(Vatican Radio) For his monthly ‘Mercy Friday’ in the Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis visited on Friday the Community of ‘Chicco’ in Ciampino, on the outskirts of Rome.
L’Arche (The Ark) was founded by Jean Vanier in 1964 and is now present in over 30 countries on 5 continents. The organization provides loving homes for vulnerable people who live together in a supportive community.
The Chicco community was founded in 1981 and houses 18 people with intellectual challenges. The L’Arche philosophy is “the praise of imperfection,” that is, to thrive amidst disabilities that the world doesn’t value. The residents of L’Arche are free to make their own way in life, to give and receive deep affection and to form lasting friendships. Pope Francis visited L’Arche as a move to emphasize the value of such principles over an ephemeral, disposable culture.
At Chicco Pope Francis sat with residents and shared a snack with them and the volunteers who live with them. He listened to residents named Nadia, Salvatore, Vittorio, Paolo, Maria Grazia, Danilo, Armando and Fabio who shared their joy of meeting the Holy Father.
The philosophy of L’Arche also values the manual effort of residents and exercising creativity. The Holy Father visited Chicco’s workshop where residents work every day to make crafts. Afterwards, while joining hands, Pope Francis prayed with residents in the chapel.
The Chicco community survives on donations and subsidies and so before leaving, Pope Francis made a personal contribution of pasta, fruits, cherries and peaches which were welcomed with the joy and applause of residents.
Pope Francis has identified this visit as one of the most profound of his pontificate. In the Jubilee year so far more than 7 million have attended jubilee events and the visit to Chicco marks the fifth such event undertaken by Pope Francis. In January he visited a nursing home for the elderly, in February, a community treating drug addicts, in March, a reception centre for refugees and in April the Island of Lesbos in Greece.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Two canonization ceremonies, including that of Mother Teresa of Kolkata and two foreing visits are among the highlights of the schedule of Pope Francis in the coming months. The Office for the Liturgical Celebration of the Surpreme Pointiff on Friday released the Pope’s June- 4 September schedule.
On June 5, the Pope will declare as saints, Polish priest Fr. Stanislaus of Jesus-Mary and Swedish nun Sr. Maria Elizabeth Hesselblad, and on Sept. 4 he will canonize Mother Teresa. Both ceremonies will be held in Rome’s St. Peter’s Square.
The Pope has two foreign trips. He will visit Armenia, June 24-26, and Poland, July 27-31, for the 31 World Youth Day in Krakow. In June he has two Year of Mercy Jubilee celebrations – that of priests on the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, June 3, and that of the sick and persons with disabilities on June 12. On June 29, the feast of Sts Peter and Paul, he will confer the pallium on new metropolitan archbishops. On Mother Teresa’s canonization day, Sept. 4, the Pope will mark the Jubilee of workers and volunteers of mercy.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The Director of the Holy See’s Press office, Father Federico Lombardi, said Pope Francis did not say in his remarks to the Heads of female religious orders and congregations that he intends to introduce the ordination of women and even less the ordination of women as priests. Father Lombardi’s statement followed the Pope’s widely-reported remarks that he wants to set up a Commission to study the question of female deacons. Pope Francis’ remarks on deaconesses came during a question and answer session on Thursday with some 900 heads of female religious orders and congregations who form part of the International Union of Superiors General.
During the hour and a half long conversation about the mission and ministry of women in religious life, the Pope responded to several delicate questions, including one where he was asked what prevents the Church from including women among the permanent deacons, just like during the early Church. In his reply, the Pope said understanding about the role of female deacons in the early Church remained unclear and agreed with the sisters that it would be useful to set up a Commission to study the question.
Father Lombardi described the encounter between the Pope and the female religious as a “beautiful conversation” that was very “encouraging” about women and in particular about consecrated women in the life of the Church, including their role in important positions within the dicasteries where ordination is not implied.
Referring to the Pope’s much reported remark about setting up a Commission to study the question of female deacons, Father Lombardi said this was an issue that has been talked about within the Church in the past and arises from the fact that in the early Church there were women described as deaconesses who carried out certain tasks within the Christian community.
Father Lombardi said “we need to be honest” when looking at the Pope’s remarks about being willing to set up a Commission to look again at this issue with greater clarity.
“The Pope did not say he intends to introduce the ordination of female deacons and even less did he talk about the ordination of women as priests.” In actual fact, the Pope made clear in his preaching during the course of the Eucharistic celebration that he was not considering this (question) at all.”
Father Lombardi also said it was wrong to reduce all the many important things said by the Pope during his meeting with the religious sisters to this one question.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Today Pope Francis received in audience the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland, Beata Szydło, who subsequently met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States.
In a statement, the Vatican Press Office described the talks as “cordial” and said the two “noted the positive contribution of the Catholic Church in Polish society.”
Particular reference was made, it said, to the visit that the Holy Father will make to Poland in the month of July for World Youth Day. Also mentioned were recent celebrations in Gniezno and Poznań for the 1050 anniversary of the Baptism of Poland, that were attended by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, acting as Papal Legate.
Later, the Pope and Prime Minister focused on themes of mutual interest, such as the promotion of the family in the current socio-cultural context and the reception of refugees. Finally, issues of concern to the international community, such as peace and security, the conflict in Syria and the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and the Middle East were also discussed.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The official programme for Pope Francis’ 3-day visit to Armenia from 24th to 26th June was released on Friday.
Please see details below: (all times local)
Friday 24th June
09.00 Departure from Rome’s Fiumicino Airport for Yerevan
15.00 Arrival at Yereven’s Zvaretnots Airport with welcome ceremony there.
15.35 Visit to pray at Apostolic Cathedral at Etchmiadzin (Greetings given by Catholicos of All Armenia, Karekin II and by Pope Francis)
18.00 Courtesy visit to Armenia’s President in the Presidential Palace.
18.30 Meeting with civil authorities and the Diplomatic Corps in the Presidential Palace (speech by the Pope)
19.30 Private meeting with Catholicos in the Apostolic Palace
Saturday 25th June
08.45 Visit to Tzitzernakaberd Memorial Complex
10.00 Journey by plane to Gyumri
11.00 Holy Mass in Gyumri’s Vartanants Square (Homily By the Pope and greeting by Catholicos)
16.45 Visit to the Holy Martyrs Armenian Catholic Cathedral in Gyumri
18.00 Journey by plane back to Yerevan
19.00 Ecumenical Encounter and Prayer for Peace in Yerevan’s Republic Square
Sunday 26th June
09.15 Meeting with Catholic Bishops of Armenia in the Apostolic Palace at Etchmiadzin
10.00 Participation in Divine Liturgy in the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral (Homily by Catholicos and greeting by the Pope)
Ecumenical Lunch with the Catholicos, Archbishops and Bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholic Bishops of Armenia and Cardinals and Bishops from the Papal entourage in the Apostolic Palace.
15.00 Meeting with delegates and benefactors of the Apostolic Armenian Church in the Apostolic Palace
16.05 Signing of Joint Declaration in the Apostolic Palace
17.00 Prayer at Khor Virap Monastery
18.15 Farewell Ceremony at airport
18.30 Departure by plane for Rome
20.40 Arrival at Rome’s Ciampino Airport
(from Vatican Radio)…