Pope Francis

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-to-celebrate-feast-of-corpus-domini-in-st-peter-s-on-sunday.html

Pope to celebrate feast of Corpus Christi in St Peter’s on Sunday
08 June 2020, 17:35

On Sunday, Pope Francis will celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi in St Peter’s Basilica, with a Mass followed by solemn Adoration and Benediction.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis will celebrate Mass for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi (also known as the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ) at the Altar of the Chair in St Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, 14 June. The liturgy will conclude with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction.

A small number of the faithful, around fifty persons, will participate in the liturgy with the Holy Father. The Mass will be live streamed by Vatican Media, beginning at 9:45 Rome time.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-francis-names-new-bishop-for-beaumont-texas.html

Pope Francis names new bishop for Beaumont, Texas
09 June 2020, 11:51

Pope Francis appoints Monsignor David Toups as the new bishop of Beaumont, Texas.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis on Monday named Monsignor David L. Toups as the new bishop of the Diocese of Beaumont, Texas, USA.

Monsignor Toups, a priest of the Diocese of St Petersburg, Florida, has been serving as Rector of St Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach.

He succeeds Bishop Curtis J. Guillory, S.V.D., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese was accepted by the Holy Father.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-francis-jesus-divine-worker-fund-pandemic-poor.html

Pope establishes Fund to help struggling families in Rome
09 June 2020, 12:48

The Jesus the Divine Worker Fund aims to help families and individuals of the Rome Diocese who have lost their livelihoods and are in economic difficulty due to the Covid-19 crisis.
By Vatican News

"As bishop of Rome I have decided to establish the ‘Jesus the Divine Worker Fund’ to reaffirm the dignity of work, with an initial allocation of one million euros”, writes Pope Francis in a letter to the Vicariate of Rome.

In the letter — dated 9 June and addressed to Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome — the Pope explains the Fund aims to support those who have lost their jobs and their livelihoods because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In particular, the Pope says, it is for “those who risk being excluded from institutional protection and who need support until they can walk again unaccompanied.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-06/institute-for-works-of-religion-releases-annual-report.html

Institute for Works of Religion releases Annual Report
08 June 2020, 14:15

The Institute's Board of Superintendence unanimously approved the 2019 Annual Report.

In a press release issued on Monday, the Institute for Works of Religion (Istituto per le Opere di Religione or IOR), commonly known as the Vatican Bank, announced the publication of the Financial Statements in its Annual Report.

The 2019 Financial Statements were audited by Mazars, an independent international auditing firm.

The statement from the IOR highlighted “the soundness and strength of IOR financials (capital and liquidity level) and its compliance with international best practices”. The press release continues, "In line with the indications of His Holiness Pope Francis, the Commission of Cardinals decided again this year for a full distribution of profits."
 
For links to the press release and to the full text of the Annual report, you can visit the website of the Institute for Works of Religion.
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Website of the Institute for Works of Religion-- http://www.ior.va/content/ior/en.html

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/vatican-should-renew-china-deal-for-one-or-two-years-says-negotiator-70962

Vatican should renew China deal for ‘one or two years,’ says negotiator
By Courtney Mares

Vatican City, Jun 9, 2020 / 07:30 am MT (CNA).- With the Vatican’s interim deal with the Chinese government due to expire in September, an archbishop who helped to negotiate the agreement said this week that he believes it should be renewed for one or two more years.

Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli was instrumental in the negotiation and signing of the 2018 agreement between the Holy See and China that regularized the country’s government-appointed bishops who had been out of communion with Rome.

“The deal is an interim deal, which expires, as you said, in September of this year. We have to find a formula. We have to see what to do after this deadline. I think we should probably reconfirm it for one or two years,” Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli said in an Italian television interview June 7.

“However, the Holy See has not yet made a decision in this regard, a decision that will then be communicated to the Chinese authorities,” he added.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-at-audience-wrestling-with-god-a-metaphor-for-prayer.html

Pope at Audience: Wrestling with God a metaphor for prayer
10 June 2020, 09:52

Pope Francis continues his cycle of catechesis on prayer at the Wednesday General Audience, focusing on the story of Jacob “wrestling with God” in the book of Genesis.
By Christopher Wells

At the General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis reflected on the life of the patriarch Jacob, whose story is told in the book of Genesis.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-francis-audience-appeals-child-labour.html
Pope: We are all responsible for the scourge of child labour
10 June 2020, 10:15

https://zenit.org/articles/this-is-a-beautiful-invitation-to-let-ourselves-be-changed-by-god-full-text-of-popes-general-audience/
‘This Is a Beautiful Invitation to Let Ourselves Be Changed by God’ (Full Text of Pope’s General Audience)
Francis Reflects on the Prayer of Jacob
June 10, 2020 14:15

Video, with English commentary, at the link below--
Pope's Audience of 10 June 2020
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/papal-audience/2020-06/pope-s-audience-of-10-june-2020.html

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-appoints-bishop-mitchell-t-rozanski-to-lead-st-louis-archdiocese-12866

Pope Francis appoints Bishop Mitchell Rozanski to lead St. Louis archdiocese
By Courtney Mares

Vatican City, Jun 10, 2020 / 05:15 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis appointed Wednesday Bishop Mitchell Rozanski to lead the Metropolitan Archdiocese of St. Louis.

Rozanski, 61, is the current Bishop of Springfield, Massachusetts, where he has served since 2014. He succeeds Archbishop Robert Carlson, who presented his resignation to Pope Francis at the age of 75.

“I am confident in the future of God’s strong Church in St. Louis with Archbishop-elect Rozanski as its shepherd,” Archbishop Carlson wrote on Twitter following the announcement on June 10.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-appoints-new-baltimore-auxiliary-bishop-92069

Pope Francis names new auxiliary bishop for Baltimore

Vatican City, Jun 10, 2020 / 06:15 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis named Fr. Bruce Lewandowski as an auxiliary bishop of Baltimore Wednesday.

The Redemptorist priest currently serves as pastor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Baltimore, Maryland.

Speaking to the Catholic Review, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, before his appointment was made public, Lewandowski said that he had received a phone call from Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, June 1. 
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-francis-telephones-brazil-bishop-aparecida-coronavirus.html

Covid-19: Pope calls Brazilian Archbishop to express solidarity
11 June 2020, 11:12

Pope Francis expresses his nearness to the people of Brazil in a telephone call to the Archbishop of Aparecida on Wednesday.
By Devin Watkins

As the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic shifts to Latin America, Pope Francis made a personal phone call as a sign of his pastoral care for all Brazilians.

The Pope telephoned Archbishop Orlando Brandes of Aparecida on Wednesday.

According to the archbishop, the Pope asked him to assure everyone of his prayers.

“I am always near to you, as my heart reaches out to all Brazilians,” the Pope said.

Pope Francis also extended his affection and prayers to the nation as a whole, and not merely to Christians, said Archbishop Brandes.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-06/swiss-guard-swearing-in-ceremony-on-4-october-behind-closed-doo.html

Swiss Guard: Swearing-in ceremony on 4 October without guests
10 June 2020, 16:49

The Pontifical Swiss Guard confirms the date of 4 October, for the swearing-in of 38 recruits, but notes that it will take place without guests out of respect for the "current rules of protection" against Covid-19.
By Vatican News

The Pontifical Swiss Guard has confirmed that the swearing-in ceremony of 38 new guards, which should have taken place on 6 May, will now take place on 4 October. However, it will be held behind closed doors and without guests, in accordance with current protection regulations to avoid infection due to the Covid-19 virus.

No parents, family members or guests will be present

The most important moment for young recruits, who for centuries have sworn allegiance to the Pope on May 6 will be celebrated without guests present. The date of the event commemorates the 147 Swiss Guards who fell defending Pope Clement VII during the Sack of Rome in 1527. However, live television broadcasting and streaming "of this unique event" will be guaranteed on the official website of the Swiss Guards at  www.guardiasvizzera.ch .

Greeting new Swiss Guard recruits and their families last year, the Pope expressed the hope that their service in the Vatican and their time spent in Rome would bring those they encounter “a word of comfort and a gesture of brotherhood, so that they may become convincing witnesses of the risen Christ, alive and present in every age.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2020-06/francis-collins-templeton-prize-interview-language-of-god.html

Francis Collins on receiving the Templeton Prize
11 June 2020, 14:08

In an interview with Vatican News, 2020 Templeton Prize recipient Francis Collins talks about his surprise at the nomination and about how science and faith can dialogue with each other.
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

On 20 May of this year, it was announced that the annual Templeton Prize was awarded to geneticist and physician Francis Collins. The statement that announced the news cited Collin’s ability to demonstrate that “religious faith can motivate and inspire rigorous scientific research” and his advocacy “for the integration of faith and reason”.

Dr Collins is most well-known for heading the Genome Project at the turn of the century. Since 2009, he has directed the National Institutes of Health in the United States. The general public became acquainted with Dr Francis Collins through The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief, published in 2006. The book chronicles his own journey from atheism to agnostism to Christian Faith. In October 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-francis-vatican-appointments-library-financial-information.html

Pope appoints two women to positions in Vatican library and financial authority
12 June 2020, 14:39

ope Francis appoints Dr. Raffaella Vincenti as head of the Vatican Apostolic Library, and Prof. Antonella Sciarrone Alibrandi as member of the Financial Information Authority board.
By Vatican News

The Holy See Press Office on Friday announced papal appointments to two positions in the Vatican.

Pope Francis appointed Dr. Raffaella Vincenti as office head of the Vatican Apostolic Library.

Dr. Vincenti had previously served as secretary of the Library.

Financial Information Authority

Pope Francis also named Professor Antonella Sciarrone Alibrandi as a Member of the managing board of the Vatican’s Financial Information Authority (AIF).
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-francis-outstretch-your-hands-to-the-poor.html

Pope's message for World Day of Poor: Prayer inseparable from solidarity with poor
13 June 2020, 11:31

Pope Francis releases his message for the Fourth World Day of the Poor, observed on 15 November. The Pope calls on people to keep their gaze fixed on the poor, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, and warns against succumbing to a “whirlwind of indifference”.
By Lydia O’Kane

The theme for the 4th World Day of the Poor is “Stretch forth your hand to the poor”, taken from the book of Sirach.

Drawing from this text, Pope Francis observes that “its author presents his advice concerning many concrete situations in life, one of which is poverty.  He insists that even amid hardship we must continue to trust in God.”

The Pope points out that from these pages we see, “prayer to God and solidarity with the poor and suffering are inseparable.” 

He also notes that “time devoted to prayer can never become an alibi for neglecting our neighbour in need.” 
 
https://zenit.org/articles/message-of-pope-francis-for-2020-world-day-of-the-poor/
Message of Pope Francis for 2020 World Day of the Poor
‘Stretch forth your hand to the poor’ (Sir 6:7)
June 13, 2020 17:32

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2020-06/queen-elizabeth-ii-and-popes-birthday.html

Happy 94th birthday, Queen Elizabeth
13 June 2020, 09:00

To mark the celebrations of Queen Elizabeth’s 94th birthday, we look back at some of her meetings with Popes across the years – both as a princess, and as the Queen of Great Britain.
By Francesca Merlo

As the longest reigning British monarch in history, Queen Elizabeth has met 4 Popes as Queen, 5 in her lifetime. Though the Queen was born on 21 April, her birthday is celebrated on the second Saturday in June, which this year falls on the 13th. This year, we celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 94th birthday, her 67th since being crowned Queen.

Born in 1926, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary ascended to the throne in 1953 at the age of 25 after the death of her father King George VI. Queen Elizabeth first visited the Vatican in 1951 as Princess Elizabeth. The Pope at the time was Pius XII.

First visit, as Queen of Great Britain

Queen Elizabeth's second visit to the Vatican took place on 5 May 1961, when she, now Queen, and HRH Prince Philip were received in audience by Pope John XXIII. During the meeting, Pope John XXIII expressed his appreciation for "the great and noble British nation with its wealth of courage, its spirit of initiative, and its tenacity" which fights to realise "the great Christian ideal of peace, charity, and brotherhood."
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-francis-mass-corpus-christi-eucharist-heals-memory.html

Pope at Corpus Christi Mass: Eucharist heals our fragile memory
14 June 2020, 10:25

Pope Francis celebrates Mass on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, and reflects on how the Eucharist heals our memory and makes us bearers of joy.
By Devin Watkins

On Sunday, the feast of Corpus Christi, or the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Pope Francis presided over the Eucharist at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Around 50 people were present for the Mass, which was followed by the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction.

Memory makes us part of larger story

In his homily, Pope Francis reflected on the importance of remembering God’s many gifts.

“Without memory, we uproot ourselves from the soil that nourishes us and allow ourselves to be carried away like leaves in the wind.”

The Pope said the act of remembering helps us rebuild our strongest connections and makes us feel part of a larger story. “Memory is not something private; it is the path that unites us to God and to others,” he said.

The Bible, he added, recounts how our relationship with the Lord is transmitted from generation to generation by word of mouth.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/full-text-pope-francis-corpus-christi-sunday-homily-2020-78480
Full Text: Pope Francis' Corpus Christi Homily

Video at the link below--
June 14 2020 Holy Mass Pope Francis
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-francis-angelus-corpus-christi-allow-yourself-transformed.html

Pope at Angelus: Allow yourselves to be transformed
14 June 2020, 12:26

On the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, Corpus Christi, Pope Francis reflects on the mystical and communal effects of the Eucharist.
By Vatican News

During his Sunday Angelus on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, Pope Francis turned to the day’s reading, in which Saint Paul describes the Eucharistic celebration. “He highlights two effects of the shared chalice and the broken bread: the mystical effect and the communal effect”, said the Pope.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-francis-appeals-for-peace-in-libya-angelus.html
Pope appeals for peace in Libya: take their plight to heart
14 June 2020, 12:13

https://zenit.org/articles/pope-francis-marks-world-blood-donor-day-at-angelus/
Pope Francis Marks World Blood Donor Day at Angelus
June 14, 2020 16:50

https://zenit.org/articles/pope-at-angelus-the-dual-fruit-of-the-eucharist/
Pope at Angelus: The Dual Fruit of the Eucharist
Union with Christ and Communion Between Those who are Nourished by Him
June 14, 2020 15:44  Jim Fair

Video at the link below--
June 14 2020 Angelus prayer Pope Francis
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-06/pope-secretary-administration-patrimony-apostolic-see-apsa.html

Pope appoints Secretary of Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See
15 June 2020, 15:05

Pope Francis appoints the distinguished Dr. Fabio Gasperini as secretary of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See.

On Monday, Pope Francis appointed Dr. Fabio Gasperini as secretary of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See.

Dr. Fabio Gasperini was born in Rome on 17 October 1961, Dr. Fabio Gasperini is an auditor and chartered accountant, and has a degree in economics and commerce. He has more than 25 years of experience in consulting and auditing services at leading financial institutions: banks, insurance companies, asset management companies, securities brokerage firms and financial companies.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-06/vatican-promoter-justice-torzi-london-purchase-prison-inquiry.html

Italian financier Gianluigi Torzi released from Vatican prison
15 June 2020, 18:03

The Italian broker charged by the Vatican in connection with a mismanaged real estate deal involving investment property in London is released from prison.
By Vatican News

A statement released by the Holy See Press Office on Monday said Gianluigi Torzi, the broker involved in the last phase of negotiations for the purchase and sale of a building in London with funds connected to the Vatican Secretariat of State, has been granted bail and released from prison.

The communiqué said the decision was made by the Vatican Promoter of Justice following interrogations to which Mr. Gianluigi Torzi was subjected during the investigations relating to the sale of the building in 60 Sloane Avenue in London.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-06/new-appointments-of-the-pontifical-commission-for-health-activit.html

New appointments for Healthcare Commission
16 June 2020, 13:31

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin appoints new members to the Healthcare Commission created by Pope Francis in 2015.
By Vatican News

Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has appointed new members to the “Pontifical Commission for activities of the health sector of the public legal persons of the Church” for the three-year period from June 2020 - June 2023.

The Commission was created by Pope Francis in 2015 to help health care organizations belonging to the Church and to Church organizations to manage their finances and stay true to their founding mission and spirit.

It has the mandate to carry out general studies to ascertain the sustainability of the healthcare systems of the juridical persons of the Church, and to prepare long-range operational sustainability strategies in keeping with the Social Doctrine of the Church.

New Members

Monsignor Luigi Mistò, president of the Health Care Fund (FAS) of the Holy See, is confirmed as President of the Pontifical Commission.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2020-06/british-embassy-holy-see-tea-queen-covid-19-church.html

Afternoon tea in honour of the Queen showcases Church's Covid-19 response
16 June 2020, 18:35

British Embassy to the Holy See hosts afternoon tea in honour of Queen Elizabeth’s birthday by recognizing Church’s contribution in tackling Covid-19.
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

Sally Axworthy, British Ambassador to the Holy See, held a virtual tea party on Tuesday afternoon to honour Queen Elizabeth on her 94th birthday, celebrated on 13 June. Roughly 120 people participated from different parts of the world, including other fellow Ambassadors to the Holy See. The event was transmitted from the headquarters of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) in Rome.

Interdependence

After introductions by the Ambassador, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office greeted the participants via a pre-recorded video message. He underlined the role the Catholic Church plays throughout the world, especially in developing countries. While some members of the Church have lost their lives serving on the front lines, he said many more lives have been saved due to their dedication. Lord Ahmad described the UK government as a “partner” with the Catholic Church on a number of issues, human trafficking, modern slavery, freedom of religion and preventing sexual violence in conflict among them. Covid-19 has taught us that all people are interdependent, regardless of religious persuasion, he said.
 
Light and life amidst darkness and death

Then the Ambassador directed her words to what the Church is doing in “ways the UK cannot match”. Among them was Pope Francis who “gave us hope in the darkness of the first days when it struck”; his special Urbi et orbi prayer in March in which he reminded us that “we are all in the same boat”; his daily Masses, in which he mentioned and interceded for “the many unsung heroes”. “We were privileged to join him daily for his reflections during this time”, she said. As the world’s “largest non-state provider fighting the disease”, Axworthy mentioned the St Egidio community and Pope Francis’s Jesus the Divine Worker fund benefiting Rome’s unemployed population. She “looks forward to the guidance of Pope Francis” through the Covid-19 Commission he established, so as not to return to ways of the past, but so that Britain too might contribute to making the world better. “Today we want to say thank you for the church and people of faith for tackling Covid-19”, she said. Lastly, she explained that UK sponsored donations have benefited 5 Catholic charitable organizations. The money that would  have been spent on a live tea party, she said, is going toward a food donation to people in Northern Italy. Lastly, she quoted Queen Elizabeth’s Easter Message: “As dark as death can be, life and light are better”. “Thanks to everyone for sharing light and life”, Axworthy concluded.