PAPAL CATECHESIS ON JUSTICE, “THE BASIS OF PEACE” – POPE FRANCIS RENEWS APPEAL FOR CEASEFIRE IN GAZA, DECRIES KILLING OF WORLD KITCHEN STAFF VOLUNTEERS – POPE PRAYS FOR PEOPLE SLAIN IN WAR, RECALLS UKRAINIAN SOLDIER OLEKSANDR, HOLDS HIS ROSARY

PAPAL CATECHESIS ON JUSTICE, “THE BASIS OF PEACE”

Pope Francis, presiding at the weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square focused the catechesis on the virtue of justice, noting at the start that ,“Without justice, there is no peace!”

He said the Catechism describes justice as “the constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbour” (No. 1807). Justice is not only a virtue to be practiced by individuals; it is above all a social virtue, for it is directed to the creation of communities in which each person is treated in accordance with his or her innate dignity. Justice is thus the basis of peace.”

The Holy Father explained that ,“the practice of justice demands the practice of other virtues, such as honesty, integrity, respect for law and commitment to the common good. Jesus calls blessed those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (cf. Mt 5:6). How greatly our world, riven by war and manifest inequality, needs men and women firmly committed to the pursuit of justice, so that the human family can live and flourish in unity, solidarity and peace.”

To see the video: Pope at Audience: The righteous and upright will find happiness – Vatican News

POPE FRANCIS RENEWS APPEAL FOR CEASEFIRE IN GAZA, DECRIES KILLING OF WORLD KITCHEN STAFF VOLUNTEERS

At the end of the general audience catechesis and summaries in different languages, Pope Francis made this appeal:

“Unfortunately, sad news continues to come from the Middle East. I reiterate my firm call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. I express my deep regret for the volunteers killed while engaged in the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza. I pray for them and their families. I renew my appeal for the exhausted and suffering civilian population to be given access to humanitarian aid and for the hostages to be released immediately. Let us avoid all irresponsible attempts to broaden the conflict in the region, and let us work so that this and other wars that continue to bring death and suffering to so many parts of the world may end as soon as possible. Let us pray and work tirelessly for weapons to be silenced and for peace to reign once again.”

The 7 slain volunteers worked with the World Central Kitchen.

POPE PRAYS FOR PEOPLE SLAIN IN WAR, RECALLS UKRAINIAN SOLDIER OLEKSANDR, HOLDS HIS ROSARY

Continuing his appeals for peace, the Holy Father spoke of Ukraine and a young soldier, killed in action, whose rosary he held at the audience:

“And let us not forget tormented Ukraine; so many dead! I hold in my hands a rosary and a book of the New Testament left by a soldier who died in the war. This boy was called Oleksandr, Alexander, and he was 23 years old. Alexander read the New Testament and the Psalms, and in the Book of Psalms he had underlined Psalm 130: “Out of the depths I cry to thee, O Lord! Lord, hear my voice!”. This 23-year-old boy died in Avdiïvka, in the war. He had his life ahead of him. And this is his rosary and his New Testament, which he read and prayed. I would like us to take a moment of silence, all of us, thinking about this boy and many others like him who died in this folly of war. War always destroys! Let us think of them, and let us pray.” (video at 53:08: Pope at Audience: The righteous and upright will find happiness – Vatican News)

 

 

 

Pope Francis recalls a slain Ukrainian soldier, 23-year-old Oleksandr, who was kille

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 VIEWS FILM “FREEDOM ON FIRE: UKRAINE’S FIGHT FOR FREEDOM” – POPE FRANCIS: PRAY FOR IMMENSE SUFFERING OF PEOPLE IN THE HOLY LAND

Greetings!  I have a few days off for the Thanksgiving period so this page will be “Joan’s Rome” lite during that time, although I may well post my own personal prayer about Thanksgiving, giving thanks and gratitude.  It is a special day for all Americans, wherever we live, and Rome is no exception. I’ll give you an insight into how we mark Thanksgiving here on my weekend radio show, “Vatican Insider.”

Obviously for important breaking news, I’ll be here. In addition, I might find some things to post or re-post on X/Twitter and Facebook.

In the meantime, I hope the Lord blesses all of you and your families in the most abundant manner during these days when “family” is indeed a focus of the holiday. And buon appetito!

POPE VIEWS FILM “FREEDOM ON FIRE: UKRAINE’S FIGHT FOR FREEDOM”

Posted on the Holy See Press Office’s Telegram account last evening:

This evening, Pope Francis arrived at the New Synod Hall at 6:30 during the screening of Evgeny Afineevsky’s documentary film, “Freedom on Fire: Ukraine’s fight for freedom.”  This took place in the presence of several members of the diplomatic corps, among whom the ambassador of Ukraine to the Holy See, and Italian, and international guests.

The pope stayed until the end of the screening and, after a minute of silence and prayer for the victims of the conflict and some brief words from the film director, he briefly greeted participants and and gave thanks for the witness to so much pain. “Wars are always a defeat,” he recalled, “and we who have seen this cruelty, this people defending their own identity, we must be close to so much suffering and pray for this people, pray that piece comes.”

Before leaving, the pope greeted individually each guest, and then returned to the Santa Marta residence. (Vatican photo)

POPE FRANCIS: PRAY FOR IMMENSE SUFFERING OF PEOPLE IN THE HOLY LAND

“This is not war; this is terrorism.” With those words, Pope Francis described the Israel-Hamas war that is ravaging the Holy Land.

Addressing the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Wednesday general audience, the Pope turned his thoughts to those suffering in Palestine and Israel.

In his appeal, he prayed for everyone suffering due to various wars, especially in Ukraine, Israel, and Palestine.

The Holy Father recalled his meeting earlier this morning, with two delegations: one of Israelis who have relatives held hostage in Gaza, and another of families of Palestinians who are suffering in Gaza.

The Pope met first with the 12 members of the Israeli delegation at his residence in the Casa Santa Marta at 7:30 AM. He then met with the Palestinian delegation at around 8:00 AM in a room in the Paul VI Hall. The Palestinian delegation was composed of 10 people with relatives in Gaza, and included Christians and Muslims. They were accompanied by Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of the Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Gaza, and a Greek Orthodox priest.

In both encounters, Pope Francis expressed his anguish and his closeness to their pain.

“They suffer so much. I heard how they both suffer,” said the Pope afterwards at the general audience, adding that, “wars do that.”

“But here we have gone beyond wars”, the Pope stressed. “This is not war; this is terrorism.”

Dialogue instead of passions
The Pope invited everyone to “pray for peace; pray always for peace.”

The Holy Father then prayed that the Lord may “help us to solve the problems and not be driven by the passions that end up killing everyone.”

“Let us pray for the Palestinian people; let us pray for the Israeli people, so that peace may come,” the Pope concluded.

The director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, had announced on Friday that Pope Francis would be meeting with the delegations, stressing that the meetings would be “of an exclusively humanitarian nature” aiming to demonstrate Pope Francis’ “spiritual closeness to the suffering of each individual.”

VIDEO OF PAPAL PEACE APPEAL:  Pope Francis released a video message to appeal for peace in the Holy Land and Ukraine, praying that wars might be resolved through dialogue rather than a mountain of casualties.

He stated that  the Palestinian people and the people of Israel “have the right to peace. …These two fraternal peoples have the right to live in peace.”  Francis invited everyone to pray for peace in the Holy Land and for dialogue to prevail. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-11/pope-francis-video-message-war-holy-land-ukraine.html

POPE: “MAY WEAPONS FALL SILENT, SITUATION IN GAZA IS DESPERATE” – AN INHUMAN ACT – HEADS OF CHURCHES IN JERUSALEM CONDEMN ATTACK ON GAZA HOSPITAL – WHO WILL BE WRITING THE CRUCIAL SUMMARY REPORT OF THE SYNOD? – A “MEDIA SYNOD” VERSUS THE REAL SYNOD? – POPE FRANCIS MEETS WITH U.S. LGBT GROUP PREVIOUSLY DENOUNCED BY VATICAN

POPE: “MAY WEAPONS FALL SILENT, SITUATION IN GAZA IS DESPERATE”

Appealing for peace in the Holy Land, Pope Francis expresses concern for the humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling on all parties to lay down their weapons and all Christians to pray and fast on 27 October for peace.

By Francesca Merlo (Vatican news)

“The number of victims is growing and the situation in Gaza is desperate.”

With these words, Pope Francis turned his thoughts to Palestine and Israel pleading that “everything possible be done to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe.”

Speaking at his weekly General Audience, the Holy Father also drew attention to the unsettling possibility of the conflict’s expansion.

“The world already witnesses so many open war fronts,” he lamented.

In light of these circumstances, he implored, “Lay down weapons and heed the cries for peace from the poor, the people, and the innocent children.”

“War solves no problems,” he said. “It only sows death and destruction, increases hatred, multiplies revenge. War erases the future, it erases the future.”

The Holy Father went on to urge all believers to take one side only: that of peace. “But not with words,” he continued, “with prayer and with total dedication.”

Invitation to a day of penance
In this regard, Pope Francis invited everyone to a day of prayer, fasting, and penance for peace.

On Friday, 27 October, he encouraged people of different Christian denominations, other religions, and all those who advocate for peace to participate as they see fit.

The central event will be an hour of prayer at 6 PM in St. Peter’s Square, with the goal of invoking peace for the world.

“I invite all the particular Churches to take part by organizing similar initiatives which involve the people of God,” he concluded.

AN INHUMAN ACT

(Vatican news editorial) The massacre of hundreds of innocent civilians in a hospital in Gaza cries out to the international community. A humanitarian catastrophe must be avoided, as must the outbreak of a war with unimaginable consequences.

By Andrea Tornielli

The massacre of civilians that took place in Gaza last night, striking the al-Ahli Arabi Anglican hospital, is an inhuman act. The attack claimed hundreds of civilian casualties, including many women and children.

Gaza evacuation –

TO CONTINUE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2023-10/an-inhuman-act-gaza-al-ahli-hospital-anglican.html

HEADS OF CHURCHES IN JERUSALEM CONDEMN ATTACK ON GAZA  HOSPITAL

Mourning civilian victims of the massacre in Gaza and extending solidarity to the Episcopal diocese of Jerusalem: TO CONTINUE: https://www.lpj.org/posts/statement-for-the-patriarchs-and-heads-of-the-churches-in-jerusalem-about-the-attack-of-al-ahli-anglican-hospital-in-gaza.html

WHO WILL BE WRITING THE CRUCIAL SUMMARY REPORT OF THE SYNOD?

Chief spokesman Paolo Ruffini told reporters last week that the drafters are assisted by collaborators called ‘sherpas’ and added that ‘it makes no sense to give their names.’

VATICAN CITY — As well as withholding the names of who is seated in which small groups, the Vatican is also declining to share with journalists the complete list of those who will be drafting the final synthesis report that will bring together all the contributions of the small groups and the General Congregations. TO CONTINUE: https://www.ncregister.com/news/synod-on-synodality-who-will-be-writing-the-crucial-summary-report-of-the-synod?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

A “MEDIA SYNOD” VERSUS THE REAL SYNOD?

Is there a “media synod” running parallel to the Synod of Bishops’ assembly that’s currently being held at the Vatican, where 365 voting members have gathered to discuss synodality and the future of the Church?

In fact, it’s a classic question when major meetings of this kind take place at Catholicism’s bureaucratic center. And it’s been that way for over half a century. Benedict XVI, before stepping down as pope in 2013, told the priests of Rome that he was convinced that this happened at the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). “There was the Council of the Fathers – the real Council – but there was also the Council of the media. Thus, the Council that reached the people with immediate effect was that of the media, not that of the Fathers,” the late pope said. TO CONTINUE: https://international.la-croix.com/news/religion/a-media-synod-versus-the-real-synod/18530?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Mailjet_18Oct23N1&cmid=5cdecc6f-5f2f-43e4-8070-d8aef64c86c0

POPE FRANCIS MEETS WITH U.S. LGBT GROUP PREVIOUSLY DENOUNCED BY VATICAN

Pope Francis met Tuesday at his residence with leadership from the U.S. LGBT organization New Ways Ministry, which was previously denounced by both the U.S. bishops’ conference and the Vatican’s doctrinal office for causing confusion on sexual morality among the Catholic faithful. TO CONTINUE: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255724/pope-francis-meets-with-us-lgbt-group-previously-denounced-by-vatican

PATRIARCH PIZZABALLA: ANYTHING TO ALLOW HOSTAGES TO BE FREED

When a new cardinal, kneeling before the Pope, receives the cardinal’s biretta, the Holy Father places it on his head and says, in part: “(This is) scarlet as a sign of the dignity of the cardinalate, signifying your readiness to act with courage, even to the shedding of your blood, for the increase of the Christian faith, for the peace and tranquillity of the people of God and for the freedom and growth of Holy Roman Church.”

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, received that biretta from Pope Francis and heard the Pope say those words on September 30, just over two weeks ago.

And today we hear his words, his willingness to do what might indeed lead to “the shedding of blood.”

Let us pray with all our hearts for him and for all the hostages in Gaza!

PATRIARCH PIZZABALLA: ANYTHING TO ALLOW HOSTAGES TO BE FREED

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, expresses his willingness to exchange himself for the kidnapped children held by Hamas and discusses the Holy See’s mediation efforts with regards to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the Holy Land.

Vatican news photo –

By Francesca Merlo

“Anything” for their freedom and to have “those children back home”.

In a poignant online meeting with a gathering of journalists, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, conveyed a heartfelt commitment to freedom and concern for the release of children held hostage by Hamas. He declared, “If I am ready for an exchange? Anything, if this can lead to freedom and bring those children back home, no problem. On my part, absolute willingness.”

Cardinal Pizzaballa further touched upon the Holy See’s offer of mediation, emphasizing the desire to rescue the captives. He noted, “We have offered our readiness at least to try to bring the hostages back, at least some of them, this is being attempted. It is very difficult because, for mediation, you need to have interlocutors. And at this moment, it’s not possible to talk to Hamas.”

Turning his attention to the possibility of an Israeli ground invasion in the Gaza Strip, Cardinal Pizzaballa revealed a twofold concern. “My concerns are essentially twofold: the first is, following the ground operation, I don’t know what it’s called, the much more severe humanitarian crisis that will be created. This is the first fear, as there will undoubtedly be many victims.” Then, he shared, “the other fear,” which is “that this conflict becomes a regional conflict, involving not only Gaza or possibly the West Bank but also Lebanon, then the Islamic world could ignite, all the Arab countries: I don’t know, it’s very difficult to predict the developments, but the fear of regional expansion is real, and I’m not the only one saying it.”

 

GAZA NEWS: FROM THE LATIN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM

GAZA NEWS: FROM THE LATIN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM

I received an email sent to all Knights, Dames and Priest Knights of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre that contained a link from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem (LPJ) about the school it supports in Gaza. The information is from the school administrator.

The following link is from the Latin Patriarchate regarding the war in Gaza:  https://www.lpj.org/posts/the-state-of-our-parish-in-gaza-amidst-the-war.html?fbclid=IwAR0NNAYtwc67bYdR5czA2lfaQMZe7RCQQWMQgAaRG_PD48arn3gYtPc3tFY

It is also available in Arabic, Spanish, French and Italian when you get to the site.

POPE FRANCIS ASKS “IMMEDIATE RELEASE” OF HOSTAGES – MERCIFUL LOVE AFFIRMS HUMAN DIGNITY, BRINGS FREEDOM, ENABLES FORGIVENESS

POPE FRANCIS ASKS “IMMEDIATE RELEASE” OF HOSTAGES

After the catechesis on St. Josephine Bakhita in today’s general audience, Pope Francis stated: “I continue to follow what is happening in Israel and Palestine with tears and apprehension: many people killed, others injured. I pray for those families who have seen a feast day transformed into a day of mourning, and I ask that the hostages be released immediately.

“It is the right,” he continued, “of those who are attacked to defend themselves, but I am very concerned about the total siege under which the Palestinians are living in Gaza, where there have also been many innocent victims. Terrorism and extremism do not help reach a solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, but fuel hatred, violence, revenge, and only cause each to other suffer. The Middle East does not need war, but peace, a peace built on dialogue and the courage of fraternity.”

MERCIFUL LOVE AFFIRMS HUMAN DIGNITY, BRINGS FREEDOM, ENABLES FORGIVENESS

The Holy Father today at the general audience continued his catechesis on apostolic zeal and, turning once more to Africa, spoke of “the powerful witness of Saint Josephine Bakhita.”

“Born in Darfur in Sudan,” said the Pope, “Josephine was kidnapped as a child and sold into slavery. Despite the violence and terrible sufferings she endured, she never despaired. In the cross of Christ she discovered the source of a merciful love that affirms our innate dignity as God’s children, brings true freedom and enables us to forgive and indeed love those who wrong us.”

He asked: “What is Saint Bakhita’s secret? We know that often a wounded person wounds in turn: the oppressed easily becomes an oppressor. Instead, the vocation of the oppressed is that of freeing themselves and their oppressors, becoming restorers of humanity. Only in the weakness of the oppressed can the force of God’s love, which frees both, be revealed.”

“Saint Bakhita expresses this truth very well,” explained the Holy Father, “One day her tutor gave her a small crucifix and she, who had never owned anything, conserved her treasure jealously. Looking at it, she experienced inner liberation, because she felt understood and loved and therefore capable of understanding and loving: this is the beginning. She felt understood, she felt loved, and as a consequence capable of understanding and loving others.”

Francis stressed that “the experience of God’s mercy and forgiveness inspired Josephine to devote herself to Christ as a religious and to serve others humbly and selflessly in Italy, her new country.” Her life “reveals the power of God’s grace to transform lives, to resolve conflicts and to bring about the justice, reconciliation and peace so greatly needed in our time. Let us entrust ourselves to her prayers and ask especially for the gift of peace for our brothers and sisters in war-torn Sudan and in so many other parts of our world.”

In multi-language greetings after the catechesis, Francis spoke of the brutal conflict in Israel and Palestine and appealed for hostages taken by Hamas to be immediately released.

He also made a second appeal: “I address a special thought to the population of Afghanistan, suffering following the devastating earthquake that struck, claiming thousands of victims, including many women and children, and displaced persons. I invite all people of good will to help this people, already sorely tried, contributing in a spirit of fraternity to alleviating the sufferings of the people and supporting the necessary reconstruction.”

CLICK here for a series of photos: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/events/event.dir.html/content/vaticanevents/en/2023/10/11/udienza-generale.html

 

GAZA PRIEST RECEIVES PHONE CALLS FROM POPE FRANCIS

This story struck me today because I well remember covering Pope Francis’ Mass in Bethlehem on May 25, 2014 on his three-day trip to the Holy Land on the 50th anniversary of the meeting between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras in Jerusalem, and meeting the then-pastor of Holy Family Church in Gaza.

That 2014 pilgrimage began Saturday, May 24 in Amman, Jordan. On Day Two, Sunday, May 25, the Pope flew to Bethlehem in the State of Palestine (recognized as such by the UN in 2012) where he celebrated Mass. On Monday the 26th, Day Three, the two leaders were in Jerusalem.

I spent hours before the Holy Father’s Mass in Manger Square taking photos and speaking to the faithful who came for the Mass, including a very small group from  the Catholic parish in Gaza. Tickets to the Mass were very hard to come by, especially for Gazan Catholics. No tickets were given out to entire families but only to parts of a family (one parent and one child, for example) requesting tickets.

I did meet the pastor of Gaza’s Holy Family Church that morning but, for a technical snafu, cannot retrieve the column I wrote that day. I remember Fr. Mario’s great joy at being at the papal Mass with a small group of parishioners but his great sorrow that more parishioners were not granted permission by Israel to travel, given the difficult situation in Gaza at the time.

I could not help but remember that day in Bethlehem when I read of the papal phone call to the current pastor as he, precisely today, is in Bethlehem, trying to get back to his flock.

GAZA PRIEST RECEIVES PHONE CALLS FROM POPE FRANCIS

Italian news agency SIR reported today that Gaza pastor, Fr. Gabriele Romanelli, had received phone calls from Pope Francis:

“Yesterday I spoke with Pope Francis who showed me his closeness and his prayers for the entire ecclesial community of Gaza and for all the parishioners and inhabitants”. This was revealed to SIR by the parish priest of Gaza, Father Gabriel Romanelli, currently stuck in Bethlehem, waiting to return to his parish, the Holy Family, the only Catholic one in the Strip. “I thanked the Pontiff for his appeal for peace in Israel and Palestine last Sunday at the Angelus – added the religious man -. Pope Francis imparted his blessing so that everyone could feel his closeness.” Currently the parish of Gaza hosts 130 refugees and others are hosted in neighboring parish structures. “The bombings – says Father Romanelli, reporting testimonies from his parishioners – are continuous and harsh. Fear rises of a land invasion” 

Here is a story on Fr. Romanelli from the website of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem from December 2022:
https://www.lpj.org/posts/fr-gabriel-romanelli-parish-priest-of-holy-family-talks-about-small-christian-community-in-gaza-5e4726c9947b5.html

And this as well from the Latin Patriarchate: an interview that gives you an idea of the political situation in Gaza: https://www.lpj.org/posts/interview-with-fr-gabriel-romanelli-ive-parish-priest-of-gaza.html

Vatican News published a story today on the papal phone calls to Fr. Romanelli: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-10/parish-priest-gaza-recounts-two-phone-calls-from-pope-francis.html

A TIME FOR PRAYER AND MEDITATION FOR CHILE’S BISHOPS – GENERAL AUDIENCE: FINAL CATECHESIS ON BAPTISM AND APPEAL FOR PEACE – CARDINAL VINCENT NICHOLS CALLS FOR PRAYERS FOR GAZA

A TIME FOR PRAYER AND MEDITATION FOR CHILE’S BISHOPS

Pope Francis gave the bishops of Chile a series of themes for meditation at their first meeting Tuesday afternoon in the Vatican. A second meeting is Wednesday afternoon and two are scheduled for Thursday, May 17. (vatianmedia photo)

The Holy Father called the meeting with the Chilean episcopate to address the crisis of clerical sexual abuse, and the failure of church leaders to respond adequately to it. The meeting was prompted by the reception of 2300-page report by two special envoys sent by Pope Francis earlier this year, Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta and Fr. Jordi Bertomeu Farnós. Both travelled to the Americas to hear testimony from victims of clerical abuse.

Upon receiving the final report, Pope Francis “humbly” requested the bishops’ “collaboration and assistance in discerning the short-, mid-, and long-term measures that must be adopted to re-establish ecclesial communion in Chile, with the goal of repairing as much as possible the scandal, and re-establishing justice.” The meeting in Rome is intended to discuss the results of the envoys’ visit and discuss the Pope’s conclusions.

A time for meditation and prayer

The Pope held the first meeting with the bishops on Tuesday afternoon in the auletta or small hall of the Paul VI Hall. There were 34 Chilean bishops in attendance. According to a statement from the Holy See Press Office, the Pope gave each of the Bishops a text with themes for meditation. “From this moment and until the next meeting, a time is open [which is] dedicated exclusively to meditation and prayer,” the statement said. (Vatican News)

GENERAL AUDIENCE: FINAL CATECHESIS ON BAPTISM AND APPEAL FOR PEACE

Pope Francis began this week’s general audience in a sun-splashed St. Peter’s Square by noting that, “In this, our final catechesis on Baptism, we turn to the rites illustrating the grace of the sacrament. Following an ancient tradition, the newly baptized are robed in a white garment signifying their new life in Christ, and are admonished to preserve it unstained for eternal life. Since, as Saint Paul says, the baptized have been clothed in Christ (cf. Gal 3:27), they are called to cultivate every virtue, especially charity, which binds the others together (cf. Col 3:14).

“So too,” added Francis, “the taper lighted from the paschal candle symbolizes the light of Christ and the warmth of his love which, with the help of the parents and godparents, must be nurtured through education in the Christian life. These rites evoke not only our communion in the Church on earth but also point to its fulfilment in the heavenly Jerusalem, where God will be our light for ever (cf. Rev 22:5).”

The Holy Father explained that, “the rite of Baptism concludes with the Our Father, as the expression of our dignity as God’s adoptive children in Christ. May all of us cherish the gift of grace we received on the day of our Baptism, and let ourselves be guided at every step by the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts.”

At the end of the audience, Pope Francis expressed concern at the escalation of violence in the Middle East and urged for peace: “I am very concerned at the escalation of tension in the Holy Land and in the Middle East, and the spiral of violence that is moving away further from the path of peace, dialogue and negotiation, …I express my great sorrow for the dead and wounded and with prayer and affection I am close to all who suffer. …I repeat that the use of violence can never lead to peace, War begets war, violence begets violence.”

He urged all parties concerned and the international community to renew their commitment to ensure that dialogue, justice and peace prevail, and recited the Hail Mary, asking everyone to join him in praying to Mary, Queen of Peace.

In closing greetings, the Pope extended his “cordial wishes” to Muslims worldwide who on Thursday begin their fasting month of Ramadan. He said he hoped this “privileged time of prayer and fasting help in walking the path of God which is of peace.”

CARDINAL VINCENT NICHOLS CALLS FOR PRAYERS FOR GAZA

The following statement from Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster was released today, May 16:

‘Today I have had a phone conversation with Fr. Mario da Silva, the Catholic parish priest in Gaza to offer our prayers and support. He told me that life is so hard and everyone is desperate with shortages of water and other basic necessities. He said that knowing Catholics in England & Wales and across the world remembered the people of Gaza and were praying for them was a great encouragement.

“Please pray for peace in the Middle East and especially for the people in Gaza. They are living through traumatic times of remembrance and protest at the dramatically deteriorating humanitarian situation. This is a people who are both extremely vulnerable and deprived. Their fate is central to peace and peace can never be built on neglect.”