I want to wish all of my fellow Americans, but especially my family and friends, a wonderful, happy, healthy, fun-filled, celebratory Fourth of July! May July 4th be whatever you want it to be – laid back and restful or filled with family and fun and games galore.
Most of all, may July 4th be a moment to remember the faith and the values of our nation’s founding fathers and the reasons for which the United States of America was formed those many years ago! Perhaps you can make time to read the Declaration of Independence – and if you have children, read it to them!
VATICAN INSIDER: A NEW PRIEST AND HIS CALL TO SERVE (PART II)
Welcome back to Part II of my conversation with Fr. Ryan Brady, a good friend and newly ordained priest for the archdiocese of Chicago. I was at Holy Name Cathedral for his ordination on that beautiful day, May 15, 2021. Ryan tells us his story – how he felt called to be a priest, the difference that having a vocation call later in life can make a difference, the importance of the family in a vocation, and some of the experiences and ministries that are part and parcel of training for the priesthood.
He also tells us about the Rome Experience, a program that brought him to the Eternal City for a month with 20 seminarians and several other priests. Ryan is on his flight home to Chicago and his new parish (parishes!) of St. Linus and Our Lady of the Ridge as I write.
Both of us ask that you pray every day for priests and for vocations to the priesthood.
Ryan is next to me at my birthday celebrations two days ago. And we’ve also shared some meals at Homebaked!
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 serarching in the SEARCH box. Below that, will appear “Vatican Insider” – click on that and the link to that particular episode will appear.
POPE FRANCIS RECEIVES PRIME MINISTER OF IRAQ
Pope Francis today received in audience Mustafa Al Kadhimi, prime minister of the Republic of Iraq, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States. (vatican media photo)
The Holy See Press office issued a communiqué on the meeting, noting that “during the cordial talks, Pope Francis’ historic visit to Iraq and the moments of unity experienced by the Iraqi people were evoked, and the importance of promoting a culture of national dialogue to foster stability and the process of reconstruction of the country was discussed.”
It said, “the parties went on to highlight the importance of protecting the historical presence of Christians in the country with adequate legal measures, and the significant contribution they can make to the common good, highlighting the need to guarantee them the same rights and duties as other citizens.”!
As they completed their talks, “attention turned to the regional situation, noting the efforts made by the country, with the support of the international community, to re-establish a climate of trust and peaceful coexistence.”
Pope Francis visited Iraq from March 5 to 8.
VATICAN NEWSPAPER REQUIRES PAYING SUBSCRIPTION
This is my English translation of a tweet yesterday from the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano:
“Dear Reader, As of July 1, reading L’Osservatore Romano in all its editions will be reserved for subscribers only. Subscribing to the digital version by 30 September you can take advantage of the promotional price of € 20 per year. For information: Abbonamenti – L’Osservatore Romano” (By the way, the price doubles on October 1)
The paper edition of L’Osservatore Romano, which yesterday turned 160, costs €450 annually for subscribers living in the Vatican or Italy. All other countries must contact the Vatican at info.or@spc.va.
And here is the link I post every Friday to the week’s L’Osservatore Romano in English: ING_2021_027_0207.pdf (osservatoreromano.va)
The following message accompanied today’s email digital copy of the newspaper:
Dear Reader,
Beginning this 1 July, all editions of L’Osservatore Romano will be available for reading by subscription only.
Subscribe by 30 September to receive the promotional yearly price of €20.
click here to subscribe
We inform you that until July the 15th, access will be available to All
Kind Regards,
Editor-in-Chief of L’Osservatore Romano
Andrea Monda
50 YEARS AGO: THE PAUL VI HALL WAS INAUGURATED
The Paul VI Hall has seen millions of visitors received by five different Popes over the last 50 years. Here is a photo gallery, recalling some of the events with some of those Popes. 50 years ago: the inauguration of the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican – Vatican News
Vatican News
Wednesday, June 30, 1971, with the first general audience in the Vatican’s new hall, Pope Paul VI inaugurated the so-called “Aula Nervi” designed and built by architect Pier Luigi Nervi.
In his speech, which became at times a lively conversation with the faithful who packed the new hall, Paul VI explained the reasons for having commissioned it by saying it is “now part of the mission of the Roman Pontificate” as he highlighted the importance of the Wednesday appointment with the faithful from all over the world.
Over the last 50 years, the Paul VI Hall has seen five different Popes and welcomed millions of pilgrims. It has been used for many different events, becoming a dining room where Rome’s homeless have shared meals with the Pope on special occasions and the venue for the Synod of Bishops. Through the years it has provided the perfect space for thousands of Wednesday General Audiences in the winter months, and most recently, the Hall has even become a Covid-19 vaccination centre for Vatican employees and for those in need.
Joan's Rome 