POPE DONATES RAUL CASTRO GIFT OF CRUCIFIX TO LAMPEDUSA
What a lovely story this is!
Pope Francis, of course, receives many gifts throughout the year and many are re-gifted to others. For example, if he receives a stole or chasuble or chalice he will see that it is given to a priest in a poor parish. Some of the gifts, as you may know from my previous postings, become part of the two annual lotteries whose profits go to the office of the Papal Almoner to be used for charity.
The third annual lottery extraction will take place on February 2, 2016, feast of the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple. Each tickets costs 10 Euro and may only be bought at the Vatican. The public may buy tickets at Vatican post offices or in the Vatican Museums. Prizes include: a car, a watch, a tandem bike, a bike, a table clock, a silver pen, a leather carryall, a chronograph, a black leather suitcase, a hand made rug, a ceramic table centerpiece, an electric coffee maker and 30 consolation prizes.
Click here to see the official color poster: http://www.vaticanstate.va/content/dam/vaticanstate/documenti/locandina-lotteria-3-edizione.pdf
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis is donating to the parish church of Lampedusa a crucifix that was gifted to him by President Raul Castro of Cuba during the recent papal visit to the Caribbean island. Measuring over 3 metres high, the crucifix is crafted from wooden oars tied with ropes to symbolize the reality of migrants who have crossed the Mediterranean by boat. Lampedusa is an island off the coast of Sicily whose shores receive the majority of migrants and refugees crossing the Mediterranean sea by boat from Libya to Italy. The tiny island was also the first place in Italy that Pope Francis chose to visit after his election.
Pope Francis’ decision was announced by Cardinal Francesco Montenegro of Agrigento whose archdiocese includes Lampedusa. He made the announcement at Italy’s National Ecclesial Congress in Florence that was attended by the Pope on Tuesday.
On hearing of the Pope’s gift, the parish priest of Lampedusa Don Mimmo Zambito said the image of this crucifix symbolizes the mercy and humanity of Jesus Christ who triumphs over every conflict, knocking down walls and crossing borders.
The crucifix will be displayed in the Church of the Holy Cross in Agrigento for the local inauguration of the Jubilee Year of Mercy on December 11th and then will be taken on a pilgrimage across the archdiocese of Agrigento before taking up its final residence in the parish Church of Lampedusa.
MEMBER OF COUNCIL FOR THE ECONOMY GIVES LECTURE ON FINANCIAL CHANGES IN THE VATICAN
An article in the Notre Dame-St Mary’s College “Observer,” dated November 12, details the lecture given by Joseph Zahra, the vice coordinator of the Council for the Economy for the Holy See. His talk was titled, “Inside the Financial and Administrative Changes in the Vatican: What Pope Francis is Doing and Why.”
Here are a few paragraphs to whet your appetite and then a link to the entire article.
While many are aware of Pope Francis’ devotion to solving global problems, especially in regards to poverty, Joseph Zahra highlighted the pope’s sometimes overlooked commitment to amending the administrative and financial structure of the Vatican.
Zahra, the vice coordinator of the Council for the Economy for the Holy See, gave his lecture, titled “Inside the Financial and Administrative Changes in the Vatican: What Pope Francis is Doing and Why,” at the Eck Visitors Center Auditorium on Wednesday. The talk was sponsored by Mendoza College of Business and was open to the public. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of Washington D.C. and CAPP-USA National Ecclesiastical Counselor, introduced Zahra to kick off the event.
Zahra began his lecture by clarifying the economic positions of Pope Francis. He said while many assume the pope promotes certain economic systems, the public’s speculations are not always true.(photo: NDSMC Observer)
“Pope Francis’ words are either misinterpreted or else misunderstood by many, particularly in the business community,” Zahra said.
Zahra said the 1991 encyclical of Pope John Paul II, “Centesimus Annus,” emphasized the benefits of a free enterprise economy.
“The business economy has many positive aspects. It is based on human freedom, human freedom that is exercised in the economic field,” Zahra said. “Free culture, free markets and free policies create a free society.”
According to Zahra, the problem with the economy is the corrupt nature of mankind.
To continue reading the lengthy but fascinating talk by Zahra, click here: http://ndsmcobserver.com/2015/11/speaker-explains-new-papal-financial-structures/
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