Don't be afraid to ask

This week, the scriptures challenge us to grow in our understanding of the relationship we are invited to enjoy with our God: one of persistence and trust that everything we need will be provided.

Ask

Who among us has not been strolling through the aisles in the grocery store only to come upon a young mother pushing a child in her grocery cart and witnessed the child asking insistently for one item or another?  Perhaps we have seen this scene in a restaurant where parents seem to be doing all they can not to appear frazzled while the children seated around them constantly cry out about one concern or another.  Do you feel sorry for the parents or for the children?  Do you remember a time when you too experienced such moments with your own children or grandchildren?

When a child is still young and innocent, requests of this sort are simple; they can be persistent and are not always timely, but they are made with complete earnestness and trust: they ask for love, they ask for drinks, they ask for food, they ask for protection, they even ask for play.  And they ask over and over again.

The first reading for this Mass presents Abraham who stands before the Lord and asks the same question over and over again (cf Gn 18:23-32), as though he might be a child asking his parent for a treat.  If Abraham could pray with such insistence, why is it that we somehow think that we cannot or should not ask in this way for the things we need?

Sometimes, we need to be reminded that we are also children, God's children.  We have a loving and generous Father who is waiting for us to ask, and he welcomes our persistence too.  Like parents who dream of the day when their children will grow up, our God looks forward to the day when we will come to him with our questions, our doubts and fears, our joys and our successes.  In the gospel passage today, Jesus taught his disciples to pray with simple words (cf Lk 11:1-4).  Let us never be afraid to speak these words in our own prayer, over and over again.  Our God loves us and wants to provide for us.  He has made us alive together with him (Col 2:13).  He wants us to be happy, he wants us to ask persistently, he wants us to live forever with him in heaven.

Demandez

Qui parmi nous ne s'est pas promené dans les allées de l'épicerie pour tomber sur une jeune mère qui pousse un enfant dans son panier d'épicerie et qui a été témoin de l'enfant demandant avec insistance un article ou un autre? Peut-être avons-nous vu cette scène dans un restaurant où les parents semblent faire tout ce qu'ils peuvent pour ne pas paraître troublés, alors que les enfants assis autour d'eux crient sans cesse pour parler d'une préoccupation ou d'une autre. Vous sentez-vous désolé pour les parents ou pour les enfants? Vous souvenez-vous d'une époque où vous aussi avez vécu de tels moments avec vos propres enfants ou petits-enfants?

Lorsqu'un enfant est encore jeune et innocent, les demandes de ce type sont simples. Elles peuvent être persistantes et ne sont pas toujours opportunes, mais elles sont posées sérieusement et avec confiance: les enfants demandent de l'amour, ils demandent des boissons, ils demandent de la nourriture, ils demandent une protection, ils demandent même à jouer. Et ces demandes sont répétées encore et encore.

La première lecture de cette messe présente Abraham qui se tient devant le Seigneur et qui pose la même question encore et encore (cf Gn 18,23-32), comme s'il était peut-être un enfant demandant à ses parents une friandise. Si Abraham pouvait prier avec une telle insistance, pourquoi pensons-nous que nous ne pouvions ou ne devrions pas demander ainsi les choses dont nous avons besoin?

Parfois, il faut nous rappeler que nous sommes aussi des enfants, des enfants de Dieu. Nous avons un père aimant et généreux qui attend que nous lui demandions, et il se félicite également de notre persistance. Comme des parents qui rêvent du jour où leurs enfants vont grandir, notre Seigneur attend avec impatience le jour où nous viendrons à lui afin de présenter nos questions, nos doutes et nos peurs, même nos joies et nos succès. Dans le passage de l'évangile d'aujourd'hui, Jésus a enseigné à ses disciples à prier en utilisant des paroles simples (cf Lc 11, 1-4). N'ayons jamais peur de prononcer ces paroles dans notre propre prière, encore et encore. Notre Dieu nous aime; il veut pourvoir à nos besoins. Il nous a rendus vivants avec lui (Col 2:13). Il veut que nous soyons heureux, il s'attend à ce que nous demandions avec persistance; il veut que nous vivions éternellement avec lui au paradis.

Angelus for the 17th Sunday

At noon today in Rome (6:00am EDT), the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study inside the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Angelus 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!

In today's gospel passage (cf Lk 11:1-13), Saint Luke narrates the circumstances in which Jesus teaches the Our Father.  They - the disciples - already know how to pray, reciting formulas according to the Jewish tradition, but they also want to be able to experience the same quality of prayer that Jesus does. They can see that prayer is an essential dimension of the life of their Master; in fact every one of his important actions is characterized by prolonged periods of prayer.  Moreover, they are fascinated because they see that He does not pray like the other masters of the time, but his prayer is an intimate bond with the Father, so much so that they themselves want to participate in these moments of union with God, in order to fully savour their sweetness.

So it is that one day, they wait for Jesus to conclude his prayer in a secluded place, and then they ask: Lord, teach us to pray (Lk 11:1). Responding to the explicit question of the disciples, Jesus does not give an abstract definition of prayer, nor does he teach an effective technique for praying and getting something. Instead, he invites his followers to experience prayer, placing them directly in communication with the Father, arousing in them a longing for a personal relationship with God, with the Father. This is the novelty of Christian prayer! It is dialogue between people who love each other, a dialogue based on trust, supported by listening and open to solidarity. It is a dialogue between the Son with the Father, a dialogue between children and their Father. This is Christian prayer.

In this way, he gives them the prayer of the Our Father, perhaps the most precious gift left to us by the divine Master during his earthly mission. After having revealed to us his mystery as Son and brother, with that prayer Jesus helps us to penetrate into the paternity of God; I want to emphasize this: when Jesus teaches us, the Our Father makes us enter into the fatherhood of God and shows us the way to enter into a prayerful and direct dialogue with Him through the path of filial confidence: a dialogue between the father and his son, between the son with his father. What we ask in the Our Father is already all done for us in the Only-begotten Son: the sanctification of the name of God, the advent of the Kingdom, the gift of bread, forgiveness and liberation from evil. As we ask, we open our hands to receive: to receive the gifts that the Father showed us in the Son. The prayer that the Lord has taught us is the synthesis of every prayer, and we always address it to the Father in communion with our brothers and sisters. Sometimes it happens that in prayer there are distractions but many times we feel the desire to stop on the first word: Father, and we feel that paternity in the heart.

Then Jesus tells the parable of the importunate friend, and he tells us: we must insist on prayer. I am reminded of what children do when they are three, three and a half years old: they begin to ask for things they do not understand. In my land it is called the age of whys, I believe that even here it is the same. Children begin to look at their dads and say, Dad, why? Dad, why?  They ask for explanations. They pay attention: when the father begins to explain why, they ask another question without listening to the whole explanation. What is happening? It happens that children feel insecure about many things: they begin to understand halfway. They just want to attract their father's gaze upon them and this is the reason for the: Why, why, why?  In the Our Father, if we stop at the first word, we will do the same as when we were children, attract the gaze of the father upon us by saying Father, Father, and also by saying: Why? And He will look at us.

Let us ask Mary, the prayerful woman, to help us pray the Our Father united with Jesus in order to live the gospel, guided by the Holy Spirit.



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

Dear brothers and sisters,

With sadness, I have learned the news of the dramatic shipwreck that occurred in recent days in the waters of the Mediterranean, as a result of which dozens of migrants, including women and children, have lost their lives.  I renew a heartfelt appeal for the international community to act promptly and decisively in order to avoid the repetition of similar tragedies and to guarantee the safety and dignity of all. I invite you to pray with me for the victims and their families. And also to ask in our hearts: Father, why?

They observed a minute of silence

I greet all of you, Romans and pilgrims from Italy and from various parts of the world: families, parish groups and associations.

In particular, I greet the Sisters of Saint Elizabeth who have come from various countries, the AVART International Organization for Mexican Art and Culture of the People and the young people from the Parish of Santa Rita da Cascia in Torino.  I see a Uruguayan flag but I don't see any mate (a favorite drink of the Holy Father)!  Welcome!  I also greet the many Poles who I see here with their flag and also the group of Spaniards.

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

Condolences to Cuba

The Holy Father, Pope Francis has sent condolences for the death of His Eminence, Cardinal Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino, Archbishop emeritus of San Cristobal de La Habana (Cuba), which occurred yesterday.  The telegram was addressed by the Cardinal Secretary of State in the name of the Holy Father to the current Metropolitan Archbishop of San Cristobal de la Habana, His Excellency, Juan de la Caridad Garcia Rodriguez.

Telegram of Condolence

His Excellency, Juan de la Caridad García Rodríguez
Archbishop of San Cristóbal de la Habana

Pope Francis, having received the news of the death of Cardinal Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino, Archbishop emeritus of San Cristóbal de la Habana, asks Your Excellency to have the goodness of communicating to his family members, to the clergy and to the faithful of your Archdiocese, his condolences and paternal closeness.

In addition, while offering prayers for eternal rest for the deceased Cardinal, who served the Church and his brothers in various offices which Providence confided to him, His Holiness grants his Apostolic blessing as a sign of Christian hope in the risen Lord.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Secretary of State
Texto original en español

Watching and waiting

We celebrated a funeral today for a woman who has lived in this community for many decades and who has influenced more individuals than she may ever know.

Funeral homily for Darlene Ann Houle

We have gathered in this place this morning to surround Fern and his three children, as well as the other members of their family with our prayer and concern at a moment that has arrived far before its time (cf Wis 4:7).  In the reflection which he prepared for today, Fern remembered some of the happier times: when both he and Darlene were younger, when they met each other and got to know one another.  Within those words, we can perhaps picture the dreams they entertained about their future together, and the hopes they looked forward to sharing.  Life has a way of running away with us.  Over the years that have come and gone, you have treasured each experience, every opportunity, and created precious memories together.

Last evening, many of those who have shared a part of Darlene's journey gathered here in the church to share their own memories; today, we join you in offering our humble prayers for the salvation of her eternal soul.  As we do, we look back over the years that have come and gone, and we echo the words of the Book of Wisdom: Length of days is not what makes age honourable (Wis 4:8).  Instead, what we remember most fondly about Darlene was the gift of understanding that she so freely shared with so many (cf Wis 4:9).  She began to hone this gift when she was called upon to leave school and to take care of her siblings, and she continued to deepen and strengthen this gift as she shared such deep concern for her husband, her children and the many others who she sought to serve.

Darlene has been an integral part of this parish since the day she arrived in Elliot Lake.  She was always here, praying at Mass, enjoying the fraternity and spirituality of the Catholic Women's League, helping to coordinate funeral luncheons, volunteering at the hospital where she cared for palliative patients and working with children and adults with special needs.  She truly embodied the spirit of a disciple: one who listens to the word of God (cf Jn 5:24) and believes in Him.

Over the past two years, Darlene experienced increasing difficulty with her breathing, but she didn't let that stop her from coming to the church as often as she could, or from living life as she always had, including the annual visits to Boyne and to the local ski hill, and of course taking care of all the visitors who would knock at her door.  When it became increasingly difficult for her to set foot in the church, Fern made sure to take the Eucharist to her so that she would always have the assurance of that special food that we receive whenever we gather around this table.

This gathering is an opportunity for us to pray Darlene home, into her eternal reward, but it is also an occasion for us to look forward in hope.  Saint Paul tells us that we can be quite certain ... about those who have died (1 Thes 4:13), including Darlene.  We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and that it will be the same for those who have died in Jesus ... God will bring us to himself and we shall stay with the Lord forever (1 Thes 4:17).  Today, we commend Darlene's eternal soul into the loving arms of our God.  Even though our hearts are saddened because we are now parted from her, we believe that she is with Jesus in heaven, watching over us and waiting for us.

Associate Director for the Holy See Press Centre appointed

This morning in Rome, the Holy Father appointed Doctor Cristiane Murray to the position of Associate Director of the Holy See Press Centre.

Doctor Cristiane Murray was born on 10 March 1962 in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).  She holds Degrees in Business Administration and Marketing which were granted by the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro.

Since November 1995, she has been working at Vatican Radio, later incorporated into the Communication Department, where she has also edited the newsletters about the activities of the missionary Church in the world, and has been involved with live commentaries and commentaries on pontifical ceremonies, Angelus addresses and Audiences.  She has also taken part in several international journeys of the Holy Father.

Since 2018, she has collaborated with the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops in preparation for the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-amazonian Region.  This gathering will take place in a few months' time.

In addition to Italian and Portuguese, she knows Spanish, French and English.

Condolences to the Spanish Military

Yesterday, the Holy Father, Pope Francis sent condolences for the death of His Eminence, Cardinal José Manuel Estepa Llaurens, the former Military Ordinary (Bishop entrusted with the spiritual care of the Military) in Spain.  His Eminence died on Sunday of this week.

Condolences of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

Addressed to
His Excellency, Juan del Río Martín
Archbishop of the Military Ordinariate in Spain

Having received the news of the death of Cardinal José Manuel Estepa Llaurens, Archbishop emeritus of the Military Ordinariate in Spain, I ask Your Excellency to be so good as to share with his family members as well as the priests and faithful of the Military Ordinariate, my condolences and my spiritual closeness to all of you.

Recalling with gratitude the fruit of his constant and generous service to the Church, I offer prayers for his eternal rest, and at the same time, I willingly offer you my Apostolic blessing as a sign of faith and hope in the risen Christ.

Francis
Texto original en español

Meet the new spokesman

On the first day of his new ministry, the newly-appointed spokesman for Vatican Media issued the following statement:

Today I begin my appointment as director of the Holy See Press Office, after serving there for ten years, in a spirit of service to the Pope and the Holy See, with the experience and strength at my disposal. I thank my colleague and friend Alessandro Gisotti for having generously and expertly led the Press Office in recent months.

I am aware of the delicate and decisive task of sharing information and I am sure that I will find support in my colleagues, of whom I have learned to know the value and professionalism in these intense years of work for the Holy See.

I thank the Holy Father for his trust and the Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, Paolo Ruffini, for the support of the Dicastery, which I know I will miss.

Learning hospitality

Here is the reflection I shared with those who gathered to pray with us this weekend: some simple thoughts about hospitality inspired by Abraham, Martha and Mary.

Lessons in hospitality

When I have the chance, I like to cook a meal, welcome friends and spend time sitting around a table exchanging stories.  Over the years that have come and gone since my Ordination, I have actually managed to assemble a few sets of dishes.  I still like to take the time to set the table - whenever I can - and to make a fuss about creating the right atmosphere for such stories to be told.  In fact, such special occasions are always treasured but I find that as time has gone on, such stories get told no matter whether we are sitting down to an elaborate meal served on expensive dishes or to a simple picnic served on paper plates.

The tradition of welcoming strangers and friends around a dinner table is deeply engrained in the history of humanity, and this is a very good thing.  In the first reading for today's liturgy, we see Abraham involving his entire household in hurried preparations in order to serve unexpected guests (cf Gn 18:1-10).  In the gospel, we find Martha rushing around, and her sister Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus.  When Martha asks Jesus to insist that Mary should help her with the preparations for the meal, his response is a surprise to her: not at all what she had hoped for (cf Lk 10:39-42).

Saint Luke does not tell us how Martha responded to Jesus' words.  We can choose to hear them spoken not as a rebuke, but rather as a tender invitation to come closer, to live life more deeply and to love more richly.  Each of us can make a conscious choice to focus on Jesus Christ.  If we do, we will experience the world around us in light of that choice, and tomorrow, we can choose once again to make Him the central focus of all that we do, and soon enough we will find that we in turn are sharing the word of God with those we encounter (cf Col 1:25).

L'art de l'hospitalité

Lorsque j'en ai l'occasion, j'aime cuisiner, j'aime aussi accueillir des amis et passer du temps assis autour d'une table en échangeant des histoires. Au fil des années qui se sont découlé depuis mon ordination, j'ai même réussi à assembler quelques vaisselles. J'aime toujours prendre le temps de mettre la table et de créer la bonne atmosphère pour que de telles histoires soient racontées. En fait, de telles occasions spéciales sont toujours précieuses, mais je trouve qu'avec le temps, de telles histoires sont racontées, que nous soyons assis pour un repas élaboré servi dans des plats coûteux ou pour un simple pique-nique servi dans des assiettes en papier.

La tradition d'accueillir des étrangers et des amis autour d'une table est profondément enracinée dans l'histoire de l'humanité et c'est une très bonne chose. Lors de la première lecture de la liturgie d'aujourd'hui, nous voyons Abraham engager tout son ménage dans des préparatifs précipités afin de servir des invités inattendus (cf Gn 18,1-10). Dans l'évangile, nous trouvons Marthe qui se précipite et sa sœur Marie assise aux pieds de Jésus. Lorsque Marthe demande à Jésus d'insister pour que Marie l'assiste à préparer le repas, sa réponse est une surprise pour elle: pas du tout ce qu'elle avait attendu (cf Lc 10,39-42).

Saint Luc ne nous dit pas comment Marthe a répondu aux paroles de Jésus. Nous pouvons choisir de les entendre non pas comme une réprimande, mais comme une tendre invitation à se rapprocher, à vivre plus profondément et à aimer plus richement. Chacun de nous peut choisir consciemment de se concentrer sur Jésus-Christ. Si nous le faisons, nous ferons l'expérience du monde qui nous entoure à la lumière de ce choix et, demain, nous pourrons choisir une fois de plus de le placer au centre de tout ce que nous faisons. Bientôt, nous constaterons que nous partageons les paroles du Seigneur avec ceux et celles que nous rencontrons (cf Col 1,25).

Angelus for the 16th Sunday

At noon today in Rome (6:00am EDT), the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study inside the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Angelus 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!

In the gospel passage for this Sunday, the evangelist Luke narrates the visit of Jesus to the house of Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus (cf Lk 10:38-42).  They welcome him, and Mary sits at his feet and listens to him; she leaves what she is doing to be close to Jesus: she does not want to miss any of his words. Everything has to be put aside because, when he comes to visit us in our lives, his presence and his word come before everything else. The Lord always surprises us: when we really start to listen to him, clouds vanish, doubts give way to truth, fears give way to serenity, and the different situations of life find their rightful places. When he comes, the Lord always arranges things, even for us.

In this scene of Mary of Bethany at the feet of Jesus, Saint Luke shows the prayerful attitude of the believer, who knows how to stay in the presence of the Master to listen to him and to be in tune with Him. It is a matter of taking a break during the day, of recollecting in silence for a few minutes in order to make room for the Lord who is passing by and finding the courage to remain a little apart with him, and then returning to everyday things with serenity and effectiveness. Praising the behaviour of Mary, who chose the best part (Lk 10:42), Jesus seems to say to each of us: Do not be carried away by things you have to do, but listen first of all to the voice of the Lord in order to perform well the tasks that life assigns to you.

Then there is the other sister, Martha. Saint Luke says that it was she who hosted Jesus (cf Lk 10:38). Perhaps Martha was the older of the two sisters, we don't know, but certainly this woman had the charisma of hospitality. In fact, while Mary was listening to Jesus, she was completely occupied by her many chores. Therefore Jesus tells her: Martha, Martha, you are worried and concerned about many things (Lk 10:41). With these words, he certainly does not intend to condemn her attitude of service, but rather the anxiety with which this attitude is sometimes experienced. We too share Martha's concern and, following her example, we propose to ensure that, in our families and in our communities, we live with a sense of acceptance, of fraternity, so that everyone can feel at home, especially the little ones and the poor when they knock at our door.

Therefore, today's Gospel reminds us that the wisdom of the heart lies precisely in knowing how to combine these two elements: contemplation and action. Martha and Mary show us the way. If we want to enjoy life with joy, we must associate these two attitudes: on the one hand, being at the feet of Jesus to listen to him while he reveals the secret of everything to us; on the other hand, being attentive and ready with hospitality when He passes and knocks on our door, with the face of a friend who needs a moment of refreshment and fraternity. We need this hospitality.

May Mary Most Holy, the Mother of the Church, grant us the grace to love and serve God and our brothers and sisters with the hands of Martha and the heart of Mary, so that by always listening to Christ we can be artisans of peace and hope. And this is interesting: with these two attitudes we will be artisans of peace and hope.



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

Dear brothers and sisters,

Fifty years ago yesterday, mankind placed his feet on the moon, achieving an extraordinary dream.  May the memory of that great step for humanity ignite the desire to progress together toward even greater goals: more dignity for the weak, more justice among peoples, more future for our common home.

Now I offer a cordial greeting to all of you, Romans and pilgrims!  In particular, I greet the novices from the Sisters of Mary, Help of Christians who have gathered from various countries.  In a special way, I greet you and I hope that some of you will go to Patagonia: we need to work there!  I greet the alumni from the Cristo Rey di Assunción College (Paraguay), the seminarians and formators from the Opera Don Guanella di Iaşi (Romania), the young people from Chiry-Ourscamp (France) and the faithful from Cantù.

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

New Director for the Vatican Press Centre

Yesterday, the Holy Father, Pope Francis appointed the illustrious Doctor Matteo Bruni as the new Director of the Holy See Press Centre, effective on 22 July 2019.

Matteo Bruni

Doctor Matteo Bruni was born on 23 November 1976 in Winchester (Great Britain).  He holds degrees in Modern and Foreign Languages and Literature granted by the Sapienza University in Rome.

Since July 2009, he has been working at the Holy See Press Centre, where he was tasked with the accreditation of journalists and the management of communications operations for the Press as coordinator of the Accreditation Section.

In December 2013, he took on the responsibility of organizing and accompanying all members of the Press who were admitted aboard the Papal flights on the occasion of the Holy Father's visits outside Italy.

At the beginning of 2016, he was appointed as Coordinator of the Media Operations and Accreditation sector of the Holy See Press Centre.  In this role, he coordinated the participation of the Press in various events during the Jubilee of Mercy.

He has been involved for some time in the ecclesiastical sphere, including humanitarian cooperation projects and programmes to support the elderly.

He is married and has one daughter.

In addition to Italian, he speaks English, Spanish and French.

Alessandro Gisotti

The Holy Father has appointed the illustrious Doctor Sergio Centofanti as well as Doctor Alessandro Gisotti as Deputy Directors in charge of the Editorial Direction of the Dicastery for Communication.  This appointment takes effect on 22 July 2019.

Statement issued by Alessandro Gisotti

interim Director of the Holy See Press Centre

On 21 July my responsibility as interim Director of the Holy See Press Office will conclude. I am grateful to the Holy Father for the privilege he gave me in being his spokesman during such an intense period of his Pontificate, and for now offering me the opportunity to continue in his service as Deputy Editorial Director of the Vatican’s media. I am grateful to him for his constant fatherly support. I thank the Pope, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, and the Superiors of the Secretariat of State for respecting my decision, communicated at the beginning of my mandate and later confirmed, that I would carry out this very important role for a limited time. Even though filled with events, this time permitted a reorganization of the Press Office based on a common commitment with the Prefect, Paolo Ruffini, taken up six months ago.

As stated at the time of my appointment last 31 December, I took on this responsibility in a spirit of service, aware of this exceptional and unprecedented moment for the Holy See Press Office, given the sudden resignations of the Director and Vice Director. During these extremely busy six months – most especially also for my family - I received the full support of the Prefect Paolo Ruffini and my colleagues at the Press Office to whom I owe deep gratitude. I also had a particularly positive experience working with my fellow journalists, a relationship characterized by reciprocal respect, even during unavoidable confrontational moments. In that regard, among the initiatives accomplished under my direction, I would like to recall the naming of the hall in the Press Office where the journalists work as the Sala Joaquín Navarro-Valls. This example underscores that, in the Church and at the Holy See, information counts and must more and more increase in importance.


I am sure that Matteo Bruni will know how to manage the extraordinary team here at the Press Office in the best way possible. I offer him my best wishes for success, as well as my availability to collaborate.

A gentle soul

Today, we celebrated the funeral Mass for my baby brother.  He has been suffering for many years, most of those in silence and with great humility.  Here is the homily I shared during the Mass.

Funeral homily for Peter David Man-Son-Hing

The phone rang shortly after 5:30 that morning and I heard two words: Peter's gone.  A flood of thoughts and emotions seemed to invade my still-sleeping brain, each of them fighting for my attention, struggling to make sense of the words I had just heard.  But these were words that didn't make any sense.  These were words that instantly seemed to change what was real.  For the next few hours, it seemed as though time stood still.  My mind was racing and yet it was as though it wasn't able to process thoughts.  A few days have now gone by.  In some ways, it still feels as though we cannot comprehend, but we are here, gathered together in this place to do what our faith teaches us to do. 

At another time in history, two sisters, Martha and Mary, also experienced the reality of being separated from their beloved brother.  As was the custom at the time, many Jews came to Martha and Mary to console them (Jn 11:19), but one of their friends - the one who had shared their table with them on many other occasions - was not there.  At other times, Jesus had sat at table with them.  They had heard about the miracles that he had been performing in other places, and now they had hoped that if only he had visited while Lazarus was sick, surely he could have worked a miracle for them too ... but Jesus had not come to visit.  Lazarus had died and had been buried.

Forty-eight years ago, God entrusted Peter to our loving parents.  Like all children, Paul, Peter and I have our own memories of the joys that we experienced, many of which we have shared with you.  As newborn babies, each of us was baptized.  Our parents - and other people of faith - introduced us to Jesus, and helped us to deepen our faith so that we too now know Jesus and call him our friend.  We have given thanks in times of celebration and we have learned to turn to Jesus in times of doubt, for he is a loving friend, another brother who is always with us.

At an age that was much too young, Peter was diagnosed with Lupus, yet he never allowed this reality to invade his spirit.  When the doctors told him to stay out of the sun, he sat in the yard and basked in its warmth.  Over the past two decades or so, this disease has continued its progression.  Despite its insistence, Peter did not give in.  He completed his studies in the field of Prosthetics and Orthotics, he moved to Fort Lauderdale and basked in the sunshine there while pursuing his dream of one day helping many other people in need.  When the progression of the disease made it more and more difficult for him to remain there, he returned home to the place where he - and we - have always been welcomed.

Like our home in Brampton, the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus was also a place of welcome for Jesus and his disciples.  They had been there on many previous occasions; they knew that place very well.  When they had been tired out by the trials of life, that home provided them with a place to rest and to be refreshed.  On many occasions, Jesus had shared meals with these friends, had spoken with them about various subjects, including the story of faith that they shared in common.  Among the beliefs that Christians share with Jews is the understanding that when we have completed our earthly journeys we will rise again on the last day (Jn 11:24).  Even in the midst of their grief, Jesus continued to teach them.  When Martha affirmed her belief, Jesus replied: I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me ... will live (Jn 11:25).

Our brother Peter has left us far too early (cf Wis 4:7).  Not having been granted an extended number of years, he was however graced with a quiet spirit and an understanding heart that was far beyond his years in its wisdom.  Shortly after he had returned home from Florida, he met Lisa.  Over these past fourteen years, they have shared many happy times.  You made him truly happy.  He loved you with all his heart, and he loved you and his precious Ayla more than either of you will ever know.  Trying to envision the future without him may indeed seem unthinkable, but we can take courage in knowing that he was pleasing in the eyes of God, and was always deeply loved.  He has now been taken up ... so that the temptations of this world can no longer influence his understanding, nor can his soul be deceived (cf Wis 4:10-11).

Later today, we will go forth from this place to continue the journey of our own lives.  As we do, never let us be doubtful about Peter or about the future of anyone of our loved ones who have died: those who have faith in the promise of our loving God. Let us not grieve as others do who have no hope (1 Thes 4:13).  Our faith has always taught us that Jesus died and rose again.  As a result, we who are beloved children of God can be sure that God will bring Peter and all those who have died to live with him (cf 1 Thes 4:14).

In the meanwhile, let us continue this moment of prayer.  Gathering around this altar and participating in this act of faith, let us stand before the Lord and speak the words of faith that were uttered by Lazarus' sister Martha: Yes Lord, we believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God (Jn 11:27).

Dearest friends, let us encourage one another with these words of faith (1 Thes 4:18).  Amen.

Angelus for the 15th Sunday

At noon today in Rome (6:00am EDT), the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study inside the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Angelus 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!

Today, the gospel presents the famous parable of the good Samaritan (cf Lk 10:25-37).  Interrogated by the doctors of the law about what is needed in order to enter into eternal life, Jesus invites them to find the response in the scriptures and says: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbour as yourself (Lk 10:27).  There were however various interpretations about the meaning of the word neighbour.  In fact, the man asked for further clarification: And who is my neighbour (Lk 10:29).  At this point, Jesus responded with the parable, this beautiful parable: I invite all of you to take up the gospel today, the gospel of Luke, chapter ten, verse 25.  It is among the most beautiful parables in the gospel.  And this parable has become a paradigm for Christian life.  It has become the model for how all Christians should act.  Thanks to the evangelist Luke, we have this treasure.

The protagonist of this short story is a Samaritan, who meets a man who has been robbed and beaten by brigands along the way and takes care of him. We know that the Jews treated the Samaritans with contempt, considering them foreigners to the chosen people. It is therefore no coincidence that Jesus chose a Samaritan as a positive character in the parable. In this way he wants to overcome prejudice, showing that even a foreigner, even one who does not know the true God and does not attend his temple, is able to behave according to his will, feeling compassion for his needy brother and helping him by all means.

On that same road, prior to the Samaritan, a priest and a Levite had already passed by, that is, people dedicated to the worship of God. However, seeing the poor man on the ground, they had gone on ahead without stopping, probably so as not to be contaminated with his blood. They had put a human rule before them - not contaminating themselves with blood - linked to the great commandment of God, which first of all desires mercy.

Therefore, Jesus proposed the Samaritan as a model, precisely one who had no faith! We can also think of so many people we know, perhaps agnostics, who do good. Jesus chose as a model one who was not a man of faith. And this man, by loving his brother as himself, shows that he loves God with all his heart and with all his strength - the God he does not know! -, and expresses at the same time true religiosity and full humanity.

After recounting this beautiful parable, Jesus turned back to the doctor of the law who had asked him Who is my neighbour" And he said to him: Which of these do you think was close to him who fell into his hands of the brigands? (Lk 10:36). In this way he reversed the question proposed by its interlocutor, and also the logic of all of us. It helps us understand that it is not we who, according to our criteria, define who is our neighbour and who is not; our neighbour is the person in need who must be able to recognize who is his neighbour, that is who has had compassion for him (Lk 10:37). Being able to have compassion: this is the key. This is our key. If you do not feel pity before a needy person, if your heart is not moved, then something is wrong. Be careful, be careful. We should not let ourselves be carried away by selfish insensitivity. The capacity for compassion has become the touchstone of the Christian, indeed of Jesus' teaching. Jesus himself is the compassion of the Father towards us. If you go down the street and see a homeless man lying there and pass by without looking at him or think: He's under the influence of wine, he's a drunk, ask yourself if that man is drunk, ask yourself if your heart has not stiffened, if your heart has not become like ice. This conclusion indicates that mercy towards a human life in need is the true face of love. This is how one becomes a true disciple of Jesus and the face of the Father is manifested: Be merciful, as your Father is merciful (Lk 6:36). And God, our Father, is merciful, because he has compassion; he is capable of having this compassion, of approaching our pain, our sin, our vices, our suffering.

May the Virgin Mary help us to understand and above all to always live more and more the unbreakable bond that exists between love for God our Father and concrete and generous love for our brothers, and give us the grace to have compassion and to grow in compassion.



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

Dear brothers and sisters,

Once again, I wish to express my closeness to the beloved people of Venezuela, particularly tried by the enduring crisis.  Let us ask the Lord to inspire and to illuminate the parties involved, so that they may finally achieve an agreement that will bring an end to the suffering of the people, and be for the good of the country and for that entire region.

I warmly greet all of you, Romans and pilgrims from Italy and from various parts of the world: families, parish groups and associations.

In particular, I greet the young people from the Diocese of Pamplona y Tudela, those who are participating in the formation course organized by Regnum Christi, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth who are here to celebrate their General Chapter, and the young people from Bolgare (Bergamo) who have recently been Confirmed.

I send a cordial greeting to the Polish faithful, to you (indicating the Polish faithful in the Square), and to those who are participating in the annual pilgrimage organized by Radio Maria at the Shrine in Czestochowa.  Let us all greet the Polish pilgrims.

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

Condolences for a Cardinal

Yesterday, Saturday, 13 July 2019, the Holy Father, Pope Francis sent a telegram of condolence for the death of His Eminence, Cardinal Paolo Sardi.  The telegram was addressed to Mister Pietro Angelo Sardi and the family members of the deceased Cardinal.

Telegram of Condolence

of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

To Mister Pietro Angelo Sardi

Having learned the sad news of the departure of Cardinal Paolo Sardi, I express my sincere condolences to you, to your wife and to all your family members, as well as to the Diocesan community of Acqui.

In the light of faith, I give thanks to God for the edifying testimony provided by the deceased Cardinal, who spent the majority of his life in service to the Holy See: his priestly soul, his theological preparation, his gifts of engineering and wisdom which he applied to assiduous and discrete work, by means of which he gave a valuable contribution to the ministries of Saint Paul VI, John Paul I, Saint John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

I join my prayers with those being offered by the numerous faithful who daily gather at the altar inside the Vatican Basilica where he celebrated Mass, faithful to his Episcopal motto: Esto Vigilans (Be Watchful).  He was a good and vigilant servant; therefore we confirm that, accompanied by the Virgin May, the Saints Peter and Paul and by the Holy Bishop Guido of Acqui, he may be welcomed into the eternal life of heaven.

Francis

The funeral Mass for Cardinal Paolo Sardi will be celebrated inside the Vatican Basilica, at the Altar of the Chair, tomorrow (Monday, 15 July 2019) at 10:30am local time.  His Eminence, Cardinal Tarciso Bertone, SDB will preside over the Mass, together with other Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops.  At the conclusion of the Eucharistic Celebration, the Holy Father, Pope Francis will preside over the liturgy of Final Commendation.

Retirement of a Canadian Bishop

This morning, the Holy Father, Pope Francis accepted the resignation from pastoral government of the Diocese of Mont-Laurier (Quebec) which was presented by His Excellency, Paul Lortie.

His Excellency was born in Beauport, Quebec on 17 March 1944 and was Ordained as a priest of the Archdiocese of Quebec (Quebec City, Canada) on 16 May 1970.   On 7 April 2009, Pope Francis appointed him as Auxiliary Bishop of Quebec and on 2 February 2012, transferred him to the Diocese of Mont-Laurier, Quebec where he has served until today.

His Holiness has appointed His Excellency, Paul-André Durocher, Archbishop of Gatineau as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Mont-Laurier, a post he will fulfill in addition to his other administrative duties.

Mass for Migrants celebrated in Rome

At 11:00am this morning local time (5:00am EDT), inside the Vatican Basilica, at the Altar of the Chair, the Holy Father, Pope Francis presided over the Eucharistic celebration on the occasion of the VI anniversary of his visit to Lampedusa.

Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

at the Mass commemorating 

the sixth anniversary of his visit to Lampedusa

Today the word of God speaks to us of salvation and liberation.

Salvation. During his journey from Beersheba to Haran, Jacob decides to stop and rest in a solitary place. In a dream, he sees a ladder: its base rests on the earth and its top reaches to heaven (cf Gen 28:10-22). The ladder, on which angels of God are ascending and descending, represents the connection between the divine and the human, fulfilled historically in Christ’s incarnation (cf Jn 1:51), which was the Father’s loving gift of revelation and salvation. The ladder is an allegory of the divine action that precedes all human activity. It is the antithesis of the Tower of Babel, built by men with their own strength, who wanted to reach heaven to become gods. In this case, however, it is God who comes down; it is the Lord who reveals himself; it is God who saves. And Emmanuel, God-with-us, fulfils the promise of mutual belonging between the Lord and humanity, in the sign of an incarnate and merciful love that gives life in abundance.

Faced with this revelation, Jacob makes an act of trust in the Lord, which becomes a work of recognition and adoration that marks a key moment in the history of salvation. He asks the Lord to protect him on the difficult journey he must make, and says: The Lord shall be my God (Gen 28:21).

Echoing the words of the patriarch, we repeated in the psalm: O my God, I trust in you. He is our refuge and our strength, our shield and our armour, our anchor in times of trial. The Lord is a refuge for the faithful who call on him in times of tribulation. For it is indeed at such moments that our prayer is made purer, when we realize that the security the world offers has little worth, and only God remains. God alone opens up heaven for those who live on earth. Only God saves.

This total and absolute trust is shared by the head of the synagogue and the sick woman in the Gospel (cf Mt 9:18-26). These are scenes of liberation. Both draw close to Jesus in order to obtain from him what no one else can give them: liberation from sickness and from death. On the one hand, there is the daughter of one of the city authorities; on the other, a woman afflicted by a sickness that has made her an outcast, marginalized, someone impure. But Jesus makes no distinctions: liberation is generously given to each of them. Their longing places both the woman and the girl among the least who are to be loved and raised up.

Jesus reveals to his disciples the need for a preferential option for the least, those who must be given the front row in the exercise of charity. There are many forms of poverty today; as Saint John Paul II wrote: The ‘poor’, in varied states of affliction, are the oppressed, those on the margin of society, the elderly, the sick, the young, any and all who are considered and treated as ‘the least’ (Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata, 82).

On this sixth anniversary of the visit to Lampedusa, my thoughts go out to those least ones who daily cry out to the Lord, asking to be freed from the evils that afflict them. These least ones are abandoned and cheated into dying in the desert; these least ones are tortured, abused and violated in detention camps; these least ones face the waves of an unforgiving sea; these least ones are left in reception camps too long for them to be called temporary. These are only some of the least ones who Jesus asks us to love and raise up. Unfortunately the existential peripheries of our cities are densely populated with persons who have been thrown away, marginalized, oppressed, discriminated against, abused, exploited, abandoned, poor and suffering. In the spirit of the Beatitudes we are called to comfort them in their affliction and offer them mercy; to sate their hunger and thirst for justice; to let them experience God’s caring fatherliness; to show them the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. They are persons; these are not mere social or migrant issues! This is not just about migrants, in the twofold sense that migrants are first of all human persons, and that they are the symbol of all those rejected by today’s globalized society.

We spontaneously return to the image of Jacob’s ladder. In Christ Jesus, the connection between earth and heaven is guaranteed and is accessible to all. Yet climbing the steps of this ladder requires commitment, effort and grace. The weakest and most vulnerable must to be helped. I like to think that we could be those angels ascending and descending, taking under our wings the little ones, the lame, the sick, those excluded: the least ones, who would otherwise stay behind and would experience only grinding poverty on earth, without glimpsing in this life anything of heaven’s brightness.

This is, brothers and sisters, a tremendous responsibility, from which no one is exempt if we wish to fulfil the mission of salvation and liberation in which the Lord himself has called us to cooperate. I know that many of you, who arrived just a few months ago, are already assisting brothers and sisters who have come even more recently. I want to thank you for this most beautiful example of humanity, gratitude and solidarity.
Testo originale nella lingua italiana
Texte en français

Good news worth sharing

Here is the text of the reflection I prepared for this weekend's Masses: some thoughts about the good news of the gospel, so seldom acknowledged in our world, yet so sorely needed.

News worth reporting

Have you ever noticed that the secular media tends to sensationalize everything?  In the society of instant access, we are bombarded with the latest developments in all kinds of news, and yet it seems that more often than not, it is only the bad news that we hear: tragedies, earthquakes, fire, destruction, suffering ... the list goes on.  Yet there is so seldom any reference to good news, the kind of news that would make us happy, the kind of news that might make our hearts sing.

In contrast to the secular media, the gospel passages are filled with good news.  In today's first reading, the prophet Isaiah speaks of a God who is calling all people to rejoice with Jerusalem and to be glad because of her (Is 66:10).  Long before Isaiah came upon the scene, the Israelite people knew that they were a chosen people, but over time, they had begun to loose their focus.  They had started forgetting the promises made by our God, and where doubt had entered, they were becoming wayward.  Isaiah reminded them that the Lord's promises were not empty.  In fact, the Lord's promises are enduring.  Therefore, even when they heard nothing but discouraging news, God's people have always been able to turn to Him and to be reassured, for our God constantly says to us: I will spread prosperity ... like a river, and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing torrent (Is 66:12).

We need to hear these words every day, for they speak of great hopefulness, and our world is so much in need of hope.  Jesus knew that the people of his time needed hope as well.  That is why our Father in heaven sent him to live among us in the first place.  In time, he shared the gift of hope with his disciples and with the crowds who would gather to listen to his preaching.  Then, when he felt as though they were ready for the task of sharing the gift of hope with others, the Lord appointed seventy-two of them whom he sent ahead of him in pairs (Lk 10:1).  Against the overwhelming influence of the world's pessimism, these chosen ones were sent to various places in order to proclaim God's peace (cf Lk 10:5), to cure the sick and to proclaim the good news of the kingdom (cf Lk 10:9).

Ever since the time of those first apostles, which is to say, the seventy-two who were sent out in pairs, many others have also been sent out into the harvest.  Among the first to be sent out were the disciples.  In the second reading that we heard today, Saint Paul reminds the early Christians at Galacia that for him, there was no more important task than to boast ... in the cross of our Lord, Jesus Christ (Gal 6:14) for although the cross had been perceived as an instrument of torture, Christ changed all that in the Pascal mystery.

The task entrusted to the disciples has also been entrusted to us.  We who have come to believe that Jesus died on a cross, and then rose again, must never tire of sharing this good news with the world, and it is up to us to find ways of sharing this good news.  When others would rather speak of calamities, we must choose to speak of hope.  When others try to entice us to look forlornly at the world around us, we must point to the cross and remind them that it is no longer an instrument of torture, but rather a symbol of triumph.

Des nouvelles à signaler

Avez-vous déjà remarqué que les médias laïques ont tendance à tout sensationnaliser? Dans la société d'accès instantané, nous sommes bombardés des dernières nouvelles en matière d’actualités, et pourtant, il semble que le plus souvent, ce ne sont que les mauvaises nouvelles que nous entendons: des tragédies, des tremblements de terre, des feux, de la destruction, des souffrances. .. la liste continue. Pourtant, on retrouve rarement des références à de bonnes nouvelles, au genre d’actualités qui nous rendraient heureux, au genre de nouvelles qui pourraient faire chanter nos cœurs.

Contrairement aux médias laïques, les passages de l'évangile sont remplis de bonnes nouvelles. Dans la première lecture que nous avons entendue aujourd'hui, le prophète Isaïe parle d'un Dieu qui appelle tout le monde à se réjouir à Jérusalem et à se réjouir à cause d'elle (Is 66:10). Bien avant qu'Isaïe soit arrivé sur la scène, le peuple israélite savait qu'il était un peuple élu, mais avec le temps, ils avaient commencé à perdre de vue son objectif. Ils avaient commencé à oublier les promesses de notre Seigneur et, là où le doute était entré, ils devenaient capricieux. Isaïe leur a rappelé que les promesses du Seigneur n'étaient pas vides. En fait, les promesses du Seigneur tiennent. Par conséquent, même quand ils n'ont entendu que des nouvelles décourageantes, le peuple de Dieu a toujours été capable de se tourner vers lui et d'être rassuré, car notre Dieu nous dit constamment: je répandrai la prospérité ... comme un fleuve et les richesses des nations comme un torrent débordant (Is 66:12).

Nous avons besoin d’entendre ces paroles chaque jour, car elles parlent d’un grand espoir et notre monde a tellement besoin d’espoir. Jésus savait que les gens de son temps avaient aussi besoin d'espoir. C'est pourquoi notre Père céleste l'a envoyé vivre d'abord parmi nous. Avec le temps, il partagea le don de l'espoir avec ses disciples et avec la foule qui se rassemblait pour écouter sa prédication. Puis, se sentant prêt à partager le don de l'espoir avec d'autres, le Seigneur en désigna soixante-douze, qu'il envoya deux par deux devant lui (Luc 10: 1). Contre l'influence écrasante du pessimisme mondial, ces élus ont été envoyés dans divers lieux afin de proclamer la paix de Dieu (cf Lc 10, 5), de guérir les malades et de proclamer la bonne nouvelle du royaume (Lc 10, 9).

Depuis le temps des premiers apôtres, c'est-à-dire les soixante-douze qui ont été envoyés deux par deux, beaucoup d'autres personnes ont également été envoyées à la moisson. Parmi les premiers à être envoyés figuraient les disciples. Dans la deuxième lecture que nous avons entendue aujourd'hui, saint Paul rappelle aux premiers chrétiens de Galatie que pour lui, la tâche la plus importante était de se vanter ... dans la croix de notre Seigneur, Jésus-Christ (Gal 6:14), bien que la croix ait été perçue comme un instrument de torture, le Christ a tout changé par le mystère pascal.

La tâche confiée aux disciples nous a également été confiée. Nous qui croyons que Jésus est mort sur une croix, puis qu'il est ressuscité, nous ne devons jamais négliger une occasion de partager cette bonne nouvelle avec le monde entier, et il nous appartient de trouver le moyen de la partager. Lorsque d’autres préfèrent parler de calamités, nous devons choisir de parler d’espoir. Lorsque d'autres tentent de nous inciter à regarder le monde qui nous entoure avec impatience, nous devons leur montrer la croix et leur rappeler que ce n'est plus un instrument de torture, mais plutôt un symbole de triomphe.

Angelus for the XIV Sunday of Ordinary Time

At noon today in Rome (6:00am EDT), the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to lead the recitation of the Angelus along with pilgrims and the faithful who were 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 passage (cf Lk 10:1-12.17-20) presents Jesus who sends seventy-two disciples on a mission, in addition to the twelve apostles. The number seventy two probably indicates all nations. In fact in the book of Genesis seventy-two different nations are mentioned (cf Gn 10,1-32). Thus this sending prefigures the mission of the Church to proclaim the Gospel to all peoples. Jesus said to those disciples: The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few! Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest (Lk 10:2).

This request made by Jesus is always valid. We must always pray to the Lord of the harvest, that is God the Father, so that he sends workers to work in his field which is the world. And each of us must do it with an open heart, with a missionary attitude; our prayer should not be limited only to our needs, our own needs: a prayer is truly Christian if it also has a universal dimension.

In sending the seventy-two disciples, Jesus gives them precise instructions, which express the characteristics of the mission. The first - we have already seen -: pray; the second: go; and then: do not carry a bag ...; say, Peace to this house ... stay in that house ... Don't go from one house to another; heal the sick and tell them: the Kingdom of God is near you; and, if they do not welcome you, go out into the squares and take your leave (cf Lk 10:2-10). These imperatives show that the mission is based on prayer; that it is itinerant: it is not standing still, it is itinerant; which requires detachment and poverty; which brings peace and healing, signs of the nearness of the Kingdom of God that it is not proselytism but announcement and testimony; and which also requires frankness and evangelical freedom to leave, highlighting the responsibility of having rejected the message of salvation, but without condemnations and curses.

If it is experienced in these terms, the mission of the Church will be characterized by joy. And how does this step end? The seventy-two returned full of joy (Lk 10:17). This is not an ephemeral joy that comes from the success of the mission; on the contrary, it is a joy rooted in the promise that Jesus speaks: your names are written in heaven (Lk 10:20). With this expression he is referring to inner joy, the indestructible joy that comes from the awareness of being called by God to follow his Son. That is the joy of being his disciples. Today, for example, each of us, here in the Piazza, can think of the name we received on the day of Baptism: that name is written in heaven, in the heart of God the Father. And it is the joy of this gift that makes every disciple a missionary, one who walks in the company of the Lord Jesus, who learns from him to give of himself without reserve for others, one who is free from himself and from his own possessions.

Together, let us invoke the maternal protection of Holy Mary, that in every place, she may support the mission of Christ's disciples; the mission of proclaiming to all people that God loves us, that he wants us to be saved, that he is calling us to be part of his Kingdom.



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

Dear brothers and sisters,

Even if a few days have already passed, I invite you to pray for the poor defenceless people killed or injured as a result of the air attack that hit a migrant detention centre in Libya. The international community cannot tolerate such serious facts. I am praying for the victims: may the God of peace welcome the dead to himself and support the wounded. I hope that the humanitarian corridors for the most needy migrants will be organized in an extended and concerted way. I also remember all the victims of the massacres that recently took place in Afghanistan, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Let's pray together.

A moment of silence

I offer a cordial welcome to all of you, Romans and pilgrims!  I greet the students from the Scuola Sant-Ignazio in Cleveland (USA), the young people from Basiasco and Mairago, and the priests who are participating in a course for formators, organized by the Sacerdos Institute in Rome.  I greet the Eritrean community resident here in Rome: dear brothers and sisters, I am praying for your people!  And I greet all the Poles who are here with us!

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

Message sent to the Laudato Si' Community

Planet of the Amazon  is the theme for the II Forum of the Laudato si' Communities which is taking place today in Amatrice.  The Laudato si' Community, is a movement made up of persons and associations committed to the sharing of thoughts inspired by the Encyclical Laudato si'.  Originally conceived by the Church of Rieti and by Slow Food, these communities adopt and promote lifestyles that are coherent with the values and proposals put forward in Pope Francis' document, at the personal and collective levels, through meetings and conferences, or by carrying out concrete actions and practical initiatives.

With their commitment, the Laudato si' Communities contribute to the environmental movement from the particular point of view of integral ecology, that is, always keeping in mind the close connection that exists between respect for our common home and social justice.

Message of His Holiness, Pope Francis

addressed to those participating in the

II Forum of the Laudato si' Communities

I extend a cordial greeting to the organizers and participants of the II Forum of the Laudato Si communities, which is celebrated in an area that was devastated by the earthquake that struck central Italy in August 2016 and which more than others paid a very high price in number of victims.

It is a sign of hope that we find ourselves in Amatrice, whose memory is always present in my heart, focusing on the imbalances that devastate our common home. Not only is it a sign of closeness to so many brothers and sisters who still live in the ford between the memory of a terrible tragedy and the reconstruction that is slow to take off, but also expresses the desire to make the message resound loud and clear that the poor pay a higher price for environmental devastation. The wounds inflicted on the environment are inexorably felt by the most defenceless members of humanity. In the Encyclical Laudato si' I wrote: There will not be a new relationship with nature without a new human being. There is no ecology without adequate anthropology (LS, 118).

After having dealt last year with the issue of plastic that is suffocating our planet, today you are reflecting on the grave and no longer sustainable situation of the Amazon and the peoples who inhabit it. You are thus inspired by the theme of the Synod of Bishops that will be celebrated next October for the Pan-Amazon region and of which the Instrumentum laboris was recently presented.

The situation in Amazonia is a sad paradigm of what is happening in many parts of the planet: a blind and destructive mentality that prefers profit to justice; one that highlights the predatory attitude with which man relates to nature. Please don't forget that social justice and ecology are deeply interconnected! What is happening in the Amazon will have repercussions on a planetary level, but it has already prostrated thousands of men and women who have been robbed of their territory, who have become foreigners in their own land, depleted of their own culture and traditions, breaking the age-old balance that united those peoples to their land. Man cannot remain an indifferent spectator in the face of this destruction, nor can the Church remain silent: the cry of the poor must resound in her mouth, as Saint Paul VI already pointed out in his Encyclical Populorum progressio.

Promoted by the Church of Rieti and Slow Food, the Laudato si' Communities are committed not only to the sound teaching proposed in the Encyclical of the same name, but also to foster new lifestyles. In this pragmatic perspective, I wish to give you three words.

The first word is doxology.

In the face of the good of creation and especially in the face of the good of man who is the summit of creation, but also its guardian, we must assume an attitude of praise. In the face of so much beauty, with renewed wonder, with childlike eyes, we must be able to appreciate the beauty we are surrounded by and into which man is also woven. Praise is the fruit of contemplation, contemplation and praise lead to respect, respect becomes almost veneration before the goods of creation and its Creator.

The second word is eucharist.

The eucharistic attitude before the world and its inhabitants knows how to grasp the gift status that every living being carries within itself. Everything is delivered to us for free, not to be plundered and swallowed up, but to become in turn a gift to be shared, a gift to be given so that joy can be for everyone and, therefore, be greater.

The third word is asceticism.

Every form of respect arises from an ascetic attitude, that is, from the capacity to know how to renounce something for a greater good, for the good of others. Asceticism helps us to convert the predatory attitude, which is always lurking, to take the form of sharing, the form of an ecological, respectful and polite relationship.

I hope that the Laudato si' Communities will be the germ of a renewed way of living in the world, in order to give it a future, to preserve its beauty and its integrity for the good of every living being, ad maiorem Dei gloriam (to the greater glory of God).

I thank you and I bless you with all my heart.  Pray for me!

From the Vatican
6 July 2019

Francis
Testo originale in italiano

Blessed Fulton Sheen

Yesterday, 5 July 2019, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience His Eminence, Cardinal Angelo Becciu, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.  During the audience, the Supreme Pontiff approved the favourable votes expressed by the Cardinals and Bishops who are members of the Congregation and extended to the universal Church, liturgical worship in honour of Blessed Bartholomew of the Martyrs (born Bartholomew Fernandes), a member of the Order of Frairs Preachers, who served as Archbishop of Braga (Portugal).  He was born in Lisbon on 3 May 1514 and died in Viana do Castelo (Portugal) on 16 July 1590.  The Holy Father has thus inscribed the name of this Blessed in the catalogue of Saints (effectively granted him canonization and the status of Sainthood).

In addition, during the same audience, the Holy Father authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate other decrees, including the Decree concerning a miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God, Fulton Sheen, who served as Titular Archbishop of Newport and Bishop of Rochester (New York, USA).  He was born on 8 May 1895 in El Paso (Illinois, USA) and died on 9 December 1979 in New York (USA).

The Venerable Servant of God, Fulton Sheen will now be bestowed with the title of Blessed and after another miracle attributed to his intercession has been approved, he will be canonized.

Greetings for the Greek Catholic Ukrainian Church

This morning, in the Sala Bologna at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience the members of the Permanent Synod of the Greek-Catholic Ukrainian Church.

Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

offered to members of the Permanent Synod

of the Greek-Catholic Ukrainian Church

Your Beatitude,
Dear brother Major Archbishop,
Your Eminences,
Your Excellencies,
Dear brothers!

I wanted to invite you here to Rome for a fraternal sharing, along with the Superiors of the competent Dicasteries of the Roman Curia. I thank you for accepting the invitation, it's nice to see you. For a long time, Ukraine has been experiencing a difficult and delicate situation; for over five years she has been wounded by a conflict that many call hybrid, composed as it is by warring actions where those responsible are camouflaged; a conflict where the weakest and the smallest pay the highest price, a conflict aggravated by propaganda, falsifications and various types of manipulation, including attempts to involve the religious dimension.

I carry you in my heart and I am praying for you, dear Ukrainian Brothers. And I assure you that sometimes I do it with the prayers I remember and that I learned from Bishop Stefano Chmil, then a Salesian priest; he taught me when I was 12, in 1949, and I learned from him to serve the Divine Liturgy three times a week. I thank you for your fidelity to the Lord and to the Successor of Peter, which has often been costly throughout history, and I beg the Lord to accompany the actions of all political leaders to seek not the so-called partisan good, which in the end is always an interest at the expense of someone else, but the common good, peace. And I ask the God of all consolation (2 Cor 1:3) to comfort the souls of those who have lost their loved ones because of war, those who bear their wounds in body and spirit, those who have had to leave their homes and work places and face the risk of looking for a more human future elsewhere, far away. You know that my gaze goes every morning and every evening to the Madonna which His Beatitude gave me as a gift, when he left Buenos Aires to assume the office of Major Archbishop that the Church had entrusted to him. Before that icon, I begin and end every day entrusting all of you - your Church - to the tenderness of the Madonna, who is our Mother. We can say that I start every day and finish every day in Ukrainian, looking at the Madonna.

The main role of the Church, faced with the complex situations caused by conflicts, is to offer a witness of Christian hope. Not a hope of the world, which is based on things that pass, come and go, and often divide, but the hope that never disappoints, that does not give way to discouragement, that knows how to overcome all tribulation in the sweet strength of the Spirit (cf Rm 5:2-5). Christian hope, nourished by the light of Christ, makes the resurrection and life shine even in the darkest nights of the world. Therefore, dear Brothers, I believe that in difficult times, even more than in times of peace, the priority for believers is to be united to Jesus, our hope. It is a question of renewing that union founded on baptism and rooted in faith, rooted in the history of our communities, rooted in great witnesses: I think of the host of heroes of everyday life, of those numerous saints next door who, with simplicity; in your people they have responded to evil with good (cf Rm 12:21). They are the examples to look at: those who in the mildness of the Beatitudes had the Christian courage, that of not opposing the wicked, of loving their enemies and praying for their persecutors (cf Mt 5:39.44). In the violent field of history, they have planted the cross of Christ. And they bore fruit. These brothers and sisters of yours who have suffered persecution and martyrdom and who have not rejected the Lord Jesus, have rejected the logic of the world, according to which violence is answered with violence; they have written the clearest pages of faith with their lives: they are fruitful seeds of Christian hope. I read the book Perseguitati per la verità. Behind those priests, bishops, nuns, there is the people of God, who carry all the people with faith and prayer.

A few years ago, the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church adopted the pastoral program entitled The Living Parish, a meeting place with the living Christ. In some translations, the expression living parish has been rendered with the adjective vibrant. Indeed, the encounter with Jesus, the spiritual life, the prayer that vibrates in the beauty of your Liturgy transmits that beautiful strength of peace, which soothes wounds, instills courage but not aggression. When, as from a well of spring water, we draw on this spiritual vitality and transmit it, the Church becomes fruitful. Become proclaimers of the Gospel of hope, teachers of that interior life that no other institution is able to offer.

This is why I wish to encourage you all, as Pastors of God's holy people, to have this primary concern in all your activities: prayer and the spiritual life. It is the first job, no one else is more important. Everyone must know and see that in your tradition you are a Church that knows how to speak in spiritual and not worldly terms (cf 1 Cor 2:13). In order to achieve heaven on earth you need to make it possible for every person to approach the Church, nothing else. May the Lord grant us this grace and make all of us dedicated to our sanctification and that of the faithful entrusted to us. On the night of the conflict you are going through, as in Gethsemane, the Lord asks his people to watch and pray; not to defend oneself, let alone to attack others. But the disciples slept instead of praying and at the arrival of Judas they brought out their swords. They had not prayed and had fallen into temptation, into the temptation of worldliness: the violent weakness of the flesh had prevailed over the meekness of the spirit. Not sleep, not the sword, not flight (cf Mt 26:40,52,56), but prayer and self-giving to the end are the answers the Lord expects from his own. Only these answers are Christian, they alone can save us from the worldly spiral of violence.

The Church is called to carry out her pastoral mission by various means. Closeness comes after prayer. What the Lord asked his Apostles that evening, to stay close to him and to keep watch (cf Mk 14:34), today he asks his Pastors: to be with his people, keeping watch beside those who go through the night of pain. The proximity of the Pastors to the faithful is a channel that is built day by day and that brings the living water of hope. This is how it is built, meeting after meeting, with the priests who know and take to heart the concerns of the people, and the faithful who, through the care they receive, assimilate the proclamation of the Gospel that the Pastors transmit. They will not understand it if the Pastors are only intent on saying God; they understand it if they do their utmost to give God: by giving themselves, standing nearby, witnesses to the God of hope who became flesh to walk on man's roads. The Church is the place where hope is drawn, where the door is always open, where consolation and encouragement are received. Never closed, with no one, but with open hearts; never watch the clock, never send home those who need to be heard. We are servants of time. We live in time. Please do not fall into the temptation of living as watchful slaves! Time, not the clock.

Pastoral care includes first and foremost the liturgy which, as the Major Archbishop has often emphasized, together with spirituality and catechesis constitutes an element that characterizes the identity of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. In a world still disfigured by selfishness and greed, it reveals the way to the balance of the new man (Saint John Paul II, Orientale Lumen, 11): the way of charity and unconditional love, within which every other activity must be rooted, so that the fraternal bond between people, inside and outside the community, are nourished. With this spirit of closeness, in 2016, I promoted a humanitarian initiative in which I invited the Churches in Europe to participate, in order to offer help to those who had been most directly affected by the conflict. I again warmly thank all those who have contributed to the creation of this collection, both economically and on an organizational and technical level. In the wake of that first initiative, now substantially completed, I would like other special projects to follow. Already at this meeting some information can be provided. It is so important to be close to everyone and to be concrete, also to avoid the danger that a situation of suffering as serious as this should fall into general oblivion. We cannot forget the brother who suffers, wherever he comes from. We cannot forget the brother who suffers.

I would like to add a third word to prayer and closeness, which is so familiar to you: synodality. Being Church is being a community that walks together. It is not enough to have a synod, you must be a synod. The Church needs an intense internal sharing: a living dialogue between the Pastors and between the Pastors and the faithful. As an Eastern Catholic Church, you already have a marked synodal expression in your canonical order, which calls for frequent and regular recourse to the assemblies of the Synod of Bishops. But every day we must make a synod, striving to walk together, not only with those who think in the same way - this would be easy - but with all those who believe in Jesus.

Three aspects revive synodality. First of all, listening: listening to the experiences and suggestions of the bishops and the priests. It is important that everyone within the Synod feels that they have been heard. Listening is all the more important as you go up in the hierarchy. Listening is sensitivity and openness to the opinions of the brothers, even those who are younger, even those considered less experienced. A second aspect: co-responsibility. We cannot be indifferent to the errors or the carelessness of others, without intervening in a fraternal but convinced way: our confreres need our thoughts, our encouragement, as well as our corrections, because, precisely, we are called to walk together. You cannot hide what is wrong and move on as if nothing had happened to defend your good name at all costs: charity must always be lived in truth, in transparency, in that parresia that purifies the Church and keeps it going. A third aspect of synodality is that it also means involvement of the laity: as full members of the Church, they too are called to express themselves, to give suggestions. Participants in ecclesial life, they should not only be welcomed but listened to. And I emphasize this verb: to listen. Whoever listens afterwards can speak well. Those who are used to not listening, do not speak, they bark.

Synodality also leads to broadening horizons, to living the richness of one's own tradition within the universality of the Church: to benefitting from good relations with other rites; to considering the beauty of sharing significant parts of one's own theological and liturgical treasure with other communities, even non-Catholic ones; to weaving fruitful relations with other particular Churches, as well as with the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia. Unity in the Church will be all the more fruitful, the more the understanding and cohesion between the Holy See and the particular Churches is real. More precisely: how much more understanding and cohesion there will be between all the Bishops and with the Bishop of Rome. This certainly must not lead to a decrease in the awareness of one's own authenticity and originality (Orientale Lumen, 21), but shape it within our Catholic identity, that is, universally. As universal, it is endangered and can be worn down by attachment to particularisms of various kinds: ecclesial particularisms, nationalistic particularisms, political particularisms.

Dear brothers, these two days of meetings, which I strongly desired, are intense moments of sharing, reciprocal listening, and free dialogue, always animated by the search for good, in the spirit of the Gospel. Help us to walk better together. It is, in a sense, a sort of Synod dedicated to the issues that are most dear to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in this period, which is burdened by ongoing military conflict and characterized by a series of political and ecclesial processes far more extensive than those concerning our Catholic Church. But I commend to you this spirit, this discernment on which you can focus: prayer and spiritual life in the first place; then closeness, especially to those who suffer; therefore: synodality, journey together, open path, step by step, with meekness and docility. I thank you, I accompany you on this journey and I ask you, please, to remember me in your prayers.

Thank you!
Testo originale in italiano