Lebanese and foreign dignitaries as well as ordinary people paid tribute to the cardinal. The incumbent Patriarch al-Rahi described his predecessor as an "unshakable rock" and a "man of reconciliation". For Card Sandri, he “performed his mission in turbulent circumstances". Émile Lahoud, who was president during the Syria “era”, and Hezbollah were among the few no-shows.
As Lebanon mourns, the remains of Card Sfeir arrive in Bkerké
| LEBANON – VATICANLebanon mourns the death of Patriarch Sfeir, herald of national unity
by Fady Noun | LEBANON – VATICANAt the opening the Bishops’ Assembly, Francis referred to a “possible" synod of the Italian episcopate. He called on its members to reflect on "any lack of collegiality and participation in the condition of the Conference".
Pope Francis met with PIME missionaries - gathered in Rome for the General Assembly - and some representatives of the general direction of the Immaculate Missionaries. The proposal of St. Paul VI's Evangelii Nuntiandi. "There is no real evangelization if the name, the teaching, the life, the promises, the Kingdom, the mystery of Jesus of Nazareth, Son of God, are not proclaimed". Do not confuse evangelization with proselytism. The "joy of evangelizing".
With his "new commandment" to "love one another as I love you", Jesus "asks us to love each other not only and not so much with our love, but with his, which the Holy Spirit infuses in our hearts if we invoke him with faith. This way - and only this way - we can love each other not only as we love ourselves, but as He loves us, that is immensely more.”
On the fifth anniversary of Amoris Laetitia, the chosen theme "aims to bring out family love as a vocation and way of holiness, to understand and share the profound and salvific meaning of family relationships in everyday life".
Receiving the Brothers of the Christian Schools, Francis recalls the ideals that moved St. John the Baptist de La Salle. "His vision of the school led him to develop ever more clearly the persuasion that education is a right for everyone, including the poor."
With the invocation "deliver us from evil" which is in the Our Father, "Jesus teaches his friends to put the invocation of the Father before everything, even and especially at times when the evil one makes his threatening presence felt".
Born in Milan in 1827, he took part in the Five Days of Milan. Missionary in Oceania, he founded the Sisters of Reparation upon his return to Italy.
The four councilors were also elected: Fr. Fabio Motta, from the mission in Guinea Bissau; Fr. Xavier Lourdh, from the mission in Japan; Brother Massimo Cattaneo, from the Bangladesh mission; Fr. Raffaele Manenti, a former missionary in India and Thailand, up until now the spiritual director in the PIME theological seminary.
The decision taken "considering the considerable flow of people who go to Medjugorje and the abundant fruits of grace that came from it". But this does not mean authentication of the supposed apparitions.
The interview with Card. Parolin was published yesterday evening at 11.53pm on the Global Times website. For the publisher it is a sign of "positive developments" in China-Vatican relations. Card Parolin sends a fraternal embrace above all to "those who have suffered the most and continue to suffer".
Good Shepherd Sunday, Pope Francis invites two new priests - among the 19 he has just ordained - to bless the people with him from the window of the apostolic palace. The Good Shepherd "speaks, knows, gives eternal life, safeguards". The sheep "listen to my voice", "follow me". A round of applause for all mothers on Mother's Day.
The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue issued a message addressed to Muslims on the occasion of Ramadan, noting that “We Muslims and Christians are called to open ourselves to others, knowing and recognizing them as brothers and sisters. In this way, we can tear down walls raised out of fear and ignorance and seek together to build bridges of friendship that are fundamental for the good of all humanity.”
The US institution is back in Vatican this year. “It is a joy for me to be with you once again,” the Pope said, “and to express my gratitude for the generous support you offer to me and to the Church in so many parts of the world.”
His conversion on the road to Damascus is a "turning of the page in the history of Salvation". "Let us look for new paths, this will do us all good! Provided they are the paths of the Lord. But move forward: forward in the depths of prayer, in the depth of docility, of the heart open to the voice of God. And so the true changes are made in the Church, with people who know how to fight for the small and the great things ”.
