(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has chosen as the theme for the 2016 World Day for Migrants and Refugees the theme: Migrants and refugees challenge us. The response of the Gospel of Mercy. A communique released by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People said the choice of this theme fits in well within the context of the upcoming Jubilee Year of Mercy proclaimed by the Pope. It said the chosen theme wishes to underline two aspects: the first the dramatic situation of so many men, women and children people forced to flee their homes saying this is a reality that must challenge us and break the barrier of indifference that so often reigns. The second part of the theme stresses the response of the world and in particular of the Church to the plights of migrants. The communique said the Pope urges Christians to reflect during the upcoming Jubilee Year on works of corporal and spiritual mercy that include among them welcoming strangers.
When it comes to the local churches, the Pontifical Council gives proposals for how the 2016 World Day for Migrants and Refugees can be marked within the diocese and it suggests that migrants and refugees are also actively involved in these celebrations. The council also urges the local churches to increase awareness about the plights of migrants and refugees among the Christian community.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a Message to the Taizé ecumenical prayer and monastic community, on the occasion of three major anniversaries the Taizé monks are marking this year: the seventy-fifth of Taizé’s foundation; the centenary of the birth of Taizeé’s founder, Brother Roger; and the tenth of Brother Roger’s death.
In the Message, Pope Francis recalls the words of Pope Benedict XVI, who in 2012 described Brother Roger as “a tireless witness of the gospel of peace and reconciliation, animated by fire for an ecumenism of holiness.”
“Passionately seeking the unity of the Church,” Pope Francis continues, “Brother Roger opened the treasures deposited in the various Christian traditions,” and, “by the perseverance he demonstrated during his long life, he helped to change relations among still-separated Christians, tracing for many a path of reconciliation.”
Pope Francis concludes his Message with an expression of gratitude to God for the life and work of Brother Roger, and prays that the Taizé Community might always maintain the very powerful testimony Brother Roger gave to the risen Christ and the call he constantly renewed to “choose to love.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has sent a Message in Pope Francis’ name to Bishop Francesco Lambiasi of Rimini, Italy, ahead of the opening of the XXXVI international Meeting of Friendship among Peoples in Rimini on August 20th.
The week-long event under the sponsorship of the Communion and Liberation movement is this year taking its theme from a verse of the poet Mario Luzi, “What is this lack a lack of, oh heart, of which all of a sudden you are full?”
The Message says that, through this theme, the 2015 iteration of the Rimini Meeting has a chance to cooperate in one of the essential tasks of the Church: making sure that no one settles for a little, but that everyone might say fully, “I live, now not I; but Christ liveth in me.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has expressed his “heartfelt solidarity” after the terrorist attack on the Erawan Hindu Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand, which killed 20 people. In a telegram sent to King Bhumibol Adulyadej through the Cardinal Secretary of State, the Pope said he was “deeply saddened” to learn about injury and loss of life caused by the attack.
“Mindful of the security and emergency personnel who are seeking the perpetrators of these crimes, while also assisting the injured, their families and those of the deceased, His Holiness offers the assurance of his prayers and invokes the divine blessings of peace and healing upon the Kingdom,” the message reads.
The full text of the telegram is below
His Majesty
Bhumibol Adulyadej
King of Thailand
Bangkok
His Holiness Pope Francis was deeply saddened to learn of the injury and loss of life caused by the attack at the Erawan Hindu Shrine and of the threat to life and property caused by the bombing at the Sathorn Pier. He expresses his heartfelt solidarity with Your Majesty and all those affected by these acts of violence. Mindful of the security and emergency personnel who are seeking the perpetrators of these crimes, while also assisting the injured, their families and those of the deceased, His Holiness offers the assurance of his prayers and invokes the divine blessings of peace and healing upon the Kingdom.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Secretary of State
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis held his weekly General Audience in the Paul VI Hall on Wednesday. The Holy Father focused his catechetical remarks on work. In the English summary read out following the main catechesis in Italian, the Pope explained that work complements our moments of celebration and which is also a part of God’s creative design. “Through work,” said Pope Francis, “the family is cared for and children are provided with a dignified life.” The catechesis went on to explain that, in this way, the common good is served, as witnessed by the example of so many fathers and mothers who teach their children the value of work for family life and society.
Addressing this theme during the main catechesis in Italian, Pope Francis departed from his prepared text to say, “It makes me sad, when I see people without work, who do not find work and haven’t the dignity of bringing bread home – and it cheers me when I see that political leaders make great efforts to find jobs and to seek to make sure that everyone has a job.” The Holy Father went on to say, “Work is sacred, work gives dignity to a family: we must pray that work be not lacking in any family.”
The Holy Father went on to explain that, when we reduce work to profit and disregard its effects on humanity and the world, the environment and our lives suffer. “God has given Christian families the challenge and mission to make present the foundations of his creation: a true understanding of the identity of man and woman and the bond they share, their call to bring children into the world, and the gift of work in making the world ever more fruitful and hospitable,” his catechesis continued. Pope Francis concluded with a prayer: “May God help us to embrace this call in joy and hope, especially amidst the many challenges we face today.”
(from Vatican Radio)…