Vatican City, 26 November 2014 (VIS) – Yesterday afternoon the Holy Father sent a message to Cardinal Lluis Martinez Sistach, archbishop of Barcelona, Spain, on the occasion of the International Pastoral Congress on the World’s Big Cities, held in the Catalan capital. “I am glad to learn of the work accomplished and encourage all to continue to reflect creatively on the way to face the task of evangelising in great urban centres, in increasing expansion, and in which everyone needs to feel the closeness and mercy of God, who does not abandon”, writes the Pope. “The Church has the mission of ensuring that the Good News of Jesus Christ and His salvific love reaches all environments, without fear of pluralism and without any form of discrimination. She does not consider it a loss to go out to the peripheries or to change the usual preconceptions, when necessary. Like a mother, whose primary concern is the wellbeing of her children, without sparing any effort or sacrifice, may she ensure they never lack the light of the Gospel that fills life with hope, joy and peace; that they never lack acceptance to feel integrated within a community, in circumstances of disintegration or in cold anonymity; that there grows in them the spirit of authentic solidarity with all, especially with those most in need”….
Vatican City, 26 November 2014 (VIS) – The Pontifical Councils for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples and for Justice and Peace, in collaboration with the international male and female Unions of Superior Generals (UISG and USG) have convoked an international conference for prayer and reflection on human trafficking, tobe held on 8 February 2015, feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, the Sudanese slave canonised in 2000. According to a press release, “human trafficking is one of the worst examples of slavery in the XXI Century. This concerns the whole world. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) roughly 21 million people, often very poor and vulnerable, are victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation, forced labour and begging, illegal organ removal, domestic servitude and forced marriages, illegal adoption and other forms of exploitation. Each year around 2.5 million people are victims of trafficking and slavery: 60 are women and children. They often suffer abuse and unspeakable violence. On the other hand, for traffickers and pimps, this is one of the most lucrative illegal activities in the world, generating a total of 32 billion dollars a year. It is the third most profitable ‘business’ after drugs and arms trafficking”. “The primary objective of the International Day is to create greater awareness on this phenomenon and to reflect on the overall situation of violence and injustice that affect so many people, who have no voice, do not count, and are no one: they are simply slaves. Another goal is to attempt to provide solutions to counter this modern form of slavery by taking concrete actions. For this, it is necessary to stress the need to ensure rights, freedom and dignity to all trafficked persons, reduced to slavery. On the other hand, we must denounce both the criminal organisations and those who use and abuse the poverty and vulnerability of victims to transform them into goods for pleasure and gain”….
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis during his weekly General Audience in the St Peter’s Square (Wednesday) today told pilgrims the Church is on a continuing journey towards heaven. He also asked for prayers for his upcoming Apostolic visit to Turkey.
Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s report
At the heart of Pope Francis catechesis at his General Audience on Wednesday was the continuing journey of the Church towards Paradise. On a rainy day in St Peter’s Square the Holy Father explained to the pilgrims and tourists present that “the Second Vatican Council reminded us that the Church is not an end in herself, but that she is continually journeying through history to the kingdom of heaven, of which the Church on earth is the seed and beginning.”
The Pope went on to say that at the end of time this pilgrimage will reach its fulfillment when the universe will become a new heavenly Jerusalem consumed by joy, peace and the love of God.
He noted that even now there is a continuity between the Church on earth and in heaven where those who already live in the sight of God can indeed support the living and intercede for us, pray for us from heaven. On the other hand, he added, “we are always invited to offer good deeds, prayer and the Eucharist itself to alleviate the suffering of souls who are still waiting for the bliss without end.”
As members of the Church, Pope Francis underlined, the distinction is not between who has died and who is living, but rather who is in Christ and who is not.
Looking to a great figure of the Church for inspiration, the Pope said that Saint Paul tells us that “it is not only humanity which will be liberated from corruption, but the whole of creation” and all things will be brought into the fullness of being, truth and beauty.
Following his catechesis and speaking in Italian the Holy Father asked the faithful to pray for his upcoming journey to Turkey which he said is a visit that promotes the fruits of peace, sincere dialogue between religions and harmony in the Turkey nation.
Pope Francis also greeted Arab speaking pilgrims from Iraq and the Middle East telling them to hold on to the Church and their faith at this time of suffering and violence.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis greeted pilgrims in St Peter’s Square on Wednesday for his General Audience. In his catechesis the Pope said the Church is on a continuing journey towards heaven.
Below is the English tranlation of the Pope’s catechesis at the Weekly General Audience.
Dear brothers and sisters,
The weather s not so great, but you are courageous, let us pray together today
in presenting the Church to the people of our time, the Second Vatican Council had in mind a fundamental truth, that we must never forget: the Church is not a static reality, an end in itself, but that she is continually journeying through history to the kingdom of heaven, of which the Church on earth is the seed and beginning (cf. Conc. Vatican Ecumenical Council. Vat. II, Const. Dogmatic Constitution. on the Church Lumen Gentium, 5). When we turn towards this horizon, we realize that our imagination comes to a halt, revealing itself to be barely capable of perceiving the splendor of the mystery which surpasses our senses. And some questions arise spontaneously in us: when will this final passage take place? What will the new dimension of the Church be like? What then will happen to humanity? And to the Creation that surrounds us? These questions are nothing new, the disciples at the time of Christ asked the same questions. They are ancient, human questions.
The conciliar Constitution Gaudium et spes, faced with these questions that always resonate in the human heart, says: “We do not know the time for the consummation of the earth and of humanity, nor do we know how all things will be transformed. As deformed by sin, the shape of this world will pass away; but we are taught that God is preparing a new dwelling place and a new earth where justice will abide, and whose blessedness will answer and surpass all the longings for peace which spring up in the human heart”(n. 39). This is the goal toward which the Church projects itself: it is the “new Jerusalem”, “Paradise.” More than a place, it is a “state of being” in which our deepest expectations will be fulfilled in abundance and our being as creatures and as children of God, will reach full maturity. We will finally be covered with the joy, peace and love of God in a complete way, without any limitations, and we will be face to face with Him! (cf. 1 Cor 13:12). It’s lovely to think of this, to think we will all find ourselves up there! All of us in heaven. It’s good, it gives strength to our soul.
In this perspective, it is nice to hear that there is a continuity and a communion between the Church in heaven and the Church still journeying on earth. Those who already live in the sight of God can indeed support us and intercede for us, pray for us from heaven. On the other hand, we are always invited to offer good deeds, prayer and the Eucharist itself to alleviate the suffering of souls who are still waiting for the bliss without end. Yes, because in the Christian perspective, the distinction is not between those who are already dead and those who are not, but between those who are in Christ and those who are not! This is the determining factor, really decisive for our salvation and for our happiness.
3. At the same time, the Holy Scripture teaches us that the fulfillment of this wonderful design also affects everything around us, and that came out of the thought and the heart of God. The Apostle Paul explicitly says as much, when he says that ” that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God” (Rom 8:21). Other texts use the image of the “new heaven” and the “new earth” (cf. 2 Pet 3:13; Rev 21,1), in the sense that the whole universe will be renovated and will be liberated once and for all from all traces of evil and death itself. What lies ahead, as the fulfillment of a transformation that is actually already in place since the death and resurrection of Christ, is therefore a new creation. It is not an annihilation of the universe and all that surrounds us, rather it brings everything to its fullness of being, truth and beauty. This is the plan that God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, always want to accomplish and is realizing.
Dear friends, when we think about these wonderful realities that await us, we realize how belonging to the Church truly is a wonderful gift, which calls us to the highest vocation! So let us ask the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, to watch over us on our journey and help us to be, like her, a joyful sign of trust and hope in the midst of our brothers.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis answered a range of questions from journalists on the Papal plane en route to Rome at the conclusion of his short trip to Strasbourg.
Listen to Ann Schneible’s report:
One journalist asked the Pope if he considers himself a social democrat after having told the European parliament that the strength of a nation is removed in the face of multi-national powers.
Pope Francis laughed and said he felt with the question as though he were being studied as one studies a collection of insects.
He said he did not know if the Pope identified as a social democrat or not, but that his own message was drawn from the social doctrine of the Church, which is self which comes from the Gospel.
Having spoken about the threats of terrorism and slavery in Strasbourg, Pope Francis also told journalists to never give up on dialogue. He condemned slavery and affirmed that terrorism must be fought. However, he warned against the terrorism of states, and stressed that an international consensus is needed to stop any unjust aggressor.
(from Vatican Radio)…