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Full text of Pope Francis’ address to the Diplomatic Corps

January 12, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Full text of Pope Francis’ address to the Diplomatic Corps

(Vatican Radio) On Monday, Pope Francis gave his traditional address to the members of the Diplomatic Corps attached to the Holy See. Below, please find the full text of the Holy Father’s address to the members of the Diplomatic Corps: ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS 12 January 2015 Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you for your presence at this traditional meeting, which allows me at the beginning of each new year to offer to you, your families, and the peoples you represent, my cordial greetings and best wishes. I am especially grateful to your Dean, Ambassador Jean-Claude Michel, for the kind words which he addressed to me in the name…Continue Reading

Pope Francis: Lord’s Baptism Mass and Angelus

January 11, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope Francis: Lord’s Baptism Mass and Angelus

(Vatican Radio) Remember to pray to the Holy Spirit: this was the message Pope Francis had for pilgrims and tourists who braved the drear and drizzle of a January morning in Rome, to gather in St Peter’s Square beneath the window of the Papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace and pray the Angeluswith the Holy Father on this Sunday – the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord and the conclusion of the liturgical season of Christmas. Noting that the descent of the Holy Spirit at Christ’s baptism in the Jordan is the sign by which the Lord begins His public teaching ministry, Pope Francis said, “We often pray to Jesus, we pray to the Father, especially when we pray…Continue Reading

Pope Francis: Only the Holy Spirit opens our hearts to love God

January 10, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope Francis: Only the Holy Spirit opens our hearts to love God

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis said only the Holy Spirit has the power to open our hearts to God and his love and not thousands of spirituality, yoga or zen courses. His words came during his homily at morning Mass on Friday celebrated in the Santa Marta residence.   The Pope’s reflections came from the day’s gospel reading that recounted how the apostles were terrified when they saw Jesus walking on water.  And the reason for their terror, he explained, is that their hearts were hardened. “Mirror” men and women and religious narcissists Pope Francis said a person’s heart can be made of stone for many reasons, such as, for example, a painful experience in one’s life. But as he went…Continue Reading

Pope Francis : Love Leads Us To God

January 9, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope Francis : Love Leads Us To God

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis reminded the faithful that Christian love is to be expressed with concrete acts, and he pointed out that words are not enough. Speaking during his homily on Thursday morning during Mass at the Casa Santa Marta, the Pope said that God leads the way with love, and that it is through love that we get to know God. Reflecting on what he called the “key word” in the liturgy during this time of the year, Pope Francis said Jesus ‘manifests’ himself at the Epiphany, at the Baptism, at the Wedding of Cana, but he asked: “how can we know God?” Francis explained that this truth is explained less by the intellect than by the heart. WE…Continue Reading

Pope Thanks Mothers For Their Precious Role

January 7, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope Thanks Mothers For Their Precious Role

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis thanked all mothers for their precious role in society and for what they give to the Church and to the world. Speaking on Wednesday morning at the General Audience, Pope Francis continued his catechesis on the family, inspired, he said, by the Christmas image of Our Lady who presents her Son to the world. Reflecting on the role of mothers in society and in the Church, he pointed out that the Church too is a mother, “our mother” and that no believer is an orphan. The Pope said that for all our symbolic glorification of mothers, their important contribution to the life of society, their daily sacrifices and their aspirations are not always properly appreciated. Even in…Continue Reading

Pope Francis: Epiphany Homily 2015

January 6, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope Francis: Epiphany Homily 2015

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis delivered the homily at Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday, January 6th, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. Below, please find the official English translation of the Holy Father’s prepared remarks. ********************************** Homily of His Holiness Pope Francis Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord 6 January 2015 That child, born in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary, came not only for the people of Israel, represented by the shepherds of Bethlehem, but also for all humanity, represented today by the wise men from the East.  It is on the Magi and their journey in search of the Messiah that the Church today invites us to meditate and to pray. These wise men from the…Continue Reading

Vatican Spokesman Reflects on Those Chosen to Be Cardinals

January 5, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Vatican Spokesman Reflects on Those Chosen to Be Cardinals

Vatican City, January 04, 2015 (Zenit.org) Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, offered the following reflections about the 20 prelates who will become cardinals in February. Their names were announced today. * * * With respect to the number of 120 electors, there were 12 places “open” in the College today or in the coming months. The Pope has slightly exceeded this number, but remained very close to it, such that it is substantially respected. The most evident criteria is evidently that of universality. Fourteen different countries are represented, including some that do not currently have a Cardinal, and some that have never had one. If the retired Archbishops and Bishops are counted, eighteen countries are…Continue Reading

Pope Renews Call For Peace At Sunday Angelus

January 4, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope Renews Call For Peace At Sunday Angelus

(Vatican Radio) At his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Francis again returned to the theme of peace building. “My hope,” he said, “is that the exploitation of man by man would be overcome.” He said, “Each person, and every people hungers and thirsts for peace; therefore, it is necessary and urgent to build peace!” Pope Francis re-iterated that peace is always possible, and said that we are all called “called to rekindle in our hearts an impulse of hope, that should result in concrete works of peace, reconciliation, and fraternity.” Each one of us, the Holy Father said, “can accomplish gestures of fraternity in dealing with one’s neighbour, especially with those who are tried by family tensions or by disagreements…Continue Reading

Pope at Angelus: Fix Your Gaze On Mary The Mother Of God

January 2, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Pope at Angelus: Fix Your Gaze On Mary The Mother Of God

(Vatican Radio) In his Angelus address on the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God – which is also observed as World Day of Peace – Pope Francis called on us “to fix our gaze of faith and of love on the Mother of Jesus.” Below, please find the complete text of Pope Francis’ address at the Angelus on Thursday:  Dear brothers and sisters, On this first day of the year, in the joyful atmosphere of Christmas, the Church invites us to fix our gaze of faith and of love on the Mother of Jesus. In her, the humble woman of Nazareth, “the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (Jn 1:14). Because of this it is impossible…Continue Reading

Homily for the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God

January 1, 2015 breaking Comments Off on Homily for the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God

(Vatican Radio) On January 1, the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, Pope Francis celebrated Solemn Mass in the Basilica of Saint Peter. Below, please find the complete text of the Pope’s homily for the Mass: Today we are reminded of the words of blessing which Elizabeth spoke to the Virgin Mary: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?” (Lk 1:42-43). This blessing is in continuity with the priestly blessing which God had given to Moses to be passed on to Aaron and to all the people: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make…Continue Reading