(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis held his weekly General Audience in the Paul VI Hall on Wednesday. The Holy Father focused his catechetical remarks on work. In the English summary read out following the main catechesis in Italian, the Pope explained that work complements our moments of celebration and which is also a part of God’s creative design. “Through work,” said Pope Francis, “the family is cared for and children are provided with a dignified life.” The catechesis went on to explain that, in this way, the common good is served, as witnessed by the example of so many fathers and mothers who teach their children the value of work for family life and society.
Addressing this theme during the main catechesis in Italian, Pope Francis departed from his prepared text to say, “It makes me sad, when I see people without work, who do not find work and haven’t the dignity of bringing bread home – and it cheers me when I see that political leaders make great efforts to find jobs and to seek to make sure that everyone has a job.” The Holy Father went on to say, “Work is sacred, work gives dignity to a family: we must pray that work be not lacking in any family.”
The Holy Father went on to explain that, when we reduce work to profit and disregard its effects on humanity and the world, the environment and our lives suffer. “God has given Christian families the challenge and mission to make present the foundations of his creation: a true understanding of the identity of man and woman and the bond they share, their call to bring children into the world, and the gift of work in making the world ever more fruitful and hospitable,” his catechesis continued. Pope Francis concluded with a prayer: “May God help us to embrace this call in joy and hope, especially amidst the many challenges we face today.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent his condolences upon learning about the death of Cardinal László Paskai, OFM, the Archbishop emeritus of Esztergom-Budapest, who died on Monday at the age of 88.
Pope Francis sent a telegram to the current Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Péter Cardinal Erdő, which says he was “saddened to learn the news of the death” of his predecessor.
“I offer prayerful condolences to you, the clergy, men and women religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest, and I thank Almighty God for his many years of service to the Church in Hungary,” Pope Francis writes.
“In commending his to the merciful love of the Father and uniting myself spiritually to all assembled for the solemn funeral rites, I impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of consolation and peace in the Lord,” the message concludes.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has said the Jubilee of Mercy will be a “good opportunity for increasing the collaboration between pastors and the laity in the mission of affectionately and tenderly caring for the sick and dying.”
His words were conveyed in a message sent to Manuel Martin Sjöberg, President of the Federación de Servicios de sacerdotales Urgencia y Nocturno (Federation of Priestly Emergency Services).
The society was founded in 1952 in Cordoba, Argentina, to help those in need receive the sacraments, especially when it is difficult to find a priest.
Pope Francis also quoted from Misericordiae Vultus, the Bull of Indiction announcing the Year of Mercy, which urges people to be close to those who are suffering “so they can feel the warmth of our presence, our friendship and our fraternity.”
Pope Francis thanked the volunteers of the association for their sixty years of performing “works of Christian mercy”, noting “we will be judged” on the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, because in “each of these ‘smallest ones’, Christ himself is present.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Cardinal László Paskai, O.F.M., Archbishop emeritus of Esztergom-Budapest, died on Monday at the age of 88 after a long battle with cancer.
He was born on 8 May 1927 in Szeged, in the south-eastern zone of Hungary. He entered the Order of Friars Minor and studied theology in Gyoongyos and at the seminary of Budapest. He was ordained a priest on 3 March 1951, and began his pastoral ministry in the diocese of Nagyvárad.
On 2 March 1978, Paul VI appointed him titular Bishop of Bavagaliana and apostolic administrator of Veszprém. He received episcopal ordination on 5 April 1978.
Pope John Paul II appointed him Archbishop of Veszprém on 31 March 1979, and then eight years appointed him Primate of Hungary and Archbishop of Esztergom. He was created Cardinal the following year.
He retired in 2002, but participated in the 2005 conclave which elected Pope Benedict XVI.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Cardinal Peter Turkson, on Monday sent greetings to a two-day Islamic Climate Change Symposium taking place in Istanbul.
In a Message presented by Fr. John T. Brinkman, Cardinal Turkson called the on-going ecological crisis “the gravest and most intractable of all” the problems facing the modern world.
“A great motivation which unites Christians, Muslims and many others is the firm belief in God,” the Message reads.
“This faith compels us to care for the magnificent gift he has bestowed upon us – and, God-willing, upon those, who will follow us. Our urgent action will surely be more effective if we believers of different religious communities find ways to work together.”
The full text of the Message is below
Solidarity Message from the Catholic Faith
to the Islamic Climate Change Symposium
Istanbul, 17-18 August 2015
To all gathered here in Istanbul to launch the Islamic Climate Change Declaration, it gives me great pleasure to convey the warm greetings and solidarity of H.E. Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Vatican City.
It is clear that we are living at a particularly turbulent and decisive moment in world history. Humanity faces a number of urgent challenges which demand our prayers and action. The on-going ecological crisis is the gravest and most intractable of all.
Earlier this year, Pope Francis issued an encyclical letter, Laudato si’, in which he invites each living person to undergo an ecological conversion of heart. We have to re-imagine our commitment to what he calls “the care of our common home”, this planet, the earth, in the light of our faith. It is not enough, he says, to propose merely technical solutions, for they are “powerless to solve the serious problems of our world if humanity loses its compass, if we lose sight of the great motivations which make it possible for us to live in harmony, to make sacrifices and to treat others well.” (LS, 200)
A great motivation which unites Christians, Muslims and many others is the firm belief in God. This faith compels us to care for the magnificent gift he has bestowed upon us – and, God-willing, upon those, who will follow us. Our urgent action will surely be more effective if we believers of different religious communities find ways to work together.
So, it is with great joy and in a spirit of solidarity that I express to you the promise of the Catholic Church to pray for the success of your initiative and her desire to work with you in the future to care for our common home and thus to glorify the God who created us.
Presented by
Fr. John T. Brinkman, M.M.
(from Vatican Radio)…