Cambodia

Fr. Legnani, PIME priest for 20 years in Cambodia, says the former vicar "embraced the destiny" of the country, "living in contact with people”. An "extremely simple" person, "happy to be in touch with his people." The funeral celebrated by his successor, Msgr. Schmitthaeusler. In his homily the vicar recalls his "trust in God and man."

In an unscripted address to the participants in the Year of Consecrated Life, Francis condemns "terrorism of gossip", says obedience is not a "discipline", but "gift of the heart", like that of Jesus, that true hope is not found in money but only in the Lord, and appeals for prayer for the gift of new vocations, so that as communities get older, they avoid "artificial insemination", that is, welcoming candidates without ‘serious’ consideration.

Commenting on the story of King David, Francis notes that he was a sinner, but not corrupt. "The end of David, which is holiness, is through the humiliation. The end of the holiness that God gives to His children, gives to the Church, is through the humiliation of His Son, who is insulted and hung on the cross - unfairly ... And this Son of God who humbles himself, He is the path holiness. "

sIn a video-message for the conclusion of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress, Francis stresses the joy of the meeting that "brought together so many people from the vast continent of Asia,” where bearing witness to Jesus takes place “through the testimony of lives”. The next Congress will be held in Budapest, Hungary, in 2020.

Speaking about today’s Gospel, Francis focused on the temptation "to which religious men are always exposed, to which we are all exposed, and from which we should definitely stay away. What is this temptation? It is the temptation of considering religion as a human investment so that we start to ‘bargain’ with God for our own self-interest." Young members of Rome’s Azione Cattolica were in the square for the annual Peace Caravan. The pope pleaded for people living with leprosy, a disease that still “affects mostly the poorest and the most marginalised”.

Francis opens the jubilee general audiences with a reflection on the "wonderful circularity" between mission and mercy. The actual sign that we met Jesus "is the joy we feel in communicating it to others”. For the pontiff, “this this is not proselytising. It is giving a gift. I give you what gives me joy.” The pope ends calling on the crowd to pray for Ms Elvira, who worked at Casa Santa Marta, and was called by the Lord.

On February 10, the Missionaries of Mercy will receive a papal mandate giving them the authority to forgive the sins that are the prerogative of the Apostolic See. The relics of Saint Leopold Mandić and Saint Pio of Pietrelcina will be in Rome between February 3 and 11.

For Fr. Mario Ghezzi, "a saint" passed away, someone "that our Church is desperately in need of." The vicar emeritus "gave his life" for the country where he rebuilt the local Catholic community, starting "from the streets". For priests and missionaries, he "was a father", a "simple, yet true shepherd" who harboured a "passion for the mission."

Commenting on the story of David and Bathsheba, Francis warns that "corruption is a sin that is easier for all of us who have some power, be it ecclesiastical, religious, economic, or political . . . Because the devil makes us feel secure: 'I can do it’."

Funeral services for the Vicar Emeritus to Phnom Penh will be celebrated tomorrow. A memorial mass is scheduled for the evening. The faithful hold prayer vigil over the body. A MEP missionary born in France, he led the rebirth of the Church in Cambodia after the Khmer Rouge tragedy. He presided over the historic Easter Mass of 1990 in the capital in front of 3,000 worshippers.

In his message for World Day of the Sick, which will be solemnly celebrated in the Holy Land to encourage dialogue with Jews and Muslims, Francis highlights Mary’s concern, in which “we see reflected the tenderness of God. This same tenderness is present in the lives of all those persons who attend the sick and understand their needs, even the most imperceptible ones, because they look upon them with eyes full of love.”

The Church, although sensitive to the issue of bioethics, “does not claim any privileged role in this field.” What matters is serving “humanity, as a whole, every man and woman, by paying special attention – as someone pointed out – to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged, those who are struggling to make their voice heard, or cannot yet, or no longer can, make themselves heard.”