Pope and Cardinal Councillors met this week

The Holy Father has been meeting this week (Monday, Tuesday and today) with the Cardinal Consultors.  At 1:00pm today (7:00am EST), the Director of the Holy See Press Centre, Greg Burke held a briefing concerning the XXIII meeting of the Council of Cardinals with the Holy Father.

The Council of Cardinals met for three days: Monday, 26; Tuesday, 27 and Wednesday, 28 February.  All the members of the Council were in attendance except for Cardinal George Pell.  His Eminence, Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya however, arrived on Monday evening due to the cancellation of his flight due to bad weather.  The Holy Father was absent from the meetings this morning due to the General Audience.

The working sessions were held in the mornings from 9:00am to 12:30pm and in the afternoons from 4:30pm to 7:00pm and various themes were discussed, including the theological status of the Episcopal Conferences, human resources, cost controls for the expenses faced by the Holy See and the protection of minors.  In addition, the Cardinals studied the Dicasteries for Integral Human Development, for Oriental Churches and for the Evangelization of Peoples.

The reflection on the theological status of the Episcopal Conferences was inspired by number 32 of Evangelii Gaudium:  The Second Vatican Council stated that, like the ancient patriarchal Churches, episcopal conferences are in a position 'to contribute in many and fruitful ways to the concrete realization of the collegial spirit'. Yet this desire has not been fully realized, since a juridical status of episcopal conferences which would see them as subjects of specific attributions, including genuine doctrinal authority, has not yet been sufficiently elaborated. Excessive centralization, rather than proving helpful, complicates the Church’s life and her missionary outreach.

It is a matter of re-reading the Motu proprio Apostolos suos, in a spirit of healthy decentralization, about which the Pope has often spoken, reaffirming the fact that it is he who maintains unity in the Church.

The Cardinals heard a report provided by His Excellency, Jan Romeo Pawłowski concerning the progress of the Third Section of the Secetariat of State which was recently created to oversee the selection and formation of personnel for the Diplomatic Corps; Archbishop Pawłowski is the chair of the third section of the Secretariat of State.

His Eminence, Cardinal Marx presented the theme of human resources by speaking with the Council of Cardinals about the Council for the Economy, which has the duty of studying proposals which will define the competences for a control set for human resources.

Cardinal Marx also related his positive progress in the area of presenting the balance sheets, the containment of costs and reductions of the Holy See's existing deficit.

In this respect, the Council for the Economy has decided to create guidelines for the various Entities of the Holy See in an effort to reduce related costs.

The Cardinals also discussed various options for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith so that cases of abuse of minors can be processed in as brief a period of time as possible.

In addition, the Cardinals heard a report presented by the Prefect of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, His Eminence, Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson concerning the progress accomplished by the Dicastery, and conducted further reflections concerning the Congregation for the Oriental Churches and for the Evangelization of Peoples.

The next meeting of the Council of Cardinals will take place from 23 to 25 April 2018.

General Audience on the presentation of gifts

This morning's General Audience, which was originally supposed to take place in Saint Peter's Square, began at 9:40am local time (3:40am EST) in the Paul VI Hall due to inclement weather.  The Holy Father met there with groups of pilgrims and the faithful from Italy and from every corner of the world.  The faithful and pilgrims who could not find room in the Paul VI Hall were able to follow the audience from inside Saint Peter's Basilica.  The Holy Father went to the Basilica after the audience to greet those who were gathered there.

In his speech, the Pope continued his catechesis on the Mass, adding his first meditation on the Liturgy of the Eucharist: focused on the presentation of gifts.

As usual, following the catechesis, summaries of the Holy Father's teaching were provided in various languages and His Holiness offered greetings to each linguistic group of pilgrims in attendance.

The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic blessing.

Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

during the General Audience

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

We continue with the catechesis on the Mass.  The Liturgy of the Word - which I focused on during recent catecheses - is followed by the other constitutive part of the Mass, which is the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  In this second part, through holy signs, the Church continually makes present the Sacrifice of the new covenant which was sealed by Jesus on the altar of the cross (cf Sacrosanctum Concilium, 47).  The cross was the first Christian altar, and when we come close to the altar to celebrate Mass, our memory is drawn to the altar of the cross where the first sacrifice took place.  The priest, who represents Christ at the Mass, does what the Lord himself did, that which he entrusted to the disciples at the Last Supper: he took the bread and the chalice, gave thanks, gave them to his disciples and said: Take it, eat ... drink: this is my body ... this is the chalice of my blood.  Do this in memory of me.

Obedient to the command of Jesus, the Church has arranged the Liturgy of the Eucharist in moments that correspond to the words and the gestures that Jesus performed on the night before his passion.  In this way, in the preparation of the gifts, the bread and wine are brought to the altar, the elements that Christ took into his hands.  In the Eucharistic prayer, we give thanks to God for the work of redemption and the offerings become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.  This is followed by the breaking of the bread and distribution of Communion, while we re-live the experience of the Apostles who received the Eucharistic gifts from the hands of Christ himself (cf General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 72).

The first of Jesus gestures - he took the bread and the chalice of wine - therefore corresponds to the preparation of the gifts.  This is the first part of the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  It is good to have some of the faithful who present the bread and wine to the priest, because this signifies the spiritual offering of the Church who is gathered there for the Eucharist.  It is a good thing to see the faithful bringing bread and wine to the altar.  Although today, the faithful no longer bring their own bread and wine to the altar destined for the Liturgy, nevertheless the rite of the presentation of these gifts preserves its value and spiritual significance (GIRM, 73).  And in this regard, it is significant that, at the ordination of a new priest, the Bishop, when he presents the bread and wine to him, says: Receive the offerings from the holy people of God for the Eucharistic sacrifice (Roman Pontifical - Ordination of bishops, priests and deacons).  It is the people of God who bring the offering, the bread and wine, the great offerings for the Mass!  Therefore, in the signs of bread and wine, the faithful people place the sacrifice itself into the hands of the priest, who places them on the altar or the table of the Lord, which is the focal point of the Liturgy of the Eucharist (GIRM, 73).  Therefore, the centre of the Mass is the altar, and the altar is Christ; we always need to look to the altar which is the focus of the Mass.  In the fruit of the earth and the work of our hands, the commitment of the faithful is therefore offered in order to make themselves, obedient to the divine Word, a sacrifice that is pleasing to God the Almighty Father, for the good of his holy Church.  In this way, the life of the faithful, their sufferings, their prayer, their work, are all united in the work of Christ and in his total offering, and in this way, they acquire new value (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1368).

Certainly, our offerings are small things, but Christ needs these small things.  The Lord asks little of us, and he gives us so much.  He asks so little of us.  In our ordinary lives, he asks for our good will; he asks for our open hearts; he asks us to want to be better so that we can welcome Him who offers himself to us in the Eucharist; he asks us to present these symbolic offerings which subsequently become his body and his blood.  An image of this oblative offering of prayer is represented in the incense which, burned up in fire, releases perfumed smoke which rises on high: incensing the offerings, as we do on liturgical feast days, incensing the cross, the altar, the priest and the priestly people therefore visibly demonstrates the bond that unites all these realities to the sacrifice of Christ (cf GIRM, 75).  And don't forget: there is the altar which is Christ, but always in reference to the first altar which is the cross, and on the altar which is Christ, we place the smallness of our gifts, the bread and wine that then become Jesus himself who offers himself to us.

All of this is also expressed in the prayers prayed over the offerings.  The priest asks God to accept the gifts that the Church offers, invoking the fruit of the admirable exchange between our poverty and his wealth.  In the bread and wine, we present the offerings of our lives, so that they may be transformed by the Holy Spirit in the sacrifice of christ and thus become with him one spiritual offering that is pleasing to the Father.  As the preparation of the gifts concludes, we are thus prepared for the Eucharistic Prayer (cf GIRM, 77).

The spirituality of self-giving, which we learn at this moment of the Mass, can illuminate our days, the relationships we have with others, the things that we do, the sufferings we encounter; they can help us to build an earthly city illuminated by the light of the gospel.



The Holy Father's catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and His Holiness offered greetings to each group of pilgrims in attendance.  To English-speaking pilgrims, he said:

I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly those from England, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Slovakia and the United States of America. With prayerful good wishes that this Lent will be a time of grace and spiritual renewal for you and your families, I invoke upon all of you joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you!

At the conclusion of the Audience, the Holy Father went to the Basilica of Saint Peter to greet the people who were gathered there.  Standing in front of the main altar, he said:

Thank you!  Thank you very much for your patience, you have waited until now.  May the Lord bless you, bless you for your patience.  But I think that it is better to be here than it would be to be outside in the cold, no?  Really?  Yes?  Good.  Now, I will bless you, but first, let us pray to Our Lady.

Hail Mary ...

(Blessing)

Encouragement for our hearts

For the second Sunday of Lent, the scriptures present the moment when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac and the experience of the apostles at the Transfiguration.  Here is my reflection, which was shared with those who gathered to pray.

A glimpse ahead

During these days of Lent, we are preparing for the celebration of Easter, but do we truly understand what it means to celebrate the miracle of Christ’s resurrection?  Even after having experienced so many Easter Sundays, I still wonder whether I truly understand – not only with my head but also with my heart – the truth that Jesus demonstrated for us in his life-giving sacrifice.

The scriptures are filed with examples from the lives of others who had their faith tested.  In today’s first reading, we see the example of Abraham.  God asked him: take your son, your only son ... whom you love ... and offer him as a burnt offering (Gn 22:2).  How difficult it must have been for Abraham to do that!  No parent should ever have to witness the suffering and death of his or her child, and yet God was asking him to sacrifice his child.  God tested Abraham that day and found that although He was asking for something that broke his heart, Abraham would have been willing to endure the suffering.

What about us?  Perhaps there are some here among us who have known the pain of watching a spouse or a child of ours who has suffered and perhaps even returned to the Father’s house.  There is a part of us – the human part – that suffers deeply when we must watch someone else in pain.  We would give anything if we could to take their suffering upon ourselves.  Some who have experienced such pain find themselves distanced from God because they remain stuck at the level where they find it difficult to accept the fact that God has caused or allowed such suffering.

The truth of the matter is that God does not cause the suffering; rather he uses such occasions – which appear in the sight of human beings as tests of our faith – in order to prove to us that he is indeed very close to us, especially when we are suffering.

Jesus knew that his disciples would suffer deeply when the time came for him to go home to the Father.  Saint Mark tells us in today’s gospel that before that time arrived, Jesus took ... Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves.  There, he was transfigured before them (Mk 9:2).  Archbishop Joseph Cassidy (1933-2013) used to say that Jesus allowed these three apostles to experience his transfiguration so that when the time came for him to suffer and die, they would be able to encourage the other disciples to understand that physical suffering and death is nothing but a doorway that leads into the glory of the Father’s house.

I have a feeling that Peter, James and John forgot their experience of the transfiguration as they witnessed Jesus’ arrest, trial, persecution, suffering and crucifixion.  Even after his body had been placed in the tomb, they were probably too much in shock to remember what they had witnessed at the top of that mountain, but later on, when the women came running from the tomb on Easter morning to tell them that the stone had been rolled away, perhaps they remembered the day when Peter had wanted to make three dwellings on the top of that mountain (cf Mk 9:5) so that they could stay there forever.

The experience of the transfiguration is also meant to encourage our hearts so that when we have to endure trials that test our faith, we too can find the strength to believe that our ultimate destiny is the fullness of life, love and happiness in the Father’s house.  If we believe this, we will be able to echo the words written by Saint Paul to the early Christians living in Rome: Who will separate us from the love of Christ (Rom 8:35)?  No matter what hardship we may have to endure, we can always believe in the love that God has for us.

Un aperçu à venir

Pendant ces jours de Carême, nous nous préparons à la célébration de Pâques, mais comprenons-nous vraiment ce que ça veut dire célébrer le miracle de la résurrection du Christ? Même après avoir vécu tant de dimanches de Pâques, je me demande toujours si je comprends vraiment - pas seulement au niveau de mon cerveau, mais aussi avec mon cœur - la vérité que Jésus a démontrée pour nous dans son sacrifice sur la croix.

Les Écritures sont remplies d’exemples tirés de la vie d’autres personnes qui ont fait vérifier leur foi.  Dans la première lecture de cette Messe, nous avons l’exemple d’Abraham.  Dieu lui a demandé: Prends ton fils, ton unique, celui que tu aimes ... et offre-le en holocauste ... (Gn 22,2).  Comme cela a dû être difficile pour Abraham!  Aucun parent ne devrait jamais avoir à assister à la souffrance et la mort de son enfant, et pourtant Dieu lui a demandé de sacrifier son fils.  Dieu a mis Abraham à l’épreuve ce jour-là et Il a constaté que même s’Il demandait quelque chose qui lui brisait le coeur, Abraham aurait été disposé à endurer la souffrance.

Et nous? Peut-être y en a-t-il parmi nous qui ont connu la douleur de vivre la souffrance de leur époux ou épouse, ou celle d’un de leurs enfants.  Peut-être nous avons même vécu un deuil lors du décès d’un être qui nous est cher. Il y a une partie de nous - la partie humaine - qui souffre profondément quand nous devons regarder quelqu'un d'autre dans la douleur. Nous donnerions n'importe quoi si nous pouvions prendre leur souffrance sur nous-mêmes. Certains qui ont éprouvé une telle douleur se trouvent même éloignés de Dieu parce qu'ils restent bloqués au niveau où ils trouvent difficile d'accepter le fait que Dieu a causé ou permis une telle souffrance.

En effet, Dieu ne cause pas la souffrance; plutôt, il se sert de telles occasions - qui apparaissent aux yeux des êtres humains comme des épreuves de notre foi - pour nous prouver qu'il est très proche de nous, surtout quand nous devons éprouver des souffrances.

Jésus savait que ses disciples souffriraient profondément quand le temps viendrait pour lui de retourner chez le Père. Saint Marc nous dit dans l'évangile d'aujourd'hui qu'avant cette heure-là, Jésus prit ... Pierre, Jacques et Jean et les emmena, eux seuls, à l’écart sur une haute montagne. Là, il fut transfiguré devant eux (Mc 9,2). Son Excellence, Mgr Joseph Cassidy (1933-2013) avait l'habitude de dire que Jésus a permis à ces trois apôtres de faire l'expérience de sa transfiguration, afin que quand le moment viendra pour lui de souffrir et de mourir, ces trois puissent encourager les autres disciples à comprendre que la mort n'est rien d'autre qu'une porte qui mène à la gloire de la maison céleste de Dieu.

Je pense que Pierre, Jacques et Jean ont oublié leur expérience de la transfiguration lorsqu'ils ont été témoins de l'arrestation, du jugement, de la persécution, de la souffrance et de la crucifixion de Jésus. Même après que son corps ait été placé dans le tombeau, ils étaient probablement trop choqués pour se souvenir de ce qu'ils avaient vécu au sommet de cette montagne, mais plus tard, quand les femmes sont retournées de la tombe le matin de Pâques pour leur dire que la pierre avait été enlevée, ils se sont peut-être souvenus du jour où Pierre avait voulu faire trois habitations au sommet de cette montagne (cf Mc 9,5) afin qu'ils puissent rester là pour toujours.

L'expérience de la transfiguration est aussi destinée à encourager notre foi de sorte que lorsque nous devons endurer des épreuves qui testent notre foi, nous pouvons trouver la force de croire que notre destinée ultime est la plénitude de vie, d'amour et de bonheur aux cieux.  Si nous croyons cela, nous pourrons répéter les paroles écrites par Saint Paul aux premiers chrétiens vivant à Rome: Qui nous séparera de l'amour du Christ (Rm 8,35)? Peu importe les difficultés que nous devons endurer, nous pouvons toujours croire en l'amour que Dieu a pour nous.

Pastoral visit in the Northern region of Rome

This afternoon in Rome, the Holy Father, Pope Francis paid a pastoral visit to the Roman parish of San Gelesius I Pope, which is entrusted to the priests and the ecclesial family of the Church-World Missions, located in the Ponte Mammolo neighbourhood.

Upon his arrival, at 3:45pm, the Pope was welcomed by Archbishop Angelo de Donatis, the Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome; by His Excellency, Guerino di Tora, Auxiliary Bishop for the Northern sector of the Diocese; by the pastor of the parish, Father Giuseppe Raciti and by the associate pastor, Father Alfio Carbonaro.

At the sports field, Pope Francis met with young children and those who are being catechized, with youth from the oratory and members of their families; and later, in the theatre, he greeted the sick and the elderly.  Then, in various rooms throughout the parish, he met the poor and those who are working with Caritas to assist them, with volunteers working with a pharmaceutical and food bank.  His Holiness then paused to speak with two young people (one who is 18 years old and the other who is 25) from the Republic of Gambia who are being housed by the parish.  Finally the Pope heard the confessions of a few penitents.

At 6:00pm local time, the Holy Father presided over the Eucharistic celebration inside the church.  Concelebrating with the Pope were other priests from the XI Prefecture, former pastora and a few priests who are friends of the community.  Following the proclamation of the second reading by a blind parishioner and the proclamation of the gospel, the Holy Father shared an unscripted homily.

At the conclusion of the Mass, the Holy Father returned to the Vatican.

Angelus about the Transfiguration

At noon today (6:00am EST), the second Sunday of Lent, the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Angelus with pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square.

Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

prior to the recitation of the Angelus

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Today's gospel, for the second Sunday of Lent, invites us to contemplate the transfiguration of Jesus (cf Mk 9:2-10).  This episode is related to that which took place six days before, when Jesus revealed to his disciples that in Jerusalem, he would have to suffer much and be rejected by the elders, high priests and scribes, be killed and, after three days, rise again (Mk 8:31).  This revelation had challenged Peter and all the other disciples, who could not accept the idea that Jesus would be rejected by the leaders of peoples and then killed.  In fact, they had been expecting a powerful, strong and dominating Messiah, but instead Jesus presented himself as humble, meek, a servant of God, a servant of mankind, who would give his life in sacrifice, travelling along the path of persecution, suffering and death.  But how could someone follow a Master and a Messiah whose earthly life was to end in such a way?  This was what the disciples were thinking.  And the response is found precisely in the transfiguration.  What is the transfiguration of Jesus?  It is an early Easter apparition.

Jesus took the three disciples with him, Peter, James and John and led them up a high mountain (Mk 9:2); and there, for just a moment, he showed them his glory, the glory of the Son of God.  This event of the transfiguration allowed the disciples to face Jesus' passion in a positive manner, without being overwhelmed.  They saw him as he would be after the passion, in glory.  And in this way, Jesus prepared them for the trial that was to come.  The transfiguration helped the disciples, and it helps us to understand that the passion of Christ is a mystery of suffering, but above all, it is a gift of love, the infinite love of Jesus.  Jesus' transfiguration on the mountaintop also helps us to better understand his resurrection.  To understand the mystery of the cross, it is necessary that we know in advance that the One who is suffering and the one who is glorified is not only a man, but the Son of God, who with his love, which is faithful even unto death has saved us.  In this way, the Father renews his messianic declaration about his Son, which he had spoken at the river Jordan following Jesus' baptism, exhorting: Listen to him! (Mk 9:7).  Disciples are called to follow the Master with trust and hope despite his death; Jesus' divinity was demonstrated precisely on the cross, in his death in that way, therefore the evangelist Mark places the profession of faith on the lips of the centurion: Truly, this man was the Son of God (Mk 15:39).

Let us turn now in prayer to the Virgin Mary, the human creature who was inwardly transformed by the grace of Christ.  Let us trust in her maternal help as we continue our Lenten journey with faith and generosity.



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

Dear brothers and sisters,

In these days, my thoughts turn to beloved and martyred Syria, where the war has intensified, especially in eastern Ghouta.  This month of February has been one of the most violent in the seven years of the conflict: hundreds, thousands of civilian victims, children, women, the elderly; they have been hospitalized; people can't find food to eat ... Brothers and sisters, this is inhuman.  We cannot fight evil with more evil.  War is evil.  Therefore, I want to issue an impassioned plea for an immediate end to the violence, for immediate access to humanitarian assistance - food and medicine - and evacuation for those who are wounded and sick.  Let us pray together, and ask God to grant this request.

(silent prayer)

Hail Mary ...

I offer a cordial greeting to all of you pilgrims here in Rome, from Italy and from other countries, especially those who have come from Spis (Slovakia).

I greet the representatives from the diocesan television station in Prato along with their Bishop; the young people in the orchestra from Oppido Mamertina and the scouts from Genoa.  I greet the young people who have been recently Confirmed and those who have recently professed their faith and come from Serravalle Scrivia, Verdellino, Zingonia, Lodi, Renate and Verduggio.

I greet the group who have come to celebrate the Day of rare diseases and I want to encourage all those who are working in this field.  Thank you.  Thank you for what you are doing.

I wish you all a good Sunday.  Don't forget to pray for me.  Enjoy your lunch and good bye!

Pope meets with Diakonia of Beauty

At 12:20pm local time (6:20am EST), in the Consistory Hall at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience the members of the Diakonia of Beauty movement in Rome on the occasion of a symposium which has been organized during the celebration of the feast day of Fra Angelico.

Speech of His Holiness, Pope Francis

addressed to members of the

Diakonia of Beauty movement

Dear friends,

I welcome you on the occasion of the Symposium which has been organized here in Rome to celebrate the feast day of Fra Angelico.  I thank Archbishop Robert Le Gall for the words he has offered in your name.  Through you, I wish to express my cordial greeting to all the artists who are trying to find ways to let beauty shine through the use of their talents and passions, as well as those who are fragile but who are able to re-establish themselves through their experience of the beauty of art.

Pope John Paul II wrote in his letter to artists: An artist has a particular relationship with beauty.  In a very true sense, it can be said that beauty is the vocation addressed to him by the Creator through the gift of 'artistic talent'. And, of course, this too is a talent to be used according to the logic of the gospel parable of the talents (cf Mt 25:14-30; Letter to Artists, 4 April 1999, 3).  This conviction on the part of Saint John Paul II illuminates the vision and the dynamism of the Diakonia of Beauty, which took root right here in Rome, during the time of the Synod on the New Evangelization in October 2012.  Together with you, I give thanks to the Lord for the journey that has been accomplished and for the variety of your talents, which He calls you to develop in the service of your neighbour and for the good of all of humanity.

The gifts that have been received are for each of you a source of responsibility and mission.  In fact, you are asked to work without allowing yourselves to be dominated by the search for vain glory or easy popularity, and even less by the often petty calculus of personal profit.  In a world where technique is often understood as the principal resource for understanding existence (cf Laudato si', 110), you are called, through your talents and attitudes to draw upon the sources of Christian spirituality, to propose an alternative way of understanding the quality of life, and to encourage a prophetic and contemplative way of life that is capable of profound rejoicing without being obsessed with consumption (LS, 222), and rather seeking to serve creation and caring for this oasis of beauty in our city which is too often cemented and absent of soul.  You are called to make gratitude and beauty known.

Therefore, I invite you to develop your talents in order to contribute to an ecological conversion that recognizes the eminent dignity of each person, his or her particular value, his or her creativity and his or her ability to promote the common good.  May your search for beauty in that which you create be motivated by the desire to serve the beauty of people's quality of life, their harmony with the environment, with their encounters with others and with their mutual assistance (cf LS, 150).  I encourage you, in this Diakonia of Beauty, to promote a culture of encounter, to build bridges between persons, between people, in a world where so many walls of fear are still being built.  Have within you a heart that is capable of bearing witness, in the expression of your art, to the fact that believing in Jesus Christ and following him is not only something true and just, but also beautiful, capable of filling our lives with new splendour and profound joy, even in the midst of trails (Evangelii gaudium, 167).  The Church is counting on you to make the ineffable beauty of God's love visible and to permit others to discover the beauty of being loved by God, of being filled with His love, of living in this love and bearing witness to it in the attention that we pay to others, especially those who are excluded, wounded, ignored by modern-day society.

While I entrust you to the Lord, through the intercession of Blessed Fra Angelico, I impart my Apostolic blessing to you and to all the members of the Diakonia of Beauty.

Thank you!

Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Vatican

This morning, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the collegial Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, composed of the current Chair His Excellency, Mister Dragan Čović; His Excellency, Mister Mladen Ivanić; and His Excellency, Mister Bakir Izetbegović, who subsequently met with His Excellency, Pietro Parolin, the Cardinal Secretary of State, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.

During the discussions, which took place in a cordial atmosphere, satisfaction was expressed for the good relations between the Holy See and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the parties renewed their commitment to continuing on the path of constructive bilateral collaboration and to strengthening dialogue and inter-religious understanding.

Attention then turned to the current domestic context, marked by various challenges of an economic and social nature, and to the urgency of promoting initiatives to guarantee a future to the new generations. Mention was also made of the need to pursue the path of reform in a concerted way, also with a view to the integration of the country in the European Union, and to guarantee effective equality between the constituent peoples, favouring peaceful co-existence and a climate of reconciliation between all members of society. Finally, the parties focused on several political issues, including the importance of cooperation between the States of the Region.

Pope Francis praying for persecuted Christians

A very special private meeting took place this morning in the Vatican between Pope Francis and some victims of religious persecution from different parts of the world. Pope Francis prayed for victims of religious persecution across the world as he met with the husband and daughter of Asia Bibi and with Rebecca Bitrus. Asia Bibi is a Pakistani Christian woman who has been held in the Multan female prison, in Punjab since 2009, sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy; Rebecca Bitrus is a young Nigerian woman who was abducted and held captive by Boko Haram Jihadists for two years.

During the private meeting in the Vatican, Pope Francis prayed together with those present, putting faith and hope at the centre of this very special occasion. Some of those present revealed that Asia Bibi’s youngest daughter Eisham prayed in Urdu, whilst Rebecca prayed in her own Hausa dialect, giving life to an extraordinary moment of sharing and emotional intensity.

Speaking to the Pope, Eisham reportedly told him she was bringing her mother’s love to him. The meeting was organized by Aid to the Church in Need, a papal foundation that supports suffering Christians around the world.

After the encounter, the President of ACN Italy, Alessandro Mondeduro, said the Pope was deeply moved by the occasion and described Asia Bibi and Rebecca as women martyrs: marvellous examples for a civilization that is so afraid of pain.

Gratitude for the exercises

This morning, at the conclusion of the Spiritual Exercises which have taken place this week in Ariccia, Pope Francis thanked Father José Tolentino de Mendonça, the Vice Rector of the Catholic University of Lisbon and a Consultor with the Pontifical Council for Culture for his guidance.

Words of gratitude offered by His Holiness, Pope Francis

to Father José Tolentino de Mendonça

(Speaking to Father Tolentino)  Father, I wish to thank you, on behalf of all of us, for your accompaniment during these past days, which is prolonged today by the day of fasting and prayer for South Sudan, Congo and Syria.

Thank you Father, for having spoken about the Church, for having helped us to feel the presence of the Church, this small flock.  And also for having warned us not to shrink the flock through our  bureaucratic worldliness!  Thank you for reminding us that the Church is not a cage for the Holy Spirit, that the Spirit also flies outside, that the Spirit is at work outside the Church as well.  And with the citations you quoted and the things that you told us, you helped us to see how the Spirit is at work in non-believers, in pagans, in persons of other religious confessions: that the Spirit is universal, that it is the Spirit of god, that the Spirit is for all people.  Even today, there are the Cornelio, the centurions, the guardians of Peter's prison who live their lives conducting an interior search and those who even know how to distinguish when the Spirit is calling to them.  Thank you for this call to open ourselves up without fear, without rigidity, in order to be supple in the Spirit and not mummified in our structure, closed in on ourselves.  Thank you Father.  Please continue to pray for us.  As the Sisters' Mother Superior said, We are men!, sinners, all of us.  Thank you Father.  And may the Lord bless you.

Fasting and praying for peace

Pope Francis has called for a special day of fasting and prayer for peace in Congo and South Sudan today.

After the Sunday Angelus on February 4 (2018), Pope Francis appealed for prayer and fasting on the first Friday of Lent for peace in the war-torn nations, in particular for the Democratic Republic of Congo and for South Sudan which are suffering conflict.  His Holiness invited all men and women regardless of their religious denomination to join this initiative.  This is the second time, the Pope asked for special prayer for the nations.  In November, he organized a prayer ceremony with them in the Vatican.

Condolences to Perú

The Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin has sent a telegram of condolence in the name of the Holy Father, Pope Francis to the Archbishop of Arequipa (Perú), His Excellency, Javier del Río Alba expressing condolences for the victims of a tragic road accident which took place on Wednesday of this week near that city.

Telegram of Condolence sent in the name of the Holy Father

to the Bishop of Arequipa (Perú)

His Excellency, Javier del Río Alba
Archbishop of Arequipa

The Holy Father, having learned the lamentable news of a new traffic accident which occurred in the region of the city of Arequipa, wishes to assure Your Excellency and to all the children of your beloved people of his closeness and affection in these difficult moments of suffering.

His Holiness is raising his prayers to the Lord asking especially that he extend his mercy and eternal rest to all the victims who have died, and that he be close to all those who are suffering as well as their families.  Pope Francis, invoking the maternal intercession of the Blessed Mother of God, lovingly imparts to all of you his Apostolic blessing as a sign of Christian hope in the risen Lord.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Secretary of State of His Holiness

A Message for World Youth Day 2018

This morning, the Holy See Press Centre published the text of the Holy Father, Pope Francis' Message sent to young people throughout the world on the occasion of the 33rd World Youth Day which will be celebrated at the Diocesan level on 25 March 2018, Palm Sunday.  The theme for this year's World Youth Day is: Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favour with God (Lk 1:30).

This is the second Message that Pope Francis addresses to young people during the journey of preparation for the World Youth Day celebration in Panama, which will take place from 22 to 27 January 2019.  The Holy Father wants the youth to be accompanied by the Virgin Mary in this spiritual pilgrimage.  If in fact the Message from last year focused on the words of the Magnificat: The Almighty has done great things for me (Lk 1:49), next year, the Pope's reflection will focus on Mary's response to the angel: Behold the servant of the Lord; be it done unto me according to your word (Lk 1:38).

This marian trilogy is an expression of Pope Francis' desire to offer the youth of the world a theological vision of their own existence: In my heart, I know that you young people can walk not only by keeping the memory of the past, but also having courage in the present and hope for the future (Message for WYD 2017).  This journey also connects with the Synodal path, which the Successor of Peter wished to be experienced in great harmony with the preparation for World Youth Day.  The upcoming Synod of Bishops (October 2018) on Youth, Faith and Vocational Discernment invites reflection on the reality of those who are living the new generations, their life and faith and the way in which their fundamental choices mature, forging their futures and that of all of humanity.

It is significant that this year's Message, published on the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, should have been signed by the Holy Father on 11 February, the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin of Lourdes, the day on which His Holiness opened the registrations for WYD 2019 in Panama.

Message of His Holiness, Pope Francis

for World Youth Day 2018

Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God (Lk 1:30)

Dear young people,


World Youth Day 2018 represents another step in preparation for the international WYD due to take place in Panama in January 2019. This new stage of our pilgrimage falls in the same year that the Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will meet on the theme: Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment. This is a happy coincidence. The focus, prayer and reflection of the Church will turn to you young people, with the desire to receive and, above all, to embrace the precious gift that you are to God, to the Church and to the world.

As you already know, we have chosen to be accompanied on this journey by the example and intercession of Mary, the young woman of Nazareth whom God chose as the Mother of his Son. She walks with us towards the Synod and towards the WYD in Panama. If last year we were guided by the words of her canticle of praise – The Almighty has done great things for me (Lk 1:49) – teaching us to remember the past, this year we seek, together with her, to listen to the voice of God who inspires courage and bestows the grace needed to respond to his call: Do not be afraid, Mary, because you have found favour with God (Lk 1:30). These are the words addressed by God’s messenger, the Archangel Gabriel, to Mary, an ordinary girl from a small village in Galilee.

1. Do not be afraid!
 

As is understandable, the sudden appearance of the angel and his mysterious greeting: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you (Lk 1:28), strongly disturbed Mary, who was surprised by this first revelation of her identity and her vocation, as yet unknown to her. Mary, like others in the Sacred Scriptures, trembles before the mystery of God’s call, who in a moment places before her the immensity of his own plan and makes her feel all her smallness as a humble creature. The angel, seeing the depths of her heart, says: Do not be afraid! God also reads our inmost heart. He knows well the challenges we must confront in life, especially when we are faced with the fundamental choices on which depend who we will be and what we will do in this world. It is the shudder that we feel when faced with decisions about our future, our state of life, our vocation. In these moments we are troubled and seized by so many fears.

And you young people, what are your fears? What worries you most deeply? An underlying fear that many of you have is that of not being loved, well-liked or accepted for who you are. Today, there are many young people who feel the need to be different from who they really are, in an attempt to adapt to an often artificial and unattainable standard. They continuously photo-shop their images, hiding behind masks and false identities, almost becoming fake selves. Many are obsessed by receiving as many likes as possible. Multiple fears and uncertainties emerge from this sense of inadequacy. Others fear that they will not be able to find an emotional security and that they will remain alone. Many, faced with the uncertainty of work, fear not being able to find a satisfactory professional position, or to fulfil their dreams. Today a large number of young people are full of fear, both believers and non-believers. Indeed, those who have accepted the gift of faith and seek their vocation seriously are not exempt from fears. Some think: perhaps God is asking or will ask too much of me; perhaps, by following the road he has marked out for me, I will not be truly happy, or I will not be able to do what he asks of me. Others think: if I follow the path that God shows me, who can guarantee that I will be able to follow it through? Will I become discouraged? Will I lose my enthusiasm? Will I be able to persevere for the whole of my life?

In moments when doubts and fears flood our hearts, discernment becomes necessary. It allows us to bring order to the confusion of our thoughts and feelings, to act in a just and prudent way. In this process, the first step in overcoming fears is to identify them clearly, so as not to find yourself wasting time and energy by being gripped by empty and faceless ghosts. And so, I invite all of you to look within yourselves and to name your fears. Ask yourselves: what upsets me, what do I fear most in this specific moment of my life today? What blocks me and prevents me from moving forward? Why do I lack the courage to make the important choices I need to make? Do not be afraid to face your fears honestly, to recognize them for what they are and to come to terms with them. The Bible does not ignore the human experience of fear nor its many causes. Abraham was afraid (cf Gen 12:10 ff), Jacob was afraid (cf Gen 31:31; 32:7), and so were Moses (cf Ex 2:14; 17:4), Peter (cf Mt 26:69 ff) and the Apostles (cf Mk 4:38-40; Mt 26:56). Jesus himself, albeit in an incomparable way, also experienced fear and anguish (cf Mt 26:37; Lk 22:44).

Why are you afraid? Have you no faith? (Mk 4:40). In admonishing his disciples Jesus helps us to understand how the obstacle to faith is often not scepticism but fear. Thus understood, the work of discernment identifies our fears and can then help us to overcome them, opening us to life and helping us to calmly face the challenges that come our way. For us Christians in particular, fear must never have the last word but rather should be an occasion to make an act of faith in God ... and in life! This means believing in the fundamental goodness of the existence that God has given us and trusting that he will lead us to a good end, even through circumstances and vicissitudes which often bewilder us. Yet if we harbour fears, we will become inward-looking and closed off to defend ourselves from everything and everyone, and we will remain paralyzed. We have to act! Never close yourself in! In the Sacred Scriptures the expression do not be afraid is repeated 365 times with different variations, as if to tell us that the Lord wants us to be free from fear, every day of the year.

Discernment is indispensable when searching for one’s vocation in life. More often than not our vocation is not obvious or evident at first but rather something we come to understand gradually. Discernment, in this case, should not be seen as an individual effort at introspection, with the aim of better understanding our interior make-up so as to strengthen us and acquire some balance. In such instances the person can become stronger, but is still confined to the limited horizon of his or her possibilities and perspectives. Vocation, however, is a call from above, and discernment in this context principally means opening ourselves to the Other who calls. Prayerful silence is therefore required in order to hear the voice of God that resounds within our conscience. God knocks at the door of our hearts, as he did with Mary; he longs to establish friendship with us through prayer, to speak with us through the Sacred Scriptures, to offer us mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and to be one with us in the Eucharist.

It is also important to dialogue with and encounter others, our brothers and sisters in the faith who have more experience, for they help us to see better and to choose wisely from the various possibilities. When the young Samuel hears the voice of the Lord, he does not recognize it immediately. Three times he runs to Eli, the older priest, who in the end proposes the right response to give to the Lord’s call: If he calls you, you shall say: ‘Speak Lord, for your servant is listening' (1 Sam 3:9). In your doubts know that you can rely on the Church. I know that there are very good priests, consecrated men and woman and lay faithful, many of whom are also young, who can support you like older brothers and sisters in the faith. Enlivened by the Holy Spirit, they will help you to make sense of your doubts and understand the plan of your own vocation. The other is not only a spiritual guide, but also the person who helps us open ourselves to the infinite riches of the life that God has given us. It is important to create spaces in our cities and communities to grow, to dream and to look at new horizons! Never lose the enthusiasm of enjoying others’ company and friendship, as well as the pleasure of dreaming together, of walking together. Authentic Christians are not afraid to open themselves to others and share with them their own important spaces, making them spaces of fraternity. Dear young people, do not allow the spark of youth to be extinguished in the darkness of a closed room in which the only window to the outside world is a computer and smartphone. Open wide the doors of your life! May your time and space be filled with meaningful relationships, real people, with whom to share your authentic and concrete experiences of daily life.

2. Mary!


I have called you by name (Is 43:1). The first reason not to fear is the fact that God has called us by name. The angel, God’s messenger, called Mary by name. To God belongs the power to give names. In the work of creation, he calls into existence every creature by name. There is an identity behind a name, that which is unique in every single thing, in every single person; that intimate essence that only God truly knows. This divine prerogative was shared with man when God invited him to name the animals, the birds and also his own offspring (Gen 2:19-21; 4:1). Many cultures share this profound biblical vision; they recognize in a name the revelation of the profound mystery of life and the meaning of existence.

When God calls someone by name, he also reveals to the person his vocation, his plan of holiness and fulfilment, through which the person becomes a gift to others and is made unique. And when God wants to expand the horizons of life, he gives a new name to the person he is calling, as he did with Simon, whom he called Peter. From here comes the custom of taking a new name when entering a religious congregation, to indicate a new identity and mission. Since the divine call is unique and personal, we need the courage to disentangle ourselves from the pressure of being shaped by conforming patterns, so that our life can truly become an authentic and irreplaceable gift to God, to the Church and to all.

Dear young people, to be called by name is therefore a sign of our great dignity in the eyes of God and a sign of his love for us. God calls each one of you by name. All of you are the you of God, precious in his eyes, worthy of respect and loved (cf Is 43:4). Welcome with joy this dialogue that God offers you, this appeal he makes to you, calling you by name.

3. You have found favour with God
.

The main reason why Mary need not be afraid is that she has found favour with God. The word grace speaks of love freely given, not owed. How much we are encouraged to know that we do not have to earn the closeness and help of God, by presenting a Curriculum Vitae of excellence, full of merits and successes! The angel says to Mary that she has already found favour with God, not that she will obtain it in the future. And the same formulation of the angel’s words helps us understand that divine grace is continuous, not something passing or fleeting; for this reason, it will never fail. Even in the future, the grace of God will always be there to sustain us, especially in moments of trial and darkness.

The continuous presence of divine grace encourages us to embrace our vocation with confidence; our vocation demands a commitment of faithfulness that needs to be renewed each day. Our vocational path is not without its crosses: not only our initial doubts, but also the frequent temptations that crop up along the way. The feeling of inadequacy accompanies Christ’s disciple to the end. Yet he or she knows the help of God’s grace.

The Angel’s words descend upon our human fears, dissolving them with the power of the Good News of which we are heralds: our life is not pure chance or a mere struggle for survival, rather each of us is a cherished story loved by God. That we have found grace in his eyes means that the Creator sees a unique beauty in our being and that he has a magnificent plan for our lives. The awareness of this certainty, of course, does not resolve all our problems nor does it take away life’s uncertainties. But it does have the power to transform our life deeply. The unknown that tomorrow holds for us is not a dark threat we need to overcome, but a favourable time given to us for living out the uniqueness of our personal vocation, and for sharing it with our brothers and sisters in the Church and in the world.

4. Courage in the present moment


From the certainty that God’s grace is with us comes the strength to take courage in the present moment: the courage to carry forward what God asks of us here and now, in every area of our lives; courage to embrace the vocation which God reveals to us; courage to live out our faith without hiding or diminishing it. Yes, when we open ourselves to God’s grace, the impossible becomes a reality. If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom 8:31). God’s grace touches the now of your lives, takes hold of you as you are, with all your fears and limits, but it also reveals his marvellous plans! You young people need to know that someone truly believes in you: please know that the Pope has confidence in you, that the Church has confidence in you! For your part, have confidence in the Church!

To the young Mary was entrusted an important task, precisely because she was young. You young people have strength as you go through a phase of your lives where energy is not lacking. Make use of this strength and this energy to improve the world, beginning with the realities closest to you. I want important responsibilities to be given to you within the Church; that there may be the courage to make space for you; and that you may be prepared to take on these responsibilities.

I invite you once again to contemplate Mary’s love: a caring, dynamic and concrete love. A love full of boldness and focused completely on the gift of self. A Church permeated by these Marian qualities will always be a Church going forth, one that goes beyond her own limits and boundaries to let the grace she has received overflow. If we allow ourselves to be truly touched by Mary’s example, we will live out authentically that charity which urges us to love God above all else and above ourselves, to love those with whom we share our daily life. And we will also love those who may seem hardly lovable in themselves. It is a love that is service and dedication, above all towards the weakest and poorest, love that transforms our faces and fills us with joy.

I would like to end with the beautiful words Saint Bernard used in a famous homily on the mystery of the Annunciation, words that express the anticipation of all humanity for Mary’s response: You have heard, O Virgin that you will conceive and bear a son; you have heard that it will not be by man but by the Holy Spirit. The angel awaits an answer ... We too, O Lady, are waiting for your word of compassion ... In your brief response we are to be remade in order to be recalled to life ... This is what the whole earth waits for, prostrate at your feet ... Answer quickly, O Virgin (Sermon 4, 8-9; Opera Omnia).

Dear young people, the Lord, the Church, the world are waiting for your answer to the unique call that each one receives in this life! As World Youth Day in Panama draws closer, I invite you to prepare yourselves for our gathering with the joy and enthusiasm of those who wish to participate in such a great adventure. WYD is for the courageous! Not for young people who are searching only for comfort and who withdraw whenever difficulties arise. Do you accept the challenge?

From the Vatican, 11 February 2018

VI Sunday of Ordinary Time
Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes

Francis

At the Pope's retreat: learning to drink from our own thirst

Jesus' own struggle with human weakness and temptation was Father José Tolentino Mendonça’s focus in the Wednesday afternoon meditation of spiritual exercises to the Pope and the Roman Curia, in Ariccia.  Deborah Donnini writes:

In the seventh meditation of the Curial spiritual exercises in Ariccia, Father José Tolentino Mendonça proposes that our poverty is the place where Jesus intervenes. The greatest obstacle to the spiritual life is not our fragility, but our rigidity and self-sufficiency. Thus we need to learn from our own thirst. And so, Father Tolentino turned his reflections on thirst toward the Passion of Jesus.

Thirst is a path
Father Tolentino tells us that spirituality needs to be lived as a communitarian adventure. Gustavo Guitiérrez highlights this fact in his book: Drinking from a well is the spiritual journey of a people. The well from which one drinks is a concrete spiritual life. That humanity which we struggle to embrace, our own, and the humanity of others, is the very humanity that Jesus embraces. For he lovingly bows down toward our reality, not toward an ideal that we construct. The mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God means adopting a non-ideological vision of life.

Letting go of the obsession for a perfect life
In a certain sense, thirst humanizes us and is the way that we become spiritually mature. Father Tolentino reminds us that it takes a long time to let go of the obsession for perfection in order to conquer the vice of projecting false images onto reality. Thomas Merton wrote that Christ wanted to identify himself with what we do not love about ourselves. This is why he took on himself our misery and our suffering. Saint Paul also testifies to the theory that faith is paradoxical: when I am weak, it is then that I am strong.

The three temptations in the desert
The first temptation is for bread. Jesus knows our material needs, but reminds us that it is not by bread alone that we live. His response does not deny reality, but helps us consider that we are a desert which needs to be inhabited by the Spirit. To understand the second temptation, Father Tolentino used the example of the Israelites in the desert who require Moses to give them something to drink. We, like them, think that believing means having our thirst satisfied. But Jesus teaches us to hand over our thirst in silence and abandonment as a prayer. Jesus responds to the last temptation regarding idols: The Lord your God you shall adore. The saying of the Risen Lord in the Gospel of Matthew is helpful: All power has been given in heaven and on earth.

Jesus manifests his power in the extreme offering of himself
The devil wants to be adored, but his power is only apparent, while Christ’s is associated with the mystery of the Christ—the extreme offering of himself. It is an enormous risk when the temptation of power distances us from the mystery of the cross, and thus we distance ourselves from service to our brothers and sisters notes Father Tolentino. Jesus teaches us how not to allow ourselves to become slaves to anyone nor to make anyone else a slave, but to worship God alone and to serve others as pastors.

Pope hearing about Jesus' thirst

Sister Bernadette Ries, fsp; a writer with Vatican Media reports that Father José Tolentino Mendonça is continuing his exploration of the theme of thirst with Pope Francis and members of the Roman Curia during their Spiritual Exercises.

Jesus’ thirst, and Tears tell thirst’s story are the titles of the reflections that Father Tolentino gave on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.

Jesus Thirsts
On Tuesday afternoon, Father Tolentino took inspiration for his meditation using a verse from John’s Gospel: After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I thirst’ (John 19:28). There are other occurrences in John’s Gospel that help us understand Jesus’ words:

1. When Jesus is thirsty and asks the Samaritan woman for a drink (John 4:13-15);
2. The declaration whoever believes in me will never thirst (John 6:35);
3. The words of Jesus spoken in the temple during the Feast of Booths: Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink (John 7:37).

Father Tolentino observes that Jesus’ I thirst spoken from the cross in the present tense makes it intense, current and uninterrupted. Jesus still says today I thirst. This helps us understand how Jesus fulfills his destiny. His mission being fulfilled: he says, I thirst.

Mother Teresa experienced Jesus' thirst
Father Tolentino says that Mother Teresa experienced Jesus’ thirst in a mystical experience. In an almost physical way she felt Jesus’ thirst calling her to give her life in service to the thirst of the poor and rejected, to the poorest of the poor. The gift given to us to satiate our thirst is the Holy Spirit, Father Tolentino reminds us. We are called to live even suffering, persecution, illness, and to do so joyfully. We are called to live every situation with lively hope. Why? Because the Holy Spirit, God’s strength, wind, breeze, breath, is in us.

Women open the Gospels to us
The protagonists for Father Tolentino’s Wednesday morning meditation are the many women that populate Luke’s Gospel. The women in the Gospel prefer to express themselves with gestures. Their faith seeks comfort through touch—tangible, emotional, disarming--rather than through abstraction. Commenting on Luke’s description of those following Jesus, Father Tolentino points out that the way women accompanied the Lord was different than their male counterparts. The women were with Jesus exactly in the same way as the Twelve. They made his destiny their own destiny. But the text adds one thing regarding only them: they were serving Jesus. The women’s reaction is profoundly evangelical. They never ask Jesus the questions that the disciples ask him such as Lord, will only a few people be saved (Luke 13:23)? or Lord, what must I do to inherit eternal life (Luke 10:25)? Their declarations are concrete such as, Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed (Luke 11:27).

Women’s faith
With women, there is a ripple of reality that intervenes in order to shape faith. In this way it does not remain a prisoner—as often happens to our faith—rationalistic, lived mechanically according to doctrine or ritual. It is because they are in touch with daily life that they give perfume to the faith. The women in Luke’s Gospel—the widow of Nain, the sinner, the women of Jerusalem—also cry, notes Father Tolentino. Saint Gregory Nanzianzen describes these tears as a baptism—which many other saints have experienced. Father Tolentino then concluded his meditation with the image of the woman washing Jesus’ feet with her tears. What this woman gave thus serves Jesus as the litmus test for what the Pharisee refused to give. It is this unheard-of hospitality which Jesus wants to praise—that thirst, expressed in tears—which it is our turn to learn.

Pope's annual retreat focusing on thirst

On Sunday afternoon, Pope Francis and the members of the Roman Curia arrived by bus at the Casa Gesù Divin Maestro located in the town of Ariccia, located sixteen miles outside of Rome.

The annual Spiritual Exercises are being led by a Portuguese priest, Father José Tolentino de Mendonça.  The Vice-Rector of the Portuguese Catholic University in Lisbon is focusing his meditations this week on the theme: Praise of Thirst.

I became aware that I was thirsty, and Thirst does not make me ill are the titles of the reflections given by Fr Tolentino last evening (Monday) and this morning.  Sister Bernadette Mary Reis, FSP explains the focus of the two sessions that have been delivered so far.

Recognize how we thirst
On Monday afternoon, Father Tolentino focused on becoming aware of the thirst within. Connecting with one’s own thirst is not easy work, but if we do not do it, the spiritual life loses its grip on reality, Father Tolentino says. Recognizing our thirst is how we anchor our spiritual lives in the concrete reality of who we are, he said. After this introduction, Father Tolentino then explored how it is possible to evaluate the state of our thirst, and how to interpret that thirst, before turning to the theme of the thirst for God through a reflection on Psalm 42: As a deer longs for running waters. Yearning for water happens when water is absent. We yearn for God precisely because we feel his absence. Father Tolentino explains that the absence of God becomes a kind of temple because it sets in motion desire, nostalgia, sighing, seeking. And thirst then becomes a type of uninterrupted prayer.

Thirst versus apathy
The theme he picked up on Tuesday morning is that the thirst discovered within is not a manifestation of illness. The opposite of thirst which appears at times in our lives is apathy. It is this thirst for nothing which more or less assails us imperceptibly that makes us ill, Father Tolentino explains. He then turned his attention to the topic of burnout and suggests that the prophet Jonah can teach us the treatment for our desires. By fleeing from God, Jonah manifests the contradiction of our desire, he says. Sadness is another symptom of apathy which Fr Tolentino says can be cured by learning from Jesus. Come to me, all of you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me (Mt 11:28-29).

Discussions about desertification continue

From 19 to 23 February, the annual meeting of the Administrative Council (CdA) of the John Paul II Foundation for the Sahel, which was entrusted by Saint John Paul since its inception in 1984 to the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, now part of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, is taking place in Dakar (Senegal).

The Under-secretary of the Dicastery, Monsignor Segundo Tejado Muñoz is present and will participate in the meetings of the CdA.  During the meeting, the participants will examine the projects which have been proposed for financing; those which were approved in 2017 numbered 127, including a total investment of approximately 2.3 million dollars; prior to 2017, projects financed by the CdA numbered 3,200 and involved a total investment of 38 million dollars.

The members of the CdA are:

• His Excellency, Lucas Kalfa Sanou, Bishop of Banfora (Burkina Faso), President;
• His Excellency, Paul Abel Mamba, Bishop of Ziguinchor (Senegal), Vice-president;
• His Excellency, Martin Albert Happe, M.Afr., Bishop of Nouakchott (Mauritania), Treasurer;
• His Excellency, Ambroise Ouédraogo, Bishop of Maradi (Niger);
• His Excellency, Furtado Arlingo Gomes, Bishop of Santiago de Cabo Verde (Cabo Verde);
• His Excellency, Goetbe Edmond Djitangar, Archbishop of N'Djaména (Ciad);
• His Excellency, Gabriel Mendy, C.S.Sp., Bishop of Banjul (Gambia);
• his Excellency, José Câmnate na Bissign, Bishop of Bissau (Guinea Bissau); and
• His Excellency, Augustin Traoré, Bishop of Ségou (Mali).

With the collaboration, especially of the Italian Episcopal Conference, the German Episcopal Conference and the local Church, the Foundation carries out, in the name of the Holy Father, projects against desertification aimed at the management and development of agricultural units, for the implementation of irrigation systems, for the improvement of potable water and renewable energy for the benefit of communities in member countries (Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ciad, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal).  It also deals with training specialized technical personnel, who can then be of service within their own countries.  Over the years, the Foundation has also been able to foster inter-religious dialogue: in fact, the majority of beneficiaries are Muslims.

According to the Human Development Index, which measures indices of human development for each country, among the bottom 20, 19 are countries in Africa and, of these, 7 are found in the Sahel zone.  The situation is made even more troubling by food shortages, the depletion of natural resources - especially water - and violence carried out against local populations who see and experience the presence of extremist groups.

Developments in Ahiara (Nigeria)

The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples has today released the following statement.

The Holy Father, after having accepted the resignation of His Excellency, the Most Reverend Peter Ebere Okpaleke, has relieved him of the pastoral care of the Diocese of Ahiara, and at the same time has thanked him for his love for the Church.

Following the Instructions of His Holiness Pope Francis, during the months of June and July 2017, He received 200 letters from individual priests of the Diocese of Ahiara, in which they manifested to Him obedience and fidelity.Some priests, however, pointed out their psychological difficulty in collaborating with the Bishop after years of conflict. Taking into account their repentance, the Holy Father decided not to proceed with the canonical sanctions and instructed the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples to respond to each of them. In this line, the Congregation has urged every priest to reflect on the grave damage inflicted on the Church of Christ and expressed hope that in the future they will never again repeat such unreasonable actions opposing a Bishop legitimately appointed by the Supreme Pontiff.

The Holy Father is grateful to all the faithful: priests, religious and laity, who have shown closeness to His Excellency, Bishop Okpaleke, and have supported him with their prayers. He is also grateful to the Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Nigeria for the support given to their Brother Bishop, to whom He sends a special Apostolic Blessing. The Holy Father thanks His Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan for his service as Apostolic Administrator, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, President of the Episcopal Conference, and the Metropolitan Archbishop of Owerri, His Excellency Anthony Obinna, for the efforts made to solve the lamentable situation.

For the time being, the Holy Father does not intend to appoint a new Bishop in Ahiara, but He reserves to Himself the right to continue to have a special and particular concern for this Diocese, assigning a new Apostolic Administrator, Sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis, in the person of His Excellency, the Most Reverend Lucius lwejuru Ugorji, Bishop of Umuahia, to whom He grants all the faculties reserved to an Ordinary. The Holy Father, who accompanies with prayer this new phase in the life of the Church in Ahiara, hopes that, with the new Apostolic Administrator, the local Church will recover its vitality and never again suffer such actions that so wound the Body of Christ.
(Agencia Fides)

On June 8, 2017, the Holy Father hosted a meeting at the Vatican which included a delegation from the Diocese of Ahiara and other leaders from the Church in Nigeria.  They had travelled to Rome to pray and to discuss the challenge of accepting the Shepherd who was appointed (in 2012) by His Holiness, Benedict XVI to lead the Church in Ahiara.

Repentance and reconciliation are urgent, says Archbishop Okpaleke announcing his resignation as Bishop of Ahiara
Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - Since the announcement of the appointment, there have been violent reactions and resistance from a group of the Ahiara diocesan clergy, the laity and others, stresses His Excellency, Peter Ebere Okpaleke, Bishop of Ahiara, in the Pastoral Letter published on February 14, Ash Wednesday, in which he announced his resignation as Bishop of the Nigerian diocese. His Excellency, Peter Okpaleke had been appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Ahiara on December 7, 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI. His appointment, however, provoked strong opposition both among diocesan priests and some lay people. As recalled in his letter, in the face of this situation, on 15 February 2013, Bishop Okpaleke humbly requested that the period for his Episcopal Consecration and taking canonical possession of Ahiara diocese be extended for more weeks to see if the situation on ground would improve. The request was granted, the Bishop writes. The situation did not improve, but he was eventually consecrated on May 21, 2013, outside the diocese, at Seat of Wisdom Major Seminary, Ulakwo, Owerri, due to the situation on ground in Ahiara diocese. Up to now I could not take possession of the diocese of Ahiara, underlines Bishop Okpaleke, who points out It is now five years, two months and a week since the Papal appointment. Also the interventions of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the Secretariat of State did not yield the desired fruits. The details of peace efforts and the unreasonable, violent reactions of some priests and faithful of Ahiara are still available on the internet.

Mgr. Okpaleke was forced to reside in Awka where I have remained till date. Not even the intervention of Pope Francis, who invited Bishop Okpaleke to the Vatican in June 2017, unblocked the situation, despite the fact that the Holy Father had confirmed the appointment of Bishop Okpaleke and asked for a letter of apology from all the priests incardinated in Ahiara, even those who resided outside the diocese. I am not in position to say the number that complied faithfully with the Pope's demand, writes Bishop Okpaleke. What is clear is that some of the priests asked the lay faithful to take over the leadership of the dispute. Archbishop Okpaleke emphasizes that till date, the legitimate representatives of the Catholic Church in Ahiara diocese have no access to the cathedral, the curia, etc.

The attitude of the priests and faithful who rejected the appointment of Bishop Okpaleke is, in his opinion, a refusal to give the Holy Spirit a chance, especially since the Bishop had chosen as his episcopal motto Veni Sancte Spiritus!.

Taking the above into consideration, I am convinced, in conscience that my remaining the Bishop of Ahiara Diocese is no longer beneficial to the Church, said Bishop Okpaleke. "I do not think that my apostolate in a diocese where some of the priests and lay faithful are ill disposed to have me in their midst would be effective. Therefore, for the good of the Church and the Catholic diocese of Ahiara in particular, I humbly requested the Holy Father to accept my resignation from the office of the Bishop of Ahiara. I have taken this step also for the good of all the faithful of Ahiara Diocese, especially those that have remained faithful in a local Church being controlled by some priests, he stresses.

I consider my resignation from the position of Bishop of Ahiara as the only proper option now to facilitate re-evangelization of the faithful and, most importantly and urgently, the priests of Ahiara Diocese, especially now that the Holy Father and his collaborators in the Roman Curia can already decipher priests who affirmed their loyalty to the Holy Father and those who decided to bow out of the Catholic Church in disobedience.

After thanking those who offered him support in all these difficult years, Bishop Okpaleke reiterates his love and his prayer towards the faithful of Ahiara Diocese and invites all to repentance. I invite any dissidenting priests to re-examine their initial motivations for becoming priests in the Catholic Church. Repentance and reconciliation are urgent. 

A privileged time with Jesus

Here is the text of the reflection I shared with those who came to pray with us this weekend.  On the first Sunday of Lent, some thoughts about how we can begin to use this time of grace to come close to Jesus and to allow him to come close to us.

Time to clean house

A few days ago, we began the season of Lent.  During this period of preparation for the celebration of Easter, the liturgy invites us to enter into a privileged experience of being in the presence of Jesus.  Saint Mark tells us that after Jesus was baptized, the Spirit drove him into the wilderness for forty days (Mk 1:12-13) so we can take comfort in the fact that as we begin this Lenten experience, we are not alone.  Jesus is travelling with us along the road.

We might begin by asking ourselves: What is it that I hope to accomplish this Lent?  Each of us needs to grow in some way, so Lent allows us to stop what we are doing, to look around us so that we can get our bearings, and then to return to the Father who is waiting for us with outstretched arms.

The first reading for today’s liturgy, taken from the Book of Genesis, reminds us of the story of Noah and his family who were saved from the flood.  After the waters had receded, God established a covenant with Noah and his descendants ... (Gn 9:10).  Our God is always faithful to his word.  He remembers the covenant he made with Noah and establishes a covenant with each one of us at the time of our Baptism.

All these many centuries later, we need to stop during the season of Lent so that we can remember that God has created a covenant with each one of us.  Perhaps as time has gone by, we have forgotten how precious we are in the sight of God, but he has never forgotten.

We need to look around us: look at the life that we have lived up to now and ask ourselves whether we have been faithful to the covenant that God created on the day of our Baptism.  If not, this is the favourable time for us to be honest with ourselves and with God.  He is appealing to our consciences (cf 1 Pet 3:21) and asking us to be true to ourselves and true to him.

The Church teaches that Baptism cannot be repeated, but if our journey this Lent should indeed lead us to recognize the fact that we have strayed from the original joy of knowing that each one of us is a precious and beloved child of God, we can still return to the Father through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

A few years ago, the entire Church was invited to live a Year of Mercy: a time when we were all invited to encounter God the Father’s merciful heart.  Many people took advantage of that special year to rediscover the joy of Baptism and the power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but even after we have encountered the merciful heart of God and celebrated his forgiveness, there is always the challenge of keeping our consciences clean after we have received absolution.  The answer to that question is simple because the Sacrament of Reconciliation does not just allow us to rid ourselves of our sins; it also fills us with God’s grace so that we can face the future.

As we set out on our journey this week, let us pray for the grace to walk with Jesus.  He came to forgive our sins but also to make us holy.  Let us ask him to help us to come back home, into the loving embrace of our Father.

C’est le temps du ménage

Il y a quelques jours, nous avons commencé le temps du Carême. Au cours de cette période de préparation à la célébration de Pâques, la liturgie nous invite à vivre une expérience privilégiée, celle d'être en présence de Jésus. Saint Marc nous dit qu'après le baptême de Jésus, l'Esprit l'a poussé au désert pendant quarante jours (Mc 1, 12-13) alors nous pouvons être encouragés par le fait qu’en commençant cette expérience de Carême, nous ne sommes pas seuls. Jésus marche avec nous le long de la route.

Nous pourrions commencer par nous demander: Qu'est-ce que j'espère accomplir pendant ce temps de Carême? Nous avons tous besoin de grandir d'une certaine façon, alors le Carême nous permet d'arrêter nos activités, de regarder autour de nous pour retrouver nos points repère, puis de retourner vers le Père qui nous attend à bras ouverts.

La première lecture de cette Messe, tirée du Livre de la Genèse, nous rappelle l'histoire de Noé et de sa famille qui ont été sauvés du déluge. Après que les eaux se furent retirées, Dieu établit une alliance avec Noé et ses descendants ... (Gn 9, 10). Notre Dieu est toujours fidèle à sa parole. Il se souvient de l'alliance qu'il a faite avec Noé et il établit une alliance avec chacun de nous au moment de notre baptême.

Même de nos jours, nous pouvons nous arrêter pendant le temps de Carême afin de nous souvenir du fait que Dieu a créé une alliance avec chacun de nous. Peut-être que le temps a passé, nous avons oublié jusqu’à quel point nous sommes précieux aux yeux de Dieu, mais Lui, il n'a jamais oublié cela.

Nous devons regarder autour de nous: réfléchir sur la vie que nous avons vécue jusqu'à présent; demandons-vous si nous avons été fidèles à l'alliance que Dieu a créée le jour de notre baptême. Sinon, c'est maintenant le moment propice pour être honnêtes avec nous-mêmes et avec Dieu. Il fait appel à notre conscience (cf 1 Pierre 3:21) et nous demande d'être fidèles à nous-mêmes et fidèles à Lui.

Selon la tradition de l’Église catholique, le baptême ne peut être répété, mais si notre parcours nous conduit effectivement à reconnaître le fait que nous nous sommes éloignés de la joie originelle de savoir que chacun de nous est un enfant précieux et aimé de Dieu, nous pouvons encore retourne au Père par le Sacrement de la Réconciliation.

Il y a quelques années, tous les catholiques ont été invités à vivre une Année de la Miséricorde: un temps où nous étions tous invités à rencontrer le cœur miséricordieux de Dieu le Père. Beaucoup de gens ont profité de cette année spéciale pour redécouvrir la joie du Baptême et la puissance du Sacrement de Réconciliation; cependant même après avoir expérimenté la miséricorde de Dieu et après avoir célébré son pardon, il y a toujours le défi de garder nos consciences propres après que nous ayons reçu l'absolution. La réponse à cette question est simple parce que le Sacrement de la Réconciliation ne nous permet pas seulement de nous débarrasser de nos péchés; cela nous remplit aussi de la grâce de Dieu pour que nous puissions affronter l'avenir.

Au cours des prochains jours, prions pour avoir la grâce d’être conscients de la présence de Jésus. Il est venu pour pardonner nos péchés, mais aussi pour nous rendre saints. Demandons-lui de nous aider à revenir à la maison, dans l'étreinte amoureuse de notre Père.