(VIS) During the last meeting of the Council of Cardinals to assist the Holy Father in the governance of the universal Church and to draw up a plan for the revision of the apostolic constitution “Pastor bonus” on the Roman Curia (13-15 April 2015), the final report of the committee charged with proposing reform of…
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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis said on Thursday that we can only know Christ by touching his wounds and stressed that it’s better to have fewer priests rather than accept those who do not have the courage to suffer, endure loneliness and offer love to their flock. He also urged Catholics not to be put off…
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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday urged Italian Catholics to spread a culture of justice and peace, support families in difficulties and show solidarity with the world’s poorest and most needy. His words came during an audience with two Catholic associations, the Community of Christian Life in Italy and the Missionary League for Italian Students.
The two associations have come together to work on a joint project calling for greater support on the part of Europe in welcoming migrants from overseas and to help Christians in Syria. They were encouraged in their efforts by the Pope who outlined three guidelines to help them in their mission. First of all, he urged those present to do their utmost to spread a culture of justice and peace to help counter a culture of illegality, corruption and conflict. He also told them it was important to strive for such ideals through the world of politics.
Pope Francis said his second guideline was to encourage them to get involved in pastoral work in support of the family unit and especially to reach out to those families who are in difficulty or who have drifted away from the Church.
Thirdly, he encouraged them to go beyond their own boundaries and provide support and welcome to the world’s poorest and most needy. Noting their twinning project with Syria, the Pope urged the associations to continue showing their love and closeness towards the suffering population in that war-torn country. He also encouraged their projects for welcoming migrants in Sicily and spoke about the importance of educating and providing a testimony to young people about these issues through Italy’s school network.
During the audience, Pope Francis was presented with an unusual gift, a drone bearing the Vatican colours and the papal emblem, which came from students at a Jesuit school in Rome.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met on Thursday with members of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission, telling them that the cause of unity is not an option undertaking. The 18 Anglican and Catholic members of the commission, known as ARCIC III, are holding their annual encounter this week at an ancient retreat house in the Alban hills, south of Rome. Philippa Hitchen reports Listen:
The original Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission was founded in the wake of a historic meeting in 1966 between a Pope and an Archbishop of Canterbury – the first since the Reformation and the Church of England’s breakaway from Rome. On that occasion, Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey inaugurated a dialogue “ founded on the Gospels and on the ancient common traditions” which they hoped would lead to “unity in truth for which Christ prayed”. Meeting with the members of ARCIC III, Pope Francis noted the current session is studying the relationship between the universal Church and the local Church – a question central to his own reform programme – with particular reference to difficult decision making over moral and ethical questions. These discussion, the Pope said, and the forthcoming publication of five jointly agreed statements from the previous phase of the dialogue, remind us that ecumenism is not a secondary element in the life of the Church and that the differences which divide us must not be seen as inevitable. Despite the seriousness of the challenges, he said we must trust even more in the power of the Spirit to heal and reconcile what may not seem possible to our human understanding. Finally Pope Francis highlighted the powerful testimony of Christians from different Churches and traditions who have been victims of violence and persecution. The blood of these martyrs, he said, will nourish a new era of ecumenical commitment to fulfill the last will and testament of the Lord: that all may be one. Please see below the full text of Pope Francis’ address to the members of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 1. It is a pleasure to be with you, the members of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission. In these days you are gathered for a new session of your dialogue, which is now studying the relationship between the universal Church and the local Church, with particular reference to processes for discussions and decision making regarding moral and ethical questions. I cordially welcome you and wish you a successful meeting. Your dialogue is the result of the historic meeting in 1966 between Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Ramsey, which gave rise to the first Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission. On that occasion, they both prayed with hope for “a serious dialogue which, founded on the Gospels and on the ancient common traditions, [would] lead to that unity in truth for which Christ prayed” (The Common Declaration by Pope Paul VI and the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Michael Ramsey, Rome, 24 March 1966). We have not yet reached that goal, but we are convinced that the Holy Spirit continues to move us in that direction, notwithstanding new difficulties and challenges. Your presence here today is an indication of how the shared tradition of faith and history between Anglicans and Catholics can inspire and sustain our efforts to overcome the obstacles to full communion. Though we are fully aware of the seriousness of the challenges ahead, we can still realistically trust that together great progress will be made. 2. Shortly you will publish five jointly agreed statements of the second phase of the Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue, with commentaries and responses. I offer my congratulations for this work. This reminds us that ecumenical relations and dialogue are not secondary elements of the life of the Churches. The cause of unity is not an optional undertaking and the differences which divide us must not be seen as inevitable. Some wish that, after fifty years, greater progress towards unity would have been achieved. Despite difficulties, we must not lose heart, but we must trust even more in the power of the Holy Spirit, who can heal and reconcile us, and accomplish what humanly does not seem possible. 3. There is a strong bond that already unites us which goes beyond all divisions: it is the testimony of Christians from different Churches and traditions, victims of persecution and violence simply because of the faith they profess. The blood of these martyrs will nourish a new era of ecumenical commitment, a fervent desire to fulfill the last will and testament of the Lord: that all may be one (cf. Jn 17:21). The witness by these our brothers and sisters demands that we live in harmony with the Gospel and that we strive with determination to fulfill the Lord’s will for his Church. Today the world urgently needs the common, joyful witness of Christians, from the defence of life and human dignity to the promotion of justice and peace. Together let us invoke the gifts of the Holy Spirit in order to be able to respond courageously to “the signs of the times” which are calling all Christians to unity and common witness. May the Holy Spirit abundantly inspire your work. (from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday received the President of the Republic of the Seychelles, James Alix Michel, who subsequently met the Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, under-Secretary for Relations with States.
The Republic of the Seychelles is an archipelago-nation in the Indian Ocean, about 1,500 kilometres east of mainland Southeast Africa, with a population of 92,000.
A statement from the Holy See Press Office called the discussions “cordial”, and said satisfaction was expressed for the good relations existing between the Holy See and the Republic of the Seychelles.
Mention was made of the Catholic Church’s contribution to the service of society, especially in the fields of welfare and education, and themes of common interest were considered, such as the dignity and full development of the human person and the protection of the environment.
Finally, there was an exchange of opinions on the socio-political situation in the country and in the region.
(from Vatican Radio)…