PAROLIN: FOR THE POPE, NEGOTIATION IS NOT SURRENDER, BUT A CONDITION FOR JUST AND LASTING PEACE

To fully understand what Cardinal Parolin is saying about the papal interview with Swiss media during which Pope Francis, relative to Ukraine, used the words “white flag,” here is a link to the Vatican news story on that interview:: ‘Pope asks for the courage to negotiate for Ukraine’ – Vatican News. The story starts: Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, responds to journalists regarding Pope Francis’ statements in an interview with a Swiss TV station, saying “the Pope picked up the image of the white flag, proposed by the interviewer, to indicate a cessation of hostilities, a truce reached with the courage of negotiation. His hope is for a diplomatic solution for a just and lasting peace.”

PAROLIN: FOR THE POPE, NEGOTIATION IS NOT SURRENDER, BUT A CONDITION FOR JUST AND LASTING PEACE

Following Pope Francis’ interview on the war in Ukraine with Radio Télévision Suisse, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin discusses the issue with the Italian newspaper ‘Corriere della Sera’, saying there is a risk of nuclear escalation.

By Vatican News

We publish the full text of an interview given to Gian Guido Vecchi by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, published on Tuesday in the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. (ANSA photo)

Q: Your Eminence, it is clear that the Pope is calling for negotiation rather than surrender. But why address only one of the two parties, Ukraine, and not Russia? And isn’t there a risk that invoking the “defeat” of the aggressed party as motivation for negotiation is counterproductive?

As the director of the Holy See Press Office said, citing the Holy Father’s words on February 25 of last year, the Pope’s appeal is that “conditions be created for a diplomatic solution in the pursuit of a just and lasting peace.”

It is obvious that responsibility for the creation of such conditions does not fall solely on one of the parties but on both, and the first condition seems to me to be precisely putting an end to the aggression.

One must never forget context, which in this case is a question that was addressed to the Pope. He, in response, spoke of negotiation and, in particular, the courage to negotiate, which is never a surrender.

The Holy See pursues this line and continues to call for a ceasefire—and it should be the aggressors who cease fire first—and then the opening of negotiations. The Holy Father explains that negotiating is not weakness but strength. It is not surrender, but courage.

And he tells us that we must have greater consideration for human life, for the hundreds of thousands of human lives that have been sacrificed in this war in the heart of Europe. These are words that apply to Ukraine as well as to the Holy Land and to the other conflicts that afflict the world.

Q: Is a diplomatic solution still a possibility?
Since these are decisions that depend on human will, there always remains the possibility of reaching a diplomatic solution.

The war unleashed against Ukraine is not the result of an uncontrollable natural disaster but solely of human freedom. The same human free will that caused this tragedy also has the possibility and the responsibility to take steps to end it, and pave the way for a diplomatic solution.

Q: Is the Holy See concerned about escalation? This is something you yourself have mentioned, saying that “the hypothesis of involvement of Western countries” is a frightening one.

The Holy See is concerned about the risk of a widening of the war. The escalation of the conflict, the outbreak of new armed clashes, and the arms race are dramatic and disturbing signs in this regard.

The widening of the war would mean new suffering, new mourning, new victims, and new destruction, adding to what the Ukrainian people, especially children, women, the elderly, and civilians, are now experiencing firsthand, paying the all-too-high price of this unjust war.

Q: Pope Francis has also spoken about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, evoking the “responsibility” of both parties. What do these two situations have in common?

The two situations certainly have in common the fact that they have dangerously widened beyond any acceptable limit, that they cannot be resolved, that they have repercussions in different countries, and that no solution can be found without serious negotiation.

I am concerned about the hatred they are generating. When will wounds this deep ever be healed?

Q: On the subject of escalation, the Pope has spoken several times about the danger of a nuclear conflict, saying, “All it takes is one incident.” Is this the Holy See’s underlying fear? An “incident” like in Sarajevo in 1914?

The risk of a fatal ‘drift’ towards nuclear war is a real one. Just look at how regularly certain government representatives resort to this sort of threat. I can only hope that this is strategic propaganda rather than a ‘warning’ of something truly possible.

As for the “underlying fear” of the Holy See, I believe it is more that the various actors in this tragic situation may become even more entrenched in their own interests, not doing what they can to achieve a just and stable peace.

 

 

LONELINESS AT HEART OF POPE’S THEME FOR 4TH GRANDPARENTS DAY – ISRAEL REJECTS VATICAN DESCRIPTION OF “CARNAGE,” “DISPROPORTIONATE USE OF FORCE” IN GAZA

LONELINESS AT HEART OF POPE’S THEME FOR 4TH GRANDPARENTS DAY

Pope Francis releases the theme for his message for the 2024 World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly: “Do not cast me off in my old age”.

By Devin Watkins (Vatican news)

On Sunday, July 28, Catholics around the world will be invited to take time to reflect on the great heritage and wisdom passed on by their grandparents and the elderly.

In preparation for the 4th World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life released the theme for the 2024 iteration.

The Pope has chosen the theme: “Do not cast me off in my old age” (cf. Psalm 71:9). (Vatican photo)

According to a press release from the Dicastery, it is meant “to call attention to the fact that, sadly, loneliness is the bitter lot in life of many elderly persons, so often the victims of the throw-away culture.”

In his message, Pope Francis will draw on the verse from Psalm 71 that depicts the plea of an elderly person who reflects on the story of their friendship with God.

“By cherishing the charisms of grandparents and the elderly, and the contribution they make to the life of the Church, the World Day seeks to support the efforts of every ecclesial community to forge bonds between the generations and to combat loneliness, in the awareness that – as Scripture states – “It is not good for man to be alone” (Gen 2:18),” according to the press release.

Loneliness and Tenderness of Christian Community

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, expressed his gratitude to the Pope for highlighting the loneliness endured by many elderly people.

“Faced with this reality,” he said, “families and the ecclesial community are called to be at the forefront in promoting a culture of encounter, to create spaces for sharing, listening, to offer support and affection: thus, the love of Gospel becomes concrete.”

Loneliness, admitted the cardinal prefect, is an unavoidable condition of human life, as well as an invitation to turn to God the Father for comfort.

As Christians, he said, the World Day dedicated to grandparents and the elderly calls us to put aside our throwaway culture and show “tenderness and affectionate attention” to the most fragile members of our communities.

Prayerful Preparation for the Jubilee

The 2024 World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly takes place in the Year of Prayer, which Pope Francis has called to help Catholics prepare for the 2025 Jubilee.

The Pope established the World Day in 2021 to take place on the fourth Sunday of July, near the liturgical feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus.

ISRAEL REJECTS VATICAN DESCRIPTION OF “CARNAGE,” “DISPROPORTIONATE USE OF FORCE” IN GAZA

There was an event on Tuesday, February 13, at the Italian embassy to the Holy See to mark the February 11, 1929 Lateran Pacts signed by the Holy See and Italy. Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin was at this event and had an exchange with journalists attending the event. Among topics discussed was the Israel-Palestinian situation in Gaza.

Responding to a communique issued February 14 by the Israeli embassy to the Holy See that decried terminology used by Parolin to describe Israeli actions in Gaza, Vatican news editor Andrea Tornielli wrote a reflection in February 15 English language Vatican news entitled “Stop the Carnage.”

“Immediately after the massacre perpetrated by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, against peaceful Israeli families, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin described it as “inhuman.” He emphasized the priority of freeing hostages and also spoke about Israel’s right to defence while indicating the necessary parameter of proportionality.

“Dialoguing with journalists on Tuesday, February 13, at the end of an event with Italian authorities, continued Tornielli, “Parolin used unequivocal words about what is happening in Gaza. He repeated the “clear and unequivocal condemnation of all forms of anti-Semitism”; at the same time, he reiterated the “request that Israel’s right to defence, which has been invoked to justify this operation, be proportional, and certainly with 30 thousand deaths, it is not.” The cardinal added, “I believe we are all outraged by what is happening, by this carnage, but we must have the courage to move forward and not lose hope.” His invitation is not to succumb to despair, to the alleged inevitability of a spiral of violence that can never bring peace but risks generating new hatred.

Wednesday, the day after the event with Cardinal Parolin, the Israeli embassy to the Holy See issued a communique in Italian, decrying the terms used by the Vatican representative to describe Israeli’s military action in Gaza.

It began: “On the occasion of the anniversary of the Lateran Pacts, His Eminence Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin stated that the 30,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, according to Hamas sources, indicate that the answer from Israel to the massacre of October 7 is disproportionate.  This is a deplorable declaration. To judge the legitimacy of a war without holding into account all circumstances and relevant data leads, and inevitably to erroneous conclusions.”

The Embassy communiqué, then went on to list some of the relevant data, including the statement, “Gaza has been transformed by Hamas into the largest terrorist base ever seen. There is no civil infrastructure which has not been utilized by Hamas for its criminal plans, including hospitals, schools, places of worship, and many others.”

The Israeli February 14 communiqué noted that “civilians in Gaza actively participated in the unprovoked invasion of October 7 into Israeli territory, killing, raping, and taking civilians as hostages. All of these acts are defined as war crimes. In clear contrast, the IDF operations took place in full respect of international law.

A new communiqué issued today by the Israeli embassy, said: “with reference to the press communiqué of February 14. We wish to clarify that the original communiqué was in the English language and successively was translated into Italian. In English the communiqué, referring to the words of His Eminence Cardinal Parolin, read: it is a regrettable declaration”. In the translation in Italian, the word chosen was deplorevole, deplorable, which could have also been translated in a more precise manner such as ‘unfortunate.’

The Israeli embassy today published its original English statement.

(for full Vatican News editorial: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-02/editorial-tornielli-parolin-gaza-hamas-war-israel-antisemitism.html)

POPE PRAISES COURAGE OF WOMEN WHO HAVE MOVED AWAY FROM THE MAFIA – CARDINAL PIZZABALLA CONSECRATES HOLY LAND TO IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY – CARDINAL PAROLIN REAFFIRMS VATICAN’S COMMITMENT TO PURSUE PEACE IN UKRAINE

POPE PRAISES COURAGE OF WOMEN WHO HAVE MOVED AWAY FROM THE MAFIA

Pope Francis greeted a group of Italian women who have turned their lives away from organized crime, and encouraged them to persevere without fear, knowing that Jesus is always by their side.

Pope Francis on Monday welcomed to the Vatican a group of Italian women who have decided to move away from their families involved in organized crime, and to join the “Libera” network against the mafia. They were accompanied by Fr. Luigi Ciotti, an Italian priest who founded the association in 1995.

The organisation promotes the use of land and assets seized from criminal outfits to set up local cooperatives, anti-drug projects and community centres, as well as seeking to provide employment for those side-lined by organised crime.

It includes associations, cooperatives, social organizations, schools, unions and churches which have joined in an effort to challenge the power of corruption and organized crime, while promoting social justice and human rights. READ MORE:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-10/pope-praises-courage-of-women-who-have-moved-away-from-the-mafia.html

CARDINAL PIZZABALLA CONSECRATES HOLY LAND TO IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

In the midst of the war between Israel and Hamas, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, consecrates the Holy Land to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, performed an Act of Consecration of the Holy Land to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, on Sunday, 29 October, the Solemnity of the Virgin Mary, Queen of Palestine and the Holy Land.

Celebrating Mass in the Marian Shrine of Deir Rafat, the Patriarch consecrated the Church, all humanity, the peoples of the Middle East, and especially the people of the Holy Land to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In the Act of Consecration, he invoked Mary’s help amid the war gripping the Holy land.

He prayed that she might watch over those who suffer, flee from bombardments, or have lost family members in the war.

“We now knock on the door of your heart,” he prayed. “We are your beloved children. We are confident that, in the most troubled moments of our history, you will not be deaf to our supplication and will come to our aid.”

Fading fraternity
Patriarch Pizzaballa prayed that the Blessed Mother will guide world leaders and those who decide the destiny of nations, so that they might decide according to justice and truth, and work for the common good.

He recalled Mary’s words to her Son Jesus at the Wedding at Cana: “They have no wine” (Jn 2:3).

“Now, O Mother, repeat those words, for in our own day we have run out of the wine of hope, joy has fled, fraternity has faded,” he said. “We have forgotten our humanity and squandered the gift of peace. How greatly we need your maternal help!”

The Act of Consecration took place during Mass at the Marian Shrine of Deir Rafa, and included a procession with the icon of the Virgin Mary, Queen of Palestine.

Increasing death toll
According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, over 8,000 people have been killed, including 3,500 children, in Israeli strikes on Gaza since 7 October when Hamas attacked Israel, killing over 1,400 people. READ MORE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2023-10/patriarch-pizzaballa-holy-land-consecration-immaculate-mary.html

CARDINAL PAROLIN REAFFIRMS VATICAN’S COMMITMENT TO PURSUE PEACE IN UKRAINE

The Holy See expresses support for the Ukrainian President’s “Plan for Peace” especially in regards to humanitarian issues. It also a reaffirms its commitment to continue its efforts aimed at alleviating the sufferings of the Ukrainian people and the return of prisoners and children to Ukraine.

Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to contribute to the alleviation of the sufferings of the Ukrainian people who have been subjected to war with Russia for the past 18 months.

In particular, Cardinal Parolin said he upholds a Plan for Peace presented by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, especially in regard to humanitarian issues and he pledged to pursue efforts aiming to return prisoners and children to Ukraine.

Talks on Ukraine’s plan for peace took place in Malta on 28 and 29 October with the participation of more than 65 countries. Russia was not invited. READ MORE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2023-10/parolin-holy-see-peace-plan-ukraine.html

CARDINAL PAROLIN: ATTACK ON ISRAEL “INHUMAN”, LEGITIMATE DEFENSE SHOULD NOT HARM CIVILIANS

CARDINAL PAROLIN: ATTACK ON ISRAEL “INHUMAN”, LEGITIMATE DEFENSE SHOULD NOT HARM CIVILIANS

(From Dicastery for Communcation) Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin speaks to Vatican Media about the outbreak of war in the Holy Land, saying the priority is the release of hostages and affirming that the Holy See is willing
to mediate.

By Andrea Tornielli & Roberto Cetera
“The Holy See is ready for any necessary mediation, as always.” Six days after the terrorist attack on Israel, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, describes the attack last Saturday as “inhuman”. In an interview with Vatican Media, he also reiterates Pope Francis’s appeal for the
release of all hostages held by Hamas, and calls for proportionality in Israel’s legitimate defense.

The Cardinal expresses concern for the civilian casualties in Gaza due to bombings, emphasizing that despite the ongoing events a truly just peace requires a two-state solution, “which would allow Palestinians and Israelis to live side by side in peace and security.”

Q: Your Eminence, all conflicts are terrible, but as we learned last Saturday, there has been a crescendo of unprecedented cruelty. We are witnessing a total loss of humanity. Do you think there is still room to avoid the worst?

The terrorist attack carried out by Hamas and other militias last Saturday against thousands of Israelis who were about to celebrate the day of Simchat Torah, concluding the week of the Sukkot festival, is inhuman. The Holy See expresses complete and firm condemnation. Furthermore, we are
concerned for the men, women, children, and the elderly held hostage in Gaza. We express our solidarity with the affected families, the vast majority of whom are Jewish, and we pray for them, for those still in shock, for the wounded. It is necessary to regain a sense of reason, abandon the blind logic of hatred, and reject violence as a solution. It is the right of those who are attacked to defend themselves, but even legitimate defense must respect the parameter of proportionality. I do not know how much room for dialogue there can be between Israel and the Hamas militia, but if
there is—and we hope there is—it should be pursued immediately and without delay. This is to avoid further bloodshed, as is happening in Gaza, where many innocent civilian victims have been caused by the Israeli army’s attacks.

Q: Pope Francis reiterates that peace is built on justice. There is no peace that is not just. How is this call for justice for both parties in conflict articulated today?

Peace can only be based on justice. The Latins liked to say, “Opus iustitiae pax,” there can be no peace among men without justice. It seems to me that the greatest possible justice in the Holy Land is the two-state solution, which would allow Palestinians and Israelis to live side by side in peace
and security, meeting the aspirations of the majority. This solution, which is supported by the international community, has recently seemed to some, on both sides, to be no longer feasible. For others, it never was. The Holy See is convinced of the opposite and continues to support it. Now, however, what is just? It is just for the hostages to be returned immediately, even those held by Hamas since previous conflicts. In this sense, I strongly renew the heartfelt appeal made and
repeated by Pope Francis in recent days. It is just that in Israel’s legitimate defense, the lives of Palestinian civilians living in Gaza should not be endangered. It is just—indeed, essential—that in this conflict, as in any other, humanitarian law be fully respected.

Q: Pope Francis, at the end of this Wednesday’s General Audience, made an appeal for the release of the hostages and asked for the lives of the innocent to be spared. Do you see room for a diplomatic initiative by the Holy See, similar to what has been undertaken for the conflict between Russia and Ukraine?

Yes, the release of Israeli hostages and the protection of innocent lives in Gaza are at the heart of the problem created by Hamas’s attack and the response of the Israeli army. They are at the center of all of our concerns: the Pope and the entire international community. The Holy See is ready for any
necessary mediation, as always. In the meantime, we try to speak with the institutions whose channels are already open. However, any mediation to end the conflict must take into account a series of elements that make the issue very complex and articulated, such as the issue of Israeli settlements, security, and the issue of the city of Jerusalem. A solution can be found in direct dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis, encouraged and supported by the international community, even though it will be more difficult now.

Q: In two recent interviews granted to L’Osservatore Romano by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, both expressed their appreciation for the constant words of peace that come from the Christian minority of the Holy Land, which is the ‘salt’ of this land. However, Christians are hemmed in by the conflict and in a situation of suffering. The situation of the small Christian community in Gaza, which is at risk of extinction, is a cause for concern. How can the Christians of the Holy Land be helped concretely now?

First and foremost, with prayer and spiritual and material support. These words of mine are meant to be a renewed affirmation of the affectionate closeness of the Pope and the Holy See. Christians are an essential part of the land where Jesus was born, lived, died, and rose again. No one can
imagine Palestine or Israel without a Christian presence, which has been there from the beginning and will be there forever. It is true that the small Catholic community in Gaza, about 150 families, is suffering immensely. When one member suffers, the whole Church suffers, and so we all suffer. We
know they have gathered in the parish. The parish priest could not return and remains in Bethlehem. Everything is at a standstill, paralyzed, as if gripped by fear and anger. Let us pray for the Israelis; let us pray for the Palestinians; let us pray for Christians, Jews, and Muslims: For the peace of
Jerusalem pray… For the sake of my brothers and friends I say, ‘Peace be with you.’ For the sake of the house of the Lord, our God, I pray for your good.” (Psalm 122:6-9)

MONGOLIA, THE FOCUS OF POPE FRANCIS’ 43RD TRIP ABROAD – CARDINAL PAROLIN: POPE VISITS MONGOLIA AS “A PILGRIM OF HOPE FOR WHOLE WORLD” – MONGOLIAN AMBASSADOR: POPE’S VISIT PROMOTES PEACE IN THE REGION

MONGOLIA, THE FOCUS OF POPE FRANCIS’ 43RD TRIP ABROAD

When Pope Francis departs at 6:30 pm this evening for the 9 and a half hour flight to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, it will be his 43rd trip abroad since his election in March, 2013. Francis has visited visited 12 countries in the Americas, 11 in Asia and 10 in Africa, including seven countries that no previous pope had visited. It seems there remain 34 countries that no pope has ever visited.

Mongolia, described as the world’s most sparsely populated sovereign country, is an immense landlocked nation bordered by China and Russia, known for its vast expanses and nomadic culture.

In this Buddhist-majority country, Christianity is only 1.3% of the 3.3 million population. Pope Francis is the first pope to visit Mongolia whose Catholics number almost 1,500. He will be in Mongolia until September 4.

Last Sunday at the Angelus, the Holy Father said he will “embrace a Church small in numbers but vibrant in faith and great in charity,” arriving as “a brother to all”.

The only Pope to visit an even smaller Catholic population was John Paul II when he went to Azerbaijan in 2002. Popes always reside only in ecclesial buildings – the nuncio’s residence, a bishop’s residence, seminary, etc., but John Paul had to stay in a hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan. There was no bishop in Azerbaijan, therefore no bishop’s residence! At the time, there were only about 120 Catholics in the country! In 2011, an Apostolic Prefecture was instituted that oversees the Catholic Church in the country.

Mongolia also has an Apostolic Prefecture – the prefecture of Ulaanbaatar. An apostolic prefecture is “a ‘pre-diocesan’ missionary jurisdiction where the Church is not yet sufficiently developed to have a diocese.” Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, 49, a missionary in Mongolia for 20 years, created a cardinal by Francis in August 2022, is the apostolic prefect in Ulaanbaatar.

Rest assured that both of Mongolia’s neighbors, China and Russia, will be paying close attention to the papal trip and to Pope Francis’ speech on arrival on September 1 to Mongolia’s civil leaders and the local diplomatic corps, including officials from Russia, China, and North Korea.

Many are prudently asking: Was this trip planned with a strong diplomatic and geopolitical emphasis?

As the days go on, we shall see…

Also on the papal agenda are interreligious dialogue and a Mass for the country’s small Catholic population. Pope Francis’ motto for the trip is “Hoping Together.”

CARDINAL PAROLIN: POPE VISITS MONGOLIA AS “A PILGRIM OF HOPE FOR WHOLE WORLD”

In an interview with Vatican Media, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin describes Pope Francis’ upcoming Apostolic Visit to Mongolia as a journey to confirm the country’s “small and lively” Catholic community and to strengthen the ties between the Holy See and the Asian nation.

Mongolia is ready to embrace a Pope for the first time in its history, and “expectations are high”.

In an interview with Vatican Media, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, thus described the enthusiasm with which the small Catholic community of the Asian country is preparing to welcome the Holy Father.

In his 43rd Apostolic Journey, Pope Francis will be in the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, on 1-4 September, in a nation that borders Russia and China and is five times the size of Italy with a population of around 3.3 million inhabitants.

Central to understanding the trip is the motto: “Hoping together,” because, as Cardinal Parolin explains, there is such a great need for hope, “a hope that is not an empty expectation, but that is based, at least for us Christians, on faith, that is, on the presence of God in our history, and that, at the same time, is transformed into personal and collective commitment.” FOR FULL Q&A: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-08/cardinal-parolin-pope-francis-mongolia-pilgrim-hope-whole-world.html

MONGOLIAN AMBASSADOR: POPE’S VISIT PROMOTES PEACE IN THE REGION

As she looks forward to welcoming Pope Francis to her country, Mongolia’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Ms. Gerelmaa Davaasuren, expresses gratitude for the historic visit, which she says will showcase Mongolia on the global stage and promote interfaith dialogue and respect for diverse beliefs, “a great contribution to maintaining peace and stability in our region and the world.”

The Mongolian Ambassador to the Holy See presented her credentials to Pope Francis in December 2022, 30 years after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Mongolia.

That anniversary was marked in the Vatican when a delegation of Mongolian Buddhists paid an unprecedented official visit to the Vatican and was received by Pope Francis. FOR MORE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2023-08/pope-mongolia-apostolic-visit-ambassador-holy-see-peace-interfai.html

VATICAN INSIDER: TWO PRIESTS, TWO BROTHERS, TWO TALES OF PRIESTHOOD – CARDINAL PAROLIN: AVOID ESCALATION IN UKRAINE, BUCHA CIVILIAN MASSACRE “INEXPLICABLE” – FLORISTS, GARDENERS AND TECHNICAL WORKERS TO BEAUTIFY ST. PETER’S SQUARE FOR EASTER

VATICAN INSIDER: TWO PRIESTS, TWO BROTHERS, TWO TALES OF PRIESTHOOD

My guests this week in the interview segment of Vatican Insider are two of my dearest friends, two priests, two brothers, native Chicagoans, who are both in Rome at the same time: Msgr. Michael Boland, a consultant to Catholic Charities USA following 30 magnificent years as head of Catholic Charities in the archdiocese of Chicago, and his brother Fr. Jeremiah Boland, pastor of a parish I know and love, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Glenview, Illinois. Fr. Jerry is in Rome on sabbatical at the North American College’s Institute of Continuing Theological Education.

They both recently celebrated anniversaries of their priesthood : Fr. Jerry 40 years, Msgr Michael, 35.

They are two of my most cherished friends and, as I note in our conversation, there are two things that bind us in friendship: celebration of the Eucharist, Mass, and meals! I know you will hear that friendship when we talk!

I forgot to take a photo while they were in my office but here we are, breaking bread, after I conducted the interview (Fr. Jerry on the left; Msgr. Michael on the right)

IN THE UNITED STATES, you can listen to Vatican Insider (VI) on a Catholic radio station near you (stations listed at www.ewtn.com) or on channel 130 Sirius-XM satellite radio, or on http://www.ewtn.com. OUTSIDE THE U.S., you can listen to EWTN radio on our website home page by clicking on the right side where you see “LISTEN TO EWTN.” VI airs at 5am and 9pm ET on Saturdays and 6am ET on Sundays. On the GB-IE feed (which is on SKY in the UK and Ireland), VI airs at 5:30am, 12 noon and 10pm CET on Sundays. Both of these feeds are also available on the EWTN app and on www.ewtnradio.net ALWAYS CHECK YOUR OWN TIME ZONE! For VI archives: go to https://www.ewtn.com/radio/audio-archive and write the name of the guest for whom you are searching in the SEARCH box. Below that, will appear “Vatican Insider” – click on that and the link to that particular episode will appear.

CARDINAL PAROLIN: AVOID ESCALATION IN UKRAINE; BUCHA CIVILIAN MASSACRE “INEXPLICABLE” 

On the sidelines of an event at Vatican Radio, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin comments on the recent revelations of the massacre of civilians in Bucha, and confirms the possibility of a papal trip to Kyiv and a separate meeting with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill. Parolin: Avoid escalation in Ukraine, Bucha civilian massacre ‘inexplicable’ – Vatican News

FLORISTS, GARDENERS AND TECHNICAL WORKERS TO BEAUTIFY ST. PETER’S SQUARE FOR EASTER

You may recall that, in January, I published a piece about Dutch Florists who, for the first time in 35 years, would not be able to embellish St. Peter’s Square for Easter with thousands of flowers, plants, palm trees and shrubs: 35-YEAR TRADITION OF DUTCH FLOWERS IN THE VATICAN AT EASTER TO END  | Joan’s Rome (wordpress.com)

Well, it seems from a press release today from the Governorate of Vatican City State that there will still be some Dutch participation:

Continuing the Holy Week tradition of decorating St. Peter’s Square with hundreds of floral compositions and decorations, workers from the Infrastructure and Services Service of the Governorate of Vatican City State will prepare the altar area of the square, working alongside those who have offered plants and flowers. In particular, on Palm Sunday, April 10, olive branches provided by the National Association of the City of Olio, by the mayors of the City of Olio and the Lazio Region, and by the Caputo family of Taranto in the Puglia Region will be distributed.

The supply of “Phoenix palms” ** will be handled by the Supreme Pontiff’s Office for Liturgical Celebrations. Parmureli from the city of Sanremo will also be present.

The Flora Olanda wholesale floriculture company in Rome will lend large olive trees to be placed near the statues of Saints Peter and Paul at the foot of the churchyard. The floral decorations in St. Peter’s Square on the occasion of Holy Easter will be made thanks to the generous contribution of the florists and the professors of floristry of biotechnology of Naklo in Slovenia, with the collaboration of the Vatican gardeners who will work throughout Good Friday to prepare and finish the decorations by the next day.

** Phoenix canariensis is a species of flowering plant in the palm family, native to the Canary Islands

HOME SWEET ROME – SHORT TAKES

HOME SWEET ROME – SHORT TAKES

I returned safely to Rome this morning after my 5-day whirlwind, jam-packed trip to NY. It’s always good to be home after a trip, especially when one’s luggage arrives safe and sound! More details about that trip in a day or two but for now, just three important notices:

1. Here is a link to the interview EWTN’s Colm Flynn did in Dubai with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin: https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://youtu.be/JGna8ad5w7E__;!!GfxeEQ!FA5woR3SIeh5t8Um3TvwsfeonU6Qgre19hbXj7-mUQnqrP74b9wpT5Z7jRGE$

2. Because tomorrow’s Solemnity of the Annunciation is a Friday, Canon 1251 allows the faithful to eat meat on this Friday! Rejoice and be glad – but principally for the Annunciation!

3. The Vatican has published in 35 languages the prayer that Pope Francis will recite tomorrow afternoon in St. Peter’s Basilica when he makes an Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary during a penitential liturgy. That will be carried on EWTN television. It will also be available at vaticannews. va   Here is a link to those languages: Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary – Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary – Activities of the Holy Father Pope Francis | Vatican.va

UKRAINE: CARDINAL PAROLIN “DISMAYED” AT BOMBING OF CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL – VATICAN PHARMACY, A PLAYER IN AID TO UKRAINE

I had a wonderful time at the Vatican pharmacy yesterday, a place I’ve been to countless times in my decades in Rome, during which I interviewed Bro. Binish Thomas, director of the pharmacy. Among the many things I learned was the aid being assembled for the people of Ukraine. You’ll hear about that and a lot more when I air the interview on Vatican Insider but you can read a bit today because the Vatican newspaper featured a brief interview with Bro. Thomas that I’ve translated.

If you live in Rome, there’s a way to help the pharmacy help the Ukrainians, as you will see in the story.

UKRAINE: CARDINAL PAROLIN “DISMAYED” AT BOMBING OF CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin expressed his dismay at the Russian bombing of a pediatric hospital in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, and reiterates the Holy See’s desire to mediate if requested.

By Vatican News

A Russian air raid struck a children’s hospital on the southern port city of Mariupol on Wednesday, killing at least three people, including a child.

The Mariupol city council confirmed the air strike on the hospital’s maternity ward, which wounded at least 17 people, including doctors, children, and women waiting to give birth. The head of the Donetsk regional administration said the attack took place during a ceasefire agreed with Russian authorities.

‘Unacceptable attacks on civilians’

The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, criticized attacks on hospitals, in response to a reporter’s question at a conference in Rome on Wednesday evening.

He said the bombing of medical centers for women and children is unacceptable, no matter the reason.

Cardinal Parolin repeated the Holy See’s willingness to mediate peace talks between Ukraine and Russia if requested. He admitted that the space for negotiations is slight, but expressed hope some agreement could be reached.

Diplomatic efforts

The cardinal secretary of state spoke by phone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday. Referring to that phone call, the cardinal said no guarantees were offered and that Mr. Lavrov did not offer reassurances regarding humanitarian corridors.

Cardinal Parolin reiterated that the Holy See is always ready to engage in diplomacy with all parties, even as it calls for an end to the war in Ukraine.

Mission for peace

Pope Francis has dispatched two cardinals to the region – Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner, and Cardinal Michael Czerny, the interim prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. Cardinal Parolin said their mission is a sign of the Pope’s desire to contribute to peace, on spiritual, material, and diplomatic levels.

Inflaming tensions further

Cardinal Parolin also referred to Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill’s homily on Sunday. He said the Patriarch’s statements do not encourage or promote an understanding, adding that his words risk further inflaming tempers leading to an escalation that does not resolve the crisis in a peaceful way.

VATICAN PHARMACY, A PLAYER IN AID TO UKRAINE

A joint effort is underway by both the Vatican Pharmacy and its employees and customers to meet the urgent needs of the people of Ukraine who are victims of the war. First aid medicines, antibiotics, painkillers, but also medical and pediatric material have already been delivered to Santa Sofia basilica, a reference point for the Ukrainian community in Rome, to get them directly to where they are most needed.

In an interview with “L’Osservatore Romano,” the director of the Vatican Pharmacy, Brother Binish Thomas of the Hospital Order of St. John of God (Fatebenefratelli), gives an initial assessment of the “solidarity contest” also taking place in the Vatican.(JFL photo)

What are the most requested and donated products?

We mainly collect and send antibiotics, pain relievers, anti-inflammatory products, pediatric medicines and first aid materials.

Who are the recipients of this aid and how and when will it arrive?

In these days we are collecting offers and donations for the population affected by the conflict from the institutions and offices of Vatican City State, as well as from religious and lay employees. All that we have received from individuals, entities and organizations has been delivered, through the papal almoner, to Santa Sofia, which sorts the materials in order to answer requests from Ukraine or neighboring nations that welcome displaced people who have fled the country.

Do you have any other initiatives planned?

The Vatican Pharmacy is always attentive and sensitive to humanitarian and health emergencies, especially those affecting populations affected by wars. In particular, as the Fatebenfratelli religious community, along with our collaborators, we joined the aid initiative promoted by the papal almoner’s office by actively participating in the collection of medicines and other necessities on Monday March 7, in the square in front of the Governorate building.

Is it possible to continue donating other medicines to send to Ukrainian refugees?

Not having an online service for the purchase of products for health emergencies, all people wishing to participate in our aid initiatives can come directly to the pharmacy where our staff is ready to address offers in the most attentive way possible aimed at the emergency in progress.

 

 

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CARDINAL PAROLIN CALLS FOR END TO FIGHTING IN CALL WITH RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV – LENTEN SERMONS FOR ROMAN CURIA SET FOR MARCH, APRIL

There’s an interesting line in the story today about Cardinal Parolin’s phone conversation with Russia’s foreign minister: “Minister Lavrov’s entourage explained that the minister informed Cardinal Parolin “about Russian motivation regarding the causes and objectives of the special military operation conducted in Ukraine.”

Wouldn’t you love to know Russia’s “motivation and causes” of its invasion of Ukraine!

CARDINAL PAROLIN CALLS FOR END TO FIGHTING IN CALL WITH RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke by phone on Tuesday. Cardinal Parolin reiterated the Pope’s appeal for peace and offered the Holy See’s availability for any type of mediation.

By Vatican News

Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke by phone on Tuesday. Cardinal Parolin reiterated Pope Francis’ repeated appeals for an end to the fighting. He also expressed the Holy See’s availability for any type of mediation deemed useful in order to promote peace.

The director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, confirmed that, “The cardinal conveyed Pope Francis’ deep concern for the ongoing war in Ukraine and reaffirmed what the Pope said last Sunday at the Angelus. In particular, he reiterated his call for an end to armed attacks, for humanitarian corridors to be secured for civilians and rescuers, and for negotiation instead of armed violence.” Concluding the phone call, Cardinal Parolin reaffirmed the Holy See’s willingness “to do everything possible to put itself at the service of this peace.”

News of the talks was also reported by the Interfax news agency, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. “The parties expressed hope that the next round of talks between Moscow and Kyiv will take place soon and that an agreement will be reached on key issues” with the aim of ceasing hostilities, Russian sources said. Minister Lavrov’s entourage explained that the minister informed Cardinal Parolin “about Russian motivation regarding the causes and objectives of the special military operation conducted in Ukraine.”

During the Angelus last Sunday, Pope Francis had remarked that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine was not a military operation, but rather a war. The Foreign Ministry statement concludes, “Special emphasis was placed on humanitarian issues related to the conflict, including measures to protect civilians, the organization and implementation of humanitarian corridors, assistance to refugees.”

LENTEN SERMONS FOR ROMAN CURIA SET FOR MARCH, APRIL

The Holy See Press Office sent out a note today, stating that the 2022 Lenten sermons will be given on five consecutive Fridays (March 11, 18 and 25, and April 1 and 8) by Preacher of the Papal Household, Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap., on the theme “Take, Eat, This is my Body” (Matthew 26,26). They will take place at 9 am in the Paul VI Hall.

Invited to attend are the cardinals, archbishops, bishops and prelates of the Papal Household, employees of the Roman Curia and the vicariate of Rome, Superiors General or Procurators of Religious Orders belonging to the Cappella Pontificia and Seminaries and Colleges of Rome.

 

SECRETARY OF STATE CARDINAL PAROLIN ADDRESSES SITUATION IN UKRAINE: “THERE IS TIME FOR GOOD WILL, SPACE FOR NEGOTIATIONS”

SECRETARY OF STATE CARDINAL PAROLIN ADDRESSES SITUATION IN UKRAINE: “THERE IS TIME FOR GOOD WILL, SPACE FOR NEGOTIATIONS”

Here is the link to the video message of Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on the situation in Ukraine: Parolin: May those who hold the fate of the world in their hands spare us from the horrors of war – Vatican News

The Vatican news portal also presents Cardinal Parolin’s words on its pages in French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and German. For the Ukrainian and Russian language pages of Vatican News, there is the video of Parolin speaking Italian and below the video is his speech translated into Ukrainian and Russian.

Cardinal Parolin’s words:

“!Faced with today’ developments in the crisis in Ukraine, the words that the Holy Father pronounced yesterday at the end of the general audience stand out even more clearly and more heartfelt. The Pope spoke of “great pain, …anguish and worry,” and he invited all parties involved to “refrain from any action that causes even more suffering to the populations, … destabilizes peaceful coexistence” and “discredits international law.” This appeal acquires a dramatic urgency after the start of Russian military operations on Ukrainian territory.

“The tragic scenarios that everyone feared are unfortunately becoming reality. But there is still time for good will, there is still room for negotiation, there is still room for the exercise of a wisdom that prevents the prevalence of partisan interests, protects the legitimate aspirations of each one and saves the world from the madness and horrors of war. We believers do not lose hope of a glimmer of conscience of those who have the destinies of the world in their hands. And we keep praying and fasting – we will do so next Ash Wednesday – for peace in Ukraine and in the entire world.”