feast of St Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church and co-patron of Italy and of Europe. As he had done earlier at the daily Mass, he prayed to St Catherine for protection during the pandemic, and for the unity of Europe.
By Vatican News

https://zenit.org/articles/on-her-feast-day-pope-appeals-to-st-catherine-of-siena-full-text-of-general-audience/
On Her Feast Day, Pope Appeals to St. Catherine of Siena (Full Text of General Audience)
April 29, 2020 14:54  Deborah Castellano Lubov

Video, with English commentary, at the link below--
Pope's General Audience of 29 April 2020
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/papal-audience/2020-04/pope-s-general-audience-of-29-april-2020.html

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-04/vatican-statement-covid-19-10th-case-identified.html

Vatican announces 10th Covid-19 case
28 April 2020, 17:09

The Holy See Press Office communicates that a 10th person has been identified who has become ill with Covid-19.

In a statement released on Tuesday evening, Matteo Bruni, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, communicated the 10th Covid-19 case in the  Vatican.

This person was identified in the past few days, the statement says. The person who has become ill had manifested symptoms in March. At that time, the person began to work from home, maintaining isolation. Currently, the person is under quarantine.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-postpones-peters-pence-collection-amid-pandemics-economic-downturn-10483

Pope Francis postpones Peter’s Pence collection amid pandemic’s economic downturn
By Courtney Mares

Vatican City, Apr 29, 2020 / 02:00 pm MT (CNA).- Pope Francis has postponed this year’s Peter’s Pence collection until next fall as the Vatican confronts the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.

The collection, which traditionally takes place in churches across the world on June 29, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, has been moved to October 4, the feast of St. Francis.

On April 29, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni attributed the date change to “the current health emergency situation.” The economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic are being felt throughout the world, including at the Vatican.

The most recent published balance sheet published by Holy See in 2017 indicated that the Vatican Museums generated much of the income for Vatican City State
 

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2020-04/pope-francis-mass-santa-marta-father-draws-people-jesus-30-april.html
Pope at Mass: Only the Father can draw people to Jesus
30 April 2020, 08:20

At the morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis prays for the deceased, especially those buried in mass graves and reflects on the Gospel passage, “No one can come to me unless the Father draws him”.
By Christopher Wells

Pope Francis dedicated his morning Mass on Thursday to those who have died because of the Covid-19 pandemic. He prayed especially for those who have died “anonymously” and have been buried in common graves.

The Holy Father took a verse from the Gospel as the starting point for his homily: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him.”

It is certainly possible to study religion or theology, and learn a great deal about Jesus, the Pope said, but unless we are drawn by the Father, we cannot know Christ, or His mystery.

This was the case with the Ethiopian eunuch in the First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles. He was an official in the Ethiopian royal court. The Pope noted that he was reading the Scriptures – a passage from the prophet Isaiah – as he returned home from Jerusalem. God had already prepared his heart, and now the Father sent Philip the Deacon to him.

The restlessness the official felt was precisely the Father drawing him to Jesus. When he saw some water by the wayside, he asked to be baptised.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2020-04/sovereign-order-of-malta-announces-death-of-grand-master.html

Pope Francis sends condolences on the death of Order of Malta Grand Master
29 April 2020, 12:48

Pope Francis has sent his heartfelt condolences following the death of the Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Fra’ Giacomo Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto.
By Vatican News

In a telegramme of condolence to the Lieutenant ad interim of the order, Grand Commander Fra’ Ruy Gonçalo do Valle Peixoto de Villas Boas, the Pope described Fra’ Giacomo Dalla Torre as a zealous man of culture and faith and recalled his integral fidelity to Christ and the Gospel.

Pope Francis also paid tribute to his commitment to serve the Church and his dedication to the most vulnerable.

Concluding his message the Pope offered prayers for the late Grand Master’s family and the Order of Malta.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-04/emanuela-orlandi-teutonic-cemetery-proceeding-closed-bones.html

Orlandi case: proceedings regarding bones in the Teutonic cemetery is closed
30 April 2020, 12:52

A Single Judge accepts the Promoter of Justice's request after forensic tests show the remains found in a common grave in the Vatican cemetery are all dated much further back than the disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi.
By Vatican News

“The proceeding relative to the alleged entombment of Emanuela Orlandi’s remains in the Vatican in the Teutonic Cemetery has been closed by the Single Judge of Vatican City State who had received the request from the Office of the Promoter of Justice”. This is according the Judge’s statement that was released by the Holy See Press Office on Thursday. The statement also includes information regarding the human remains found in the ossuaries adjacent to the two tombs that were opened in July 2019 revealing they date further back in time before Emanuela Orlandi's disappearance.
 

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Link to downloadable book entitled “Strong in the Face of Tribulation”

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-04/downloadable-publication-popes-prayers-homilies-now-available.html
Downloadable publication of Pope’s prayers and homilies now available
21 April 2020, 17:04

The Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See is making available a downloadable book entitled “Strong in the Face of Tribulation”, containing prayers, supplications and the Pope’s homilies as “a sure support in time of trial”.
By Eugenio Bonanata and Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ

“A little help offered to all, so as to know how to discern and experience God’s closeness and tenderness in pain, in suffering, in solitude and in fear,” writes Andrea Tornielli, the editorial director of Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, presenting Strong in the Face of Tribulation: The Church in Communion – a Sure Support in Time of Trial.

Edited by the Holy See’s Dicastery for Communication, the digital publication, contains a collection of prayers, intercessions and homilies to help sustain the Church’s sense of communion amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Strong in the Face of Tribulation is available for download free of charge on the website of the Vatican's publishing house, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, in PDF format. It is currently available in English, Italian, Spanish and French.
 
Click here to download Strong in the Face of Tribulation in English
Click here to download the Way of the Cross led by Pope Francis on Good Friday in St Peter's Square, 2020

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-04/covid-19-11th-person-tests-positive-vatican.html

An 11th person tests positive for Covid-19 in the Vatican
30 April 2020, 15:35

Just two days after announcing the 10th positive case of Covid-19 in the Vatican, the Holy See Press Office announces on Thursday that an 11th person has tested positive

The Holy See Press Office released a statement on Thursday afternoon. In it, Matteo Bruni, the Director of the Press Office, announced that another person tested positive for the  Covid-19 virus. This 11th person is a Holy See employee.