Papal Envoy shares what he saw in Iraq, with Pope Francis http://www.romereports.com/pg158077-papal-envoy-shares-what-he-saw-in-iraq-with-pope-francis--en
Pope Francis announced that Msgr. Romero's beatification process has no impediments. http://www.romereports.com/pg158069-who-was-msgr-oscar-romero-en
Pope calls for prayers as Ukraine marks Independence Day 2014-08-24 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Following his Angelus address, Pope Francis once again turned his thoughts to “the beloved land of Ukraine,” which celebrates its Independence Day on August 24. “My thoughts go in a particular way to the beloved land of Ukraine…” the Pope said, “to all its sons and daughters, to their yearning for peace and tranquility, threatened by a situation of tension and conflict that continues unabated, causing so much suffering among the population.” The Holy Father also appealed for prayer for Ukraine: “Let us entrust the whole nation to the Lord Jesus and to the Madonna, and let us pray together above all for the victims, their families, and all those who suffer.” Departing from his prepared remarks, Pope Francis spoke of a letter he received from a Ukrainian bishop, recounting the sufferings of the people of Ukraine. “Let us pray together to the Madonna for this beloved land of Ukraine, on its Independence Day,” he said, and lead the faithful in praying the “Hail Mary,” concluding, “Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us.”
Pope Francis: Jesus builds the Church on faith 2014-08-24 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Below, please find Vatican Radio’s translation of Pope Francis’ Angelus address for Sunday, 24 August 2014, the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Gospel of this Sunday (Mt 16:13-20) is the celebrated passage, central to Matthew’s account, in which Simon, in the name of the Twelve, professes his faith in Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God”; and Jesus calls Simon “blessed” for his faith, recognizing in it a special gift of the Father. He says to [Simon], “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.” Let us pause for a moment on this point, on the fact that Jesus bestows on Simon this new name, “Peter,” that in Jesus’ language [Aramaic] was “Kepha,” a word meaning “rock.” In the Bible, this name, this term, “rock,” referred to God. Jesus attributes this name to Simon not for his own personal qualities or his human merits, but on account of his genuine and firm faith, which comes from on high. Jesus feels a great joy in His heart, because He recognizes in Simon the hand of the Father, the action of the Holy Spirit. He recognizes that God the Father has given Simon a “dependable” faith, upon which He, Jesus, can build His Church, that is, His community, that is, all of us. All of us. Jesus intend to give live to “His” Church, a people founded not on offspring, but on faith, that is to say, on a relationship with Himself, a relationship of love and trust. Our relationship with Jesus builds the Church. And so to begin His Church Jesus needs to find in His disciples a solid faith, “dependable” faith. This is what He must confirm at this point in the journey, and this is why He asks the question. The Lord has in mind the image of building, the image of the community as an edifice. And so, when He hears Simon’s frank profession of faith, He calls him “rock,” and makes clear His intention of building His Church on this faith. Brothers and sisters, what happened in a unique way in Saint Peter, also takes place in every Christian who develops a sincere faith in Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God. Today’s Gospel challenges each of us: How is your faith? Let each of us answer in our heart. How is your faith? How is it? What does the Lord find in our hearts: a firm heart, like a rock? Or a heart like sand, that is, doubtful, mistrustful, unbelieving? It would do us good to think about this throughout the day. If the Lord finds in our hearts a faith – I won’t say perfect, but sincere, genuine, then He will see in us, too, the living rocks on which He builds His community. For this community, the foundation stone is Christ, the unique cornerstone. For his part, Peter is the rock, as the visible foundation of the unity of the Church; but every baptized person is called to offer to Jesus his or her own faith, poor but sincere, so that He can continue to build His Church, today, in every part of the world. Even in our days, many people think that Jesus is a great prophet, a teacher of wisdom, a model of justice… And even today, Jesus asks His disciples – that is, us, all of us – “But you, who do you say that I am?” A prophet? A teacher of wisdom? A model of justice? How will we answer? Let us think about it. But above all let us pray to God the Father, that He will give us the answer, and through the intercession of the Virgin Mary; let us pray that He will give us the gift to respond with sincere hearts: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” This is a confession of faith, this is a the creed. But we can say it three times, together: [Pope Francis with the faithful:] You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
Missionaries from 5 continents greet the Pope at General Audience http://www.romereports.com/pg158066...tinents-greet-the-pope-at-general-audience-en
Pope: Is your faith like a rock or like sand? 2014-08-25 http://www.romereports.com/pg158085-pope-is-your-faith-like-a-rock-or-like-sand--en
Pope sends telegram to Methodist-Waldensian synod 2014-08-25 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a message to the Methodist and Waldensian (Valdese) churches on occasion of their 24-29 August Synod in Torre Pellice, Turin, Italy. The telegram, signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on behalf of the Holy Father, offers the Pope’s “fraternal” welcome and assures participants of his spiritual closeness as they undertake their discussions. The message says the Holy Father “prays that the Lord, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, grant to all Christians progress on the path towards full communion, to witness to the Lord Jesus Christ and to offer the light and strength of His Gospel to the men and women of our time.”
Pope sends letter of condolence to family of journalist James Foley 2014-08-25 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) The Holy See’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin has sent a message of condolence on behalf of Pope Francis for the family of the U.S. journalist James Foley, brutally executed by Islamic State militants. The message was read out Sunday at a memorial mass for Foley at the family’s Catholic parish, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church in Rochester, New Hampshire. The letter, addressed to the Bishop of Rockeville Centre, William Francis Murphy, reads: “The Holy Father, deeply saddened by the death of James Wright Foley, asks you kindly to convey his personal condolences and the assurance of his closeness in prayer to James’ loved ones. He commends James to the loving mercy of God our Father, and joins all who mourn him in praying for an end to senseless violence and the dawn of reconciliation and peace among all the members of the human family. Upon the Foley family, and upon his friends and colleagues, he invokes the consolation and strength borne of our hope in Christ’s Resurrection.” The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi confirmed last week that Pope Francis had made a private phone call to James’ parents, Diane and John Foley, to personally express his condolences. Foley, a 40 year old journalist, was covering the conflict in Syria when he was abducted two years ago.
Pope's message for World Day of Peace will focus on fighting modern slavery http://www.romereports.com/pg158086...eace-will-focus-on-fighting-modern-slavery-en
Pope sends condolences for death of former Irish Premier Reynolds http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-sends-condolences-for-death-of-former-irish-p
Pope's Audience: Don't let envy, jealousy or antipathy divide your parish http://www.romereports.com/pg158104...y-jealousy-or-antipathy-divide-your-parish-en
08.28.14 Italy Steps Up Security Over Alleged ISIS Plot to Kill The Pope http://www.thedailybeast.com/articl...-over-alleged-isis-plot-against-the-pope.html
Pope meets with priest based in Gaza http://www.romereports.com/pg158141-pope-meets-with-priest-based-in-gaza-en
Pope to mark WWI, with visit to cemetery for fallen soldiers http://www.romereports.com/pg158119-pope-to-mark-wwi-with-visit-to-cemetery-for-fallen-soldiers--en
Pope Francis to preside over joint September wedding at Vatican http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1403622.htm
Pope Francis calls priest serving at Iraqi refugee camp http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-calls-priest-serving-at-iraqi-refugee
Newspaper: ISIS targeting Pope Francis http://news.msn.com/world/video?videoid=8e4b6392-0cfc-4a76-8d28-a18e1c856941#tscptmf
Education Project backed by Pope Francis will include 300,000 schools http://www.romereports.com/pg158134...pope-francis-will-include-300-000-schools--en
