04/20/2014VATICAN Pope: May the Risen Christ help us to reach out to those who are wounded and bring peace to those who suffer from war and violence Syria, but also Iraq, Nigeria, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Ukraine and Venezuela in Pope Francis’ prayers. " In every human situation, marked by frailty, sin and death, the Good News is no mere matter of words, but a testimony to unconditional and faithful love: it is about leaving ourselves behind and encountering others". Vatican City ( AsiaNews) - May the
Risen Christ, "free and faithful witness of love" help us "leave ourselves behind and encounter
others, be close to those crushed by life's troubles, sharing with the needy"....
04/20/2014VATICAN Pope: The Resurrection, an invitation to rediscover our baptism and become witnesses to Christ At the Easter Vigil Francis speaks of the "return to Galilee, the place where they were first called" where Jesus spoke to the apostles, drawing new energy from the sources of our faith". "It is not to go back in time; it is not a kind of nostalgia. It is returning to our first love, in order to receive the fire which Jesus has kindled in the world and to bring that fire to all people, to the very ends of the earth".
04/19/2014VATICAN Way of the Cross: "Evil will not have the last word; love, mercy and forgiveness will," pope says In the Cross of Jesus, we find "all the bitterness of the betrayal perpetrated by Judas and Peter, all the vanity of bullies, and all the arrogance of false friends." Yet, in front of so many evils, "we also see the vastness of God's love for he does not treat us according to our sins but according to his mercy."
04/17/2014VATICAN Pope: A priest’s "joy", "anoints", is "incorruptible", "missionary" and guarded by poverty, obedience and loyalty Pope Francis celebrates the Chrism Mass with "his" priests. The priestly joy only flows “when the pastor is in the midst of his flock". Even in "in those moments of listlessness and boredom which at times overcome us in our priestly life (and which I too have experienced), even in those moments God’s people are able to “guard” that joy; they are able to protect you, to embrace you and to help you open your heart to find renewed joy"
04/14/2014VATICAN For pope, the seminary is not a refuge, hence 'Woe do the wicked shepherds' Speaking at a meeting with seminarians at the Pontifical Leonine College of Anagni, Pope Francis reminded them of "the four pillars of education," namely "Spiritual life, strong; intellectual life, serious; community life; and, ultimately, apostolic life". In view of this, it is "better to lose a vocation than take risks with an unsure candidate."
04/13/2014VATICAN Pope asks, Am I like Pilate? When the situation gets tough, do I wash my hands? In an unscripted speech for his Palm Sunday homily, the pontiff asks, "Am I able to welcome Jesus as he enters Jerusalem? Am I like the Pharisees, like the man from Cyrene, like the crowd that chose Barabbas? Or am I like the apostle who wanted to solve everything with the sword? Or like the courageous women at the sepulchre? Where is my heart? Let this question accompany us throughout the week. Afterwards, during the Angelus, he saw young Brazilians hand over the cross to young Poles. "John Paul II will be patron of World Youth Day. God willing, I shall be in Korea in August."
04/10/2014VATICAN Pope: human trafficking, "a wound on the body of contemporary society " Francis receives participants at the II international conference on Combating Human Trafficking: Church and Law Enforcement Authorities in partnership. The meeting includes " law enforcement authorities, who are primarily responsible for combating this tragic reality by a vigorous application of the law. It also includes humanitarian and social workers, whose task it is to provide victims with welcome, human warmth and the possibility of building a new life”.
04/10/2014KYRGYZSTAN Authorities grab Protestant church in Bishkek, angering faithful who turn to the courts According to the State Property Fund, the 1999 contract to buy the building and surrounding area broke the law. For the congregation, the real reason for the grab is financial, and displeasure with the growing Christian presence. On 18 April, an appeal trial will get underway to decide the building's fate.
04/09/2014VATICAN Pope: new "heartfelt appeal to Syrian authorities and the international community” to “silence the weapons" At the General audience, Francis recalls "my fellow Jesuit" Father Frans van der Lugt , who was killed in Homs. A new cycle of catechesis dedicated to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The first, "wisdom " that is not "human wisdom" but "seeing the world, situations, problems, everything, through the eyes of God."
