Pope Francis

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-02/pope-day-prayer-consecrated-life-homily-mass-patience.html
Pope: Patience is a hallmark of consecrated men and women
02 February 2021, 18:09

Pope Francis celebrates a Vigil Mass on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, which is observed as the World Day of Consecrated Life. In his homily, the Pope invites religious men and women to be patient and courageous in order to keep advancing, exploring new paths, and responding to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
By Vatican News staff writer

At the Mass for the Presentation of the Lord, Pope Francis focused on the words of Simeon when he “looked forward to the consolation of Israel” (Lk 2:25).

He introduced his homily describing Simeon who recognized in the Child Jesus “the light that came to shine on the Gentiles:” He was an elderly man, the Pope explained, who had patiently awaited the fulfilment of the Lord’s promises.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-on-feast-of-the-presentation-learn-from-the-patience-of-simeon-and-anna-59753
Pope Francis on Feast of Presentation: Learn from the patience of Simeon and Anna

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-02/pope-francis-martha-mary-lazarus-inserted-roman-calendar.html

Pope Francis adds memorials of 6 Saints to Roman Calendar
02 February 2021, 12:08

Pope Francis inserts four new liturgical Memorials into the Roman Calendar: Martha, Mary, and Lazarus will be celebrated together, while Gregory of Narek, John of Avila, and Hildegard of Bingen will have their own optional memorials.
By Devin Watkins

The Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments released two decrees, approved by Pope Francis, on Tuesday.

One inscribed the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus into the Roman Calendar on 29 July.

This means all liturgical books around the world will be updated with the prayers and texts proper to these three companions of Jesus.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-02/pope-sends-message-to-ifad-indigenous-peoples-forum.html

Pope sends message to IFAD Indigenous Peoples' Forum
02 February 2021, 14:00

Pope Francis sends a message to the IFAD fifth global meeting of the Indigenous Peoples' Forum, telling participants that when there is solidarity and diversity, communion between peoples flourishes.
By Vatican News staff reporter

The UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is hosting the fifth global meeting of the Indigenous Peoples' Forum, which takes place from 2-4 February and on 15 February.

The Forum will focus on the value of indigenous food systems: resilience in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It also aims to be “a platform for meaningful dialogue where Indigenous Peoples’ representatives are able to convey their concerns, requests and recommendations to improve the partnership with IFAD and the effectiveness of its engagement with Indigenous Peoples.”

In a message to the Forum sent on Tuesday, Pope Francis expresses his closeness to participants and organizers.

He also highlights the Church's commitment to continue walking together, to “express our conviction that globalization cannot mean a uniformity that ignores diversity and imposes a new type of colonialism.”
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/vatican-cardinal-protecting-catholic-doctrine-will-always-be-necessary-61525

Vatican cardinal: Protecting Catholic doctrine will ‘always be necessary’
By Hannah Brockhaus

Vatican City, Feb 2, 2021 / 09:00 am MT (CNA).- The Vatican’s doctrinal chief has emphasized the Catholic Church’s duty to promote and protect her teachings as passed down by the Apostles.

Speaking to Vatican News on Monday, Cardinal Luis Ladaria Ferrer, S.J., prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), noted that “what was called ‘concern for right doctrine’” existed before the CDF was created in 1542 and has its roots in the New Testament.

“Our mission is to promote and protect the doctrine of the faith. A task that will always be necessary in the Church, which has the duty to transmit the teaching of the Apostles to new generations,” he said in the Feb. 1interview.

Ladaria noted that “the concrete way of completing this task has changed over the centuries and we can think that it will change again. But the concern for fidelity to the doctrine of the Apostles will always remain.”
 

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-02/pope-francis-catechesis-general-audience-liturgy-prayer.html
Pope at Audience: Liturgy and prayer unite us to Christ
03 February 2021, 09:58

Pope Francis continues his catechesis on Christian prayer at the weekly General Audience, and reflects on how liturgical prayer unites us to Christ.
By Devin Watkins

Speaking from the library of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis held his Wednesday General Audience which was live-streamed to the faithful around the world.

In his continuing catechesis on Christian prayer, the Pope spoke about how the Church’s liturgical celebrations make Christ present in our lives.

He began by noting that Christian history is rife with movements which pushed liturgical rites aside.

“Often,” he said, “this tendency claimed the supposed greater purity of a religiousness that did not depend on external ceremonies, which were considered a useless or harmful burden.”

Many modern Catholics, he added, attend Mass on Sunday but feed their own spirituality through various personal devotions.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-02/pope-francis-commit-to-fraternity-every-day-of-the-year.html
Pope Francis: Commit to fraternity every day of the year
03 February 2021, 10:18

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-02/pope-international-day-human-fraternity-anniversary-celebration.html

Pope inspires International Day of Human Fraternity
03 February 2021, 14:54

One day before the second anniversary of the historic signing of the Document on Human Fraternity and World Peace for Living Together, Pope Francis announces during the General Audience on Wednesday morning that he will participate in the virtual celebrations.
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

On Wednesday morning after his general audience, Pope Francis reminded everyone that Thursday, 4 February, the First International Day of Human Fraternity will be celebrated. This celebration is intimately linked with the historic signing of the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together. The signers of this document, Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, spent more than a year drafting it prior to signing it in Abu Dhabi, on 4 February 2019. It was the 800th anniversary of the meeting of St Francis with Sultan al-Malik al-Kamal in 1219.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-02/human-fraternity-day-website-pope-francis.html
New website dedicated to the Human Fraternity Day
03 February 2021, 16:28

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-02/pope-francis-human-fraternity-international-day-zayed-award.html

Pope Francis on Human Fraternity: We are all born of the same Father
04 February 2021, 15:06

Pope Francis highlights the theme of fraternity in a video message for the first International Day of Human Fraternity celebrated on Thursday. He calls for a world of mutual respect, stressing that we can either choose to be brothers and sisters or we lose everything.
By Vatican News staff writer

Pope Francis marked the first-ever International Day of Human Fraternity on Thursday, in a virtual event hosted by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi, with the participation of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and other personalities.

During the occasion, the Holy Father, in a video message, expressed his gratitude to those who had contributed to the promotion of fraternity in spite of the challenges.

“Sisters and brothers - that is the word,” the Pope said. “Sisters and brothers to affirm fraternity in a special way to you, my brother, my friend, my companion of challenges and risks in the struggle for fraternity.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-02/pope-francis-vide-message-music-convention-church.html

Pope to musicians: Create context in the heart of God's voice
04 February 2021, 12:00

Pope Francis sends a video message to the participants of a music convention taking place on 4-5 February, and urges musicians to draw inspiration from the Bible.
By Vatican News staff writer

Pope Francis opened his video message by extending his greeting to all who are participating in the 4th International Conference on Music, organised by the Pontifical Council for Culture, in collaboration with the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music and the Pontifical Liturgical Institute of the Ateneo Sant'Anselmo".

The Pope went on to express his hope that their reflections, on the theme 'Texts and Contexts', "may enrich ecclesial communities and those who work in the field of music, an area that is very important for liturgy and evangelisation."

The Bible in music
As is well known, noted the Pope, "the Bible has inspired countless musical expressions, including fundamental pages in the history of music."

He offered the examples of Gregorian chant, Palestrina, and Bach to stress that "it has inspired a great variety of compositions on the five continents" and that various contemporary composers have also dealt with the sacred texts.

"The Church's musical heritage, in fact, is very varied and has ample space, in addition to the liturgy, for concert performances, in schools and catechesis, and even in the theater," he adds.
 

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Hmmm...

https://www.ncregister.com/news/great-reset-plan-parallels-some-of-pope-s-initiatives-but-there-s-a-crucial-difference

‘Great Reset’ Plan Parallels Some of Pope’s Initiatives — But There’s a Crucial Difference

Like the plan’s promoters, the Holy Father also believes the global economy needs to be reshaped coming out of the pandemic; but unlike them, his vision is anchored in God’s grace.
Edward Pentin  Vatican February 4, 2021
 
Overlaps With Pope Francis’ Approach

The theme of a “great reset” is not exclusive to the World Economic Forum. Others have called for some form of communitarian reset of values and institutions, including Pope Francis, who sees the pandemic as exposing capitalism’s flaws.

Having overseen his own hotly debated reset of the Church over the past eight years, the Pope has begun a number of initiatives along some of the same lines as Schwab.

He has frequently expressed a wish for the world to take the opportunity to emerge better from the COVID crisis, including through his October 2020 social encyclical Fratelli Tutti (which the WEF read as proposing a reset similar to its own), his “Economy of Francesco” initiative in Assisi in November that proposed a “new economy” of “communal wealth,” his U.N.-affiliated Global Compact for Education initiative, or the Vatican’s collaboration with Mission 4.7, a U.N.-backed project that, like the Global Compact, aims to educate the world in sustainable lifestyles, gender equality and a culture of peace and nonviolence.

Also relevant to his vision for resetting the world’s socioeconomic systems is Francis’ new interview book with papal biographer Austen Ivereigh. Called Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future, an excerpt of which was published in The New York Times, Francis’ vision overlaps substantially with the Great Reset. “For me it’s clear,” Francis writes. “We must redesign the economy so that it can offer every person access to a dignified existence while protecting and regenerating the natural world.”
 

[grace-land]

Video, with English text and commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-02/pope-francis-human-fraternity-zayed-award.html
Human Fraternity Day online event highlights need for solidarity
04 February 2021, 16:29

During a virtual ceremony commemorating the first-ever International Day for Human Fraternity on Thursday, Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, highlight the importance of fraternity and solidarity. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Moroccan-French activist Latifah Ibn Ziaten were also presented with the 2021 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.
By Vatican News staff writer

The first-ever International Day of Human Fraternity, commemorated on Thursday, was marked with a virtual event which saw the participation of Pope Francis and several other personalities, including Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed of Abu Dhabi – the host of the online event – the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and other personalities.

One part of the celebration was the presentation of the 2021 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Moroccan-French activist and founder of the Imad Association for Youth and Peace, Latifah Ibn Ziaten.

Inspired by the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity recognizes individuals who are committed to fostering conditions for peaceful co-existence.

Both Pope Francis and Ahmad Al-Tayyeb signed the Document on Human Fraternity during their historic meeting in Abu Dhabi on 4 February 2019. The Document also inspired the creation of the Higher Committee on Human Fraternity dedicated to realizing the intentions of the document.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-and-benedict-xvi-receive-second-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine-20561

Pope Francis and Benedict XVI receive second dose of COVID-19 vaccine
By Hannah Brockhaus

Vatican City, Feb 5, 2021 / 06:00 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis and Pope emeritus Benedict XVI have both received their second and final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, a Vatican source confirmed to CNA.

Pope Francis and Benedict had received the first dose of the vaccine last month, as confirmed by Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, on Jan. 14.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-02/pope-names-new-permanent-*******-of-holy-see-to-oas.html

Pope names new Permanent ******* of Holy See to OAS
05 February 2021, 13:12

Monsignor Juan Antonio Cruz Serrano has been named as the new Permanent ******* of the Holy See to the Organization of American States. Also on Friday, Pope Francis has named Monsignor Mark Gerard Miles as Apostolic Nuncio to Benin.
By Vatican News staff reporter

Pope Francis on Friday appointed Msgr. Juan Antonio Cruz Serrano, nunciature counsellor, as Holy See Permanent ******* at the Organisation of American States (O.A.S.).

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Juan Antonio Cruz Serrano was born on 29 September 1976 in María, province of Almería, Spain.

He was ordained a priest on 15 September 2001, and incardinated in the diocese of Almería.

He graduated with a degree in Canon Law.

He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 1 July 2004, and served in the pontifical representations in Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Chile, and at the Section for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State.

He speaks English, Italian, French and German.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-nominates-new-prosecutor-judges-for-vatican-court-of-appeals-47280

Pope Francis nominates new prosecutor, judges for Vatican Court of Appeal
By Hannah Brockhaus

Vatican City, Feb 5, 2021 / 03:00 pm MT (CNA).- Pope Francis on Friday tapped a long-time Rome prosecutor to be public prosecutor for the Vatican City State’s Court of Appeal.

He also nominated two new judges for the same court: Msgr. Francesco Viscome of the Roman Rota and Italian judge Massimo Massella Ducci Teri.

Catia Summaria, 73, will be the new promoter of justice, filling the position left vacant since Italian jurist Raffaele Coppola ended a six-year term in April 2019.

Summaria, who is married and has two daughters, is the first woman to be a prosecutor of the Vatican court.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-02/vatican-transactions-australia-no-misconduct-afp.html

‘No criminal misconduct’ in payments from Vatican to Australia
04 February 2021, 08:19

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) releases a statement regarding an investigation into alleged misconduct related to payments sent to Australia from the Holy See.
By Vatican News

“The AFP has completed analysis of the financial intelligence provided by AUSTRAC in relation to payments from the Vatican to Australia. No criminal misconduct has been identified to date. If the AFP receives additional information from Australian or international partners it will be reviewed accordingly.”

This statement was released Wednesday by the Australian Federal Police.

Already on 13 January, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), the Australian financial watchdog, had released a statement on the website of "The Australian", in which it admitted to having massively overestimated the flow of money transfers between the Vatican and Australia.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-02/the-pope-to-focolari-witness-to-the-gospel-through-dialogue-and.html

The Pope to Focolare: Witness to the Gospel through dialogue and openness
06 February 2021, 13:00

Pope Francis on Saturday receives members of the Focolare Movement in the Paul VI hall at the conclusion of their General Assembly.
Vatican News staff reporter

Over the course of their General Assembly this week, members of the Focolare Movement discussed a number of key issues and chosen new leaders.
At the conclusion of their meeting, Pope Francis on Saturday had words of thanks to the outgoing President, Maria Voce, and the newly elected President, Margaret Karram.

He also offered the Movement some reflections, to “encourage them on their journey.”

He divided these reflections into three points: the post-Foundress era; the importance of crises and living spirituality with coherence and realism.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-02/pope-appointment-under-secretaries-synod-bishops-woman.html

Pope appoints woman Under-Secretary at Synod of Bishops
06 February 2021, 12:08

Pope Francis appoints two new Under-Secretaries to the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops: Sr Nathalie Becquart and Fr Luis Marín de San Martín.
By Vatican News staff writer

Pope Francis has appointed Sr Nathalie Becquart and Fr Luis Marín de San Martín to be the Under-Secretaries of the Synod of Bishops.

Currently headed by Cardinal Mario Grech, the Synod of Bishops is a permanent institution established by Pope Paul VI in 1965, in response to the desire of the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council to keep alive the spirit of collegiality engendered by the conciliar experience.

The appointment of Sr Natalie Becquart is particularly interesting as it is the first time ever a woman has been appointed to this position.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-02/sr-becquart-a-sign-of-confidence-for-women-in-the-church.html
Sr Nathalie Becquart: "a sign of confidence for women in the Church"
06 February 2021, 14:44

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-02/cardinal-grech-church-synodality-interview-appointments.html
Cardinal Grech: The Church is reinforcing its commitment to grow in synodality
06 February 2021, 12:15

An interview with the General Secretary of the Synod of Bishops on the appointment of two new Under-secretaries who will work alongside him so that the Church becomes ever more synodal, as Pope Francis desires.
By Alessandro Gisotti

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-02/pope-ash-wednesday-mass-lenten-sermons-vatican.html

Pope to celebrate Ash Wednesday Mass in St Peter’s Basilica
06 February 2021, 10:03

A Holy See Press Office statement gives details of upcoming liturgical celebrations and Lenten Sermons.
By Vatican News staff writer

On the morning of Wednesday 17 February, at 9.30 am CET, Pope Francis is scheduled to celebrate Holy Mass, Blessing and Imposition of Ashes at the Altar of the Chair, in St. Peter's Basilica.

A statement released by the Holy See Press Office says the ceremony will take place “in the presence of a very limited number of faithful according to the modalities used in the past months, in respect of the protection measures provided. On that day, the General Audience will not take place.”

Lenten Sermons
The statement also reveals that the Prefecture of the Papal Household has announced that the Lenten Sermons for 2021 will be given by the Preacher of the Papal Household, Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa OFM, on the theme "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:15).

The Sermons will take place, as per the 2020 Advent meditations, in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall in order to allow for due distancing between participants.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-01/ash-wednesday-coronavirus-note-distribution-ashes.html
Vatican modifies distribution of ashes for Ash Wednesday

The Congregation for Divine Worship releases a note laying out the procedures priests around the world are to follow for the distribution of ashes at the start of Lent.
By Vatican News

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-02/pope-francis-monthly-prayer-intentions-2022.html

Pope’s prayer intentions for 2022
06 February 2021, 10:28

The Vatican on Saturday published the monthly prayer intentions of the Holy Father for the year 2022.
By Vatican News staff writer

The prayer intentions are entrusted to the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, which Pope Francis officially established as a pontifical work on 17 November 2020.

The Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network is a pontifical work with the mission of mobilizing Catholics through prayer and action, in the face of the challenges confronting humanity and the mission of the Church. These challenges are addressed in the form of prayer intentions entrusted by the Pope to the entire Church. Its mission is inscribed in the dynamic of the Heart of Jesus: a mission of compassion for the world.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-02/vatican-museums-reopening-covid.html

Vatican Museums reopen to the public
01 February 2021, 16:01

Beginning on Monday, 1 February 2021, the Vatican Museums are open again to guests, making it possible to visit the Sistine Chapel, the Raphael Rooms, and all the other masterpieces of art, history, and faith in the Pope’s collections. The Museums will be open Monday through Saturday, with online reservations required.
By Paolo Ondarza

As Barbara Jatta had hoped for when she spoke to Vatican Radio last month — when the closure of the Vatican Museums was extended due to the Covid-19 situation in Italy — Monday 1 February allowed for an official re-opening of the Museums to the public.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-02/holy-see-jurkovic-unctad-actions-against-poverty-covid.html

Holy See: “Effective action" needed to fight poverty in Covid-hit developing nations
04 February 2021, 17:42

Leaving “no one behind” in the present Covid-19 pandemic “depends on the willingness of States to act in solidarity and fraternity in building the common good,” according to the Holy See's representative at the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
By Lisa Zengarini

Speaking at the 70th Executive Session of the UNCTAD Trade and Development Board, Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, the Vatican Permanent ******* to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, reiterated the responsibilities of the advanced economies to help the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), especially in the context of the present crisis which has strongly impacted their economies.