Pope's first speech in Sri Lanka: Let everyone speak in the country's reconciliation process 2015-01-13 (-ONLY VIDEO-) Pope Francis delivered the first speech of his trip to Sri Lanka and the Philippines in English. He referred to the country's recent civil war, and asked the government to listen to all citizens in the reconciliation process. READ THE POPE'S FULL SPEECH http://www.romereports.com/pg159867...ak-in-the-country-s-reconciliation-process-en
Pope: religion must never be abused in the cause of war 6 2 Print 2015-01-13 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis underlined the significance and urgency of interreligious and ecumenical dialogue in a nation, like Sri Lanka, that is undergoing a process of reconciliation after civil war. Speaking on the first full day of his apostolic journey to Sri Lanka, Pope Francis addressed an interreligious and ecumenical gathering and reaffirmed the Church’s deep and abiding respect for other religions. To the spiritual leaders present at the gathering, the Pope said “at this moment of your nation’s history (…) May the growing spirit of cooperation between the leaders of the various religious communities find expression in a commitment to put reconciliation among all Sri Lankans at the heart of every effort to renew society and its institutions”. “For the sake of peace” the Pope said, “religious beliefs must never be allowed to be abused in the cause of violence and war. We must be clear and unequivocal in challenging our communities to live fully the tenets of peace and coexistence found in each religion, and to denounce acts of violence when they are committed”. Please find below the full text of Pope Francis’ Address to the Interreligious and Ecumenical Gathering in Colombo: Dear Friends, I am grateful for the opportunity to take part in this meeting which brings together, among others, the four largest religious communities integral to the life of Sri Lanka: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. I thank you for your presence and for your warm welcome. I also thank those who have offered prayers and blessings, and in a particular way I express my gratitude to Bishop Cletus Chandrasiri Perera and to the Venerable Vigithasiri Niyangoda Thero for their kind words. I have come to Sri Lanka in the footsteps of my predecessors Popes Paul VI and John Paul II to demonstrate the great love and concern which the Catholic Church has for Sri Lanka. It is a particular grace for me to visit the Catholic community here, to confirm them in their Christian faith, to pray with them and to share their joys and sufferings. It is equally a grace to be with all of you, men and women of these great religious traditions, who share with us a desire for wisdom, truth and holiness. At the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church declared her deep and abiding respect for other religions. She stated that she “rejects nothing of what is true and holy in these religions. She has a high regard for their manner of life and conduct, their precepts and doctrines” (Nostra Aetate, 2). For my part, I wish to reaffirm the Church’s sincere respect for you, your traditions and beliefs. It is in this spirit of respect that the Catholic Church desires to cooperate with you, and with all people of good will, in seeking the welfare of all Sri Lankans. I hope that my visit will help to encourage and deepen the various forms of interreligious and ecumenical cooperation which have been undertaken in recent years. These praiseworthy initiatives have provided opportunities for dialogue, which is essential if we are to know, understand and respect one another. But, as experience has shown, for such dialogue and encounter to be effective, it must be grounded in a full and forthright presentation of our respective convictions. Certainly, such dialogue will accentuate how varied our beliefs, traditions and practices are. But if we are honest in presenting our convictions, we will be able to see more clearly what we hold in common. New avenues will be opened for mutual esteem, cooperation and indeed friendship. Such positive developments in interreligious and ecumenical relations take on a particular significance and urgency in Sri Lanka. For too many years the men and women of this country have been victims of civil strife and violence. What is needed now is healing and unity, not further conflict and division. Surely the fostering of healing and unity is a noble task which is incumbent upon all who have at heart the good of the nation, and indeed the whole human family. It is my hope that interreligious and ecumenical cooperation will demonstrate that men and women do not have to forsake their identity, whether ethnic or religious, in order to live in harmony with their brothers and sisters. How many ways there are for the followers of the different religions to carry out this service! How many are the needs that must be tended to with the healing balm of fraternal solidarity! I think in particular of the material and spiritual needs of the poor, the destitute, those who yearn for a word of consolation and hope. Here I think too of the many families who continue to mourn the loss of their loved ones. Above all, at this moment of your nation’s history, how many people of good will are seeking to rebuild the moral foundations of society as a whole? May the growing spirit of cooperation between the leaders of the various religious communities find expression in a commitment to put reconciliation among all Sri Lankans at the heart of every effort to renew society and its institutions. For the sake of peace, religious beliefs must never be allowed to be abused in the cause of violence and war. We must be clear and unequivocal in challenging our communities to live fully the tenets of peace and coexistence found in each religion, and to denounce acts of violence when they are committed. Dear friends, I thank you once again for your generous welcome and your attention. May this fraternal encounter confirm all of us in our efforts to live in harmony and to spread the blessings of peace. (from Vatican Radio) http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-religion-must-never-be-abused-in-the-cause-of
Pope's speech at the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu, former refuge during civil war 2015-01-14 (-ONLY VIDEO-) Pope Francis visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu, in northern Sri Lanka. In his speech, the Pope noted that among the pilgrims attending there were families that had suffered the consequences of Sri Lanka's civil war. He concluded that the country will only embrace true reconciliation as long as it truly repents from all "evil which this land has known.” POPE'S FULL SPEECH: Dear Brothers and Sisters, We are in our Mother’s house. Here she welcomes us into her home. At this shrine of Our Lady of Madhu, every pilgrim can feel at home, for here Mary brings us into the presence of her Son Jesus. Here Sri Lankans, Tamil and Sinhalese alike, come as members of one family. To Mary they commend their joys and sorrows, their hopes and needs. Here, in her home, they feel safe. They know that God is very near; they feel his love; they know his tender mercy. There are families here today which suffered greatly in the long conflict which tore open the heart of Sri Lanka. Many people, from north and south alike, were killed in the terrible violence and bloodshed of those years. No Sri Lankan can forget the tragic events associated with this very place, or the sad day when the venerable statue of Mary, dating to the arrival of the earliest Christians in Sri Lanka, was taken away from her shrine. But Our Lady remained always with you. She is the mother of every home, of every wounded family, of all who are seeking to return to a peaceful existence. Today we thank her for protecting the people of Sri Lanka from so many dangers, past and present. Mary never forgot her children on this resplendent island. Just as she never left the side of her Son on the Cross, so she never left the side of her suffering Sri Lankan children. Today we want to thank Our Lady for that presence. In the wake of so much hatred, violence and destruction, we want to thank her for continuing to bring us Jesus, who alone has the power to heal open wounds and to restore peace to broken hearts. But we also want to ask her to implore for us the grace of God’s mercy. We ask also for the grace to make reparation for our sins and for all the evil which this land has known. It is not easy to do this. Yet only when we come to understand, in the light of the Cross, the evil we are capable of, and have even been a part of, can we experience true remorse and true repentance. Only then can we receive the grace to approach one another in true contrition, offering and seeking true forgiveness. In this difficult effort to forgive and find peace, Mary is always here to encourage us, to guide us, to lead us. Just as she forgave her Son’s killers at the foot of his Cross, then held his lifeless body in her hands, so now she wants to guide Sri Lankans to greater reconciliation, so that the balm of God’s pardon and mercy may bring true healing to all. Finally, we want to ask Mother Mary to accompany with her prayers the efforts of Sri Lankans from both Tamil and Sinhalese speaking communities to rebuild the unity which was lost. Just as her statue came back to her shrine of Madhu after the war, so we pray that all her Sri Lankan sons and daughters may come home to God in a renewed spirit of reconciliation and fellowship. Dear brothers and sisters, I am happy to be with you in Mary’s house. Let us pray for one another. Above all, let us ask that this shrine may always be a house of prayer and a haven of peace. Through the intercession of Our Lady of Madhu, may all people find here inspiration and strength to build a future of reconciliation, justice and peace for all the children of this beloved land. Amen. http://www.romereports.com/pg159892...dy-of-madhu-former-refuge-during-civil-war-en
Pope Francis canonizes Sri Lanka's first Saint and pleads for religious freedom 2015-01-14 Sri Lankan Catholics joyfully welcomed Pope Francis with traditional dances, as he arrived to the park where he was to give their country its first Saint. The Pope made his way along in his Popemobile, blessing and greeting pilgrims. Eventually, he stopped the car to get closer to a group of sick people. The ceremony's most anticipated moment was this one, when Blessed Joseph Vaz was declared a Saint In his homily, Pope Francis stressed that the new Saint always worked for peace, putting religious differences aside. He added that this work needs religious freedom. POPE FRANCIS "Religious freedom is a fundamental human right. Each individual must be free, alone or in association with others, to seek the truth, and to openly express his or her religious convictions, free from intimidation and external compulsion”. St. Joseph Vaz, the Pope went on, proved that religion can't be used to justify violence, hate and war. Instead, the Pope said, he made peaceful coexistence possibl POPE FRANCIS "As the life of Saint Joseph Vaz teaches us, genuine worship of God bears fruit not in discrimination, hatred and violence, but in respect for the sacredness of life, respect for the dignity and freedom of others, and loving commitment to the welfare of all”. Pope Francis concluded that all Christians are called to be missionaries, just like the new saint was. At the end of the Mass, the Archbishop of Colombo gave the Pope $70,000 for charity on behalf of Sri Lanka's Catholics. CARD. MALCOM RANJITH Archbishop of Colombo (Sri Lanka) "Holy Father, we are poor. But in our poverty, we are rich. That's why we have prepared this gift for you. And I want to humbly give it to you, for your charity works.” Roughly 500,000 people attended the canonization Mass, in a country where Catholics are just the 7% of a 20 million people population. http://www.romereports.com/pg159891...rst-saint-and-pleads-for-religious-freedom-en
Pope in Sri Lanka: Check out his six best quotes! 2015-01-15 Sri Lanka welcomed Pope Francis with dances, music, flowers and...elephants! He was there from January 12 to 15. The trip's main theme was reconciliation and the key role religion plays in building peace. For more than 25 years, this island suffered a civil war. The two main protagonists were the Buddhist Government on one side and and Hindu rebels, on the other. POPE FRANCIS "It is no easy task to overcome the bitter legacy of injustices, hostility and mistrust left by the conflict. It can only be done by overcoming evil with good.” Pope Francis also stood for the right of every citizen to "have voice” in the reconciliation process. POPE FRANCIS "Whenever people listen to one another humbly and openly, their shared values and aspirations become all the more apparent. Diversity is no longer seen as a threat, but as a source of enrichment.” Roughly 70% of Sri Lanks's population is Buddhist. Christians, represent about seven percent. Pope Francis highlighted that all religions must work together to build peace, without rejecting their identity. POPE FRANCIS "It is my hope that inter-religious and ecumenical cooperation will demonstrate that men and women do not have to forsake their identity, whether ethnic or religious, in order to live in harmony with their brothers and sisters. If we are honest in presenting our convictions, we will be able to see more clearly what we hold in common.” Throughout his three day visit, the Pope highlighted that religion should not be used to justify violence. Rather, just the opposite. POPE FRANCIS "For the sake of peace, religious beliefs must never be allowed to be abused in the cause of violence and war.” The visit's most anticipated moment was the canonization ceremony of Joseph Vaz, who became Sri Lanka's first Saint. He lived at a time when Catholics were actively persecuted in Sri Lanka. POPE FRANCIS "Religious freedom is a fundamental human right.” He spoke of reconciliation once more at the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu. He talked about the thousands of people who took refuge at that Shrine during Sri Lanka's civil war. He said repentance, leads to forgiveness and ultimately reconciliation. POPE FRANCIS "Yet only when we come to understand, in the light of the Cross, the evil we are capable of, and have even been a part of, can we experience true remorse and true repentance.” This visit marks the fourth time a Pope visits the country. Paul VI went there in 1970. After him, John Paul II traveled twice to the island, in 1981 and then again in 1995. http://www.romereports.com/pg159912-pope-in-sri-lanka-check-out-his-six-best-quotes-en
Pope Francis says there are limits to freedom of expression 69 174 Print 2015-01-15 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Speaking about the Paris terror attacks, Pope Francis said on Thursday that there are limits to freedom of expression, especially when it insults or ridicules someone’s faith. His comments came during a wide-ranging press conference with journalists accompanying him on his flight from Sri Lanka to the Philippines to start the second and final leg of his journey to Asia. During the press conference, Pope Francis was asked by a French journalist about the relationship between freedom of religion and freedom of expression. He replied saying that both are "fundamental human rights" and stressed that killing in the name of God “is an aberration.”. But he said there were limits to that freedom of expression. By way of example he referred to Alberto Gasparri who organizes the papal trips and was standing by his side on the plane. The Pope said if “his good friend Dr Gasparri” says a curse word against his mother, he can “expect a punch”, and at that point he gestured with a pretend punch towards him, saying: “It’s normal. You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others.” Pope Francis also spoke about climate change, saying he doesn’t know if human activity “is the only cause” of this but added that it is “man who has slapped nature in the face.” Humans, he went on, have “exploited nature too much” and he referred to his forthcoming encyclical on ecology, saying he hopes the document will encourage negotiators at a climate change meeting in Paris to make “courageous decisions” to protect God’s creation. During the press conference, the Pope also spoke about his priorities for his pastoral visit to the Philippines, saying the focus of his message will be the plight of the poor, those who suffered during the 2013 typhoon and those who “face so many injustices, social spiritual, existential.” (from Vatican Radio) http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-says-there-are-limits-to-freedom-of-e
Would someone here please explain the inexplicable, continuing behavior of the Pope!: “Pope Francis on Climate Change: It’s Mostly Man’s Fault” http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/pope-climate-change-real/2015/01/15/id/618711/ Does he not know that much of this Climate Change hysteria is BS!? Does he not know that the well organized and funded environmental fringe is a Huge Supporter of the Left political parties, US-n-Europe, that are also invested 100% in Abortion, Perversion and BigBro secular Government!? We just “celebrated” the fact that “only” 45% of Catholics voted Democrat this past USA election …. this wont make that % better ;-( I can only assume that it’s All part of God’s Plan. Here is Michael Voris’s take today .. Now! …. I’m not a huge fan of Mike’s ’cause he reminds me too much of some Southern Baptist “Born Again” Know-it-Alls that have given me a big pain in the butt over the years … but ? http://www.churchmilitant.tv/platform/?today=2015-01-15 GOD SAVE US!!
Pope Francis breaks away from official itinerary, to meet with street kids in Manila 2015-01-16 More than 300 street children got to meet Pope Francis, during an unscheduled visit in Manila. It happened right after he celebrated Mass on Friday morning, in Manila's Catholic Cathedral. The Pope decided to meet with these street kids, in a home run by the ANAK-Tnk charity foundation. Since it wasn't part of the official itinerary, there was no press there. No official cameras or even video. According to Vatican Radio, back in October the local Archbishop, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle gave Pope Francis roughly 1,000 letters from some of those street children, who wanted to share their stories with the Pope. Months later, they got to share those stories one on one. Even though the Pope spoke in Spanish, he had Cardinal Tagle there to help out with translations. http://www.romereports.com/pg159942...inerary-to-meet-with-street-kids-in-manila-en
Pope calls on Filipino Church to combat inequality and injustice 15 92 Print 2015-01-16 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Celebrating Mass in Manila's Cathedral on Friday, Pope Francis urged Catholics in the Philippines to be ambassadors for Christ and ministers of reconciliation, proclaiming the Good News of God's infinite love, mercy and compassion. Speaking to bishops, priests, religious and seminarians gathered in the Cathedral, the Pope said the Church in the Philippines is called to acknowledge and combat the causes of the deeply rooted inequality and injustice which mar the face of Filipino society, plainly contradicting the teaching of Christ. As Filipinos prepare to mark the fifth century of the arrival of the Church in the Asian nation, the Pope said Catholics must build on that legacy of the past by building a society inspired by the Gospel message of charity, forgiveness and solidarity in the service of the common good. Please find below the full text of Pope Francis' homily for the Mass in Manila's Cathedral Mass with Bishops, Priests and Religious in Manila's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception 16 January 2015 “Do you love me?… Tend my sheep” (Jn 21:15-17). Jesus’ words to Peter in today’s Gospel are the first words I speak to you, dear brother bishops and priests, men and women religious, and young seminarians. These words remind us of something essential. All pastoral ministry is born of love. All consecrated life is a sign of Christ’s reconciling love. Like Saint Therese, in the variety of our vocations, each of us is called, in some way, to be love in the heart of the Church. I greet all of you with great affection. And I ask you to bring my affection to all your elderly and infirm brothers and sisters, and to all those who cannot join us today. As the Church in the Philippines looks to the fifth centenary of its evangelization, we feel gratitude for the legacy left by so many bishops, priests and religious of past generations. They labored not only to preach the Gospel and build up the Church in this country, but also to forge a society inspired by the Gospel message of charity, forgiveness and solidarity in the service of the common good. Today you carry on that work of love. Like them, you are called to build bridges, to pasture Christ’s flock, and to prepare fresh paths for the Gospel in Asia at the dawn of a new age. “The love of Christ impels us” (2 Cor 5:14). In today’s first reading Saint Paul tells us that the love we are called to proclaim is a reconciling love, flowing from the heart of the crucified Savior. We are called to be “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor 5:20). Ours is a ministry of reconciliation. We proclaim the Good News of God’s infinite love, mercy and compassion. We proclaim the joy of the Gospel. For the Gospel is the promise of God’s grace, which alone can bring wholeness and healing to our broken world. It can inspire the building of a truly just and redeemed social order. To be an ambassador for Christ means above all to invite everyone to a renewed personal encounter with the Lord Jesus (Evangelii Gaudium, 3). This invitation must be at the core of your commemoration of the evangelization of the Philippines. But the Gospel is also a summons to conversion, to an examination of our consciences, as individuals and as a people. As the Bishops of the Philippines have rightly taught, the Church in the Philippines is called to acknowledge and combat the causes of the deeply rooted inequality and injustice which mar the face of Filipino society, plainly contradicting the teaching of Christ. The Gospel calls individual Christians to live lives of honesty, integrity and concern for the common good. But it also calls Christian communities to create “circles of integrity”, networks of solidarity which can expand to embrace and transform society by their prophetic witness. The poor... The poor are at the centre of the Gospel, are at the heart of the Gospel. If we take away the poor from the Gospel, we cannot understand the whole message of Jesus Christ. As ambassadors for Christ, we, bishops, priests and religious, ought to be the first to welcome his reconciling grace into our hearts. Saint Paul makes clear what this means. It means rejecting worldly perspectives and seeing all things anew in the light of Christ. It means being the first to examine our consciences, to acknowledge our failings and sins, and to embrace the path of constant conversion. Constant conversion, everyday conversion. How can we proclaim the newness and liberating power of the Cross to others, if we ourselves refuse to allow the word of God to shake our complacency, our fear of change, our petty compromises with the ways of this world, our “spiritual worldliness” (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 93)? For us priests and consecrated persons, conversion to the newness of the Gospel entails a daily encounter with the Lord in prayer. The saints teach us that this is the source of all apostolic zeal! For religious, living the newness of the Gospel also means finding ever anew in community life and community apostolates the incentive for an ever closer union with the Lord in perfect charity. For all of us, it means living lives that reflect the poverty of Christ, whose entire life was focused on doing the will of the Father and serving others. The great danger to this, of course, is a certain materialism which can creep into our lives and compromise the witness we offer. Only by becoming poor ourselves, by stripping away our complacency, will we be able to identify with the least of our brothers and sisters. We will see things in a new light and thus respond with honesty and integrity to the challenge of proclaiming the radicalism of the Gospel in a society which has grown comfortable with social exclusion, polarization and scandalous inequality. Here I would like to address a special word to the young priests, religious and seminarians among us. I ask you to share the joy and enthusiasm of your love for Christ and the Church with everyone, but especially with your peers. Be present to young people who may be confused and despondent, yet continue to see the Church as their friend on the journey and a source of hope. Be present to those who, living in the midst of a society burdened by poverty and corruption, are broken in spirit, tempted to give up, to leave school and to live on the streets. Proclaim the beauty and truth of the Christian message to a society which is tempted by confusing presentations of sexuality, marriage and the family. As you know, these realities are increasingly under attack from powerful forces which threaten to disfigure God’s plan for creation and betray the very values which have inspired and shaped all that is best in your culture. Filipino culture has, in fact, been shaped by the imagination of faith. Filipinos everywhere are known for their love of God, their fervent piety and their warm devotion to Our Lady and her rosary. This great heritage contains a powerful missionary potential. It is the way in which your people has inculturated the Gospel and continues to embrace its message (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 122). In your efforts to prepare for the fifth centenary, build on this solid foundation. Christ died for all so that, having died in him, we might live no longer for ourselves but for him (cf. 2 Cor 5:15). Dear brother bishops, priests and religious: I ask Mary, Mother of the Church, to obtain for all of you an outpouring of zeal, so that you may spend yourselves in selfless service to our brothers and sisters. In this way, may the reconciling love of Christ penetrate ever more fully into the fabric of Filipino society and, through you, to the farthest reaches of the world. (from Vatican Radio) http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-urges-filipino-church-to-combat-inequality-an
Pope Francis: Put the poor at centre of Filipino Church 12 76 Print 2015-01-16 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received a warm welcome from bishops, priests, men and women religious and seminarians as he arrived in Manila’s Metropolitan Cathedral on Friday. In his homily at Mass there, the Pope challenged his listeners to show God’s mercy and compassion and become prophetic witnesses to the Gospel in order to transform Filipino society. If the Church fails to put the poor at the centre of its ministry, the Pope stressed, we fail to understand the message of Christ. The head of Vatican Radio’s English Section, Sean Patrick Lovett is in Manila for the papal visit and tells us more about this first Mass on Filipino soil…. Listen: I could begin this report on the Pope’s Mass in Manila Cathedral with bishops, priests, men and women religious and seminarians, by telling you the numbers relative to each category present here in the Philippines. Not that you’d remember. But just in case you are dying of curiosity, here they are: There are 131 bishops (of whom around 100 are active and the others retired), over 9,000 priests (about two thirds of them are diocesan and one third religious), around 1,500 men religious and over 12,500 women religious belonging to dozens of different orders and congregations. All of them are extremely active in an incredible diversity of ministries and pastoral activities that range from education and health care, to assisting the poorest and neediest members of Filipino society up and down the 7,100 islands that make up this complex archipelago. And when I say “assisting”, I mean the hands-on kind of assistance involved in helping fishermen rebuild their boats after the latest tropical storm has swept everything out to sea, or playing with children dying of cancer in paediatric wards, or sewing vestments for parish priests who are too poor to buy any for themselves… So when Pope Francis told them that “all pastoral ministry is born of love”, they knew exactly what he was talking about. They are the hearts and hands that express the “mercy and compassion” that is the theme and leitmotif of this papal visit. “The Gospel”, he said, “calls individual Christians to live lives of honesty, integrity and concern for the common good” and to create “networks of solidarity which can…transform society by their prophetic witness”. Occasionally departing from his prepared homily to reinforce his message, the Pope challenged his listeners to be ”the first to examine our consciences, to acknowledge our failings and sins”. How can we proclaim the newness of the Gospel, he asked, if we ourselves “refuse to allow the word of God to shake our complacency, our fear of change…our spiritual worldliness?”. Speaking off the cuff, Pope Francis insisted that the Church in the Philippines put “the poor at the centre”. If we fail to do so, he added, “we fail to understand the message of Christ”. The Pope himself set the warm, familiar tone of the celebration at the very beginning of his homily when he quoted the Gospel passage from John chapter 21 where Jesus asks Peter: “Do you love me?”…Only, in this case, Pope Francis was asking a direct question and referring to the congregation and himself. Needless to say, the response was a resounding “Yes” – accompanied by some rather timid giggles. I mean it’s not every day a Pope asks you if you love him. Whether you are a religious or not. With the Pope in the Philippines – I’m Seàn-Patrick Lovett (from Vatican Radio) http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-put-the-poor-at-centre-of-filipino-ch
Pope Francis to families: be examples of holiness, prayer 19 100 Print 2015-01-16 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis told families in the Philippines Friday that they should take time to rest and to pray together and to be examples of holiness. On the second day of his five day trip to the Asian archipelago, Pope Francis told tens of thousands of people gathered for a meeting with families that the world “needs good and strong families” to overcome threats of poverty, materialism, destructive lifestyles, and those caused by separation due to migration. In his discourse, delivered at the “Mall of Asia Arena,” Manila’s principle sports arena, the Pope said “the Philippines needs holy and loving families to protect the beauty and truth of the family in God’s plan.” Below, please find the prepared text of the Holy Father’s remarks (the final version containing the Pope's off-the cuff remarks, will be published shortly): Dear Families, Dear Friends in Christ, I am grateful for your presence here this evening and for the witness of your love for Jesus and his Church. I thank Bishop Reyes, Chairman of the Bishops’ Commission on Family and Life, for his words of welcome on your behalf. And, in a special way, I thank those who have presented testimonies and have shared their life of faith with us. The Scriptures seldom speak of Saint Joseph, but when they do, we often find him resting, as an angel reveals God’s will to him in his dreams. In the Gospel passage we have just heard, we find Joseph resting not once, but twice. This evening I would like to rest in the Lord with all of you, and to reflect with you on the gift of the family. Joseph’s rest revealed God’s will to him. In this moment of rest in the Lord, as we pause from our many daily obligations and activities, God is also speaking to us. He speaks to us in the reading we have just heard, in our prayer and witness, and in the quiet of our hearts. Let us reflect on what the Lord is saying to us, especially in this evening’s Gospel. There are three aspects of this passage which I would ask you to consider: resting in the Lord, rising with Jesus and Mary, and being a prophetic voice. Resting in the Lord. Rest is so necessary for the health of our minds and bodies, and often so difficult to achieve due to the many demands placed on us. But rest is also essential for our spiritual health, so that we can hear God’s voice and understand what he asks of us. Joseph was chosen by God to be the foster father of Jesus and the husband of Mary. As Christians, you too are called, like Joseph, to make a home for Jesus. You make a home for him in your hearts, your families, your parishes and your communities. To hear and accept God’s call, to make a home for Jesus, you must be able to rest in the Lord. You must make time each day for prayer. But you may say to me: Holy Father, I want to pray, but there is so much work to do! I must care for my children; I have chores in the home; I am too tired even to sleep well. This may be true, but if we do not pray, we will not know the most important thing of all: God’s will for us. And for all our activity, our busy-ness, without prayer we will accomplish very little. Resting in prayer is especially important for families. It is in the family that we first learn how to pray. There we come to know God, to grow into men and women of faith, to see ourselves as members of God’s greater family, the Church. In the family we learn how to love, to forgive, to be generous and open, not closed and selfish. We learn to move beyond our own needs, to encounter others and share our lives with them. That is why it is so important to pray as a family! That is why families are so important in God’s plan for the Church! Next, rising with Jesus and Mary. Those precious moments of repose, of resting with the Lord in prayer, are moments we might wish to prolong. But like Saint Joseph, once we have heard God’s voice, we must rise from our slumber; we must get up and act (cf. Rom 13:11). Faith does not remove us from the world, but draws us more deeply into it. Each of us, in fact, has a special role in preparing for the coming of God’s kingdom in our world. Just as the gift of the Holy Family was entrusted to Saint Joseph, so the gift of the family and its place in God’s plan is entrusted to us. The angel of the Lord revealed to Joseph the dangers which threatened Jesus and Mary, forcing them to flee to Egypt and then to settle in Nazareth. So too, in our time, God calls upon us to recognize the dangers threatening our own families and to protect them from harm. The pressures on family life today are many. Here in the Philippines, countless families are still suffering from the effects of natural disasters. The economic situation has caused families to be separated by migration and the search for employment, and financial problems strain many households. While all too many people live in dire poverty, others are caught up in materialism and lifestyles which are destructive of family life and the most basic demands of Christian morality. The family is also threatened by growing efforts on the part of some to redefine the very institution of marriage, by relativism, by the culture of the ephemeral, by a lack of openness to life. Our world needs good and strong families to overcome these threats! The Philippines needs holy and loving families to protect the beauty and truth of the family in God’s plan and to be a support and example for other families. Every threat to the family is a threat to society itself. The future of humanity, as Saint John Paul II often said, passes through the family (cf. Familiaris Consortio, 85). So protect your families! See in them your country’s greatest treasure and nourish them always by prayer and the grace of the sacraments. Families will always have their trials, but may you never add to them! Instead, be living examples of love, forgiveness and care. Be sanctuaries of respect for life, proclaiming the sacredness of every human life from conception to natural death. What a gift this would be to society, if every Christian family lived fully its noble vocation! So rise with Jesus and Mary, and set out on the path the Lord traces for each of you. Finally, the Gospel we have heard reminds us of our Christian duty to be prophetic voices in the midst of our communities. Joseph listened to the angel of the Lord and responded to God’s call to care for Jesus and Mary. In this way he played his part in God’s plan, and became a blessing not only for the Holy Family, but a blessing for all of humanity. With Mary, Joseph served as a model for the boy Jesus as he grew in wisdom, age and grace (cf. Lk 2:52). When families bring children into the world, train them in faith and sound values, and teach them to contribute to society, they become a blessing in our world. God’s love becomes present and active by the way we love and by the good works that we do. We extend Christ’s kingdom in this world. And in doing this, we prove faithful to the prophetic mission which we have received in baptism. During this year which your bishops have set aside as the Year of the Poor, I would ask you, as families, to be especially mindful of our call to be missionary disciples of Jesus. This means being ready to go beyond your homes and to care for our brothers and sisters who are most in need. I ask you especially to show concern for those who do not have a family of their own, in particular those who are elderly and children without parents. Never let them feel isolated, alone and abandoned, but help them to know that God has not forgotten them. You may be poor yourselves in material ways, but you have an abundance of gifts to offer when you offer Christ and the community of his Church. Do not hide your faith, do not hide Jesus, but carry him into the world and offer the witness of your family life! Dear friends in Christ, know that I pray for you always! I pray that the Lord may continue to deepen your love for him, and that this love may manifest itself in your love for one another and for the Church. Pray often and take the fruits of your prayer into the world, that all may know Jesus Christ and his merciful love. Please pray also for me, for I truly need your prayers and will depend on them always! (from Vatican Radio) http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-to-families-be-examples-of-holiness-p
I've been following the papal visit to the Philippines with huge interest, a country I've visited many times. When he was in Manila, I walked some of the streets he visited, the most recent visit for me being in 2012. One thing that amazes me about this Pope is his energy. He's 78 years of age, and yet he stands waving for hours on the pope mobile, meets endless dignitaries and ordinary people, Mass, speeches, tours, and all this after traveling half way round the world on a plane with a trip to Sri Lanka thrown in too. I find the climate in Asia tough and drains my energy, but Pope Francis energy just amazes me.
Pope to survivors of typhoon Haiyan: I came to the Philippines to be by your side 2015-01-17 (-ONLY VIDEO-) Pope Francis didn't follow the homily he had prepared for the Mass at Tacoblan's International Airport. The region was one of the most hardly struck by typhoon Haiyan in 2013. He told pilgrims that he decided to travel to the Philippines after seeing what had happened during the natural disaster. He said he wanted to be close to the survivors and the families of the typhoon's victims, and explained that Jesus never abandons. READ THE POPE' FULL HOMILY (Source: Vatican Radio) "We have a high priest who is capable of sympathising with our weaknesses. Jesus is like us. Jesus lived like us and is the same us in every respect, except sin because he was not a sinner. But to be more like us he assumed our condition and our sin. He made himself into sin. This is what St Paul tells us. And Jesus always goes before us and when we pass an experience, a cross, he passed there before us. And if today we find ourselves here 14 months afterwards, 14 months precisely after the Typhoon Yolanda hit, it is because we have the security of knowing we will not weaken in our faith because Jesus has been here before us. In his Passion he assumed all our pain. Therefore he is capable of understanding us, as we heard in the first reading." "I’d like to tell you something close to my heart. When I saw from Rome that catastrophe I had to be here. And on those very days I decided to come here. I am here to be with you – a little bit late, but I’m here. I have come to tell you that Jesus is Lord. And he never lets us down. Father, you might say to me, I was let down because I have lost so many things, my house, my livelihood. It’s true if you say that and I respect those sentiments. But Jesus is there, nailed to the cross, and from there he does not let us down. He was consecrated as Lord on that throne and there he experienced all the calamities that we experience. Jesus is Lord. And the Lord from the cross is there for you. In everything the same as us. That is why we have a Lord who cries with us and walks with us in the most difficult moments of life. So many of you have lost everything. I don’t know what to say to you. But the Lord does know what to say to you. Some of you have lost part of your families. All I can do is keep silence and walk with you all with my silent heart. Many of you have asked the Lord – why lord? And to each of you, to your heart, Christ responds with his heart from the cross. I have no more words for you. Let us look to Christ. He is the lord. He understands us because he underwent all the trials that we, that you, have experienced. And beside the cross was his Mother. We are like a little child in the moments when we have so much pain and no longer understand anything. All we can do is grab hold of her hand firmly and say "Mommy” - like a child does when it is afraid. It is perhaps the only words we can say in difficult times – "Mommy”." "Let us respect a moment of silence together and look to Christ on the cross. He understands us because he endured everything. Let us look to our Mother and, like a little child, let us hold onto her mantle and with a true heart say – "Mother”. In silence, tell your Mother what you feel in your heart. Let us know that we have a Mother, Mary, and a great Brother, Jesus. We are not alone. We also have many brothers who in this moment of catastrophe came to help. And we too, because of this, we feel more like brothers and sisters because we helped each other." "This is what comes from my heart. Forgive me if I have no other words to express myself. Please know that Jesus never lets you down. Know that the tenderness of Mary never lets you down. And holding onto her mantle and with the power that cones from Jesus’ love on the cross, let us move forward and walk together as brothers and sisters in the Lord." http://www.romereports.com/pg159971...came-to-the-philippines-to-be-by-your-side-en
Pope Francis: in all our trials, the Lord goes before us 11 234 Print 2015-01-17 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis celebrated Mass on the grounds of the airport in Tacloban City, Philippines, on Saturday morning. An estimated 500 thousand people braved wind and often driving rain to take part in the liturgy. Putting aside his prepared text for the homily, the Holy Father spoke to the gathered faithful in his native Spanish. Below, please find integral audio and a transcription of the English translation of the Holy Father's remarks, which were translated on-site by one of the ministers in the sanctuary. Click below to hear the Holy Father's homily at Mass in Tacloban City ************************************************* We have a high priest who is capable of sympathising with our weaknesses. Jesus is like us. Jesus lived like us and is the same us in every respect, except sin because he was not a sinner. But to be more like us he assumed our condition and our sin. He made himself into sin. This is what St Paul tells us. And Jesus always goes before us and when we pass an experience, a cross, he passed there before us. And if today we find ourselves here 14 months afterwards, 14 months precisely after the Typhoon Yolanda hit, it is because we have the security of knowing we will not weaken in our faith because Jesus has been here before us. In his Passion he assumed all our pain. Therefore he is capable of understanding us, as we heard in the first reading. I’d like to tell you something close to my heart. When I saw from Rome that catastrophe I had to be here. And on those very days I decided to come here. I am here to be with you – a little bit late, but I’m here. I have come to tell you that Jesus is Lord. And he never lets us down. Father, you might say to me, I was let down because I have lost so many things, my house, my livelihood. It’s true if you say that and I respect those sentiments. But Jesus is there, nailed to the cross, and from there he does not let us down. He was consecrated as Lord on that throne and there he experienced all the calamities that we experience. Jesus is Lord. And the Lord from the cross is there for you. In everything the same as us. That is why we have a Lord who cries with us and walks with us in the most difficult moments of life. So many of you have lost everything. I don’t know what to say to you. But the Lord does know what to say to you. Some of you have lost part of your families. All I can do is keep silence and walk with you all with my silent heart. Many of you have asked the Lord – why lord? And to each of you, to your heart, Christ responds with his heart from the cross. I have no more words for you. Let us look to Christ. He is the lord. He understands us because he underwent all the trials that we, that you, have experienced. And beside the cross was his Mother. We are like a little child in the moments when we have so much pain and no longer understand anything. All we can do is grab hold of her hand firmly and say “Mommy” - like a child does when it is afraid. It is perhaps the only words we can say in difficult times – “Mommy”. Let us respect a moment of silence together and look to Christ on the cross. He understands us because he endured everything. Let us look to our Mother and, like a little child, let us hold onto her mantle and with a true heart say – “Mother”. In silence, tell your Mother what you feel in your heart. Let us know that we have a Mother, Mary, and a great Brother, Jesus. We are not alone. We also have many brothers who in this moment of catastrophe came to help. And we too, because of this, we feel more like brothers and sisters because we helped each other. This is what comes from my heart. Forgive me if I have no other words to express myself. Please know that Jesus never lets you down. Know that the tenderness of Mary never lets you down. And holding onto her mantle and with the power that cones from Jesus’ love on the cross, let us move forward and walk together as brothers and sisters in the Lord. (from Vatican Radio) http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-in-all-our-trials-the-lord-goes-befor
Papal Mass: Stay strong! Even when faced with troubles, don't give up 2015-01-18 It was a crowd unlike any other. Roughly 6 million people were expected in Manila's Rizal Park for the Pope's closing Mass in the Philippines. Neither the rain or the cold, deterred them from waiting for hours for a chance to see Pope Francis. Since the Sunday Mass coincided with the Feast Day of the Santo Niño, the Pope reminded Catholics that as children of God, they have the responsibility of proclaiming the Gospel. POPE FRANCIS "Today Saint Paul has told us that in Christ we have become God's adopted children, brothers and sisters in Christ. This is who we are, this is our identity.” The Philippines is the most Catholic country in Asia. The Pope called on the crowd, to stay true to the Gospel, even when faced with the temptation of giving up. When the Gospel seems like it does not apply or that it's irrelevant, that's when one must stay strong, because that's when the devil, he explained, slips in. POPE FRANCIS "The devil is the father of all lies. Often he hides his snares behind the appearance of sophistication, the allure of being 'modern' like 'everyone else.' He distracts us with the promise of ephemeral pleasures and superficial pastimes.” The importance of carrying for one's family was also a main theme. From the unborn all the way to the elderly. As a society, he reminded them that street children, the needy and exploited, should not be ignored. The local Archbishop, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, had this to say. CARD. LUIS ANTONIO TAGLE Archbishop of Manila "Every Filipino wants to go with you... Not to Rome, but to the peripheries, to the shanties, to prison cells, to hospitals.” After his homily, the Pope gave his missionary blessing as millions of people looked on. In fact, such a big crowd was expected that the government advised children, pregnant women and the elderly to stay home. Nonetheless, as the Pope said farewell from his popemobile, the Rizal Park and the streets surrounding it were completely packed. http://www.romereports.com/pg159983...ven-when-faced-with-troubles-don-t-give-up-en
Pope to Youth: Learn how to love and how to cry. But allow yourself to be loved by others 2015-01-18 Manila's University of Santo Tomas welcomed Pope Francis along with thousands of youths. Some of which shared their stories and even hardships, face to face with the Pope. Three teenagers gave their testimony. Leandro talked about how social media and the internet, are replacing real life interactions. Then, Rikky, a volunteer, asked about how he could best serve the poor. "In these modern times, we somehow lose the meaning of love. Dear Holy Father, how may we love truly?” "What more can the youth do? How can we, especially, the youth be agents of mercy and compassion?” But perhaps the most moving testimony was this one, where Jun and Gyzelle, both former street children, talked about the pain and rejection they've experienced. JUN "I left home and I left my family because they could not afford to send me to school. I ate whatever I could find in the trash.” GYZELLE "Why does God allow this to happen? Children are not to blame. Why are we helped only by a few people?” POPE FRANCIS "She Gyzelle, is the only one who has posed a question for which there is no answer. She wasn't even able to express it in words, but rather in tears. I invite each one of you to ask yourselves: 'Have I learned how to weep, how to cry? Have I learned how to weep for somebody who is left aside? Have I learned to weep for someone who has a drug problem? Have I learned how to weep for someone who has suffered abuse? Unfortunately, many of those who cry, do so because materialistically, they want more.” The Pope then challenged everyone, urging them to learn how to love. But it's not just about giving, but also receiving. He added that one of the most difficult things to do, is allowing oneself to be loved. POPE FRANCIS "I'd like to ask you Rikky, a question. You and your friends are going to give. You give to help, but do you allow yourself to receive? Answer in your heart.” Together, they also prayed for 27 year old Kristel Mae Pasadas. The young woman died in Tacloban, in a scaffolding accident, in the site were the Papal Mass was celebrated on Saturday 17th. The Pope met with her grieving family. Throughout his visit, rain and wind have been a constant. But that didn't stop Pope Francis or the thousands of people who made it a point to see him in person. A few raincoats were just enough to get by the less than ideal weather. http://www.romereports.com/pg159984...y-but-allow-yourself-to-be-loved-by-others-en
Pope at Mass in Manila : We are called to be God’s children 6 170 Print 2015-01-18 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis celebrated Mass Sunday in Manila’s Luneta Park for enthusiastic crowds who had braved inclement weather to turn out to see their beloved pope. The head of Vatican Radio’s English Service, Seàn-Patrick Lovett, is traveling with the Pope and sent this report: Listen to the report by Seàn-Patrick Lovett: So? How many people were there at Pope Francis’ final Mass in Manila’s Luneta Park? According to the Metro Manila Development Authority, or local traffic department, there were 2.5 million along the route from the Nunciature alone, even before you reach the park which can hold another 1.5 million, give or take a few hundred thousand. You do the math. But, quite frankly – who cares? It never was a question of quantity so much as quality. And quality there was, in abundance. Especially if you take into consideration the fact it rained the whole day and that many people spent 24 hours in the open air to ensure they found a place at an event that was as much historical as it was liturgical. And what to say about the piety, prayerfulness and devotion of all those millions? When last did you see that many heads bowed in meditation, or that many hands clasped in prayer, or hear that many voices raised in song? Pope Francis saw. And he heard. And taking his cue from the day’s local Filipino feast of the Santo Niño, the Holy Child, he focussed his reflections during the Homily on the fact that we are all Children of God, all called to be part of God’s Family. The only time he went off-script was to insist: “This is sin: to forget we are God’s children”. The Pope went on to provide a list of what he called the distractions of the Devil who tempts us with the promise of “ephemeral pleasures and superficial pastimes”, squandering our God-given gifts by “tinkering with gadgets” or spending our money on “gambling and drink”, forgetting to focus “on the things that really matter”. He also used the occasion to call for the protection of the Family against “insidious attacks and programs contrary to all that we hold true and sacred”. Referring to the Gospel reading from Mark Chapter 10, Pope Francis spoke of the way Jesus embraces children, saying that we too need “to see each child as a gift to be welcomed, cherished and protected. We need to care for our young people, not allowing them to be robbed of hope and condemned to life on the street”. Finally, no report on this last public event of Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines would be complete without a reference to the music, to the massed choirs and orchestras comprising over 1,000 elements and representing the very best of the nation’s musical talent. This is one case where I sincerely invite you not to take my word for it – but to listen for yourself… (music) With the Pope in the Philippines – I’m Seàn-Patrick Lovett (from Vatican Radio) http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-at-mass-in-manila-we-are-called-to-be-gods-ch
Wow! Praise be Jesus Chris now and forever! Thanks for posting all of this Glenn. I am sitting hear reading and looking at videos with tears of joy and yes, real hope. 6-7 MILLION PEOPLE!!!! No doubt, this Holy Father is inspired of the Holy Spirit. What a gift to the Church we have received. In fact, the recent popes going back to Pius have been some of the greatest. Isn't God so good to us as we navigate through these storms. http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/n...rowd-for-pope-francis-hits-6-7-million-37121/
Astounding. The Vatican have said today that if this figure of 6M turns out to be true, it will be the biggest event in the history of Popes. Absolutely amazing.
Exclusive: Details of the proposal for Pope Francis' US visit revealed http://vatican.com/news/frame.aspx?...cnewsagency/dailynews-vatican/~3/UlgxsDotyU8/
