(Pope Francis) Pope Francis on Sunday recalled the 70th anniversary of the “terrible” atomic bomb attacks on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, saying this tragic event “still arouses horror and repulsion” in us many years later. The Pope said these attacks have become the symbol of the enormous destructive power of humanity when it makes a distorted use of scientific and technical progress and serves as a lasting warning to us. Turning to the situation in El Salvador, Pope Francis spoke of his deep concern for the suffering of the population there as a result of the famine, the economic crisis and growing violence.
His remarks came in an appeal following the Angelus prayer addressed to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square. In his earlier Angelus address, the Pope spoke of how faith only blooms if we allow our hearts to be opened by God’s love.
Please find below a translation in English of the Pope’s appeal and a summary of his earlier Angelus address:
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
“Seventy years ago, on the 6th and the 9th of August 1945, the terrible atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki took place. Even after so many years, this tragic event still arouses horror and repulsion. This (event) has become the symbol of mankind’s enormous destructive power when it makes a distorted use of scientific and technical progress and serves as a lasting warning to humanity so that it rejects forever war and bans nuclear weapons and all arms of mass destruction. Above all, this sad anniversary urges us to pray and strive for peace, to spread brotherhood throughout the world and a climate of peaceful coexistence between peoples. May one cry rise up from every land, ‘No’ to war and violence and ‘Yes’ to dialogue and to peace. With war one always loses. The only way to win a war is never to wage it.
I am following with deep concern the news coming from El Salvador where recently the suffering of the population has worsened owing to the famine, the economic crisis, social clashes and growing violence. I encourage the beloved people of El Salvador to persevere united in hope and urge everybody to pray in order that justice and peace can flower ago in the land of the Blessed Oscar Romero.”
During his earlier Angelus address, Pope Francis said faith only blooms if we allow our hearts to be opened by God’s love. Taking his inspiration from the gospel reading of John where Jesus tells the crowd that “no one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me,” the Pope said Christ’s words introduce “the dynamics of faith.” He stressed that “it’s not enough to meet Jesus to believe in Him, it’s not enough to read the Bible, the Gospel, it’s not even enough to witness a miracle.”
The Pope said many people were in close contact with Jesus and “still did not believe in him and actually even despised and condemned him.” He explained that this occurred because “their hearts were closed to the work of the Holy Spirit. Instead, faith, which is like a seed in the depths of our heart, blooms when we allow ourselves to be drawn by God towards Jesus, and we go to Him with an open mind and with no prejudices.”
Pope Francis said with “this attitude of faith” we can also understand Jesus’s words when he describes himself as the “bread of life.” Whoever is drawn by this love of God goes towards Jesus with faith and receives from him eternal life. The Pope concluded by saying the person who lived through this experience “in an exemplary fashion was Mary, the virgin of Nazareth, the first human person who believed in God by welcoming the flesh of Jesus.” “Let us learn from her example.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) On Saturday morning, Pope Francis received Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., Prefect for the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in a private audience. In the course of the audience, the Holy Father authorized the Congregation to promulgate the decree regarding the martyrdom of the Servant of God Flavien-Michel Malké, of the Fraternity of St Ephrem, Eparch of Gazireh of the Syrians.
Bishop Flavien-Michel Malké was born in 1858 in Kalat’ül Mara, Turkey and was killed in odium fidei in Gazireh, Turkey, on 29 August 1915.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Friday morning met with more than 1500 young people from around the world, members of the Eucharistic Youth Movement. The meeting with the Holy Father was the culmination of an International Gathering of the Movement, which is celebrating its first centennial. The theme of the Gathering, taken from the Gospel of St John, is “So that my joy may be in you” (cf. Jn 15:9-17).
Listen to Christopher Wells’ report:
During Friday’s meeting, six of the participants – from Italy, Indonesia, Argentina, Brazil, Taiwan, and France – had the opportunity to greet the Pope personally, and ask him questions about issues they face in daily life. Pope Francis responded to questions on tensions and conflicts within familiesand society; on discernment between true and false peace; on signs of hope in the world; and on deepening our relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist.
Pope Francis concluded his reflections with a hopeful message: “The world has many ugly things – we are at war. But there are also so many beautiful things, and so many good things, and so many hidden saints among the People of God. God is present. God is present, and there are so very many reasons to hope and to go forward. Be courageous, and go forward!”
The Eucharistic Youth Movement (EYM) is an international Church Movement for the Christian formation of children and young people. It seeks to teach them to live in Jesus’ way, by guiding them into a loving, ‘heart to heart’ relationship with Him, based on a Eucharistic spirituality. It prepares them to live as Christian adults, committed to serving their brothers and sisters in an unjust and secularized world.
(from Vatican Radio)…
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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has appealed to the international community to take action against the continuing persecution of Christians and religious minorities.
In a letter addressed to the Auxiliary Bishop of Jerusalem and Patriarchal Vicar in Jordan, Maroun Lahham, Pope Francis has expressed his solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees in Jordan who have fled persecution describing them as the martyrs of today.
Upon the invitation of Archbishop Lahham and of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Fouwad Toual, the Secretary General of the Italian Episcopal Conference, Archbishop Nunzio Galantino is currently visiting Jordan to mark the 1st anniversary of the arrival of Iraqi refugees in the nation.
During his visit, Archbishop Galantino will participate in a number of meetings and events and will visit some refugee camps.
Please find below Vatican Radio’s translation of the Pope’s letter:
Your Excellency Mons. Lahham
Dear brother,
I take advantage of the visit to Jordan of His Excellency Archbishop Nunzio Galantino, Secretary General of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, to reach with a word of hope so many people who oppressed by violence, have been forced to abandon their homes and their land.
Time and time again I have wished to give voice to the atrocious, inhuman and inexplicable persecutions of those, who in many parts of the world – and especially amongst Christians – are victims of fanaticism and intolerance, often under the eyes and in the silence of all. They are the martyrs of today, humiliated and discriminated against for their faith in the Gospel.
My words, which appeal for solidarity, are the sign of a Church that does not forget and that does not abandon her children who have been exiled on account of their faith: they must know that a daily prayer is raised for them, and that we are grateful for the witness they offer.
My thoughts also go to the Communities that have not looked away and are taking care of these brothers of ours. You proclaim the resurrection of Christ by sharing the pain and by giving help to hundreds of thousands of refugees. Bowing before the misery that risks stifling their hope, your fraternal service illuminates the dark moments of their existence.
May the Lord reward you as only He can, with an abundance of gifts.
And may world opinion be more attentive, sensitive and sympathetic before the persecutions carried out against Christians, and in general, against religious minorities.
I renew my hope that the international community will not assist in silence without taking action in the face of this unacceptable crime, a crime that constitutes an alarming drift from the most basic of human rights which prevents a rich cohabitation between peoples, cultures and faiths.
Please, I ask you to pray for me.
May the Lord bless you and Our Lady protect you.
FRANCISCUS
(from Vatican Radio)…