(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis renewed his appeal for peace in Syria on Wednesday. Addressing pilgrims and tourists gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the weekly General Audience, Pope Francis said, “I want to emphasize and reiterate my solidarity with all victims of inhuman conflict in Syria.” Pope Francis went on to say, “It is with a sense of urgency that I renew my appeal, begging, with all my strength, those responsible, that steps be taken toward an immediate ceasefire, one imposed and respected at least for the time necessary to allow the evacuation of civilians, especially children, who are still trapped under cruel bombardment.”
Click below to hear our report
Russian-led airstrikes resumed over the past 24 hours, concentrating on targets within the besieged city of Aleppo.
At least 25 people are reported to have died, including children. The bombardments follow a temporary lull called by the Syrian government, in part to allow civilians to leave rebel-held areas in the east of the city.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) At his General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis reflected on the reading from Saint Matthew’s Gospel in which the Lord tells us that we will be judged by the the mercy we show to others.
Below, please find the English-language summary of Pope Francis’ address for the weekly General Audience on 12 October 2016:
Dear Brothers and Sisters: During this Holy Year of Mercy, we have reflected on God’s mercy, revealed especially in the incarnation of his Son, and on our duty, as followers of Jesus, to be “merciful like the Father”. In Saint Matthew’s Gospel, the Lord tells us that we will be judged by the mercy we show to him, present in the least of our brothers and sisters. His words have inspired the seven traditional “corporal” works of mercy – feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, welcoming the stranger, healing the sick, visiting the imprisoned and burying the dead. The Church’s tradition also adds seven “spiritual” works of mercy – counseling the doubtful, instructing the ignorant, admonishing sinners, comforting the afflicted, forgiving offences, bearing patiently those who do us ill, and praying for the living and the dead. As expressions of living faith, these works are often carried out quietly and with simple gestures. Yet, as Saints like Mother Teresa of Calcutta show us, they reveal the merciful face of Christ and can change the culture around us. Let us keep them always in mind and strive to practice them daily.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis said Jesus asks us to perform good deeds with humility and reject a “cosmetics” (maquillage) religion that is merely concerned with its outward appearance and pretending to be what it’s not. The Pope was speaking at his morning Mass on Tuesday celebrated in the Santa Marta residence.
Listen to this report by Susy Hodges that includes clips of the Pope’s voice:
The inspiration for the Pope’s homily was taken from the day’s readings of St Paul’s letter to the Galatians and the Gospel account of where Jesus rebukes a Pharisee for being totally concentrated on the outward appearance of cleanliness rather than on the inner substance of his faith.
Pope Francis noted that Jesus’s answer to that same Pharisee who criticized him for not observing the prescribed washing before the meal was unequivocal.
“’Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil.’” And Jesus repeats this many times in the Gospel to these people: Your interior is wicked, is not good and is not free. ‘You are slaves because you have not accepted the justice that comes from God, the justice that Jesus has given us.'”
Mentioning another passage from the Gospel, the Pope noted that Jesus urges us to pray without being seen, without being show-offs or like those cheeky and shameless people who pray and give alms so they can be admired. Our Lord, he stressed, instead shows us the path of humility.
Pope Francis went on to explain that, as Jesus said, what is important is the freedom given to us by redemption.
No to a “cosmetics” religion, avoid outward show
“That inner freedom, that freedom to do good deeds in secret without blowing our trumpets because the path of true religion is Jesus’ path: humility and humiliation. And as Paul says to the Philippians, Jesus humiliates himself, empties himself. This is the only way to remove egoism, cupidity, arrogance, vanity and worldliness from ourselves. On the contrary, these people that Jesus rebukes are people who follow a “cosmetic” religion: (about) show, appearance and pretending to be something but inside… Jesus uses a very strong image to describe these people: “You are like whitewashed tombs that look handsome on the outside but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of corruption.”
Ask the Lord to reject a religion of outward show
Continuing his reflections, Pope Francis pointed out that Jesus asks us to perform good deeds with humility. He said you can do all the good deeds you want but if you don’t do them with humility, as Jesus taught us, these good deeds count for nothing because they are born from you and your self-assurance rather than from the redemption that Jesus gave us.This same redemption comes via “the path of humility and humiliations because humility never comes without humiliation. And we see Jesus humiliated on the Cross.”
“Let us ask the Lord for us never to get tired of journeying along this path, to never get tired of rejecting this religion of show, of appearance, of pretending. And let us journey silently doing good, freely just as we freely received our inner freedom. And may HE guard this inner freedom for all of us. Let us ask for this grace.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) One of the first names Pope Francis pronounced when he announced 17 new cardinals was that of the Apostolic Nuncio in Damascus , Archbishop Mario Zenari , who – even after the Consistory of 19 November – will stay in his current post so he can continue to be close to the suffering people of Syria.
Cardinal designate Zenari spoke to Vatican Radio soon after learning of his nomination, his voice trembling with emotion:
“For me it was an emotional moment… It was a surprise! I sincerely thank the Holy Father, because this purple (gown) is for Syria, for the victims of Syria, for all those who suffer because of this terrible war. It’s for these people, for the many children who are suffering, for the many poor people who are paying the consequences of this tremendous conflict” he said.
Zenari says Pope Francis pronounces very strong messages regarding the situation in Syria and he says – in this case – by creating a Cardinal who is a Nuncio in the country, he is saying something very strong: “it is almost a warning”.
Zenari, who for many years has committed himself to seeking peace for the ravaged nation describes himself as a simple and humble person. He hopes – he says – that this nomination by Pope Francis is received as a signal and “used as much as possible”.
He says his commitment continues “encouraged and fortified” by the Pope’s support:
“This sign of closeness on the part of the Pope will most certainly produce some benefits as I pursue my mission” he said.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The recently appointed Prefect for the Pontifical Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life is one of the 17 men who will receive a red hat in the Vatican during the next Consistory.
Bishop Kevin J. Farrell was nominated by Pope Francis to become a new Cardinal during the Consistory on 19 November in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Bishop Farrell just left Dallas on October 6th to take up residence in Rome where he will serve as the new Prefect for the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. He had served as the Bishop of the Diocese of Dallas since March of 2007.
Immediately after learning the news of his appointment, Bishop Farrell said in a statement:
“I am humbled by the news this morning that our Holy Father Pope Francis has named me to the College of Cardinals. I ask all in the Diocese of Dallas to please pray for me that I may to the best of my ability fulfill this sacred duty to our Church.”
Meanwhile, the Apostolic Administrator in the Diocese of Dallas, Bishop Greg Kelly announced the news to the priests of the Diocese saying, “It is with great joy that I share the news that Bishop Farrell will be made a cardinal in the next Vatican consistory on November 19, 2016. Please pray for him during this important moment in his priesthood and let us once again thank God for his nine years of service here with us.”
(from Vatican Radio)…