(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis said on Monday that oil and weapons seem to weigh more on the scale of economic interests than the lives of thousands of Christians in the Middle East, and while proclaiming peace and justice the world tolerates traffickers of death. The Pope’s words of condemnation were pronounced as he greeted participants…
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(Vatican Radio) Christians must learn to free themselves from ‘worldly noise and passions’ so that they can receive the grace of God in their hearts. That was the focus of Pope Francis’ words during his homily at morning Mass on Monday in the Casa Santa Marta, as Philippa Hitchen reports… Listen: Reflecting on today’s reading…
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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday met with representatives of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church and the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren, on the occasion of the six hundredth anniversary of the death of the reformer Jan Hus. Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s report In his prepared remarks to the delegation from the Czech Republic, Pope Francis…
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Geneva, 15. “All members of the
international community have a moral and legal duty to save the lives of those
in jeopardy at sea or in transit, regardless of their origin and status”. The
Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC), thus expressed
strong concern for the many migrants in numerous regions around the globe and
especially for those who are “driven to undertake journeys of desperate risk
and danger”. This is the case for Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants and the
peoples from North Africa who are moving en masse towards the coast of Europe.
This statement was published by the executive committee of the ecumenical
council following a visit last week to Echmiadzin, Armenia, the see of the
Armenian Apostolic Church. The purpose of their visit was to pay tribute to the
victims of Metz Yeghém, the “Great Evil” which was carried out in Armenia. The
meeting was also an occasion — the WCC
communiqué reads — to examine several
pressing problems, urgent to the Church and the world. Among these was the
issue of immigration which is “an escalating global problem, with different
expressions and responses in different contexts”. The statement, which meaningfully opens with
a passage from the Gospel about the final judgement (cf. Mt, 25:35) expresses
“deep concern for the lives of the increasing numbers of people globally who,
fleeing from situations of violence, oppression, occupation or economic
deprivation, are driven to undertake journeys of desperate risk and danger”.
The situation is not new, however, today it is increasingly troublesome and is
exemplified by the “deaths of
unprecedented numbers of migrants and refugees seeking to cross the
Mediterranean Sea to Europe” and “of Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants on the
Andaman Sea”. Concerning also are the “recent killings of Ethiopian Christian
migrant workers by the so-called ‘Islamic State’ in Libya, and the xenophobic
violence against migrants in South Africa”. All of these situations involve
vulnerable people who are forced to leave their home country in the pursuit of
safety and a better life for themselves and their families….
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday evening urged parents and families to stand up to “ideological colonizations that poison the soul.”
He was speaking to some 25,000 faithful from the dioceses of Rome for the opening of the Diocese’s annual Ecclesial Convention, dedicated this year to the theme of the family.
Present with Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square for the occasion were many Catholic families as well as the Cardinal Vicar Agostino Vallini and a high percentage of the 350 parish priests of Rome.
During his address to those present, Pope Francis touched on many issues including the need for a “spiritual rebirth” for the city of Rome which is currently shaken by a corruption scandal involving municipal authorities.
But his focus was mostly on the family and on the Synod of Bishops on the Family to be held in the Vatican in October, and he appealed to the many parents present to safeguard their children from ideological attacks against the institution of the family and all that is sacred which – he said – “are so hurtful and destroy society, the Nation, families”.
“This is why – he continued – we are in need of a spiritual and moral rebirth”.
Pope Francis elaborated on the beauty and diversity of male and female characteristics and – he said “complementarity and reciprocity” within families are very important for the healthy growth of children who must not be afraid of differences and must witness the joy of conjugal love in order to grow and develop with confidence and security.
But he also turned his attention to couples who separate urging them never to forget their duties as parents.
“Do not speak ill of each other” he said: that’s how children learn how to be hypocritical and to take advantage of others.
The Pope also had words for the over 600 thousand grandparents who live in Rome and whom – he said – must be loved and respected.
And he appealed to families to consider the option of old-age homes for grandparents only as a last resort.
And noting that a fourth of the population in Rome is elderly, the Pope asked: “Are grandparents treated with respect? I am sure they are at the moment – he continued – because what with the current lack of employment, it is to them and to their pensions that one turns for help”.
(from Vatican Radio)…