Pope Francis

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Video, with English subtitles, at the link...

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-12/pope-francis-december-prayer-intention-jubilee-pilgrims.html
Pope’s December prayer intention: ‘For pilgrims of hope’
03 December 2024, 16:00

Pope Francis releases his prayer intention for the month of December, and invites Christians to pray that each of us may become pilgrims of hope as a result of the 2025 Jubilee.
By Devin Watkins

“Let us pray that this upcoming Jubilee may strengthen us in our faith, helping us to recognize the Risen Christ in the midst of our lives, transforming us into pilgrims of Christian hope.”

Pope Francis offered that prayer in The Pope Video released on Tuesday to accompany his prayer intention for December, which will see the opening of the 2025 Jubilee of Hope on Christmas Eve.

He lamented the suffering afflicting our world, saying humanity has great need of hope.

“Christian hope is a gift from God that fills our lives with joy,” said the Pope, calling hope an anchor for our lives.

“We have to hold onto the rope of hope – hold on tight,” he urged.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-12/c9-focuses-on-collegiality-role-of-women-nuncios-world-crises.html

C9 focuses on collegiality, role of women, nuncios, and world crises
03 December 2024, 19:51

At the December session of the Council of Cardinals (C9), held on 2nd and 3rd December at the Casa Santa Marta in the presence of Pope Francis, several current issues concerning the Church and the world were discussed, as also discussed at the recent Synod. The meetings also provided an opportunity to reflect on the situation in the various countries represented by the Cardinals, “to share concerns and hopes about the ongoing reality of conflict and crisis.”
Vatican News

Collegiality in the Church, the role of women, the recent Synod, the implementation of the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium in diocesan Curias, the role of nuncios, concerns and hopes for the global reality amid crises and conflicts marked the varied topics addressed during the December session of the Council of Cardinals, known as the C9, the working group composed of nine cardinals that assists and advises Pope Francis.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-12/pope-francis-audience-4-december-2024-holy-spirit-evangelisation.html

Pope at Audience: Homilies should be focused and no longer than 10 minutes
04 December 2024, 09:45

Pope Francis continues his catechesis cycle on the Holy Spirit and the Bride, focusing this week's General Audience on the role of preaching in the Church, encouraging preachers to rely on the Gospel’s content and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
By Francesca Merlo

In continuing his cycle of catechesis on the Spirit and the Bride, Pope Francis dedicated his Wednesday General Audience to the evangelising work of the Holy Spirit in the preaching of the Church's ministers.

Addressing the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Pope reflected on the First Letter of Peter, in which the first Pope defined the apostles as “those who preached the good news to you [through] the Holy Spirit."

Pope Francis explained that in this expression we find the two constitutive elements of Christian preaching, namely "its content, which is the Gospel, and its means, which is the Holy Spirit."
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-12/pope-francis-general-audience-appeals-war-does-not-solve-problem.html
Pope: 'War does not solve problems'
04 December 2024, 10:11

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2024.index.html
Audiences 2024
General Audience of 4 December 2024 - Cycle of Catechesis. The Spirit and the Bride. The Holy Spirit guides the people of God towards Jesus our hope 16. Proclaiming the Gospel in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit and evangelization

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-12/pope-meets-with-hungarian-pm-viktor-orban.html

Pope meets with Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán
04 December 2024, 18:14

Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán visits the Vatican, and discusses the war in Ukraine, Hungary’s presidency of the EU Council, and support for young people.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán this morning, December 4, in the Apostolic Palace.

The encounter lasted 35 minutes and concluded with the customary exchange of gifts, including an 18th-century map of the Holy Land.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-12/pope-message-second-congress-popularity-piety.html

Pope: Embody Christ’s love through devotion and charity
04 December 2024, 18:41

Pope Francis urges participants at the Brotherhoods and Popular Piety Congress in Seville, Spain, to embody Christ’s love through devotion, unity, and acts of charity.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis on Wednesday sent a mesage to participants of the Second International Congress of Brotherhoods and Popular Piety, held in Seville on Wednesday December 4th. He opened his message by recognising the unique devotion of the people of Seville, who “live with fervour the expressions of their faith until they become integral to their social fabric.” This vibrant faith, the Pope noted, is not only a personal journey but a communal one that shapes the life of the Church.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/260827/21-new-cardinals-to-reflect-catholic-church-s-unity-amid-geographic-expansion

21 new cardinals to reflect Catholic Church’s unity amid geographic expansion
By Kristina Millare
Vatican City, Dec 4, 2024 / 12:30 pm

The 21 new cardinals to be created by Pope Francis at the Dec. 7 consistory reflect the pontiff’s vision for a missionary Church that reaches out to the world’s peripheries.

Following the 10th consistory of his pontificate, Pope Francis will have effectively cemented the expansive geographical diversity of the College of Cardinals as well as chosen approximately 60% of all its members and almost 80% of the cardinals who will choose his successor in a future conclave.

While the College of Cardinals will still largely be European — with a high proportion who are either representing Italian churches or are of Italian origin — after the Dec. 7 consistory more than 90 countries will be represented in the college responsible for advising the pope in the care of the universal Church.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-12/pope-francis-gets-new-electric-popemobile-from-mercedes.html

Mercedes-Benz gifts Pope Francis new electric popemobile
04 December 2024, 19:22

The vehicle, given on the occasion of the Jubilee of 2025, is one-of-a-kind, green, and tailored specifically to Pope Francis’ needs.
By Kielce Gussie

There is a new popemobile in the Vatican. On December 4, the CEO of Mercedes-Benz, Ola Källenius, and other team members gifted Pope Francis a new convertible, electric G-Glass. Källenius described the experience as “a great honor for us, paying attention to all the Holy Father’s needs.”

The Pope will greet pilgrims at the next papal event in St. Peter’s Square in this popemobile, specifically designed for him on the occasion of the Jubilee Year. At Pope Francis’ request, the entire team who worked on the vehicle was present for the delivery
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/260797/a-lagoon-in-st-peter-s-square-vatican-nativity-scene-set-to-make-a-splash

A lagoon in St. Peter’s Square? Vatican Nativity scene set to make a splash
By Hannah Brockhaus
Vatican City, Dec 4, 2024 / 06:00 am

A small island town in northern Italy has put its heart into recreating a local lagoon in a Nativity scene for St. Peter’s Square — the first time the crèche will feature a large body of water.

“There’s not only the work behind it, but there’s the love, there’s the passion of everybody,” Andrea de Walderstein, the Nativity’s architect, designer, and construction manager, told CNA.

“We are the first to bring water to St. Peter’s [Square],” he said, explaining that the grandiose Nativity will feature the lagoon of Grado, a town of about 8,000 people located on an island and adjacent peninsula in the Adriatic Sea between Venice and Trieste
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-12/pope-francis-message-caritas-toledo-5-december-2024.html

Pope to Caritas delegation: Be teachers of wisdom
05 December 2024, 10:41

Pope Francis commends members of Caritas Toledo for 60 years of charitable service, urging them to continue fostering societal change through charity, justice, and faith.
By Francesca Merlo

Pope Francis on Thursday greeted a delegation of members of the Caritas Toledo organization in Spain, who are celebrating sixty years of charitable service. Their commitment, the Pope told them, is one that "goes far beyond the concrete good that can be done for an individual" and "embraces the challenge of becoming a driver of societal change through the spread of the spirit of charity and justice, aiming to awaken a more fraternal conscience in all people of goodwill".

He reminded those present that they are not just examples of civility and philanthropy, but also instruments of evangelisation through the universal language of works of charity. This language, he continued, is understandable to all, "written with the testimony and efforts of all Caritas agents committed to Jesus Christ and His Gospel".
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/december.index.html
Speeches 2024 December
To the Members of Caritas of the Diocese of Toledo (Spain) (5 December 2024)

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/260865/hawley-warns-feds-retain-records-on-catholic-investigation-pro-life-convictions

Hawley warns feds: Retain records on Catholic investigation, pro-life convictions
By Tyler Arnold
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 5, 2024 / 15:10 pm

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley this week warned the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to not destroy federal records including documents related to the investigation of traditionalist Catholics or the convictions of numerous pro-life activists.

In a Dec. 3 letter directed to FBI Director Christopher Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland, Hawley — a senator from Missouri who serves on the Judiciary Committee — claimed that he has received reports of employees “destroying records and other documents in an effort to conceal widespread misconduct that took place under the [Joe] Biden administration.”

The senator accused the federal agencies of engaging in “unprecedented abuses of the justice system” and specifically referenced “attempts to recruit undercover informants in Catholic parishes” and “bad-faith prosecutions of pro-life Americans for peacefully protesting abortion,” along with prosecutions of President-elect Donald Trump.

“You must immediately stop this attempt to evade accountability and should terminate any employees involved,” Hawley wrote. “Further, you must preserve all department and bureau documents in anticipation of congressional investigations to come.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-12/first-advent-sermon-roberto-pasolini-pope-roman-curia.html

Fr. Pasolini's first Advent Sermon: 'Open our hearts to wonder of God’s newness'
06 December 2024, 13:02

Fr. Roberto Pasolini, the new Preacher of the Papal Household, delivers his first Advent Sermon to Pope Francis and the Roman Curia, focusing on the theme "The Door of Wonder."
By Alessandro Di Bussolo and Isabella Piro

The wonder before God’s newness—the mystery of the Incarnation—is “the first movement of the heart to awaken” as we journey toward the celebration of the Lord’s birth at Christmas and prepare to cross the Jubilee Door with renewed hope.

We are called to learn from the wonder of Mary after the angel Gabriel’s announcement, who “lets herself be naturally drawn” into God’s plan and desired to “participate in it freely and consciously.” In order to do so, we must first dissolve the rigidity of our hearts, saying ‘no’ to all that risks closing us off and weighing us down: fear, resignation, and cynicism. Only then “can we see everything with new eyes, recognizing those seeds of the Gospel already present in reality” and ready to bring God’s hope into the world.

Father Roberto Pasolini, a Capuchin Franciscan friar and the new Preacher to the Papal Household, offered this inspiration on Friday morning to Pope Francis and members of the Roman Curia in Vatican's Paul VI Hall.

The theme chosen for the three Advent Sermons is “The Doors of Hope: Toward the Opening of the Holy Year through the Prophecy of Christmas.”
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255524/what-is-a-consistory-your-questions-answered

What is a consistory? Your questions answered
By Jonah McKeown
CNA Staff, Dec 6, 2024 / 06:00 am

On Saturday, Dec. 7, Pope Francis will create 21 new cardinals at a consistory in Rome, including the archbishops of Tehran, Iran; Tokyo; and Toronto.

Here’s everything you need to know:
 

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/260885/new-cardinals-emphasize-church-unity-evangelization-ahead-of-consistory
New cardinals emphasize Church unity, evangelization ahead of consistory
By AC Wimmer, Bénédicte Cedergren, Marco Mancini
Vatican City, Dec 6, 2024 / 15:45 pm

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/260895/almost-half-of-the-new-cardinals-will-be-from-religious-orders-what-does-that-mean
What does it mean that almost half of the new cardinals will be from religious orders?
By Marco Mancini, Matthew Bunson
Rome Newsroom, Dec 6, 2024 / 16:15 pm

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/260785/us-churches-to-ring-bells-for-reopening-of-notre-dame-cathedral-in-paris

U.S. churches to ring bells for reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral
By Madalaine Elhabbal
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 2, 2024 / 16:15 pm

Attendees including workers of reconstruction of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral gather during a speech by French President Emmanuel Macron (center) in the nave of the cathedral in Paris on Nov. 29, 2024. | Credit: CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

As the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris prepares to reopen on Dec. 7, U.S. bishops are calling on local American churches to show their solidarity with the Church’s “eldest daughter.”

Five years ago, a devastating fire broke out across the timber roof and 315-foot-tall oak spire of the beloved 12th-century French cathedral. Restoration to the structure began with a two-year cleaning process followed by a $760 million reconstruction project.

In a social media post, the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) wrote that as the cathedral reopens its doors, “local churches in the U.S. are invited to peal their bells in a gesture of unity.”
 
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., is also encouraging local churches to accept the bishops’ invitation and will ring its bells at 2 p.m. ET on Dec. 7, according to the USCCB.
 

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Video, with English subtitles, at the link...

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2024-12/images-reopening-notre-dame-paris-cathedral.html
Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral: The beauty of faith recounted in stone
06 December 2024, 10:36

Ahead of the reopening of the Cathedral of Notre Dame of Paris on December 8, a philosopher of religion explores the importance of its religious restoration alongside its physical renovation.
By Delphine Allaire

"A true act of thanksgiving and an act of faith; do not settle for admiring the magnificent stones. Remember that this is a gift from God and a gift for God."

Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, the Archbishop of Paris, made that invitation regarding the restoration and partial reconstruction of Paris's iconic cathedral just weeks before its reopening.

Ahead of the reopening ceremony on Sunday, December 8, Roger Pouivet, a French philosopher of religion and professor emeritus of the University of Lorraine, spoke to Vatican News about the link between culture and heritage.
 

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https://cruxnow.com/church-in-europe/2024/12/france-prepares-for-event-of-the-century-without-star-guest

France prepares for event of the century without star guest
By Elise Ann Allen
Dec 6, 2024

ROME – After hosting the summer Olympics earlier this year, France this weekend will mark one of the most significant events of the century with the reopening of its famed Notre Dame Cathedral, five years after vast portions were destroyed in a fire.

However, while the inaugural Mass has a high-profile lineup that includes some 50 heads of state and government, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump from the United States, one notable absentee will be Pope Francis, who declined the invitation but is traveling to a small, Mediterranean French island days later.

Notre Dame, an iconic 860-year-old French landmark not only for Catholics, but for locals and tourists from around the world, was engulfed in flames on April 15, 2019, with the blaze destroying vast portions of one of Europe’s most beloved cathedrals.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-12/pope-enough-with-wars-and-violence-in-the-world.html

Pope: ‘Enough with wars and violence in the world!’
07 December 2024, 14:58

Pope Francis before “Nativity of Bethlehem 2024" in the Paul VI Hall  (VATICAN MEDIA Divisione Foto)

Addressing this years’ donors of the Nativity Scene and Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis renews his impassioned appeal for peace amid ongoing wars and violence in the Holy Land and across the world.
By Lisa Zengarini

“Enough with wars! Enough with violence!”: these poignant words resonated again in the Paul the VI Hall on Saturday where Pope Francis received in audience the delegations that gifted this year's Nativity Scene and Christmas Tree to be inaugurated later this afternoon in St. Peter’s Square.

The Nativity has been crafted in the city of Grado, in the northern Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, while the majestic 29-meter spruce tree comes from the forests of Ledro, in the Trentino Region.

Attending the audience were also representatives from the Embassy of the State of Palestine to the Holy See on the occasion of the inauguration of the “Nativity of Bethlehem 2024"  crafted by  local artisans and displayed in the Paul VI Hall.
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/december.index.html
Speeches 2024 December
To donors of the Nativity Scene and the Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square (7 December 2024)

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Video, with English commentary, at the link...

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-12/pope-francis-consistory-21-new-cardinals-2024.html
Pope tells new Cardinals never to stray from the path of Jesus
07 December 2024, 16:40


Pope Francis celebrates a consistory for the creation of new cardinals telling them not to be dazzled by the seduction of power, but to always walk the path of Jesus and cultivate a passion for encounter.
By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis on Saturday encouraged the group of twenty-one new cardinals from across the globe to “walk in the way of Jesus: together, with humility, wonder and joy.”

Presiding at Holy Mass for the Ordinary Public Consistory for the Creation of New Cardinals in St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pope reminded the prelates receiving the red hat, that just as Jesus’ ascent to Jerusalem was not an ascent to worldly glory but to the glory of God, they too must put the Lord at the centre and be builders of communion and unity.

Pope Francis announced the Consistory at the beginning of October pointing to the fact that the origins of the cardinal-elects “express the universality of the Church, which continues to proclaim God's merciful love to all people on earth.”
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2024.index.html
Homilies 2024
Ordinary Public Consistory for the creation of new Cardinals (7 December 2024)

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https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/notre-dame-cathedral-reopening-live-updates-rcna183295

Live updates: Notre Dame bells ring for the first time since fire
President-Elect Donald Trump is expected to be among those in attendance at the grand reopening, along with first lady Jill Biden and Prince William.

Watch live: Reopening ceremony for Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
Updated Dec. 7, 2024, 12:44 PM CST
By NBC News

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-12/pope-francis-message-reopening-notre-dame-cathedral-france.html

Pope: Rebirth of Notre Dame a sign of renewal for the Church in France
07 December 2024, 20:30

Official ceremony marks reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral  (ANSA)

As Notre Dame Cathedral reopens its doors for worship, five years after a fire left it in ruins, Pope Francis has a heartfelt message of solidarity, gratitude, and hope to mark the occasion.
By Linda Bordoni

Describing the moment as one of transition "from sadness and mourning to joy, celebration, and praise," Pope Francis said he joins the faithful in spirit and prayer as Notre Dame Cathedral is reborn from the embers.

In a message addressed to Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris, the Pope expressed his joy on this historic day. The message was read by the Apostolic Nuncio to France, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, during the inauguration ceremony on Saturday evening.
 

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https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/photos-21-new-cardinals-created-by-pope-francis-at-the-vatican/

PHOTOS: 21 new cardinals created by Pope Francis at the Vatican
Sat Dec 7, 2024 - 12:52 pm EST

VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews) — Pope Francis today presided over a consistory to create 21 new cardinals for the Church, with the diverse group of cardinals hailing from far-flung corners of the world and many being noted for their favorability to LGBT issues.

On December 7, Francis added a new swathe of members to the College of Cardinals, firmly cementing the predominance of his picks in the College of Cardinals.

The consistory, announced October 6 at the start of the final session of the Synod on Synodality, comprised of 20 new cardinal electors – those under the age of 80 – and one already too old to vote, namely Cardinal Angelo Acerbi who is an emeritus Apostolic Nuncio.

READ: Pope Francis names pro-LGBT Father Timothy Radcliffe among 21 new cardinals

According to the Vatican’s own statistics {which are curiously missing two voters: Cardinals Oswald Gracias and Christoph Schonborn}, this consistory serves to cement the domination of Francis-appointed cardinals in the college. There are now 255 cardinals, of whom 142 are able to vote.