(Vatican Radio) At the conclusion of the Solemn Mass for Palm Sunday, Pope Francis led the faithful in the recitation of the Angelus.
In brief remarks ahead of the Marian prayer, the Holy Father greeted all those taking part in the ceremony, including those watching and listening by means of television, radio, or other means of communication.
The Pope noted the 31st World Youth Day, commemorated on Sunday, which will culminate in the “great world Meeting in Krakow,” Poland, this summer. The theme of this year’s World Youth Day is “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.” “I hope that many of you can come to Krakow, the homeland of Saint John Paul II, the founder of World Youth Day,” Pope Francis said. “We entrust to his intercession the final months of preparation for this pilgrimage, in the context of the Holy Year of Mercy, will be the Jubilee of the Young People at the level of the Universal Church.”
Pope Francis also noted the many young volunteers from Krakow who were in the Square on Palm Sunday. “Returning to Poland,” he said, “they will take to the leaders of the Nation the olive branches gathered from Jerusalem, Assisi, and Montecassino” which were blessed during the ceremony, “as an invitation to cultivate proposals for peace, reconciliation, and fraternity.” He thanked them for their initiative, and encouraged them, “Go forward with courage!”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis today launched his new INSTAGRAM account with a tweet in which he said: “I am beginning a new journey, on Instagram, to walk with you along the path of the mercy and tenderness of God.”
Listen to Seàn-Patrick Lovett’s report:
It was Pope Francis himself who inaugurated his account, called “Franciscus,” from his residence at the Casa Santa Marta. He also posted his first image, a picture of himself in prayer.
To create his startup profile, the Holy Father was assisted by Kevin Systrom, the CEO and co-founder of Instagram, and Msgr. Lucio Adrian Ruiz, secretary of the Secretariat for Communication.
Founded in 2010, Instagram has approximately 400 million users worldwide and shares photos and videos with a community of followers. The launch of the Pope’s Instagram account will increase his substantial presence on social media platforms. His Twitter account, with the hashtag “@Pontifex,” has more than 26 million followers.
Speaking earlier this week with Vatican Radio, the Prefect of the Secretariat for Communications, Monsignor Dario Viganò said the decision to open an Instagram account arises from the Pope’s conviction that pictures can reveal many things that words can’t. The aim of this papal Instagram account, he said, is to tell the story of the Pontificate of Pope Francis through images.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, stressed the importance of “humane” treatment of migrants during a meeting with Emil Dimitriev, the Prime Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on Friday in Skopje.
“The solution [to the migration crisis] should involve solidarity and humane treatment,” Cardinal Parolin said. “Refugees should be seen as children, women, adults in a very difficult situation, in need of assistance.”
The chief Vatican diplomat is in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for a two-day official visit.
Cardinal Parolin spoke about the strong ties between the Vatican and Skopje, adding they could be “enhanced in some points.”
“We share mutual values of promoting peace, coexistence, respect for diversity, and all the things which imporove life in a society,” Parolin said.
The talks between the two focused on culture, health, science, education, and their further development.
Prime Minister Dimitriev said they spoke about “the cooperation of the Catholic Church in Macedonia and its constructive role in the people’s coexistence.”
Cardinal Parolin on Friday also met with President Gjorge Ivanov.
President Ivanov said the decision to canonize the Skopje-born Mother Teresa”is of great cultural and historical significance for Macedonia,” adding the country would be hosting several events to commemorate her canonization.
The President also praised the cooperation between the State Archive of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Vatican Secret Archives, which has allowed scholars to learn more about the history of the region.
Speaking about the refugee crisis at his press conference with Cardinal Parolin, President Ivanov said it was “not just a matter of EU, but of all Europeans living on this continent.”
“Every analysis shows there will be improvement. Turkey is expected to fulfill all its obligations, and we should see that on our borders” – the President explained – “If the intensity of the migrant influx decreases, it will be along the whole route. This means that we would be the gate of that corridor leading to Europe. Greece will have to build many registering spots, the so-called ‘hotspots’, as well as refugee camps to provide them with all they need when they reach a Schengen-state, such as asylum rights [and] humane treatment.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) At Saint Peter’s Basilica on Saturday morning, Pope Francis ordained two priests to the episcopate: Bishop Peter Brian Wells, named on February 13th as the new Apostolic Nuncio to South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, and Namibia; and Bishop Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, the secretary for the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
In his homily, the Holy Father reminded the new Bishops that they are called to be servants to all.
Listen to Christopher Wells’ report:
Pope Francis based his homily on the sermon given in the Roman Pontifical for the Ordination of Bishops. He emphasized that when a Bishop exercises his ministry, it is Christ Himself who acts: “Christ who preaches, Christ who makes the Church, Christ who makes the Church fruitful, Christ who leads.”
The Pope reminded the Bishops that they are “servants to all,” the great and the least, always servants, always at the service of others.
“Do not forget,” he said, “that the first duty of the Bishop is prayer… the second duty, the proclamation of the Word.” Everything else follows. If a Bishop does not pray, Pope Francis said, he can do nothing.
The Pope also emphasized the importance of loving those the Lord has entrusted to their care, and especially the priests and deacons. They are the closest collaborators of the Bishop, his first “neighbour.” If the Bishop does not learn to love those closest to him, he will not be able to love everyone.
And Pope Francis called on Bishops to really look at the faithful – not obliquely, but looking them in the eye, so they can see them with the heart.
The Holy Father concluded his homily with the prayer that the Lord might accompany the new Bishops, and be close to them on the new journey that they have begun.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) St Peter’s Basilica is among many world famous landmarks that will be switching off the lights on its facade and dome for an hour on Saturday evening, from 8.30 to 9.30 pm, to mark “Earth Hour” and show its concern for the future of our planet. The lights around the colonnade of St. Peter’s Square will also be turned off at the same time. The World Wildlife Fund began the annual “Earth Hour” initiative in 2007 and since then it has grown each year with more than 172 countries participating in the event in 2015. Many iconic buildings and landmarks across the globe have signed up to take part as well as hundreds of millions of people who will be switching off the lights in their homes for an hour.
(from Vatican Radio)…