(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis renewed his condemnation of violence and his call for peace in Syria on Sunday. The Holy Father’s appeals came following the Angelus prayer with the faithful gathered beneath the window of the Papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace.
“Dear brothers and sisters,” said Pope Francis, “sadly, news continues to reach us from Syria, of civilian victims of the war there, in particular from the city of Aleppo.” The Holy Father went on to say, “It is unacceptable that so many defenseless persons – among them many small children – must pay the price for conflict – for the closure of the hearts and the want of a will for peace among the powerful.”
The Pope renewed his promise of spiritual closeness to all those suffering in Syria, along with his call for prayerful and effective concrete action to aid the sorely tried people of that war-torn land. “Let us draw near to our Syrian brothers and sisters with prayer and solidarity,” he said, “and let us entrust them to the maternal protection of the Virgin Mary,” before inviting the gathered faithful to a moment of silent prayer followed by a Hail Mary.
Rebels have been trying to break through a thin strip of government-controlled territory to reconnect insurgent areas in western Syria with their encircled sector of eastern Aleppo, in effect breaking a government siege begun last month.
Fighting has been extremely intense since Friday, when rebels began a major push.
There have been reports throughout the weekend of civilian casualties and non-combatant facilities being hit by artillery and possibly even targeted. Those reports include one of an air strike near a hospital in northwestern Syria on Saturday that killed 10 people including children, and caused damage to the hospital facility.
At least one medical charity has reported the month of July as the worst to date for attacks on medical care centres in Syria, with 43 attacks on healthcare facilities recorded in their count.
(from Vatican Radio)…
Bulletin for 8/07/2016
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis sent a message on Saturday to Cardinal Cláudio Hummes, O.F.M., the Holy Father’s Special Envoy to the XVII National Eucharistic Congress in Brazil. The Congress is set to be celebrated in the city of Belém on 15-21 August 2016, occurring during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro . Cardinal Hummes is accompanied by two clerics of the Archdioces of Belém: 1. Fr. Vladian Silva Alves: Canon of the Cathedral Chapter and Rector of the São Pio X Major Seminary 2. Fr. Ronaldo De Souza Menezes, Parish Priest of the São Geraldo Magela Parish and Director of the Museum of Sacred Art The original Latin text of the Pope’s message is below: Venerabili Fratri Nostro Claudio S.R.E. Cardinali Hummes, O.F.M. Archiepiscopo Emerito Sancti Pauli in Brasilia Praefecto Emerito Congregationis pro Clericis Nostro quoque tempore obsequentes mandato Domini Iesu: “Euntes in mundum universum praedicate Evangelium omni creaturae; qui crediderit et baptizatus fuerit, salvus erit” (Mc 16,15-16), novam evangelizationem universum per orbem terrarum dum fovere studemus, libenter recordamur praeteriti temporis eventus ad Evangelium nuntiandum pertinentes. In iis enim gratiam Dei contemplari possumus, qui copiosus in misericordia per saecula tot homines ad salutem in Christo consequendam vocavit. Certiores ergo nuper facti de sollemni celebratione XVII Congressus Eucharistici Nationalis Brasiliae in urbe Belemensi, qua occasione memorantur etiam IV elapsa saecula ab urbe hac condita simulque ab inchoata regionis Amazoniae evangelizatione, Nos, summa cum animi consolatione, ibidem cum sacris pastoribus et christifidelibus coniuncti, Christo Iesu ante omnia debitas gratias agere cupimus atque iisdem animum addere Nostramque benevolentiam et spiritalem necessitudinem manifestare. Quamobrem libenter accepimus postulatum Venerabilis Fratris Alberti Taveira Corrêa, Archiepiscopi Metropolitae Belemensis de Pará, qui humaniter poposcit ut Patrem Purpuratum illuc mitteremus ad Personam Nostram gerendam. Nos autem censemus hanc Legationem te optime esse exsecuturum, Venerabilis Fratris Noster, praestantissimum Pastorem ex Ordine Fratrum Minorum, Brasilianae Patriae totiusque Ecclesiae insignem Filium. Ideo Nostrum Missum Extraordinarium hisce Litteris te constituimus ad XVII Congressum Eucharisticum Nationalem Brasiliae in urbe Belemensi diebus XV-XXI mensis Augusti devote et congrue celebrandum. Sacros Praesules, auctoritates civiles omnesque adstantes Nostro nomine comiter salutabis. In hac autem honorifica explenda missione sacris liturgicis ritibus praesidebis, sermone tuo Nostram ad mentem illustrabis praecipuorum eventuum momentum, caritatem pariter Nostram testaberis erga Amazoniae totiusque Brasiliae Pastores ac dilectas ecclesiales communitates. Fidem populi confirmans, de catechesi tradenda, oratione simul agenda et caritate cotidiana in vita exercenda recordans, magnum pondus extolles ecclesiae domesticae, id est familiae, ubi novae generationes christianorum et missionariorum nascuntur et educantur. Dum autem multi fideles, reconciliationis et Eucharistiae sacramentis receptis, Dominum Iesum in fractione panis agnoscentes (cfr Lc 24,31) pie adorabunt atque in processionibus Eum comitabuntur, cum fratribus in communione in unum mysticum Corpus Christi quod est Ecclesia coniuncti, Nos, in spiritu praesentes et magnopere laetantes, ad caritatem erga indigentiores enixe eos hortari cupimus: «ex mutuo etenim amore ac potissimum ex ipsa sollicitudine nostra erga egentes nos tamquam veri Christi discipuli agnoscemur» (S. Ioannes Paulus II, Mane nobiscum Domine, 28). Cum ergo grato animo maturos fructus fidei apostolatusque Evangelii praeconum, comitante profecto divina gratia, mirantes contemplemur, Spiritum Sanctum supplices invocamus ut similiter nostra aetate plurimos sacerdotes, religiosos viros mulieresque et christifideles laicos ad evangelizationis operam ibi ferventer prosequendam compellere dignetur, intercedentibus Beatissima Virgine Maria de Nazaré omnibusque Sanctis, potissimum iis qui in Brasilia fidem in Christum vita et operibus nuntiaverunt. Denique Benedictionem Nostram Apostolicam imo ex corde tibi impertimus, quam cum omnibus adstantibus et per media communicationis coniunctis copiose participabis. Ex Aedibus Vaticanis, die XV mensis Iulii, in die festo sancti Bonaventurae, anno MMXVI, Iubilaeo Misericordiae, Pontificatus Nostri quarto. FRANCISCUS (from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace has issued a message for the 71st anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan at the end of World War II, on August 6th and 9th respectively.
The message was delivered by Fr. Michael Czerny, SJ – a member of the Council – on August 6 at a two-day conference on disarmament and security sponsored by Religions for Peace at the United Nations University in Tokyo. The inter-religious meeting hosted by the Tendai Buddhist Community, and the Diocese of Hiroshima’s programme including a concelebrated Mass at the Cathedral on August 6th.
Fr. Michael was invited to deliver the message at the end of the liturgy.
The full text of the message – entitled ‘God’s great river of mercy’ – is below:
On behalf of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, of Cardinal Peter Turkson its president, and of all its members, consultors and staff: peace to you from God our Father!
It is always an important grace to commemorate the tragic anniversary of the atom-bombings of Hiroshima and of Nagasaki. For me it is a special honour to do so in person; and to extend to everyone here present, to the Church in Japan and to the entire Japanese nation, the most sincere prayer of solidarity and hope.
For over a thousand years, many Christian denominations have celebrated the solemn feast of the Transfiguration. The Transfiguration reveals the glory of Christ and demands a response of listening to Jesus Christ and of following him. His glory is revealed because, as Pope Francis preached on 1 March 2015, his “full adherence to the will of the Father makes his humanity transparent to the glory of God, who is Love” and mercy.
On 6 August we also remember the passing from this life of Pope Paul VI, 38 years ago, who most famously declared at the United Nations on 4 November 1965, “Never again one against the other, never, never again! … Never again war, never again war!” With the challenging encouragement of Blessed Pope Paul, let us pray and act in solidarity with the victims of the atom bombs and of all wars and all terrorism around the world.
With all the significance of 6th August, then, what makes 2016, the 71st anniversary, a unique and special occasion for our prayerful commemoration?
By Divine Providence, it takes place during the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy established by Pope Francis. This Jubilee gives each and every one of us the opportunity to revisit the sinful and sorrowful moments of our lives, not in order to be crushed and to despair, but in order to allow God’s loving grace to enter with forgiveness and healing.
Our Heavenly Father “never tires of casting open the doors of his heart and of repeating that he loves us and wants to share his love with us … From the heart of the Trinity, from the depths of the mystery of God, the great river of mercy wells up and overflows unceasingly … The Church is called above all to be a credible witness to mercy, professing it and living it as the core of the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Misericordiae Vultus, § 25). Especially today, we pray that God may flood all our sins, recriminations and discouragement with His “great river of mercy”.
As we commemorate the atomic bombings of 71 years ago, may the Year of Mercy and the feast of the Transfiguration inspire, teach and guide us. May they open us to the mercy with which our Heavenly Father so ardently wishes to flood our hearts. May the graces of pardon, reconciliation, solidarity and hope touch each person, each faith community and social group we encounter.
Together we pray to our all-merciful Father in the name of Jesus Christ and with the intercession of our Blessed Mary, Mother of Mercy, and of Blessed Paul VI, Amen!
Michael Czerny S.J.
Office of the President
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
Hiroshima, 6 August 2016
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis sent a letter to the Refugee Olympic Team as they prepared to compete in the Olympic Games 2016 taking place in Rio de Janeiro, wishing each of them success in the competition.
Listen to Devin Watkins’ report:
The letter – written in Spanish and dated 26 July 2016 – is addressed to all refugee athletes, calling each by name.
Pope Francis writes of his own research into each squad member’s life through their interviews with various media sources.
The Holy Father goes on to wish each of them success, expressing his desire that ‘your courage and strength find expression through the Olympic Games and serve as a cry for peace and solidarity. May humanity understand through you that peace is possible, and that with peace everything is a triumph; while with war everything is a loss.’
He closes the letter by assuring the refugee team of his prayers for them.
An English translation of the Pope’s letter is below:
Dear brothers and sisters Rami Anis, Yiech Pur Biel, James Nyang Chiengjiek, Yonas Kinde, Anjelina Nada Lohalith, Rose Nathike Lokonyen, Paulo Amotun Lokoro, Yusra Mardini, Popole Misenga and Yolande Bukasa Mabika:
I have learned about your team and read some of your interviews so that I could get closer to your lives and your aspirations.
I extend my greetings and wish you success at the Olympic Games in Rio — that your courage and strength find expression through the Olympic Games and serve as a cry for peace and solidarity.
Your experience serves as testimony and benefits us all. I pray for you and ask that you, please, do the same for me. God bless you.
In brotherhood,
Francis
(from Vatican Radio)…