Pope at the Jubilee of catechists says that it is by loving that God-who-is-Love is proclaimed

In the current "crisis of a great orphahood", "We Christians have a Mother, the same as Jesus; we have a Father, the same as Jesus. We are not orphans. "

 

Francis celebrated Mass in suffrage for Father Jacques Hamel, killed July 26 in the church of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, and the entire community of Rouen. "Today in the Church there are more Christian martyrs than in the early days. Today there are Christians who are murdered, tortured, imprisoned, slaughtered because they will not deny Jesus Christ".

"Not just see but look. Not just hear but listen. Not just meet and pass by but stop. And don’t just say ‘what a shame, poor people,’ but allow ourselves to be moved by pity.  And then draw near, touch and say in the language that comes to each one of us in that moment, the language of the heart: ‘Do not weep,’ and donate at the very least a drop of life".

"Sewing jealousies, ambitions, ideas, but to divide! Or sow greed. " And as happens after a war "everything is destroyed. And the devil goes away happy. And we - naive, we are to his game. " "The divisions in the Church do not let the Kingdom of God grow; do not let the Lord show how good He is. "


 

The development of a guidelines template for the protection of minors and the progress of the training programs at the center of the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Children (PCPM) held in the Vatican from 5 to 11 September.

 

Before the Angelus, Francis commented the "Chapter of mercy", the 15th in Luke's Gospel, which presents us with parables with which Christ responds to the whispers of the scribes and the Pharisees: the lost sheep, the coin, and the prodigal son. There is no sin in which we have fallen, the pope said, " from which, by the grace of God, we cannot rise again; there is no individual beyond redemption because God never ceases to want our good, even when we sin!” After the Marian prayer, he dedicates a prayer for Gabon and speaks about the beatification of Ladislaus Bukowinski, in Kazakhstan.

In today’s jubilee audience, Francis looked at the "illusion" of those who think they are free. How many illusions are being sold under the pretext of freedom, and how many new forms of slavery are being created in our time in the name of a false freedom!” Only the liberation that comes from God is needed. After the catechesis, the pontiff turned his thoughts to the members of Italy’s Civil Protection Service, “who were supposed to be present, but cancelled to continue the valuable work of aid and assistance to people affected by the 24 August earthquake. I thank them for their dedication and the generous help offered these days! Thank you, brothers and sisters!”

Receiving the bishops attending the refresher seminar sponsored by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Francis recommended they ensure that everything is put in place for evangelization and the various pastoral activities "are not damaged or nullified by existing divisions or those that can be created. " "The devil enters through our pockets and destroys with tongues, with gossip that divides and the habit of gossip is a habit of terrorism."

Proclaiming the Gospel is not proselytizing, it should not be reduced to "functionalism" nor an “easy” task". It is  "becoming all things to all", it is "going out and sharing in the lives of others, accompanying them; accompanying their journey of faith, to grow in the journey of faith. "

 

"How is your family today? Is it at peace? If you are not able to bring it to your family, your sanctuary, your congregation, bring it forward on your own, there are not enough words of peace in the world ... ".

At G20 energy ministers Khaled Al-Falih and Alexander Novak decided to form "common monitoring group" together with other producers in order to prevent price fluctuations. Even Iran would be willing to work together to increase the price of oil to $ 50-60. But no one seems to want to reduce production.

 

Some 200 Muslim scholars from Egypt, Russia, Syria, Sudan, Jordan, and Europe reject Saudi Arabia’s doctrine, adopt a reform programme: a TV channel (to counter al Jazeera), a "scientific" centre to condemn fundamentalist interpretations, and scholarships for students. Fr Samir Khalil looks favourably at this. For scholar Kamel Abderrahmani, there is no difference between Sunni Islam and Wahhabism.

Card. Pietro Parolin celebrates the Thanksgiving Mass for the canonization of Mother Teresa: "She saw in unborn children the 'poorest of the poor', because they depend totally on others. Bravely she defended unborn life, with the frankness of speech and linearity of action which is the bright sign of the presence of the Prophets and the Saints, who do not kneel to anyone except the Almighty."

Francis celebrates Mass for the canonization of the founder of the Missionaries of Charity: "In all aspects of her life, was a generous dispenser of divine mercy, making herself available for everyone through her welcome and defence of human life, those unborn and those abandoned and discarded." The Christian life "is not merely extending a hand in times of need.." An immense crowd in St Peter's Square: "We will continue to call her Mother Teresa."

Francis met tens of thousands of "mercy operators": "With your outstretched hand you touch the flesh of Christ, do not forget it." An invitation "to talk to the Lord, ask him the reason of things, and also ask them to remain humble and strong in service". A massive applause for Mother Teresa, a Saint as of tomorrow.