Franco Pisano

In celebrating Mass at the Mother of God shrine in Aglona, Francis calls on people to welcome others. “Sometimes we see a return to ways of thinking that would have us be suspicious of others, or would show us with statistics that we would be better off, more prosperous and more secure just by ourselves.”

An ecumenical ceremony in Riga, where the Christian Churches "have succeeded in generating unity while maintaining the wealth and singularity of each one". To the small Catholic community "you have been subjected to all sorts of trials: the horror of war, and then the political repression, persecution and exile".

Thousands of young people met and blessed Francis, who told them “don’t let the world make you believe that it is better to do everything on your own. On your own, you never get there. Yes, you can get to have success in your life, but without love, without companions, without belonging to a people”.

"When the Apostle forgets his origins and begins to make a career, he moves away from the Lord and becomes an official", will be a "system of pastoral plans", but unable to transmit Jesus. To those who are scandalized, Jesus replies that I am not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick.

The statement slams the destruction of churches and crosses, the ban on religious education for children, and the pressures to join Party-controlled bodies. One scholar notes that “Some suggest that because Christians’ allegiance is first and foremost to God and not the Communist Party, there is a conflict of interests that the party believes can potentially hinder the process of unification.”

"The gravity of these phenomena cannot leave us indifferent. We are all called, in our respective roles, to cultivate and promote respect for the intrinsic dignity of every human person, starting from the family – the place where we learn from a tender age the values ​​of sharing, acceptance, fraternity and solidarity - but also in the various social contexts in which we operate ".

"The Church, when it journeys through history, is persecuted by hypocrites: hypocrites within and without. The devil has nothing to do with repentant sinners, because they look upon God and say, “Lord, I am a sinner, help me!” And the devil is impotent".

"Honoring the father and the mother means recognizing their importance also through concrete acts, which express dedication, affection and care". "The word 'happiness' in the Decalogue appears only related to the relationship with parents. This multi-thousand-year-old wisdom declares what the human sciences have only been able to elaborate for a little over a century: that the imprint of childhood marks the whole of life ".

The pastor "must have the power and authority that Jesus had, that of humility, that of meekness, of closeness, of the capacity for compassion, of tenderness". "When the people insulted him, that Good Friday, and shouted 'crucify him', he remained silent because he had compassion on those people deceived by the powerful who had money, who had power ... He was silent. He prayed ".

Francis’ apostolic constitution "Episcopalis Communio" published today appears inspired by a desire to underline greater participation of the laity in the work of the Synod of Bishops and the role of this organism in a perspective of evangelization and of progress in the ecumenical journey.

The official list of Synod Fathers includes three delegate presidents – cardinals Louis Raphaël I Sako (Iraq), Charles Maung Bo, SDB (Myanmar), and John Ribat, MSC (Papua New Guinea) – as well as seven assistants (four from Lebanon, two from India and one from the Philippines.) A nun from Hebei is among the auditors.

Francis in Sicily on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the death of Blessed Pino Puglisi, the priest killed by the mafia. "Do not think of yourself, do not run away from your responsibility, choose love! Feel the life of your people in need, listen to your people. Be afraid of deafness, not hearing the people. This is the only possible populism, the only 'Christian populism': to hear and serve the people, without shouting, accusing and provoking disputes ".