Following Malawian President Peter Mutharika’s declaration on 13 January 2015 that 15 districts in the country are disaster areas, Pope Francis through the office of Apostolic Nunciature in Malawi has conveyed a message of solidarity to the people of Malawi through Archbishop Thomas Msusa, Vice President of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM). The message was…
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Following Malawian President Peter Mutharika’s declaration on 13 January 2015 that 15 districts in the country are disaster areas, Pope Francis through the office of Apostolic Nunciature in Malawi has conveyed a message of solidarity to the people of Malawi through Archbishop Thomas Msusa, Vice President of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM). The message was forwarded to ECM by the Apostolic Nuncio to Malawi, Archbishop Julio Murat.
In his statement to Archbishop Msusa, the Apostolic Nuncio stated, “I would like to forward you the message of His Holiness Pope Francis on the tragic consequences of heavy rains in Malawi.”
The message signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State at the Vatican reads:
” His Holiness Pope Francis, informed of the tragic consequences of the heavy rains in Malawi, has asked me to convey his closeness and solidarity to you and the Catholic faithful, and all beloved people of Malawi. He assures you of his prayers for the victims, their families and all affected by this catastrophe. The Holy Father invokes God’s blessings of strength and perseverance upon those engaged in the massive work of relief, and he expresses his fervent hope that the international community will respond generously and effectively to the needs of the suffering. To all, as a pledge of hope and peace in the Lord, he sends his blessing.”
At least 200 people are reported killed by floods and tens of thousands evacuated in what has been branded the worst flooding on record in the Southern African nation.
Apart from killing about 200 people, the floods have also displaced at least 200,000. Others left homes and schools submerged in water. Several roads have been washed away by the deluge.
(e-mail: engafrica@vatiradio.va)
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a letter to each of the 20 Churchmen who will be elevated to the College of Cardinals during the consistory on February 14th in the Vatican. In his letter, the Pope reminded the prelates that being a Cardinal is a vocation to serve and stressed the need to be humble.
“Staying humble, whilst serving is not easy,” he said, when people consider the cardinalate “as a prize, or the peak of one’s career,” a dignified position of power or of superior distinction. The Pope urged them to strive every day to stay away from such considerations. And when celebrating the elevation to your new vocation, he continued, do so with humility and ensure that these celebrations are not contaminated by the spirit of worldliness which can intoxicate more than drinking brandy on an empty stomach, and can separate one from Christ’s Cross.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a letter to each of the 20 Churchmen who will be elevated to the College of Cardinals during the consistory on February 14th in the Vatican. In his letter, the Pope reminded the prelates that being a Cardinal is a vocation to serve and stressed the need to be…
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(Vatican Radio) On Thursday afternoon Pope Francis Francis received in a private audience Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, during which he authorised the Congregation to promulgate the following decrees:
MIRACLES
– attributed to the Venerable Servant of God Maria Teresa Casini, Italian foundress of the Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1864-1937);
MARTYRDOM
– Servants of God Fidela (nee Dolores Oller Angelats) and two companions, Spanish professed nuns of the Institute of Sisters of St. Joseph, killed in hatred of the faith in Spain between 26 and 29 August 1936;
– Servants of God Pio Heredia Zubia and seventeen companions, of the Trappists of Cantabria and the Cistercian nuns of the Congregation of St. Bernard, killed in hatred of the faith in Spain in 1936;
– Servant of God Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa (ne Bakali), South African layperson, killed in hatred of the faith in South Africa on 2 February 1990.
HEROIC VIRTUES
– Servant of God Ladislao Bukowinski, Ukrainian diocesan priest (1904-1974);
– Servant of God Aloysius Schwartz, American diocesan priest, founder of the Sisters of Mary of Banneux and the Brothers of Christ (1930-1992);
– Servant of God Cointa Jauregui Oses, Spanish professed nun of the Company of Mary Our Lady (1875-1954);
– Servant of God Teresa Gardi, Italian layperson of the Third Order of St. Francis (1769-1837);
– Servant of God Luis De Trelles y Nuogerol, Spanish layperson and founder of the Nocturnal Adoration Society in Spain (1819-1891);
– Servant of God Elisabeth Maria (nee Erizabe-to Maria) Satoko Kitahara, Japanese layperson (1929-1958);
– Servant of God Virginia Blanco Tardio, Bolivian layperson (1916-1990).
Audiences
Vatican City, 23 January 2015 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father received in audience:
– Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy;
– Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith;
– Msgr. Pio Vito Pinto, dean of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota;
– College of the Prelate Auditors of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota;
– Maja Marija Lovrencic Svetek, ambassador of Slovenia, on her farewell visit.
Yesterday, Thursday 22 January, the Holy Father received in audience Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
(from Vatican Radio)…