(Vatican Radio) At his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Francis again returned to the theme of peace building. “My hope,” he said, “is that the exploitation of man by man would be overcome.” He said, “Each person, and every people hungers and thirsts for peace; therefore, it is necessary and urgent to build peace!” Pope…
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(Vatican Radio) At his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Francis again returned to the theme of peace building. “My hope,” he said, “is that the exploitation of man by man would be overcome.” He said, “Each person, and every people hungers and thirsts for peace; therefore, it is necessary and urgent to build peace!” Pope…
Read more
(Vatican Radio) At his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Francis again returned to the theme of peace building. “My hope,” he said, “is that the exploitation of man by man would be overcome.” He said, “Each person, and every people hungers and thirsts for peace; therefore, it is necessary and urgent to build peace!” Pope…
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(Vatican Radio) For the second time in as many days a large cargo ship filled with hundreds of migrants, thought to be mostly Syrians, has been apparently abandoned by its crew whilst en route to Italy. So is this a new tactic by the people smugglers as some contend? James Stapleton is the International Communications Coordinator for the Jesuit Refugee Service and he spoke to Susy Hodges. Listen to the interview with James Stapleton of Jesuit Refugee Service:
Stapleton says this latest incident involving a cargo ship filled with migrants shows the extreme lengths to which Syrians who have been uprooted by their nation’s civil war are prepared to go in order to seek sanctuary for themselves and their families in Europe. “What we’re seeing is a new level of desperation on the part of Syrians.” NOT CLEAR IF SMUGGLERS ACTUALLY ABANDONED SHIP Stapleton says at this stage it’s still unclear how events really unfolded on board the Ezadeen cargo ship. “We were told that it’s not clear that the smugglers actually abandoned this ship, that they may have pretended to be part of the crew, also to claim asylum from Italy.” Stapleton explains that the situation for Syrian refugees who fled to neighbouring countries like Lebanon and Jordan is “getting worse” all the time with money running out, resources stretched to the limit and no chance of employment. “People don’t see any end in sight”, he said, and so are prepared “to take the most desperate measures” to seek a new future. RISK OF INCREASING DEATHS With the ending of Italy’s Mare Nostrum rescue mission, Stapleton fears that the dangers being faced by migrants trying to reach Italy by sea will get worse and he predicts that this year could see “an increasing number of deaths.” (from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, head of the Holy See Press Office, has published the following “notes” on the new Cardinals, whose names were announced by Pope Francis at the Angelus on Sunday:
With respect to the number of 120 electors, there were 12 places “open” in the College today or in the coming months. The Pope has slightly exceeded this number, but remained very close to it, such that it is substantially respected.
The most evident criteria is evidently that of universality . Fourteen different countries are represented, including some that do not currently have a Cardinal, and some that have never had one. If the retired Archbishops and Bishops are counted, eighteen countries are represented. There are no new Cardinals from North America (the USA or Canada) because they already have a significant number, and that number has remained stable during the past year. (There is a new Mexican Cardinal).
The presence of countries that have never had a Cardinal (Capo Verde, Tonga, Myanmar) is noteworthy. These countries have ecclesial communities that are small or that represent a minority within their country. (The Bishop of Tonga is the President of the Episcopal Conference of the Pacific; the Diocese of Santiago de Cabo Verde is one of the most ancient African Dioceses; the Diocese of Morelia in Mexico is in a region troubled by violence.)
The fact that only one of the new Cardinals is from the Roman Curia is also notable, while “Roman” Cardinals remain about a quarter of the electors. It is evident that the Pope intends to consider the posts of Prefects of the Congregations and of some other very important institutions within the Curia – as, in this case, the Tribunal of the Signatura – as Cardinalatial posts.
The new nominations confirm that the Pope is not bound to the traditions of the “Cardinalatial Sees” – which were motivated by historical reasons in different countries – in which the Cardinalate was considered almost “automatically” connected to such sees. Instead, we have several nominations of Archbishops and Bishops of sees that in the past have not had a Cardinal. This applies, for example, to Italy, Spain, Mexico, Panama…
With regard to the retired nominees, the words of the Pope in his brief introduction should be noted: “ They represent so many Bishops who, with the same pastoral solicitude” have served as pastors of Dioceses, but also in the Curia and in the diplomatic service. The cardinalatial nominations are intended, then, as a recognition given symbolically to some, but recognizing the merits of all.
The youngest of the new Cardinals is Archbishop Mafi of Tonga (b. 1961), who will become the youngest member of the College of Cardinals.
The oldest is Archbishop Pimiento Rodriguez, Archbishop emeritus of Manizales (b. 1919).
(from Vatican Radio)…