(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, meeting in the Vatican Saturday, expressed their hopes for a resumption of peace negotiations between Palestine and Israel and for “courageous decisions” for peace, with international support. A Vatican statement described the talks as “cordial,” and said the two sides “expressed great satisfaction with the agreement…
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(Vatican Radio) A press briefing took place in the Marconi room of Vatican Radio on Friday, to present some further information on the canonizations to take place this Sunday, of Blessed Mariam of Jesus Crucified Baouardy and Bl. Marie-Alphonsine Ghattas. Please find the full text of the summary statement released by the organizers, below ************************************* New Hope for the sons and daughters of Palestine, Jordan and the Middle East: Pope Francis will announce next Sunday the canonization of four nuns. Two of them are Palestinians, namely Marie-Alphonsine, founder of Palestine’s first congregation, the Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of Jerusalem, and Mariam of Jesus Crucified Baouardy, the founder of Carmelite Convents in Bethlehem and India. Two other women religious, one French and one Italian, are also being canonized. The Pontifical Mass will be celebrated at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican by His Holiness Pope Francis, in the presence of Cardinals and Archbishops from the Vatican and around the world. In attendance will be Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints; Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches; Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life; and Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. The participants in the Mass include a delegation from Holy Land: Jordan, Palestine and Israel, consisting of 2,124 people led by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Fouad Twal, in his capacity as President of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land, together with the Archbishop of Acre for the Melkites Georges Bacouni, the Maronite Archbishop of Haifa and the Holy Land, Moussa el-Hage, and bishops from Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Cyprus., They will be joined in fellowship by priests, religious men and women and faithful from various Churches. During the Mass, the Superior General of the Rosary Sisters Congregation, Mother Anyes Al Ya’qoub will carry the relics of the new Saint Alphonsine, accompanied by Sister Braxid Sweidan and relatives of the Jerusalemite saint, Nawal Daniel Mzayyid and Patrick Daniel. The relics of St. Mariam of Jesus Crucified Baouardy will be carried by Carmelite Sisters Anna Diplomas, Ferial Qarra’ and Jocelyn Ferro, together with the saint’s relative Mr. Rizeq Baouardy. Furthermore, Emile Munir Elias and his mother will be at the Mass, knowing that he had been healed through the intercession of St. Alphonsine. An Italian family will also hold the relics of St. Mariam as their son was healed through her intercession. Rosary Sister nun Mariam Ba’bish will also say a prayer in Arabic for peace and justice. Upon departure for the Vatican, Patriarch Twal said, “The declaration of the sainthood of the two nuns from Palestine is a spiritual event of prime importance for the citizens of the Holy Land, amid the difficulties we are experiencing, as the two saints enlighten our path. As the Holy Land, wrecked by violence and dissent, has for sometimes had a tarnished image, our two saints emerge to restore its sanctity, reminding us that sanctity is possible even in the most difficult circumstances.” The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem said “The canonization of the two girls from the East during these dark times is an invitation from His Holiness Pope Francis to pray, knowing that only prayer can miraculously help save our faith in the midst of these times of trial.” He added, “Now, we have two new saints who represent a model of perfection for Christians, as well as for Muslims and Jews alike. They are both named Mary, and this name is widespread and commonly used among all three traditions. It is a sign of our modern time which suggests that we can talk about the three religions without any discrimination.” Having received the joyful news last February, the Holy Land gives thanks to the Almighty God for the blessing of canonization, especially for the community of believers in the land the Lord Jesus blessed through His presence. The Churches of the Holy Land convey heartfelt gratitude and thanks to His Holiness Pope Francis, who always states that “the Middle East without Christians, is not the Middle East. (Apostolic Exhortation)” We view this grand event, which takes place for the first time since the days of the Apostles, as a message of solidarity and encouragement to the Christians of the Holy Land, especially to the Christians and parishioners in all other Middle East countries, and to those who have been forcibly displaced and deported from their home countries, to all those who suffer from persecution, and whose persecutors sometimes think that by “killing they are offering a sacrifice to God,” as Jesus himself warned. The new saint, Mariam of Jesus Crucified, was during her life subjected to acts of extremism and suffered an attempt on her life in an attempt to force her to change her religion. She now intercedes for those who are being killed because of their religion and of their religious affiliation. Her life and intercession are a cry urging respect for religious and ethnic differences as well as acknowledging human beings as creatures who are made in the image and likeness of God. The new saint Marie-Alphonsine succeeded in gaining the support of the religious authorities to set up the first local Arab religious congregation, and placing the Arab world on the map in the fields of education and religious teaching. Furthermore, the rosary schools affiliated with this Arab religious congregation have a prominent and influential presence in Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, the Gulf states and Rome. We realize that during the late 19th and early 20th century this religious congregation contributed to giving increasing the role of Arab in culture, social awareness, spiritual guidance, and education of generations of both men and women. Illiteracy has been eliminated in many parts of the Middle East as a direct result of the active contributions of nuns and church congregations to literacy education. The two saintly nuns, whose canonization coincides with the Church celebrations of the Year of Consecrated Life and the blessed Marian Month of May, pray that the Lord would bring peace and calmness to our hearts and minds, and that we will return to worshipping the Almighty God–Who alone is worthy of our worship and thankfulness. We view the consecration of the founder of the Rosary Sisters as an invitation to intensify the daily Rosary prayers in churches, houses, parish groups to bring peace, love and mutual respect among all the people of the Middle East. On the vigil of the canonization, there will be a vigil of prayer at 17h30 in the Basilica of Santa Sabina, Rome. On Monday 18th, H.B. Patriarch Twal will preside over the Mass of Thanksgiving at St Mary Major in Rome, and the Mass and songs will be in Arabic for the members of delegation coming from Holy Land. (from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) On Friday (May 15th) Pope Francis received in audience at the Vatican Romania’s President Klaus Werner Iohannis during which they discussed bilateral relations and international issues. Romania’s Head of State also held talks with the Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, who was accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.
Please find below an English translation of a communique issued by the Holy See’s Press Office following the talks.
“On the morning of Friday 15 May, the Holy Father Francis received in audience in the Vatican Apostolic Palace the President of Romania, His Excellency Klaus Werner Iohannis, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States.
During the cordial discussions, which took place on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Romania on 15 May 1990, the parties focused on bilateral relations characterised by fruitful collaboration, as well as the relations between the State authorities and the local Catholic communities, and the good co-existence of minorities. Attention then turned to issues regarding various regions in the world.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Friday (May 15th) urged Catholic bishops of the Central African Republic (CAR) to promote inter-religious dialogue and peaceful co-existence and encourage their flock to respond to hatred and violence with forgiveness and love. The Pope’s appeal came in a speech that was handed to the bishops of the African nation during an audience with him in the Vatican. CAR is just emerging from two years of violent conflict between Muslim and Christian armed groups that killed thousands of people and displaced around a million others.
Listen to this report by Susy Hodges:
In his address to the CAR bishops who are in Rome on their ad-limina visit, Pope Francis referred to the recent sectarian violence in the African nation and the huge suffering this has caused to many of its population. He said he was particularly grateful for the assistance that many Catholic communities provided to victims of the violence and to those who were displaced. “Your task is difficult,” he told the bishops but stressed that when violence and hatred are unleashed, that’s when Christians “are called to respond with forgiveness and love.” The Pope expressed regret that this was “not always the case” during the recent fighting and said this was a sign that “the Gospel has not yet penetrated sufficiently deeply into the hearts of the people everywhere” to prompt them to “change their reflexes and behaviour.”
Despite this, Pope Francis urged the bishops not to feel discouraged by the conflict that has swept through their nation but instead find through faith and hope, a renewed sense of enthusiasm and dynamism to continue their work of evangelization.
Referring to the ongoing efforts to guide the CAR towards peace, the Pope said the bishops have an “irreplaceable prophetic” role to play in bearing witness to the key values of justice, truth, honesty which form the cornerstone of any renewal process. In this context, he also urged them to continue their efforts “to promote dialogue and peaceful co-existence between members of different religions and ethnic groups,” saying this will encourage reconciliation and social cohesion.
Turning next to the question of priestly formation, Pope Francis said there was a need for a particular emphasis on the human and affective formation of the seminarians so that they are able to remain faithful to their celibacy vows, saying no compromise on this can be accepted.
The Pope’s address concluded with words of encouragement and support for the family, which he described as the best place to learn to practice the culture of forgiveness, peace and reconciliation which is so badly needed in the CAR.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) A press briefing took place in the Marconi room of Vatican Radio on Friday, to present some further information on the canonizations to take place this Sunday, of Blessed Mariam of Jesus Crucified Baouardy and Bl. Marie-Alphonsine Ghattas. Please find the full text of the summary statement released by the organizers, below *************************************…
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