Russia

Those who trust in God even in "extreme situations", " are an example for us and encourage us to offer all that we have to the treasure of the Church". Not only martyrs , but also many parents who make definitive choices every day to forge ahead with their family, their children are " a treasure in the Church ."

The Vatican speaks of "cordial discussions" and "good bilateral relations". The Russian president brings the greetings of Patriarch Kirill to Francis , but not an invitation to go to Moscow . Father Lombardi : "No one expected there to be one".

"Rediscovering the beauty of the journey of faith". " Jesus speaks only words of forgiveness, not condemnation." For the first time in history the relics of St. Peter exposed. The symbolic delivery of Evangelii gaudium . Peace and harmony for the Christians of the Holy Land and Syria. Solidarity for the Philippines. "Invoking Mary's protection especially for our brothers and sisters who are persecuted because of their faith ''

The United States, Russia , Britain, China, France and Germany are in the Swiss city for the last phase of the talks. According to rumors , the 5 +1 have accepted the position of Iran on uranium enrichment . The Deputy Iranian Foreign Minister : "We are close to an agreement ," but he will "not confirm nor deny because the talks are not yet completed ."

Francis presides over the rite of admission to the catechumenate , the penultimate event of the Year of Faith, which closes tomorrow with a solemn Mass in St. Peter's. The pontiff gives Gospels to about 500 catechumens from all over the world , who are preparing to become Christians . During his homily, the pope underscores the "three moments" relative to this path : listening, encounter and the journey. Among the baptismal candidates presented to the Pope, Mahmoud Farah, Romina , Yoko (in a traditional Japanese robe ) , Olzi , Rami, Francesca , Kriztof , Mimosa and Zhao .

Older people, though ill, "have always been the protagonists in the Church, still are”. Today we are living longer and therefore "there are a growing number of people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, often accompanied by a deterioration of cognitive abilities ," that engages both the world of health care andassistance , even on the religious plane .

At mass Francis speaks of the physical "temple" as a building where we go to worship and the "spiritual temple", the human being as a "temple of the Holy Spirit” called to listen to God, to ask Him for forgiveness and follow Him. But "are our temples places of worship, do they favor adoration? Do our celebrations foster adoration? " . " In these two temples, our attitude should be one of piety, of adoration and listening, praying and asking for forgiveness, praising the Lord."

Experts from the Sova center denounce the escalation of attacks against religious minorities. On November 25 Tagarong trial opens against 16 Jehovah's Witnesses accused of extremism for continuing to pray and read the Bible together, after the ban on the community decided by the Russian Supreme Court in 2009.

Francis meets with the participants in the assembly of the Congregation of Eastern Catholic Churches . "We should never resign ourselves to a Middle East without Christians." The whole Church is called to prayer that "disarms foolishness and generates dialogue where there is open conflict. If it is sincere and persevering , it will make our voice gentle and firm, capable of being heard even by the leaders of nations ."

On a visit to the nuns of the Camaldolese Monastery of Sant'Antonio Abate, Francis spoke about Mary, "the most expressive icon of Christian hope". He also prayed for the victims of natural disasters in the Philippines and Sardinia and for persecuted Christians around the world.

"The Church is not master of the 'power of the keys'" given to the apostles by Jesus, "but it is a servant of the ministry of mercy." A priest whose heart is not in peace should not hear confessions. "May Our Lady bless and help all our Sardinian brothers and sisters" affected by the flooding .

"We pray for our grandfathers, our grandmothers, who often have had a heroic role in the transmission of the faith in times of persecution . When mom and dad were not at home and even had strange ideas, that the politics of the time taught, grandparents were the ones who passed on the faith. "