Category Archives: Papal Trip

AFTER SUPER BOWL AD, CATHOLIC PRAYER APP HALLOW SEES BIGGEST SPIKE IN HISTORY

Posted in commercial, Hallow prayer app, Holy See Pavilion, Papal Trip, Super Bowl, Venice Biennale by

The Vatican announced today that on Sunday, April 28, Pope Francis will go to Venice to visit the Holy See Pavilion at the 60th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale. He will also go to the Giudecca Women’s Prison, and meet the Ecclesial Community of the Patriarchate of Venice. Program  details to come soon.

The following story is such a wonderful, happy piece of news! Have had a smile on my face all day! It would have been fun to follow people’s reaction in the stadium when they saw this commercial!  The title of the story tells us everything, I think: it tells us what people want, tells us what people believe they need.  A dream come true, as a Hallow co-founder said!

AFTER SUPER BOWL AD, CATHOLIC PRAYER APP HALLOW SEES BIGGEST SPIKE IN HISTORY

The Catholic prayer app Hallow aired its first-ever commercial during Super Bowl LVIII, which saw the Kansas City Chiefs win their second consecutive championship on Feb. 11. Immediately following the airing of the ad, Hallow saw the biggest spike in downloads in its history, according to Alex Jones, CEO of Hallow.

“It was the most downloads in a single minute we’d ever seen,” Jones told CNA. “We’re already ranking ahead of Netflix on the App Store charts and Lent hasn’t even started yet. Glory to God.”

The 30-second ad was shown in 15 markets across the country.

The commercial began with Catholic actor Mark Wahlberg, who recently starred in “Father Stu,” blessing himself with holy water as he enters a church.

“We take this moment to give you thanks. We thank you for this time to come together as a family, as friends, and as a country. Help us Lord, especially this Lent, to grow closer to you. Amen,” Wahlberg’s voice said as images of a family at the dinner table, friends at a football game, a group of soldiers, and Catholic actor Jonathan Roumie receiving ashes on his forehead were shown.

The commercial ended with Wahlberg encouraging viewers to join Hallow in prayer this Lenten season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=23&v=0-U1TyEr4IE&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicnewsagency.com%2F&embeds_referring_origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicnewsagency.com&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY&feature=emb_logo

“It was a phenomenal night. A dream come true. For the first time ever during the Super Bowl, we all got to take 30 seconds to give thanks to God,” Jones, who is also co-founder of Hallow, told CNA in an interview.

“We’ve been blown away by the responses to the spot,” he said. “We’ve heard from many who were inspired to join us and give prayer a try for the first time in a long time this Lent.”

Jones shared that they were “humbled” to see the response from people, receiving thousands of emails, tweets, and text messages from people sharing their thoughts.

 

POPE AT AUDIENCE: “I FOUND PASSION, ENTHUSIASM IN MARSEILLE”

Posted in General Audience, Marseille, Mediterranean Meetings, Papal Trip by

How difficult is life in Ukraine? Check this report from DePaul International: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2023-09/ukraine-depaul-report-charity.html

POPE AT AUDIENCE: “I FOUND PASSION, ENTHUSIASM IN MARSEILLE”

During his weekly General Audience, Pope Francis reflects on his recently-concluded Apostolic Journey to Marseille for the conclusion of the Mediterranean Meetings.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov

“I can say that I found passion and enthusiasm in Marseille.”

This was how Pope Francis during his weekly Wednesday General Audience in the Vatican, fondly remembered his recent Apostolic Journey to Marseille, France, for the occasion of the “Mediterranean Meetings”, which gathered bishops and young people to reflect on migration.

The Pope observed these characteristics present in the two-day Visit’s protagonists, including the French port city’s pastor, Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline; priests and consecrated persons; the faithful laity dedicated to charity, to education; and the People of God “who showed great warmth” during the Mass in the Vélodrome Stadium.

The Pope thanked them all, as well as President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, “whose presence testified that all of France was paying attention to the event in Marseille.”

Mediterranean’s vocation
The dream, and the challenge, the Pope went on to say, is “that the Mediterranean might recover its vocation, that of being a laboratory of civilization and peace.”

“The Mediterranean is the cradle of civilization and a cradle is for life! It is not tolerable that it become a tomb, neither should it be a place of conflict. No.”

The Mediterranean Sea, the Pope stated, “is the complete opposite of the clash between civilizations, war, human trafficking.” Rather, he argued, it is “a means of communication” between Africa, Asia, and Europe, between the north and the south, the east and the west, persons and cultures, peoples and tongues, philosophies and religions.

While he acknowledged that the sea is always an abyss to overcome in some way, which can become dangerous, the Holy Father recalled that 2,000 years ago, from its eastern shore, the Gospel of Jesus set out to proclaim to the peoples.

History of the Meetings
The Holy Father explained that the Mediterranean Meetings in Marseille came after similar meetings that took place in Bari in 2020, and in Florence last year. “It was not an isolated event, but a step forward,” he said. These types of meetings, he suggested, began with the “Mediterranean Colloquia” organized by Giorgio La Pira, the Mayor of Florence, at the end of the 1950s.

He said they also respond today to the appeal launched by Saint Paul VI in his Encyclical Populorum progressio, to promote “a more humane world community, where all can give and receive, and where the progress of some is not bought at the expense of others,” as he examined the fruits the Mediterranean Meetings produced.

He praised the event’s having contributed to building a “human” outlook on the Mediterranean, one that is not “ideological, strategic, not politically correct nor instrumental,” but “that is, capable of referring everything to the primary value of the human person and his or her inviolable dignity.”

In addition to this, the Pope said those days inspired hope.

“Brothers and sisters,” Pope Francis insisted, “this hope cannot and must not “evaporate”; no, rather, it needs to be organized, to be concretized through long, medium and short-term actions.”

“Brothers and sisters, this hope cannot and must not ‘evaporate’; no, rather, it needs to be organized, to be concretized through long, medium and short-term actions.”

Choice to emigrate or not emigrate
This, the Pope said, means working “so that people, in complete dignity, can choose to emigrate or not to emigrate,” which – he reminded – was the theme of the recent World Day of Migrant and Refugees.

The Pope also stated that hope needs to be restored to European societies, especially to the new generations, saying Europe must rediscover its passion and enthusiasm.

Pope Francis concluded by praying that Our Lady, “whom the people of Marseille venerate as Notre Dame de la Garde, accompany the journey of the peoples of the Mediterranean so that this region might become what it has always been called to be – a mosaic of civilization and hope.”

Pope Francis’ two-day visit to Marseille marked the Holy Father’s 44th apostolic journey abroad, and second visit to a French city.

Click here for a series of photos from today’s audience: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/events/event.dir.html/content/vaticanevents/en/2023/9/27/udienza-generale.html

INFLIGHT PRESS CONFERENCE WITH POPE FRANCIS – POPE VISITS DICASTERY FOR DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH, THANKS CARDINAL LADARIA FOR SERVICE

Posted in Papal Trip, Pope Francis, Press Conference by

INFLIGHT PRESS CONFERENCE WITH POPE FRANCIS

ON THE SYNOD: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255277/what-pope-francis-had-to-say-about-the-synod-on-synodality-in-the-in-flight-press-conference

ON CHINA AND THE VATICAN: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255276/pope-francis-gives-glimpse-into-vatican-china-deal-on-appointment-of-chinese-bishops?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

FULL INTERVIEW:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-09/pope-francis-mongolia-return-press-conference-synod-ideologies.html?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
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POPE VISITS DICASTERY FOR DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH, THANKS CARDINAL LADARIA FOR SERVICE

Pope Francis makes a surprise visit to the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, and thanks Cardinal Luis Francisco Ladaria for his work during his years of service as its prefect.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis made a surprise visit to the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, less than 24 hours after returning from his Apostolic Journey to Mongolia.

The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, announced in a statement that the Holy Father visited the Vatican Dicastery on Tuesday morning, just after 9 a.m., where he met with and thanked Cardinal Luis Francisco Ladaria for all his work during his years serving as its Prefect.

After meeting with the Jesuit Cardinal, the Holy Father also greeted various officials within the Vatican Dicastery.

In July 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Ladaria, a Spanish Jesuit and theologian, as the Secretary of the then-Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and made him an Archbishop.

Pope Francis named him Prefect during his pontificate, succeeding Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller.

Named Cardinal in 2018, Cardinal Ladaria served as the Dicastery’s Prefect from 2017 to 2023.

Cardinal-elect Victor Manuel Fernández of La Plata, Argentina, is succeeding 79-year-old Cardinal Ladaria as DDF Prefect, and will soon take office in mid-September.

The Holy Father just completed his four-day Apostolic Journey to the Asian country of Mongolia to visit its 1,500-strong Catholic community, mostly concentrated in the nation’s capital of Ulaanbaatar.

The visit marked the Pope’s 43rd Apostolic Journey abroad and the 61st country visited as Pope.

The Holy Father is scheduled to hold his General Audience in the Vatican on Wednesday morning.

POPE FRANCIS RETURNS TO ROME, PRAYS BEFORE IMAGE OF MARY

Posted in Mongolia, Papal Trip, Pope Francis, Salus populi romani by

UPDATE: Here is a first link from CNA on the inflight press conference:https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255276/pope-francis-gives-glimpse-into-vatican-china-deal-on-appointment-of-chinese-bishops

Today the U.S. celebrates Labor Day. It is a holiday for EWTN staff and I did not intend to post but did want to let you know about the pope’s safe return to Rome from Mongolia, What an amazing trip that was!

I also wanted to offer some hope for all those filled with worry about the difficult times, the political and social divisions, the rancor, the moral issues facing our country today.

Read on….

Peter Julian Eymard was born in La Mure d’Isère, France, on 4 February 1811. He died on 1 August 1868. In 1856 Eymard founded the now worldwide Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. The congregation’s charism emphasises devotion to the Eucharist. Through his writings and actions Eymard is recognised for his major contribution to nineteenth century French spirituality. Saint Peter Julian was canonised on 9 December, 1962 by Pope John XXIII. He is often referred to as the “Apostle of the Eucharist”. https://stpeterjulianeymard.com/

In the book “Eucharistic Gems, Daily Wisdom on the Blessed Sacrament,” by Fr. Don Calloway, MIC, he is quoted on September 1:  “Exposition is the form of worship our time needs. It is necessary in order to save society. Society is killing itself, because it no longer has a center of gravity and charity. There is no more family life: everyone isolates himself, concentrates on himself, wants to suffice unto himself. Disintegration is imminent. But society will be born again, full of vigor, when all its members come and join together around our Emmanuel.”

These words, from a man who died 155 years ago, should inspire us, give us hope and possibly even bring joy!

POPE FRANCIS RETURNS TO ROME, PRAYS BEFORE IMAGE OF MARY

The papal flight from Mongolia, with Pope Francis, his entourage and the media, has safely landed, earlier than foreseen, arriving about 4 pm after 10 hours in the air. Excerpts from (or full text) of inflight press conference expected soon.

As is traditional for Pope Francis, upon his return to Rome he immediately went to St. Mary Major basilica to pray before the image of Mary beloved by Romans  Salus populi Romani, to thank her for his just-concluded trip.

VATICAN INSIDER: PREPARING A PAPAL TRIP, BEHIND THE SCENES

Posted in Mongolia, Papal Trip by

VATICAN INSIDER: PREPARING A PAPAL TRIP, BEHIND THE SCENES

As you know, Pope Francis this weekend is in Mongolia, his 43rd apostolic trip abroad. In what is normally the interview segment of VI, I’ve prepared a Special about papal trips – telling the story of the behind the scenes preparations that go into such a massive undertaking!

How does the Pope decide when and where he should travel? Who gets involved in the early plans? The later plans? Some of the main issues in preparing a trip: security, liturgical events and sites, the papal residence, preparing tickets for papal events, procuring greater numbers of vestments, chalices, etc, for a Mass (after all, the Eucharistic is the heart of any papal trip).

Sights, sites and sounds from Mongolia:

Courtney Mares – EWTN:

Colm Flynn – EWTN:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

You can follow this papal trip to Mongolia in two special ways:

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: https://www.ewtn.com/radio/audio-archive –  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.

 

POPE FRANCIS ARRIVES MONGOLIA

Posted in Mongolia, Papal Trip by

POPE FRANCIS ARRIVES MONGOLIA

(Courtney Mares – EWTN) As Pope Francis descended the stairs of the plane at Chinggis Khaan International Airport, he was welcomed by the Asian country’s foreign minister and a young woman who offered the pope a cup of traditional Mongolian dried curds. This boiled yoghurt speciality is made from the milk of cattle, yaks and camels, and symbolizes the nomadic culture of the Mongolian people as it one of their most common travel provisions.

(Vatican news) Speaking to the media on the flight to Mongolia, Pope Francs said, “good afternoon, good evening, thanks for this meeting, thanks for coming to this trip. I am happy. And thanks for the work you will do. Now I would like to greet you.

“Somebody pushed me to say this: Going to Mongolia is to go to a small people in a big land. Mongolia seems endless and there are few inhabitants. I think it will be good to us to understand what this very big silence means. Not intellectually but with senses. Mongolia can be understood with senses. I dare say that it will be good to listen to Borodin music that was able to express the width of Mongolia.”

(Courtney Mares photo) –

A LINK to great coverage by CNA: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/tags/987/pope-francis-in-mongolia

ALSO: For event coverage, people can go to EWTN’s TV schedule:  https://www.ewtn.com/tv/schedule

Vatican News on papal arrival: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-09/pope-arrival-mongolia-apostolic-visit.html

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

Posted in Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Mongolia, Mongolia Embassy to Holy See, Papal Trip by

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

POPE AT AUDIENCE: ST. KATERI TEKAKWITHA SHOWS ORDINARY ACTS CAN ACHIEVE GREAT HOLINESS – HOLY FATHER ASKS PRAYERS FOR TRIP TO MONGOLIA – FRANCIS ENTRUSTS MONGOLIA TRIP TO BLESSED VIRGIN

Posted in General Audience, Kateri Tekakwitha, Mongolia, Papal Trip, Salus populi romani by

What a day this has been!  Unexpected joys and expected changes in technology!

The joy was the interview I did this morning for Vatican Insider with a couple I met Monday at La Vittoria, Deacon Andy Orosco and his wife Roseanne, long time fans of my work.  I will soon be airing the wonderful story of his work, as a native American, with the diocese of San Bernardino’s Native American Ministry!

I have been dealing with big technical issues for a month but with EWTN staff in Lisbon for WYD for about a week and others on vacation, only today could we resolve a major problem with then arrival of a new laptop.  I have not had Word for a month and could only produce documents by writing them in my WordPress blog. However, I have been unable all that time to access my laptop Word documents!

I have Word in the new laptop but there are still some wrinkles that that will have to be ironed out before I can use it on a daily basis.  I’m on my old laptop to write this column as WordPress is not functioning on the new one.  I fully realize it will take some time for me to feel at home.

There were a number of interesting news stories today, several of which related to the papal trip to Mongolia – Francis leaves tomorrow – and I’ll cover that news then.  In the mean time, here are links to some stories that might interest you. Today’s general audience is a truly delightful read!

POPE AT AUDIENCE: ST. KATERI TEKAKWITHA SHOWS ORDINARY ACTS CAN ACHIEVE GREAT HOLINESS

During his Wednesday General Audience, Pope Francis praises the apostolic zeal of Saint Káteri Tekakwitha, first Native American saint of North America, saying her faith began in her family, her sufferings drew her to the Cross, and her ordinary, holy actions offer a powerful example. TO CONTINUE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-08/pope-francis-audience-remembers-saint-kateri-tekakwitha.html

HOLY FATHER ASKS PRAYERS FOR TRIP TO MONGOLIA

In his remarks to Spanish-speaking pilgrims at his weekly general audience in the Vatican on Wednesday, the Pope recalled his departure on Thursday evening. He will spend four days in the Asian nation to show the Church’s closeness to its some 1,500 faithful. “Tomorrow afternoon I will leave for the Asian continent to visit my brothers and sisters in Mongolia. I ask you to accompany me on this journey with your prayers,” he said. TO CONTINUE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-08/pope-requests-prayers-of-faithful-for-apostolic-journey-mongolia.html

FRANCIS ENTRUSTS MONGOLIA TRIP TO BLESSED VIRGIN

Pope Francis travelled across Rome on Wednesday afternoon to make a brief stop at the Basilica of St. Mary Major. This is the 111th time the Holy Father has visited the Papal Basilica to pray at the icon before, or upon his return from, an Apostolic Journey. TO CONTINUE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-08/pope-francis-apostolic-journey-mongolia-our-lady-entrusted.html

POPE FRANCIS IN MONGOLIA: FOR THE CHURCH,PRIORITY IS NOT NUMBERS – POPE TELLS JESUITS INCLUSIVITY, DOCTRINAL EVOLUTION, SYNODALITY ARE CRUCIAL TO CHURCH

Posted in Lisbon, Mongolia, Papal meeting with Jesuits, Papal Trip by

Pope Francis departs Thursday, August 31, for Mongolia, the 43rd apostolic trip abroad of his pontificate. So much to say about this trip, including the possible diplomatic, geopolitical considerations of this visit to a country bordered by Russia and China!  Tune in today to “At Home with Jim and Joy”.

POPE FRANCIS IN MONGOLIA: FOR THE CHURCH, PRIORITY IS NOT NUMBERS

A quote from St Paul VI helps us to understand the reasons for Pope Francis’ upcoming journey to Mongolia.

By Andrea Tornielli (Vatican news)

Pope Francis is about to leave for Mongolia, a visit he has “longed for,” and one that was already contemplated in the unrealized plans of St. John Paul II, after missionaries revived a Christian community in the early 1990s. The Church that will receive the embrace of the Successor of Peter in the heart of Asia is a Church “small in numbers, but lively in faith and great in charity.” Pope Francis will meet not only the country’s 1,500 Catholics, but all the “noble” and “wise” Mongolian people with their great Buddhist tradition.

St. Peter and Paul cathedral, Ulaanbaatar:

Why is the pope going to Mongolia? Why is he devoting five days of his schedule (two days of travel plus three days on the ground) to visiting such a small group of Catholics? Is “geopolitics” involved since it is a trip to a country that borders the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China? In fact, the motivation for the pilgrimage to the peripheries of Asia has no “geopolitical” implications and is certainly not the defining trait of Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s pontificate. TO CONTINUE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2023-08/pope-in-mongolia-for-the-church-it-s-not-just-about-numbers.html

POPE TELLS JESUITS INCLUSIVITY, DOCTRINAL EVOLUTION, SYNODALITY ARE CRUCIAL TO CHURCH

The Jesuit publication “La Civiltà Cattolica” publishes a transcript of the dialogue between Pope Francis and the Jesuits of Portugal during the Pontiff’s visit to Lisbon for WYD 2023. In the conversation, the Holy Father addresses a range of topics, sharing insights on the Church’s challenges and his vision for inclusivity, doctrinal development, and the Synod.
By Francesca Merlo (Vatican news)

In an open dialogue with the Jesuits of Lisbon during his visit to Portugal for World Youth Day, Pope Francis engaged with them in conversation and covered a wide array of topics, sharing profound insights on the Church’s contemporary challenges and his vision for inclusivity, doctrinal progression, and the Synod.

Inclusivity takes centre stage
Central to the discussion was the theme of inclusivity. Throughout World Youth Day in Lisbon, the rallying cry for an all-embracing Church resonated powerfully with the words “Todos, todos” (Everyone, everyone), pronounced by Pope Francis as he stressed that the Church “has space for everyone”. He emphasized the pivotal importance of creating a space for all individuals, irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity, within the Church. This message continued to echo through his exchange with the Jesuits of Portugal.

Acceptance for all
The Pope reiterated his call to embrace homosexual people within the Church. He critiqued the disproportionate fixation on sexual transgressions, noting that other ‘offenses’ often remain overlooked. He emphasized the need for a pastorally sensitive and imaginative approach to accompany individuals on their spiritual journeys.

The Pope also recounted an encounter with a group of transgender individuals who were moved to tears by the Pope’s acceptance and empathy. He underscored the necessity of reaching out to marginalized communities who often grapple with feelings of rejection, and he accentuated the significance of empathy and compassion. TO CONTINUE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-08/pope-francis-civilta-cattolica-spadaro-jesuits-world-youth-day.html