POPE FRANCIS MEETS WITH PAPAL AMBASSADORS – “ALL SPORTS ARE A CAUSE AND EXPRESSION OF JOY”

POPE FRANCIS MEETS WITH PAPAL AMBASSADORS

By Christopher Wells (Vatican news)

More than one hundred pontifical representatives – Apostolic Nuncios and Permanent Observers – met with Pope Francis on Thursday in the Vatican. The Holy Father convened similar Meetings of Pontifical Representatives in 2013 and 2016, and has expressed his desire that the triennial gatherings should continue in the future.

At the meeting in the Clementine Hall, Pope Francis elected to engage in a dialogue with the papal representatives rather than deliver a planned discourse. The text of the address, which he described as a “meditation… on the role of the nuncio,” was handed to the nuncios and permanent observers for further reflection.

Man of God and man of the Church
In the prepared remarks, the Holy Father offers papal representatives a kind of “Decalogue” of ten qualities that characterize a nuncio. The nuncio, he says, is a man of God, following God in all things; and a man of the Church. A nuncio does not represent himself, but the Church, and especially the Pope. He makes present and symbolizes the Holy Father, serving as a bridge connecting the Vicar of Christ and the people to whom he is sent.

Pope Francis says that the nuncio is a man of apostolic zeal, with “the duty of illuminating the world with the light of the Risen One, of bringing Christ to the ends of the earth”. At the same time, he must be a man “of mediation, of communion, of dialogue, and of reconciliation”, who must be impartial, seeking only justice and peace.

The nuncio must also be a man of initiative, able to recognize and meet the challenges of the present moment, avoiding both rigidity, and “hypocritical and chameleon-like flexibility”. Pope Francis says that the nuncio is also a man of obedience which, for a Christian and a nuncio, refers to “the call to follow the style of life of Jesus of Nazareth”.

A nuncio’s life must also be marked by prayer, the Pope says, which brings true “familiarity with Jesus,” Whom he is called “to communicate, to proclaim, to represent.” Pope Francis then reminds the papal representatives that “prayer, the path of discipleship, and conversion find in charity that is shared the verification of their evangelical authenticity.”

A Litany of Humility
Pope Francis concludes his “decalogue” for nuncios “with the virtue of humility,” sharing with the nuncios and permanent observers the “Litany of Humility” composed by Servant of God, Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val, a former Secretary of State under St Pius X.

Click here to read that litany and to see a slide show of the papal meeting with nuncios:  https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2019-06/pope-meets-with-papal-representatives.html

(JFL: Taking part in the meeting are the 103 Pontifical Representatives, of whom 98 are Apostolic Nuncios (papal ambassadors) and 5 are Permanent Observers. On the final day, June 15, another 46 retired Apostolic Nuncios have also been invited.

“ALL SPORTS ARE A CAUSE AND EXPRESSION OF JOY”

Pope Francis this morning welcomed members of the Council of the International Skating Union to the Vatican and, in brief remarks, noted that, “the aim of your Union is not only to promote ice skating worldwide, but above all to allow more and more people to experience the beauty of this sport. All sports are in fact a cause and an expression of joy: “the joy of exercising, of being together, of being alive and rejoicing in the gifts the Creator gives us each day”

Francis noted that, “this is true in a particular way for those who skate. Skating offers an exhilarating experience of life and freedom of movement, together with training in discipline, teamwork and the pursuit of personal excellence.

“Traditionally, the Pope added, “skating has also been an inclusive sport, erasing social barriers and open to people of every age. I would encourage your efforts to ensure that the joy of skating will also mark even highly competitive events.”

The Holy Father encouraged the union, saying “the values of respect, courage, altruism, balance and self-control learned in sport are a precious preparation for success in running the race of life. Sport, in a word, is always meant to be at the service of humanity. … May God bless you and your work!”

VATICAN INSIDER PROFILES THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS – SPORTS, GIVING THE BEST OF YOURSELF

VATICAN INSIDER PROFILES THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS

On this first weekend of June, Vatican Insider, in place of an interview, will feature a Special I have prepared on the College of Cardinals, given that the universal church will be welcoming new cardinals into the College on Thursday, June 28. I look at the history of the college, its make up, the duties of the college and individual cardinals and so on. (photo TheJournal.ie)

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=

SPORTS, GIVING THE BEST OF YOURSELF

This morning at the Holy See Press Office, the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life presented its latest document entitled “Giving the Best of Yourself.” In addition to this document on sports, the Vatican released Pope Francis’ Letter to Cardinal Farrell, prefect of this dicastery, upon publication of the document.

The Holy Father wrote that, “Sports is a meeting place where people of all levels and social conditions come together to reach a common aim. In a culture dominated by individualism and the gap between the younger generations and the elderly, sports is a privileged area around which people meet without any distinction of race, sex, religion, or ideology, and where we can experience the joy of competing to reach a goal together, participating in a team, where success or defeat is shared and overcome; this helps us to reject the idea of conquering an objective by focusing only on ourselves.”

He also noted that “Sports is also a formative vehicle. Perhaps today more than ever, we must fix our gaze on the young, because the earlier the process of formation begins, the easier the person’s integral development through sports will be. We know how the new generations look at sportsmen and are inspired by them! The participation of all athletes of every age and level is, therefore, necessary; because those who are part of the sports world exemplify virtues such as generosity, humility, sacrifice, constancy, and cheerfulness.”

In conclusion Francis wrote, “I would like to emphasize the role of sports as a means for the mission and sanctification. The Church is called to be a sign of Jesus Christ in the world, also through the sports practiced in oratories, parishes, schools, and associations.”

“Giving the Best of Yourself” has 5 chapters. The first chapter explains the reasons for the Church’s interest in sport and the need for a pastoral approach to sport- In the second chapter, the document outlines the salient features of sport as a phenomenon and its contextualization in current society.

In chapter three, the theme of the meaning of sport for the person is explored. The fourth chapter is dedicated to open challenges, to the desire to contribute through sport to the promotion of authentic values that may provide to any sportsperson a patrimony to confront the many dangers that modern sport often has to face, such as doping, corruption and violent fans. The fifth and final chapter is dedicated to the role of the Church as a protagonist in this path of humanization through sport.

For further information and to download the digital document, please consult: http://www.laityfamilylife.va

A PAPAL SUNDAY: A CULTURE OF LIFE, A CULTURE OF ENCOUNTER, A WORLD OF PEACE – WORLD DAY OF SICK TO BE CELEBRATED FEBRUARY 11 AT LOURDES

A PAPAL SUNDAY: A CULTURE OF LIFE, A CULTURE OF ENCOUNTER, A WORLD OF PEACE

Just nine days after he sent a message to organizers and participants in the March for Life in Washington, D.C., Pope Francis on Sunday at the Angelus marked Italy’s Day for Life by focusing on creating a culture of life and protecting life at all stages. He called on the faithful to join Italian bishops in promoting a culture of life in which “no one is left alone.….each life is sacred. … So let’s pray together for those children who risk a pregnancy termination and for those who are nearing the end of life. may no one be left alone and may love defend the sense of life.”

Addressing the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square after the recitation of the Marian prayer, Francis urged all believers to respond to “the logic of waste and demographic downturn” by upholding and promoting a “culture of life.” Quoting Saint Teresa of Calcutta who said, “life is beauty, admire it; life is life, fight for it,” the Pope stressed that is true for the child about to be born and for the person who is about to die as “every life is sacred!”

Sunday was also America’s greatest sports celebration – the Super Bowl. How many people know that Pope Francis sent a video message to Super Bowl athletes and fans, saying great sporting events like this annual championship game are “highly symbolic and show that it is possible to build a culture of encounter and a world of peace. By participating in sport, we are able to go beyond our own self-interest – and in a healthy way – we learn to sacrifice, to grow in fidelity and respect the rules. may this year’s super bowl be a sign of peace, friendship and solidarity to the world.”

WORLD DAY OF SICK TO BE CELEBRATED FEBRUARY 11 AT LOURDES

Officials from the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development held a press conference today in the Holy See Press Office to present the 25th World Day of the Sick to be held in Lourdes, France on February 11. They also presented the New Charter for Healthcare Workers.

Msgr. Jean-Marie Mate Musivi Mupendawatu, secretary of this Dicastery explained that the World Day of the Sick was instituted by St. John Paul II in 1992 and, on this 25th anniversary, it will be celebrated in an extraordinary way, at Pope Francis’ behest. Among the many figures who will attend the event in Lourdes on February 11, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin will be present as papal legate, and will celebrate the solemn Mass on the anniversary of the first apparition of the Virgin to Bernadette Soubirous.

The new Charter was then presented. It was defined as a revision and updating of the previous Charter for Healthcare Workers, the theological, moral and medical “vademecum” that resulted from an intuition of the first president of the former pontifical council, Cardinal Fiorenzo Angelini and was translated into 19 languages and was for twenty years a basic text for healthcare workers.

Msgr. Musivi Mupendawatu also noted Pope Francis’ Message for the upcoming 25^th anniversary, saying its theme is “Amazement at what God has accomplished: ‘The Almighty has done great things for me…’” (Luke 1:49).

To read the entire summary of the press conference: http://www.news.va/en/news/vatican-presents-25th-world-day-of-sick-new-charte

 

 

POPE HAS SPECIAL WORDS FOR AUSCHWITZ SURVIVORS, A STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL AND CANINE “ATHLETES” – VATICAN HOSTS GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON FAITH AND SPORTS

POPE HAS SPECIAL WORDS FOR AUSCHWITZ SURVIVORS, A STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL AND CANINE “ATHLETES”

After his general audience catechesis this morning, which focused on the highlights of his recent three-day trip to Georgia and Azerbaijan, Pope Francis had a number of special greetings for certain groups attending the weekly audience. Among the 25,000 pilgrims present in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope saluted the “Vivere da Sportivi” Association (Living a Sporting Life). The Association is holding a “School of Fair Play” activity this week in Rome, which brings together secondary school students from all over Italy for a film festival showing student-made video projects exploring themes of integration and fair play, solidarity, and the Olympic spirit.

The Holy Father also had special words for former prisoners of the Auschwitz concentration camp during his greetings to Polish-speaking pilgrims at the end of the general audience. “Today we celebrate the memory of St. Faustina Kowalska. She reminded the world that God is rich in mercy and that His love is more powerful than death, sin and every evil. May this message of the Merciful Jesus, entrusted to her, bear fruit in your life with a deeper union with God and the works of mercy. Entrusting to the Lord ourselves and the difficult problems of the world, we frequently repeat: ‘Jesus, I trust in you!’. Praised be Jesus Christ.”

And then – a surprise greeting for “canine athletes”! Pope Francis often meets with athletes throughout the year– he is known to be a huge soccer fan – and at today’s audience he welcomed “canine athletes”! In fact, he spoke briefly with members of the “Federazione Italiana Sport Cinofili,” which is the Italian Federation dealing with “dog sports,” which test a canine’s agility and obedience. The Pope blessed the animals, petting many of the dogs, and shook hands with their trainers, mentioning the group by name during the audience.

VATICAN HOSTS GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON FAITH AND SPORTS

The first ever global conference on Faith and Sport opened today in the Vatican on the theme ‘Sport at the Service of Humanity.’ Leading figures from the world of sport, religion and culture are among those attending the 3-day conference hosted by the Pontifical Council for Culture with the special support of the United Nations and the International Olympic Committee.

Pope Francis presided over the conference’s opening ceremony this afternoon in the Paul VI Hall, including special guests U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Thomas Bach, president of the IOC.

In addition to discussing how faith and sport can work together, the Vatican conference aims to launch a movement to develop – through sport – life skills, character, values and enjoyment of life, inspiring people to live in accordance with six principles: compassion, respect, love, enlightenment, balance and joy. Participants will be focusing in particular on how to use the benefits of sport to empower and help the poor and disadvantaged.

Two years ago, in an inspirational message to sports figures, Pope Francis said, “Challenge yourself in the game of life, as you do in the game of sport.” These brief words became the starting point for “Sport at the Service of Humanity” and its vision: bringing together global leaders and influential people from different faiths and from the worlds of sport and business to produce positive, actionable results on society.

The conference has been organized by the Pontifical Council for Culture under the leadership of Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi and includes leaders of the major religious traditions.

“Authentic sport is an expression of a fundamental category of the human person,” said Cardinal Ravasi at a press conference. “It is a free manifestation of creativity, fantasy and potential. This noble activity can degenerate through well-known devastating elements. But sport, in its origins as today, is part of the educational and personal growing process that can bring eurythmia (harmony) between body and soul”.