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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

Pope Francis To Large Families: You Are A Gift To Society

December 24, 2014 breaking Comments Off on Pope Francis To Large Families: You Are A Gift To Society

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis said on Sunday that “in a world often marred by selfishness, a large family is a role model for solidarity and sharing and this benefits the whole of society.” The Pope’s remarks came during an address to a gathering of around 7,000 people belonging to an Italian association for large families. Speaking to the families and their children, Pope Francis said he was pleased to meet them, saying it was clear that they “love the family and they love life.”  “Each of your children”, he said, “was wanted by God” and it amazes us “how great a miracle is a child.” A child is somebody who changes our life.  He also underlined the important role played…Continue Reading

Pope Francis: a Curia that is outdated, sclerotic or indifferent to others is an ailing body

December 23, 2014 breaking Comments Off on Pope Francis: a Curia that is outdated, sclerotic or indifferent to others is an ailing body

Vatican City, 22 December 2014 (VIS) – This morning in the Clementine Hall the Holy Father held his annual meeting with the Roman Curia to exchange Christmas greetings with the members of its component dicasteries, councils, offices, tribunals and commissions. “It is good to think of the Roman Curia as a small model of the Church, that is, a body that seeks, seriously and on a daily basis, to be more alive, healthier, more harmonious and more united in itself and with Christ”. “The Curia is always required to better itself and to grow in communion, sanctity and wisdom to fully accomplish its mission. However, like any body, it is exposed to sickness, malfunction and infirmity. … I would like…Continue Reading

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December 22, 2014 breaking Comments Off on Exclusive . .

Pope Francis: Christmas Greetings To Curia

December 22, 2014 breaking Comments Off on Pope Francis: Christmas Greetings To Curia

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received the heads and other senior officials of the departments of the Roman Curia on Monday, in their traditional exchange of Christmas greetings. In remarks prepared for the occasion and delivered Monday morning, the Holy Father focused on the need for those who serve in the curia – especially those in positions of power and authority – to remember and cultivate an attitude and a spirit of service. “Sometimes,” said Pope Francis, “[Officials of the Curia] feel themselves ‘lords of the manor’ [It. padroni] – superior  to everyone and everything,” forgetting that the spirit, which should animate them in their lives of service to the universal Church, is one of humility and generosity, especially in view…Continue Reading

Pope: At Christmas Jesus Knocks At The Doors Of Your Heart

December 21, 2014 breaking, Uncategorized Comments Off on Pope: At Christmas Jesus Knocks At The Doors Of Your Heart

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday invited the faithful to listen carefully when God knocks at their door. “Too often – he said – Jesus passes by in our lives, he sends an angel and we are so caught up in our thoughts and concerns we do not even notice”. Speaking to the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Angelus Prayer, the Pope reflected on the liturgy of the last Sunday of Advent that tells of the  Annunciation of the Archangel Gabriel to Mary and on how she simply, and humbly – with an attitude of total faith in the Lord – said “yes”. She said “I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to…Continue Reading

Pope Francis receives John XXIII Community

December 20, 2014 breaking Comments Off on Pope Francis receives John XXIII Community

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received nearly 8 thousand members and associates of the Pope St. John XXIII Community on Saturday. Now recognized as an Association of Lay Faithful, the  Pope John XXIII Community was founded by Fr. Oreste Benzi of the clergy of the Diocese of Rimini in 1968, on the basis of his decade of experience with young people – mostly teenagers – who had accepted his invitation and participated in his initiatives encouraging what he called, “A friendly encounter with Christ,” especially through service to and with the disabled, marginalized, the excluded, and forgotten. The work of the foundation has involved numberless teens who had drifted away from the Church, offering them the chance to have a truly…Continue Reading