Pope Francis

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-03/pope-participants-course-internal-forum-penitentiary-forgiveness.html

Pope on Confession: 'Forgiveness is a human right'
25 March 2022, 12:42

Pope Francis tells confessors that Catholics who come to the Sacrament of Reconciliation have the right to be heard with faith and with the charity which the Father reserves for His children.
By Robin Gomes

“Forgiveness is a human right” which priests at the confessional should dispense by welcoming, listening to and accompanying penitents, thus helping contribute to a “spiritual ‘ecology’ of the world.”

“Forgiveness is a ‘right’ in the sense that God, in the Paschal Mystery of Christ, has given it in a total and irreversible way to every person willing to accept it, with a humble and repentant heart.”

Pope Francis made those remarks on Friday to some 400 participants in the 32nd course on the Internal Forum, organized in the Vatican by the Apostolic Penitentiary, held on 21-25 March. 
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2022/march.index.html
Speeches 2022 March
To participants in the Course on the Internal Forum organized by the Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary (25 March 2022)

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Pope Francis consecrates Russia and Ukraine--March 25, 2022

The full Penitential Liturgy video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-03/pope-francis-consecration-russia-ukraine-mary-war-lent.html
Pope consecrates Russia & Ukraine: ‘Spiritual act of trust amid cruel war’
25 March 2022, 18:42

Pope Francis consecrates all humanity—especially Russia and Ukraine—to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and says the act expresses our complete trust in the Virgin Mary in the midst of the “cruel and senseless war” in Ukraine.
By Devin Watkins

Pope Francis presided over the annual “24 Hours for the Lord” Lenten penitential service in St. Peter’s Basilica on Friday evening, as the Church marked the feast of the Annunciation.

Toward the end of the liturgy, the Pope prayed the Act of Consecration of humanity, especially of Russia and Ukraine, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

He prayed the Act in communion with all Catholic Bishops across the globe, as the Papal Almoner, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, did the same at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, in Portugal.

The Pope’s renewal of the Consecration came in response to the war in Ukraine and at the request of the Blessed Virgin Mary made in an apparition at Fatima on 13 July 1917.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250796/pope-francis-consecrates-russia-and-ukraine-to-the-immaculate-heart-of-mary
Pope Francis consecrates Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
By Hannah Brockhaus
Vatican City, Mar 25, 2022 / 12:30 pm

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2022.index.html
Homilies 2022
Celebration of the Sacrament of Penance and Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (25 March 2022)

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250794/vatican-explains-tierra-del-cielo-earth-of-heaven-in-consecration-prayer
Vatican explains ‘Tierra del Cielo’ (‘Earth of Heaven’) in consecration prayer
By Courtney Mares
Vatican City, Mar 25, 2022 / 09:10 am

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2022-03/theological-significance-of-act-of-consecration-explained.html

Theological significance of Act of Consecration explained
25 March 2022, 14:11

Pope Francis consecrates Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Friday afternoon. Father Stefano Cecchin, OFM, President of the International Pontifical Marian Academy, says "Peace is always born from God and therefore, conforming to the heart of She who loves Him immensely."
By Fabio Colagrande and Benedetta Capelli

As children turn to their Mother, so mankind entrusts itself to Mary, Queen of Peace, in the midst of the storm, of a war unleashed a month ago between Russia and Ukraine.

"To you, we consecrate the future of the whole human family, the needs and expectations of every people, the anxieties and hopes of the world.”

These words of the Act of Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary resound Friday at around 6:30pm, local time, in St Peter's Basilica, when the Pope presides over the Rite of Reconciliation with individual confession and absolution.

The same Act of Consecration is being prayed Friday by all the bishops of the world. At Fatima, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner, performs the act as Pope Francis' special envoy.

Conforming to the heart of Mary

Pope Francis' decision to consecrate Russia, Ukraine and the whole of humanity to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is in keeping with the tradition of the Church's Magisterium, which has always looked to Our Lady as the one to whom one can entrust oneself in times of trial.

In an interview with Vatican News, Mariologist Father Stefano Cecchin, OFM, President of the International Pontifical Marian Academy, underlined the theological significance of this consecration.

"To find peace we must conform to the heart of Mary, a heart that loves immensely," he said. In October 2020, when meeting the teachers and students of the Marianum Pontifical Theological Faculty in Rome, the Pope invited them to remain "always attentive to the signs of the Marian times that run through our era."

According to Father Cecchin, Pope Francis' decision to renew this act of consecration at this historic moment stems precisely from this attention: "When there are wars in a family, one entrusts oneself to the Mother."

Please find below the interview with Father Stefano Cecchin ofm, Mariologist
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-03/pope-francis-meets-with-president-of-the-republic-of-burundi.html

Pope Francis meets with President of the Republic of Burundi
26 March 2022, 13:10

Pope Francis welcomed on Saturday morning the President of the Republic of Burundi, Évariste Ndayishimiye, who later met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Gallagher.
By Vatican News staff writer

On Saturday morning, Pope Francis met with the President of the Republic of Burundi, Mr. Évariste Ndayishimiye, at the Vatican's Apostolic Palace. The two leaders held private discussions, and following their meeting President Ndayishimiye went to meet with the Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.

The Holy See Press office noted that during the cordial discussions in the Secretariat of State, "satisfaction was expressed for the good relations between the Holy See and Burundi, and for the contribution of the Catholic Church to the life of the country in various sectors of society." The delegations also dicussed the political and social situation in the country, and other themes concerning the African region.
 

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Video at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-03/krajewski-goes-to-ukraine-to-deliver-ambulance-donated-by-pope.html
Cardinal Krajewski goes to Ukraine to deliver ambulance donated by Pope Francis
26 March 2022, 14:38

For the second time in recent weeks, the Papal Almoner, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski is travelling to Lviv, Ukraine, this time to bring an ambulance donated and blessed by Pope Francis to assist the local people there.
By Benedetta Capelli, Vatican City

Cardinal Konrad Krajewski is heading to Ukraine once again to assist the people with life saving help, this time by bringing an ambulance donated by Pope Francis and blessed by him on Saturday morning before it departed. Cardinal Krajewski just returned to Rome on Saturday morning from the Marian Shrine of Fatima, where Friday afternoon he presided at the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary of humanity, and in particular of the peoples of Russia and Ukraine.

The Cardinal, who heads the Office of Papal Charities, is traveling to Lviv, Ukraine, with "an ambulance donated and blessed by Pope Francis in recent days," the director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni , told journalists. The vehicle will be given to the city authorities, who will put it into service in areas most needing it. The donated ambulance marks a concrete sign of help for the population, whose numbers have increased greatly due to the arrival of many internally displaced people.
 

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Art. 93 in Praedicate evangelium is now "corrected"

https://twitter.com/EdwardPentin?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Edward Pentin Retweeted
Diane Montagna @dianemontagna · Mar 24

Art. 93 has been “corrected” & now reads: “The Dicastery deals with the regulation and discipline of the sacred liturgy with regard to the use—granted according to established norms—of the liturgical books prior to the reform of the Second Vatican Council: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2022/03/19/0189/00404.html

https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2022/03/19/0189/00404.html
Costituzione Apostolica “Praedicate Evangelium” sulla Curia Romana e il suo servizio alla Chiesa e al Mondo, 19.03.2022
 
Art. 93

Il Dicastero si occupa della regolamentazione e della disciplina della sacra liturgia per quanto riguarda l’uso – concesso secondo le norme stabilite – dei libri liturgici precedenti alla riforma del Concilio Vaticano II.
 

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250742/praedicate-evangelium-vatican-blames-editing-error-for-extraordinary-form-reference-in-new-constitution
TLM typo: Vatican says ‘extraordinary form’ mention in new constitution was a mistake
By Courtney Mares
Vatican City, Mar 21, 2022 / 11:15 am

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-03/pope-to-meet-with-indigenous-people-from-canada.html

Pope to meet with indigenous delegation from Canada
23 March 2022, 15:51

The Holy See Press Office issues a brief statement giving details of the visit of several delegations of indigenous Canadian peoples to the Vatican, which will take place next week.
By Vatican News staff reporter

In a brief statement released on Wednesday, the Holy See Press Office explained that Pope Francis will meet individually with several different delegations of Canadian indigenous peoples, along with their bishops.

He will have the opportunity to listen to their testimonies, including personal testimonies of the lasting legacy of the so-called residential schools.

According to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Pope will meet with representatives of the three major groups of indigenous peoples – First Nations, Inuit, and Métis – recognized in Canada’s Constitution Act of 1982.

Pope Francis will meet with the delegations of Métis and Inuit on Monday, 28 March; and with the First Nations delegation next Thursday, 31 March.

The following day, Friday, 1 April, Pope Francis will receive all three delegations together, along with representatives of the Canadian Bishops’ Conference (CCCB), during which the Holy Father will address those present.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250743/pope-francis-schedule-for-holy-week-2022-at-the-vatican-unveiled

Pope Francis’ schedule for Holy Week 2022 at the Vatican unveiled
By Courtney Mares
Vatican City, Mar 21, 2022 / 12:23 pm

After two years of pandemic restrictions during Holy Week, Pope Francis will once again return to the Colosseum to preside over the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday.

The Vatican has published the pope’s schedule for Holy Week and Easter, confirming that he will preside over large liturgical celebrations in St. Peter’s Square for the first time since 2019.

On Palm Sunday, Pope Francis will offer Mass in St. Peter’s Square on April 10 at 10 a.m. local time. The last time that this liturgy was held in St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican said that more than 40,000 people attended.

In the past two years, papal liturgies during Holy Week were kept very small due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with many events moved to inside St. Peter’s Basilica with extremely limited attendance.
 
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2022/03/21/220321c.html
Calendar of celebrations presided over by the Holy Father Francis (April-May 2022), 21.03.2022

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

Pope at Angelus: May we receive God's mercy with open hearts
27 March 2022, 12:19

Recalling the Parable of the Prodigal Son, Pope Francis says when a person's heart is synchronized with God and sees the repentance of a person for their mistakes, they rejoice. May we also rejoice by receiving God’s mercy so it becomes the light by which we see our neighbours.
By Vatican News staff writer

Before leading the recitation of the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis offered his weekly reflections on the Sunday Gospel which this week speaks of the Parable of the Prodigal Son that recounts how God "always forgives compassionately and tenderly." The Pope pointed out how we learn that God is a Father who forgives even our worst sins, welcomes us back and rejoices by having a feast for us.

“We are that son, and it is moving to think about how much the Father always loves us and waits for us.”
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-03/pope-abolish-war-now-before-war-erases-mankind-from-history.html
Pope: Abolish war now, before war erases humanity from history
27 March 2022, 12:50

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2022.index.html
Angelus - Regina Cæli 2022
Angelus, 27 March 2022

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-03/remembering-the-extraordinary-moment-of-prayer-end-pandemic.html
Remembering the Extraordinary Moment of Prayer to end the pandemic
27 March 2022, 12:15

Sunday 27 March 2022 marks the second anniversary of the "Statio Orbis," the Extraordinary Moment of Prayer in Time of Pandemic, when Pope Francis pleaded for an end to the pandemic and for strength in faith.
By Vatican News staff writer

With this brief video, the Vatican's COVID-19 Commission and the Dicastery for Communication commemorate the second anniversary of the Extraordinary Moment of Prayer in Time of Pandemic. The images from 27 March 2020, of Pope Francis in an empty St. Peter's Square presiding over the global moment of prayer became symbolic and stark images of the world shock at the time when the pandemic had reached an acute phase early in its deadly spread.
 
The Libreria Editrice Vaticana (LEV), the Vatican's publishing house, produced a photo book on the Extraordinary Moment of Prayer in Time of Pandemic. Pope Francis mentioned this at the conclusion of his Sunday Angelus. Directors and staff of the Dicastery for Communication distributed an estimated ten thousand copies freely to pilgrims present in St. Peter's Square for the Angelus, together with a copy of the text of Pope Francis' prayer for the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/prayers/documents/20220325-atto-consacrazione-cuoredimaria.html
ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-03/poland-bishops-thank-pope-francis-consecration-ukraine-russia.html

Pope thanks Polish Bishops for massive welcome of Ukrainian refugees
28 March 2022, 15:03

Pope Francis meets for 45 minutes with President of the Polish Bishops Conference, Archbishop Stanislaw Gądecki, where they discussed the functioning of the Church in Poland during the ongoing war in Ukraine.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov

As the war continues to wage on in Ukraine into its second month, the Church in Poland is continuing to welcome refugees displaced by the devastating invasion of Russian forces and is grateful to Pope Francis for his solemn consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary last Friday evening in the Vatican.

These were among the main themes discussed Monday morning during the 45-minute encounter between the Holy Father and the President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Stanislaw Gądecki, in the Vatican.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250812/polish-catholic-bishops-leader-raises-german-synodal-way-concerns-with-pope-francis
Polish Catholic bishops’ leader tells Pope Francis about German ‘Synodal Way’ concerns
By CNA Staff
Vatican City, Mar 28, 2022 / 08:30 am

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2022-03/pope-francis-meets-with-representatives-of-canadian-indigenous.html

Pope Francis meets with representatives of Canadian indigenous peoples
28 March 2022, 14:03

On Monday morning Pope Francis met with two delegations of Canada's indigenous peoples, the first of a series of encounters that will continue over the coming days.
By Vatican News staff writer

On Monday morning Pope Francis welcomed two groups of representatives of Canadian indigenous peoples in successive audiences, each lasting about one hour.

According to a statement released by the Holy See Press Office, the Pope met with around ten delegates representing the Métis people and eight representing the Inuit. Several Bishops from the Canadian Bishops' Conference accompanied the delegations for the meetings.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-03/pope-francis-canada-indigenous-delegations-audience-interview.html
Canada’s indigenous delegations: ‘Pope Francis listened to our pain’
28 March 2022, 17:06

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2022-03/canadian-indigenous-ask-church-to-partner-in-healing-past-wounds.html
Indigenous from Canada ask Church to partner in healing past wounds
28 March 2022, 19:17

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-03/pope-letter-blessing-milan-unitalsi-home-families-sick-children.html

Pope sends blessing to new accommodation for families of sick children
29 March 2022, 12:15

Pope Francis sends a letter of blessings for the new Fabrizio Frizzi Home in Milan, Italy, which will provide free accommodation to families of sick children from other parts of Italy seeking medical treatment in the city’s hospitals.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis has sent his blessing to the laying of the foundation stone of a centre in the outskirts of the northern Italian city of Milan, the capital of the Lombardy region, which will offer free accommodation to families from other parts of the country who need to hospitalize their children in the city for medical treatment.

Archbishop Mario Delpini,and Mayor Giuseppe Sala of Milan, participated in a ceremony on Tuesday at the laying of the foundation stone of the new centre. The project is sponsored by the Lombardy regional unit of Unitalsi, an acronym for Italy’s volunteer association that organizes and accompanies sick persons, people with disabilities, the elderly, and anyone in need of help to Lourdes and other international sanctuaries.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-03/pope-malta-apostolic-journey-press-briefing-programme.html

Culture of care and hospitality central to Pope's Malta visit
29 March 2022, 13:31

Pope Francis sets off on his 36th Apostolic Visit abroad to the Mediterranean island nation of Malta this weekend, 2-3 April 2022. Amongst the highlights are a visit the Grotto of St. Paul whose ship washed up on Maltese shores in 60 A.D., and a meeting with refugees.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis’ imminent visit to the Mediterranean island nation of Malta, after having been postponed in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, is set to take place this weekend.

The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, on Tuesday, presented the 2-3 April 2022 Apostolic Trip to the archipelago. The visit marks the Holy Father’s 36th trip abroad, to the small nation, 90 percent of whose population according to a 2018 survey, professes to be Catholic.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-03/pope-expresses-condolences-upon-death-of-cardinal-naguib.html

Pope expresses condolences upon death of Cardinal Naguib
29 March 2022, 12:18

Pope Francis sends a telegram conveying his condolences upon the death of Egyptian Cardinal Antonios Naguib, who died on Monday at the age of 87.
By Lisa Zengarini

Pope Francis has expressed his condolences upon learning of the death of Cardinal Antonios Naguib, Patriarch emeritus of the Coptic Catholic Church, who passed away on 28 March.

A leading figure of the 250,000-strong Catholic Coptic community, Cardinal Naguib died at 87 in the Italian hospital in Cairo, following a long illness.

In a telegram addressed to Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac Sedrak of Alexandria, Pope Francis expressed his closeness to the entire Patriarchal Church for its loss.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250827/new-vatican-instruction-identity-of-catholic-schools-to-be-respected-by-teachers-students

New Vatican instruction: Identity of Catholic schools to be respected by teachers, students
By Hannah Brockhaus
Vatican City, Mar 29, 2022 / 10:20 am

The Vatican’s education congregation on Tuesday published a document responding to conflicts over the interpretation of the concept of “Catholic identity” in Catholic school settings.

The 20-page instruction affirmed the importance of a Catholic educational project with an evangelical goal and explained the role that teachers and administrators play in its achievement.

“The whole school community is responsible for implementing the school’s Catholic educational project as an expression of its ecclesiality and its being a part of the community of the Church,” the document from the Congregation for Catholic Education said.

“Everyone has the obligation to recognize, respect, and bear witness to the Catholic identity of the school, officially set out in the educational project,” it continued. “This applies to the teaching staff, the non-teaching personnel, and the pupils and their families.”
 
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2022/03/29/0222/00466.html#IN
Congregation for Catholic Education
(for Educational Institutions)
THE IDENTITY OF THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL
FOR A CULTURE OF DIALOGUE
Instruction
Vatican City 2022

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2022-03/interview-british-ambassador-chris-trott-holy-see-anniversary-40.html

Celebrating 40 years of Full Diplomatic Relations between UK and Holy See
28 March 2022, 17:29

A Mass presided over by the Vatican Secretary of State marks the 40th anniversary of Full Diplomatic Relations between the United Kingdom and the Holy See on 29 March. Ambassador Christopher Trott reflects on the significance of this unique relationship and on his hopes for the years to come.
By Linda Bordoni

“It’s a sort of a 40th birthday party,” Ambassador Christopher Trott said, noting that one of his colleagues had “pointed out that life begins at forty,” a good time, perhaps to work, even more, to make the relationship more mature.

The relationship the Ambassador to the Holy See is talking about is that between the Holy See and the United Kingdom, which has enjoyed full diplomatic relations for 40 years, and is marking the occasion on 29 March with a Mass presided over by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, in the Papal Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls.

Ambassador Trott came to Vatican Radio on the eve of the anniversary to talk about the history of the relationship, about the importance of diplomatic relations with the Holy See in world affairs, and about his hopes (and projects) for the future. This is what he said:
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2022-03/parolin-celebrates-40-years-of-relations-between-uk-holy-see.html
Cardinal Parolin celebrates 40 years of relations between UK and Holy See
29 March 2022, 16:32

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250821/who-will-be-the-next-leader-of-italy-s-catholic-bishops-conference

Who will be the next leader of Italy’s Catholic bishops’ conference?
By Andrea Gagliarducci
Rome Newsroom, Mar 29, 2022 / 03:45 am

There are four names in contention for the presidency of the Italian episcopal conference ahead of a vote in May.

The bishops will gather that month to choose their new president. The top three names will be passed to Pope Francis. The pope is free to choose one of the names or to appoint another bishop entirely to the role. For this reason, rumors about who is in the running are based more on the pope’s likely preferences than the indications of the country’s bishops.

So who are the four figures currently being mentioned?

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi has always been considered a strong candidate. The archbishop of Bologna since 2015 and a cardinal since 2019, the 67-year-old is closely associated with the influential Community of Sant’Egidio. Formerly a much-loved parish priest in Rome, Zuppi was also one of the negotiators in the peace process in Mozambique. The pope is believed to hold him in high esteem.
 

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Full Video of General Audience, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-03/pope-at-audience-old-age-can-be-a-time-of-spiritual-vitality.html
Pope at Audience: Old age can be a time of spiritual vitality
30 March 2022, 09:47

At the weekly General Audience, Pope Francis continues his catechesis on the lives and witness of the elderly, looking at how they can ensure our spiritual grounding and teach us the importance of discerning God’s presence in our daily lives and the unfolding of His saving plan.
By Thaddeus Jones

Presenting the next part of his catechesis on the meaning and value of old age, Pope Francis this week explored how the Gospel account of the elderly figures Simeon and Anna help us see how the elderly are called to offer a personal witness of faith and trust in the fulfilment of God’s promises, and thus build bridges between the generations.

And while the passing of years can dull our physical senses, he said, at this precious time in life the Holy Spirit can sharpen our spiritual senses.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-03/pope-asks-for-prayers-for-this-weekend-s-malta-visit.html
Pope asks for prayers for his weekend visit to Malta
30 March 2022, 10:43

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2022.index.html
Audiences 2022
General Audience of 30 March 2022 - Catechesis on Old Age

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Update:  Vatican finance trial

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250838/cardinal-becciu-not-bound-by-pontifical-secret-in-vatican-finance-trial-judge-rules
Cardinal Becciu not bound by pontifical secret in Vatican finance trial, judge rules
By Hannah Brockhaus
Vatican City, Mar 30, 2022 / 10:23 am

Cardinal Angelo Becciu can testify against his fellow defendant in the Vatican finance trial, the self-described “security consultant” Cecilia Marogna, a judge ruled on Wednesday.

The Vatican’s chief judge said on March 30 that Pope Francis had dispensed Becciu from the obligation of the pontifical secret, a rule of confidentiality protecting sensitive information regarding the governance of the universal Church.

Giuseppe Pignatone’s decree on the pontifical secret was issued during a hearing in a finance trial that began last summer.

The Vatican is holding a landmark trial to prosecute 10 defendants accused of financial malfeasance, mostly in connection with a London property purchased as an intended investment by the Secretariat of State.

Wednesday’s audience consisted of more than four hours of questioning of Msgr. Mauro Carlino, a former official of the Secretariat of State, who served as personal secretary to Becciu and later Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Substitute (Sostituto) of the Secretariat of State.

Carlino has been charged with extortion and abuse of office.

Becciu had invoked the pontifical secret regarding his dealings with Marogna, a 40-year-old from Sardinia, who has been accused of misappropriating more than 500,000 euros (around $600,000) she received from the Secretariat of State through her Slovenia-registered company in 2018 and 2019.

Marogna has said that she worked for the Secretariat of State as a security consultant and strategist under Becciu’s direction.