(Vatican Radio) Papal diplomats from around the world are in Rome this week for a special Jubilee event that includes both practical refresher seminars and moments of spiritual reflection with the Holy Father.
Relations with Islam, gender culture and other challenges facing the Church today are on the programme, as Philippa Hitchen reports:
The year of mercy may be drawing to a close but Pope Francis is maintaining a packed agenda of Jubilee events. From September 15th to 17th he’s meeting with over a hundred representatives of the Holy See working in locations right across the globe. Of the 108 diplomatic missions in existence today, 103 are headed by archbishops serving as papal nuncios, while the other five posts are permanent observers to international organisations.
The Jubilee event began on Thursday morning with Mass, presided over by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, in St Peter’s Basilica, followed by two seminars held in the Synod Hall. The first of these was focused on the Pope, the Church and the world today, led by Professor Piero Coda, president of the Sofia University Institute founded by the Focolari movement just south of Florence. The second session, led by Rev. Robert Ghal from the Pontifical Holy Cross University in Rome is entitled ‘Genesis and the case of gender culture’ and will be followed by dinner with Pope Francis at the Casina Pio IV in the Vatican gardens.
On Friday morning participants will have a working session with officials from the Secretariat of State and in the afternoon they’ll attend a third seminar, focused on interreligious dialogue and relations with Islam, led by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran. In the evening, they’ll join heads of all the Curial offices and ambassadors accredited to the Holy See for a reception in the Vatican museums.
The final day, Saturday, will include many of the 40 retired apostolic nuncios and will be a time for spiritual communion, starting with Mass concelebrated with Pope Francis in the Santa Marta chapel. That’ll be followed by a reflection from Mgr Pierangelo Sequeri of the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family Life. The diplomats will then make their way through the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica before meeting together with Pope Francis in the Clementine hall of the apostolic palace.
The event concludes with a lunch in Santa Marta, but the Pope has invited all 163 staff members of the nunciatures and diplomatic missions for their own Jubilee here in the Vatican on November 18th.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis remembered the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on Wednesday, at the end of his weekly General Audience.
In greetings to young people, newlyweds, and all persons suffering illness of any kind, t he Holy Father recalled the liturgical feast, connected with St. Helen’s recovery of the Cross in the fourth century, and celebrated in gratitude for the redemption won for us by Christ on the Holy Cross, and in acknowledgement of the instrument of our salvation.
“Today,” said Pope Francis, “we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.”
The Holy Father went on to say, “Dear young people, as you return to the regular rhythms of life after the summer holidays, strengthen your dialogue with God as well, spreading his light and his peace.”
To those suffering illness, Pope Francis said, “Find comfort in the Cross of the Lord Jesus, who continues His work of redemption in the life of every man.
Newlyweds received a special exhortation from Pope Francis, who told them, “Make the effort to maintain a constant relationship with Christ crucified, that your love might be the more true, fruitful and lasting.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday told the faithful not to be afraid in times of discouragement, poverty or difficulty because we can rely on God and He will provide solace.
The Pope was speaking to the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the weekly general audience.
Listen to the report by Christopher Wells:
Reflecting on the Gospel passage by Matthew in which Jesus says: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest”, today – Pope Francis said – we hear the Lord calling the discouraged, the poor and the little ones to himself, and telling them they can always rely on God.
And he invited all believers – especially those who feel most powerless – to trust in God’s mercy, to open their hearts to Him, even if they feel unworthy, and they will be filled with the joy of forgiveness.
The Pope referred again and again to the Holy Year of Mercy and said pilgrims around the world have been crossing the threshold of a Holy Door of mercy – be it in a hospital, in a prison or anywhere – in the search for conversion, for friendship with Jesus, for the comfort that only He can provide.
He expressed his disapproval for those pastors of the Church who become ‘princes’ and distanced from their people and from the poor. “That – the Pope said: “is not the spirit of Jesus”.
Pointing out that in approaching the Lord’s inexhaustible mercy, we will discover his “easy yoke”: Jesus – he said – who bears the burdens and needs of humanity shows us the way to salvation; by participating in his sufferings and by learning from his service to the poor, we come to know the will of God for us.
So, Pope Francis concluded: “When we are tired or despondent, let us not be afraid, let us come to Christ, trust in him, rest in him and joyously serve him.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis held his weekly General Audience in St Peter’s Square on Wednesday. In his catechesis, the Holy Father relflected on St Matthew’s Gospel account of how the Lord calls the discouraged, the poor and the little ones to himself.
Below, please find the official English language summary of Pope Francis’ catechesis for the General Audience for 14 September 2016:
Dear Brothers and Sisters: In our catecheses during this Holy Year of Mercy, we have reflected on the tenderness of Jesus. Today we hear the Lord calling the discouraged, the poor and the little ones to himself, all who – unable to count on powerful connections – can rely solely on God (Mt 11:28-30). In their powerlessness, they trust in God’s mercy; they come to Jesus who is their only help. In this Jubilee Year pilgrims around the world have been crossing the threshold of a Holy Door of mercy as they seek conversion. In approaching the Lord’s inexhaustible mercy, we will discover his “easy yoke”: Jesus who bears the burdens and needs of humanity shows us the way to salvation. And by participating in his sufferings, we come to know the will of God for us, we find true rest in him, and are able to share in his plan of salvation. Jesus invites us also to learn from his service of the poor and of all who suffer. When we are tired or despondent, let us not be afraid; for our hope in Christ will never be confounded. Let us therefore come to Christ, trust in him, rest in him and joyously serve him.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday morning celebrated Mass for the French priest of Rouen, Fr. Jacques Hamel , whom he described, is part of the chain of Christian martyrs that runs throughout the history of the Church.
Father Hamel was murdered while celebrating Mass in his Parish Church by two men swearing allegiance to the so-called Islamic State in July.
Linda Bordoni reports:
To the congregation gathered at Santa Marta and which included Archbishop Dominque Lebrun of Rouen, along with 80 other pilgrims from the diocese, Pope Francis said that “to kill in the name of God is satanic”.
Reflecting on the many martyrs that are part of the history of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis said: “this is a story that repeats itself in the Church, and today, he said, there are more Christian martyrs than there were at beginning of Christianity”
Today – he continued – there are Christians “who are murdered, tortured, imprisoned, have their throats slit because they do not deny Jesus Christ”.
This history, the Pope said – continues with our Father Jacques: he is part of this chain of martyrs.
“Father Jacques Hamel was slain as he celebrated the sacrifice of Christ’s crucifixion. A good man, a meek man, a man who always tried to build peace was murdered (…). This is the satanic thread of persecution” he said.
And, Pope Francis continued: “What a pleasure it would be if all religious confessions would say: ‘to kill in the name of God is satanic'”.
Pope Francis concluded his homily holding up Fr Hamel and his example of courage and said we must pray to him to grant us meekness, brotherhood, peace and the courage to tell the truth: “to kill in the name of God is satanic”.
On the altar, a simple photograph of Fr Hamel who was slain by two Islamist fanatics while celebrating Mass in the Church of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray on 26 July 2016.
The liturgy was broadcast live by the Vatican Television Station.
(from Vatican Radio)…