(Vatican Radio) The Archdiocese of Washington has announced the Mass of Canonization for Junípero Serra will be celebrated by Pope Francis in Spanish.
The ceremony will take place on 23 September at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.
The Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, told local media there are several reasons for this linguistic choice, including the fact Spanish is the native language of Pope Francis, a native of Argentina.
“But it’s also a recognition of how large the Hispanic population in the United States is, and also because he is canonizing a Spanish speaker,” Cardinal Wuerl said.
The Cardinal also said it is appropriate for the first pope from the New World, to celebrate Mass in Spanish, since it is the “predominant language of the Western Hemisphere.”
Cardinal Wuerl said the Mass would not be entirely in Spanish, and a translation would be provided on a Jumbotron for non-Spanish speakers.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The Holy See delegation to the United Nations has issued a Position Statement on the Outcome document of the United Nations Summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda “Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
The Statement said the agenda is a “clear sign” that the international community has come together to eradicate poverty, and will work to ensure that all people will have the conditions necessary to live in freedom and dignity.
However the statement reiterates the Holy See does not consider abortion or access to abortion or abortifacients as a dimension of the terms “sexual and reproductive health” and “reproductive rights,” as well as reaffirming the understanding that the word “gender” must be grounded in the biological sexual identity that is male or female.
The statement also underlined the Holy See’s “wishes to underline the centrality of the family”, as well as the role and rights and duties of parents to educate their children.
The full statement is below
Position Statement of the Holy See on the Outcome document of the United Nations Summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda “Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”
New York, 1 September 2015
Mr. President,
At the very outset, my delegation expresses its gratitude to Ambassadors Macharia Kamau and David Donoghue for their leadership and commitment in guiding the intergovernmental process leading to the adoption of “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. Their tireless efforts and perseverance provided for an inclusive and transparent process that produced the universal agenda we have before us today.
This Agenda is a clear sign that, in spite of differences in some areas, the international community has come together and affirmed its commitment to eradicate poverty in all its forms and dimensions and to ensure that all children, women and men throughout the world will have the conditions necessary to live in both freedom and dignity.
The Agenda rightly puts the centrality of the human person as the subject primarily responsible for development (preamble and paragraphs 1 and 2). The Holy See remains confident that the related pledge “no one will be left behind” will serve as the perspective through which the entire Agenda will be read to protect the right to life of the person, from conception until natural death (paragraph 4).
My delegation believes that a renewed global partnership will be crucial to the Agenda’s success. Also, by valuing the enormous potential of youth, by empowering women and girls, and by recognizing the role of the family in integral development, we will ensure the centrality of the human person as the primary subject responsible for development, while holding governments accountable.
As Pope Francis reminds us in Laudato Si’, “environmental problems cannot be separated from the analysis of human, family, work-related and urban contexts, nor from how individuals relate to themselves, which leads in turn to how they relate to others and to the environment.”1 A more integrated approach to development will make us see better that “we are not faced with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather one complex crisis that is both social and environmental.” Therefore, strategies for a solution demand an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the underprivileged, and at the same time protecting nature” .
The Holy See agrees that the Agenda is an ambitious plan of action, with many proper and laudable “aspirations” (paragraph 55), which might be described as “a great cultural, spiritual and educational challenge.”2 The Holy See takes the position that for any successful development plan the underlying efforts must be directed toward an “integral ecology” open to “categories which transcend the language of mathematics and biology, and take us to the heart of what is human”.3 We need to cultivate a greater awareness of a human ecology including the appreciation “of our common origin, of our mutual belonging, and of a future to be shared with everyone.”4 Mr President, While agreeing with most of the goals and targets enumerated in the Agenda, the Holy See, in conformity with its nature and particular mission, wishes to make the following reservations on some of the concepts used therein.
1. Regarding the terms “sexual and reproductive health” and “reproductive rights”, the Holy See considers these terms as applying to a holistic concept of health, which embrace, each in their own way, the person in the entirety of his or her personality, mind and body, and which foster the achievement of personal maturity in sexuality and in the mutual love and decision-making that characterize the conjugal-relationship between a man and a woman in accordance with moral norms. The Holy See does not consider abortion or access to abortion or abortifacients as a dimension of these terms.
2. With reference to the terms “contraception”, “family planning”, “sexual and reproductive health”, “sexual and reproductive rights”, “reproductive rights”, and any other terms regarding family-planning services and regulation of fertility concepts in the document, the Holy See reaffirms its well-known position concerning those family-planning methods which the Catholic Church considers morally acceptable and, on the other hand, family planning services which do not respect the liberty of the spouses, human dignity and the human rights of those concerned.
3. With reference to “gender”, the Holy See understands the term to be grounded in the biological sexual identity that is male or female.
4. In relation to paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Statement of Position, the Holy See also reaffirms its reservations to the outcome documents of the International Conference on Population and Development, in Cairo and the Fourth World Conference on Women, in Beijing. 5. With respect to “education” or “information” on “sexuality”, the Holy See reiterates the “primary responsibility” and the “prior rights” of parents, including their right to religious freedom, when it comes to the education and upbringing of their children, as enshrined, inter alia, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In that sense, the Holy See wishes to underline the centrality of the family, “the natural and fundamental group unit of society,” as well as the role and rights and duties of parents to educate their children.
6. The Holy See places its reservations on paragraph 27 of the Declaration and on Targets 3.7 and 5.6.
7. The Holy See underlines that the Agenda is to be read in line with the properly interpreted “purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, including full respect for international law…the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, international human rights treaties” (paragraph 10). In regard to non-binding instruments that are also mentioned in the Agenda, the Holy See emphasizes the important distinction that needs to be maintained between treaties, which have been formally negotiated and adopted by States with the intention of creating legal obligations, and other international documents which do not have the same authority. The Holy See does not endorse principles in any international or regional non-binding instrument that differ from those set out herein, and articulated in her teachings. My delegation requests that this statement be included in the official records of this meeting.
Thank you Mr. President.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) An estimated 15 thousand people were in St Peter’s Square for the Pope’s General audience on Wednesday, as he continued his catechesis on the family, which this week focused on the importance of families in spreading the faith. The Holy Father underlined that by creating the foundations of a solid faith in the home, the fruits are revealed in a more humane society.
Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s report
The Pope said that the alliance of the family with God is called today to combat, what he called, the communal desertification of the modern city. He continued by saying that no political and economic policy can replace the contribution that families make to society, adding that we need to open up the love and warmth of the family to the city.
The Pope also explained that “Jesus, while affirming the primacy of faith in God, describes his disciples as brothers, sisters and mothers to him.” In the Christian life, he said, these family ties are transformed and enlarged; as spiritual fathers and mothers, as brothers and sisters to one another, and particularly to those in need, we bring the Father’s love to our world.
Within families, the Holy Father went on to say, faith becomes a powerful force for unity and love, and inspires a convincing witness to the Gospel.
Pope Francis prayed that like the wine of the wedding feast at Cana, may our families bring happiness, joy and the warmth of God’s love to our world.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) At time when people are experiencing trouble and conflict in many countries, Pope Francis at the end of his General Audience on Wednesday made a heartfelt appeal for peace. Recalling the end of Second World War in the Far East, the Holy Father prayed that the world would never again have to experience the horrors of “such tragedies”. Quoting the words of Blessed Pope Paul VI, “War never again”, he stressed, that this is also the permanent desire of those who are victims of conflicts and the anguished cry from the hearts of all men and women of good will to the Prince of Prince. (from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis congratulated a single mother on her decision to give birth to two daughters, telling her “Don’t be ashamed.”
The exchange took place during a video link-up on Monday with three different U.S. cities: Chicago, Los Angeles and McAllen, Texas arranged by ABC News.
A clip of Pope Francis’ conversation with single-mother Rosemary Farfan was released on Tuesday.
“It hasn’t been easy for me. I’ve made some mistakes as a person, as a mother,” she told the Pope.
“I’ve felt guilty at times and ashamed. … But every day, I try and I hope and I pray.”
Pope Francis told her he knew “it’s not easy” to be a single mother.
“I know that people can sometimes look askance at you,” the pope said. “You’re a brave woman because you’re capable of bringing these two daughters into the world. … You respected the life you were carrying inside you and God is going to reward you for that and he does reward for you for that. Don’t be ashamed. … I congratulate you.”
ABC News has said different parts of Pope Francis’ video-link up will be released each day until Friday, when the full encounter will air on a one-hour special edition of ABC News’ “20/20” at 10 p.m. Eastern Time.
(from Vatican Radio)…