Pope's Prayer Intention - September 2018 - Young People in Africa

Africa is a continent with enormous potential. It's young people are it's future. A future which, if it is accompanied by education and work possibilities, is splendid.

"Africa is a wealthy continent, and its greatest, most valuable resource is its young people.

They should be able to choose between letting themselves be overcome by difficulty or transforming the difficulty into an opportunity.

The most effective way to help them in this choice is to invest in their education.

If young people don't have the possibility of education, what future can they have?

If young people don't have a job, what future awaits them?

Let us pray that young people in Africa may have access to education and work in their own countries"

General Audience after Ireland trip: The pope on World Meeting of Families and Sexual Abuse - Rome Reports

Vatican News - Pope Francis: Families an eloquent sign of God’s dream - At his General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis looks back on his visit to Ireland for the World Meeting of Families.

Pope Francis sends video message to Ireland ahead of his visit

Pope Francis sent a video message to the families meeting in Ireland. He says that the World Meeting of families is a celebration of the beauty of God’s plan for the family.

In the video message sent ahead of his visit, Pope Francis hopes that this occasion will be a source of renewed encouragement for families from all over the world, especially those families who will be there in Dublin.

Letter of His Holiness Pope Francis to the People of God

“If one member suffers, all suffer together with it” (1 Cor 12:26). These words of Saint Paul forcefully echo in my heart as I acknowledge once more the suffering endured by many minors due to sexual abuse, the abuse of power and the abuse of conscience perpetrated by a significant number of clerics and consecrated persons. Crimes that inflict deep wounds of pain and powerlessness, primarily among the victims, but also in their family members and in the larger community of believers and nonbelievers alike. Looking back to the past, no effort to beg pardon and to seek to repair the harm done will ever be sufficient. Looking ahead to the future, no effort must be spared to create a culture able to prevent such situations from happening, but also to prevent the possibility of their being covered up and perpetuated. The pain of the victims and their families is also our pain, and so it is urgent that we once more reaffirm our commitment to ensure the protection of minors and of vulnerable adults.

If one member suffers…
In recent days, a report was made public which detailed the experiences of at least a thousand survivors, victims of sexual abuse, the abuse of power and of conscience at the hands of priests over a period of approximately seventy years. Even though it can be said that most of these cases belong to the past, nonetheless as time goes on we have come to know the pain of many of the victims. We have realized that these wounds never disappear and that they require us forcefully to condemn these atrocities and join forces in uprooting this culture of death; these wounds never go away. The heart-wrenching pain of these victims, which cries out to heaven, was long ignored, kept quiet or silenced. But their outcry was more powerful than all the measures meant to silence it, or sought even to resolve it by decisions that increased its gravity by falling into complicity. The Lord heard that cry and once again showed us on which side he stands. Mary’s song is not mistaken and continues quietly to echo throughout history. For the Lord remembers the promise he made to our fathers: “he has scattered the proud in their conceit; he has cast down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty” (Lk 1:51-53). We feel shame when we realize that our style of life has denied, and continues to deny, the words we recite.

Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

CNA 

May 21 marks the memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church, added to the Roman calendar this year by Pope Francis.The annual memorial is intended to foster Marian devotion among Catholics. Cardinal Robert Sarah, head of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, said this celebration will help promote affection for Christ and his mother.

“This celebration will help us to remember that growth in the Christian life must be anchored to the Mystery of the Cross, to the oblation of Christ in the Eucharistic Banquet and to the Mother of the Redeemer and Mother of the Redeemed,” he said in a March 3 letter.

Catholic Herald 

The Church should have the attitude of a wife and a mother, the Pope said. Without its feminine dimension, the Catholic Church risks becoming an old boy’s club and incapable of love, Pope Francis said.

The Church must “remain female” and “have this attitude of a wife and mother” who nurtures her children, the Pope said in his homily on May 21 during a morning Mass commemorating the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church.

“When we forget this, it becomes a masculine church; without this dimension, it sadly becomes a church of old bachelors, who live in this isolation, incapable of love, incapable of fruitfulness,” the Pope said.

...............Without this dimension, “the Church loses its true identity and becomes a charitable organization or a soccer team or something, but not the Church,” he said.

Like a mother, the Church also goes “along the path of tenderness” and knows how to convey wisdom through the language of “caresses, of silence, of the gaze that knows compassion,” the Pope said.

All Christians in some way are called to “go along the same path,” being someone who is “gentle, tender, smiling, full of love,” Pope Francis said.

iBenedictines - A New Feast: Mary, Mother of the Church Vatican News -  Pope Francis: The Church, like Mary, is woman and mother 
CNA - Pope Francis: Like Mary, the Church is a mother 
Liturgical details for the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church 

Whispers in the Loggia - Address of Pope Paul VI Closing of the Third Session of the Second Vatican Council, St Peter's Basilica, 21 November 1964

WMoF2018 - Frequently asked questions for Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland this August.

• Why is Pope Francis coming to Ireland?

The primary reason for Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland is to attend and participate in the World Meeting of Families 2018. This large international gathering of families in the world is brought together by the Church every three years and will be hosted in Dublin, Ireland, in 2018.

• What events of the World Meeting of Families will Pope Francis be participating in?

Pope Francis will attend the Festival of Families on 25th August and he will also celebrate the Final Mass of WMOF2018 on 26th August. Other details of his itinerary have yet to be confirmed.

• How long will Pope Francis stay in Ireland?

The Holy Father is coming to Ireland for the World Meeting of Families 2018 which takes place between 21-26 August 2018. His visit will be from 25-26 August.

• What other public engagements will Pope Francis have while in Ireland?

The primary reason for Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland is to attend and participate in events of World Meeting of Families 2018, specifically the Festival of Families on 25th August and the Final Mass on 26th of August. Pope Francis will have other public engagements during his trip and they will be included in the link below once details are confirmed.

• How can I get to see Pope Francis?

Visit this link below for most updated information on Pope Francis itinerary and confirmed events where Pope Francis will be present.

The two World Meeting of Families 2018 events for which Pope Francis HAS confirmed attendance are (i) the Festival of Families on Saturday 25th August in Croke Park and (ii) the Final Mass on Sunday 26th August in the Phoenix Park. Both of these events are FREE but ticketed – for health and safety, every adult and child in attendance will need a ticket to access the venues.

Places are subject to availability.

To access ticket information for WMOF2018 events, go to: www.worldmeeting2018.ie/en/Tickets

Breaking News! - Franky (Pope Francis) is coming to town - UPDATED

It is official, at the weekly General Audience in Rome this morning Pope Francis has confirmed that he will attend the World Meeting of Families to be held in Dublin in August 2018. 

"Ho intenzione di recarmi a #Dublino il 25 e 26 agosto": @Pontifex_it ha appena annunciato la sua partecipazione all' Incontro mondiale delle #famiglie di #Dublino @WMOF2018 pic.twitter.com/z4K4hAAO3G— Laity Family Life (@LaityFamilyLife) March 21, 2018

Updates to follow...............

************

BBC 
Reuters
Irish Independent

**************

Bishops warmly welcome Pope Francis to the World Meeting of Families in Dublin

The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference has warmly welcomed the announcement today by the Holy Father Pope Francis that he will attend part of the 9th World Meeting of Families which will take place from 21 – 26 August in Dublin on the theme, ‘The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World’. 

Pope Francis, who is 81 years of age, will arrive in Dublin on Saturday, 25 August, and will take part in the ‘Festival of Families’ in Croke Park.  The Festival of Families is the faith-based cultural concert of the World Meeting of Families six-day programme.  The next day, Sunday 26 August, Pope Francis will be the chief celebrant at Holy Mass in the Phoenix Park and this liturgy will bring to a conclusion the World Meeting of Families 2018.  Full details of the papal schedule will be released at a later date.

The bishops said, “On behalf of the faithful of Ireland we warmly welcome today’s announcement, by the Holy Father himself, that he plans to visit Dublin in August for the World Meeting of Families.  We are deeply honoured that Pope Francis will come to our country to participate in this universal Church celebration of faith and joy, as well as of the contemporary challenges which face families.  With great anticipation we also look forward to hearing the apostolic guidance of His Holiness during his stay with us.”

Bishops continued, “Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, as President of the World Meeting of Families 2018, has been charged with undertaking the significant task of organising this global celebration and each of the other 25 dioceses on the island of Ireland is supporting the host diocese to ensure its success for the whole country and for the world.  We eagerly await the visit of Pope Francis which no doubt will be an occasion of spiritual renewal for our laity, religious and clergy as well as a strengthening of Christian family life.

“The preparations for the World Meeting of Families in Dublin are benefiting from the 2014 and 2015 Synods of Bishops in Rome which discussed the role of the modern family in the world and how the Church should respond.  Both synods were hosted by Pope Francis and were preceded by a worldwide consultation.  The subsequent publication by the Holy Father, in April 2016, of his apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia (the Joy of Love), represents the fruit of these synods as he reflected on the significance of the deep mutual love of spouses and on their love for their children for the good of humanity and for the stability of society.”

Also today in Rome two Irish families presented the official World Meeting of Families 2018 ‘Icon of the Holy Family’ to Pope Francis during his weekly general audience in Saint Peter’s Square.  The Tobin family are from Co Kildare and the Bushell family are resident in Rome.  The delegation was led by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, President, and Father Timothy Bartlett, Secretary General, of the World Meeting of Families 2018.  The group also included the iconographer Mr Mihai Cucu.

************

Vatican News - Pope Francis to visit Ireland for World Meeting of Families
The Irish Catholic - Rome confirms Pope’s Ireland trip
The Catholic World Report - Pope Francis will travel to Dublin Aug. 25-26 for family gathering

Five years ago: white smoke, Habemus Papam and Francis' first words

The Fruits of War

The photo by American photographer Joseph Roger O’Donnell of Nagasaki
circulated by Pope Francis over the 2017 holidays.
(Credit: Vatican Press Office.)

Pope Francis is having cards printed and distributed showing a 1945 photo of victims of the nuclear bombing of Nagasaki along with the words “the fruit of war.”

The photo captures a boy carrying his dead brother on his shoulders while he waits for his turn at the crematory. It was taken by US Marine photographer Joe O’Donnell shortly after the bombs were dropped at the end of World War II.

The leader of the world’s Roman Catholics asked that “the fruit of war” be written in the back of the card along with his signature “Franciscus.”

A short caption explains the content and origin of the photo, it reads in part: “The young boy’s sadness is expressed only in his gesture of biting his lips which are oozing blood.”

John Allen offers some context for this extraordinary gesture:

The gesture is consistent with Francis’s effort since his election to speak out against what he describes as a “Third World War” today, being fought in piecemeal fashion in various parts of the world. The pontiff has also spoken about the disproportionate suffering children often experience in conflicts, including the risk of being enrolled as child soldiers. 

The gesture with the photo of Nagasaki also comes at the close of a year in which the threat of nuclear conflict once again had the world on edge, in light of North Korea’s threat to use nuclear weapons, and U.S. President Donald Trump’s vow that America would unleash “fire and fury” should that happen. 

…Though release of the photo in the run-up to New Year’s does not add anything substantive to the pontiff’s positions, it’s nevertheless the first time Francis has asked that a specific image be circulated in the holiday season, suggesting he believes its message is especially relevant at the moment.

Pope Francis message for World Day of Peace 2018 - 1 Jan 2018

Message of His Holiness Pope Francis

For the celebration of the 51st World Day of Peace

1 January 2018

Migrants and refugees: men and women in search of peace

1. Heartfelt good wishes for peace

Peace to all people and to all nations on earth! Peace, which the angels proclaimed to the shepherds on Christmas night, is a profound aspiration for everyone, for each individual and all peoples, and especially for those who most keenly suffer its absence. Among these whom I constantly keep in my thoughts and prayers, I would once again mention the over 250 million migrants worldwide, of whom 22.5 million are refugees. Pope Benedict XVI, my beloved predecessor, spoke of them as “men and women, children, young and elderly people, who are searching for somewhere to live in peace.” In order to find that peace, they are willing to risk their lives on a journey that is often long and perilous, to endure hardships and suffering, and to encounter fences and walls built to keep them far from their goal.

In a spirit of compassion, let us embrace all those fleeing from war and hunger, or forced by discrimination, persecution, poverty and environmental degradation to leave their homelands.

We know that it is not enough to open our hearts to the suffering of others. Much more remains to be done before our brothers and sisters can once again live peacefully in a safe home. Welcoming others requires concrete commitment, a network of assistance and goodwill, vigilant and sympathetic attention, the responsible management of new and complex situations that at times compound numerous existing problems, to say nothing of resources, which are always limited. By practising the virtue of prudence, government leaders should take practical measures to welcome, promote, protect, integrate and, “within the limits allowed by a correct understanding of the common good, to permit [them] to become part of a new society.” Leaders have a clear responsibility towards their own communities, whose legitimate rights and harmonious development they must ensure, lest they become like the rash builder who miscalculated and failed to complete the tower he had begun to construct.

2. Why so many refugees and migrants?

Pope Francis speaks out against nuclear weapons

The Vatican is hosting a two-day high-level international symposium on a nuclear-weapons-free world this week, in the backdrop of an escalating face-off  between  the US and North Korea.  Eleven Nobel peace laureates, top United Nations and NATO officials, leading experts, ‎heads of  major foundations and of civil society organizations, as well representatives of bishops conferences, Christian denominations and other faiths are attending the November 10-11 conference in the Vatican on, "Prospects for a World Free from Nuclear Weapons and for Integral Disarmament".

Continue reading -  ‎Vatican hosting high-level symposium against nuclear weapons

Pope Francis addressed the participants in the international symposium on disarmament and development on Friday. The two-day event has been organized by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, in order to address issues that are critical both in themselves and in the light of the complex political challenges of the current international scene.

In remarks prepared for the participants and delivered shortly after noon on Friday in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, Pope Francis said nuclear weapons,  “exist in the service of a mentality of fear that affects not only the parties in conflict but the entire human race.” He went on to say, “Weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, create nothing but a false sense of security.”

Continue reading - Pope addresses disarmament conference

Text of the Holy Father's address - Pope on disarmament: world without weapons is possible

22nd October 2017 - SS102fm has a catch up with Bishop Brendan Leahy

On this weeks programme (despite some horrendous technical difficulties!), John and Shane are joined by Bishop Brendan Leahy for a chat about various things including the Limerick Pastoral Plan, WMoF2018 and whether the Pope is coming to Ireland.

This Sunday also happens to be Mission Sunday 2017 and here on SS102fm we remember in a special way all missionaries who work in the "vineyard of the Lord".

You can listen to the podcast of this weeks full programme HERE.

Mission Sunday 2017

From World Missions Ireland:

World Mission Sunday takes place on the second last Sunday of October each year. Since 1926, the Church has traditionally remembered its universal mission during the month of October. This year Mission Sunday will be celebrated globally on the 22nd October 2017. The theme is ‘Reach Out, Spread the Joy.’ Throughout the world the faithful will reflect on the universal call to Mission of all the baptised. They will be invited to contribute what they can to support the development and growth of young churches internationally. Mission Sunday is celebrated by every Church worldwide, including the poorest. This special Sunday in October provides Catholics with the opportunity to unite with their missionary sisters and brothers overseas, and to recommit themselves to bringing the Joy of the Gospel to everyone they meet in their daily lives at home and at work. 

In October and especially on Mission Sunday Catholics are invited to be specifically conscious of the Church’s missionary activity abroad (Ad Gentes) through prayer, sacrifice and financial contributions. The funds collected are used to assist Churches who need financial support and directed towards communities in need, both spiritually and materially. 

In October 2016, Irish Catholics contributed more than €1.5 million on Mission Sunday. The Mission Sunday collection is made available to be distributed to as many as 1,100 young Churches who are supported by the generosity of Churches that have been blessed with a greater quantity of financial and material gifts. Our Mission Sunday figures for October 2016 are available to download here. 

Contributions will be used to build simple mission churches, to educate and nurture our future leaders of the Church including seminarians, religious novices, lay catechists and pastoral workers. The Mission Sunday gift may also be used for building health facilities for children and adults as well as for providing emergency aid in times of war or natural disaster or to assist missionaries in their efforts to care for refugees. 

On Mission Sunday, in a special way, we celebrate the work of circa 1,300 Irish born missionaries and all missionaries throughout the world. We thank God for them, for all who support them in our own country and during mission month we unite ourselves in prayer with them and with the communities with whom they work.

You can read Pope Francis message for Mission Sunday HERE.

A Catch up with Bishop Brendan Leahy

On this weeks programme, we were delighted to have an opportunity to catch up with Bishop Brendan Leahy to discuss a few things including the progress being made on the diocesan plan after Synod 2016, forthcoming WMoF2018, the possibilities of a 2018 Papal visit and how it wont be confirmed by the papal household officially until next March at the earliest, reflection on the Irish bishops Ad limina visit to Rome as well as Bishop's Brendan visit to Zimbabwe with Trocaire.

You can listen to the interview excerpted from the main programme HERE.




Gospel - Matthew 22:15-21

"The Tribute Money." Peter Rubens, 1512.

The Pharisees went offand plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech. They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying,"Teacher, we know that you are a truthful manand that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.And you are not concerned with anyone's opinion,for you do not regard a person's status.Tell us, then, what is your opinion:Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?" Knowing their malice, Jesus said,"Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that pays the census tax." Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?" They replied, "Caesar's."At that he said to them,"Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesarand to God what belongs to God."

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
Sunday Reflections
English Dominicans
The Sunday Website of St Louis University
Vatican Radio
Religion is always political, but it can never be partisan: What’s Jesus telling us today?

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours: Psalter week 1, 29th week in ordinary time

Saints of the Week

October 23rd - St John of Capistrano
October 24th - St Anthony Mary Claret
October 25th - Bl Thaddeus McCarthy - read A saint for the persistent but discouraged
October 26th - Ss Chad & Cedd
October 27th - St Otteran
October 28th - St Simon & Jude

Pope's advice on confronting suffering and pain - Rome Reports

TED - Pope Francis speaks on TED

TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. Meanwhile, independently run TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world.

Find out more about Pope Francis TED talk HERE

Pope delivers his Urbi et Orbi message - Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Easter Sunday gave his tradition Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) message from the central loggia of St Peter's Basilica. In it he prayed that Risen Lord would walk beside those who are marginalized who are victimized by old and new forms of slavery. The Holy Father also prayed the Lord would bring peace to the Middle East, come to the aid of Ukraine, shed his blessing upon the continent of Europe and  build bridges of dialogue in Latin America. 

The English language translation of the Pope's Urbi et Orbi message is available HERE. 

Easter 'Urbi et Orbi' Message of Pope Francis - full text and video

Now is a time of mercy: Pope issues new Apostolic Letter

Although the Extraordinary Jubilee Year has concluded, we are still living in a “time of mercy.” That was the message of Pope Francis in a lengthy Apostolic Letter, entitled Misericordia et misera, (“Mercy and Misery”), issued on Monday following the close of the Year of Mercy.

The experience of mercy, he noted, gives rise to the joy of knowing we are loved and turns us into instruments of mercy.

The Pope then reflected on the various ways in which the Church celebrates mercy—in the Mass, the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick, in hearing and reading Sacred Scripture—as well as important ways in which the Church lives out mercy.

In this context, the Pope announced the continuation of some initiatives of the jubilee year, such as the encouragement to hold 24 hours of confessions around the Fourth Sunday of Lent, as well as new initiatives, such as the celebration of the Day of the Poor on the Sunday before the Feast of Christ the King, and devoting a Sunday making Sacred Scripture better known.

The Pope indefinitely extended faculties to Missionaries of Mercy to absolve sins reserved to the Holy See and extended faculties to all priests to absolve the sin of abortion.

“This is the time of mercy,” the Pope concluded. “It is the time of mercy because no sinner can ever tire of asking forgiveness, and all can feel the welcoming embrace of the Father.

Read full report from Vatican Radio here.

Full text of Pope Francis apostolic letter HERE.

• A Priest Forgiven for an Abortion: The Church is Merciful - "The Church is all about mercy" reflects a man of the cloth, who himself was guilty of abortion
• Pope issues apostolic letter on mercy, extends faculties for SSPX, abortion absolutions
• A quick summary of pope’s letter ending the Year of Mercy
• Pope extends forgiveness for abortion, creates Day of the Poor

*******

Fr John Zuhlsdorf the online blogger and commentator made the point:

Priests have long had the power to forgive the sin of abortion. However, procuring an abortion incurs also a censure of excommunication, which is to be absolved in a separate step. Canon law reserves the lifting of this particular excommunication to the bishop. Pope Francis extended this faculty to lift the excommunication to all priests. Most of the bishops in these USA have already given this faculty to their priests as a response to the growing numbers of abortions performed. That speeds up the reconciliation process many times. 

ALSO… and this is important.  It is not just the women who go for the abortion who commit the sin and incur the censure.  Men involved can incur it.  Anyone directly involved can commit the sin and incur the censure.   There are many ways to participate in the sin of another person.

Ed Condon writing in the Catholic Herald also clarifies the poor choice of language used -  The Pope’s abortion comments have provoked confusion. The Curia could have avoided this

Pope Francis - I have a dream for Europe!

Pope Francis on Friday received the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen, Germany, from Marcel Philipp, the Lord Mayor of the German city. The International Charlemagne Prize is awarded for work done in the service of European unification. The Prize is named for Charles the Great (Charlemagne), the Franconian king revered by his contemporaries as the "Father of Europe."

Pope Francis said “if we want a dignified future, a future of peace for our societies, we will only be able to achieve it by working for genuine inclusion.”

“To the rebirth of a Europe weary, yet still rich in energies and possibilities, the Church can and must play her part,” Pope Francis said. “Her task is one with her mission: the proclamation of the Gospel, which today more than ever finds expression in going forth to bind the wounds of humanity with the powerful yet simple presence of Jesus, and his mercy that consoles and encourages.”

What has happened to you, the Europe of humanism, the champion of human rights, democracy and freedom? What has happened to you, Europe, the home of poets, philosophers, artists, musicians, and men and women of letters? What has happened to you, Europe, the mother of peoples and nations, the mother of great men and women who upheld, and even sacrificed their lives for, the dignity of their brothers and sisters? 

"I dream of a Europe where being a migrant is not a crime, but a summons to a greater commitment on behalf of the dignity of every human being ...I dream of a Europe that promotes and protects the rights of everyone, without neglecting its duties toward all. I dream of a Europe of which it will not be said that its commitment to human rights was its last utopia."

 

 


CNA - Receiving Charlemagne Prize, Pope says 'I have a dream' for Europe
Vatican Radio - Text of Pope Francis address
Vatican Radio - Pope Francis' dream for a Europe with 'fresh air of honesty'

Crux - As great speeches do, Francis freeze-frames the moment for Europe
OSV - Pope Francis challenges Europe to rediscover its lost identity Receiving the prestigious Charlemagne Prize May 6, the Argentine pope asks of the continent: ‘What has happened to you?’
Millennial - Is it time for Europe's "Pope Francis moment"?

Pope Francis visit to Lesbos to highlight the plight of Syrian Refugees






Crux - Pope visits Greece to put faces, names on refugee crisis
Crux - Pope Francis brings twelve refugees to Rome on papal plane

Vatican Radio:
Pope makes emotional visit to refugees at Moria camp
Pope has lunch with refugees at Moria camp on Lesbos
Pope's powerful example of solidarity speaks to an indifferent world
Pope Francis, Patr. Bartholomew, ABP Ieronymos sign joint declaration in Lesbos

CNA:
Full Text of Pope Francis' in-flight interview from Lesbos to Rome
In Greece, Pope Francis tells migrants 'you are not alone'
‘It makes you weep,’ pope says of refugees’ stories

NYT - Pope Francis Takes 12 Refugees Back to Vatican After Trip to Greece

Pope Francis sends blessing to Limerick Synod - CatholicIreland.net

The historic synod getting underway in the diocese of Limerick this week received an important papal boost on Monday when an official blessing from Pope Francis was presented to the Bishop of Limerick by the Papal Nuncio to Ireland.

Pope Francis’ blessing was handed over to Bishop Brendan Leahy, who convoked the Synod in late 2014, by Archbishop Charles John Brown on a visit to Limerick four days ahead of the commencement of the Synod.
The Papal Blessing was sent by the Vatican’s Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on behalf of the Pope.

It states:

“The Holy Father was pleased to be informed of the celebration of the Diocesan Synod and has asked me to assure the participants of his spiritual closeness during these days of community prayer, deliberation and discernment.”

“His Holiness invites those present to deepen their faith in Jesus Christ and his Church in the light of God’s mercy: “the bridge that connects God and man, opening hearts to the hope of being loved forever despite our sinfulness” (Misericordiae Vultus, 2). He trusts that all will be attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit through personal and liturgical prayer to better discern God’s will in the life of the local Church.”

“With these sentiments and entrusting the people of the Diocese of Limerick to the maternal intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, his Holiness willingly imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of peace and joy in the Lord.”

[Full text of Pope Francis message HERE, photos HERE]

Bishop Leahy mentioned the Synod to Pope Francis during a brief audience with the Pontiff in Rome two weeks ago.

Dr Leahy described the Papal blessing as a wonderfully encouraging acknowledgement of the importance of the work that will take place during the Synod.

“There could not have been a better start for us to Synod Week than to receive this Papal Blessing. I took the opportunity when I met Pope Francis two weeks ago to tell him of the Synod and, as in the previous occasions when I referenced Limerick to him, his eyes lit up. It’s clear that he has an affinity for Limerick.”

“It’s an honour to have the Papal Nuncio with us in Limerick again this week but that he has come bearing such a gift as an Apostolic Blessing from His Holiness ahead of our Synod will really imbue a greater sense of purpose and vigour in all of us as we approach this hugely important gathering.”

“Save for Pope John Paul II’s visit to Limerick in 1979, this is probably the most important moment for the Church in this diocese since the last Synod, all of 80 years ago.”

Bishop Leahy said he looked forward to the outcome of the deliberations, the proposals for change that will come to me, and “all the more so that we have Pope Francis personal pledge of his spiritual support for us at this pivotal time.”

Synod Week, which runs this weeks, involves a range of celebrations and events across the diocese of Limerick.

It will culminate in the key gathering of almost 400 delegates, three quarters of them lay, at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick from Friday through to Sunday.

The three-day gathering will see delegates consider over 100 proposals across six separate themes to help map out the future of the Church and how it serves in Limerick.

The proposals and themes have emerged out of a lengthy and detailed engagement with over 5,000 people covering all demographics from across the diocese in 2015.

3 years ago today......

 

Zenit - Reflection on the 3rd Anniversary of Election of Pope Francis. It is Francis’ humanity, goodness, joy, kindness and mercy that introduce us to the tenderness of our God.

 

Pope Francis and the Revolution of Normalcy