(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a telegramme of condolence to the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols on the passing of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop Emeritus of Westminster.
The Holy Father said he was deeply saddened to learn of his death.
In the telegramme the Pope recalled “with immense gratitude the late Cardinal’s distinguished service to the Church in England and Wales, his unwavering devotion to the preaching of the Gospel and the care of the poor.
He also remembered his far-sighted commitment to the advancement of ecumenical and interreligious understanding.
Below find Pope Francis’ telegramme to Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster:
Deeply saddened to learn of the death of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop Emeritus of Westminster, I hasten to offer my heartfelt condolences to you and to the clergy and faithful of the Archdiocese. Recalling with immense gratitude the late Cardinal’s distinguished service to the Church in England and Wales, his unwavering devotion to the preaching of the Gospel and the care of the poor, and his far-sighted commitment to the advancement of ecumenical and interreligious understanding, I willingly join you in commending his noble soul to the infinite mercies of God our heavenly Father. To all who mourn his passing in the sure hope of the Resurrection I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of consolation and strength in the Lord.
FRANCISCUS PP.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a message to mark the National Day of the Holy See at Expo 2017 which is taking place in Astana, Kazakhstan and is devoted to the theme “Future Energy”.
Listen to our report:
The Holy See has designed its pavilion at the Astana Expo on the theme: “Energy for the Common Good: Caring for our Common Home” and in his message to mark the National Day of the Holy See at this event the Holy Father stresses that “serious and responsible reflection is demanded on how mankind can, in coming years, draw on innovative technologies to make wise use of the energy resources that are our common legacy.”
He adds, that action must be taken now “to ensure that energy is used to improve our lives and to cause our human family to flourish, for by nature we are called to fruitful interaction, solidarity and love.”
Proper use of Energy resources
In the message the Pope underlines that energy resources must not be allowed to fall prey to unscrupulous financial speculation or to become a source of conflict and encourages a cooperation between religions and broad-ranging and frank dialogue on all levels and among different sectors of society.
In conclusion, the Holy Father says that “the way we use energy resources is a sign of how well “we are carrying out the task that, according to many religious traditions, has been entrusted to us by God, namely to care for the world around us and for our fellow human beings…”.
“If our generation and use of energy are sustainable and grounded in solidarity, continues the Pope, we are doing our job well. Otherwise, we are not. At stake is our very dignity; at stake too are justice and peace.”
The National Day of the Holy See at Expo 2017 is being celebrated on September 2nd.
Below find the English translation of the Pope’s Message
Your Eminence,
My Brother Bishops,
Esteemed Authorities,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I offer a warm greeting to all those taking part in the National Day of the Holy See at Expo 2017 in Astana. My greeting also goes to all who have helped in various ways with the planning and realization of this event, and to the many visitors in attendance.
I am pleased that Kazakhstan is hosting this International Exhibition devoted to the theme: “Future Energy”. Serious and responsible reflection is demanded on how mankind can, in coming years, draw on innovative technologies to make wise use of the energy resources that are our common legacy. We are all conscious of the fact that our use of those resources is critical for the health of our world and the welfare of our societies, a welfare that needs to be viewed in integral terms, and not simply as economic prosperity or greater capacity for consumption. We must act now to ensure that energy is used to improve our lives and to cause our human family to flourish, for by nature we are called to fruitful interaction, solidarity and love.
For this reason, energy resources must not be allowed to fall prey to unscrupulous financial speculation or to become a source of conflict. This calls for broad-ranging and frank dialogue on all levels and among different sectors of our societies. “Future energy” does not have to do with researchers, technicians and investors alone; it also represents a challenge to the worlds of culture, politics, education and religion. I gladly recall the growth of dialogue and cooperation between religions that has taken place in Kazakhstan, a land characterized by rich ethnic, cultural and spiritual traditions. It is my hope that the different religions will take part in this dialogue, for their writings contain insights that “prove meaningful in every age; they have an enduring power to open new horizons… The ethical principles capable of being apprehended by reason can always reappear in different guise and find expression in a variety of languages, including religious language” (Laudato Si’, 199). It is important for all of us to discover in our own religious traditions the inspiration and criteria that foster a courageous commitment to perseverance in bettering our relations and in living together as brothers and sisters.
The way we use energy resources is a sign of how well we are carrying out the task that, according to many religious traditions, has been entrusted to us by God, namely to care for the world around us and for our fellow human beings of every time and place. If our generation and use of energy are sustainable and grounded in solidarity, we are doing our job well. Otherwise, we are not. At stake is our very dignity; at stake too are justice and peace. It is to promote an awareness of this that the Holy See has designed its pavilion at the Astana Expo on the theme: “Energy for the Common Good: Caring for our Common Home”.
May Almighty God, the Creator, grant that Expo 2017 provide timely lessons and lasting inspiration, and may he bless our common efforts to bring them to fruition.
From the Vatican, 2 September 2017 FRANCIS
(from Vatican Radio)…
Pope Francis’ Apostolic Visit to Colombia was presented to the press on Friday at the Holy See Press Office.
Starting on 6th and ending on 11th September, in the footsteps of Pope Paul VI and Pope Saint John Paul II who travelled to Colombia in 1964 and in 1986 respectively, this will be Francis’ 20th journey abroad
It will not be the first time Jorge Bergoglio visits Colombia as he was there as a priest in the 1970s and twice as a Bishop and member of the Latin American Episcopal Conference – CELAM.
As was noted at the press conference, it is inevitable that the eyes of the world view this visit through a political perspective as the Colombian people commit to push forward a peace process. The government, in fact, signed an agreement with the FARC rebel group in November last year following 52 years of conflict which has left 260,000 people dead, 60,000 unaccounted for, and over 7 million displaced.
Thus, the papal visit comes at a key moment in the peace process which has been strongly supported by the Catholic Church and by the Pope himself.
But Holy See Press Office Director, Greg Burke , stressed that as always, the Pope’s visit is of a purely pastoral nature, and that he is travelling to the overwhelmingly Catholic country to bring the message of the Gospel to his flock and to encourage Colombians on their journey of faith and reconciliation.
Listen :
During the five-day visit Pope Francis will visit four cities making day trips from the capital Bogotà where he will be based, to Villavicencio, Medellin and Cartagena.
As always he will be meeting with political and with Church leaders, but also with groups of victims, with families, with disabled people, with poor people, with former guerrillas, with his brother bishops, with CELAM as well as with priests, nuns, religious and laypeople.
In Villavicencio he will beatify two Catholic priests killed during the conflict and in Cartagena he will pray at the Church of St. Peter Claver.
Francis will preside over Mass in all four cities and his discourses and homilies are expected to touch on issues that are particularly poignant to Colombians such as the care for creation, the power of reconciliation, the defense of life and the upholding of human dignity and rights.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has issued a Joint Message with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I , to mark the Sept. 1 st World Day of Prayer for Creation .
Released on Friday morning, the Message invites all the faithful and every person of good will to reflect prayerfully on how to live in a simply and use the goods of the created order responsibly.
Focus on prayerful solidarity
“On this occasion,” the Joint Message from Francis and Bartholomew reads, “we wish to offer thanks to the loving Creator for the noble gift of creation and to pledge commitment to its care and preservation for the sake of future generations.”
Click below to hear our report
The Message goes on to say, “We urgently appeal to those in positions of social and economic, as well as political and cultural, responsibility to hear the cry of the earth and to attend to the needs of the marginalized, but above all to respond to the plea of millions and support the consensus of the world for the healing of our wounded creation.”
History
The Orthodox Church has commemorated this Day since 1989 , when Patriarch Bartholomew instituted the annual recurrence.
Pope Francis made the World Day of Prayer for Creation a Catholic celebration in 2015 .
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has released a video message accompanying his monthly prayer intention for September.
This month’s intention is for parishes at the service of the mission: “That they not be simple offices, but that animated by a missionary spirit, may be places where faith is communicated and charity is seen.”
The text of the video message reads:
Parishes must be in contact with homes, with people’s lives, with the life of society.
They have to be houses where the door is always open so as to go forth toward others.
And it is important that this going-forth follows a clear proposal of faith.
The doors must be opened so that Jesus can go out with all of the joy of his message.
Let us pray for our parishes, that they not be simple offices, but that animated by a missionary spirit, may be places where faith is communicated and charity is seen.
The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network of the Apostleship of Prayer developed the “Pope Video” initiative to assist in the worldwide dissemination of monthly intentions of the Holy Father in relation to the challenges facing humanity.
(from Vatican Radio)…