Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Pope Francis' first encyclical is called "Lumen fidei" and it will be published next Friday, July 5. The release of the encyclical was announced today, along with the news that next Monday, July 8, the Pope will visit the island of Lampedusa. "Pope Francis - informs the Holy See Press Office - deeply touched by the recent sinking of a boat carrying migrants from Africa, the last of a series of similar tragedies, will pray for those who lost their lives at sea, visit survivors and refugees present, to encourage the inhabitants of the island and to appeal to the responsibility of all to ensure that proper care is taken of these brothers and sisters in dire need. Due to the special circumstances, the visit will take place in as discreet a form as possible, even with regards the presence of the bishops of the region and of the civil authorities.
The announcement of the encyclical had been given by Francis himself on June 13, during an audience to participants at the Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops. "Now - he had said - a 'four hand' encyclical is about to be released " that "had Pope Benedict XVI begun. He handed it to me, it is a strong document. He did the great amount of work," he added, referring to the encyclical on faith that the Pope emeritus was writing before his resignation. "I thought - he added - that the Year of Faith will end without a nice document that can help us. I thought about this: an exhortation on evangelization. It will incorporate everything from the Synod but in a wider vision. I liked this idea and will follow this path. I have already written something, in August I'll be more relaxed and I can do more at home at home and move further ahead. "
This is probably the reason why today it was announced that in the month of August all general audiences are suspended, which will resume on September 4. The Sunday appointment with the Angelus at the Vatican remains, except for August 15, when instead it will be recited by the Pope in Castel Gandolfo. That same day, Francis, following the tradition of his predecessors, will celebrate Mass in the parish of the town of Lazio.
