During the Angelus, Pope Francis spoke of missionaries as "weavers of fraternity". He encouraged and expressed his support for Italian fishermen detained for more than a month in Libya and their families. A long prayerful moment silence expressed support for dialogue and peace in Libya. In differentiating between God and Caesar, Jesus cites " criterion for the distinction between the political sphere and the religious sphere; clear guidelines emerge for the mission of all believers of all times.” the baptism calls on everyone “to be a living presence in society, inspiring it with the Gospel and with the lifeblood of the Holy Spirit.” Believers are the protagonists “in a service of love for the common good.”
"Today, it is especially necessary to create broader opportunities for a more incisive female presence in the Church. And we must emphasize the feminine lay presence because women tend to be left aside."
Francis urges faithful to respect the measures adopted against coronavirus contagion. "I would like to, as I usually do, walk among you and greet you, but with the new measures, it is better to keep our distance. You are at a prudent distance, as should be done". And reiterating the importance of using all the precautions, which allow us to move forward with the audiences ", he concluded by reiterating that "if we all, as good citizens, comply with the measures enacted by the authorities, we will help to end this pandemic".
For Msgr. Abou Khazen the document is an act in defence of a people "wounded and attacked by thieves on the way to Jericho". Syria is also waiting for a Good Samaritan "to save us". But the West in recent years has betrayed hopes. A text "to be explored even in the Muslim world" and which should "inspire" the powerful of the earth and their actions.
A letter from the president of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences to the bishops and churches of Asia. Will Asia choose individual greed or will it strive for the common good? Much depends on how we rebuild society after the coronavirus".
Fifteen-year-old Carlo Acutis, beatified yesterday, "shows today's young people that true happiness is found by putting God first and serving Him in one's brothers and sisters, especially the least". Pope Francis also calls for a resumption of the truce between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The WFP was “a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict” reads the motivation. With the COVID-19 pandemic, 132 million more people could go hungry by the end of 2020. WFP supports some 97 million hungry people in 88 countries.
A Taiwanese lunch offered at the Migliori Palace, now the "poor man's palace", run by the Pope's almsgiver. Sleeping bags for those who live on the street; cans of tuna and ecological blankets donated to Caritas in Rome by the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation. Ambassador Lee: "To put into practice the encouragement of the Pope in 'Fratelli tutti’ in matters of fraternity".
In an audience with the Committee of Experts of the Council of Europe (Moneyval), Francis reiterates that the worship of the ancient golden calf (cf. Ex 32:1-35) has returned in a new and ruthless guise in the idolatry of money and the dictatorship of an impersonal economy lacking a truly human purpose".
For the cardinal, ‘Fratelli Tutti’ is a call "to live in peace” and put “aside enmities" and for “charity and brotherhood”. Christians can pass on brotherhood and mercy to Muslims "for a radical change". Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Hindus have been affected by secularisation. The encyclical must be presented in a more user-friendly way to facilitate its dissemination.
A comment on Pope Francis’s new social encyclical by the former director of Caritas India.
General audience returns, after months, to the Paul VI hall. Prayer "is not a private session with the Lord to give your soul a makeover: no, this is not prayer. This is pretend prayer. Prayer is a confrontation with God and allowing ourselves to be sent to serve others. The test of prayer is concrete love for one's neighbour. And vice versa".
The PIME superior general addressed the conference on ‘Another China: time of crisis, time for change’. In addition to Card Pietro Parolin, participants included Filippo Fasulo (ISPI), Lisa Jucca (Reuters), Lala Hu (Università Cattolica, Milan), and Fr Gianni Criveller (PIME). Looking at the various features of the Chinese cultural sphere “beyond biases and fears” was its focus.
The vicar of Arabia underlines the link between the latest encyclical of Pope Francis, the text signed with the imam of al-Azhar in February 2019 and "the encouragement received from a non-Christian". Respect for the person and protection of the migrant, the parable of the Good Samaritan are aspects that unite the faithful of all religions. Finding answers to challenges and injustices.
"In exercising one's responsibilities, it is necessary to know how to distinguish good from evil. In fact, even in the field of economics and finance, the right intention, transparency and the search for good results are compatible and must never be separated.”
