Pope Francis

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-09/pope-francis-laudatosi-communities-justice-environment.html

Pope: contemplation, compassion indispensable for integral ecology
12 September 2020, 12:39

Pope Francis receives a delegation from the “Laudato Si’ Communities”, which work in a concrete way to spread the values of his encyclical “Laudato Si’”. In his address he reflects on how contemplation and compassion help achieve integral ecology.
By Robin Gomes

Contemplation and compassion are indispensable ingredients for an integral ecology as proposed by the encyclical, Laudato Si’, which urges justice for both the created world and every human being.

Pope Francis made the point on Saturday to some 250 representatives of the "Laudato Si’" Communities, which work in a concrete way to spread the values of his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-09/pope-meets-with-families-of-victims-of-2018-nightclub-tragedy.html

Pope meets with families of victims of 2018 nightclub tragedy
12 September 2020, 11:31

Pope Francis on Saturday met with family and friends of those who were killed in a stampede at a nightclub in the Italian town of Corinaldo in 2018.
By Vatican News

Almost two years ago, on the night of 8 December 2018, six people were killed in a stampede at a nightclub in Corinaldo, Italy. The day after the tragedy, Pope Francis prayed at the Angelus for the victims – five young people attending a rap concert and a mother who was accompanying her daughter to the event – and for the numerous people who were injured.

On Saturday, Pope Francis met with family and friends of those who died. “Thank you for coming to share your grief and your prayer with me as well,” he said, adding, “I remember that, when the tragedy occurred, I was shaken by it.”

As time goes by, he said, there is sometimes a danger of forgetting what has happened. The meeting on Saturday was meant to help “the Church not to forget, to keep it in their hearts, and to entrust your loved ones to the heart of God the Father.”
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-09/letter-congregation-worship-celebration-liturgy-covid.html

“Virtual” Mass never substitutes in-person participation
12 September 2020, 15:45

In a Letter to the Presidents of Episcopal Conferences, the Congregation for Divine Worship affirms the necessity of a return to the normality of Christian life, where the health care crisis permits, saying that assisting at a virtual Mass cannot be compared to the physical presence of the faithful at a liturgy.
By Vatican News

There is an urgent need to return to a normal experience of Christian life through the physical presence of the faithful at Mass, where circumstances permit, says Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

In a Letter addressed to the Presidents of Bishops’ Conferences, Cardinal Sarah insists that “virtual” services cannot compare to, and cannot replace, personal participation in the liturgy. The Letter, bearing the title, "Let us return to the Eucharist with joy!" was published with the approval of Pope Francis, which he granted on 3 September.

The urgency of a return to the normal state of Christian life

Keeping that in mind, Cardinal Sarah writes that nonetheless, “as soon as circumstances permit… it is necessary and urgent to return to the normality of Christian life, which has the church building as its home and the celebration of the liturgy, especially the Eucharist, as ‘the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; and at the same time it is the font from which all her power flows’ (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 10).”

The Letter continues, “Aware that God never abandons the humanity He has created, and that even the hardest trials can bear fruits of grace, we have accepted our distance from the Lord's altar as a time of Eucharistic fasting, useful for us to rediscover its vital importance, beauty and immeasurable preciousness.” So, “as soon as is possible,” writes Cardinal Sarah, “we must return to the Eucharist … with an increased desire to meet the Lord, to be with Him, to receive Him and to bring Him to our brothers and sisters with the witness of a life full of faith, love and hope.”
 

[grace-land]

Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-09/pope-francis-angelus-forgiveness-mercy-unmerciful-servant.html
Pope at Angelus: forgiveness and mercy helps avoid suffering, wars...
13 September 2020, 12:15

At Sunday’s midday Angelus prayer, Pope Francis reflects on the day’s Gospel of the parable of the unmerciful servant saying if we do not strive to forgive and love, neither we will be forgiven and loved.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis is urging Christians to imitate God's merciful attitude, saying the world could be spared much suffering and many wounds and wars if forgiveness and mercy were "the style of our life."

Speaking to a crowd gathered in Rome St. Peter’s Square, the Pope reflected on the parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew’s Gospel (18:21-35), the Gospel of the day. A master forgives a servant's enormous loan when he pleaded for time to repay it. But when that servant came across another fellow servant who owed him only a modest amount, he had his fellow servant thrown into prison. Coming to know about it, the master punishes the unmerciful servant.

“How much suffering, how many wounds, how many wars could be avoided if forgiveness and mercy were the style of our life!”
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-09/pope-francis-expresses-his-closeness-to-victims-of-moria-camp-fi.html
Pope Francis expresses his nearness to Moria Camp victims of fire
13 September 2020, 13:14

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-09/pope-francis-manifestations-protests-angelus-appeal.html
Pope Francis's appeal regarding popular demonstrations and protests
13 September 2020, 12:44

https://zenit.org/2020/09/13/pope-at-angelus-recalls-compassion-of-jesus-full-text/
Pope at Angelus Recalls Compassion of Jesus (Full Text)
SEPTEMBER 13, 2020 12:44  JIM FAIR

[grace-land]

Appointments by Pope Francis...

https://zenit.org/2020/09/14/pope-makes-appointments-in-mexico-papua-new-guinea/
Pope Makes Appointments in Mexico, Papua New Guinea
SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 13:55

Appointment of bishop of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea

The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of the diocese of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, Bishop Dariusz Piotr Kałuża, M.S.F., until now bishop of Goroka.

Appointment of bishop of Querétaro, Mexico

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Fidencio López Plaza of San Andrés Tuxtla as bishop of Querétaro, Mexico.
 
https://zenit.org/2020/09/14/holy-father-makes-appointment-in-greece/
Holy Father Makes Appointment in Greece

Metropolitan Archbishop of Corfu, Zakynthos and Kefalonia and Apostolic Administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Thessaloniki
SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 14:08

[grace-land]

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cardinal-parolin-vatican-china-deal-can-help-normalize-life-of-the-church-27743

Cardinal Parolin: Vatican-China deal can help ‘normalize life of the Church’
By Hannah Brockhaus

Vatican City, Sep 14, 2020 / 08:00 am MT (CNA).- The Vatican expects to renew its interim deal with China on the appointment of bishops, as part of efforts to “normalize” the life of the Catholic Church in China, Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said Monday.

“With China, our current interest is to normalize the life of the Church as much as possible, to ensure that the Church can live a normal life, which for the Catholic Church is also to have relations with the Holy See and with the Pope,” Parolin said Sept. 14, according to Italian news agency AgenSIR.

“Our perspective is on this ecclesiastical theme,” Parolin added, noting that this goal should also take place “against a backdrop of peaceful coexistence, the search for peace and overcoming tensions.”

Cardinal Parolin spoke to journalists on the sidelines of a private event with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, held at the Italian Embassy to the Holy See in Rome, Sept. 14.

Responding to questions, Parolin also said the Vatican’s intention “is that [the deal] be prolonged, that we continue to adopt it ad experimentum.”

“If there is the same intention on their part too? I think and hope so,” he said, calling the results of the two-year provisional agreement “not particularly exciting.”

The provisional agreement signed by the Vatican and China on Sept. 22, 2018, is due to expire in October.

Parolin spoke Monday morning at an event titled “Forty-five years after the Helsinki Accords, Cardinal Silvestrini and the Vatican Östpolitik,” organized by the Italian ambassador to the Holy See.
 
https://zenit.org/2020/09/14/feature-cardinal-parolin-to-zenit-belarus-a-visit-the-pope-will-consider-let-archbishop-of-minsk-back-into-country/
FEATURE: Cardinal Parolin to ZENIT: Belarus, A Visit the Pope Will Consider; Appeal: Let Archbishop of Minsk Back into Country

Secretary of State Also Comments on China Deal, Lebanon, COVID in the Vatican, & More, at Italian Embassy to Holy See’s Event to Recall the 1975 Helsinki Accords, Where He Spoke With Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte
SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 11:34  DEBORAH CASTELLANO LUBOV

[grace-land]

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/full-text-cardinal-robert-sarah---let-us-return-to-the-eucharist-with-joy-58368

Full text: Cardinal Sarah - 'Let us return to the Eucharist with joy'
By Cardinal Robert Sarah

Vatican City, Sep 14, 2020 / 12:00 pm MT (CNA).- Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Vatican’s dicastery for liturgy and sacraments, sent a letter to bishops around the world, urging a return to Mass, with proper safety protocols observed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Below is the full text of that letter:

Let us return to the Eucharist with joy!

Letter on the celebration of the liturgy during and after the COVID 19 pandemic to the Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences of the Catholic Church.
 

[grace-land]

Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-09/pope-francis-become-guardians-of-life-and-earth-by-contemplatio.html
Pope Francis: Become guardians of life and earth with contemplation and care
16 September 2020, 10:41

Continuing his catechesis on the current pandemic in the light of the Church’s social doctrine, the Pope at his weekly General Audience on Wednesday stresses the importance of caring for each other and contemplating the world in which we live.
By Vatican News

“Contemplating and caring: these are two attitudes that show the way to correct and rebalance our relationship as human beings with creation.”

Those were Pope Francis’ words at the weekly General Audience held in the Courtyard of San Damaso in the Vatican.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-09/priest-murdered-italian-witness-charity-pope-francis.html
Pope calls murdered priest a witness of charity
16 September 2020, 11:42

https://zenit.org/2020/09/16/full-text-of-holy-fathers-september-16-general-audience-address/
Full Text of Holy Father’s September 16 General Audience Address
SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 14:44

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-09/pope-appointment-grech-secretary-general-synod-bishops.html

Pope appoints Bishop Mario Grech as General Secretary of the Synod of Bishops
16 September 2020, 12:58

On Tuesday, Pope Francis accepts the resignation of Cardinal Baldisseri and appoints Bishop Mario Grech as General Secretary of the Synod of Bishops.
By Vatican News

The Holy See Press Office noon-day bulletin on Wednesday contained the news that Pope Francis accepted on Tuesday the resignation of Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri from his position as the General Secretary of the Synod of Bishops.

The same bulletin announced that the Pope is appointing Bishop Mario Grech, Bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Gozo in Malta, as his successor.

Bishop Mario Grech served as the Bishop of Gozo, Malta, and on 2 October 2019, Pope Francis appointed him as Pro-Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops.

Bishop Grech was born in Qala, Malta in 1957 and ordained a priest in 1984.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-appoints-maltese-bishop-secretary-general-of-synod-of-bishops-61062
Pope Francis appoints Maltese bishop as secretary general of Synod of Bishops

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-09/pope-francis-fratelli-tutti-encyclical-all-brothers-and-sisters.html

An encyclical for all brothers and sisters
16 September 2020, 15:00

While waiting to know the contents of the document, there has been some discussion about the title and how to translate it inclusively. An encyclical, though, is per se a universal text, and Pope Francis truly wants to speak to the heart of each and every person. The Holy See Press Office announces that the text will be published on 4 October.
By Andrea Tornielli

Fratelli tutti is the title Pope Francis has chosen for his new encyclical – dedicated, as we read in the subtitle, to “fraternity” and “social friendship”. The original Italian title will be used, without being translated, in all the languages in which the document is published. The first words of the new “circular letter” (this is the meaning of the word “encyclical”) come from the great Saint of Assisi, whose name Pope Francis chose.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-09/pope-encyclical-fraternity-francis-assisi.html
Brothers as gift, St Francis of Assisi’s experience
15 September 2020, 20:52

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-to-release-new-encyclical-on-oct-4-15352
Pope Francis to release new encyclical on Oct. 4

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-09/archbishop-gallagher-belarus-visit-minsk.html

Archbishop Gallagher's mission in Belarus
16 September 2020, 15:56

The Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, made a visit to Belarus from September 11 to 14. A few highlights of his trip follow.
By Vatican News and L'Osservatore Romano

An article appeared in the Italian edition of L'Osservatore Romano on Wednesday regarding Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher's visit to Belarus.

On Friday, 11 September, Archbishop Gallagher traveled to Belarus. A statement released by the Holy See Press Office that evening said that he had gone there “to show the attention and closeness of the Holy Father to the Catholic Church and the whole country”.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-09/pope-francis-thanks-elderly-and-sick-priests-for-their-faithful.html

Pope Francis thanks elderly and sick priests for their faithful witness
17 September 2020, 12:02

The Pope sends a message to those participating in the Day of Prayer and Fraternity for elderly and sick priests in the Italy’s Lombardy region.
By Vatican News

In the message addressed to “brother priests,” the Pope thanks the Episcopal Conference of Lombardy, which for six years has organized the Day of Prayer and Fraternity with elderly and sick clergy.

“It is beautiful," Pope Francis says, the attention that is shown to those priests who are physically more fragile.

The Pope expresses his delight that, elderly and sick priests were able to travel with their Bishops to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Caravaggio, despite restrictions due to the coronavirus.

The Shrine is located in the Italy’s Lombardy region and is dedicated to Our Lady of the Fountain.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/archbishop-gnswein-better-and-grateful-for-prayers-after-hospitalization-16077

Archbishop Gänswein ‘better’ and grateful for prayers after hospitalization

CNA Staff, Sep 17, 2020 / 04:00 am MT (CNA).- Archbishop Georg Gänswein is expected to leave hospital Thursday.

Sources close to the personal secretary of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI told CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German language news partner, that he was “better and improving steadily.”

Gänswein, 64, thanked those who had prayed for his recovery, saying: “May God reward you for your prayerful support.”

The prefect of the papal household was hospitalized with kidney pain Sept. 11. CNA Deutsch reported that he would leave hospital in Rome Sept. 17 and return to the Vatican.
 

[grace-land]

Photo at the link

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-new-prayer-card-features-grandmother-and-grandchild-from-romania-99558

Pope Francis' new prayer card features grandmother and grandchild from Romania
By Hannah Brockhaus

Vatican City, Sep 17, 2020 / 09:32 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis’ newest prayer card, which he hands out to the people he meets, features a grandmother and grandchild from his trip to Romania in early summer 2019.

Pope Francis was moved by the smile of a woman he saw among the crowds from his popemobile in the city of Iaşi.

Though brief, that moment made an impression on Francis, who mentioned her in his speech soon after, from the square in front of the Palace of Culture.

“I do not want to neglect to tell you about an experience I had just as I was coming into the square,” he told those gathered in the square June 2, 2019. “There was an elderly lady, quite elderly, a grandmother. In her arms was a grandchild, about two months old, not more.”

“As I passed by, she showed him to me,” the pope described. “She smiled, and smiled with a knowing smile, as if she was saying to me: ‘Look, now I can dream!’ I was very moved in that moment and I didn’t have the courage to go and bring her up here.”

Francis tied the encounter to his message about the importance of the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren.

The pope often speaks to young people about the importance of being close to their familial, cultural, and religious roots, as learned from their grandparents. He also said in Romania the young are important for the elderly: “when young and old meet, the elderly are not afraid to dream,” he said.

A photo was snapped of the grandmother and child by a Vatican photographer as he passed by, and now, at Francis’ request, has been made into a prayer card.

On the back of the card are the pope’s impromptu comments in Romania about the experience.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-09/pope-francis-tertio-magazine-audience-christian-journalist-media.html

Pope to Christian journalists: 'be bearers of hope'
18 September 2020, 11:41

Pope Francis on Friday received in audience in the Vatican representatives from the Belgian Catholic magazine, “Tertio”. He spoke to them about the call of a Christian media person.
By Robin Gomes

Amid the confusion of voices and messages that surround us, a Christian journalist is called to be a new witness to the truth, thus becoming a bearer of hope and confidence in the future.

This was the message at the heart of  Pope Francis' address to some 30 representatives of "Tertio", a Belgian weekly magazine that analyses current events and interprets them from a Christian, and more specifically Catholic, perspective.  Established in 2000, the magazine takes its name from the 1994 Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio Adveniente of Saint Pope John Paul II, in preparation for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-09/vatican-holy-see-corruption-secretariat-economy-auditor-general.html

Vatican: new MoU on the fight against corruption
18 September 2020, 15:51

A Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy and the Auditor General: the two offices will collaborate even more closely to better implement law regarding transparency and the granting of public contracts by the Holy See and the Vatican.
By Vatican News

The Prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy, Fr Juan Antonio Guerrero, and the Auditor General ad interim, Alessandro Cassinis Righini, signed on Friday a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the fight against corruption. The news was announced the same afternoon through a communication sent out by the Holy See Press Ofice.

“The two Authorities of the Holy See will collaborate in an even closer way in the identification of the risks of corruption and to more efficaciously implement the recently approved law regarding transparency, the control of and competition for awarding public contracts by the Holy See and Vatican City State."
 

[grace-land]

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-accepts-resignation-of-bishop-bevard-of-us-virgin-islands-59848

Pope Francis accepts resignation of Bishop Bevard of US Virgin Islands
By Courtney Mares

Vatican City, Sep 18, 2020 / 06:30 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis accepted the resignation Friday of Bishop Herbert Bevard of the U.S. Virgin Islands after he was hospitalized and airlifted to the U.S. mainland for medical treatment.

“Regrettably, I have experienced some new and unanticipated medical conditions that unfortunately preclude my ability to continue to maintain my position in the Diocese of Saint Thomas,” Bevard wrote in a letter to the diocese Sept. 18.

“I have loved serving the People of God; the clergy, religious, laity and the entire Virgin Islands community in the Diocese of Saint Thomas and will treasure the fond memories that we share together. It is this same love and concern for them, recognizing my own limitations, that now compel me to make this request,” he said.

Bevard, who turns 75 in February, noted that he had already submitted his resignation to Pope Francis on July 6, before following up to request an immediate resignation in light of his medical conditions “so as not to inhibit the effective ongoing pastoral leadership and care of the Diocese of Saint Thomas.”

Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington to serve as the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Saint Thomas until Bevard’s successor is appointed.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-09/pope-francis-medicine-bank-audience-collection-poor1.html

Pope: “pharmaceutical marginality” furthers gap between nations
19 September 2020, 12:11

Pope Francis on Saturday addressed a delegation from Italy’s Fondazione Banco Farmaceutico, which collects and distributes medicines nearing expiration for those in need.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis on Saturday decried the injustice of what he called “pharmaceutical marginality”, saying those who live in poverty are poor even in medicines, treatment and health.

He made the remark to some 300 representatives of the Italy-based Fondazione Banco Farmaceutico (Medicine Bank Foundation), which collects medicines from donors and companies to deliver them to over 1,800 charities that take care of people in difficulty.
 

[grace-land]

Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-09/pope-at-angelus-god-calls-everyone-and-calls-always.html
Pope at Angelus: God calls everyone, and calls always
20 September 2020, 11:08

At the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Francis reflects on the parable of the workers in the vineyard, heard in the day’s Gospel, and elaborates on two ways God acts.
By Vatican News

In his reflection on Sunday’s Gospel, Pope Francis highlighted two attitudes of the landowner in Jesus’s parable about the workers in the vineyard: the “call” and the “recompense.”

Calling everyone, calling always

Jesus tells of a landowner who “goes out and calls” people to work in his vineyard. “That owner,” said Pope Francis, “represents God, who calls everyone and calls always.” This is how God acts even today, and we, in turn, are called to imitate this attitude by going out to seek people wherever they may be.

“This means being open to horizons that offer hope to those stationed on the existential peripheries,” the Pope said, people “who have not yet experienced, or who have lost, the strength and light that comes with meeting Christ.”

He added, “The Church must always be like God, always going out. And when the Church is not going out, she gets sick.” Pope Francis said it is better for the Church to be “going out” announcing the Gospel, despite the dangers, than to grow sick by remaining closed in on herself. “God always goes out, because He’s a Father Who loves – and the Church always needs to do the same thing, always going out.”
 
https://zenit.org/2020/09/20/pope-greets-faithful-of-hungary-in-light-of-postponed-eucharistic-congress/
Pope Greets Faithful of Hungary in Light of Postponed Eucharistic Congress
SEPTEMBER 20, 2020 13:51

https://zenit.org/2020/09/20/pope-at-angelus-explains-gods-calling-and-compensation/
Pope at Angelus Explains God’s Calling and Compensation
‘He continues to call anyone, at whatever hour, to invite them to work in His Kingdom’
SEPTEMBER 20, 2020 13:24

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-09/pope-francis-autistic-children-polten-austria-audience.html

Pope: each one is beautiful to God who loves us
21 September 2020, 11:18

Pope Francis on Monday received in the Vatican a group of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who are being treated at a clinic in St. Polten, Austria. He thanked all for the wonderful work for the youngsters.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis expressed his delight at meeting the group of 42, including children with ASD,  their parents and the staff of Ambulatorium Sonnenschein where they are treated.  “Welcome to the Vatican! I am happy to see your faces, and I read it in your eyes that you too are happy to be here with me for a while,” he told the group.

The children undergo therapy at Ambulatorium Sonnenschein or the Sunshine Outpatient Clinic, which was established in 1995.  The treatment combines diagnosis, advice and therapy for children and adolescents with special needs under one roof.
 
https://zenit.org/2020/09/21/each-one-is-beautiful-to-god-pope-francis-receives-autistic-little-ones/
‘Each One Is Beautiful to God’ – Pope Francis Receives Autistic Little Ones
SEPTEMBER 21, 2020 12:37  DEBORAH CASTELLANO LUBOV