To end the year

At 10:30am last Sunday, in Saint Peter's Square, Pope Francis presided over the celebration of the closing liturgy for the Year of Faith which was begun by his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI on October 11, 2012.

Concelebrating with the Holy Father were other Cardinals, Patriarchs and Major Archbishops from the Oriental Catholic Churches, as well as Archbishops and Bishops.

At the foot of the altar, the relics of Saint Peter, the Apostle were displayed in a bronze casket engraved with the words Ex ossibus quae in Arcibasilicae Vaticanae hypogeo inventa Beati Pietri Apostoli esse putantur (From the bones found in the hypodrome of the Vatican Basilica, which are considered to be those of the Blessed Apostle, Peter).

Before the Mass began, there was a collection taken in order to assist the people of the Philippines which was recently struck by serious natural disaster.

At the conclusion of the liturgical celebration, the Holy Father confided copies of his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium to 36 representatives of the People of God who had come from 18 different countries.

Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the closing liturgy of the Year of Faith

Today’s Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, the crowning of the liturgical year, also marks the conclusion of the Year of Faith opened by Pope Benedict XVI, to whom our thoughts now turn with affection and gratitude for this gift which he has given us. By this providential initiative, he gave us an opportunity to rediscover the beauty of the journey of faith begun on the day of our Baptism, which made us children of God and brothers and sisters in the Church. A journey which has as its ultimate end our full encounter with God, and throughout which the Holy Spirit purifies us, lifts us up and sanctifies us, so that we may enter into the happiness for which our hearts long.

I offer a cordial and fraternal greeting to the Patriarchs and Major Archbishops of the Eastern Catholic Churches present. The exchange of peace which I will share with them is above all a sign of the appreciation of the Bishop of Rome for these communities which have confessed the name of Christ with exemplary faithfulness, often at a high price.

With this gesture, through them, I would like to reach all those Christians living in the Holy Land, in Syria and in the entire East, and obtain for them the gift of peace and concord.

The Scripture readings proclaimed to us have as their common theme the centrality of Christ. Christ is at the centre, Christ is the centre. Christ is the centre of creation, Christ is the centre of his people and Christ is the centre of history.

The apostle Paul, in the second reading, taken from the letter to the Colossians, offers us a profound vision of the centrality of Jesus. He presents Christ to us as the first-born of all creation: in him, through him and for him all things were created. He is the centre of all things, he is the beginning: Jesus Christ, the Lord. God has given him the fullness, the totality, so that in him all things might be reconciled (cf. Col 1:12-20). He is the Lord of creation, he is the Lord of reconciliation.

This image enables to see that Jesus is the centre of creation; and so the attitude demanded of us as true believers is that of recognizing and accepting in our lives the centrality of Jesus Christ, in our thoughts, in our words and in our works. And so our thoughts will be Christian thoughts, thoughts of Christ. Our works will be Christian works, works of Christ; and our words will be Christian words, words of Christ. But when this centre is lost, when it is replaced by something else, only harm can result for everything around us and for ourselves.

Besides being the centre of creation and the centre of reconciliation, Christ is the centre of the people of God. Today, he is here in our midst. He is here right now in his word, and he will be here on the altar, alive and present amidst us, his people. We see this in the first reading which describes the time when the tribes of Israel came to look for David and anointed him king of Israel before the Lord (cf. 2 Sam 5:1-3). In searching for an ideal king, the people were seeking God himself: a God who would be close to them, who would accompany them on their journey, who would be a brother to them.

Christ, the descendant of King David, is really the brother around whom God’s people come together. It is he who cares for his people, for all of us, even at the price of his life. In him we are all one, one people, united with him and sharing a single journey, a single destiny. Only in him, in him as the centre, do we receive our identity as a people.

Finally, Christ is the centre of the history of humanity and also the centre of the history of every individual. To him we can bring the joys and the hopes, the sorrows and troubles which are part of our lives. When Jesus is the centre, light shines even amid the darkest times of our lives; he gives us hope, as he does to the good thief in today’s Gospel.

Whereas all the others treat Jesus with disdain – If you are the Christ, the Messiah King, save yourself by coming down from the cross! – the thief who went astray in his life but now repents, clings to the crucified Jesus and begs him: Remember me, when you come into your kingdom (Lk 23:42). Jesus promises him: Today you will be with me in paradise (v. 43), in his kingdom. Jesus speaks only a word of forgiveness, not of condemnation; whenever anyone finds the courage to ask for this forgiveness, the Lord does not let such a petition go unheard. Today we can all think of our own history, our own journey. Each of us has his or her own history: we think of our mistakes, our sins, our good times and our bleak times. We would do well, each one of us, on this day, to think about our own personal history, to look at Jesus and to keep telling him, sincerely and quietly: Remember me, Lord, now that you are in your kingdom! Jesus, remember me, because I want to be good, but I just don’t have the strength: I am a sinner, I am a sinner. But remember me, Jesus! You can remember me because you are at the centre, you are truly in your kingdom! How beautiful this is! Let us all do this today, each one of us in his or her own heart, again and again. Remember me, Lord, you who are at the centre, you who are in your kingdom.

Jesus’ promise to the good thief gives us great hope: it tells us that God’s grace is always greater than the prayer which sought it. The Lord always grants more, he is so generous, he always gives more than what he has been asked: you ask him to remember you, and he brings you into his kingdom!

Let us ask the Lord to remember us, in the certainty that by his mercy we will be able to share his glory in paradise. Let us go forward together on this road!

Amen!

At the conclusion of the liturgy last Sunday, the Holy Father led the recitation of the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims who were present in Saint Peter's Square.  Before reciting the Marian prayer, the Holy Father addressed the following words to the gathered crowd:

Before concluding this celebration, I would like to greet all the pilgrims, the families, the parish groups, the associations and the movements who have come from so many countries.  I greet those who have participated in the National Mercy Congress; I greet the Ukrainian community which is celebrating the 180th anniversary of Holodomor, the great famine, caused by the Soviet regime and claimed millions of victims.

Today, our grateful thoughts are directed toward the missionaries, who for generations have announced the Gospel and sowed the seeds of faith in so many parts of the world; among them, Blessed Junipero Serra, a Spanish Franciscan missionary who was born three hundred years ago.

I cannot end this encounter without expressing my gratitude to all those who have worked so dedicatedly during this Year of Faith.  Among them, I wish to thank His Excellency, Rino Fisichella, who has guided the course of all the events.  I thank him and all his collaborators most sincerely.  Thank you very much!

Now, let us pray the Angelus together.  With this prayer, we invoke the protection of Mary especially for our brothers and sisters who are persecuted because of their faith; there are so many of them!

The Angel of the Lord ...

Thank you for your participation in this concelebration.  I wish you a good Sunday.  Enjoy your lunch.

Admitting the Catechumens

At 4:30pm local time last Saturday in Rome, the Holy Father presided over the Rite of Admission to the Catechumenate (the stage of instruction for adults who wish to be baptized), one of the celebrations organized for the final days of the Year of Faith.  There were about 500 catechumens present, coming from 47 different countries, and from all five continents, along with their catechists.

The liturgy began with the Rites of Introduction which took place in the atrium of Saint Peter's Basilica, where the Pope welcomed a representative number of the catechumens and their sponsors, inviting them to enter into the church.  During the Liturgy of the Word, before confiding the text of the Gospel to a few of the catechumens, Pope Francis shared a few words of wisdom with the catechumens and their sponsors.

Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the gathering with catechumens

in Saint Peter's Basilica

Dear catechumens,

This final moment of the Year of Faith sees you gathered here, along with your catechists and family members, representing also the many other men and women who are following, in other parts of the world, the same path of faith as you.  Spiritually, we are all colleagues, in this particular moment.  You come from many different countries, from various cultural traditions and experiences.  Tonight, we also have many things in common.  Above all, perhaps the first among our similarities is a desire for God.  This desire is evoked by the words of the Psalmist: Like the deer that yearns for running streams, so my soul is thirsting for you, my God.  My soul is thirsting for God, the living God; when will I see and behold the face of God (Psalm 42:2-3).  It is extremely important that you maintain this desire, this yearning to meet the Lord and to encounter him, to experience his love, to experience his mercy!  If you lose your thirst for the living God, your faith will be at risk of becoming a habit, will be at risk of dying like a fire that cannot be relit.  It will be at risk of becoming stale and not making sense.

The Gospel story (see John 1:35-42) shows us John the Baptist who points out Jesus, the Lamb of God, to his own disciples.  Two of them follow after the Master, and then, in turn, they themselves become mediators who bring others to meet the Lord, to know him and to follow him.  There are three moments in this gospel story that evoke the experience of the catechumenate.  First of all, there is the moment of listening.  The two disciples listened to the testimony of the Baptist.  You too, dear catechumens, have listened to those who have spoken to you about Jesus and you have decided to follow him, to become his disciples through Baptism.  Amidst the tumult of so many voices that resonate around us and inside us, you have heard and are responding to the voice that points to Jesus, the only one who can give full meaning to our lives.

The second moment is the encounter.  The two disciples meet the Master and remain with him.  After having met him, they were immediately aware of something new in their hearts: the need to share their joy with others so that they in turn could experience such an encounter.  In fact, Andrew found his brother Simon and brought him to Jesus.  How good it is to contemplate this scene!  It reminds us that God did not create us to be alone, closed in on ourselves, but in order to encounter him and to open ourselves to encountering others.  First of all, God comes to each of us, and this is marvellous!  He comes to meet us!  In the Bible, God is always the one who takes the initiative of the encounter with man: it is he who seeks man, most especially he seeks man at times when man experiences the bitterness and tragedy of betraying God and tries to hide from Him.  Instead of waiting, God seeks man out, immediately.  Our Father is a patient seeker!  He always precedes us and waits for us!  He never stops waiting for us, he never distances himself from us; he has great patience and waits for the favourable moment of encounter with each one of us.  And when the encounter occurs, it is never a hurried meeting because God wants to stay with us, to sustain us, to console us, to give us his joy.  God is in a hurry to meet us, but he is never in a hurry to leave.  Stay with us.  How we yearn for him, and desire this encounter; in the same way he longs to be with us, because we belong to Him, we are His, we are His creatures.  We can also say that he thirsts for us, to encounter us.  Our God is thirsty for us.  This is the heart of God, and it is good for us to hear.

The last part of the story involves walking.  The two disciples walk toward Jesus, and then walk a part of the road with him.  This is an important lesson for all of us.  Faith is a journey with Jesus.  Never forget this:  faith is a journey with Jesus; it is a journey that lasts a lifetime.  At the end of this earthly life, there will be a definitive encounter.  Sure, at certain moments along this journey, we feel tired and confused.  But faith gives us the certainty of the constant presence of Jesus in every situation, even the most painful situations or the moments that are the most difficult to understand.  We are invited to this journey in order to enter always more deeply into the mystery of God's love which guides us and allows us to live with serenity and hope.

Dear catechumens, today you begin the journey of the catechumenate.  I encourage you to undertake this journey with joy, assured of the support of the whole Church which looks to you with great trust.   May Mary, the perfect disciple, accompany you: it's good to hear that she is our mother in faith!  I invite you to maintain the enthusiasm of the first moments when you opened your eyes to the light of faith; to remember, like the beloved disciple, the day, the hour when you first spent time with Jesus, when you were aware of his gaze being fixed upon you ... on you ... on you.  Never forget this gaze!  It is a loving gaze!  This gaze will always assure you of the faithful love of the Lord.  He is faithful.  You can be sure of this: he will never let you down!

Evening prayer with the Benedictine nuns

On Thursday evening, November 21, His Holiness, Pope Francis visited the Camaldolese Benedictine Sisters at the Monastery of Saint Anthony, Abbot on the Aventine Hill in Rome.  He did this as part of the observance of the Day of Contemplative Life.

When he arrived, His Holiness was welcomed by the Abbess, Sister Michela Porcellato, and the two went immediately to the church where the community of 21 nuns were gathered.  The Holy Father presided at the celebration of Vespers according to the Camaldolese rite and then there was a moment of Eucharistic Adoration before the Pope shared the following meditation with the nuns.

Homily of His Holiness, Pope Francis

for the celebration of Vespers

with the Camaldolese Benedictine Sisters

at the Monastery of Saint Anthony, Abbot

Let us contemplate the one who knew and loved Jesus like no other creature. The Gospel that we heard reveals the fundamental way Mary expressed her love for Jesus: by doing the will of God. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother (Mt 12:50). With these words Jesus leaves us an important message: the will of God is the supreme law which establishes true belonging to him. That is how Mary established a bond of kinship with Jesus even before giving birth to him. She becomes both disciple and mother to the Son at the moment she receives the words of the Angel and says: Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word (Lk 1:38). This let it be is not only acceptance, but also a trustful openness to the future. This let it be is hope!

Mary is the mother of hope, the icon that most fully expresses Christian hope. The whole of her life is a series of episodes of hope, beginning with her yes at the moment of the Annunciation. Mary did not know how she could become a mother, but she entrusted herself totally to the mystery that was about to be fulfilled, and she became the woman of expectation and of hope. Then we see her in Bethlehem, where the One proclaimed to her as the Saviour of Israel and as the Messiah is born into poverty. Later, while she was in Jerusalem to present him in the Temple amid the joy of the elderly Simeon and Anna, a promise is also made that a sword will pierce her heart and a prophecy foretells that he will be a sign of contradiction. She realizes that the mission and the very identity of this Son surpasses her own motherhood. We then come to the episode of Jesus who is lost in Jerusalem and is then called back: Son, why have you treated us so? (Lk 2:48), and to Jesus’ reply that takes away her motherly anxiety and turns to the things of the Heavenly Father.

Yet in the face of all these difficulties and surprises in God’s plan, the Virgin’s hope is never shaken! The woman of hope. This tells us that hope is nourished by listening, contemplation and patience until the time of the Lord is ripe. Again at the wedding in Cana, Mary is the mother of hope, which makes her attentive and solicitous to human affairs. With the start of his public ministry, Jesus becomes the Teacher and the Messiah: Our Lady looks upon the mission of the Son with exultation but also with apprehension, because Jesus becomes ever more that sign of contradiction foretold by the elderly Simeon. At the foot of the Cross, she is at once the woman of sorrow and of watchful expectation of a mystery far greater than sorrow which is about to be fulfilled. It seemed that everything had come to an end; every hope could be said to have been extinguished. She too, at that moment, remembering the promises of the Annunciation could have said: they did not come true, I was deceived. But she did not say this. And so she who was blessed because she believed, sees blossom from her faith a new future and awaits God’s tomorrow with expectation. At times I think: do we know how to wait for God’s tomorrow? Or do we want it today? For her the tomorrow of God is the dawn of Easter morning, the dawn of the first day of the week. It would do us good to think, in contemplation, of the embrace of mother and son. The single lamp lit at the tomb of Jesus is the hope of the mother, which in that moment is the hope of all humanity. I ask myself and I ask you: is this lamp still alight in monasteries? In your monasteries are you waiting for God’s tomorrow?

We owe so much to this Mother! She is present at every moment in the history of salvation, and in her we see a firm witness to hope. She, the mother of hope, sustains us in times of darkness, difficulty, discouragement, of seeming defeat or true human defeat. May Mary, our hope, help us to make of our lives a pleasing offering to the Heavenly Father, and a joyful gift for our brothers and sisters, in an attitude that always looks forward to tomorrow.

On the forgiveness of sins

Today's General Audience was held in Saint Peter's Square beginning at 10:15.  The Holy Father met there with groups of pilgrims and the faithful who had come from all parts of Italy and from various parts of the world.

During his discourse, spoken in Italian, the Pope focused his meditation on the forgiveness of sins.

Following the syntheses of the catechesis in various languages, His Holiness greeted the pilgrims and visitors according to their language groups.  He then issued a call on the occasion of Pro Orantibus Day which will be observed tomorrow, November 21, and a call for the International Year of the Rural Family which will be inaugurated by the United Nations on Friday, November 22.

The General Audience concluded with the singing of the Pater Noster and the imparting of the Apostolic Blessing.

Catechesis of His Holiness, Pope Francis

for the General Audience

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Last Wednesday I spoke about the forgiveness of sins, referred in a particular way to Baptism. Today we continue with the subject of the forgiveness of sins, but in reference to the so-called “power of the keys,” which is a biblical symbol of the mission that Jesus gave to the Apostles.

First of all we must remember that the protagonist of the forgiveness of sins is the Holy Spirit. In his first apparition to the Apostles, in the Cenacle, the Risen Jesus made the gesture of breathing on them saying: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (John 20:22-23). Jesus, transfigured in his body, is now the new man who offers the paschal gifts, fruit of his Death and Resurrection: What are these gifts? Peace, joy, the forgiveness of sin, the mission but above all he gives the Holy Spirit who is the source of all this. Jesus’ breath, accompanied by the words with which he communicates the Spirit, indicates the transmission of life, the new life regenerated by forgiveness.

However before doing the gesture of breathing and giving the Spirit, Jesus shows his wounds, in his hands and on his side: these wounds are the price of our salvation. The Holy Spirit brings us God’s forgiveness “passing through” Jesus’ wounds. These wounds that He wished to preserve: even in this moment He is in Heaven and showing the Father the wounds which have saved us. Through the strength of these wounds, our sins are forgiven:this is how Jesus has given his life for our peace, for our joy, for the gift of the grace in our soul, for the forgiveness of our sins. And it is very beautiful to see Jesus this way!

And we come to the second element: Jesus gives the Apostles the power of forgiving sins; It is a bit difficult to understand how a man can forgive sins, but Jesus gives this power. The Church is depository of the power of the keys,of either opening or closing forgiveness. God forgives every man in His sovereign mercy, but He himself willed that all those who belong to Christ and to his Church, should receive forgiveness through the ministers of the Community. God’s mercy reaches me through the apostolic ministry, my faults are forgiven and joy is given to me. Thus Jesus calls us to live reconciliation also in the ecclesial, communitarian dimension. And this is very beautiful. The Church, which is holy and at the same time needy of penance, accompanies our journey of conversion for the whole of life. The Church is not owner of the power of the keys, she is not owner, but servant of the ministry of mercy and rejoices every time that she can offer this divine gift.

Many persons, perhaps, do not understand the ecclesial dimension of forgiveness, because individualism and subjectivism prevail, and we Christians also resent it. God certainly forgives personally every sinner who is repentant, but the Christian is tied to Christ, and Christ is united to the Church. For us Christians there is another gift, and it is also an added commitment: to pass humbly through the ecclesial ministry. We should value this; it is a gift, a cure, a protection and also a security that God has forgiven me. I go to a brother priest and I say, “Father, I have done this…” And he responds: “But I forgive you; God forgives you.” In that moment, I am sure that God has forgiven me! And this is beautiful, this is having that security that God always forgives us, he does not tire of forgiving. And we should not tire of going to ask forgiveness. It may be embarrassing to tell our sins, but as our mothers and grandmothers would say, it is better to become red (blushed) one time than yellow a thousand times. You become red once, but then we come forgiven of our sins and we go forward.

Finally, a last point: the priest instrument for the forgiveness of sins. The forgiveness of God which is given to us in the Church, is transmitted to us through the ministry of a brother of ours, the priest; a man, who like us is in need of mercy, becomes truly instrument of mercy, giving us the unbounded love of God the Father ….Yes, as I said earlier, God always listens to you, but in the Sacrament of Reconciliation he sends a brother to bring you forgiveness, the security of forgiveness in the name of the Church.

The service that the priest gives as minister, on behalf of God, to forgive sins is very delicate, a very delicate service, and calls for his heart to be in peace; that he not mistreat the faithful, but that he be meek, benevolent and merciful; that he be able to sow hope in hearts and, above all, that he be aware that the brother or sister who approaches the Sacrament of Reconciliation seeks forgiveness and does so as so many people approached Jesus to be healed. For the priest who does not have this disposition of spirit, it is better that, until he corrects himself, he does not administer this Sacrament. Do the penitent faithful have the duty? No! They have the right to find in priests servants of God’s forgiveness.

Dear brothers, as members of the Church, are we aware of this gift that God Himself offers us? Do we feel the joy of this healing, of this maternal care that the Church has for us? Are we able to appreciate it with simplicity and assiduity? Let us not forget that God never tires of forgiving us; through the ministry of the priest He clasps us in a new embrace that regenerates us and enables us to rise again and take up our journey again. Because this is our life: to continually rise up and return on the path. 

Thank you.

To the English-speaking pilgrims present in Saint Peter's Square, the Holy Father said:

I offer an affectionate greeting to all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present at today’s Audience, including those from England, Wales, Korea and the United States of America. Upon all of you, I invoke God’s blessings of peace and joy!

Following the greetings issued in various languages, the Holy Father continued:

Tomorrow, November 21, the liturgical memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple, Pro Orantibus Day will also be observed, dedicated to the memory of cloistered religious communities.  This is an opportune occasion to thank the Lord for the gift of so many people who, in monasteries and hermitages, dedicate themselves to God in prayer and in perpetual silence. Let us give thanks to God for the witness of cloistered life and let us not forget to offer our brothers and sisters our spiritual and material support, so that they might accomplish their important mission.

On November 22, the United Nations will inaugurate the International Year of the Rural Family, at the same time highlighting the fact that agricultural economy and rural development find in the family a cooperation that is respectful of creation and attentive to concrete necessities.  Also in work, the family is a model of fraternity which lives an experience of unity and solidarity among all its members, with a concentrated sensitivity toward those who are most in need of assistance or help, intervening to stop the possibility of social conflict even at its source.  For these reasons, while expressing compassion for these opportune initiatives, I hope that they will contribute toward validating the innumerable benefits that the family contributes toward the economic, social, cultural and moral growth of the entire human community.

The joy of the gospel

On Sunday morning in Saint Peter's Square, the Holy Father will celebrate Mass at 10:30am.  During that celebration, the final events of the Year of Faith will take place, including the final pilgrimage of the Year of Faith for pilgrims who will visit the tomb of Saint Peter.

For the first time, the relics of Saint Peter will be on display for public prayer and veneration on Sunday, and during the Mass, celebrated with catecheumens, a representative number of those preparing to be baptized will be questioned by the Holy Father himself.  Also during the celebration of the Mass, Pope Francis will entrust copies of his very first Apostolic Exhortation entitled Evangelii gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) to various representatives including Bishops, priests, religious sisters and the laity.

On Tuesday, November 26, there will be a Press Conference held in the John Paul II Hall at the Vatican Press Centre.  During that Press Conference, His Excellency, Rino Fisichella, the President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization; His Excellency, Lorenzo Baldisseri, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops; and His Excellency, Claudio Maria Celli, President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications will provide overviews and details about the Apostolic Exhortation.  The full text of the Exhortation will be published on Tuesday at noon, local time in Rome.

Touched by the Pope

The severely disfigured man who Pope Francis embraced and blessed earlier this month has said his encounter with the Holy Father was like being in Paradise.  Vincio Riva, 53, who suffers from neurofibromatosis Type 1, a rare disease that causes painful tumors to grow throughout his body, told the Italian magazine Panorama that meeting the Pope left him speechless.

His hands were so soft. And his smile was so clear and open. But the thing that struck me most is that he didn’t think twice about whether or not to hug me, he said. I'm not contagious, but he did not know. He just did it: he caressed me all over my face, and as he did I felt only love.  He added: First I kissed his hand while he, with the other hand, caressed my head and wounds. Then he drew me to him in a strong embrace, kissing my face. My head was against his chest, his arms were wrapped around me. It lasted just over a minute, but to me it seemed like an eternity.

Images of the Pope embracing Riva at the November 6 weekly General Audience in St. Peter’s Square quickly went around the world, and were especially prominent on social media sites.  Riva’s entire face and head are covered in growths and only his left cheek, warped as if burnt in a fire, is free of them. His feet are deformed and devastated by the sores, which makes walking difficult.  He was accompanied by his aunt, Caterina, and his younger sister Morena, who also suffers from a lesser form of the disease. His mother suffered from the illness and died from it. Riva himself was only expected to live until the age of 30.

Panorama reported that Riva first needed medical attention at the age of two for the genetic condition, and has since had numerous operations on his heart, throat and eyes. The growths first appeared at the age of 15, eventually destroying his appearance.  Neurofibromatosis has also long been associated with the Elephant Man, the name given to Joseph Merrick, a severely disfigured Englishman who lived in the late 19th century. Researchers believe Merrick may have suffered from a combination of neurofibromatosis and Proteus syndrome, a similar congenital disorder resulting in body tumors.  Like the Elephant Man, Riva has had to suffer revulsion from passers-by and strangers. Those who I have known for a long time are kind; the others are horrible, he told Panorama.

He came to the general audience after making a pilgrimage to Lourdes, which he makes every year with the Italian Catholic group Unitalsi. It was the first time he had visited Saint Peter’s.  Riva said the meeting with Francis marked a new beginning for him: Later I turned to my aunt and told her: 'Here I leave my pain.'

Thanks for the cards

Pope Francis called a Italian religious sister on the phone to speak with her after she and the pupils at her school sent him a box of postcards, each with a photo of a child who had died from cancer.  I pray for all of you, and especially bless the children, the Holy Father told Sister Teresa, Superior of the Daughters of Saint Anne in Casal di Principe near Naples, when he called her last Thursday.

The Sisters run a kindergarten and a primary school in a region not far from Naples, known as the land of fire.  Its name derives from the illegal dumping of toxic waste there by the camorra, a local mafia gang.  For decades, the countryside has been plagued by industrial, toxic and nuclear waste from Northern Italy and Northern Europe.  The burning of this waste has led to a higher than normal rate of cancers, especially in children, and breast and thyroid cancers in young women.  One of the local priests, Father Peppe Diana, was apparently killed by the camorra twenty years ago.

Together with the children, we sent the Pope postcards with pictures of the children who have died of cancer, and their moms, Sister Teresa explained.  Every family gave a small contribution to pay for the shipping.  I also included the school's telephone number.  Then the unexpected phone call came.  I still don't believe it, she said.  He told me 'it is Papa Francesco' and he wanted to thank the children for the postcards.  He then added his prayers and his blessing, especially for the children and their families.  I didn't know how to respond.

At the time, Sister Teresa was in a class with young children.  They quickly realized what was happening, as soon as I said 'Papa Francesco'. They were happy.  They made a big fuss and almost prevented me from understanding all the words he spoke.  The poscards are part of an indepth study on the topic of waste.  We've talked a lot in class, we have discussed with the children, they were very careful and sensitive, she explained.

News of the phone call immediately spread in the surrounding area, including to the feuding clans of the camorra.

Conclusion of the Year of Faith

At 11:30 yesterday morning, in the John Paul II Hall at the Vatican Press Centre, there was a press conference held to present an overview of the Year of Faith Day for Contemplative Life, which will be observed on Thursday, November 21, as well as the celebrations for the conclusion of the Year of Faith which include a Meeting of catechumens with Pope Francis on Saturday, November 23, and the closing Mass which will be held on Sunday, November 24.

Present at the Press Conference this morning to contribute to the information which was shared were His Excellency, Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization; His Excellency, Jose Octavio Ruiz Arenas, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization and His Excellency, Graham Bell, Undersecretary of the same Pontifical Council.

Information provided by His Excellency, Rino Fisichella

relating to the Day of Contemplative Life,

the Meeting of catechumens with the Holy Father, and

the Year of Faith Closing Mass

The official closing of the Year of Faith will be observed this coming Sunday with a Solemn Mass in Saint Peter’s Square and the handing of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium by Pope Francis.

On Sunday, the Pontiff will hand the document symbolically to a Bishop, a priest and a deacon, however, the contents of the Exhortation will be made public next Tuesday, with the official presentation at the Holy See Press Office, in the presence of Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization; Archbishop Lorenzo Baldisseri, Secretary of the Synod of Bishops, and Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.  Archbishop Fisichella made the announcement yesterday morning during a press conference in which he outlined the details of the final celebrations of the Year of Faith.

The first event will be Pope Francis’ visit to the convent of the Camaldolese Nuns on the Aventine, planned for Thursday, November 21 at 4:45 pm. The choice of this convent is due to the fact that, since the Second Vatican Council, these nuns have revisited their Rule, seeking to return to the origins of their charism, explained Archbishop  Fisichella.

The Pope will pause in prayer with the nuns, who in recent years have opened their convent to share Lectio Divina and their table with the poor. “A help that meets the twofold need of the faith: to discover the richness of the Word of God and to share one’s table with those who have nothing to eat, added the Vatican prelate responsible for the New Evangelization.

At the end of the prayer, the Pope will meet alone with the Community for a private conversation, after which the nuns will offer the Holy Father the Letters of Sister Nazarena Crotta (1907-1990), the last recluse who lived in the convent of the Aventine, written to her spiritual Father.

The second event will take place on Saturday, November 23, with the pilgrimage of catechumens to the tomb of Saint Peter. The catechumens will gather from 47 countries worldwide and 35 of them will meet with the Holy Father. To them the Holy Father will address the traditional questions of the rite: What is your name?; What do you ask of the Church of God?; and What does the faith give you?

For many Christians, who often do not live their Baptism and for so many who feel alive the desire for God, this moment could become the occasion to rediscover the novelty of the faith. In short, a sign for all to rediscover the beauty of Baptism and new life given in Christ, Archbishop Fisichella explained.

The final ceremony of the Year of Faith, along with the Eucharistic celebration in Saint Peter’s Square at 10:30 am on Sunday, November 24, will take place with three signs, the first of which will be the exposition of the relics of Saint Peter. It is a special urn with the alleged bones of the Prince of the Apostles, which in 1971 was given in tribute to Paul VI.

The urn, which was kept in the papal apartment throughout Benedict XVI’s pontificate, in past years was exposed every June 29, on the occasion of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, but always inside the Pope’s private chapel: next Sunday, however, the Petrine relics will be exposed for the first time to the public.

The second event will be the mentioned handing on of the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, the first Exhortation signed by Pope Francis: thus the papal document will become a mission that is entrusted to every baptized person to become an evangelizer, stressed Archbishop Fisichella.

The letter will be handed to a Bishop, a priest and a deacon chosen from among the youngest to be ordained, from Latvia, Tanzania and Australia, and to representatives of the Confirmed, a seminarian and a woman novice, a family, catechists, a blind man – to whom the Pope will hand his letter in CD-Rom form so that it can be reproduced in audio format – as well as to young people, Confraternities and Movements.

Also receiving copies of the Apostolic Exhortation will be representatives in the world of art to make evident the value of beauty as a privileged way of evangelization. Among the artists will be Etsuro Sotoo, Japanese sculptor famous for his work of the Holy Family and Anna Gulak, a young Polish painter.

Two representatives of journalism will also receive the Exhortation to attest to the great commitment and promotion carried out by those dedicated to this service, which represents increasingly a new form of culture with which the Church feels the urgency to address and feel helped and supported in the work of evangelization, stressed Archbishop Fisichella.

A third sign will be a gesture of charity in favor of the Philippine population devastated by Typhoon Haiyan, in benefit of which during the Holy Mass a collection will be taken as a contribution of the pilgrims of the Year of Faith to the many brothers and sisters who were affected by the calamity and are experiencing situations of profound need. 

International oversight

On November 15 of this year, the Governatorate of the Vatican City State, in accord with the Pontifical Commission Referring to the Study and Direction of Economic Affairs and the Administration of the Holy See, following a selection procedure, has mandated an international team from the EY to undertake the work of verifying and consulting regarding the economic activity and the procedures for administrative oversight of the organization.

The document containing the results of the consultation will be available to the Commission and will serve to propose any recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of business procedures and administrative governance.

Statutes for the FIA

The Apostolic Letter issued motu proprio by His Holiness, Pope Francis, dated November 15 of this year is being released to the public today.  This pontifical document, by means of which the Holy Father approves the Statutes of the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) will enter into effect on November 21.

With his motu proprio dated August 8, 2013, and with the law N. XVIII dated October 8, 2013 concerning norms on transparency, supervision and financial intelligence, Pope Francis has already strengthened the institutional framework of the Holy See and the Vatican City State in order to prevent and contrast potential illicit activities in the financial sector and has accorded to the FIA, in addition to the functions that it already possessed in virtue of the motu proprio of Benedict XVI, dated December 30, 2010, the function of prudent supervision of those entities which carry out professional financial activities.  The present Statutes adapt the FIA's internal structure to the functions it is now called to perform.

In particular, the Statutes distinguish the role and functions of the President, the Board of Directors and the Directorate, so as to ensure that the FIA may fulfill even more adequately its institutional functions in full autonomy and independence and in a manner consistent with the institutional and legal framework of the Holy See and the Vatican City State.  In addition, the new Statutes establish a specific office for prudent supervision, providing it with the necessary professional resources.

Apostolic Letter

issued motu proprio

of the Supreme Pontiff

Francis

Approving the new

Statutes of the Financial Intelligence Authority

By means of the motu proprio entitled The Apostolic See dated 30 December 2010 on the prevention and countering of illegal activities in the area of monetary and financial dealings, my predecessor Benedict XVI established the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) and approved its first statutes.

Subsequently, with a view to strengthening further the measures already taken to prevent and counter potential illicit activities in the monetary and financial sectors, as well as countering the financing of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, by means of the motu proprio entitled The Promotion dated August 8, 2013, I accorded new functions to the Financial Intelligence Authority.

Bearing in mind also the advice of the Commission for Reference on the Institute for the Works of Religion, which I established by means of the Chirograph dated 24 June 2013, I have deemed it appropriate to reform the internal structure of the Authority so that it may fulfill even more adequately its institutional functions and therefore, with this Apostolic Letter, I approve the Statutes of the Financial Intelligence Authority hereby attached, which replace the previous ones.

I dispose that everything established in this Apostolic Letter issued motu proprio has full and permanent value, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, although it may merit special mention, and I decree that it be promulgated by its publication in l'Osservatore Romano, entering into effect on 21 November 2013.

Given in Rome, at Saint Peter's, on 15 November of the year 2013, first of the Pontificate.

Francis, Pope

Bahamas at the Vatican

This morning at the Vatican, Pope Francis received in audience the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Perry Gladstone Christie.  Mr. Christie subsequently visited with the Secretary of State, Archbishop Pietro Parolin, and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Secretary for Relations with States.

During the colloquial discussions, the theme of emigration was spoken about, and the contribution that the Catholic Church may offer to the Bahamian population, especially in the sectors of welfare and education.  The parties also expressed their hope for closer collaboration in these areas.

Angelus thoughts for the 33rd Sunday

At noon yesterday, the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims who had gathered in Saint Peter's Square.

Address of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

prior to the recitation of the Angelus

 Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

This Sunday's gospel (Luke 21:5-19) is taken from the first part of one of Jesus' discourses: focusing on the end times.  Jesus spoke these words in Jerusalem, near to the temple and the inspiration for these words comes precisely from the people who were speaking about the temple and its beauty, because it was a beautiful temple.  So Jesus says: the days are coming when not one stone will be left upon another (Luke 21:6).  Naturally, they asked him: when will this happen? What will be the signs? But Jesus shifts the focus from these secondary aspects: when will this be? and how will it happen? focusing rather on the real questions.  There are two.  First: don't be fooled by false messiahs and don't let yourself be paralyzed by fear.  Second: live the time of waiting as a period of witnessing and perseverance.  We are in this time of waiting now; we are waiting for the coming of the Lord.

This discourse of Jesus is always present, even for us who live in the twenty-first century.  He reminds us: Be careful not to allow yourselves to be deceived.  Many will come in my name (Luke 21:8).  This is an invitation to discernment: the Christian virtue of understanding where the Spirit of the Lord is present and where the evil spirit is also present.  Even today, there are false saviours who try to substitute for Jesus: world leaders, gurus, even sorcerers - people who want to attract other people's minds and hearts toward themselves, especially the minds and hearts of the youth.  Jesus warns us: Do not go after them.  Do not follow them.

And the Lord also helps us not to be afraid: faced with wars, revolutions, even natural disasters and epidemics.  Jesus frees us from fatalism and from false apocalyptical visions.

A second aspect also challenges us who are Christians, who are part of the Church:  Jesus predicts painful trials and persecutions which his disciples will have to endure because of him.  However, he also assures them: Not a hair on your head will be lost (Luke 21:18).  This reminds us that we are entirely in the hands of God.  Any adversities we might face on account of our faith and our commitment to the Gospel are opportunities for us to testify; we should not turn away from the Lord, but instead force ourselves to surrender ourselves even more to his will, to the power of his Spirit and his grace.

Now I need to think, we all need to think about this.  Let's take a moment to think about it together: think about our many Christian brothers and sisters who are suffering persecution because of their faith.  There are so many of them.  Perhaps even more than there were during the first centuries of the Church.  Jesus is with them.  We too are united with them by means of our prayer and our affection.  We also admire their courage and their testimony.  They are our brothers and sisters, who are suffering in many parts of the world because of their choice to be faithful to Jesus Christ.  We send them our heartfelt and affectionate greetings.

In the end, Jesus makes a promise that is a guarantee of victory:  By means of your perseverance, you will save your lives (Luke 21:19).  How much hope there is in these words!  They are a reminder for us of hope and of patience as we await the fruit of salvation which is to come, confident in the profound sense of life and of salvation history:  the trials and difficulties we face are part of a much bigger picture, and God, the Lord of history guides everything to its fulfilment.  Despite the turmoil and disasters that affect the world, God's plan for goodness and mercy is being fulfilled, and this is our hope: that it should be like this, according to this plan, according to the plan of God which will come to pass.  This is our hope.

This message of Jesus leads us to reflect on our current situation and gives us the strength to face it with courage and hope, in company with Mary who always walks beside us.

Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:

I greet you all, families, associations and groups who have come to Rome, from other parts of Italy, and from so many other parts of the world: Spain, France, Finland, Holland.  In particular, I greet the pilgrims who have come from Vercelli, Salerno, Lizzanello; the Lucania Motoclub from Potenza as well as the young people from Montecassino and Casserta.

Today the Eritrean community of Rome is celebrating the feast of Saint Michael.  I send heartfelt greetings to them all.

Today, the Day for victims of the streets is being observed.  I assure you of my prayer and I encourage you to endure in your efforts to prevent such tragedies, because prudence and respect for the rules are the first forms of protecting ourselves and others.

Now I would like to prescribe a kind of medicine for all of you.  Some of you may be thinking: Is the Pope a pharmacist now?  This is a special medicine to help us solidify the fruits of the Year of Faith which will soon come to an end.  This is a medicine comprised of 59 intermingled grains.  It's a spiritual medicine called Misericordina: Mercy syrup - a collection of 59 intermingled grains.  In this little pill box, there is some medicine; some of the volunteers will distribute it to you as you leave the Square.  Take it!  It contains a small rosary, with which you can pray the Chaplet of Mercy, spiritual help for our souls and assistance for the spread of love, forgiveness and fraternity to everyone we meet.  Don't forget to take one, because it is good; it is good for the heart, for the soul and for life!

I wish you all a good Sunday.  Goodbye!  Enjoy your lunch.

Bear witness to your faith

Here is the text of the homily I shared with the gathered community this weekend: a call to bear witness, even in difficult or challenging times.

An opportunity to testify

We have almost come to the end of the Liturgical Year.  In just two weeks’ time, we will begin the Season of Advent, the beginning of a new Church Year.  The readings provided for the liturgies during these final weeks of the year paint increasingly stark images.  Today, the prophet Malachi foretells a time of intense burning which will leave neither root nor branch.  Saint Luke also uses images of war, earthquakes, famines, plagues and signs in the heavens.  All of this would make for a blockbuster movie, yet I doubt whether God wants to use scare tactics in order to compel us to follow him.  The scriptures have always spoken of the great promise and hope that is entrusted to God’s people, and of the day when we will once again be one with Him in heaven.  These passages from scripture too are filled with this promise.

Listen again to the first words of the gospel: When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, Jesus said, ‘As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another.  The temple in Jerusalem was a masterpiece of engineering and artistry.  King Herod himself had had it built in magnificent glory, but like all physical buildings, it was but a shadow of the true glory of God, and because it was made of stones and mortar, it was subject to decay.  Eventually, even the beautiful temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70AD, yet even today, its ruins represent a holy place, a place of prayer, a place where hope for the future is still alive.  Jesus encouraged his disciples, as he encourages us today to cling not to a false sense of security, found in physical structures, but in hope of the eternal life that is yet to come.

People who were listening to Jesus asked him questions about the kingdom, and about how they would recognize the time when it was about to appear.  Jesus answered by warning them not to be misled by false prophets.  In fact, at another time when he was asked similar questions, he answered, About the day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  Anyone else who claims to know the answers to these questions is lying, and we should not go after them. In fact the only one who knows, the only one we can trust is Jesus himself; since he is the way, the truth and the life, we can always believe in his words.

How then should the disciples of Jesus live our lives?  Saint Paul says that we should do our work quietly and earn our own living.  Instead of allowing every sign in the heavens to scare us, we should strive every day to be people of faith, people who trust in the promise of life, people who place our confidence in the living God.  In the meanwhile, be on the lookout for signs that confirm the arrival of the kingdom.  One of the most telling signs is persecution.  Even Jesus warns that they will arrest you and persecute you.  The first three centuries of the Church’s existence were marked with great suffering and persecution on the part of the early Christians.  During the Reformation, many in England suffered rejection and ridicule; in more recent times, during the French and Russian Revolutions, and even in our times, many Christians continue to suffer, yet their faith seems almost miraculously to be strengthened by their trials.

Like the disciples of every age, we too are being given an opportunity to testify to our time.  Ours is in invitation to allow our faith to guide our decisions and our understandings about life.  In the face of natural disasters, like the Typhoon that has ravaged the Philippines, ours is a call to bear witness to hope.  In the face of  controversial questions about when life begins or when it should end, ours is a call to believe that there is only one God, and we are not Him.  In the face of pressure to choose responses based on political correctness, ours is a call to recognize that unpopular choices are often a sign of something new that is coming to birth.  Like the pain experienced during childbirth, let us not be afraid to bear the pain of witnessing to our faith, and of trusting that not a hair on our heads will perish, indeed that something new, something wonderful is still to come.