01/28/2015VATICAN Pope: the absence of a father, an evil that affects the family and society "At first, it was perceived as a liberation: liberation from the father-master figure, from the father as a representative of the law that is imposed from the outside". "Sometimes it seems fathers no longer know what place they should occupy in the family and how to educate children. So, when in doubt, they abstain, they withdraw and neglect their responsibilities, perhaps taking refuge in an unlikely relationship 'on par' with their children". Even the civil community neglects or badly exercises its responsibility towards young people, leaving them "orphans of safe streets to play in, orphans of teachers to trust, orphans of ideals”. Vatican City
(AsiaNews) - The "father figure", which should propose ideals and be
a positive role model to children is often absent in our society, both within
the family and in civil community which often neglects or badly exercises its
responsibility towards young people, leaving them...
01/27/2015VATICAN Pope: Lent, a time of personal and communal renewal to defeat the globalization of indifference Lenten Message of Francis. In the communion of saints, in this sharing in holy things, no one possesses anything alone, but shares everything with others. " those places where the Church is present, especially our parishes and our communities, may become islands of mercy in the midst of the sea of indifference". "Anyone who wishes to be merciful must have a strong and steadfast heart, closed to the tempter but open to God. A heart which lets itself be pierced by the Spirit so as to bring love along the roads that lead to our brothers and sisters".
01/27/2015VATICAN Pope: "It is not easy" to do God’s will, for this we must pray to recognize it and follow it Even for Jesus it wasn’t easy when he faced temptations in the wilderness or in the Gardens of Olives. It wasn’t easy either for his disciples, some of whom left him because they did not understand what “doing the Father’s will” meant. And neither is it easy for us, when each day we are faced with a tray of so many different options".
01/26/2015VATICAN Pope: Mainly women transmit the faith It is ' the path chosen by Jesus, "who wanted to have a mother. "All of us have received the gift of faith. We have to safeguard it." Two things oppose our "living faith": "the spirit of fear and shame." . "We ask the Lord for the grace to have a sincere faith, a faith that is non-negotiable depending on the opportunities that come.
01/26/2015VATICAN Pope Francis, "rabbits" and the colonization of families by Bernardo Cervellera The controversy over Catholics who have children "like rabbits" has overshadowed the Pope’s message about ideological attacks on the family a "colonization" to be freed of. The UN and development agencies funds used for "reproductive health". Collaboration with other religious traditions, including Jews and Muslims vital to counter this "ideological colonization".
01/25/2015VATICAN Pope: many Christians are persecuted and killed because they are Christians, regardless of their confession "Christian unity will not be the fruit of subtle theoretical discussions in which each party tries to convince the other of the soundness of their opinions. We need to realize that, to plumb the depths of the mystery of God, we need one another, we need to encounter one another and to challenge one another under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who harmonizes diversities and overcomes conflicts. Who reconciles differences".
01/25/2015VATICAN Pope: the desire for Christian unity part of our "thirst for God" "Heartfelt appeal" for end to fighting and resumption of dialogue in Ukraine. "In becoming man God tasted our own thirst, not only our material thirst for water, but above all the thirst for a full life, free from the slavery of evil and death”. Filipinos, a "wonderful people"
01/23/2015VATICAN Mass media: learning a more authentic and human communication from the family In his message for the 49th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Francis calls the family "the paradigm of communication." In it, as in the womb, you learn encounter, language, prayer, closeness, forgiveness. The media often treat the family as "an object" over which to wage ideological battles and not as a place in which to learn to communicate. We need to "relearn to tell, not just to produce and consume information".
01/23/2015VATICAN Pope: God’s “work” is reconciliation, because "our God forgives" any sin and "always" forgives No matter how serious the sins are all you need to do is "repent and ask for forgiveness": "you do not have to pay anything," because "Christ already paid for us". Confession "more than a judgment, is an encounter” with the Lord who "embraces you." "Teach our children, our young people to confess well, so that going to confession is not like going to the dry cleaners to remove a stain. No! It is going to meet the Father."
01/22/2015ITALY - VATICAN Chiara Lubich like Teresa of Avila: her process of beatification begins by Costanzo Donegana* The process will open on 27 January in Frascati where the founder of the Focolare Movement lived most of her life and where she is buried. Her journey began as bombs fell on Trent, developing into communities that lived by the principle of unity. She undertook ecumenical work with Athenagoras and Protestant Churches. She also was open to members of other religions and to atheists in order to create "universal brotherhood on this earth."
01/21/2015VATICAN Pope: Poverty is not caused by many children, but throw-away culture Acts of “brutality” in Niger against “children, against churches", "war can never be waged in the name of God". The trip to Sri Lanka and the Philippines. St. Joseph Vaz "a model for all Christians, called today to propose the saving truth of the Gospel in a multi-religious context". "Care for the poor is an essential element of our Christian life and witness; it involves the rejection of all forms of corruption, because corruption steals from the poor, it demands a culture of honesty."
01/20/2015ASIA A billion viewers, illegal betting, and global jihadism at the 2015 Asian Cup The tournament, held in Australia between 9 and 31 January, is now in the final knockout phase. So far, it has attracted a record number of viewers in Asia, where it is already the sporting event of the year. Match-fixing and illegal betting are being closely monitored. In Mosul, the Islamic state executed 13 teenagers for their love of the game.
01/19/2015VATICAN - PHILIPPINES On his flight home, the pope said that the gift of tears, the Filipino people, the people of God, were the real protagonists On the flight back to the Vatican, Pope Francis spoke with reporters about the family and "ideological colonisation", about responsible fatherhood and Humane Vitae, as well as Neo-Malthusianism, corruption, Islamic terrorism and prudence in freedom of expression (Charlie Hebdo). He also answered questions about China and the Dalai Lama, saying that he did not reject the Buddhist leader nor did he fear China.
