(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met with leaders of the World Methodist Council on Thursday, celebrating fifty years of dialogue between the two Churches.
Noting that in the Old Testament, a golden jubilee was a moment to set slaves free, the pope said “we too have been freed from the slavery of estrangement and mutual suspicion”.
Listen to Philippa Hitchen’s report:
After fifty years of patient dialogue, he said, “we are no longer strangers” but rather, through our shared Baptism, “members of the household of God”.
True dialogue, the pope continued, gives us courage to encounter one another in humility and sincerity” as we seek to learn from each other.
Wesley’s example of holiness
Speaking about the 18th century preacher John Wesley, who, with his brother Charles founded the Methodist movement, Pope Francis said his words and his example of holiness brought many people to Christ. When we recognize the working of the Holy Spirit in other Christian confessions, he said, “we cannot fail to rejoice”, as they can “also help us grow closer to the Lord”.
Serving the poor together
The pope also noted how our faith becomes tangible when it takes the concrete form of love and service to the poor and marginalized. As Methodists and Catholics together, when we assist those who are alienated or in need, he said, we are responding to the Lord’s summons.
Become ministers of reconciliation
We cannot grow in holiness without growing in communion, Pope Francis concluded. As you begin a new phase of dialogue devoted to reconciliation, may your discussions be a gift for Christians everywhere to become ministers of reconciliation. Let us prepare ourselves with humble hope and concrete efforts, he said, for that full recognition which will enable us to join one another in the breaking of bread together.
(from Vatican Radio)…
The Lord gives us the memory of God’s salvation which is “a gift” and close to the concreteness of the works of mercy he wants us to do, whether they are “material or spiritual”: so we will become people who help to “open the door” to ourselves and others. That was Pope Francis’ prayer at morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta . Recalling the passage from Luke’s Gospel in which the Scribes and Pharisees considered themselves righteous, and Jesus makes known to them that God alone is just, the Pope explained why law practitioners had “taken knowledge away” with “the consequence of not being able to enter the Kingdom nor let others enter either”.
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“This leads us to understand the revelation of God, to understand God’s heart, to understand God’s salvation – the key to knowledge – we can say it is very neglected. One forgets the freedom of salvation; forgetting the closeness of God and forgetting God’s mercy. And those who forget the gift of salvation, the closeness of God, and the mercy of God, have taken away the key to knowledge. ”
Therefore, this gift was “forgotten”. It is “God’s initiative to save us and instead stand on the side of the law”: Salvation – said the Pope – “is there for them”, thus arriving in “a bunch of prescriptions” which in fact become salvation. So, “they do not receive the power of God’s righteousness.” The law, however, is always “an answer to God’s generous love”, which has taken “the initiative” to save us. And, continued Pope Francis, “when you forget the gift of salvation you fall, you lose the key to the intelligence of the history of salvation”, losing “the sense of God’s closeness”:
“For them, God is the one who has made the law. But this is not the God of revelation. The God of revelation is a God who has begun to walk with us from Abraham to Jesus Christ , God walking with His people. And when you lose this close relationship with the Lord, you fall into this dull mindset that believes in the self-sufficiency of salvation with the fulfillment of the law. The closeness of God “.
When the closeness of God is lacking, when prayer is lacking, the Pope emphasized “doctrine cannot be taught” and not even by “studying theology”, much less “moral theology”: The Pope reiterated that theology “kneels down, always close to God “. And the closeness of the Lord comes “to the highest point of the crucified Jesus Christ ,” being “justified” for the blood of Christ, as Saint Paul said. For this reason, the Pontiff explained, the works of mercy “are the stone of the fulfillment of the law,” because they touch the flesh of Christ, “touch Christ’s suffering in a person, both corporally and spiritually.” Also, when the key to knowledge is lost, one also becomes “corrupt”. The Pope finally noted the “responsibilities” of shepherds, now in the Church commenting that when they lose or take away the “key of intelligence”, they close “the door on themselves and on others”:
In my country, said the Pope, “I have heard several times of parish priests who did not baptize the children of the mothers because they were not born in canonical marriage. They closed the door, why? Because the heart of these parish priests had lost the key to knowledge.
Three months ago, in a country, in a city, a mother wanted to baptize her newly born son, but she was married civilly with a divorced man. The priest said, ‘Yes, yes. Baptize the baby. But your husband is divorced. So he cannot be present at the ceremony. ‘ This is happening today. The Pharisees, doctors of the law are not people of the past, even today there are many of them . That is why we need prayers for us shepherds. To pray that we do not lose the key to knowledge and do not close the door to ourselves and the people who want to enter. ”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday reminded Christians that Jesus came to heal us and to save us from death. He also prayed for the over 300 victims of a deadly bombing in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu and condemned the terrorist attack that falls on an ravaged tortured nation.
He was addressing the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Wednesday General Audience , during which he continued his catechesis on Christian Hope.
Noting that death is a reality that modern civilization “tends, more and more, to set aside” and not reflect upon, Pope Francis said that for believers death is actually “a door” and a call to live for something greater.
For those “in doubt”, he added, it contains a glimmer of light that shines through a slightly open threshold.
For all of us, he continued, in the mystery of death is a grace and that light will shine for everyone.
Prepare for death
The pope invited those present to think of the moment of their death and imagine the time when Jesus will take us by hand and say: “come, rise and come with me”.
In that moment, he said, hope will end and it will become reality.
Often, he continued we find ourselves unprepared to face death, and yet for centuries past civilizations had the courage to face this inevitable reality. Older generations taught the younger to see that inescapable event as a call to live for something enduring, greater than themselves.
Pointing out that our days, no matter how many they are, pass like a breath, Francis said “death lays bare our lives” forcing us to acknowledge that all those actions born from pride, anger and hatred” were useless and vain.
To the contrary, he said, it highlights how all the good things that we have sown have germinated and now “hold us by the hand”.
Jesus will take us by the hand
Jesus, the Pope explained, is the one who ultimately helps us to confront the mystery of death. He shows us that it is natural to weep and to mourn the loss of a loved one, just as he wept at Lazarus’ death.
But he did not only mourn, he also prayed to the Father and called Lazarus from the tomb pointing out that “Here is our Christian hope: Jesus has come to heal us, to save us from death”.
Recalling the gospel story of Jairus who turned to Jesus in faith asking him to save his sick daughter, and Jesus’s exhortation: “Do not fear, only believe”, the Pope urged Christians not to be afraid, but to keep the flame of faith burning.
Jesus, Francis said, puts us on this “ridge” of faith: every time death comes to tear us away from the fabric of live and our earthly ties, Jesus is there reminding us that He is the resurrection and the life.
We are all small and defenseless before the mystery of death, Pope Francis concluded, but if we keep the flame of faith alive in our hearts, Jesus will take us by the hand, just as he did with Jairus’ daughter when he said: “Talitha cum” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise. To each of us, he concluded, he will say: “I say to you, arise.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) “Religions, with their spiritual and moral resources, have a specific and unique role to play in building peace,” Pope Francis said on Wednesday. “They cannot be neutral, much less ambiguous, where peace is concerned,” he told a delegation of 80 members of “ Religions for Peace ”, who met him in the Vatican.
Religions for Peace is the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition that advances common action among the world’s religious communities to transform violent conflict, advance human development, promote just and harmonious societies, and protect the earth.
Peace and justice
Noting that “peace is both a divine gift and a human achievement,” the Pope said “believers of all religions are called to implore peace and to intercede for it.” He stressed that “peacemaking and the pursuit of justice go together,” and said that “all men and women of good will, particularly those in positions of responsibility, are summoned to work for peace with their hearts, minds and hands.”
Violence in God’s name
Pope Francis once again denounced violence in the name of religion saying, “they gravely offend God , who is peace and the source of peace, and has left in human beings a reflection of his wisdom, power and beauty.”
Care for creation
The Pontiff expressed appreciation for the efforts of Religions for Peace, saying “religions are bound by their very nature to promote peace through justice, fraternity, disarmament and care for creation.” He said there is a “need for a common and cooperative effort on the part of the religions in promoting an integral ecology .” Religions, he noted have the “wherewithal to further a moral covenant that can promote respect for the dignity of the human person and care for creation.” The Pope expressed satisfaction that there are many examples of the power of interreligious cooperation around the world that oppose violent conflicts, advance sustainable development and protect the earth.
(from Vatican Radio)…
Pope Francis has expressed his condolence for Philippine Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, who passed away in Cebu on Wednesday. The 86-year old prelate who was Archbishop of Cebu for nearly 3 decades until his retirement in 2010, died of complications from pneumonia.
Pope Francis sent a telegram to Archbishop Jose S. Palma of Cebu, expressing gratitude for Cardinal Vidal’s “untiring and devoted service to the Church, and for his constant advocacy of dialogue and peace for all the people in the Philippines”.
Please find below the text of the Pope’s condolence telegram:
The Most Reverend Jose S. Palma
Archbishop of Cebu
Deeply saddened to learn of the death of Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, I extend my sincere condolences to you, and to the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Cebu. Joining with you in expressing profound gratitude for the late Cardinal’s untiring and devoted service to the Church, and for his constant advocacy of dialogue and peace for all the people in the Philippines, I commend his soul to the infinite love and mercy of our heavenly Father. As a pledge of consolation and hope in the Lord, to all who mourn his passing in the certain hope of the Resurrection, I willingly impart my Apostolic Blessing
FRANCISCUS PP.
Cardinal Ricardo J. Vidal, Archbishop emeritus of Cebu (Philippines), was born on 6 February 1931 in Mogpoc, Philippines. He did his studies at the minor seminary of the Most Holy Rosary (which later assumed the title of Our Lady of Carmel) and at the seminary of San Carlo.
He was ordained on 17 March 1956. The Bishop of Lucena entrusted him as spiritual director of the local seminary of Mount Carmel. He then became superior of the same institute and was dedicated to the formation of the young candidates to priesthood until 10 September 1971, when he was named Coadjutor Bishop of Malolos, Bulacan, and was elected to the titular church of Claterna. He received episcopal ordination on 30 November 1971. On 22 August 1973 he was named Archbishop of Lipa in Batangas.
On 13 April 1981 he was named Coadjutor with the right of succession to the Archbishop of Cebu, Cardinal Julio Rosales. He was named Archbishop on 24 August 1982.
He served as president of the Bishops’ Commission for Vocations within the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. He was also vice-president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference and then president from 1985 to 1987.
He was created and proclaimed Cardinal by John Paul II in the Consistory of 25 May 1985,with the Title of Ss. Pietro e Paolo in Via Ostiense (Sts. Peter and Paul in Via Ostiense, Rome).
In a message, Cebu archdiocese’s spokesman Msgr. Joseph Tan said the prelate died due to infection leading to septic shock at the city’s Perpetual Succour Hospital where he was hospitalized on Oct 11 when he became seriously ill.
Requesting prayers for the prelate’s soul, Tan said the details of funeral rites will be made available as soon as possible.
A native of Mogpog, Marinduque, Vidal was ordained a priest in 1956 by Bishop and Servant of God Alfredo Maria Aranda Obviar.
Then Pope John Paul II appointed Vidal head of the Cebu archdiocese in 1982. He retired in 2011.
In a statement released shortly after Vidal’s death, CBCP president Archbishop Socrates Villegas stressed Vidal’s legacy will live on despite his passing.
“Cardinal Vidal cannot die. He who has always shared in the dying and rising of the Lord daily in his priestly life cannot die. He now joins the immortal ones who served the Lord faithfully here on earth. His wisdom and his humility, his love for priests and his devotion to the Virgin Mary must live on in us whom he has left behind,” he said. Archbishop Villegas also expressed hope in Cardinal Vidal’s intercession for the faithful. “Rest well Eminence. Pray for us in the Father’s House.”
Meanwhile Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo praised Card Vidal for being a “true servant-leader rather than a ‘prince.’”
“For me his legacy is his own outstanding character. Some of these are: Humility, low profile style; Simplicity and Approachability; Ability to listen even to opposing views; Prudence in political issues; Courage in presenting and defending the CBCP position leading to the 1986 People Power; Charity for those considered as ‘enemies,’” he said in a message to CBCPNews.
With the death of Card. Vidal, the number of cardinals worldwide now stands at 219, of whom 120 are below the age of 80, hence are eligible to vote for a new pope. Ninety-nine are non-voters.
(from Vatican Radio)…