12/05/2013VATICAN Pope to create Commission for the Protection of Children On 22 February consistory for the appointment of new cardinals. The Commission, proposed by the Council of Cardinals, will advise the Pope on the Holy See’s commitment in the protection of children and ministry for victims of abuse. Vatican City ( AsiaNews ) - Pope
Francis has decided to establish a special Commission for the Protection of
Children and February 22 will hold a consistory for the appointment of new
cardinals. This
is the main news that emerged from the briefing today,...
12/04/2013VATICAN Pope appeals for nuns abducted in Syria and "for all the people kidnapped during the conflict " During the general audience in his continuing reflection on the "Creed" , he spoke of the " resurrection of the body". The Pope underlined that we are "the disciples of the One who came , comes every day and will come at the end of the world" and since Jesus is risen, "he has opened the way" and will resurrect us too: "this is not a lie. If Jesus is alive, do you think that will leave us to die and never share in his resurrection? " .
12/03/2013VATICAN Pope: "Our Lord is joyful" this is why we “can not have a joyless Church" "We are not accustomed to thinking of Jesus smiling, joyful. Jesus was full of joy." "The joy of the Church is to evangelize, to move forward and talk about her Spouse. And also transmit this joy to the children she gives birth to, the children she nourishes".
12/02/2013VATICAN - ISRAEL Pope receives Netanyahu and hopes for peace soon between Israelis and Palestinians The Prime Minister renews invitation to Francis to visit Israel , which should take place at the end of May next year. Relations between the State authorities and Catholics and between Israel and the Holy See also discussed, with the hope of a speedy conclusion of overdue Accord.
12/02/2013VATICAN Pope: Christmas is not just "a nice memory”, but a "journey" towards an "encounter with the Lord" But what is important is allowing ourselves to be open to an encounter with the Lord." "When we go to meet the Lord, we are - let's face it - the masters of this meeting , but when we let Him encounter us, it is He who enters us, it is He who makes us new again, because this is the coming, this is what the coming of Christ means".
12/01/2013VATICAN Pope: the hope of Advent to end all wars Pope Francis mentions the prophecy of Isaiah, turning "swords" into "ploughshares" and "spears" in "pruning hooks". Humanity must find a shared horizon for its existence. The Church and the world are walking together toward the final goal. The Virgin Mary is the model to emulate. The Pontiff's thoughts also go out to people living with AIDS, grateful to missionaries and health care workers who quietly stand by them.
11/30/2013TURKEY For Patriarch Bartholomew, Pope Francis breathes new life in the "dialogue of love" between "Sister Churches" by NAT da Polis The decision to meet in Jerusalem in the spring of 2014 is particularly important coming on the 50th anniversary of the historic embrace between Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras. "We are very saddened by our failure to reach full communion, cause of so many evils among us Christians".
11/29/2013VATICAN Pope: 2015 will be dedicated to consecrated life, which "is prophecy" Francis met with 120 superiors general. Christians are asked to be radical, but men and women religious are called to follow the Lord in a special way. The problem of exclusion remains a top priority. In addition to these challenges, the Church must meet cultural and educational challenges in schools and universities.
11/29/2013VATICAN Pope: Christians are not weak, uniform thinkers, but free thinkers that comes from being “on God’s side" "What path does the Lord want us to travel? Always that of the spirit of intelligence to understand the signs of the times . It is good to ask the Lord Jesus for this grace, to send us the spirit of understanding, that we are not weak thinkers, uniform thinkers who satisfy our own tastes: that our thoughts are according to God. "
11/28/2013VATICAN Pope: the persecution of Christians tells us that Christ’s victory "is near” "We can not talk about religion , it's a private thing , no? Do not speak about it publicly . Religious signs are removed. We must obey the orders of worldly powers. We can do many things, beautiful things, but not worship God. "
11/27/2013VATICAN Pope: death is not frightening "if you are close to Jesus " When you live "as if God did not exist" the end of life "scares , terrifies", but "the resurrection of Jesus not only gives the certainty of life after death , but also illuminates the mystery of each of our deaths" . A "sure way " to stay close to Jesus, " is to recover our sense of Christian charity and fraternal sharing ."
