(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has urged the faithful to see the signs of the Risen Lord and open their hearts to a “present that is full of the future”. Speaking on Wednesday during the weekly General Audience, the Pope reflected at length on the celebration of the Sacred Triduum which begins on Holy Thursday, and…
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POPE FRANCIS GENERAL AUDIENCE – Saint Peter’s Square Wednesday, 1st April 2015 Speaker: Dear Brothers and Sisters: Tomorrow we will begin our celebration of the Sacred Triduum, as we commemorate Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. We begin the Triduum by celebrating the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, as we recall Christ’s offering of his body…
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POPE FRANCIS GENERAL AUDIENCE – Saint Peter’s Square Wednesday, 1st April 2015 Speaker: Dear Brothers and Sisters: Tomorrow we will begin our celebration of the Sacred Triduum, as we commemorate Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. We begin the Triduum by celebrating the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, as we recall Christ’s offering of his body and blood to the Father, which he gave to the Apostles as food for their nourishment, with the command that they perpetually celebrate these mysteries in his memory. We recall also the Lord washing the Apostles’ feet, through which he showed that the purpose of his life and passion is to serve God and neighbour, a service which we are called to imitate by loving one another as he loved us. On Good Friday, we will meditate on the mystery of Christ’s death and we will adore the Cross. By his sacrifice, sin has been overcome through love, an immense love which we are called to live and transmit. On Holy Saturday, we will contemplate Jesus’ lying in the tomb, and with Mary, the Church will keep alive the flame of faith, hoping against every hope in Christ’s resurrection. Then, at the Easter Vigil, when the Alleluia resounds again, we will celebrate the Risen Christ, the centre and fulfilment of the universe and history. In these days, may we not only observe the Lord’s Passion, but truly enter into its mystery, making our own the sentiments of Christ. In this way, our Easter will indeed be blessed. Holy Father: Saluto cordialmente i pellegrini di lingua inglese presenti a questa Udienza, specialmente quelli provenienti da Inghilterra, Danimarca, Indonesia, Giappone, Hong Kong e Stati Uniti. Il Signore Risorto vi confermi nella fede e vi faccia testimoni del suo amore e della sua risurrezione. Dio vi benedica! Speaker: I offer an affectionate greeting to all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present at today’s Audience, including those from England, Denmark, Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong and the United States. May the Risen Lord confirm you in faith and make you witnesses of his love and resurrection. May God bless you!…
(Vatican Radio) Back in the Vatican after a mission to visit Syrian refugees in Iraq, Bishop Segundo Tejado Munoz brings the witness of hope and despair of millions on the run from war and persecution.
Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni :
Bishop Tejado Munoz, Undersecretary of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, told Vatican Radio of his journey together with a delegation from Cor Unum and with the Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis, to the heart of refugee camps in the Kurdistan province of Duhok, where huge numbers of Syrian refugees have fled for their lives.
Amongst the 250,000 registered refugees in the area are many Iraqi Christians from Mosul and villages in Ninive province whose exodus has been caused by the offensive of so-called Islamic State jihadist militants.
Bishop Tehado Munoz explains that the aim of his mission was to meet with the displaced families, and above all – in his role as Undersecretary of Cor Unum whose mission it is to care for the needy – to bring concrete solidarity and help to the aid agencies and humanitarian workers who are responding to the needs of the refugees…
They are the ones doing the work – says Tehado Munoz – but they are often forgotten. As Church – he says – we bring our contribution but they are our hands and our arms… so often they work in extremely difficult situations
Bishop Tehado Munoz says that the Church manages to reach out to these people thanks to the presence of the local Church and the local Caritas; in this case – he explains – Caritas Iraq that coordinates the entire operation,
He speaks of his journey from Erbil towards the village of Duhok, of his visits to some of the refugee camps and of his meetings with aid workers and operators, including the UN representative to the area who expressed deep preoccupation for diminishing funds and the consequent risk of having to cut some vital humanitarian programmes.
Tehado Munoz describes a scenario which is complicated from an organizational point of view and very very serious from a humanitarian one.
Bringing with him the gifts of two icons of Our Lady blessed by Pope Francis, Bishop Tehado Munoz says “we were bringing the Easter message of Christ’s resurrection and the certainty that even in such a difficult and dramatic situation, there is the light of the Risen Christ” and the hope it brings.
The figures – he says – speak of over two and a half million Syrian refugees: but it is persons we are talking about: we touched them with hand, he said, we touched the suffering of these people, these families…
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Back in the Vatican after a mission to visit Syrian refugees in Iraq, Bishop Segundo Tejado Munoz brings the witness of hope and despair of millions on the run from war and persecution. Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni: Bishop Tejado Munoz, Undersecretary of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, told Vatican…
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