VATICAN INSIDER: WHO IS THE MAN OF THE SHROUD? – POPE FRANCIS CONDEMNS ‘SHAMEFUL ILL-TREATMENT’ OF WOMEN

VATICAN INSIDER: WHO IS THE MAN OF THE SHROUD?

In this week’s Vatican Insider, I have a special for you instead of the regular interview segment. This Sunday is Pentecost and the official end of the Easter Season but I have prepared a two-part story I call “Who is the Man of the Shroud?” – the Shroud being the cloth that is said to have wrapped Christ’s body in the tomb until his Resurrection – the start of the Easter season. Part II will air next week. (Images from http://www.shroud.com)

The Shroud:

The ventral image of the Shroud of Turin as it appears on the screen of a VP-8 Image Analyzer:

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POPE FRANCIS CONDEMNS ‘SHAMEFUL ILL-TREATMENT’ OF WOMEN

Marking the Day for Life in England and Wales, dedicated this year to domestic abuse, Pope Francis issues an appeal to fight all forms of exploitation.

By Linda Bordoni (vaticannews)

As the Catholic Church in England and Wales prepares to celebrate the Day for Life focusing on the theme of the Scourge of Domestic Abuse, Pope Francis has sent a message of greetings, support and participation.

In the message, signed on his behalf by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope said that as the bishops consider the theme of domestic abuse, “and in particular the shameful ill-treatment to which women are sometimes subjected (cf Amoris Laetitia, 54),” he prays that the efforts of the bishops to “support the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters will bear much fruit and contribute to a growing commitment to fight against all forms of exploitation.”

“The responsibility to share the good news that every human life is beautiful and sacred is a noble calling,” said Pope Francis. He continued offering “his encouragement to all who strive to promote a culture of life, gladly imparting his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of strength and peace in the Lord.”

The 2019 Day for Life is being held in England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland on 16 June.

Commenting on the shocking statistics that reveal one in four women and about one in six men suffer from domestic abuse in their lifetime, and that two women are killed every week in England by a partner or ex-partner, Bishop John Sherrigan who is responsible for the Day for Life in England and Wales said:

“These shocking statistics call us to fight against the scourge of domestic abuse. For those who are experiencing domestic abuse, the home is far from being a place of security and self-fulfillment. Too often it is a place of suffering, fear, degradation, and isolation.

“Domestic abuse is often a hidden problem, and our aim is for anyone experiencing domestic abuse to feel able to have the confidence to seek help within the Church setting. We want to raise awareness in our churches which would be a step towards addressing this serious moral and social problem.”

He pointed to the good work carried out by the National Board of Catholic Women and other groups, saying that it is of vital importance.

The proceeds from the Day for Life collection held in parishes will be used for the promotion of the dignity of the human person through the distribution of grants. This will help to develop networks and work with others to support projects against domestic violence.

A PAPAL SUNDAY: A CULTURE OF LIFE, A CULTURE OF ENCOUNTER, A WORLD OF PEACE – WORLD DAY OF SICK TO BE CELEBRATED FEBRUARY 11 AT LOURDES

A PAPAL SUNDAY: A CULTURE OF LIFE, A CULTURE OF ENCOUNTER, A WORLD OF PEACE

Just nine days after he sent a message to organizers and participants in the March for Life in Washington, D.C., Pope Francis on Sunday at the Angelus marked Italy’s Day for Life by focusing on creating a culture of life and protecting life at all stages. He called on the faithful to join Italian bishops in promoting a culture of life in which “no one is left alone.….each life is sacred. … So let’s pray together for those children who risk a pregnancy termination and for those who are nearing the end of life. may no one be left alone and may love defend the sense of life.”

Addressing the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square after the recitation of the Marian prayer, Francis urged all believers to respond to “the logic of waste and demographic downturn” by upholding and promoting a “culture of life.” Quoting Saint Teresa of Calcutta who said, “life is beauty, admire it; life is life, fight for it,” the Pope stressed that is true for the child about to be born and for the person who is about to die as “every life is sacred!”

Sunday was also America’s greatest sports celebration – the Super Bowl. How many people know that Pope Francis sent a video message to Super Bowl athletes and fans, saying great sporting events like this annual championship game are “highly symbolic and show that it is possible to build a culture of encounter and a world of peace. By participating in sport, we are able to go beyond our own self-interest – and in a healthy way – we learn to sacrifice, to grow in fidelity and respect the rules. may this year’s super bowl be a sign of peace, friendship and solidarity to the world.”

WORLD DAY OF SICK TO BE CELEBRATED FEBRUARY 11 AT LOURDES

Officials from the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development held a press conference today in the Holy See Press Office to present the 25th World Day of the Sick to be held in Lourdes, France on February 11. They also presented the New Charter for Healthcare Workers.

Msgr. Jean-Marie Mate Musivi Mupendawatu, secretary of this Dicastery explained that the World Day of the Sick was instituted by St. John Paul II in 1992 and, on this 25th anniversary, it will be celebrated in an extraordinary way, at Pope Francis’ behest. Among the many figures who will attend the event in Lourdes on February 11, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin will be present as papal legate, and will celebrate the solemn Mass on the anniversary of the first apparition of the Virgin to Bernadette Soubirous.

The new Charter was then presented. It was defined as a revision and updating of the previous Charter for Healthcare Workers, the theological, moral and medical “vademecum” that resulted from an intuition of the first president of the former pontifical council, Cardinal Fiorenzo Angelini and was translated into 19 languages and was for twenty years a basic text for healthcare workers.

Msgr. Musivi Mupendawatu also noted Pope Francis’ Message for the upcoming 25th anniversary, saying its theme is “Amazement at what God has accomplished: ‘The Almighty has done great things for me…’” (Luke 1:49).

To read the entire summary of the press conference: http://www.news.va/en/news/vatican-presents-25th-world-day-of-sick-new-charte