(Vatican Radio) Before the recitation of the Marian Prayer on the second Sunday of Advent, Pope Francis referred to Sunday’s liturgy in which John the Baptist, preaches “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”. The Holy Father pointed out that conversion is not just for atheists but also for those who already consider themselves Christians. Pope Francis continued by saying, “No one can say: I’m fine. Not true, it would be presumptuous, because “we must always be converted.” The Pope then invited the faithful ask themselves some questions. “Is it true that we feel how Jesus feels? For example, when we suffer some wrong or some affront, do we react without animosity of heart and forgive those who ask your forgiveness?” “When we are called to share joys and sorrows, do we sincerely weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice? When we express our faith, we do it with courage and simplicity, without being ashamed of the Gospel? “.
Pope Francis underlined that, We must always have the same sentiments that Jesus had, adding, John the Baptist’s voice cries out even in today’s deserts of humanity that are closed minds and stony hearts, and makes us wonder whether we are actually going the right way, and living a life according to the Gospel.” “Salvation, the Pope said, “is offered to every human, to every people, without exception, to each of us. None of us can say, ‘I am holy, I am perfect, I am already saved’. No. Again we must take this offer of salvation.” The Pope then stressed that, for this reason, we must use the Year of Mercy to go further on this path of salvation, the way that Jesus taught us, for God wants all humans to be saved through Jesus Christ, the only mediator . (from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday prayed for the success of the Climate Change Conference currently underway in Paris. The Pope said, that as he follows the work of the Conference closely, he was reminded of a question he asked in his recent encyclical Laudato Si’, that being, “What kind of world do we want to pass on to those who come after us, to the children who are growing up? The Holy Father then urged that, “for the sake of the common home we share and for future generations, every effort should be made, in Paris to mitigate the impact of climate change and, at the same time, to tackle poverty and to let human dignity flourish.
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Let us pray, the Pope added, that the Holy Spirit will enlighten all who are called to take such important decisions and give them the courage to do what is best for greater good of the whole human family.
Pope Francis was speaking following the recitation of the Angelus in St Peter’s Square, where he also recalled the fiftieth anniversary of a memorable event between Catholics and Orthodox.
It was the signing of a Joint Declaration between Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras, which took place on the eve of the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council, on December 7, 1965.
He noted that it was providential that this historic gesture of reconciliation, which has created the conditions for a new dialogue between Orthodox and Catholics in love and truth, should be remembered at the very beginning of the Jubilee of Mercy.
The Pope also recalled three priests killed in hatred of the faith, who were beatified on Saturday in Chimbote, Peru.
The Holy Father underlined how the loyalty of these martyrs in following Christ, gives strength to all of us, but especially Christians persecuted in different parts of the world, to be courageous witnesses of the Gospel.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has urged members of the Charismatic Renewal to “walk in the newness of life.”
In a Message sent on Saturday through the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy Father called on participants of the 39th Conference of the Rinnovamento nello Spirito (“Renewal of the Spirit”) taking place in Rimini, Italy, to “walk in the newness of life, and, made fruitful by personal and communitarian charismatic prayer, contribute with the renewing power of the Gospel to the Christian animation of the secular city.”
The Message said Pope Francis “invokes the abundant gifts of the divine Spirit” on all the groups, communities, and the entire Movement.
(from Vatican Radio)…