The Pope calls Mexican bishops to face the challenges of migration and drug trafficking - With prophetic courage 2016-02-15 L’Osservatore Romano “Only a Church able to shelter the faces of men and women who knock on her doors will be able to speak to them of God.... We do not need 'princes', but rather a community of the Lord’s witnesses.” Pope Francis addressed a long and passionate speech to the bishops of Mexico on Saturday morning, 13 February, in the Cathedral of the Assumption in Mexico City. It was an address in which the Pontiff touched on the serious challenges which the country is facing, including migration and crime. Expressing his trust in the ability of the country and of the Church to walk on the path of peace and justice, the Pope said that he “is sure that Mexico and its Church”, he said, “will make it in time to that rendezvous with themselves, with history and with God”. The Pope's address to the bishops http://www.news.va/en/news/the-pope-calls-mexican-bishops-to-face-the-challen
...I support the pope, but am admittedly disappointed that he would call anyone who supports a border wall, "unchristian". In fact, it offends me. I would remind him that unless he can guarantee no one will cross the border who has evil plans, either as a criminal or terrorist, such statements are too broad. Perhaps the Pope would ask me, "Would Christ build a wall?" To which I'd answer, "Would Christ have put on a uniform to go fight the Nazis?" My point is, we are all supposed to have one foot planted on earth, but the other firmly planted in Heaven. Yet, there "are" certain unpleasant realities we must face. Coming up with the proper balance is a very tough thing. I support a wall, because I believe it's chaos along the border, no matter what the proportion of desperate people vs criminals and potential terrorists. Let's forget the wall for a minute. Would the pope have us leave our doors unlocked in case desperate people want to seek shelter, lest we be "unchristian"?
I support the pope because he is the Pope. It would be nice if, occasionally, he wouldn't leave us Catholics thinking that we're all doomed while the only people on the path to Heaven are kind hearted atheists and illegal immigrants. Here in Ireland we can't house our own homeless yet we are expected to take in thousands of immigrants and eventually all their families, not to mention the strain on our health, welfare and education budgets, and we've only just emerged from the clutches of the IMF, leaving us with huge debts that we will be repaying for generations to come. I wish that the Pope would get his information from sources other than scanning one newspaper and the filter of his Secretary of State. I also wish that he would stop giving these post-trip interviews. It's hard enough being a Catholic these days. It has occurred to me more than once that with a Pope like this, who needs enemies. He must know by now that his statements will be twisted by his friends in the media. We'll just have to pray harder for him, for ourselves and for the world.
Whatever happened to...who am I to judge....What a joke. Disagree with him on the right and you are a pharisee, hypocrite, unchristian, etc. What about slicing up babies and selling their body parts? Nothing! He says nothing! What about Obama, I guess he is a christian in good standing with this pope. Homosexuality and abortion... oh you know where he stands. Can't wait to see the spin out of Mark Mallett and Charlie Johnston on this one. I guess there is no "field hospital" for those on the right.
In fairness, he didn't beat about the bush on abortion. He stated unequivocally that abortion is murder and a very grave evil. Pity he didn't use the same clear language when in the US, although it is an improvement for him to mention abortion in such terms in a situation where he isn't preaching to the choir. On the Trump comment, he was set up by the journalist from Reuters, but he's been around long enough to know when and how to deflect as he did on the question about his meeting with the Orthodox Patriarch. Richard: The wall around the Vatican is hundreds of years old, built to repel armed invaders, and Pope Francis didn't build it. The way things are going, if ISIS do make it to Rome, Pope Francis will greet them with the fatted calf and an apology for the Church being Catholic. That said, he is still the Pope and we will just have to look for the message of Christ in his words.
That's true, but the Pope is not infallible in matters of politics. The bigger news today shouldn't be the Pope's comments on Trump but rather his comments on contraception as related to the Zika virus. I'm really hoping he was mistranslated but sadly it is looking more and more like he was not, and I am not sure his comments on contraception can be squared with what the Magisterium teaches regarding artificial contraception. The Zika case and the case of the nuns in the Congo who were provided oral contraceptives in the 60's are really two entirely different moral situations.
Yes, the contraception comments could give rise to more problems for the Church than whether Trump wins the Republican nomination. On the plus side, his comment about Communion for the divorced and remarried gave me some hope that he won't go overboard on that.
Yes! I believe that the Pope is “playing his part” as directed but as I’ve become old, cynical and fatalistic ….??!! … The Pope, as I see it, is hastening the implosion of the USA. I don’t like it but one day I hope to understand it? “El Papa’ embraces Raul Castro but calls Donald Trump anti-Christian!–Silvio Canto, Jr.” http://www.americanthinker.com/blog...tro_but_calls_donald_trump_antichristian.html “Papal Bull: Why Is Francis Trying to Smackdown Trump?” http://nationalinterest.org/feature/papal-bull-why-francis-trying-smackdown-trump-15254 “Franklin Graham to Pope Francis: ‘Build a Bridge to Donald Trump” http://www.breitbart.com/big-govern...-pope-francis-build-a-bridge-to-donald-trump/ GOD SAVE THE REPUBLIC & ALL HERE!!
Pope Francis calls for one-year moratorium on death penalty "And I propose to those among them who are Catholic to make a courageous and exemplary gesture: that no sentence is executed in this Holy Year of Mercy." http://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/21/world/pope-death-penalty-moratorium/index.html Would have been great if he had included abortion in this call since the innocent ones have no legal representative like those on death row!
Pope Francis prays for deceased Casa Santa Marta receptionist http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/201...eceased_casa_santa_marta_receptionist/1211632
For ‘Mercy Friday’ initiative, Pope visits young drug addicts at rehab centre: http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/new...pe-visits-young-drug-addicts-at-rehab-centre/
Pope replies to letter from juvenile gang member jailed in Los Angeles http://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/03/u...letter-los-angeles-juvenile-inmate/index.html
24 hours for the Lord: Immersed in God's mercy 2016-03-04 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Friday afternoon began the "24 hours for the Lord" with a penitential celebration in St. Peter’s Basilica. The initiative now in its third year will place emphasis once again on the importance of prayer, Eucharistic adoration and the sacrament of reconciliation. The intention for this year, the Jubilee of Mercy, is to draw people around the world to the mercy of God. The “24 Hours for the Lord” is being promoted by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization. The English language official at the Council, Fr Eugene Silva told Lydia O’Kane that it is an opportunity once again in this Jubilee Year to place the sacrament of penance and reconciliation back at the centre of ordinary pastoral life. Listen to this interview with Fr Eugene Silva He adds, that despite the fact that people can be at times apprehensive about going to confession, “there’s no reason for people to be anxious.” Putting the 24 hours for the Lord in the context of the Extraordinary Year, Fr Eugene thinks that because the grace of mercy is being talked about more, people will be that much more receptive to immersing themselves in God’s mercy. Although Rome is a pilgrimage hub, dioceses across the world will be opening their doors to this 24 hour event. But if you happen to be in the Eternal City, there are plenty of opportunities to be part of the initiative. Pope Francis, on Friday, March 4 in St. Peter's Basilica, will preside over the Penitential Celebration of the 24 Hours for the Lord. Later at 9pm people will be able to receive the sacrament of confession and Eucharistic adoration in the churches of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (Piazza Navona), Santa Maria in Trastevere (Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere) and the Sacred Stigmata of St. Francis (Largo Argentina). The next day, Saturday, March 5, the church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart will remain open with the presence of priests for confessions until 4pm. To conclude the third edition of the "24 hours for the Lord", a celebration of thanksgiving will take place in the Church of Santo Spirito in Sassia, near the Vatican which is the Sanctuary dedicated to the Divine Mercy. It will be presided over by Archbishop Rino Fisichella. (from Vatican Radio)
From what I understood in the news today, Pope Francis hasn’t confirmed yet his presence in Fatima for the centenary of the apparitions in 2017. Last year he said (apparently) that he would like to, and the Fatima’s Shrine is waiting for his presence, they even set a countdown display for the centenary of the apparitions, in the new website, presented by the news as a countdown for the arrival of the Pope. Today, the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon was looking forward to get “some more details” about that possibility from today’s visit of the new elected President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, to the Holy See. The President has officially invited the Holy Father for a visit to Portugal, by reinforcing the invitation to come to the Fatima’s celebrations in May, next year. But the President only could say “I came out very happy from the conference” [?] and “I’m not allowed to reveal the Pope’s position [?], he receives many official invitations”. So he didn’t confirm that he is going there.
Pope at Divine Mercy Mass: Be Apostles of mercy 17 15 Print 2016-04-03 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis presided over Mass in St Peter’s Square on Sunday for the Feast of Divine Mercy, and encouraged the faithful to be “apostles of mercy” toward those in need. Listen to Ann Schneible's report: “We are all called to become living writers of the Gospel, heralds of the Good News to all men and women today,” the Pope told the crowds during his homily. “We do this by practicing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, which are the hallmarks of the Christian life. “By means of these simple yet powerful gestures, even when unseen, we can accompany the needy, bringing God’s tenderness and consolation.” Pope Francis referred back to the day’s Gospel taken from John, which recounts the episode in which the Apostle Thomas doubts the Resurrection until he puts his hand in Jesus’ side. These scenes denotes the contrast between the disciple’s “fear” as they hid behind closed doors, and the “mission” on which Jesus sends them: “to proclaim the message of forgiveness,” the Pope said. “Being apostles of mercy means touching and soothing the wounds that today afflict the bodies and souls of many of our brothers and sisters.” “Curing these wounds, we profess Jesus, we make him present and alive; we allow others, who touch his mercy with their own hands, to recognize him as ‘Lord and God.’” The official translation of Pope Francis’ homily for Divine Mercy Sunday is below: “Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book” (Jn 20:30). The Gospel is the book of God’s mercy, to be read and reread, because everything that Jesus said and did is an expression of the Father’s mercy. Not everything, however, was written down; the Gospel of mercy remains an open book, in which the signs of Christ’s disciples, which are concrete acts of love and the best witness to mercy, continue to be written. We are all called to become living writers of the Gospel, heralds of the Good News to all men and women today. We do this by practicing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, which are the hallmarks of the Christian life. By means of these simple yet powerful gestures, even when unseen, we can accompany the needy, bringing God’s tenderness and consolation. Thus continues the work of Jesus on Easter day, when he poured into the hearts of his fearful disciples the Father’s mercy, bringing them the Holy Spirit who forgives sins and brings joy. At the same time, the story we have just heard presents an evident contrast: on the one hand, there is the fear of the disciples, who gathered behind closed doors; on the other hand, there is the mission of Jesus, who sends them into the world to proclaim the message of forgiveness. This contrast may also be present in us, experienced as an interior struggle between a closed heart and the call of love to open doors closed by sin. It is a call that frees us to go out of ourselves. Christ, who for love entered through doors barred by sin, death and the powers of hell, wants to enter into each one of us to break open the locked doors of our hearts. Jesus, who by his resurrection has overcome the fear and dread which imprison us, wishes to throw open our closed doors and send us out. The path that the Risen Master shows us is a one way street, it goes in only one direction: this means that we must move beyond ourselves to witness to the healing power of love that has conquered us. We see before us a humanity that is often wounded and fearful, a humanity that bears the scars of pain and uncertainty. Before the anguished cry for mercy and peace, Jesus confidently exhorts us: “As the Father has sent me, even so I send you” (Jn 20:21). In God’s mercy, all of our infirmities find healing. His mercy, in fact, does not keep a distance: it seeks to encounter all forms of poverty and to free this world of so many types of slavery. Mercy desires to reach the wounds of all, to heal them. Being apostles of mercy means touching and soothing the wounds that today afflict the bodies and souls of many of our brothers and sisters. Curing these wounds, we profess Jesus, we make him present and alive; we allow others, who touch his mercy with their own hands, to recognize him as “Lord and God” (Jn 20:28), as did the Apostle Thomas. This is the mission that he entrusts to us. So many people ask to be listened to and to be understood. The Gospel of mercy, to be proclaimed and written in our daily lives, seeks people with patient and open hearts, “good Samaritans” who understand compassion and silence before the mystery of each brother and sister. The Gospel of mercy requires generous and joyful servants, people who love freely without expecting anything in return. “Peace be with you!” (Jn 20:21) is the greeting of Jesus to his disciples; this same peace awaits men and women of our own day. It is not a negotiated peace, it is not the absence of conflict: it is his peace, the peace that comes from the heart of the Risen Lord, the peace that has defeated sin, fear and death. It is a peace that does not divide but unites; it is a peace that does not abandon us but makes us feel listened to and loved; it is a peace that persists even in pain and enables hope to blossom. This peace, as on the day of Easter, is born ever anew by the forgiveness of God which calms our anxious hearts. To be bearers of his peace: this is the mission entrusted to the Church on Easter day. In Christ, we are born to be instruments of reconciliation, to bring the Father’s forgiveness to everyone, to reveal his loving face through concrete gestures of mercy. In the responsorial Psalm we heard these words: “His love endures forever” (Ps 117/118:2). Truly, God’s mercy is forever; it never ends, it never runs out, it never gives up when faced with closed doors, and it never tires. In this forever we find strength in moments of trial and weakness because we are sure that God does not abandon us. He remains with usforever. Let us give thanks for so great a love, which we find impossible to grasp. Let us ask for the grace to never grow tired of drawing from the well of the Father’s mercy and bringing it to the world: let us ask that we too may be merciful, to spread the power of the Gospel everywhere. (from Vatican Radio)
Pope Francis set to visit Greece to show support for refugees on Lesbos http://www.theguardian.com/world/20...greece-to-show-support-for-refugees-on-lesbos
All the Holy Fathers Exhortation on the Family at 264 pages. Finally this will put an end to all the "Nay-sayers" against him that he was going to change the very core of our beliefs,he hasn't ! http://w2.vatican.va/content/france..._esortazione-ap_20160319_amoris-laetitia.html
Pope Francis \ Homilies Pope Francis warns against those who 'judge' with closed hearts Pope Francis celebrates Mass at Casa Santa Marta - ANSA 11/04/2016 14:28 SHARE: (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday spoke of the importance of taking stock of what is in people’s hearts and lives instead of only taking the law into account. During his homily at morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta, the Pope spoke of the Doctors of the Law whom – he said - passed judgment with their hearts closed to God and to prophecy; all that mattered to them – he explained – was to uphold the Law. Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni: Pope Francis was reflecting on the Reading from the Acts of the Apostles in which the Doctors of the Law accuse Stephen of speaking “blasphemous words against Moses and God” because they “could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.” They even instigated false witnesses to uphold their claims, he said. “Their hearts, closed to God’s truth, clutch only at the truth of the Law, taking it by ‘the letter’, and do not find outlets other than in lies, false witness and death” he said. The Pope pointed out that Jesus had already reprimanded them for this attitude, because "their fathers had killed the prophets", and they were now building monuments to those prophets. He said that the response of the "doctors of the letter" is more cynical than hypocritical when they say that had they been in the days of their fathers, they would not have done the same. Thus - the Pope said – they wash their hands of everything and judge themselves pure. But, he continued: “The heart is closed to God's Word, it is closed to truth, and it is closed to God’s messenger who brings the prophecy so that God’s people may go forward." Pope Francis said: "It hurts when I read that small passage from the Gospel of Matthew, when Judas, who has repented, goes to the priests and says: ‘I have sinned' and wants to give ... and gives them the coins. ‘Who cares! - they say to him: it’s none of our business!’ They closed their hearts before this poor, repentant man, who did not know what to do. And he went and hanged himself. And what did they do when Judas hanged himself? They spoke amongst themselves and said: 'Is he a poor man? No! These coins are the price of blood, they must not enter the temple... and they referred to this rule and to that… The doctors of the letter. " The life of a person did not matter to them, the Pope observed, they did not care about Judas’ repentance. The Gospel, he continued, says that Judas came back repentant. But all that mattered to them “were the laws, so many words and things they had built”. This – he said - shows the hardness of their hearts. It’s the foolishness of their hearts that could not withstand the wisdom of Stephen’s truth so they go to look for false witnesses to judge him. Stephen - the Pope continued – ends up like all prophets, like Jesus. And this is repeated in the history of the Church: "History tells us of many people who were judged and killed, although they were innocent: judged according to the Word of God, against the Word of God. Let’s think of witch hunts or of St. Joan of Arc, and of many others who were burnt to death, condemned because according to the judges they were not in line with the Word of God” he said. Pope Francis pointed out that Jesus himself ended up on the cross for having trusted in God and obeyed His Word and he reminded the faithful of Jesus’ words of tenderness when he said to the disciples on the Road to Emmaus: “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke.” He concluded saying: “Let us ask the Lord to look to the large and to the small follies of our hearts with the same tenderness, to caress us gently and to say to us: ‘Oh you foolish and slow of heart’ and begin to explain things to us.”
