Pope meets A Rare Life Association

At noon today (6:00am EDT), in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience the members of the A Rare Life Association, at the conclusion of the nine steps of the Rare words run - Rare Words Race which began on 21 April in Monticelli Brusati (BS) and arrived today in Rome.  The purpose of this run is to symbolically give voice to those who are suffering from Allan Herndon Dudley Syndrome (AHDS-MCT*) and those who support the Association, which is committed to supporting scientific research and health care for the treatment of rare diseases.

Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

offered to visitors from the

One Rare Life Association

Dear friends,

Thank you for coming! Thanks to the President, the father of Davide, who presented your story and also this initiative that brought you here to Rome as the sign of hope.

I am always happy to meet associations involved in research and solidarity regarding rare diseases. Of course, there is the pain of suffering and hardships, but it always strikes me - I admire - the desire of families to get together to face this reality and do something to improve it. You, Giorgio and Rosita, together with Davide, your son, have felt within you the urge to do something for him and for people suffering from a very rare disease, and for their families.

The name you gave the association: A Rare Life, says a lot, because it expresses Davide's reality, but also yours with him, in a positive, not negative way. The negative, as we know, it is an everyday reality. But this name says that you know how to look at the positive: that every human life is unique, and that if the disease is rare or very rare, it is still life that is precious.

This positive outlook is a typical miracle of love. It is love that does this: it knows how to see good even in a negative situation, it knows how to keep the little flame alight in the middle of a dark night.

And love does another miracle: it helps us to remain open to others, able to share, to be in solidarity even when we may be suffering from a sickness or a heavy condition, worn out by everyday life.

I believe that from this same attitude, for which I thank God, the 700-kilometre race was born.  You started ten days ago from your home and arrived today in Rome. A race for life and hope. I congratulate all those who gave life to this Race of the Rare Words along with all those who cooperated with you.

Thank you again. I will pray for you and your association. And you too, please, pray for me. Thank you.

German Bishops to speak with Vatican Officials

On Thursday, 3 May of this year, a group of German Cardinals and Bishops will meet in the Vatican with some of the Heads of Dicasteries and other Officials of the Roman Curia to discuss the issue of the possible access to the Eucharist for non-Catholic spouses in mixed marriages.

The German delegation is composed of the following:

• Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of München und Freising and President of the German Episcopal Conference; 
• Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, Archbishop of Köln; 
• His Excellency, Felix Genn, Bishop of Münster; 
• His Excellency, Karl-Heinz Wiesemann, Bishop of Speyer and President of the Doctrinal Commission of the German Conference of Bishops; 
• His Excellency, Rudolf Voderholzer, Bishop of Regensburg, Vice-President of the Doctrinal Commission of the German Conference of Bishops;
• His Excellency, Gerhard Feige, Bishop of Magdeburg and President of the Commission for Ecumenism of the German Conference of Gishops; and
• Father Hans Langendörfer, SJ, Secretary General of the German Conference of Bishops.

The Heads of Dicasteries and Officials of the Roman Curia who will participate are:

• His Excellency, Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, SJ, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith;
• Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity;
• Monsignor Markus Graulich, SDB, Under-secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts; and
• Father Hermann Geissler, FSO, Office Lead for the Doctrinal Section of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

I am the vine

Here is the text of the homily I prepared for the Fifth Sunday of Easter.  In preparation for next weekend's celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, I focus on the gifts that are being prepared for the Confirmandi and the gifts that have already been given to us.

I am the vine; you are the branches

There are twenty-two students in this parish who are preparing to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation next weekend.  Their family and friends will be gathering to celebrate this special day in their lives.  Those who are present will see the Bishop tracing a cross on the forehead of each of the Candidates while he says aloud: Be sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Hopefully, the young adult standing before the Bishop will reply: Amen.  Then he will greet each one of them with the words: Peace be with you, and if all goes well, they will reply: and with your spirit.  The visible signs of this grace-filled moment are few but we believe that there is something much greater happening within the hearts of each of those who is Confirmed.  At the moment of Baptism, each child begins a life in faith.  At that moment, the gifts of the Spirit are already present in our hearts, but they are awakened within us in a special way on the day of Confirmation, and from that day onwards, each of us is strengthened by these gifts so that we can be witnesses for Christ in the world.

This same awakening of the Spirit’s gifts was true for the Apostles.  On the day of Pentecost, they received these gifts so that they in turn could go out into the world to spread the good news, but God was also at work in the hearts of those who heard them preaching.  We see evidence of this within the heart of Saul.  Even though he had once been persecuting the early Christians, God changed his heart and called him to become one of the disciples.  This was not only surprising for him; it would have been even more surprising for the disciples.  When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples (Acts 9:26).  He had had a change of heart, but the disciples did not know that, so naturally they were reluctant.  In fact, since they knew about his past and the fact that he had persecuted the Christians, they were afraid of him.  It was only because the Spirit was active in Saul’s heart that he was able to convince them that he was no longer an enemy, but rather a companion of theirs.  In fact, he became an ardent preacher – to the point where he himself had to be protected from those who wanted to harm him (cf Acts 9:29).

God is preparing the young people in our parish and equipping them with the courage to be able to proclaim their faith too.  This is one of the gifts that the Spirit awakens in our hearts.  As we continue to grow into adulthood, the Spirit’s gifts also help us to grow in our understanding of the special plans that God has for each of us.  All we need to do every day is remember that God lives in our hearts and that we are connected to him like the branches of an enormous vine (cf Jn 15:1).

As we become more and more aware of the Spirit’s gifts alive in our hearts and active in our lives, we are increasingly aware of the ways God makes himself known to us.  The scriptures refer to our awareness of God’s presence as the fruits of the Spirit.  The more we are aware of Jesus’ presence in our lives, the more we are aware of the Spirit at work within us.  This presence of Jesus and the work of the Spirit are pure gift.  Nothing we do could ever earn this gift, but we are the ones who benefit from these gifts, and it’s up to us to share these gifts with others who we meet.

Let us pray this week for the young people who are preparing to celebrate Confirmation next weekend, and let us love, not merely in word or speech, but in truth and action (1 Jn 3:18), and let us marvel at the gifts of the Spirit in action.

Je suis la vigne; vous êtes les sarments

Il y a vingt-deux étudiants qui se préparent pour la célébration du Sacrement de la Confirmation la fin de semaine prochaine. Leurs familles et leurs amis se réuniront pour célébrer cette journée spéciale avec eux. Ceux qui seront présents verront l'évêque traçant une croix sur le front de chacun des candidats pendant qu'il dira à haute voix: Sois marqué de l’Esprit-Saint, le don de Dieu. Espérons que les jeunes adultes debout devant l'évêque répondra, chacun à son tour: Amen. Alors il saluera chacun d'eux en disant: La paix soit avec toi, et si tout va bien, ils répondront: et avec votre esprit. Les signes visibles de ce moment de grâce sont simples, mais nous croyons qu'il y a quelque chose de bien plus grand qui se passe dans le cœur de chacun de ceux qui sont confirmés. Au moment du baptême, chaque enfant commence une vie dans la foi. A ce moment-là, les dons de l'Esprit sont déjà présents dans leurs coeurs, et ils sont fortifiés en eux d'une manière spéciale le jour de la Confirmation, et à partir de ce jour, chacun est renforcé par ces dons afin d’être témoins du Christ dans le monde.

Ce même réveil des dons de l'Esprit était également en évidence pour les apôtres. Le jour de la Pentecôte, ils ont reçu ces mêmes dons afin qu'ils puissent à leur tour aller au large pour répandre la bonne nouvelle, mais Dieu était aussi au travail dans le cœur de ceux et celles qui ont reçu la bonne nouvelle.  Nous voyons cette action dans la vie de Saül. Même s'il avait déjà persécuté les premiers chrétiens, Dieu a changé son cœur et l'a appelé à devenir l'un de ses disciples. Ce n'était pas seulement surprenant pour lui; cela a été surprenant encore pour les disciples. Quand Saül est venu à Jérusalem, il a tenté de rejoindre les disciples (Actes 9,26). Il avait eu un changement de cœur, mais les disciples ne le savaient pas, alors ils étaient naturellement réticents envers lui. En effet, connaissant son passé et le fait qu'il avait persécuté les chrétiens, ils avaient peur de lui. C'était seulement parce que l'Esprit était actif dans le cœur de Saül qu'il était capable de les convaincre qu'il n'était plus un ennemi, mais plutôt un de leurs compagnons. En fait, il devint un ardent prédicateur - au point où il devait lui-même être protégé contre ceux qui voulaient lui faire du mal (cf Actes 9,29).

Le Seigneur est en train de préparer les jeunes de notre paroisse et leur donner le courage de proclamer leur foi. C'est l'un des dons que l'Esprit éveille dans nos coeurs. Alors que nous grandissons jusqu'à l'âge adulte, les dons de l'Esprit nous aident également à croître dans notre compréhension des plans particuliers que Dieu a pour chacun de nous. Tout ce que nous devons faire chaque jour, c'est de nous souvenir que Dieu vit dans nos coeurs et que nous sommes branchés à lui comme les branches d'une vigne énorme (cf Jn 15,1).

À mesure que nous devenons de plus en plus conscients des dons de l'Esprit vivant dans nos coeurs et actifs dans nos vies, nous sommes de plus en plus conscients des façons dont Dieu se fait connaître. Les Écritures se réfèrent à notre connaissance de la présence de Dieu en tant que fruits de l'Esprit. Plus nous sommes conscients de la présence de Jésus dans nos vies, plus nous sommes conscients de l'Esprit qui agit en nous. Cette présence de Jésus et l'œuvre de l'Esprit sont de purs dons. Rien de ce que nous faisons ne pourrait jamais gagner ce cadeau, mais nous sommes ceux qui bénéficient de ces dons, et c'est à nous de partager ces cadeaux avec toutes personnes que nous rencontrons.

Prions cette semaine pour les jeunes qui se préparent à célébrer la Confirmation la fin de semaine prochaine, et n’aimons pas en paroles ni par des discours, mais par des actes et en vérité (1 Jn 3, 18), et laissons-nous émerveiller de l'Esprit qui est à l’oeuvre.

Angelus with reflections about the true vine

At noon today (6:00am EDT), the Fifth Sunday of Easter, the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Regina Coeli with the faithful and 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!

Once again on this fifth Sunday of Easter, God's word continues to point out the path and the conditions for us to form the community of the risen Lord.  Last Sunday, the relationship between those who believe in Christ, the Good Shepherd was the focus.  Today, the gospel points out the moment when Jesus presented himself as the true vine and invited us to remain united to Him in order to bear much fruit (cf Jn 15:1-8).  A vine is a plant that is one with its branches; and the branches only bear fruit when they are united to the vine.  This relationship is the secret to Christian life and the evangelist John expresses it with the verb to remain , which in today's passage is repeated seven times.  Remain in me, says the Lord, remain in the Lord.

It's a matter of remaining with the Lord in order to find the courage to go outside of ourselves, beyond our own comfort levels, beyond our restricted and protected spaces, in order to penetrate the open seas of the needs others and to add our Christian witness to the world.  The courage to go out of ourselves and to enter into the needs of others arrises out of our faith in the risen Lord and the certainty that his Spirit is part of our history.  In fact, one of the most ripened fruit that is found in communion with Christ is commitment to charity toward our neighbours, loving our brothers and sisters with no regard for self, even to the point of ultimate consequences, just as Jesus has loved us.  The dynamism of a believer's charity is not the fruit of some strategy, it does not come from external solicitations, from social or ideological demands, but rather from an encounter with Jesus ad from remaining in Jesus.  For us, he is the vine from which we draw our sap, the life that we need to bring into our modern-day society a different way of living and of self-giving which gives other people the place of first importance.

When we are intimately close to the Lord, like the vines and branches are intimately connected to each other, we are able to bear the fruit of new life - mercy, justice and peace - which arise from our relationship with the risen Lord.  This is what the Saints did, those who lived the Christian life and the witness of charity to the fullest, since they were truly branches of the Lord's life.  But in order to be saints it is not necessary for us to all be bishops, priests, religious men or women ... All of us, all of us are called to be saints, to live with love and to offer our own testimony every day to those we meet, wherever we are (Gaudete et exsultate, 14).  We are all called to be saints; we should all be saints with this wealth that we receive from the risen Lord.  Every activity - our work and our leisure, our family life and our social life, the exercise of political, cultural and economic responsibilities - every activity small or great, experienced in union with Jesus and with an attitude of love and of service, is an opportunity to live our Baptism and evangelical holiness in all its fullness.

May Mary, the Queen of the Saints and a model of perfect communion with her divine Son, help us.  May she teach us to remain in Jesus, like branches connected to a vine, and to never separate ourselves from his love.  In fact, we can do nothing without him, for our life is rooted in the living Christ, present in the Church and in the world.



After the recitation of the Regina Coeli, the Holy Father continued:

Dear brothers and sisters,

Yesterday in Kraków (Poland), Anna Chrzanowska, a lay woman who dedicated her life to caring for the sick in whom she saw the face of the suffering Jesus was beatified (declared Blessed).  Let us give thanks to God for the witness of this apostle to the sick and let us try to imitate her example.

I am accompanying in prayer the positive outcome of the Inter-Korean Summit held this past Friday and the courageous commitment expressed by the leaders of the two parties toward a path of sincere dialogue that will hopefully lead to a Korean Peninsula that is free of nuclear arms.  I am praying to the Lord that the hope of a future of peace and increased fraternity will not be undone, and that collaboration may continue bearing good fruit for the beloved Korean people and for the entire world.

Last week, the Christian community in Nigeria was once again struck by the killing of a group of the faithful, including two priests: let us entrust them to our merciful God, that he may help those communities who are being sorely tried, that they may be able to re-establish concord and peace.

I affectionately greet the pilgrims who are present today, there are too many groups here for me to name you all!  But at least, let me greet those who have come from Bragga (Portugal), from India and from Pakistan; the faithful from Pavia, Crema and Vignale, the many young people who have recently celebrated Confirmation, and the many others who soon will celebrate that Sacrament; and the adolescents from Cuneo, Remedello, Arcore, Valle Olona and Modica.

A special thought for the Confraternity of Assisi, who are being accompanied by your Bishop; for the young leaders from the Giuseppini Fathers of Murialdo; and for those who are taking part in the National Catechumenal Conference which has been organized by the Italian Conference of Bishops.

Dear brothers and sisters, in two days' time, on the first of May, that afternoon, I will begin the month of Mary with a pilgrimage to the Shine of Our Lady of Divine Love.  We will recite the rosary, praying especially for peace in Syria and throughout the world.  I invite all of you to be spiritually united with us, and I invite you to pray the rosary for peace throughout the month of May.

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

Pope reflects on regenerative medicine

At 11:30am this morning (5:30am EDT) in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience those who are participating in an International Conference on Regenerative Medicine which has been organized by the Pontifical Council for Culture in collaboration with the Cura Foundation, STOQ and the Stem for Life Foundation.  The Conference has been taking place at the Vatican from 26 to 28 April focused on the theme: Unite to Care - A Global Health Care Initiative.

Speech of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

addressed to participants from the

International Conference on Regenerative Medicine

Dear friends, good morning!

I offer a warm welcome to all of you. I thank Cardinal Ravasi for his kind words of greeting and for having organized this meeting, which deals with a broad variety of topics that go well beyond a theoretical reflection and indicate new directions for the future.

I am gratified to see people from different cultures, societies and religions come together to set out on a common journey of reflection and commitment to care for the sick, since concern for the human person is truly what unites us. The problem of human suffering challenges us to create new means of interaction between individuals and institutions, breaking down barriers and working together to enhance patient care.

My gratitude goes to all who have contributed to this project of the Pontifical Council for Culture and related institutions: the Vatican Science and Faith Foundation-STOQ, the Cura Foundation and the Stem for Life Foundation. In a special way, I thank the various dicasteries of the Holy See that have cooperated in this undertaking: the Secretariat of State – Section for Relations with States, the Pontifical Academy of Life, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Secretariat for Communication.

The work of this Conference is summed up in four verbs: Prevent, Repair, Cure and Prepare for the Future. I would like to offer a brief reflection on each of these.

We are increasingly aware that many evils can be avoided if greater attention is paid to the style of life we adopt and the culture we promote. Prevention involves taking a farsighted look at human beings and the environment in which we live. It means aiming for a culture of balance, whose essential factors – education, physical activity, diet, the protection of the environment, respect for the health codes practiced by the various religions, timely and precise diagnosis, and so many others – can help us to live better, with fewer health risks.

This is all the more important when we think of children and of young people, who are increasingly at risk because of illnesses linked to the radical changes of modern culture. We need but reflect on the impact on health caused by smoking, alcohol consumption, and toxins released in the air, in the water and in the soil (cf Laudato Si’, 20). A number of tumours and other health problems in adults could be avoided by adopting preventive measures during childhood. Yet this would require constant global action; this cannot be delegated to social and governmental institutions, but demands commitment on the part of all. It is urgent to foster everywhere a culture of prevention as the first step in health care.

We must also acknowledge with deep satisfaction the great strides made by scientific research in discovering and making available new cures, especially those related to the delicate problem of rare, autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as of many others. In recent years, advances in cellular research and in the field of regenerative medicine have opened new horizons in the areas of tissue repair and experimental therapies; this significant chapter in scientific and human progress is alluded to in the theme of your meeting by the terms: repair and cure. The more you are committed to research, the more relevant and effective these aspects will become, thus enabling an increasingly adequate, incisive and even personalized response to the needs of the sick.

Science is a powerful means for better understanding the natural world and human health. It has opened up new possibilities and provided refined technologies that enable us not only to examine the deepest structure of living organisms, including man, but also to intervene in ways so profound and precise as to make it possible even to modify our DNA. Here we see the need for an increased awareness of our ethical responsibility towards humanity and the environment in which we live. While the Church applauds every effort in research and application directed to the care of our suffering brothers and sisters, she is also mindful of the basic principle that “not everything technically possible or doable is thereby ethically acceptable”. Science, like all other human activities, is conscious that certain limits must be respected for the good of humanity itself, and that a sense of ethical responsibility is needed. The true measure of progress, as Blessed Paul VI recalled, is that it is directed to the good of every man and the whole man (cf Populorum Progressio, 14).

If we wish to prepare for the future and to ensure the well-being of each human person, we must grow in sensitivity as the means at our disposal become all the more potent. This is our responsibility to one another and to all living creatures. For human health needs to be considered in a broader context, not only in relation to scientific research but also to our ability to preserve and protect the natural environment. There is also a need to take into consideration every member of our human family, especially those experiencing social and cultural hardships that endanger both their health and their access to adequate care.

Thinking of the future thus means setting out on a twofold path. The first, anchored in an open interdisciplinary approach that engages multiple experts and institutions, can lead to a reciprocal exchange of knowledge. The second is made up of concrete actions on behalf of those who suffer. Both these directions call for a convergence of efforts and ideas that engage various communities: scientists and physicians, patients, families, ethicists, cultural and religious leaders, philanthropists, and representatives of governments and business. I am particularly happy that this process is already underway, and that this Conference has, in a symbolic way, brought many of you together for the benefit of all.

I encourage you, then, to pursue with boldness and determination the ideals that have brought you together and that are already a part of your academic and cultural itinerary. I accompany you and give you my blessing; and I ask you please to pray for me.

Thank you!
(Original text in Italian; translation by Libreria Editrice Vaticana)

Pope meets with Brothers of Saint Gabriel

At 12:15pm today (6:15am EDT), in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience those who are participating in the XXXII General Chapter of the Brothers of Saint Gabriel and the Members of the Monfort Family.

Address of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the meeting with members of the

Brothers of Christian Instruction of Saint Gabriel

Dear brothers and sisters,

I am glad to welcome you on the occasion of the 32nd General Chapter of the Brothers of Christian Instruction of Saint Gabriel. I thank the Superior General for his kind words. I also greet the Monfort Missionaries and the Daughters of Wisdom, as well as the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Kottayam, with many good wishes for their anniversary.

This is an opportunity to commemorate, to give thanks and to return to the foundation placed more than three hundred years or so ago by Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Monfort – the anniversary of whose death we remember tomorrow – a foundation to which Father Gabriele Deshayes has given new impetus. One of these foundations is the Word of God, to be meditated upon constantly so that it may be incarnated in life and gradually model thoughts and gestures on those of Christ. The other is Wisdom, whose love and tireless searching inspired Saint Louis-Marie’s luminous pages. To obtain it, he invites us to listen to God with humble submission; to act in Him and by Him, with faithful perseverance; and finally, to acquire the light and anointment necessary to inspire the love of wisdom in others, to lead them to eternal life (The Love of Eternal Wisdom, no. 30). Putting such counsel into practice, you will be able to discern the particular challenges that are always opportunities for starting out again together from Christ and from Monfort.

The theme chosen – Fraternal life and the community dimension in the Montfort mission – is intended to situate your mission in our world marked by individualism and globalization, consumerism, efficiency, and appearance, to try to be present in it as inflamed souls, inspired by the Spirit and living in Wisdom. According to Saint Louis-Marie, this is the only wealth capable of teaching us to be. It is an appeal to each one of you and for your mission as educators. It rests on a certainty, that of the beauty of life, a freely-given gift of God, and on a hope: that of the possibility of its development to fullness thanks to the growth of love, which unifies all the dimensions of the person. This synthesis is built up every day in prayer, in docility to the Holy Spirit, in fidelity to your Rule of life and the charity you live. The perfect example to imitate is that of the Virgin Mary: as your Constitutions emphasize, total consecration to Jesus through May is the fundamental path of the Marian life of the members of the Institute.

Besides, fraternal life, as described in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:42-47), of itself bears witness. It attracts and evangelizes every day, and it is contagious. Those who see us live are sensitive to our way of being, of accepting the diversity of our points of view, of facing tensions and resolving them with delicacy, charity, and humility (cf Evangelii Gaudium, 227; Gaudete et Exsultate, 89). In your communities or in apostolic workgroups, fraternity must encourage each person to be available to the Spirit by forgetting himself. Moving from a communal life to a fraternal life can make the daily journey easier and more joyful. Attention to the brother who stands beside me, along with dialogue, fosters communion in diversity. In the current spiritual crisis that generates anguish and sadness through the loss of the meaning of life, I invite you to form welcoming communities, in which it is beautiful to live, expressing to young people, in particular, the joy of following Christ and responding to His call. That they feel heard without prejudice, recognized and valued, so that they can offer with their enthusiasm the gifts that God has bestowed upon them for the good of all!

Love with the heart and the hands, summarizes what you aspire to live and to transmit. Only the civilization of love can give a soul to our globalized world, in the grip of constant change. Thanks to your charism lived with dedication and wisdom, you can be beacons, highlighting the evangelical character of the educational mission. The Gospel refers to life and action in all areas. Reflecting on it from this perspective, it can permeate the life of your communities as well as your collective mission as educators. Let us learn from Jesus, incarnate Wisdom, how to welcome the other and form links with him, especially if he is different, from another culture, from another generation, going to the heart of his expectation and expressing our love with concrete gestures, of compassion, of sharing, at the cost of risking, as I recalled in Evangelii Gaudium (EG, 88). Thus, the challenges of transmitting the faith and living together can be faced with creativity through pedagogy, the educational and social project of the institutes. At the center of your mission, there has always been attention to the poor and the marginalized. Continue to help them be agents of their future so as to take their place in society.

As I thank you for the treasure of your vocation in the Church, I invite you to set out to sea with trust and with renewed missionary zeal. In this Easter time, may the mystery of the death and resurrection of Christ be at the heart of your faith and your consecration, to enlighten the path of truth.

Entrusting the future of your mission to the maternal intercession of the Virgin Mary, Seat of Wisdom, I bless you all from the heart, along with your collaborators. And I ask you not to forget to pray for me. Thank you.

Meetings with abuse victims begin

In regard to the meeting which the Holy Father will have with some of the victims of abuse in Chile, the Director of the Holy See Press Centre, Greg Burke states the following:

The Holy Father began a series of personal meetings with victims of abuse committed in Chile in the later afternoon hours today, Friday, 27 April 2018.

It is not expected that any communication will be published regarding the content of these encounters, in accordance with the express wishes of the Pope: his priority is to listen to the victims, to ask their forgiveness and to respect the confidentiality of these discussions.

In this climate of trust and reparation for their suffering, Pope Francis' wish is to allow his guests to speak for as long as is necessary, such that there are no fixed schedules or pre-determined content to the meetings.

Holy See's Financial Information Authority issues report

At 11:00am today (5:00am EDT), at the Holy See Press Centre, there was a Press Conference held to present the Annual Report (for the sixth year of its existence, 2017) of the Financial Information Authority (AIF) concerning activities regarding financial information and supervisory activities in efforts to both be prudent and to prevent as well as to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

Present at this morning's Press Conference were Doctor René Brülhart, President of the AIF and Doctor Tommaso Di Ruzza, Director of the AIF.

AIF Press Release – Annual Report 2017

Robust reporting system and effective regulatory framework

The Autorità di Informazione Finanziaria (AIF) of the Holy See and the Vatican City State has presented its Annual Report for 2017. The report reviews the activities and statistics of AIF for the year 2017.

2017 confirmed a robust reporting system and an effective application of the regulatory framework of the Holy See and the Vatican City State. Furthermore, AIF continued its pro-active approach to cooperate with and exchange information with its foreign counterparts in order to fight illicit financial activities.

2017 has been a year of consolidation and normalization of our institutional activities, said René Brülhart, President of AIF. Consolidation of the measures taken to establish an effective regulatory framework and its full and sustainable implementation. Normalization of the reporting system, which is considered to be robust.

The system has seen a progressive decline in the number of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs). In 2017, 150 Suspicious Activity Reports were filed with AIF in comparison to the previous year with 207 SARs. Such a tendency is positive because in parallel the quality of the reports increased, showing a growing awareness and strengthening of the control functions of the reporting subjects, said Tommaso Di Ruzza, Director of AIF. In 2017, 8 reports were submitted to the Vatican Office of the Promoter of Justice for further investigation by the competent law enforcement authorities. Considering the uniqueness of the jurisdiction, international cooperation is a key element of the activity of AIF, reported Di Ruzza, indicating that In 2017, AIF signed 19 Memoranda of Understanding with its counterparts in foreign jurisdictions and exchanged information in 268 cases.

Furthermore, the regulatory framework has been further strengthened, in particular with the introduction of Regulation n. 2, which sets the rules in regard of the data and information accompanying transfers of funds and the technical requirement for credit transfers and direct debits in Euro.

About AIF

The Financial Information Authority is the competent authority of the Holy See and Vatican City State for supervision and financial intelligence for the prevention and countering of money laundering and financing of terrorism as well as prudential supervision.

Established by Pope Benedict XVI with the Apostolic Letter in form of Motu Proprio of 30 December 2010, AIF carries out its institutional activities in accordance with its new Statute introduced by Pope Francis with a Motu Proprio dated 15 November 2013 and Law No. XVIII of 8 October 2013.

AIF has signed MOUs with supervisory Authorities and FIUs Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Cyprus, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Hungary, India, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan (Republic of China), United Kingdom and the United States of America.

AIF has been a member of the Egmont Group since 2013.

Archdiocese of Ottawa united with it's neighbour

The Holy Father, Pope Francis has united in persona episcopi the Dioceses of Alexandria-Cornwall and the Archdiocese of Ottawa, and has appointed His Excellency, Terrence Thomas Prendergast, SJ, who is currently serving as the Archbishop of Ottawa to serve also as the Bishop of Alexandria-Cornwall.

His Excellency, Terrence Thomas Prendergast, SJ was born on 19 February 1944 in Montreal (Quebec).  He entered the noviciate of the Society of Jesus in 1961 and was ordained a priest on 10 June 1972.  He earned a Doctorate in Theology in Toronto, granted by the Atlantic School of Theology.  From 1975 until 1981, he taught at the Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax (Nova Scotia).

From 1981 until 1987, he served as Rector of Regis College in Toronto and from 1991 to 1995, he served as Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Theology at that same College.

On 22 February 1995, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto and consecrated on 25 April of that same year.  Then, on 30 June 1998, he was appointed as Archbishop of Halifax and (in 2002) also Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Yarmouth.  On 14 May 2007, he was appointed Archbishop of Ottawa and installed on 26 June of that year.

Chilean victims to meet with Pope

In response to the questions posed by journalists concerning an upcoming meeting between the Holy Father, Pope Francis and some victims of abuse which reportedly took place in Chile, the Director of the Holy See Press Centre, Greg Burke declared the following:

Statement of Greg Burke

Director of the Holy See Press Centre

This coming weekend at the Casa Santa Marta, the Holy Father will welcome three victims of abuse by Clergy in Chile, namely: Juan Carlos Cruz, James Hamilton and Jose Andrés Murillo.

The Pope thanks them for having accepted his invitation: during these days of personal encounter and fraternity, he wishes to ask for their forgiveness, to share their sadness and his shame for what they have suffered and, above all, to listen to all their suggestions in order to avoid repeating these reprehensible occurrences.

The Pope will receive the victims individually, allowing enough time for each one to say all that he wishes to say.

The Holy Father asks for prayers for the Church in Chile at this moment of sadness, hoping that these encounters may take place in a climate of serene trust and that they may be a fundamental step toward remedying and avoiding forever the abuse of conscience, power and in particular, sexual abuse within the Church.

Cardinal Consultors met this week

At 1:00pm (7:00am EDT) today, the Director of the Holy See Press Centre, Greg Burke held a briefing concerning the XXIV meeting of the Cardinal Consultors which took place this week at the Vatican.

The Council of Cardinals met for three days: Monday 23, Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 April.  All the members were present except His Eminence, Cardinal George Pell.  His Eminence, Cardinal Reinhard Marx was absent on Monday.  The Holy Father was not present at the meeting held this morning due to the General Audience.

The sessions took place in the mornings from 9:00am until 12:30pm and in the afternoons from 4:30pm until 7:00pm.  The majority of the Council's work was dedicated to re-reading the draft of the new Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia.  At the conclusion of the draft phase, which will still necessitate some time, the Cardinals will approve the text, which will then be delivered to the Holy Father for further consultations and final approval.

Among the various topics that will be considered in the new document, many of which have already been widely discussed in previous meetings of the Council, some are of particular importance:

• the Roman Curia at the service of the Holy Father and the particular Churches;
• the pastoral character of the curial activities;
• the institution and the functioning of the Third Section of the Secretariat of State;
• the proclamation of the gospel and the missionary spirit as perspectives that characterize the activity of the entire Curia.

His Eminence, Cardinal Sean O'Malley updated the Council participants regarding the numerous efforts that are being carried out throughout the world for the protection of minors and vulnerable adults.  During their recent Plenary meeting, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors heard the testimony of members who had just been appointed, from Brazil, Ethiopia, Australia and Italy.  In addition, they heard the testimony given by a group from the United Kingdom known as the Survivor Advisory Panel.  The Cardinal highlighted the widespread commitment and the great competence of the members of the Commission who represent very well the variety of the world's cultures.  He also reiterated the priority of having to begin with people's experience, continuing the work of listening to victims and welcoming their experience.

The Cardinals then heard a report from Monsignor Lucio A. Ruiz, Secretary of the Secretariat for Communications who brought the Council members up to date regarding the current status of the reform of the Vatican's communication systems.

The next meeting of the Council of Cardinals will take place from 11 to 13 June 2018.

General Audience, the third on Baptism

This morning's General Audience began at 9:25am (3:25am EDT) in Saint Peter's Square where the Holy Father, Pope Francis met with groups of pilgrims and the faithful from Italy and every corner of the world.

During his speech, the Pope focused his meditation on Baptism: 3. The strength to overcome evil.

After having summarized his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father addressed particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance.  Then, he issued a call for the Inter-Korean Summit.

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

Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the General Audience

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Let us continue our reflection on Baptism, in the light of the Word of God.

It is the gospel that enlightens the candidates and arouses their belonging in faith: Baptism is in a very special way 'the sacrament of faith', for it marks the sacramental entry into a life of faith (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1236).  Faith is the surrender of ourselves to the Lord Jesus, who is recognized as the source of water ... for eternal life (Jn 4:14), light of the world (Jn 9:5), life and resurrection (Jn 11:25), as the journey travelled teaches, even today, to catechumens who are now soon to receive Christian initiation.  Educated by listening to Jesus, by his instruction and his works, catechumens relive the experience of the Samaritan woman who was thirsty for living water, the experience of the man born blind who opened his eyes to the light, of Lazarus who came out of the tomb.  The gospel carries within itself the strength to transform those who welcome it with faith, tearing them away from the dominion of the devil so that they can learn how to serve the Lord with joy and newness of life.

No one ever approaches the baptismal font alone; we are accompanied by the prayer of the entire Church, as the litany of Saints bears evidence as it precedes the prayer of exorcism and the pre-baptismal anointing with the Oil of Catechumens.  These are gestures which, from ancient times, assure those who are preparing to be reborn as children of God that the prayer of the Church's prayer assists them in their fight against evil, accompanies them on the path toward goodness, helps them to escape the power of sin in order to pass into the kingdom of divine grace.  The prayer of the Church.  The Church prays and prays for everyone, for all of us!  We, the Church, pray for others.  It is beautiful to pray for others.  How many times we do not have any urgent need and so we do not pray.  We must pray, united to the Church, for others: Lord, I ask you to take care of those who are in need, I pray for those who do not have faith ... Don't forget: prayer for the Church is always needed.  We should enter into this prayer and pray for all the people of God and for those who are in need of prayer.  For this reason, the journey of adult catechumens is marked by repeated exorcisms pronounced by the priest (cf Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1237), that is to say, by prayers which invoke liberation from everything that separates us from Christ and impedes us from enjoying intimate union with Him.  Even for children, we ask God to free them from original sin and to consecrate them as the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit (cf Rite of Baptism of Children, 56).  Children: Pray for children, for their spiritual and corporeal health.  One way of protecting children is through prayer.  As the gospel attests, Jesus himself fought against and cast out demons in order to manifest the coming of God's kingdom (cf Mt 12:28): his victory over the power of the devil leaves free space for the lordship of God who rejoices and reconciles with life.

Baptism is not a magic formula but a gift of the Holy Spirit that enables those who receive it to fight against the spirit of evil, believing that God sent his Son into the world to destroy the power of Satan and to transform mankind from darkness into his kingdom of infinite light (cf Rite of Baptism of Children, 56).  We know from experience that Christian life is always a subject of temptation, above all in temptation for us to separate ourselves from God, from his will, from communion with him, so that we fall back into worldly seductions.  And Baptism prepares us, gives us strength to face this daily struggle, even the struggle against the devil who - as Saint Peter says - is like a lion trying to devour us, to destroy us.

Besides prayer, there is also the anointing on the chest with the Oil of Catechumens, who receive strength to renounce the devil and sin, before approaching the font and being reborn to new life (Blessing of the Oils, Prologue, 3).  Because of the oil's property of penetrating into the body's tissues and bringing with it a special benefit, ancient wrestlers used to sprinkle oil in order to tone their muscles and in order to more easily escape from their opponents' grip.  In light of this symbolism, Christians in the early centuries adopted the use of anointing the bodies of candidates for Baptism with oil that was blessed by the Bishop*, in order to indicate, through this sign of salvation, that the strength of Christ our Saviour strengthens us to fight and to overcome evil (cf Rite of Baptism of Children, 105).

It is difficult to fight against evil, to escape its deceptions, to regain strength after a tiring struggle, but we must remember that all Christian life is a fight.  We must however also remember that we are not alone, that our Mother Church is praying that all her children, reborn in Baptism, will not surrender to the insidious presence of the devil but triumph over him through the strength of Christ's resurrection.  Strengthened by the risen Lord, who defeated the prince of this world (cf Jn 12:31), we too can repeat with the faith of Saint Peter: I can do all things in him who strengthens me (Phil 4:13).  We all can triumph, triumph over all trials, with the strength that comes from Jesus.

*Here is the prayer of blessing, which expresses the significance of this oil: O God, support and defence of your people, bless this oil in which you wished to provide for us a sign of your divine strength; give energy and vigour to catechumens who will be anointed with it, so that enlightened by your wisdom, they may understand more profoundly the gospel of Christ; sustained by your power, may they generously assume the commitments of the Christian life; made worthy of adoption as children, may they know the joy of being born again and living in your Church (Blessing of Oil, 21).



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

I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly those from England, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Canada and the United States of America. In the joy of the Risen Christ, I invoke upon you and your families the loving mercy of God our Father. May the Lord bless you all!

At the conclusion of the General Audience, the Holy Father offered the following call:

Next Friday, 27 April, in Panmunjeom there will be an Inter-Korean Summit, which will be attended by the Leaders of the two Koreas, Mister Moon Jae-in and Mister Kim Jong Un.  This encounter will be a favourable occasion to hold a transparent dialogue and to pave a concrete path toward reconciliation and renewed fraternity, in order to guarantee peace on the Korean Peninsula and throughout the entire world.

To the Korean people, who ardently desire peace, I assure my personal prayer and the closeness of the entire Church.  The Holy See accompanies, supports and encourages all useful and sincere efforts to build a better future, in the name of encounter and friendship among all people.  To all those who have direct political responsibility, I ask you to have the courage of hope that you can be artisans of peace, while I exhort you to continue in faith the journey that has begun for the good of all people.  And since God is Father of all and Father of peace, I invite you to pray to our Father, God, the Father of all people, for the Korean people, both those in the South and those in the North.

(Prayer of the Our Father)

Pope to pray in Bari

On July 7 of this year, the Holy Father will travel to Bari, the window on the Orient, where the relics of Saint Nicholas are kept, to spend a day of reflection and prayer concerning the dramatic situation unfolding in the Middle East which is affecting many brothers and sisters in the faith.

His Holiness wishes to invite leaders from the Churches and Christian Communities present in the Middle East to meet with him during this ecumenical gathering.  Beginning now, the Holy Father asks that we pray in preparation for this event.

Tragedy in Toronto

Ten people were killed and at least fifteen others wounded when a rental van was driven onto the sidewalk of a busy street in Toronto yesterday afternoon. Toronto’s police chief, Mark Saunders, said the incident definitely looked deliberate, although the nation’s Public Safety Minister, Ralph Goodale said the horrendous attack does not appear to be connected in any way to national security.

After the van came to a stop, a Toronto police officer confronted the driver, who appeared to be holding a gun. The officer was praised for determining the man did not have weapon and arresting the 25-year-old without further incident. Police Chief Saunders said, The officer on Monday did a fantastic job with respect to utilizing his ability of understanding the circumstance and environment and having a peaceful resolution at the end of the day.

The suspect's name has appeared in various news sources but has not been officially released by police. Authorities are still trying to determine a motive for the attack and are encouraging people to avoid unwarranted speculation.

As news of the tragedy spread, reactions began pouring in. Cardinal Thomas Collins, the Archbishop of Toronto, issued a statement Monday evening.

Statement of His Eminence, Thomas Collins

Cardinal Archbishop of Toronto

I invite the Catholic community across the Archdiocese of Toronto to join me in offering our prayers for all those who were killed and injured in the violent incident earlier today. I will be asking all 225 Catholic churches in the Archdiocese of Toronto to offer special prayer intentions this week for all those who have suffered. Let us all unite in our efforts to bring comfort and care to those who are hurting today.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also responded to the attack, thanking first responders who managed this extremely difficult situation with courage and professionalism. He said the government is monitoring this situation closely and will continue working with our law enforcement partners around the country to ensure the safety and security of all Canadians.

Is He still calling?

The fourth Sunday of the Easter season is consecrated to prayer for Vocations.  While we thank the Lord for His generosity, we also must pray that He will continue to inspire others to respond to His call to follow Him, but it seems that our modern-day society is less and less able to hear this call.  How then will others ever be able to respond?

I know my own and my own know me

Every year, on the fourth Sunday of the Easter season, the Church celebrates the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.  This is usually the day when I tend to think about my own priesthood: about the call from God that was whispered in my ear.  I didn’t answer it right away; in fact, I would say that each day, God continues to whisper in my ear, to invite me to be a priest, and each day, I need to respond to that whisper: I need to say yes to the many ways that Jesus calls me to lay down my life for his people (cf Jn 10:11).

Some of the tasks that Jesus places in my path bring great joy, but others are not easy.  The reality is that over the twenty-five years of my priesthood, the number of priests who are serving in this diocese has declined.  There are about half the number of priests today compared with the number of priests there were then.  The decline in numbers is also being experienced in other dioceses and it is not confined merely to priests: there is also a decline in the number of Religious men and women, by which I mean Sisters, priests and Brothers who belong to various Orders.

Why has this happened?  Has God stopped whispering in the ears of our young people, or is there some other reason?  In truth, I believe that there are a number of reasons, each of which adds another layer to the puzzle.  I do not believe that God has stopped whispering, but perhaps we have forgotten how to listen for these whispers, or perhaps we have grown deaf to them because they are drowned out by competing noises.  Saint John says in today’s second reading that we are all children of God (1 Jn 3:1), but the world does not know us as such because the world no longer seems to know him.

How many of our family members and friends were Baptized and raised with faith as part of their lives, yet have forgotten how to listen for God’s whispers?  There are at least two (if not three) generations of people who now believe that faith is a private matter between God and me, or that it’s not so important for me to make time to be part of a faith community – except perhaps at Christmas or Easter.  Isn’t it funny how so many people have managed to fill up the space that would once have been considered Sacred with so many other activities that they readily admit that they are too busy to find time to take part in a local parish community?  Does this mean that the Church has somehow failed to communicate the fact that we are all precious children of God, or is it simply a matter of convenience that so many people seem to want to pick and choose the elements of faith that are convenient?

It’s difficult at times for us to see these realities in a positive light, but could it be that we are living in a time when persecution is not so much a matter of physical conflict but rather a matter of apathy?  If this is the case, then we must listen all the more for the whispers of God’s voice, prompting us to boldly proclaim the truths that we believe.  Like the apostles Peter and John, people may try to ignore what we have to say about our faith (cf Acts 4:7) but we must always be willing to bravely testify to our faith.  Like Peter, we must courageously tell others that Jesus, the stone that was rejected by the builders, has become the cornerstone (Acts 4:11).  Jesus needs each one of us to joyfully respond to the whispers he shares with us, to share the news of our faith with those we meet, and to encourage others to do the same.

Je connais mes brebis et mes brebis me connaissent

Chaque année, l’Église célèbre la Journée mondiale de la prière pour les vocations en ce quatrième dimanche du temps pascal.  C'est généralement le jour où j'ai tendance à penser à mon propre sacerdoce: à propos de l'appel que Dieu m'a chuchoté à l'oreille. Je n'y ai pas répondu tout de suite à cet appel. En fait, je dirais que chaque jour – même aujourd’hui - Dieu continue de me murmurer à l'oreille, à m'inviter à être prêtre, et chaque jour, j'ai besoin de répondre à ce murmure: je dois dire oui chaque fois que Jésus m’appelle à donner ma vie pour son peuple (cf Jn 10,11).

Certaines des tâches que Jésus place sur mon chemin apportent une grande joie, mais d'autres ne sont pas faciles. En fait, pendant les vingt-cinq ans de mon sacerdoce, le nombre de prêtres qui servent dans ce diocèse a diminué. Il y a environ la moitié du nombre de prêtres aujourd'hui par rapport au nombre de prêtres qu'il y avait auparavant. La diminution du nombre est également expérimentée dans d'autres diocèses et ne se limite pas aux prêtres: il y a aussi une diminution du nombre de religieux et de religieuses, c'est-à-dire de sœurs, de prêtres et de frères appartenant à divers Ordres.

Pourquoi est-ce arrivé? Est-ce que Dieu a cessé de chuchoter à l'oreille de nos jeunes, ou y a-t-il une autre raison? En vérité, je crois qu'il y a plusieurs raisons, dont chacune ajoute une autre couche au casse-tête. Je ne crois pas que Dieu a cessé de chuchoter, mais peut-être avons-nous oublié comment écouter ces chuchotements, ou peut-être que nous en sommes devenus sourds parce que ces chuchotements sont noyés par des bruits concurrents. Saint Jean dit dans la deuxième lecture d'aujourd'hui que nous sommes tous des enfants de Dieu (1 Jn 3,1), mais le monde ne nous connaît pas en tant que tel parce que le monde ne semble plus le connaître.

Combien de nos parents et de nos amis ont été baptisés et élevés dans la foi, mais semblent avoir oublié comment écouter les chuchotements de Dieu? Il y a au moins deux (sinon trois) générations de personnes qui croient maintenant que la foi est une affaire privée entre Dieu et elles-mêmes, ou qu'il n'est pas si important pour elles de prendre le temps de faire partie d'une communauté chrétienne - sauf peut-être à Noël ou à Pâques. N'est-il pas étonnant de voir comment tant de gens ont réussi à remplir l'espace qui aurait été considéré sacré avec tant d'autres activités jusqu’au point où ils admettent volontiers qu'ils sont trop occupés et qu’ils n’ont pas de temps pour participer à la vie d’une communauté paroissiale? Cela signifie-t-il que l'Église a failli de communiquer le fait que nous sommes tous des enfants précieux de Dieu ou est-ce simplement une question de commodité que tant de gens semblent vouloir choisir les éléments de foi qui leur conviennent?

Il nous est parfois difficile de voir ces réalités sous une lumière positive, mais est-ce que nous vivons à une époque où la persécution n'est pas tant une question de conflit physique que d'apathie? Si tel est le cas, alors nous devons écouter d'autant plus les chuchotements de la voix de Dieu, nous incitant à proclamer hardiment les vérités que nous croyons. Comme les apôtres Pierre et Jean, les gens peuvent essayer d'ignorer ce que nous avons à dire sur notre foi (cf Actes 4,7) mais nous devons toujours être prêts à témoigner de notre foi. Comme Pierre, nous devons courageusement dire aux autres que Jésus, la pierre méprisée par les bâtisseurs, est devenu la pierre d’angle (Actes 4,11). Jésus a besoin de nous.  Il faut que chacun de nous réponde avec joie aux murmures qu'il partage avec nous, afin que nous puissions partager les nouvelles de notre foi avec ceux que nous rencontrons et afin d’encourager les autres à faire de même.

Angelus for the Fourth Sunday of Easter

At the conclusion of the Mass celebrated this morning in the Vatican Basilica, during which the Holy Father ordained new priests, His Holiness appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Regina Coeli with the faithful and with pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square for the usual Sunday audience.

Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

prior to the recitation of the Regina Coeli

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

The liturgy for this Fourth Sunday of Easter continues with the intention of helping us to rediscover our identity as disciples of the risen Lord.  In the Acts of the Apostles, Peter openly declares that the healing of the crippled man, which he had performed and about which all of Jerusalem was talking, took place in the name of Jesus, for salvation can be found in no one else (Acts 4:12).  In this man who was healed, we see every one of us - that man is a figure of us: we are all there -, all our communities are present there: everyone can be healed of the many forms of spiritual illness from which we suffer - ambition, laziness, pride - if we accept and place our own existence trustingly into the hands of the Risen Lord.  In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene - Peter affirms - in his presence, he is healed (Acts 4:10).  But who is the healing Christ?  What does it mean to be healed in Him?  From what are we healed?  And through what attitudes?

The response to all these questions is found in today's gospel, where Jesus says: I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd gives his own life for the sheep (Jn 10:11).  This self-presentation of Jesus cannot be reduced to an emotional suggestion, without any concrete effect!  Jesus heals through his being a shepherd who gives his life.  Giving his life for us, Jesus says to each of us: your life is so valuable to me that I have given my own life in order to save yours.  It is this offer of his life that makes him the good shepherd par excellence, the One who heals, the One who allows us to live a beautiful and fruitful life.

The second part of this gospel passage explains in which conditions Jesus can heal us and make our lives joyous and fruitful: I am the good shepherd - Jesus says - I know my sheep and my sheep know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father (Jn 10:14-15).  Jesus is not speaking about intellectual knowledge, no, but rather a personal relationship, a preference, based on reciprocal tenderness, a reflection of the intimate relationship of love that exists between Himself and the Father.  It is this attitude through which we establish a living relationship with Jesus: allowing ourselves to be known by Him.  Let us not close ourselves off to others, but let us be open to the Lord, so that He can know us.  He is attentive to each one of us, he knows our hearts profoundly: he knows our strengths and our fears, the plans that we have accomplished and the hopes that have deluded us.  But he accepts us for who we are, even with our sins, in order to heal us, to forgive us, to lovingly guide us, so that we can cross paths - even if it should seem that He is inaccessible to us - without losing our way.  He constantly accompanies us.

In our turn, we are called to know Jesus.  This implies a personal encounter with Him, an encounter that arouses within us a desire to follow him and to abandon our own self-serving attitudes in order to set out on new paths which are pointed out by Christ himself and which open vast horizons.  When the desire to live in relationship with Jesus, to listen to his voice and to faithfully follow him cools off in our communities, it is inevitable that our ways of thinking and of living, which are not coherent with the gospel begin to prevail.  Mary, our Mother, helps us to develop an ever-stronger relationship with Jesus.  She opens our hearts to Jesus, so that He can enter into our lives.  A stronger relationship: He is risen.  In this way, we can follow him with our entire lives.  On this World Day of Prayer for Vocations, may Mary intercede, so that many people may respond generously and with perseverance to the Lord who calls and leave everything for the sake of His kingdom.



Following the recitation of the Regina Coeli, the Holy Father continued:

Dear brothers and sisters,

I am preoccupied by the events that are taking place in these days in Nicaragua, where following a social protest, clashes have occurred and taken the lives of some victims.  I express my closeness in prayer to that country, and I unite my voice with that of the Bishops who are calling for a stop to all violence, that such useless bloodshed should be avoided and that any open questions should be resolved peacefully and with a sense of responsibility.

As I mentioned earlier, on this fourth Sunday of Easter, the entire Church is celebrating the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.  The theme is: Listen, discern, live the call of the Lord.  Let us thank the Lord for continuing to stir up in the Church stories of love for Jesus Christ, stories of praise for his glory and stories of service to our brothers and sisters.  In particular today, let us thank the Lord for the new priests I have ordained just a little while ago in Saint Peter's Basilica.  Let us ask the Lord to send many good labourers to work in his field, and to multiply vocations to consecrated life and to Christian married life.  As I was saying, today I Ordained sixteen priests.  Of these sixteen, four of them are here with me to greet you, and to give you their blessings along with me.

(Four of the newly-Ordained priests stood with the Pope at the window)

With all my heart, I greet you, Romans and pilgrims from Italy and from many other countries, in particular those who have come from Setúbal, from Lisbon, from Kraków, and the Sisters Pious Disciples of the Divine Master from Korea.

I greet the pilgrims from Castiglione d'Adda, Torralba, Modica, Cremona and Brescia.  The parish choir from Ugovizza; and the young people from Gazzaniga, Pollenza and Cisano sul Neva who have recently been Confirmed.

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

Priestly Ordinations in Rome

At 9:15am this morning in Rome (3:15am EDT), the IV Sunday of Easter and the 55th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, the Holy Father, Pope Francis presided over the celebration of a Mass inside the Vatican Basilica during which he conferred Presbyteral Ordination (priests) upon sixteen deacons, six of which were from the Redemptoris Mater Diocesan College, five of which were from the Pontifical Roman Major Seminary, four of which were from the Family of Disciples and one from the Opera Don Orione.

Also present to concelebrate with the Holy Father were His Excellency, Angelo De Donatis, Vicar General of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome; His Excellency, Gianrico Ruzza, Secretary General of the Vicariate of Rome; the Auxiliary Bishops, Seminary Superiors and Pastors of the newly-Ordained priests.

The Holy Father's homily, which was shared during the Eucharistic celebration was based on the ritual homily proposed in the Italian edition of the Roman Pontifical for the Ordination of Priests; His Holiness also added a few of his own considerations.

Homily of His Holiness, Pope Francis

for the Ordination Mass

Beloved brothers,

These, our brothers have been called to the order of Presbyters.  Let us reflect attentively on the ministry to which they are to be elevated in the Church.  As you know very well, the Lord Jesus is the only High Priest of the New Testament, but also in Him, the entire holy people of God has been established as a priestly people.  Nonetheless, among all of his disciples, the Lord Jesus chose a few in particular to exercise the office of priests in his name, publicly in the Church, in favour of all mankind, continuing his personal mission as teacher, priest and pastor.

In fact, it was for this reason that he was sent by the Father, so that he in turn could send into the world, first the Apostles, then Bishops and their successors, to whom priests were finally added as collaborators, those who are called to serve the People of God in union with them.

Having seriously reflected upon this matter, we are now to elevate to the order of presbyters these brothers of ours, so that in service to Christ, the Teacher, Priest and Pastor, they may work together to build up the Body of Christ which is the Church in the People of God and the holy Temple of the Spirit.

In fact, they will be configured to Christ, the Eternal and High Priest, or they will be consecrated as true priests of the New Testament, and with this title, which unites them in the priesthood with their Bishop, they will be preachers of the gospel, Pastors of the People of God, and will preside over the actions of worship, especially the celebration of the Lord's sacrifice.

As to you, beloved sons and brothers, who are to be raised to the presbyteral order, consider that by exercising the ministry of the Sacred Doctrine, you will participate in the mission of Christ, the only Teacher.  Share with all people the Word of God which you yourselves have received with joy.  Read and meditate carefully upon the Word of the Lord in order to believe what you have read, to teach what you have learned in faith and to live what you have taught.

In this way, you will nourish the People of God with your doctrine, your joy and you will sustain Christ's faithful with the perfume of your own life.  With this word and the example of your lives, you will be able to edify the House of God which is the Church.  You will continue the sanctifying work of Christ.  Through your ministry, the spiritual sacrifice of the faithful is perfected, since it is joined to the sacrifice of Christ which through your hands, in the name of all the Church, is offered bloodlessly upon the altar in the celebration of the Sacred Mysteries.

Therefore, be conscious about what you do.  Imitate what you celebrate in order to participate in the mystery of the death and resurrection of the Lord, bringing the death of Christ into your actions and walk with Him in newness of life.

In Baptism, you will add new faithful to the People of God.  With the Sacrament of Penance, you will forgive sins in the name of Christ and the Church.  And here, I pause to ask you: please, never grow tired of being merciful.  Think about your own sins, your own sufferings which Jesus has forgiven.  Be merciful.  With holy oil, you will comfort the sick.  Celebrating the sacred rites and raising prayers of praise and supplication to the Lord at various hours of the day, you will give voice to the People of God and to all of humanity.

Conscious of the fact that you have been chosen from among men and constituted in their favour to await the things of God, exercise in joy and charity the priestly work of Christ, with the sole intent of pleasing God and not for your own benefit or that of mankind, nor for any other interests, but only in service to God, for the good of the holy and faithful people of God.  Finally, participating in the mission of Christ, the Head and Shepherd, in filial communion with your Bishop, commit yourselves to uniting the faithful into one family in order to lead them to God the Father through Christ in the Holy Spirit.  And constantly hold before your own eyes the example of the Good Shepherd, who did not come to be served but rather to serve and to seek out and save those who were lost.

Speaking with Members of the English College

At 11:30am today (5:30am EDT), in the Consistory Hall at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience the community from the Venerable English College in Rome.

Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

offered to members of the community from the

Venerable English College in Rome

Dear brothers and sisters,

I welcome the staff and students of the Venerable English College in this year marking a number of significant anniversaries in the life of the Church in England and Wales. I thank the Rector for his gracious words. Our meeting today gives me an opportunity to speak to you directly, as a father, from the heart! As you continue your journey of responding to the Lord’s call, I would like to share with you some words of encouragement. Above all I pray that you will grow ever more deeply in your relationship with the Lord and in your attentiveness to others, especially those most in need. Love of God and love of neighbour: the two foundation stones of our lives (cf Mk 12:30-31).

First, love of God. It is good to see young people preparing to make a firm and life-long commitment to the Lord. But this is harder for you than it was for me, because of today’s culture of the temporary. To overcome this challenge, and to help you make an authentic promise to God, it is vital, in these years in seminary, to nurture your interior life, learning to close the door of your inner cell from within. In this way your service to God and the Church will be strengthened and you will find that peace and happiness which only Jesus can give (cf Jn 14:27). Then, as Christ’s joyful witnesses, you in your turn can become recipients of the tribute paid by Saint Philip Neri to your martyr forebears: Salvete flores martyrum!.

Second, love of neighbour. As you know, we do not witness to Christ for our own sake but for others, always in service. And we seek to offer this service not out of mere sentiment, but in obedience to the Lord who kneels down to wash the disciples’ feet (cf Jn 13:34). Nor is our missionary discipleship offered in isolation, but always in cooperation with other priests, religious and lay men and women. At times, loving our neighbour is difficult, which is why, for our ministry to be effective, we need to be firmly grounded in God who loves and sustains us. From this inner strength it is possible to endure… with patience and constancy in doing the good (Gaudete et Exsultate, 112). This inner strength – this fidelity of love – characterized the lives of your college martyrs, and it is essential for us who seek to follow Jesus, who calls us in our poverty to serve his majesty, and who reveals his majesty in the midst of the poor.

One of the ways in which our love of God and neighbour will grow is through living in community. It can be no coincidence that it was your seminary community that formed the lives of forty-four martyrs, enabling them readily to take the missionary oath, made for the first time by Saint Ralph Sherwin in 1578 on the Feast of Saint George. With these saints to guide and inspire you, I hope you will be able to develop that fraternal love capable of seeing the grandeur of our neighbour, of finding God in every human being, of tolerating the nuisances of life in common… (Evangelii Gaudium, 92).

In our Christian life, there is a considerable obstacle that all of us face: fear! But we can overcome it with love, prayer and a good sense of humour (cf Gaudete et Exsultate, 126, and the prayer attributed to Saint Thomas More). So I hope you will not be afraid of difficulties and trials, and the continuous battle against sin. I also encourage you not to be afraid of yourselves. By following the example of your heavenly patron, Saint Thomas of Canterbury, who did not allow his past sinfulness or human limitations to stop him from serving God to the very end, not only will you be able to overcome your own fear, you will also help others overcome theirs.

Finally, by nurturing friendships, good and wholesome relationships that will sustain you in your future ministry, I trust you will come to cherish your real friends, who are not simply those who agree with us, but are gifts from the Lord to help us on the journey to what is true, noble and good (cf Phil 4:8).

It is with affection that I offer you these thoughts, to encourage your faithful love of God, and humble service to your brothers and sisters. Entrusting you to the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Walsingham, I assure you of my prayers for you and your families, and for all who support the mission of the Venerable English College. And I ask you also, please remember to pray for me each day. Thank you.

Video Message to youth in Cuba

The Holy Father sent a video message to Cuba, for the opening of the working sessions being undertaken by participants taking part in a Meeting of Youth Ministry Coordinators which is taking place at the Casa Sacerdotale in L'Avana (Cuba).  The gathering was organized by the National Commission of Youth Ministry, and is being presided over by His Excellency, Álvaro Julio Beyra Luarca, Bishop of Santísimo Salvador de Bayamo y Manzanillo.

Video Message of His Holiness, Pope Francis

addressed to the youth workers in Cuba

Dear young people,

I encourage you to fall in love with Jesus and to be ever more commitmented to the service of the Church in this tangible Cuba of today, without fear of hearing the call of God in the situations that are presented every day. Good citizens, love your land, love your country! Be generous and open your hearts to the Lord!

May the next World Youth Day in Panama and that of Cuba in Santiago not merely be the purpose of the effort you are extending, but may your efforts go further. May you discover that this is an opportunity for each one of you to deepen your faith and to build the Cuban Church of today and tomorrow, the Cuban homeland of today and tomorrow; knowing that you are not alone and that we only build from the community to which we belong, concretely, where we commit ourselves in life and encourage ourselves in our vocations.

I invite you to always keep moving forward: look ahead, love your country, love Jesus and may the Virgin care for you.  Be courageous!