Pope Francis

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Pope Francis' visit Dec. 2-4 to Cyprus and Dec. 4-6 to Greece

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2021/11/vatican-releases-program-for-papal-trip-to-cyprus-greece
Vatican releases program for papal trip to Cyprus, Greece
By Cindy Wooden
Nov 15, 2021 | Catholic News Service
 
Here is the pope’s schedule as released by the Vatican. Times listed are local, with Eastern Time in parentheses.
 
Saturday, Dec. 4 (Nicosia-Larnaca-Athens)

— 9:10 a.m. (2:10 a.m.) Farewell Ceremony at Larnaca International Airport and departure for Athens.
— 11:10 a.m. (4:10 a.m.) Arrival at Athens International Airport. Official welcome.
— Noon (5 a.m.) Welcome ceremony at the presidential palace in Athens and private meeting with the president.
— 12:30 p.m. (5:30 a.m.) Meeting with the prime minister at the presidential palace.
— 12:45 p.m. (5:45 a.m.) Meeting with government authorities, civic leaders and the diplomatic corps at the presidential palace. Speech by pope.
— 4 p.m. (9 a.m.) Courtesy visit to Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and all Greece at the archbishopric in Athens.
— 4:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m.) Meeting of the archbishop’s and the pope’s delegations in the Throne Room of the archbishopric. Speech by pope.
— 5:15 p.m. (10:15 a.m.) Meeting with bishops, priests, religious, seminarians and catechists at the Cathedral of St. Dionysius in Athens. Speech by pope.
— 6:45 p.m. (11:45 a.m.) Private meeting with Jesuits at the apostolic nunciature in Athens.
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' visit Dec. 2-4 to Cyprus and Dec. 4-6 to Greece

Full video of Farewell Ceremony at the link--
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-12/pope-francis-telegram-cyprus-president.html
Pope Francis has left Cyprus with a 'message of hope for unity'
04 December 2021, 10:22

Pope Francis leaves Cyprus with a message of gratitude for hospitality received and prayers for peace for the nation, as Cypriots express their appreciation for the Pope's message of hope, peace, and unity.
By Vatican News staff reporter

Pope Francis departed from the Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus and flew to the Athens International Airport in Greece on Saturday morning – the third day of his 35th Apostolic Journey abroad.

In his customary manner, he sent a telegram to the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, as he left the country.

In the message, the Pope expressed his deep gratitude to the President and people of Cyprus for their warm welcome and hospitality. While invoking upon them the blessings of God, he also assured them of his prayers for the peace and prosperity of the nation.

Pope’s gift to Apostolic Nunciature in Cyprus

Before leaving the Apostolic Nunciature of Nicosia where he stayed in Cyprus, the Pope gave gifts of a statue of St. Joseph, a mosaic of the papal coat of arms, and a commemorative medal of the Pope’s visit to Cyprus.
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' visit Dec. 2-4 to Cyprus and Dec. 4-6 to Greece

Videos at the link--
   arrival at Athens Airport
   Athens Welcome Ceremony

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-12/pope-francis-apostolic-journey-cyprus-greece0.html
Pope in Greece for second leg of Apostolic Journey.
04 December 2021, 08:30

Pope Francis begins the third day of his 5-day Apostolic Journey, departing Cyprus for Greece on Saturday morning.
By Benedict Mayaki, SJ

After two days in Cyprus, Pope Francis departed Cyprus’ Larnaca airport at 8:30 am on Saturday morning for the Athens International Airport where he arrived at 11:10 local time.

The Holy Father’s official welcome at the airport is followed by a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Athens. He then pays a courtesy visit to the President of Greece, Katerina, Sakellaroupoulou, meets with the Prime Minister and then with local authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps.
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' visit Dec. 2-4 to Cyprus and Dec. 4-6 to Greece

Full video, with English commentary, at the link--
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-12/pope-francis-apostolic-visit-greece-authorities-discourse.html
Pope in Greece: A renewed humanity respects life, shows concern for all
04 December 2021, 10:54

At the start of his Apostolic Journey to Greece, Pope Francis addresses Greek authorities, leaders and diplomatic corps, and urges European leaders to pursue a new humanism which respects life as a right.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis on Saturday urged Greece and Europe to work for a renewed humanity by lifting their gaze to God and showing concern for others, the poor and for creation. He also called for respect for human life, emphasizing that death is not a right and should not be administered.

He made the exhortation in his address to the authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps of Greece at the presidential palace in the capital, Athens.

The Pope flew from the Cypriot capital, Nicosia, to Athens on Saturday morning on the second leg of the 35th foreign Apostolic Journey of his pontificate, 2-6 December. Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, received the Pope at Athens airport, where children offered him bouquets in welcome. After the guard of honour and the presentation of delegations of both sides, he was driven some 30 kilometres to the presidential palace in Athens city where President Katerina Sakellaropoulou welcomed him. There, after a private meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, he addressed the country’s authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps.
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2021/december/documents.index.html#speeches
Speeches 2021 December documents
Apostolic Journey to Cyprus and Greece: Meeting with Authorities, Civil Society and the Diplomatic Corps (Presidential Palace in Athens, 4 December 2021)

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' visit Dec. 2-4 to Cyprus and Dec. 4-6 to Greece

Protest video at the link

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249785/pope-francis-apologizes-for-mistakes-of-catholics-in-meeting-with-greek-orthodox-leaders-in-athens-greece
Pope Francis apologizes for mistakes of Catholics in meeting with Greek Orthodox leaders in Athens, Greece
By Hannah Brockhaus
Athens, Greece, Dec 4, 2021 / 09:00 am

Pope Francis apologized for the ways Catholics have contributed to division with Orthodox Christians during a meeting with Greek Orthodox leaders in Athens on Saturday.

“Shamefully, patriarch, — I acknowledge this for the Catholic Church — actions and decisions that had little or nothing to do with Jesus and the Gospel, but were instead marked by a thirst for advantage and power, gravely weakened our communion,” the pope said on Dec. 4.

“In this way, we let fruitfulness be compromised by division,” he added. “History makes its weight felt, and here, today, I feel the need to ask anew for the forgiveness of God and of our brothers and sisters for the mistakes committed by many Catholics.”

Pope Francis spoke during a live-streamed meeting with leaders of the Greek Orthodox Church, including His Beatitude Ieronymos II, archbishop of Athens and All Greece, in the throne room of the Orthodox Archbishopric of Greece.

When Pope Francis arrived at the archbishopric, an Orthodox cleric started to protest, shouting “Pope, you are a heretic! Pope, you are a heretic!” before he was taken away by police.

Last month, a Greek Orthodox metropolitan, Andreas of Konitsa, spoke out against Pope Francis’ visit to Greece, also calling the pontiff a heretic.

The incidents reflect a longstanding suspicion of the pope in some corners of the Greek Orthodox Church. Pope John Paul II also tried to bring healing to the Catholic-Greek Orthodox rift during a controversial 2001 visit to Greece, the first by a Catholic pope in over 1,000 years.

John Paul II’s visit, during which he apologized for the sins of Catholics against their Orthodox brothers and sisters, was also strongly protested.
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' visit Dec. 2-4 to Cyprus and Dec. 4-6 to Greece

Full video of the meeting, with English commentary, at the link--
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-12/pope-may-the-spirit-be-poured-out-on-us-in-a-new-pentecost.html
Pope in Greece: May the Spirit be poured out in a new Pentecost
04 December 2021, 16:00

His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece welcomes Pope Francis to the Orthodox Archbishopric of Greece in Athens. With a spirit of brotherhood and mutual respect, both leaders express their good wishes for each other looking at ways to face the challenges and hopes of today.
By Vatican News staff writer

Pope Francis and Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece greeted each other warmly at the Orthodox Archbishopric in Athens. The Archbishop offered an introductory address expressing "feelings of brotherhood and honour" in welcoming the Pope to the seat of the Church of Athens, while recalling their joint visit to the island of Lesvos in 2016 to raise global awareness about the plight of refugees and migrants.

In his wide-ranging address, Archbishop Ieronymos recalled pressing issues of our day, including the pandemic, the migrant, and refugee crisis which calls for urgent solutions, response to climate change, as well as fast-paced developments in technology changing culture and displacing the roots of Christian faith. He also recalled this year's bicentennial of the Greek struggle for freedom, expressing regret over what he termed "missed opportunities" for the Catholic Church in support of their struggle. At the same time, looking to the future, he renewed his great esteem and affection for Pope Francis and common efforts to move forward as brothers by looking at the lights and shadows of the past and present in a continuing dialogue of "truth and love" for the unity of Christians.
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2021/december/documents.index.html#speeches
Speeches 2021 December documents
Apostolic Journey to Cyprus and Greece: Meeting of His Beatitude Hieronymos II and His Holiness Francis with the Respective Entourages (“Throne Room” of the Orthodox Archbishopric of Greece in Athens, 4 December 2021)

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' visit Dec. 2-4 to Cyprus and Dec. 4-6 to Greece

Full video of the Pope's meeting with Catholic community, with English commentary, at the link--
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-12/pope-encourages-greek-catholics-to-follow-st-paul.html
Pope encourages Greek Catholics to follow the example of St. Paul
04 December 2021, 16:56

On his first day in Greece, Pope Francis meets the small Catholic community in Athens. In his speech he encourages Catholics in Greece to follow the example of St. Paul, who converted St. Dionysius in the Areopagus, sowing the mustard seed of the Christian faith in Greece.
By Lisa Zengarini

Following his meeting with the Greek Orthodox Primate Hieronymos II and the Holy Synod, Pope Francis proceeded to meet the Greek Catholic community at the Cathedral of Saint Dionysius in Athens on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Archbishop emeritus of Athens, Sevastianos Rossolatos, greeted the Pope to open the encounter. His remarks were followed by two testimonies: by an Argentinian nun working on the island of Tinos, and by a Catholic layman. They spoke about the joys and challenges of being a small faith community in an Orthodox majority country, amidst growing secularization and immigration, which is changing the makeup of the local Church.
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2021/december/documents.index.html#speeches
Speeches 2021 December documents
Apostolic Journey to Cyprus and Greece: Apostolic Journey to Cyprus and Greece: Meeting with Bishops, Priests, Religious, Consecrated Persons, Seminarians, Catechists at the Cathedral of Saint Dionysius in Athens (4 December 2021)

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' visit Dec. 2-4 to Cyprus and Dec. 4-6 to Greece

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2021/11/vatican-releases-program-for-papal-trip-to-cyprus-greece
Vatican releases program for papal trip to Cyprus, Greece
By Cindy Wooden
Nov 15, 2021 | Catholic News Service
 
Here is the pope’s schedule as released by the Vatican. Times listed are local, with Eastern Time in parentheses.
 
Sunday, Dec. 5 (Athens-Mytilene-Athens)

— 9:15 a.m. (2:15 a.m.) Departure by plane from Athens to Mytilene on the island of Lesbos.
— 10:10 a.m. (3:10 a.m.) Arrival at Mytilene Airport.
— 10:45 a.m. (3:45 a.m.) Visit with the refugees at the government-run Reception and Identification Center in Mytilene. Speech by pope. Recitation of the Angelus prayer.
— 12:15 p.m. (5:15 a.m.) Departure by airplane for Athens.
— 1:10 p.m. (6:10 a.m.) Arrival at Athens International Airport.
— 4:45 p.m. (9:45 a.m.) Mass in the Megaron Concert Hall in Athens. Homily by pope.
— 7 p.m. (noon) Courtesy visit of Archbishop Ieronymos II to the pope in the apostolic nunciature in Athens.
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' visit Dec. 2-4 to Cyprus and Dec. 4-6 to Greece

Full video, with English commentary, at the link--
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-12/pope-francis-on-lesbos-stop-this-shipwreck-of-civilization.html
Pope Francis on Lesbos: Stop this shipwreck of civilization
05 December 2021, 11:07

The Pope on Sunday visited the Reception and Identification Centre of Mytilene on the island of Lesbos. While there, he heard the testimonies of migrants, and told those present migration is a humanitarian crisis that concerns everyone.
By Vatican News staff reporter

Five years ago, Pope Francis came to the island of Lesbos to see for himself the plight of migrants here. On Sunday, as part of his Apostolic Visit to Greece, he was greeted by thousands of migrants at the Mytilene camp on this island, telling them “I am here to see your faces and look into your eyes.”

Quoting Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, he said, “those who are afraid of you have not looked you in the eye…  They have forgotten that migration is not an issue for the Middle East and Northern Africa, for Europe and Greece.  It is an issue for the world.”

Pope Francis underlined that migration is a “humanitarian crisis that concerns everyone.” He noted that while strides are being made to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, “all this seems to be terribly absent when it comes to migration.”
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2021/december/documents.index.html#speeches
Speeches 2021 December documents
Apostolic Journey to Cyprus and Greece: Visit to the Refugees at "Reception and Identification Centre" in Mytilene (5 December 2021)

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' visit Dec. 2-4 to Cyprus and Dec. 4-6 to Greece

Full video, with English commentary, at the link--
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-12/pope-conversion-helps-us-move-beyond-our-existential-deserts.html
Pope at Mass in Greece: Conversion helps us move beyond existential deserts
05 December 2021, 16:17

Pope Francis presides over Mass with the Catholic community in Athens, Greece, and encourages them to remain hopeful despite the "existential deserts" of our lives, since the Lord is always there to fill our emptiness if we make room for Him.
By Vatican News staff writer

On Sunday afternoon, the second day of his visit to Greece, Pope Francis celebrated Mass with the local Catholic community at the Megaron Concert Hall in Athens.

Around 2,000 faithful were onhand in two different halls in accordance with Covid-rules for social distancing. The Pope had returned to Athens a few hours earlier after his morning visit to the Greek island of Lesbos, where he met with refugees and migrants in a moving show of solidarity together with leaders of the Greek Orthodox Church and Greece's President and authorities.

In his homily for the Mass on the Second Sunday of Advent, the Pope reflected on the Gospel reading for the day, which speaks of Saint John the Baptist in the desert calling people to conversion.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-12/pope-francis-thanks-greece-for-hearty-welcome.html
Pope Francis thanks Greece for warm welcome
05 December 2021, 16:53

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2021.index.html
Homilies 2021
Apostolic Journey to Cyprus and Greece: Holy Mass at “Megaron Concert Hall” in Athens (5 December 2021)

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Pope Francis' visit Dec. 2-4 to Cyprus and Dec. 4-6 to Greece

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-12/h-b-ieronymos-ii-meet-with-pope-francis-on-eve-of-departure.html
Ieronymos II visits with Pope Francis on eve of his return to Rome
05 December 2021, 19:30

The Orthodox Primate, Ieronymos II, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, pays a courtesy visit to Pope Francis at the Apostolic Nunciature to bid him farewell.
By Vatican News staff writer

His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece arrived at the Apostolic Nunciature just before 7 pm on Sunday evening to meet with Pope Francis on the eve of his return to Rome. The encounter between the Orthodox Archbishop and Pope Francis with their respective entourages took place in the Nunciature's main room and lasted 30 minutes.

During the meeting the Pope and the Archbishop both signed the Book of Honour. Archbishop Ieronymos wrote: "This evening, 5 December 2021, Feast of Saint Sabbas, my entourage and I came to thank the Pontiff and our Most Holy Brother of Rome, Francis, for his visit to Greece. We bid him farewell and wish him a good journey. May the Most Holy God bless us."
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' visit Dec. 2-4 to Cyprus and Dec. 4-6 to Greece

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2021/11/vatican-releases-program-for-papal-trip-to-cyprus-greece
Vatican releases program for papal trip to Cyprus, Greece
By Cindy Wooden
Nov 15, 2021 | Catholic News Service
 
Here is the pope’s schedule as released by the Vatican. Times listed are local, with Eastern Time in parentheses.
 
Monday, Dec. 6 (Athens-Rome)

— 8:15 a.m. (1:15 a.m.) Visit with the president of the Greek parliament in the Apostolic Nunciature in Athens.

— 9:45 a.m. (2:45 a.m.) Meeting with young people at the Ursuline Sisters’ St. Dionysius School in Maroussi, Athens. Speech by pope.

— 11:15 a.m. (4:15 a.m.) Farewell ceremony at Athens International Airport and departure for Rome.

— 12:35 p.m. (6:35 a.m.) Arrival at Rome’s Ciampino airport.

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' visit Dec. 2-4 to Cyprus and Dec. 4-6 to Greece

Video, "Athens, Meeting with Young People," with English commentary, at the link--
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-12/pope-francis-apostolic-visit-greece-meeeting-young-people.html
Pope to youth in Greece: Experience God’s love, meet real people, dream big
06 December 2021, 09:46

Pope Francis meets young people from various parts of Greece on Monday morning in Athens, ahead of his departure for Rome, urging them to be truly social by engaging in real encounters with those around them as an experience of God's love.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis urged young people to allow themselves to be amazed by God’s love, have real encounters with others and dream big. He made the exhortation to young people from various parts of Greece at an event on Monday morning at Saint Dionysius School, run by the Ursuline Sisters in Maroussi, in the northern suburbs of Athens.

The event included testimonies from three young people from the Philippines, Greece and Syria, on which the Pope shared his reflections.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249793/pope-francis-to-young-people-in-greece-don-t-be-prisoners-of-the-cell-phone
Pope Francis to youth in Greece: Don’t be ‘prisoners of the cell phone’
By CNA Staff
Athens, Greece, Dec 6, 2021 / 04:20 am

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2021/december/documents.index.html#speeches
Speeches 2021 December documents
Apostolic Journey to Cyprus and Greece: Meeting with young people (Saint Dionysius School of the Ursuline Sisters in Maroussi, Athens, 6 December 2021)

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' visit Dec. 2-4 to Cyprus and Dec. 4-6 to Greece

Video at the link
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-12/pope-francis-departure-apstolic-journey-greece-cyprus-end.html
Pope concludes Greece & Cyprus journey with visit to St. Mary Major
06 December 2021, 11:07

Pope Francis returns to Rome at the end of his Apostolic Journey to Cyprus and Greece, praying at the feet of Our Lady for the many people he met during his visit.
By Francesca Merlo

Pope Francis’s 35th Apostolic Visit abroad has come to an end. He concluded his 6-day trip to Cyprus and Greece with a meeting with Greece's young people, before he was sent off with an official departure ceremony from Athens airport.

The journey from Athens to Rome's Ciampino airport takes just over two hours, during which time the usual in-flight press conference takes place with journalists on board the papal plane.
 

[grace-land]

Pope Francis' visit Dec. 2-4 to Cyprus and Dec. 4-6 to Greece

In-flight press conference from Greece

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-12/pope-the-eu-document-on-christmas-is-anachronistic.html
Pope: “The EU document on Christmas is anachronistic”
06 December 2021, 14:57

During the talk with journalists on board the flight bringing him back to Rome from Greece, Pope Francis spoke of the Apostolic Visit, of migrants, of fraternity with the Orthodox, and of the resignation of Archbishop Aupetit of Paris, a victim “of gossip.”
By Vatican News

“The EU document on Christmas is an anachronism” of “watered-down secularism”. This is one of the things Pope Francis said while answering questions put to him by journalists on board the flight bringing him to Rome at the end of his Apostolic Journey to Cyprus and Greece.
 

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249798/full-text-pope-francis-in-flight-press-conference-from-greece
Full text: Pope Francis’ in-flight press conference from Greece
By Pope Francis
Aboard the papal plane, Dec 6, 2021 / 10:41 am

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-12/pope-telegram-victims-volcano-indonesia.html

Pope prays for victims of Indonesian volcano
07 December 2021, 20:45

Pope Francis expresses his sorrow for the death and destruction caused by the eruption of the Semeru volcano in Indonesia.
By Vatican News staff writer

Pope Francis said he is praying “for the dead, the injured and the displaced as well as for the emergency personnel and civil authorities engaged in recovery efforts” following the eruption of Mount Semeru in Indonesia.

In a telegram, signed on his behalf by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope said he was saddened to learn of the recent loss of life and destruction caused by the eruption.

In his message addressed to Archbishop Piero Pioppo, Apostolic Nuncio in Indonesia, the Pope also assured all those affected by the disaster of his invocations “upon all the divine blessings of strength and peace.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-12/pope-francis-updates-norms-on-more-serious-ecclesiastical-crimes.html

Pope Francis updates norms on more serious ecclesiastical crimes
07 December 2021, 14:45

The Holy Father modifies the “Norms on delicts against the faith and on more serious delicts,” marking a further stage in the Pope’s efforts against the most serious crimes wounding the Church.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis has promulgated a new version of the “Norms on the Delicts Reserved to the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith” (Normae de delictis Congregationi pro Doctrina Fidei reservatis), which concern the “delicta graviora,” the more serious crimes, which do particular harm to the Church. The norms, originally promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 2001, and previously amended by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010, have now been modified and brought up to date.

The crimes, or ‘delicts,’ covered by the norms remain the same. The changes involve, firstly, harmonising the norms with the revised Book VI of the Code of Canon Law, which was promulgated in May 2021. There was a reciprocal adaptation and insertion of the new canons into the norms.

Secondly, the new norms incorporate numerous normative measures of various kinds issued in previous years, especially since 2016. These include documents – such as the motu proprios Come una madre amorevole and Vos estis lux mundi, and the two rescripts of December 2019 – aimed at a more secure and incisive juridical protection of the Church's greatest assets: the faith; the sanctity of the sacraments; and the lives of the weakest persons, who have limited means of protection: minors and adults with habitual imperfect use of reason.

Thirdly, the updated norms are aimed at improving the Church's legal action with regard to crimes reserved to the Congregation, including the most serious delicts against morals and the celebration of the sacraments, adjusting the practice to the norms of recent years. For instance, the 2010 norms prioritized the judicial process, leaving the extrajudicial (or ‘administrative’) process as an exception. Now, rather than defining one as the rule and another as an exception, the new norms insert the latter as an option, while still giving priority to the former. The possibility, for instance, of expulsion from the clerical state by administrative decree, without a trial (as in the case of a priest who adheres to a schismatic community and removes himself from the process) now becomes a norm, rather than merely a practice.

As noted, the new norms do not introduce any new crimes reserved to the CDF, and the classification of crimes remains unchanged.

The changes that have been introduced mostly concern procedural aspects, aimed at clarifying and facilitating the proper conduct of the Church's legal workings in the administration of justice.

The most important changes introduced in the normative text are as follows:
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249807/pope-francis-updates-norms-on-crimes-judged-by-vatican-s-doctrinal-office
Pope Francis updates norms on crimes judged by Vatican’s doctrinal office
By Courtney Mares
Vatican City, Dec 7, 2021 / 10:00 am

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2021-12/canada-conference-catholic-bishops-postponment-visit.html

Pope's meeting with Canadian indigenous peoples postponed
08 December 2021, 14:18

The indigenous delegation due to Visit the Vatican and meet with the Pope from 17-20 December is postponed due to Covid-19
By Vatican News staff writer

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has announced that due to the worsening Covid-19 crisis, a First Nations delegation set to visit the Vatican next week has postoned its trip.

The delegation of indigenous people was due to travel to the Vatican between 17-20 December to meet with Pope Francis and to discuss the tragedies that went on in the country's Church-run residential schools.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249823/pope-francis-sagrada-familia-s-new-star-shines-for-barcelona-s-poor-ill-and-elderly

Pope Francis: Sagrada Familia’s new star shines for Barcelona’s poor, ill, elderly, and young people
By CNA Staff
Barcelona, Spain, Dec 8, 2021 / 12:00 pm

Pope Francis said that a star lit up for the first time on Wednesday atop Sagrada Família Basilica shines for the poor, ill, elderly, and young people of Barcelona.

The 12-pointed star at the peak of the basilica’s soaring Tower of the Virgin Mary was lit up at 7:50 p.m. local time on Dec. 8.

In a video message, Pope Francis said: “Peace and all good! And with this cordial Franciscan greeting, I join you all from Rome at this moment when the star on the Tower of the Virgin Mary in the Sagrada Família Basilica is being lit.”

“I would also like to extend my greetings in a special way to the poorest people of this great city, to the sick, to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, to the elderly, to the young people whose future is being jeopardized by various situations, to those who are experiencing moments of trial. Dear friends, today the star of the Tower of Mary shines for all of you.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-12/vatican-100-nativity-scenes-exhibition.html

Vatican hosting '100 Nativity Scenes' exhibition in St Peter's Square
03 December 2021, 16:53

The '100 Presepi ' exhibition will be inaugurated on December 5 by Mgr Rino Fisichella President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization
By Vatican News staff writer

For the fourth year running, the Vatican is hosting the '100 Nativity Scenes'  International Exhibition (Mostra dei 100 Presepi), bringing together over 100 cribs from across the world depicting the Nativity of the Lord.

The exhibition, which has become a traditional feature in the Christmas calendar of events in Rome, is being held under the colonnade of St Peter's Square, from 5 December 2021 until 9 January 2022. As in the 2020 edition, the popular exhibition has been moved outdoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.