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30th November >> (@Pontifex)  Let us keep in mind that not even a murderer loses his personal dignity — God Himself guarantees it (see EV 9). The firm rejection of the death penalty shows to what extent it is possible to recognize the inalienable dignity of every human being. #FratelliTutti #NoDeathPenalty

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30th November >> (@VaticanNews)  The Vatican Christmas tree has arrived in St Peter's Square! 

#PopeFrancie Vatican Advent Chriatrmas

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30th November >> #Advent is the Season in which we remember God's nearness, that He came down toward us. @Pontifex

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25th May >> (Instagram) ~ franciscus: #AfricaDay #tb (7-9-2019) #PopeFrancis #Pope

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25th May >> (@Pontifex) Jesus bore our humanity and brought it beyond death to a new place, to Heaven, so that there where He is, we might also be. #PopeFrancis #Pope

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25th May >> (@Pontifex) Today marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of Saint John Paul II’s Encyclical Letter Ut Unum Sint. On this anniversary, I give thanks to the Lord for the journey he has allowed us to travel as Christians in quest of full communion. #PopeFrancis #Pope

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10th May >> (@ZenitEnglish By Jim Fair) #PopeFrancis #Pope Francis’ Regina Caeli: Stresses Importance of European Unity, 70th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration.

Pope Francis in his remarks after reciting the Regina Caeli on May 10, 2020, urged members of the European Union to maintain a spirit of “concord and collaboration” in addressed the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

His comments came on the 70th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, which paved the way for today’s European Union.

“My thought goes today to Europe and to Africa: to Europe, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration of May 9, 1950,” Pope Francis said. “It has inspired the European process of integration, making possible the reconciliation of the peoples of the Continent, after Word War II, and the long period of stability and peace, of which we benefit today. May the spirit of the Schuman Declaration not fail to inspire all those that have responsibilities in the European Union, called to address in a spirit of concord and collaboration the social and economic consequences caused by the pandemic.”

As Vatican News pointed out today, in 1950, European nations were still struggling to overcome the devastation wrought by World War II, which had ended 5 years earlier.

The Declaration presented by French foreign minister, Robert Schuman, on 9 May 1950, represents a milestone in the process that saw the merging of economic interests that would help raise standards of living and be the first step towards a more united Europe.

Most important, the pooling of coal and steel production proposed by Schuman, aimed to make war between historic rivals France and Germany “not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible”.

10th MAY 2020 17:23ANGELUS/REGINA CAELI

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10th May >> (@VaticanNews By Linda Bordoni) #PopeFrancis #Pope Francis recalls Pope St. John Paul II’s first Apostolic Visit to the African continent, and congratulates young people striving to bring relief to the drought-stricken #Sahel region.

Pope Francis upholds solidarity initiative in Sahel region

Pope Francis recalls St. Pope John Paul II’s first Apostolic Visit to the African continent and congratulates young people striving to bring relief to the drought-stricken Sahel region.

By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis on Sunday recalled the 40th anniversary of St. Pope John Paul’s first pastoral journey to Africa, during which he raised the alarm regarding the plight of people of the Sahel region who were struck by drought and its devastating consequences.

Speaking during the Regina Caeli address, the Pope said that on “10 May 1980 (…) St. Pope John Paul II gave voice to the cry of the populations of the Sahel, sorely tried by drought.”

The Sahel region is a climate zone sandwiched between Sudan’s Savanna to the south and the Sahara Desert to the north, across West and Central Africa. It has long experienced a series of historic droughts that have had dramatic environmental and societal effects, including famines. on the Sahel nations and their populations.

“Today,” the Pope said, “I congratulate the group of young people for the launch of the initiative Laudato Trees" explaining that “The aim is to plant at least one million trees throughout the region of the Sahel, which will become part of the “Great Green Wall of Africa”.

He concluded expressing his hope that “many will follow the example of solidarity given by these young people.”

Topics

POPE FRANCIS

POPE JOHN PAUL II

AFRICA

ANNIVERSARY

NATURAL DISASTERS

SOLIDARITY

10th May 2020, 12:20

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10th May >> (@ZenitEnglish By Jim Fair) #PopeFrancis #Pope Francis Praises Green Initiatives of Youth in Africa, 40th Anniversary of Saint John Paul II’s First Visit to the Continent.

Pope Francis on May 10, 2020, recalled that 40 years ago Saint John Paul II made his first apostolic visit to Africa.

The Holy Father’s comments came after praying the Regina Caeli from the Papal Library of the Vatican, broadcast live around the world without the normal live audience in the square, a conciliation to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Pope also praised the environmental initiatives of young people in Africa, pointing to them as an example for others to follow.

“And my look goes also to Africa because, forty years ago, on May 10, 1980, Saint John Paul II, during his first pastoral visit to that Continent, gave voice to the cry of the populations of the Sahel, harshly tested by drought,” Francis said. “Today I congratulate the young people that are working for the “Laudato Si’ Trees” initiative. The objective is to plant at least one million trees in the Sahel region, which will form part of the “Great Green Wall of Africa. “ I hope that many can follow the example of solidarity of these young people.”

10th MAY 2020 17:14ANGELUS/REGINA CAELI

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10th May >> (@ZenitEnglish) #PopeFrancis #Pope Francis’ Homily during the celebration of Holy Mass in Casa Santa Marta for the Fifth Sunday of Easter: Prays for European Unity. Bishops Called to Pray and Proclaim the Word.

Pope Francis began Sunday morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta recalling two anniversaries that have fallen in the past two days, reported Vatican News.

The first, “the 70th anniversary of Robert Shuman’s Declaration out of which the European Union was born”, and the second, “the commemoration of the end of the war”. He invited us to “pray to the Lord for Europe that it might grow united, in this fraternal unity that allows all peoples to grow in unity in diversity”.

During his homily, Vatican News said, he reflected on Jesus’s intercessory role before His Father described in the Gospel (John 14:1-12). Then he focused on Peter’s description of the role of the Apostles (Acts 6:1-7). This also applies to the role of the Successors of the Apostles, the Bishops. Their first task, Pope Francis emphasized, is prayer, then the proclamation of the Word.

The Pope said that the first part of John chapter 14 describes Jesus’s intercessory role before the Father on our behalf. So many times Jesus spoke about the Father’s care for us, Pope Francis said. “He spoke of the Father as the One who takes care of us just as He takes care of the birds of heaven and the lilies of the field”, he said. “Jesus is very strong in this passage. It is as if He is opening the doors of the omnipotence of prayer: ‘Whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it’ (John 13-14).”

Pope Francis then recalled that prayer requires courage and the same boldness needed in preaching the Gospel. Abraham and Moses provide examples to us. Both “negotiated” with the Lord, Pope Francis said: Abraham, when the Lord told him about what was to happen to Sodom and Gomorrah (see Genesis 18:16-33), and Moses, when God wanted to destroy His people and make Moses the head of another nation (see Exodus 32:7-14).

The Pope then turned to the First Reading in which Peter is inspired to create a new service in the Church after the Greek-speaking converts complained that their widows were being neglected. “The apostles didn’t have time for all of these things and Peter, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, ‘invents’ (we can say it this way) the deacons”, Pope Francis said.

This resolved the situation, the Pope went on. The people in need could be well taken care of and the Apostles, as Peter said, could devote themselves “to prayer and to the proclamation of the Word”.

Pope Francis then went on to develop the thought that the primary task of a bishop is to pray. The bishop, he said, “is the first to go to the Father, with the confidence, the boldness, with which Jesus went in order to fight on behalf of his people”.

“Something is not right”, Pope Francis continued, “if other things take away space for prayer”. He reminded us that it is “God who does things, we do very little. God does things in His Church”. It is, therefore, “prayer that makes the Church progress”.

This reality is so because Jesus stands before the Father and has promised that “whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified”.

The Pope concluded his homily saying that the “Church progresses in this courageous prayer because she knows that without this ascension to the Father, she cannot survive”.

10th MAY 2020 17:31POPE'S MORNING HOMILY

#Youtube

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10th May >> (@ZenitEnglish By Jim Fair) #PopeFrancis #Pope Francis’ Regina Caeli: Remembers Mothers Around the World, Entrusts Them to Protection of Mary.

In many countries, 10th May is Mother’s Day. In light of that, Pope Francis has special blessings for moms everywhere during his remarks following the recitation of the Regina Caeli, broadcast live from the Papal Library in the Vatican.

“Celebrated today in many countries is Mother’s Day,” the Holy Father said. “I wish to remember with gratitude and affection all mothers, entrusting them to the protection of Mary, our Heavenly Mother. My thought goes also to mothers that have passed to the other life and who accompany us from Heaven. Let’s have a bit of silence for each one to remember his/her mother.”

10th MAY 2020 16:59ANGELUS/REGINA CAELI

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10th May >> (@Pontifex) Today, many countries are celebrating #MothersDay . I wish to remember all mothers with gratitude and affection, entrusting them to the protection of Mary, our heavenly Mother. Let us also remember those mothers who accompany us from Heaven. #Pope #PopeFrancis

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10th May >> (@VaticanNews By Linda Bordoni) #PopeFrancis #Pope Francis prayed the #ReginaCoeli and invited the faithful never to fall into despair, but to trust in Jesus.

Pope Francis at Regina Caeli: 'a self-centered life does not lead to joy'

How can we go through life without anxiety and anguish? How can we make sure we are on the right path? Pope Francis reflects on Jesus’ “Farewell discourse” during the Regina Caeli address on the Fifth Sunday of Easter.

By Linda Bordoni

During a live-streamed address from the Vatican's Apostolic Library, Pope Francis prayed the Regina Caeli and invited the faithful never to fall into despair, but to trust in Jesus in the knowledge that he is always at our side and that there is a place awaiting us in Heaven.

He centered his catechesis on the Gospel passage of the day (Jn 14: 1-12) in which, he said, we hear the beginning of Jesus’ so-called “Farewell discourse” when, at the end of the Last Supper and just before the start of the Passion, Jesus reassures the disciples saying “Do not let your hearts be troubled”.

The Lord is saying these same words to us, he said, “But how can we make sure that our hearts are not troubled?”

‘Believe in me’

The Pope explained that God indicates two “remedies”, the first being “Believe in me”.

It would seem, he said, rather theoretical, abstract advice. Instead, Jesus wants to tell us something precise.

“He knows that, in life, the worst anxiety, anguish, is born of the sensation of not being able to cope, of feeling alone and without points of reference when faced with events,” the Pope continued highlighting that we cannot overcome this anguish alone, “when one difficulty is added to another.”

Thus, he said, Jesus asks us to have faith in Him, knowing that He is always at our side and entrusting ourselves to Him.

‘My Father’s house has many rooms’

The second “remedy” for a troubled heart, the Pope continued, is expressed in Jesus’ words: “My Father’s house has many rooms… I am going there to prepare a place for you”.

This is what Jesus did for us, he said, “He reserved a place in Heaven for us. He took our humanity upon Himself (…) to Heaven where there is a place reserved for everyone.”

The Pope said we do not live “aimlessly and without a destination. We are awaited, we are precious.”

He invited the faithful not to forget that here on earth we are passing though, but our true dwelling place is in Heaven.

“We are made for Heaven, for eternal life, to live forever,” he said, and “this forever will be entirely in joy, in full communion with God and with others, without any more tears, resentments, divisions and troubles.”

‘I am the Way’

The Pope concluded his reflection pointing the way on “how to reach Heaven.”

He said Jesus’s decisive phrase is: “I am the Way”, meaning that the way to go up to Heaven is Jesus: to have a living relationship with Him, to imitate Him in love, to follow in His footsteps.”

Christians, he said, must ask themselves if they are on paths that do not lead to Heaven, such as the paths of power, of worldliness, of self-affirmation.

And he invited them to follow Jesus’s way which is “the way of humble love, of prayer, of meekness, of trust.”

“It is not the way of my self-centeredness, it is the way of Jesus, Who is the center of my life. It is to go ahead every day saying: “Jesus, what do You think of this choice I made? What would You do in this situation, with these people?”.

Let us ask Jesus, he said for the directions to get to Heaven, and may Our Lady help us to follow HIm.

Mother's Day

After the recitation of the Regina Caeli prayer, the Pope marked Mother's Day asking for prayers for mothers' across the globe, and for those who are in heaven.

Topics

POPE FRANCIS

REGINA CÆLI

CATECHESIS

10th May 2020, 12:07

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10th May >> (@VaticanNews By Linda Bordoni) #PopeFrancis #Pope Francis encourages European leaders to nurture EU values and face the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic in a spirit of harmony and cooperation. #coronavirus

Pope Francis calls on Europeans to uphold core EU values

Pope Francis encourages European leaders to nurture the values that led to the establishment of the European Union and face the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic in a spirit of harmony and cooperation.

By Linda Bordoni

Pope Francis turned his thoughts to Europe “on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration of 9 May 1950.”

Speaking to the faithful after the Regina Caeli prayer on Sunday, the Pope said that Declaration “inspired the process of European integration, enabling the reconciliation of the peoples of the continent after the Second World War, and the long period of stability and peace from which we benefit today.”

Inviting all those who hold positions of responsibility in the European Union never to fail to be inspired by the historic documents, he urged them to face the social and economic consequences of the pandemic “in a spirit of harmony and collaboration.”

The Schuman Declaration

In 1950, European nations were still struggling to overcome the devastation wrought by World War II, which had ended 5 years earlier.

The Declaration presented by French foreign minister, Robert Schuman, on 9 May 1950, represents a milestone in the process that saw the merging of economic interests that would help raise standards of living and be the first step towards a more united Europe.

Most important, the pooling of coal and steel production proposed by Schuman, aimed to make war between historic rivals France and Germany "not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible".

Topics

POPE FRANCIS

REGINA CÆLI

APPEAL

EUROPEAN UNION

ANNIVERSARY

10th May 2020, 12:18

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10th May >> (@RomeReports By Javier Romero, Translation: Claudia Torres) #PopeFrancis #Pope Francis Stories that embody Pope Francis' messages during health emergency.

In the worst moment of the health emergency in Italy, the pope noted that the pandemic reminded humanity of an important message.

POPE FRANCIS

We have realized that we are in the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time, important and needed.

The pontiff said the most effective ingredient in this moment is solidarity. There's no shortage of such examples, thanks to companies and individuals alike.

In Madrid, this luxury car rental company decided to donate the revenue earned during the lockdown period to Caritas.

During the year, this group of gondoliers participates in regattas and takes tourists around Venice. During the pandemic, they decided to help out by delivering groceries to the elderly.

ELENA ALMANSI

Row Venice

“We decided to use our boats, our time and our energy to help deliver groceries to people's homes. That way we combine our passion with volunteer work.”

María is a Venezuelan living in Italy. After her 46-year-old compatriot died of COVID-19 in Lombardy, she decided to welcome the man's widow and two kids into her own home.

MARÍA ÁVILA

Venezuelan immigrant

“I decided to help Nathalye in a concrete way. At 6 a.m., I took the car and went looking for the three of them, Nathalye and her two kids, to bring them to my house.”

Lotti and Desirèe are two nurses who work in an Italian hospital. After a particularly devastating shift, they decided to cheer up medical personnel with a rendition of “Imagine.” Their video made huge waves on social media.

LOTTI AND DESIRÉE

Nurses, Rivoli AslTo3 Hospital

Desirée: I was especially tired and discouraged. I needed to let everything out.

Lotti: In that moment, I remembered that we have a piano in the hospital, and I said to myself, 'Let's go play.'

One could say these and so many other stories embody the messages the pope has given throughout the pandemic.

POPE FRANCIS

May we not think only about what we lack, but about the good we can do.

They're small stories that emerge as a response to pain or to situations of need. They embody the spirit the pope called for from an empty St. Peter's Square, on a rainy evening one March 27.

Nobody saves himself alone.

By Javier Romero,

Translation: Claudia Torres

#Youtube

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10th May >> (@ZenitEnglish By Virginia Forrester) #PopeFrancis #Pope Francis’ Regina Caeli Address: On Fifth Sunday of Easter, Jesus says: ‘Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled’. ‘Have Faith in Me’ and ‘I Go to Prepare a Place for You’ in Heaven.

Here is a ZENIT translation of the address Pope Francis gave today, before and after praying the midday Regina Caeli from the Library of the Apostolic Vatican Palace. At the end of the Regina Caeli, the Pope appeared at the window of his study and imparted his Blessing.

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Before the Regina Caeli:

Dear Brothers and Sisters, good morning!

In today’s Gospel (Cf. John 14:1-12) we hear the beginning of Jesus’ so-called “Farewell Discourse.” They are the words He addresses to the disciples at the end of the Last Supper, just before facing the Passion. In this dramatic moment, Jesus began by saying: “Let not your hearts be troubled” (v. 1). He says it also to us, in the dramas of life. But what can one do not to have one’s heart troubled, because the heart does get anxious?

The Lord points out two remedies for anxiety. The first is: “Have faith in Me” (v. 1). It seems to be somewhat theoretical, abstract advice. However, Jesus wishes to say something precise to us. He knows that in life the worst anxiety, agitation, is born from a feeling of not making it, of feeling alone and without points of reference in the face of what is happening. This anguish, in which difficulty is added to difficulty, cannot be overcome on one’s own. We are in need of Jesus’ help and, therefore, Jesus asks us to have faith in Him, namely, not to lean on ourselves but on Him, because freedom from anxiety passes through entrustment. To entrust ourselves to Jesus, to make the “leap.” And this is freedom from anxiety. And Jesus is risen and alive precisely to be always by our side. So we can say to Him: Jesus I believe You are risen and are by my side. I believe You listen to me. I bring to You what is disturbing me, my cares: I have faith in You and I entrust myself to You.”

Then there is a second remedy for anxiety, which Jesus expresses with these words: “In my Father’s house there are many rooms. [. . . ] I go to prepare a place for you” (v. 2) See, what Jesus has done for us: He has reserved a place for us in Heaven. He took our humanity upon Himself to take it beyond death, to a new place, in Heaven, so that where He is we can also be. It is the certainty that consoles us; there is a place reserved for each one. There is a place also for me. Each one of us can say: there is a place for me. We don’t live without an end, without a destination. We are awaited; we are precious. God is in love with us, we are His children. And He has prepared for us the most worthy and beautiful place: Paradise. Let’s not forget it: the dwelling that awaits us is Paradise. Here we are passing; we are made for Heaven, for eternal life, to live forever. Forever: is something that we are not even able to imagine now. However, it’s more beautiful to think that this forever will be wholly in joy, in full communion with God and with others, without more tears, without resentments, without divisions and anxiety.

However, how can Paradise be attained? What is the way? Here is Jesus’ decisive phrase today” “I am the Way” (v. 6). Jesus is the way to go up to Heaven; it is to have a living relationship with Him, and to imitate Him in love; it’s to follow His steps. And I, a Christian, you, a Christian, each one of us Christians can ask ourselves: what way do I follow?” There are ways that don’t lead to Heaven: the ways of worldliness, the ways of self-assertion <and> the ways of selfish power. And there is the way of Jesus, the way of humble love, of prayer, of meekness, of trust, of service to others. It’s not the way of my prominence; it’s the way of Jesus, protagonist of my life. It’s to go forward every day saying to Him: “Jesus, what do you think of this choice of mine? What would you do in this situation, with these persons?” It will do us good to ask Jesus, who is the Way, the pointers for Heaven. May Our Lady, Queen of Heaven, help us to follow Jesus, who opened Paradise for us.

© Libreria Editrice Vatican

[Original text: Italian] [ZENIT’s translation by Virginia M. Forrester]

After the Regina Caeli:

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

My thought goes today to Europe and to Africa: to Europe, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration of May 9, 1950. It has inspired the European process of integration, making possible the reconciliation of the peoples of the Continent, after Word War II, and the long period of stability and peace, of which we benefit today. May the spirit of the Schuman Declaration not fail to inspire all those that have responsibilities in the European Union, called to address in a spirit of concord and collaboration the social and economic consequences caused by the pandemic.

And my look goes also to Africa because, forty years ago, on May 10, 1980, Saint John Paul II, during his first pastoral visit to that Continent, gave voice to the cry of the populations of the Sahel, harshly tested by drought. Today I congratulate the young people that are working for the “Laudato Si’ Trees” initiative. The objective is to plant at least one million trees in the Sahel region, which will form part of the “Great Green Wall of Africa. “ I hope that many can follow the example of solidarity of these young people.

Celebrated today in many countries is Mother’s Day. I wish to remember with gratitude and affection all mothers, entrusting them to the protection of Mary, our Heavenly Mother. My thought goes also to mothers that have passed to the other life and who accompany us from Heaven. Let’s have a bit of silence for each one to remember his/her mother [silent pause].

I wish you all a happy Sunday. Please, don’t forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and goodbye.

© Libreria Editrice Vatican

[Original text: Italian] [ZENIT’s translation by Virginia M. Forrester]

10th MAY 2020 16:50ANGELUS/REGINA CAELI

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10th May >> (@Pontifex) In the #GospelOfTheDay (John 14:1-12), Jesus indicates two remedies for being troubled in heart. First: to not depend on ourselves but to have faith in Him. Second: to remember that here we are passing through and that Jesus has reserved us a place in Heaven. #ReginaCaeli #Pope #PopeFrancis