In exceptional Angelus address, Pope begs Putin to end the war

by | Oct 3, 2022 | a current event, Messages of the Holy Father

Antoine Mekary | ALETEIA Published on 10/02/22 “What is to happen next? … In the name of God and in the name of the sense of humanity that dwells in every heart, I renew my call for an immediate ceasefire.” Each week from the window of his study, the Pope offers a reflection on the Gospel reading from the Sunday Mass and then leads the faithful in praying the midday Angelus. But this October 2, Pope Francis did something quite different: he made an earnest and passionate appeal for the end of the war in Ukraine. While the Pope expressed his sadness at the “rivers of blood and tears spilled in these months,” he also asked a pressing question: And what about the fact that humanity is once again faced with the atomic threat? It is absurd. Here is a Vatican translation of what the Pope said. This appeal joins with more than 80 other appeals the Pope has made for an end to the war, although this appeal is unique both in the format and in directly addressing Putin. ~ Dear brothers and sisters, buongiorno! The course of the war in Ukraine has become so serious, devastating, and threatening,...

Make room for the Word through silence

by | Dec 17, 2021 | Ad maiorem Dei gloriam and the salvation of souls!, Catechesis, Messages of the Holy Father, St. Joseph, The Holy Family

In his catechesis at the Wednesday General Audience, Pope Francis reflects on St Joseph’s silence in the Gospel. By Christopher Wells “St Joseph with his silence invites us to make room for the Presence of the Word made flesh, for Jesus,” Pope Francis said at the weekly General Audience. Silence full of listening However, the Pope continued, “Joseph’s silence is not muteness,” but is instead “a silence full of listening, an industrious silence, a silence that bring out his great interiority.” Quoting St John of the Cross, the Holy Father explained that God the Father spoke the Word, His Son, in eternal silence “and in silence it must be heard by the soul.” In his earthly life, Jesus, too, had this experience of silence, “with the daily example of Mary and Joseph.” Pope Francis noted that “He Himself sought spaces of silence… and invited His disciples to have such an experience” as well. READ ALSO The contemplative dimension of life The Holy Father emphasized the importance of following St Joseph’s example “in recovering this contemplative dimension of life opened wide by silence,” but noted that it is not easy. Silence, he said, can be frightening, because “it asks us to...

SYM echoes the message of the Pope for the XXXVI WYD

by | Oct 7, 2021 | Messages of the Holy Father, Salesian Youth Movement, Teens and Young Adults, World Youth Day

04 October 2021 Photo ©: Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life (ANS – Rome) – On 22 November 2020 Pope Francis called for a relaunch of the celebration of WYD in the particular Churches. He announced that this celebration which has been traditionally held on Palm Sunday, starting in 2021 will be held on the Sunday of the Solemnity of Christ the King. On 14 September 2021, in his message for the WYD 2021, he invited all the young people to “ARISE” presenting the reflections on the conversion story of St. Paul. He also appreciated the contribution of young people during the pandemic days of sowing seeds of hope, upholding freedom and justice, and acting as peacemakers and bridge builders. He is convinced that today Christ speaks to the young people the same words that he spoke to Paul: ‘Arise! Do not remain downcast or caught up in yourself: a mission awaits you! You too can testify to what Jesus has begun to accomplish in your lives’. Following the message of Pope Francis, the Councillor for Youth Ministry Fr Miguel Angel Garcia Morcuende, along with the coordinator for Salesian Youth Movement Fr Patrick Anthonyraj, invite and encourage all the young...