Vatican City, 1 June 2015 (VIS) – In response to questions from journalists, the director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., explained that the statement made by Mr. Peter Saunders (one of the 17 members of the Commission for the Protection of Minors) during a television broadcast was evidently given in an entirely personal way and not on behalf of the Commission, which is not competent to investigate or to pronounce specific judgements on individual cases. Moreover, Cardinal George Pell has always responded carefully and thoroughly to the accusations and questions posed by the competent Australian authorities, and his position has been made known again in recent days by a public declaration on his part, which must be considered reliable and worthy of respect and attention….
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday said that after rejection and death comes the glory of resurrection.
Reflecting on the Gospel reading of the day during morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta, the Pope said the stone that the builders rejected became the cornerstone; the scandalous executioner’s block that appeared to put an end to the story of hope, marked the beginning of man’s salvation.
And highlighting how the Scriptures speak to us today, the Pope said God builds upon weakness and waste; he said God’s love for mankind is manifested in the apparent “failure” of the Cross.
Taking his cue from the Gospel reading which tells the story of the wicked tenants, Pope Francis pointed out that this parable richly conveys some important truths about God and the way he deals with his people with patience and with justice.
But above all – the Pope said – the story tells us of how Jesus’s death led to his ultimate triumph.
Let us not forget the cross – he said – because it is here that the logic of “failure” is turned upside down.
Jesus – Pope Francis said – reminds the chief priests, the scribes and the elders that although we can expect trials and rejection, in the end we will see triumph and he quotes the Scriptures: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone”.
“The prophets, the men of God who spoke to the people, who were not listened to, who were rejected, will be His glory. The Son, His last envoy, was seized, killed and thrown out. He became the cornerstone” he said.
“This story that begins with a dream of love, that seems to be a love story, but ends up looking like a story of failures, ends with the great love of God who offers Salvation through the rejection of his Son who saves us all”.
And speaking to those present, the Pope said “the path of our redemption is a path marked by failure”.
But that is exactly where love triumphs. “We must never forget that our path is a difficult one” he said.
If each of us – Pope Francis continued – makes an examination of conscience, we will have to admit that often we have rejected the prophets: “how many times have we said to Jesus ‘Go away!’ How many times have we wanted to save ourselves thinking we were in the right”?
The Pope concluded his homily inviting the faithful never to forget that it is in the death on the Cross of the Son that the love of God for his people is manifest.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis says that Holy Trinity Sunday exhorts us to live “one with the other”, to “welcome the beauty of the Gospel message” and to learn to ask forgiveness.
Speaking on Sunday morning during the Angelus to some 50,000 pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope also spoke of the need of ecclesial communities to become ever more “family”.
Marking the liturgical feast of Holy Trinity Sunday, the Pope reminded those present that it is celebrated in honor of the most fundamental of Christian beliefs, the mystery of the three Persons of God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, — who are all equally God, and cannot be divided, the Pope said this solemnity renews in us “our own mission to live in communion with God and with each other”.
He said: “We are not called to live without the other, above or against the other, but with the other, for the other and in the other”.
This – the Pope said – means welcoming and bearing witness to the beauty of the Gospel; loving each other, sharing joy and suffering, learning how to forgive”.
And referring specifically to ecclesial communities, he said they are called to be ever more family, “capable of reflecting the splendor of the Trinity and of evangelizing, not with words alone, but with the strength of God’s love that lives within us”.
Explaining to those present that the Holy Spirit “guides us towards full knowledge of Christ’s teachings”, and that Jesus “came to the world to acquaint us with the Father”, everything in Christian life – he said – revolves around the mystery of the Trinity”:
“So let’s pitch our lives high, remembering for which glory we exist, we work, we fight, we suffer; and in which immense prize we are called to participate in”.
And the Pope invited all those present to make the sign of the cross together saying out loud: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”.
Concluding, Pope Francis prayed to Our Lady to help the Church “to always be a hospitable community where every person, especially the poor and the marginalized, may find a warm welcome”.
After the Angelus Prayer the Pope recalled that the traditional Corpus Domini procession will be held in Rome this coming week.
He invited everyone to join in this “solemn act of public faith and love for Jesus” on Thursday, when the procession will take place between the Rome Basilicas of St. John Lateran and Saint Mary Major.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The President of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant People has called European refugee policy “less human” and “less Christian”, adding that Europe has never had a proper immigration programme, but instead tries to “patch up” emergency situations.
Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio was speaking about the EU’s reaction to the recent migration crisis, which he said ignores the root causes of migration.
“What is the cause of immigration and refugees? For immigration, poverty. For refugees, war,” he said. “Until there is an end to poverty and war, nothing will change.”
Cardinal Veglio said it is the Church’s mission help the “most poor, the most dispossessed, abandoned”, and said these are the migrants.
“If the Church did not do these things, then truly she betrays her mission,” he said.
(from Vatican Radio)…
“The degree of progress of a civilization is measured by its ability to protect life, especially in its most fragile stages.”
These were the words of Pope Francis during an audience with the Science and Life Association, who are celebrating their 10th anniversary.
Listen to Junno Arocho’s report:
The Holy Father began by thanking them for their service in promoting the protection of human life in a society marked by the negative logic of discarding.”
“The love of Christ urges us to become servants of the small ones and the elderly, of every man and every woman, through which the primordial right to life is recognized and protected,” he said.
The Pope encouraged the association to keep their gaze fixed on the sacredness of life and the human person, “so that science may truly be at the service of man, and not man at the service of science.”
Continuing his address, Pope Francis stressed that society’s progress is measured by its ability to protect life rather than technological advances. Attacks against life, he said, must never be forgotten.
“The scourge of abortion is an attack on life. Leaving our brothers on the boats in the Sicilian channel is an attack on life. Death at work is an attack on life because it does not respect the minimal security conditions,” the Pope said.
The 78 year old Pontiff also cited malnutrition, terrorism, war, violence and euthanasia as attacks on human life.
Concluding his address, Pope Francis urged the association to continue their work in promoting a culture of life. He also called on them to embark in fruitful dialogue with the world of science, even with those who profess as non-believers but “remain open to the mystery of human life.”
(Junno Arocho Esteves)
(from Vatican Radio)…