ODDS AND ENDS….

ODDS AND ENDS….

I’ve been working on a number of projects today and, given that it has been quiet all day at the Vatican, I have no special news for Joan’s Rome. However, I will soon be publishing a column on the events this coming weekend when Rome will host all the members of the entire College of Cardinals, including the 20 new cardinals that Pope Francis will create on Saturday, 16 of whom will be, in an eventual conclave, cardinal electors as they are under the age of 80.

You might want to tune in to “At Home with Jim and Joy” when it airs at 1.30 pm today, ET. As I do every Monday at that hour I offer Vatican news and updates, and this week will be talking about the Vatican events scheduled for the final four days of August. I think you’ll really want to hear my take on that so be sure to tune in. If you miss it, each At Home show remains on Youtube (especially if you listened to “Vatican Insider,” my radio show, this past weekend.)

Speaking of videos, here is a link to a ten-minute video produced by the Paulist Fathers to mark their 100^th anniversary in Rome as shepherds to the Catholic American community and English-speaking Catholics at St. Patrick’s church in the Eternal City (and at Santa Susanna for over 9 decades before arriving at St. Pat’s in 2017. (1) Paulist Fathers celebrate 100 years in Rome! – YouTube

PAULIST FATHERS CELEBRATE 100 YEARS IN ROME MINISTRY

I have been honored for years to be a lector at both Santa Susanna’s and now St. Patrick’s, so this Sunday will again be a special joy! Our anniversary Mass at 10:30am Rome time will be live-streamed at the link you see below.

PAULIST FATHERS CELEBRATE 100 YEARS IN ROME MINISTRY

On Sunday, February 27, St. Patrick’s will celebrate the Paulist Fathers’ 100 years of ministry to the English-speaking community of Rome with a Mass of thanksgiving at 10:30 AM.  How did it all begin?

For photos covering those 100 years ago, click on our Facebook page and scroll down to Feb. 22. There is also a video celebrating the centenary, including comments and observations from a number of parishioners.(11) St. Patrick’s Catholic American Parish in Rome | Facebook

Come join us for Sunday Mass at St. Pat’s whenever you are in the Eternal City!

Following is the account written by Fr. Greg Apparcel, our rector here in Rome for 20 years at both Santa Susanna and the St. Patrick’s. He departed Rome in the fall of 2020.

While visiting the U.S. Embassy to Italy in early 1921, Paulist Superior General Thomas Burke noticed the Church of Santa Susanna that sat next door.  The church seemed perfectly located for the Paulist Fathers’ desire to acquire a church, as Rome had a growing American community which might form the basis for a parish. Not only did it adjoin the Embassy, but it was near both The Grand Hotel and the railroad station. (Note: In 1932, the Palazzo Amici, a four-story building that previously sat next to the church and served as the American Embassy, was torn down by Mussolini in order to create the Via Bissolati.)

At the end of 1921, following an official request from U.S. President Warren Harding, Pope Benedict XV authorized the Paulists to use the Church of Santa Susanna for the purpose of creating a national church of American Catholics in Rome.   From the February day in 1922 when Paulist Father Thomas Lantry O’Neill became the first rector, he and the many Paulists and Santa Susanna Parishioners who followed, worked tirelessly and with great sacrifice to build up this parish and keep it going through some very difficult times.  On February 26, 1922, the first Mass was celebrated by Cardinal O’Connell of Boston and the church remained open to the general public throughout the day for the very first time since it was completed in 1603.  Thousands of Italian visitors came to see the frescoes.

The Church was closed in the spring of 1940 with a world war threatening and the American community leaving.  The Cistercian nuns persevered and with great risk, hid Jewish women and children in their monastery.  In 1944, Paulist Father Don Forrester returned with the liberating Allied troops and supplied the nuns with food and support throughout the difficult years that followed.  The parish itself grew throughout the next three decades.

In 1986, with a sagging ceiling, the church was again closed for repairs that lasted seven years.  During that time the Santa Susanna community worshipped in Sant’Agnese Church in the Piazza Navona.  Through the valued hard work, fortitude and extreme generosity of a great many individuals, the Paulist Fathers reopened the Church in 1993 with a pastoral visit from Pope John Paul II, who acknowledged us as the American National Church.

In the years that followed we worked diligently, in collaboration with the Cistercian Monastery, to keep open the doors of this beloved Church and to build up our community of English-speaking Catholics in Rome, reaching out with the Paulist mission of evangelization, reconciliation and ecumenism and interreligious dialog.  As caretakers of the house of Susanna and her father Gabinus, we continued to commit ourselves to be a special home for parishioners and pilgrims seeking to deepen their faith under our roof.

On July 5, 2013, the Church of Santa Susanna was closed for many reasons, and for four years the American community celebrated Masses, Weddings, First Communions, Confirmations, Baptisms and Funerals at four neighboring churches.

After the closing, the Vatican Secretary of State, the Vicariate (Diocese) of Rome and other Vatican Congregations and US prelates and diplomats tried to help the Paulist Fathers and the American parish to return to Santa Susanna. However, the Cistercian Monastery, which owns the Church, was opposed to the return.  At the same time, the Irish Augustinians decided to leave Rome and discontinue their ministry at St. Patrick’s Church.  They own St. Patrick’s (still do) and the surrounding properties but were unsure of what to do with the Church when they were no longer present.  So the Vatican Secretary of State put our two communities together.

Even though we already knew each other, we began exploring St. Patrick’s becoming the new church for Catholic Americans in Rome.  Through the great generosity and hospitality of the Augustinians, we reached an agreement for the Paulist Fathers to lease St. Patrick’s Church along with some office and meeting space. On August 1st, 2017, we became St. Patrick’s Catholic American Community of Rome.  Despite these changes, ALL English speakers are welcome to participate in all services and ministries, just as was offered at Santa Susanna.  And despite the hardships brought on by the pandemic, the community has continued to flourish.

So February 27, 2022, will be a great day of celebration and all are welcome to participate in person or online.

 

VATICAN INSIDER CELEBRATES FR. LLOYD, 97 AND 70 YEARS A PAULIST – PEACE-BUILDING DESERVES ATTENTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

The Holy See Permanent Observer to the United Nations, Archbishop Bernadito Auza spoke twice this week at the UN about peace-building and peace-keeping. Here’s a link to the great website of the Holy See Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations: https://holyseemission.org/ Take a trip there some day if you want to understand the Holy See mission and what the Catholic Church’s position is on a myriad of issues.

I expect that soon this Holy See office in New York and/or the press office here in Rome will be making a statement on today’s breakthrough meeting between the two leaders of North and South Korea at the demilitarized zone. This is the meeting for which Pope Francis, at last Wednesday’s general audience, asked for prayers

As I write this column – 4:35 pm local time – there is no Vatican statement on the meeting in Korea.

VATICAN INSIDER CELEBRATES FR. LLOYD, 97 AND 70 YEARS A PAULIST

Join me this weekend on “Vatican Insider” for Part II of my conversation with Paulist Father Jim Lloyd. We had a great visit over the Easter holidays at the Paulist Motherhouse in NY where I was a guest for a few days. He had just turned 97 and on May 1st he will celebrate his 70th anniversary as a priest!!

The Paulists, of course, have been in Rome since 1922 when they were asked to care for the Catholic American community in the Eternal City. Our home now is St. Patrick’s Church on Via Boncompagni in central Rome.

Fr. Jim began our conversation by telling me about his amazing parents – his Jewish father and Irish Catholic mother, both of whom starred for years in Vaudeville! We cover his multi-faceted and very rich priestly life and ministries and this week talk about his NBC TV show “Inquiry” – and so much more! You will be riveted by every facet of his life! Not a dull second in our conversation!

As I said last week, I only wish that Vatican Insider was TV instead of radio so you could see Father Jim’s sparkling blue eyes and feel his enthusiasm and joy when he talks about the amazing, different periods in his life as a priest. One thing you will hear him says several times is that, no matter what he was doing, he always wore his Roman collar so people would know he was a priest.

In the United States, you can listen to Vatican Insider (VI) on a Catholic radio station near you (there is a list of U.S. stations at http://www.ewtn.com) or on channel 130 Sirius-XM satellite radio. 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.” Vatican Insider airs Saturday mornings at 9:00am (ET). On the SKY satellite feed to the UK and parts of Europe, VI airs on audio channel 0147 at 11:30 am CET on Saturdays, and 5:30am and 10pm CET on Sundays. It’s also available on demand on the EWTN app and on the website. CHECK YOUR TIME ZONE. Here’s a link to download VI to your iTunes library: http://www.ewtn.com/se/pg/DatService.svc/feed/~LE.xml For VI archives: http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/file_index.asp?SeriesId=7096&pgnu=

PEACE-BUILDING DESERVES ATTENTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

The Holy See Permanent Observer to the United Nations spoke at two high level UN meetings in New York calling on them to increase peace-building efforts and to seek peace in Syria.

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

The Holy See Permanent Observer to the United Nations, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, addressed participants in the High-Level Meeting on Peace-building and Sustaining Peace at the United Nations headquarters in New York, which took place on April 24-25, 2018. Archbishop Auza presented five priorities on behalf of the Holy See. (photo vaticanmedia)

Increase peace-building efforts

The Archbishop stated that the United Nations “can and should recommit itself to, and scale up, its peace-building efforts.” Unified and broad action, effective transitional strategies, analysis, better and more coherent synergy, and constant adjustment were among his recommendations.

Preventive diplomacy

Identifying beforehand the presence of factors, such as corruption, that destabilize nations would lead toward preventive diplomacy. Where potential conflicts are foreseen, “the international community should focus on institutional and capacity building,” the archbishop said.

Address arms trafficking

Archbishop Auza called the end of both the trafficking of arms and the illicit funding behind it to be “essential elements to sustaining peace.” He added that former combatants can be invited to “become a part of a peaceful solution” through “demobilization and reintegration” strategies.

Involving all sectors of society

Lasting peace can only be attained when all sectors of society are involved. The Holy See representative specifically mentioned women, saying they “must play an active role” along the entire spectrum of conflict prevention and resolution.

Justice and accountability

Unless justice and accountability are “seriously addressed,” successful transition from conflict to peace is not attainable. “Justice and legal accountability are essential vectors of reconciliation, not its opposite,” Archbishop Auza said. In the absence of prosecution and punishment at the local level, he said that, “the International Criminal Court must play its full role.”

Conflicts in the Middle East

In a separate address to the Security Council Open Debate on the situation in the Middle East on April 26, Archbishop Auza addressed the ongoing conflicts in that region.

Syria
Archbishop Auza reiterated Pope Francis’ appeal to negotiation in Syria as the only way “that can bring about peace and not death and destruction.” It is the UN Security Council, he said, that is the “key actor” ensuring that all efforts to end the conflict in Syria are guided by international law.

Yemen
He concurred with the Secretary General’s definition of the war in Yemen as a “stupid war,” calling it the world’s largest humanitarian, entirely man-made catastrophe. He called on the international community to “give much greater attention to this conflict, where civilians are paying a huge price in a senseless war that has been overshadowed by other conflicts in the region.”

Israel and Palestine
Calling for “a renewed commitment” for completely violence-free peace talks leading toward a Two-State solution, the archbishop reiterated the Holy See’s position. He stated that it is the only “viable way of fulfilling the aspirations for peaceful co-existence among Israelis and Palestinians alike.” Regarding Jerusalem, he stated that the Holy See sees it as an “obligation of all Nations to respect the historical status quo of the Holy City.”

VATICAN INSIDER CELEBRATES FR. JIM LLOYD, 70 YEARS A PAULIST – TO CITIZENS OF ALESSANO: “YOUR LAND PRODUCED A SAINT” – CZECH CARDINAL’S REMAINS LEAVE ST. PETER’S FOR NATIVE LAND – THE ETERNAL CITY TURNS 2,771 ON APRIL 21

If you happen to be in Rome tomorrow, help the city celebrate its 2,771st birthday! I’ve listed some events as reported in Wanted in Rome magazine. A few took place today and I apologize for not getting this to you beforehand. April 21st is the city’s birthday so if you miss it this year, put it on your agenda for next year!

VATICAN INSIDER CELEBRATES FR. JIM LLOYD, 70 YEARS A PAULIST

I’ve been blessed to know SO many wonderful priests over my life but I might have to give a special prize this week to Paulist Fr. Jim Lloyd. We had another great visit over the Easter holidays at the Paulist Motherhouse in NY where I was a guest for a few days. He had just turned 97 and on May 1st he will celebrate his 70th anniversary as a priest!!

The Paulists, of course, have been in Rome since 1922 when they were asked to care for the Catholic American community in the Eternal City. Our home now is St. Patrick’s Church on Via Boncompagni in central Rome.

Fr. Jim and I talk about his life, starting at his birth just blocks from the Paulist motherhouse, where he now lives, and the adjacent St. Paul the Apostle Church. You will be riveted by every facet of his life! In the early years of his priesthood, Fr. Lloyd was a missionary in South Africa. He holds a Ph.D. in psychology from New York University. For 20 years, he worked at Iona College as a professor and director of the college’s graduate division of pastoral counselling. He continues to hear confessions and provide pro bono counselling services.

He started our conversation by telling me about his amazing parents – no way could you guess what they did! We cover his priestly life and ministries and his NBC TV show “Inquiry” – and so much more! Not a dull second in our conversation!

I only wish that Vatican Insider was TV instead of radio so you could see Father Jim’s sparkling blue eyes and feel his enthusiasm and joy when he talks about the amazing, different periods in his life as a priest. One thing you will hear him says several times is that, no matter what he was doing, he always wore his Roman collar so people would know he was a priest.

In the United States, you can listen to Vatican Insider (VI) on a Catholic radio station near you (there is a list of U.S. stations at http://www.ewtn.com) or on channel 130 Sirius-XM satellite radio. 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.” Vatican Insider airs Saturday mornings at 9:00am (ET). On the SKY satellite feed to the UK and parts of Europe, VI airs on audio channel 0147 at 11:30 am CET on Saturdays, and 5:30am and 10pm CET on Sundays. It’s also available on demand on the EWTN app and on the website. CHECK YOUR TIME ZONE. Here’s a link to download VI to your iTunes library: http://www.ewtn.com/se/pg/DatService.svc/feed/~LE.xml For VI archives: http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/file_index.asp?SeriesId=7096&pgnu=

TO CITIZENS OF ALESSANO: “YOUR LAND PRODUCED A SAINT”

Friday, Pope Francis travelled to two cities in two Italian dioceses south of Rome. He first went to Alessano where he visited the grave of Bishop Tonino Bello on the 25th anniversary of his death, telling the citizens, “Your land produced a saint.”

At the second stop of his morning, the Pope celebrated Mass at the port of Molfetta on the Adriatic. Fr. Tonino, said Francis, imitated Jesus by drawing near to the poor to the extent of “dispossessing himself.” In order to promote peace on a global level, he acted locally. He was convinced that “the best way to prevent violence and every type of war, is to take care of those in need and promote justice.”

The Pope said Father Tonino – later a bishop – had an “allergy for titles and honors.” Like Jesus, he stripped himself of every “sign of power in order to make way for the power of the sign….”

Francis invited the faithful to “find the strength” to be divested of everything that inhibits putting on aprons, which Fr Tonino called, “the only priestly garb recorded in the Gospel”.

The vaticannews site gave a brief biography of Bishop Bello.

In 1982, St. Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Molfetta and Ruvo. Bishop Bello renounced all signs of power and tried to help the most disadvantaged. He ensured Caritas groups were established in every parish, and founded a community to help people with addictions. His pastoral zeal took him to Australia, Argentina and Venezuela where he visited immigrants from his diocese.

Bishop Bello is greatly known for his work with Pax Christi, an international Catholic peace movement. He was appointed president of Pax Christi Italy in 1985, a position he held until his death. An outspoken critic of the Gulf War and other conflicts, he even rallied against NATO. In December 1992, he led a group from Italy across the Adriatic to Sarajevo where he headed a peace march.

Bishop Bello envisaged the Church in an “apron”, evoking the image of Christ at the Last Supper who tied a towel (apron) around his waist, got down on his knees to wash the feet of his disciples in a symbolic gesture of humble loving service. Known for his frugal ways, Bishop Bello preferred to take a bus and often used a bicycle since he felt cars added to air pollution. He often went out to the streets, bars and restaurants to interact with people. He died of stomach cancer in Molfetta on April 20, 1993. He was 58.

CZECH CARDINAL’S REMAINS LEAVE ST. PETER’S FOR NATIVE LAND

The remains of exiled Czech Cardinal Josef Beran were taken out of St Peter’s Basilica, the final resting place of popes, on Thursday evening in the presence of a Czech delegation comprising church and state representatives. Friday, they were flown to Prague for a later burial in St. Vitus Cathedral, according to an English-language program on Czech Radio.

Cardinal Beran was exiled to Rome in 1965 and died there four years later. He was buried in the Vatican because the communist authorities didn’t approve his final wish for his body to be returned to his homeland.

Along with the coffin, a small bag with earth from Beran’s homeland, which was placed in his grave in 1969, was also taken out from the chapel to be returned to the Czech Republic. A commemorative plaque will be installed in St Peter’s Basilica as a permanent memorial to the Czech cardinal, whose name became a symbol of resistance to the communist regime. The coffin was then moved to the Nepomucenum, the Czech papal college in Rome, where the cardinal died in 1969.

For more; click here: http://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/czech-cardinals-last-wish-to-be-respected-after-almost-50-years

THE ETERNAL CITY TURNS 2,771 ON APRIL 21

The capital celebrates its 2,771st birthday on Saturday 21 April, with events also taking place on days on side of the anniversary. Known as Natale di Roma, the annual birthday celebration is based on the legendary founding of Rome by Romulus in 753 BC.

The traditional birthday celebrations are centered in the Circus Maximus and include the trench-digging ritual, known as the tracciato del solco, at 15.00 on April 21. This tradition recalls the founding of ancient Roman towns when a trench or mundus was dug and offerings thrown into it to encourage the gods to watch over the town’s inhabitants.

The Circus Maximus will also host historical re-enactments including gladiator fights, aimed at children, on April 20 from 14.30-15.30.

For a complete report of times and venues – and a lot of pictures – click here: https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/rome-celebrates-2771st-birthday-on-21-april-2018.html

POPE FRANCIS AND ARMENIAN PATRIARCHS BLESS A BRONZE STATUE OF ST GREGORY OF NAREK – POPE FRANCIS PRAYS FOR BRITISH BABY ALFIE EVANS AND FAMILY – POPE’S APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION ON HOLINESS TO BE PRESENTED ON MONDAY

A crowded schedule, work on scripts for 11 new videos for Joan’s Rome and a move from my hotel to the NYC residence of the Paulist Fathers precluded my having time to post a column yesterday. The Paulist Fathers, of course, are in charge of St. Patrick’s parish in Rome (and for 95 years before that, they administered the church of Santa Susanna) and, whenever I can, I renew friendships with some of the Paulists residing here who, in previous years, were at Santa Susanna’s.

Yesterday I posted on Facebook a Paulist feature about Father James Lloyd who turned 97 – an amazing man and story! I wonder if he blew out 97 candles!

This page might be dark again tomorrow as I leave for Rome in the evening, but let’s see what the day brings!

In the meantime, I wish everyone a beautiful and blessed Divine Mercy Sunday!

POPE FRANCIS AND ARMENIAN PATRIARCHS BLESS A BRONZE STATUE OF ST GREGORY OF NAREK

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp (vaticannews)

Thursday, in the company of outgoing Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, two Patriarchs of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church, Pope Francis presided over the inauguration and blessing of the statue of St Gregory of Narek in the Vatican Gardens.

Thursday thus marks a high point in the ecumenical journey between the Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church. For the first time in history, all three Armenian Church leaders are gathered together with the Roman Pontiff. It is something that Pope Francis prayed for in 2015: “Through the redemptive power of Christ’s sacrifice, may the blood which has been shed bring about the miracle of the full unity of his disciples. In particular, may it strengthen the bonds of fraternal friendship which already unite the Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church.”

The event does not end today in the Vatican Gardens. A copy of the same statue is currently in production and will be placed in the gardens of the Cathedral of Etchmiadzin where an inauguration ceremony will be held at the end of 2018. The Cathedral of Etchmiadzin is the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and is considered by scholars to be the oldest Cathedral built in ancient Armenia, and is among one of the oldest Cathedrals in the world.

The groundwork for today’s ceremony was laid by Pope Francis on April 12, 2015 when he celebrated Mass in St Peter’s marking the centenary of the genocide of a million and a half Armenians whom the Pope referred to as martyrs. “A century has passed since that horrific massacre which was a true martyrdom of your people, in which many innocent people died as confessors and martyrs for the name of Christ,” Pope Francis said on that occasion.

During that same liturgy, Pope Francis elevated St Gregory of Narek to the dignity of Doctor of the Universal Church. The Pope characterized St Gregory as a monk who “knew how to express the sentiments of your people more than anyone,” and who, as “an extraordinary interpreter of the human soul, offers words which are prophetic for us.”

Later in June 2016, he visited Armenia. Calling the genocide “the first of the deplorable series of catastrophes of the past century,” Pope Francis praised the faith of the Armenian people, “who, illuminated by the light of the Gospel, even at the most tragic moments of their history, have always found in the cross and resurrection of Christ the strength to rise again and take up their journey anew with dignity.”

St Gregory of Narek is recognized as a saint in both the Catholic Church and in the Armenian Apostolic Church, being venerated in a particular way among Catholics of the Armenian Rite.

His legacy lives on through this ecumenical effort that is centered on him. In an interview with Vatican News, Mikayel Minasyan, ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the Holy See, described St Gregory of Narek as a symbol of brotherhood and a bridge between the two Churches and for all Christians, “above all those of the Middle East.”

Gregory of Narek was a 10th century Armenian monk, poet, and mystical writer and composer. His most well-known literary work is a book of prayers, known as the “Book of Lamentations”. It is considered a masterpiece of Armenian literature. St Gregory himself defined the work as an “encyclopedia of prayer for all nations”. He hoped that his book would provide guidance in prayer for people of all walks of life in order to reach God.

POPE FRANCIS PRAYS FOR BRITISH BABY ALFIE EVANS AND FAMILY

In a tweet posted to his official @Pontifex account Wednesday evening, Pope Francis prays for British baby Alfie Evans. His parents’ legal battle to keep him alive on life support in hope of further treatment has failed.

By Devin Watkins (vaticannews)

Pope Francis on Wednesday tweeted his prayers for Alfie Evans, a 23-month old English baby who is in a “semi-vegetative state” in a Liverpool hospital. It is believed that Alfie has a rare degenerative neurological condition, but doctors have not yet definitively diagnosed his condition.

In his tweet, the Holy Father said, “It is my sincere hope that everything necessary may be done in order to continue compassionately accompanying little Alfie Evans, and that the deep suffering of his parents may be heard.”

Pope Francis said he is “praying for Alfie, for his family and for all who are involved.”

Little Alfie has been on life support at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital since December 2016 following a chest infection, which caused seizures. Alfie overcame the infection and started breathing on his own. But another chest infection led to more chronic seizures, and he had to go back on a ventilator. Doctors at Alder Hey said it was in Alfie’s best interests to stop “mechanical ventilation.”

Alfie’s parents, Kate James and Tom Evans, fought for the right to keep him alive, taking their case to the courts. An English High Court ruled on March 6th that he should only receive palliative care. The Supreme Court upheld that decision, and the European Court of Human Rights refused to examine the case. They have now exhausted every legal means of preventing the hospital from withdrawing Alfie from life support. The British press say this could happen by Friday.

Kate and Tom Evans want to transfer Alfie to another hospital to try experimental therapies with money raised from a crowd funding effort. The courts have also rejected this request.

His parents say Alfie is now showing signs of improvement after having his medication reduced.

The case brings to mind two other English babies, Charlie Gard and Isaiah Haastrup, who died after their life support was removed on July 28, 2017 and March 7, 2018, respectively. Alfie Evans is thought to have a mitochondrial condition, similar to Charlie Gard.

People around the world have come out in support of Alfie’s cause through prayer, petitions, and demonstrations.

Alfie’s parents had pleaded with the Pope to help. With his Tweet, Pope Francis has brought worldwide attention to little Alfie’s fight for life.

POPE’S APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION ON HOLINESS TO BE PRESENTED ON MONDAY

Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation “Gaudete et Exsultate” will be presented at the Holy See Press office in the Vatican on Monday, April 9.

A statement released by the Holy See Press Office on Thursday said a Press Conference to launch and present Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation “Gaudete et Exsultate” (Rejoice and be glad), and subtitled “On the call to holiness in the contemporary world” will take place on 9 April at noon.

An Apostolic Exhortation is considered the second-highest form of papal teaching, after an Encyclical Letter.

Since his election as Pope, Francis has issued two other Exhortations: “Evangelii Gaudium” in 2013 and “Amoris Laetitia” in 2016.

Set to speak at the presentation of “Gaudete et Exsultate” are Bishop Angelo De Donatis, the vicar general of the Rome diocese, Italian journalist Gianni Valente and Paola Bignardi, a former president of Catholic Action Italy.