(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received President Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany in a private audience in the Vatican on Monday. The Holy See’s Press office issued a statement saying Steinmeier later met Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin along with Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher .
During the “cordial talks”, the Press Office said, the two sides expressed satisfaction over the good relations and fruitful relations between the Holy See and Germany, and between Church and the institutions in the country. They also expressed appreciation for the positive inter-religious and ecumenical dialogue, especially between Catholics and Protestants during the 5th centenary of the Lutheran Reformation.
Monday’s talks also touched upon some issues of common interest, such as the economic and religious situation in Europe and in the world, with special reference to the phenomenon of migration and the promotion of the culture of welcome and solidarity.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday urged Christians to emulate the figure of the Good Samaritan and help those in need to get up, like Christ who “continues to pay” for us. Delivering a homily at the morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta residence in the Vatican, he reflected on the attitude of the various actors in the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke’s Gospel, which, he said, was an answer to the doctor of the Law on who his neighbour was.
Actors in the parable
Commenting on the robbers , the priest who is “a man of God”, and the Levite who is “close to the law”, all of whom passed by the wounded and half-dead man, the Pope said this is a very common habit among us. We see an ugly calamity and pass by and later read about it, painted with a bit of “scandal and sensation’, in the newspapers. Instead the Samaritan, a pagan and sinner “saw and did not pass by”, the Pope said, drawing attention to the words of Luke – “he had compassion.” Making the wounded man his neighbour, the Samaritan approached him, bandaged his wounds pouring in oil and wine. Neither did he leave him there and go his way. He carried him on his animal to the innkeeper, whom he paid to look after him and promised to pay the extra expenses on his return.
Mystery of Christ
“This,” the Pope said “is the mystery of Christ who became a servant, humbled and annihilated himself and died for us .” Jesus, the Pope said, is the Good Samaritan who invited the doctor of the law to do the same. The mystery of Jesus Christ is not a children’s tale, the Pope pointed out adding, the parable reveals the depth and breadth of the mystery of Jesus Christ. The doctor of the law did not understand the mystery of Christ but he surely understood the human principle behind it – that every man who looks from above at another man down below , does so only to help him get up . One who does this, the Pope stressed, is on the right path to Jesus.
Self examination
Pope Francis said the innkeeper understood nothing of this, bewildered at meeting someone who did things he never heard before. This, the Pope said is what happens when one meets Jesus. The Holy Father urged Christians to re-read this parable and examine themselves on their attitude – a robber, a cheater, a corrupt man, a priest, a Catholic manager, or a sinner. “Do I approach and make myself a neighbour and servant to those in need like Jesus,” the Pope asked, concluding his homily.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis during his Angelus address on Sunday told pilgrims in St Peter’s Square that the great novelty of Christianity is a God who, though disappointed by our sins, is merciful.
Listen to our report:
“God continues to put in place the “new wine” of his vineyard, that is, mercy. There is only one impediment to the tenacious and tender will of God: our arrogance and our presumption, which sometimes can becomes violence.”
Those were Pope Francis’ words to pilgrims in St Peter’s Square during his Angelus address , as he reflected on this Sunday’s liturgy, the parable of the vine-growers.
The Pope recounted the story of the vine growers who are put in charge of the vineyard by their Master, but abuse their position to the point of killing the owner’s son.
The Holy Father described this Gospel passage as a love story which had both positive and negative moments.
A God who does not avenge
Pope Francis said that in order to understand how God the Father responds to those opposed to his love, the Gospel passage proposes the question, “when will the master of the vineyard arrive and what will he do to those growers?” This question, the Pope noted, “stresses that the disappointment of God for the wicked behaviour of men is not the last word. Here is the great novelty of Christianity : a God who, though disappointed by our mistakes and our sins, does not fail in his word, does not stop and above all it does not avenge”.
The Holy Father went on to say that, faced with these attitudes and where no fruit is produced, the Word of God warns that, “the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will bear fruit”.
The urgency of responding with good fruits to the call of the Lord, who calls us to become his vineyard, explained Pope Francis, “helps us to understand what is new and original in Christianity. It is an invitation to enter this love story, becoming a lively and open vine, rich in fruit and hope for everyone.”
At the end of the Angelus, the Pope recalled the Beatification on Saturday in Milan of Father Arsenio da Trigolo, a priest of the Capuchin Friars Minor saying, “we praise the Lord for this humble disciple, who even in adversity and trials never lost hope.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania , Saulius Skvernelis , on Friday. A communiqué from the Press Office of the Holy See issued following the meeting says the Pope and the Prime Minister had cordial discussions, during which appreciation was expressed for the good state of bilateral relations and the positive contribution of the Catholic Church in Lithuanian society throughout the centuries. The communiqué goes on to say that it was in this context, that mention was made of the recent beatification of the martyr to Soviet imperial Communism, Archbishop Teofilius Matulionis , which took place this past June. The Press Office of the Holy See also reports that themes of common interest, such as the prospects for the future development of European integration, the emigration of the young and the reception of migrants, and peace and security at regional and international level, were also part of the conversation. Skvernelis subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin , accompanied by Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, Under-Secretary for Relations with States. (from Vatican Radio)…
Vatican Radio) “No one can say, ‘I’m right’ or ‘I’m not like him or her.’ I’m a sinner, I’d say it’s almost the first name we all have – sinners.” Pope Francis focused on man’s sinfulness and the need for remorse in his homily at Mass, Friday morning at the Casa Santa Marta residence in the Vatican. He was commenting on the first reading from Prophet Baruch who said, ”Justice is with the Lord, our God; and we today are flushed with shame.” All are sinners “Priests, king, leaders and fathers,” all of us are sinners, the Pope said citing Baruch. “ We are sinners because God has asked to do one thing and we have done the contrary. He has talked to parents, the family, the catechist, in the church, in the sermons, and he has spoken to us in our hearts. The Pope explained that sin is a rebellion, an obstinacy that consists in giving into the ” perverse inclinations of our heart” in “small idolatries of every day” such as cupidity, envy, hate, and especially slander , which he described as a “war of the heart destroying the other.” According to Baruch, it is because of sin that there are so many evils. Sin, the Pope said, ruins the heart, life and the soul by weakening and making it ill. Sin is always in relationship to God. Shame opens the door to healing Sin, the Pope further explained, is not like a stain that one gets rid of at the dry cleaner’s. It is an ugly rebellion against God who is all good. If one regards sin this way, then instead of getting into a depression if one has the great sentiment of shame , it is the grace of God , according to Baruch the Pope said. It is shame that “opens the door to healing”, the Holy Father said, and invited all to feel ashamed before the Lord for our sins and ask for healing. And when the almighty Lord sees us ashamed of what we have done, and we humbly ask pardon, He embraces and forgives us. The Pope urged all to be grateful to the Lord for manifesting His might in His mercy and forgiveness . (from Vatican Radio)…