(Vatican Radio) Before the recitation of the Marian Prayer before the faithful in St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis recalled Sunday’s Gospel about the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes. The Pope explained that “Jesus satisfies not only material hunger, but the most profound of hungers, the hunger for meaning in life, the hunger for God.”
He went on to say that “in the face of suffering, loneliness, poverty and difficulties of so many people, what can we do?”
Complaining, the Holy Father stressed, “does not solve anything, but we can offer what little we have. We certainly have a few hours of time, some talent, some expertise” … “Who among us”, the Pope underlined, “does not have his or her “five loaves and two fish”? If we are willing to put them in the hands of the Lord, we will bring a little more love into the world a bit ‘more love, peace, justice and joy. God is able to multiply our small gestures of solidarity and make us partakers of his gift. ”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday remembered the people of Syria caught up in the continuing conflict in the country. In particular, the Holy Father made an urgent and heartfelt appeal for the release of Italian Jesuit priest Father Paolo Dall’Oglio who was kidnapped in Syria almost two years ago.
He also remembered both the Greek and Syriac Orthodox archbishops of Aleppo, Boulos Yazigi and Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim, who were kidnapped in Syria near the Turkish border in 2013. The Holy Father expressed the hope that with the commitment of international and local authorities these religious would be restored to freedom.
Pope Francis made the appeal following the Angelus prayer in his studio above St Peter’s Square where, with the clic of a button, he became the first person to register for World Youth Day to be held next year in in Krakow, Poland.
He opened registration for the event with two young people by his side, telling the faithful gathered in the square below that the day would be celebrated in the Year of Mercy, adding it would be, “in a sense, a jubilee of youth, called to reflect on the theme “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy”.
He then invited youth of the world to live this pilgrimage to Krakow, participating, he said, “in this moment of grace in their communities.”
Pope Francis also recalled the feast of Saint’s Joachim e Anne, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandparents of Jesus, marked on July 26th. With that in mind the Pope had a special greeting for all grandparents thanking them for their precious presence in the family and for the new generation.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) “Confirm the faith with the closeness to the Lord that never abandons us” and in the belief of being able to contribute to their wisdom and loving gestures towards life and the human growth of their families.
That was the message addressed to all elderly Spaniards and to the organizers and participants of the XVI edition of the Grandparents Day which is being celebrated Sunday, July 26, throughout Spain.
In the message, sent from the Nunciature in Madrid, the Holy Father also reaffirms his support “to those who care for the elderly with love, contributing to the common good of society.”
The Day is promoted every year on the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anna – the grandparents of Jesus – by the Spanish Catholic “Edad Dorada-Mensajeros de la Paz” which is committed to supporting and promoting the elderly. The goal is to raise awareness in society about the respect due to older people who have given so much in their lives, to appreciate the great value of grandparents in every family and to draw attention to the needs of the elderly population. They are also the concepts outlined in the messages for the occasion by the archbishop of Madrid, Carlos Osoros, and Spanish military ordinary Bishop Juan del Río Martín.
Madrid is the main host of the event this year and a Mass will be celebrated in the Church of St. Anthony in the capital by Luis Gutiérrez Martín, bishop emeritus of Segovia. After Mass there will be the reading of the Holy Father’s message with his apostolic blessing.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a message celebrating the role grandparents play in the life of faith for a XVI Grandparents Day in Spain, which will be celebrated on Sunday, the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, who are the parents of the Virgin Mary, and therefore the grandparents of Jesus.
Pope Francis sent the message through the Apostolic Nuncio to the country, inviting the elderly to reaffirm their faith in the closeness of the Lord, “who does not abandon them in any situation”, and in the belief that they can still contribute, “with the influence of their words of wisdom and cherished gestures”, in the life and growth of the members of their own families, “at a level which is profoundly human, spiritual and of the faith.”
Pope Francis also thanked those who take care of the elderly. He told them they should have joyful satisfaction knowing that, in caring for them with love, they are working for the common good of society.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a message of congratulations to the new Armenian Catholic Paticarch of Cilicia, his Beatiude Grégoire Pierre XX Ghabroyan.
In the message Pope Francis expresses his joy at the Patriarch’s election and the hope that his new ministry will bear many fruits. The Holy Father in the congratulatory note also grants his Beatiude Grégoire Pierre XX Ghabroyan the “Ecclesiastical Communion” which the Patricarch requested in an earlier letter.
Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s report
The Pope notes in the message that his election comes at a time when the Armenian church is confronted with various difficulties and challenges.
Pope Francis refers to the terrible ordeals that some Armenian Catholics in the Middle East are facing.
But he adds that “illuminated by the light of faith in the risen Christ, our vision of the world is full of hope and mercy, because we are certain that the Cross of Jesus is the tree that gives life”.
The Holy Father also writes that he is sure his Beatitude along with the Venerable Synod Fathers will be guided by the Holy Spirit to be the Good Shepherds to those People of God entrusted to them.
(from Vatican Radio)…