Pope Beatifies 124 Korean Martyrs http://www.romereports.com/pg158000-pope-beatifies-124-korean-martyrs--en
Indonesia 2017: The country will host the next Asian Youth Day! http://www.romereports.com/pg158010...ountry-will-host-the-next-asian-youth-day--en
Pope to Youths: Wake Up! Sing, Dance, Rejoice http://www.romereports.com/pg158007-pope-to-youths-wake-up-sing-dance-rejoice-en
Pope to Asian youth: You are the present and the future of the Church (Vatican Radio) During his homily at the concluding Mass of the 6th Asian Youth Day, Pope Francis told the young people gathered "to be like Christ, who responds to every plea for his help with love, mercy and compassion." He also said young people were the present and the future of the Church. Below is the Holy Father's Homily pronounced in English Dear Young Friends, The glory of the martyrs shines upon you! These words – a part of the theme of the Sixth Asian Youth Day – console and strengthen us all. Young people of Asia: you are the heirs of a great testimony, a precious witness to Christ. He is the light of the world; he is the light of our lives! The martyrs of Korea – and innumerable others throughout Asia – handed over their bodies to their persecutors; to us they have handed on a perennial witness that the light of Christ’s truth dispels all darkness, and the love of Christ is gloriously triumphant. With the certainty of his victory over death, and our participation in it, we can face the challenge of Christian discipleship today, in our own circumstances and time. The words which we have just reflected upon are a consolation. The other part of this Day’s theme – Asian Youth! Wake up! – speaks to you of a duty, a responsibility. Let us consider for a moment each of these words. First, the word “Asian”. You have gathered here in Korea from all parts of Asia. Each of you has a unique place and context where you are called to reflect God’s love. The Asian continent, imbued with rich philosophical and religious traditions, remains a great frontier for your testimony to Christ, “the way, and the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6). As young people not only in Asia, but also as sons and daughters of this great continent, you have a right and a duty to take full part in the life of your societies. Do not be afraid to bring the wisdom of faith to every aspect of social life! As Asians too, you see and love, from within, all that is beautiful, noble and true in your cultures and traditions. Yet as Christians, you also know that the Gospel has the power to purify, elevate and perfect this heritage. Through the presence of the Holy Spirit given you in Baptism and sealed within you at Confirmation, and in union with your pastors, you can appreciate the many positive values of the diverse Asian cultures. You are also able to discern what is incompatible with your Catholic faith, what is contrary to the life of grace bestowed in Baptism, and what aspects of contemporary culture are sinful, corrupt, and lead to death Returning to the theme of this Day, let us reflect on a second word: “Youth”. You and your friends are filled with the optimism, energy and good will which are so characteristic of this period of life. Let Christ turn your natural optimism into Christian hope, your energy into moral virtue, your good will into genuine self-sacrificing love! This is the path you are called to take. This is the path to overcoming all that threatens hope, virtue and love in your lives and in your culture. In this way your youth will be a gift to Jesus and to the world. As young Christians, whether you are workers or students, whether you have already begun a career or have answered the call to marriage, religious life or the priesthood, you are not only a part of the future of the Church; you are also a necessary and beloved part of the Church’s present! Keep close to one another, draw ever closer to God, and with your bishops and priests spend these years in building a holier, more missionary and humble Church – a Church which loves and worships God by seeking to serve the poor, the lonely, the infirm and the marginalized. In your Christian lives, you will find many occasions that will tempt you, like the disciples in today’s Gospel, to push away the stranger, the needy, the poor and the broken-hearted. It is these people especially who repeat the cry of the woman of the Gospel: “Lord, help me!”. The Canaanite woman’s plea is the cry of everyone who searches for love, acceptance, and friendship with Christ. It is the cry of so many people in our anonymous cities, the cry of so many of your own contemporaries, and the cry of all those martyrs who even today suffer persecution and death for the name of Jesus: “Lord, help me!” It is often a cry which rises from our own hearts as well: “Lord, help me!” Let us respond, not like those who push away people who make demands on us, as if serving the needy gets in the way of our being close to the Lord. No! We are to be like Christ, who responds to every plea for his help with love, mercy and compassion. Finally, the third part of this Day’s theme – “Wake up!” – speaks of a responsibility which the Lord gives you. It is the duty to be vigilant, not to allow the pressures, the temptations and the sins of ourselves or others to dull our sensitivity to the beauty of holiness, to the joy of the Gospel. Today’s responsorial psalm invites us constantly to “be glad and sing for joy”. No one who sleeps can sing, dance or rejoice. Dear young people, “God, our God, has blessed us!” (Ps 67:6); from him we have “received mercy” (Rom 11:30). Assured of God’s love, go out to the world so that, “by the mercy shown to you”, they – your friends, co-workers, neighbors, countrymen, everyone on this great continent – “may now receive the mercy of God” (cf. Rom 11:31). It is by his mercy that we are saved. Dear young people of Asia, it is my hope that, in union with Christ and the Church, you will take up this path, which will surely bring you much joy. Now, as we approach the table of the Eucharist, let us turn to our Mother Mary, who brought Jesus to the world. Yes, Mother Mary, we long to have Jesus; in your maternal affection help us to bring him to others, to serve him faithfully, and to honor him in every time and place, in this country and throughout Asia. Amen.
Pope Francis at Mass for the Reconciliation of Korea: “Forgiveness leads to reconciliation” http://www.romereports.com/pg158016...orea-oeforgiveness-leads-to-reconciliation-en
I'm amazed at two comments that the Pope made during his flight retuning from Korea today: 1. "But returning to the question about the martyrs, the suffering and also these women, these are the fruits of war! Today we are in a world at war, everywhere. Someone said to me, "Father do you know that we are in the Third World War, but bit by bit." He understood! It’s a world at war in which these cruelties are done." 2. Q. In Rio when the crowds chanted Francesco, Francesco, you told them to shout Christ, Christ. How do you cope with this immense popularity? How do you live it? A. I don’t know how to respond. I live it thanking the Lord that his people are happy. Truly, I do this. And I wish the People of God the best. I live it as generosity on the part of the people. Interiorly, I try to think of my sins, my mistakes, so as not to think that I am somebody. Because I know this will last a short time, two or three years, and then to the house of the Father. And then it’s not wise to believe in this. I live it as the presence of the Lord in his people who use the bishop, the pastor of the people, to show many things. I live it a little more naturally than before, at the beginning I was a little frightened. But I do these thing, it comes into my mind that I must not make a mistake so as not to do wrong to the people in these things. A little that way. Any body else stunned by this!!!?
Here is the interview http://americamagazine.org/content/...rancis-press-conference-plane-returning-korea
Pope's Envoy to Iraq arrives in Baghdad http://www.romereports.com/pg158028-pope-s-envoy-to-iraq-arrives-in-baghdad-en
Pope goes straight to Basilica after trip to thank Our Lady http://www.romereports.com/pg158031-pope-goes-straight-to-basilica-after-trip-to-thank-our-lady-en
Three relatives of Pope Francis killed in accident in Argentina Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/three-r...-argentina-20140819-1060v7.html#ixzz3As9X0pT6
Apologies for the late reply Glenn. I just found it amazing that the Pope would be so direct in his talk about the possibility of a third world war possibly beginning right now. What do you make of this Glenn?
I don't read that way. This is a big difference between WW3 and a "World at war",in my opinion. Clearly in WW1 & WW2, the world was equally divided, you were either on one side or the other politically. The Middle East ( which has been fighting since the beginning of time it seems) and other countries, like Korea, Russia,Ukraine,may not be related. It is possible to have multiple large scale wars ,but for different reasons. Obviously, the Middle East war , might not have anything to do with a conflict in Korea, or between Russia or the US. It is possible to have the world at war but not in the sense of the world equally divided as it was with WW1 & WW2. I think the Pope is just stating it in the literal sense.
I'm more amazed by his second answer that he expects to return to the Father in 2-3 years. That brings us to 2017 which is a date that seems to pop up often in the recent prophecies. I wonder if he foresees his martyrdom?
Yes, agreed, this did surprise me as well. The next few years should prove to be profetic on many levels.
Pope talks about Iraq, his health and future travel plans http://www.romereports.com/pg158034-pope-talks-about-iraq-his-health-and-future-travel-plans-en
Pope's relatives die in car crash. Pope calls for prayers http://www.romereports.com/pg158036-pope-s-relatives-die-in-car-crash-pope-calls-for-prayers-en
Destination: The Vatican, Means of Transportation: Donkey http://www.romereports.com/pg158050-destination-the-vatican-means-of-transportation-donkey-en
Slavery to be theme of 2015 World Day of Peace 2014-08-21 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace has announced the theme selected by Pope Francis for the upcoming World Day of Peace. The theme, “Slaves no more, but brothers and sisters” will be the title of the Message for the 48th World Day of Peace, celebrated on 1 January 2015. It will mark the second time Pope Francis celebrates the Day of Peace since rising to the papacy. A note from the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace provides details about why the theme is relevant today: Many people think that slavery is a thing of the past. In fact, this social plague remains all too real in today’s world. Last year’s Message for 1 January 2014 was dedicated to brotherhood: “Fraternity, the Foundation and Pathway to Peace”. Being children of God gives all human beings equal dignity as brothers and sisters. Slavery deals a murderous blow to this fundamental fraternity, and so to peace as well. Peace can only exist when each human being recognizes every other person as a brother or sister with the same dignity. Too many abominable forms of slavery persist in today’s world: human trafficking, trade in migrants and prostitutes, exploitation, slave labour, and the enslavement of women and children. Shamefully, individuals and groups around the world profit from this slavery. They take advantage of the world’s many conflicts, of the economic crisis and of corruption in order to carry out their evil. Slavery is a terrible open wound on the contemporary social body, a fatal running sore on the flesh of Christ! To counter slavery effectively, the inviolable dignity of every person must be recognized above all. Moreover, this acceptance of dignity must be anchored solidly in fraternity. Fraternity requires us to reject any inequality which would allow one person to enslave another. It demands instead that we act everywhere with proximity and generosity, thus leading to liberation and inclusion for everyone. Our purpose is to build a civilization based on the equal dignity of every person without discrimination. To achieve this will also require the commitment of the media, of education and of culture to a renewed society pledged to freedom, justice and therefore peace. The World Day of Peace, initiated by Pope Paul VI, is celebrated each year on the first day of January. The Holy Father’s Message is sent to all the world’s Foreign Ministers and also indicates the Holy See’s diplomatic line during the coming year. (From archive of Vatican Radio)
