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Pope calls for renewed prayers for Synod on the Family

March 25, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope calls for renewed prayers for Synod on the Family

(Vatican Radio) At a rain-soaked General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis called for renewed prayers for the upcoming Synod of Bishops in the Family. After meeting briefly with a group of sick people gathered in the Paul VI Hall, Pope Francis greeted pilgrims in Saint Peter’s Square. The Pope began his reflection by noting that March 25th, the Solemnity of the Annunciation, marks a special stage in the journey of catechesis on the family, a moment to pause for prayer. The Annunciation, the “beginning of the mystery of the Incarnation” shows that God willed for His Only-begotten Son to not only be conceived in the womb of a mother, but to be welcomed into a true family. Pope Francis led…Continue Reading

Pope: “Where There Is No Mercy There Is No Justice”

March 24, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope: “Where There Is No Mercy There Is No Justice”

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday warned against righteous hypocrisy and urged Christians to be merciful. During his homily at morning Mass in the Casa Santa Marta, the Pope reflected on the Gospel readings of the day and on another Gospel passage pointing out that “where there is no mercy there is no justice”. Referring to three women in the Bible, Pope Francis said they represent three allegorical figures of the Church. The women he said are: Susanna – an innocent woman; an adulteress – a sinner; and a poor and needy widow. They symbolize – the Pope said – the holy Church, the sinning Church and the needy Church. They are all judged and ‘condemned’ by judges who are…Continue Reading

Pope calls on Christians to express their faith in action

March 23, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope calls on Christians to express their faith in action

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis says the lives of Christians must be coherent and express faith in action. Speaking to the crowds gathered in a rainy St. Peter’s Square for the Sunday Angelus, the Pope invited all believers to always bear in mind the message of the Gospel, the image of the Crucified Lord, and the need to be witnesses of faith. Calling on Christians to express their faith in action, the Pope also turned to those who have yet to experience an encounter with Christ offering the gift of a pocket-sized Gospel in which “we can meet Jesus, listen to Him, and get to know Him”. And commenting on the fact that 50 thousand copies of the Gospel were being…Continue Reading

Pope Francis in Naples: Meeting with youth

March 22, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope Francis in Naples: Meeting with youth

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis denounced a hidden euthanasia of elderly telling thousands of young people gathered on Naples waterfront that family affection is the best medicine for the elderly, solitude their worst poison. Some 100 thousand young people gathered on Naples waterfront in what was Pope Francis’ last appointment on his busy one day pastoral visit to the southern Italian Campania region. Greeted to cheers shouted in the local dialect on arriving on the stage the Pope took the microphone to encourage the crowd to shout the name of Jesus and proclaim their faith in Him and not that of the Pope. Then in what has become the Pope’s preferred form of encounter, people were invited to pose questions for…Continue Reading

Pope Francis Calls Naples To ‘Redemption’

March 21, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope Francis Calls Naples To ‘Redemption’

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis celebrated the Eucharist in Naples on Saturday morning. Tens of thousands of people packed into Piazza del Plebiscito, a main square of the southern Italian city, for the open-air Mass. Large tapestries of local saints decorated the square. During his homily, the Pope called on the city’s residents to embrace the Words of Jesus and to work together for “redemption for Naples.” He also called to conversion all those who lead criminal and corrupt lives. “Dear Neapolitans, do not allow hope to be stolen from you,” he said. “Do not give in to the lure of easy money or dishonest income. React firmly to organizations that exploit and corrupt the young, the poor and the weak,…Continue Reading

Pope Francis greets Benedict XVI on Feast of St Joseph

March 20, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope Francis greets Benedict XVI on Feast of St Joseph

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis phoned Benedict XVI to offer best wishes on the feast of St Joseph. It is a tradition for many Catholics to celebrate in a special way the feast day of the saint for whom they are named; the Pope Emeritus was baptized Joseph Ratzinger. In his turn, Benedict offered congratulations to the Holy Father on the occasion of the second anniversary of the solemn inauguration of Pope Francis’ Petrine Ministry. Saint Joseph is honoured as the Patron of the Universal Church, and one of the principle Patron Saints of Italy. His feast day is a Solemnity in the Latin liturgical calendar, and is a holiday in the Vatican.

Mass at Santa Marta – Don’t close that door

March 19, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Mass at Santa Marta – Don’t close that door

2015-03-17 L’Osservatore Romano Lent is a propitious time to ask the Lord, “for each of us and for the whole Church”, for “conversion to the mercy of Jesus”. Too often, in fact, Christians “are experts at closing the door to people” who, worn down by life and by their mistakes, would instead be ready for a new start, “people whose hearts the Holy Spirit stirs to move forward”. During Mass at Santa Marta on Tuesday, 17 March, the law of love was at the core of Pope Francis’ reflection, which began from the Day’s Liturgy of the Word. It began with an image: “water which is made fresh”. In the First Reading the Prophet Ezekiel (47:1-9, 12) talks about water…Continue Reading

Pope: a society can be judged by the way it treats its children

March 18, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope: a society can be judged by the way it treats its children

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis today turned his thoughts to the countless children across the world who live in poverty and need. Addressing the crowds in St. Peter’s Square gathered for the weekly General Audience, the Pope continued in his catechesis on the family, focusing this time on children. Pope Francis said that children are a great gift for humanity and for the Church. Recalling the many happy children he met during his recent journey to Asia brimming with life and enthusiasm, he said that on the other hand he thinks of the countless children throughout our world who are living in poverty and need. “A society can be judged by the way it treats its children” he said. The Pope…Continue Reading

Pope: “make space for God’s love so He can change you”

March 17, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope: “make space for God’s love so He can change you”

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis says we are loved by God in a way that no theologian can explain. He was speaking during morning Mass in the Casa Santa Marta. Taking his cue from the first reading from the prophet Isaiah in which the Lord says He is “about to create new heavens and a new earth”, Pope Francis said that God’s second creation is even more “wonderful” than the first because when he makes the world over he does so in Jesus Christ. He renews everything and manifests his immense joy: “We find that the Lord has so much enthusiasm: he speaks of joy and says ‘I will exult in my people’. The Lord thinks of what He will do…Continue Reading

Pope Urges Laity To Live Their Vocation In The World

March 16, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope Urges Laity To Live Their Vocation In The World

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met members of the Rome-based lay association Seguimi (Follow Me) on Saturday on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. In his message, the Pope spoke of the importance of the lay vocation in the Church. Lay people are called to permeate the family, work and social environments with Christian values through their witness and words and by meeting people in the concrete situations of their lives, so that they may live in “full dignity” and be “reached by the salvation of Christ,” said Pope Francis. “Jesus is the fullness for every human person, revealing the mystery of the Father and of his love,” he said. “As lay people, you are immersed in the world and you…Continue Reading