HOW POPE FRANCIS WELCOMES NEW CARDINALS, (450 hits)
For Immediate Release From Vatican News!
(A Fifteen-Minute Read)
Pope to Cardinals-elect: Keep your eyes raised, your hands joined, your feet bare Ahead of the Consistory that will raise them to the dignity of the Cardinalate, Pope Francis writes to the new Cardinals-elect, inviting them to embody three attitudes that characterised Saint John of the Cross: eyes raised, hands joined, feet bare. By Christopher Wells
Pope Francis has written a personal letter to the 21 men – bishops and priests from around the world – whom he will raise to the Cardinalate at a consistory set for December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Noting that their elevation to the College of Cardinals will associate them with the Roman Clergy, the Bishop of Rome reminds them that membership in the College “is an expression of the Church’s unity and of the bond that unites all the Churches with this Church of Rome.”
'Eyes Raised, Hands Joined, Feet Bare'
In his letter, the Pope Francis invites the Cardinals-elect “to embody the three attitudes with which an Argentinian poet (Francisco Luis Bernárdez) once characterized Saint John of the Cross, and which are also applicable to us: ‘eyes raised, hands joined, feet bare.’”
Explaining these three attitudes, the Holy Father tells the soon-to-be Cardinals that their new service within the Church will require them to “lengthen your gaze and broaden your heart” to see further and love more fervently.
They must keep their hands joined in prayer to enable them “to shepherd well the flock of Christ,” the Pope said, adding that prayer is “the realm of discernment” that helps discern God’s will and follow it.
Finally, the Pope said, they must keep their feet bare “because they touch the harsh realities of all those parts of the world overwhelmed by pain and suffering,” which will demand from the new Cardinals “great compassion and mercy.”
Concluding his letter, Pope Francis thanked the Cardinals-elect for their generosity and assured them of his prayers “that the title of ‘servant’ (deacon) will increasingly eclipse that of ‘eminence.’”
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Patriarch Pizzaballa: 'We will not surrender to hatred' The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem responds to Pope Francis’ recent letter to the Catholics of the Middle East to express deep gratitude for his closeness and affection region and reaffirms the Church’s firm commitment to peace and reconciliation despite the circumstances. By Lisa Zengarini
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has sent a letter to Pope Francis to convey the “most sincere gratitude” of Catholic leaders and all the Christian faithful in the Middle East for his closeness and compassion
On the Day of prayer for world peace and fasting he calle to marki the anniversary of Hamas' massacre in Israel and the devastating war that has ensued , the Pope also addressed a letter to the Catholics of the region expressing his closeness to the “small, defenceless flock” in the Holy Land “thirsting for peace.”
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"Patriarch Pizzaballa: 'We will not surrender to hatred'
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem responds to Pope Francis’ recent letter to the Catholics of the Middle East to express deep gratitude for his closeness and affection region and reaffirms the Church’s firm commitment to peace and reconciliation despite the circumstances. By Lisa Zengarini
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has sent a letter to Pope Francis to convey the “most sincere gratitude” of Catholic leaders and all the Christian faithful in the Middle East for his closeness and compassion
On the Day of prayer for world peace and fasting he calle to marki the anniversary of Hamas' massacre in Israel and the devastating war that has ensued , the Pope also addressed a letter to the Catholics of the region expressing his closeness to the “small, defenceless flock” in the Holy Land “thirsting for peace.”
Need For Empathy With All Those Suffering The War
In his letter, published on Friday by the Vatican's “L'Osservatore Romano” newspaper, Cardinal Pizzaballa thanks the Pope for this “beautiful gesture of closeness and affection” and also for being “the only world leader” who acknowledges the human “suffering of all” reminding us of the need “not to lose our humanity”, even in these tragic circumstances.
Referring to the Day of prayer for peace joined by the Catholic communities in the Holy Land and across the world, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem noted that these “weapons of love” are the Church’s response “to the mistrust that seems to be spreading more and more. “In this context of deeply rooted hatred," he said, "there is a need for empathy, for gestures and words of love that, even if they don't change the course of events, bring comfort and consolation.”
Cardinal Pizzaballa recalled that in the past twelve months of war priests, religious men, and women along with volunteers have remained steadfast in serving those in distress, to provide relief and comfort, even at the risk of their lives.
Not Resigning To Hatred And Working To Rebuild Trust
He reiterated the Church’s firm commitment to rebuilding broken relationships and trust between communities and to resist the "logic of evil" that seeks to divide. “We will not surrender to events that seem to drive us apart, but we will always seek to be thirsty builders of peace and justice,” he said, recalling the example of men and women of all faiths who, even though personally affected by the violence, have had the inner strength to forgive and not to give in “to the logic of hatred.”
He expressed his hope that this "small remnant" might provide the starting point for rebuilding relationships.
“From this difficult moment, we must learn to make our relationships even stronger and more sincere in the future, to build authentic and serious contexts of peace and respect.”
Military strategies will only breed future violence Cardinal Pizzaballa insisted on the Church’s determination to continue to plead for the immediate cessation of hostilities, echoing Pope Francis’ call for a new world leadership with a fresh vision for the Middle East, as military strategies will not bring peace.
“Indeed, violence will only breed more violence, create more hatred in the younger generations, and further fuel the various forms of fundamentalism that have tormented and hindered our region for too long”, he said.
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Synod Briefing - Day 9: Care of Relationships
Friday's Synod Press Briefing was presented, as usual by the president of the Commission for Information, Dr Paolo Ruffini, assisted by Dr Sheila Pires, the secretary of the Commission. Guests for the briefing included Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, USA; Dr Giuseppina De Simone, a witness of the synodal process from Europe; and Bishop Shane Mackinlay of Sandhurst, Australia. By Christopher Wells
At the daily press conference on Friday afternoon, Dr Sheila Pires noted that the central theme of this module is care of relationships, both within the Church and between the Church and the world.
Transparency, Formation, Accountability
This care, she emphasized, must be based on trust, transparency, and coherence. Dr Pires noted, too, Cardinal Hollerich’s insistence on the need for integral formation to form Christians prepared as witnesses for mission, keeping in mind that ecclesial discernment differs from questions of managerial techniques.
Pires highlighted Cardinal Hollerich’s call for the development of participative and transparent decision-making processes within the Church, and the need for accountability through the ongoing evaluation of the work of those with responsibility within the Church.
Processes of transformation in the Church Turning to the reflection by Fr Timothy Radcliffe at the beginning of work on the Third Module, Dr Pires pointed to the Dominican spiritual director’s comparison between the processes of transformation within the Church and Jesus’ interaction with the Canaanite woman in the Gospel.
Fr Radcliffe said that Jesus’ silence demonstrated a moment of deep listening that can be a model for the Church’s attempts to listen to the cries of those who are suffering and to address the complex questions facing the Church today.
The Dominican preacher's reflection also emphasized the question of the relationship between equality and difference, especially in the context of the different vocations and roles in the community of the baptized.
Pope Welcomes Ukrainian President Zelensky To Vatican For Third Time
Pope Francis welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the Vatican for the third time and laments that many Ukrainian children have lost the ability to smile. By Deborah Castellano Lubov
As the war in Ukraine continues to claim countless lives, Pope Francis has met for the third time in the Vatican with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to the Holy See Press Office, Pope Francis spoke to President Zelensky about the suffering of Ukrainian children, highlighting that many of them have lost the ability to smile.
The 35-minute-long encounter took place in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace on Friday morning. It is their fourth encounter after a bilateral meeting on June 14 on the sidelines of the G7 in the Puglia region of Italy and after meetings in the Vatican on May 13, 2023, and, prior to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, on February 8, 2020.
Call For Peace And Appeal To End Suffering
According to another statement issued by the Holy See Press Office, the talks in the Secretariat of State were devoted "to the state of the war and the humanitarian situation in Ukraine," as well as "the ways that could put an end to it, leading to a just and stable peace in the country."
In addition, the statement noted, "a number of issues concerning religious life in the country were also examined."
Afterwards, the President of Ukraine met with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.
Separately, in a post on X following the meeting, Pope Francis said: "All nations have the right to exist in peace and security. Their territories must not be attacked, and their sovereignty must be respected and guaranteed through peace and dialogue. War and hatred bring only death and destruction for everyone. #Peace"
Pope Francis Meets President Zelensky of Ukraine
As is customary, the two leaders exchanged gifts, and the Pope exchanged greetings with the delegation accompanying President Zelensky. The Ukrainian President gave Pope Francis an oil painting, entitled "The Bucha Massacre. The Story of Marichka."
Meanwhile, Pope Francis gave President Zelensky a bronze casting of a flower engraved with the inscription "Peace is a fragile flower."
The Pope also gave the President this year's Message for Peace, several papal documents, the book on the 27 March 2020 Statio Orbis, edited by the Vatican Publishing House, as well as the volume "Persecuted for Truth, Ukrainian Greek Catholics Behind the Iron Curtain."
Climate Conference In Rome Focuses On "Building Future Together"
The 16th International Greenaccord Fourm opens with panels dedicated to empowering women, the value of sport, politics and communication, and the environment. By Francesca Merlo - Greenaccord Forum in Rome
“Building Future Together”, Greenaccord’s three-day International Forum on the climate seems to focus on the three words that make up this year’s theme, each complementing the other with the end goal of better understanding, and ultimately, beating the climate crisis.
Journalists, media representatives, and climate activists from all walks of life have gathered between Rome and the town of Frascati in the Alban Hills, to share ideas, concerns and hopes as they work to, effectively, as the slogan says, build our future together.
A Battle Fought Together
From opening in Rome with a panel on the importance of the role of women, to closing, according to the programme, in Frascati, with a panel on the role of politicians and political institutions, this 16th international forum emphasises the word “together” right from the very start. It’s true, no changes can be made without involving people from all walks of life, and all members of society.
Small Contributions For The Greater Good
Recalling the legend of the hummingbird, who tried to extinguish the fire with a single drop of water, Annalisa Corrado, speaking during the opening panel, was the first to emphasize the word “building”, which, of course, goes hand in hand with “together”. It’s a simple concept: every contribution is valuable, she said, and little by little, "however little", if we all put in that effort, results can be achieved. In other words, abolish the “I won’t make a difference alone” mentality.
Working Hard For What Is To Come
“Future” was in all the interventions that made up this first day of events. It’s what we are all encouraged to protect. But the most poignant words on the future came from Elena Pantaleo, a kickboxing champion representing women but also representing young people and sportsmen and women. She made the comparison that just as sporting achievements are not made unless you put heart and soul into all that you do, we cannot expect changes to be made in the climate unless we, too, "put heart and soul into them”.
Agriculture, sports, the question “How long will our children be able to play outside?”. These are themes that take centre stage at this forum. They’re important questions and we’ll be seeing, over the next few days, what answers Greenaccord comes up with…
Holy See: Every Woman Deserves The Opportunity To Reach Her Full Potential
In the ongoing commitment of the Holy See to promote the advancement of women, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia stresses that society must persist in fighting harmful stereotypes that hinder equal opportunities for women and girls, while also respecting the unique capacities that women bring. By Bezawit Bogale
“For a just society to thrive, it is essential to advance and recognize women's capacities by combating all harmful stereotypes that deny them opportunities,” said the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations addressing a Session dedicated to the Advancement of Women.
Archbishop Gabriele Caccia delivered his speech on Wednesday during the Third Committee of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Quoting from Pope Francis, the Archbishop described domestic violence as “a poisonous weed that plagues our society and must be pulled up from its roots,” and he called for a collaborative response to address domestic violence, which frequently, he noted, occurs behind closed doors.
Tackling Root Causes To Foster Aomen's advancement
The Archbishop emphasized that addressing root causes such as poverty and lack of proper education would ultimately reduce the abuse of women and girls, trafficking for s*xual exploitation, and eliminate various forms of inhuman and degrading treatment towards women, particularly those characterized by violence, coercion, and drug abuse.
“The advancement of women cannot be fully achieved without respecting women’s unique capacities,” he said.
Reflecting on "Pathways," - the second part of the Instrumentum laboris - Father Timothy Radcliffe, OP, says, "Together we shall discover God's will!"
Module 3: Instrumentum laboris / Part II: Pathways
Meditation by Rev. Timothy Radcliffe, O.P.
Today we begin to think about the processes through which Church changes, the percorsi we must take. The following strange text may help us to see how this happens: “Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, ‘Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.’ But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.’ He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs.’ She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed instantly” (Matthew 15 21 – 28).
At first sight it looks as if Jesus is being rude, calling her a dog. He only makes an exception for her daughter because of her personal faith. “I have come only to the lost sheep of Israel … all right, and you.’
But this incident comes between the feeding of the five thousand, which is symbolises the mission to the Jews, and the feeding of the four thousand, which points to the mission to the Gentiles. Jesus told the woman there was only enough bread was for the children of the household, but a few verses later there will be more than enough bread for everyone, seven baskets full of left overs. It is a moment of profound transition.
How did this happen? At the heart is the silence of Jesus. “He did not answer her at all.” This silence is not a rebuff. It is the silence of which Madre Maria Grazia spoke so beautifully during the retreat. She said that “at the root of every prayer, of every work for God vibrates the silent Breath of God.” (“Alla radice di ogni preghiera, di ogni “opera per Dio” vibra il silenzioso Soffio di Dio.[1]”)
Bishop Dolan: Education, accompaniment, advocacy 'crucial for mental health ministry' On World Mental Health Day, Bishop John Dolan of Phoenix, Arizona, shares the work his US diocese is doing offer pastoral care to people who suffer from mental health challenges. By Fr. Pawel Rytel-Andrianik
The education of priests and lay people, accompaniment in parishes for individuals with mental health challenges, and advocacy for institutional and societal support for those needing professional psychological or psychiatric care are the three essential components of mental health ministry in the Church, according to Bishop John Dolan of Phoenix
Speaking with Vatican News ahead of World Mental Health Day on October 10, Bishop Dolan said he is personally involved in this ministry.
He underscored the importance of eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health issues, saying: "There is no shame in having mental health problems. It is like someone with a broken arm.”
Education
Bishop Dolan noted that a crucial component of mental health ministry is education, stressing the need for both the clergy and laity to be well-informed about mental health services.
"Mental health ministry focuses on educating the people in the pews... but also training priests, religious, and deacons on the value of mental health services, including counselling, psychology, psychiatry, and neurology," he said.
The Bishop noted that this education empowers clergy to speak about these issues and refer parishioners to professional help when needed.
Accompaniment
Another critical aspect of the ministry is accompaniment. Bishop Dolan explained that this involves creating spaces where people struggling with mental health issues, as well as their families, can come together to share their experiences.
"We have accompaniment, which allows people to gather, share their struggles with mental health, or maybe allow family members whose loved ones are living with mental health issues to navigate life at home," he said.
The Bishop also highlighted the role of spiritual direction as a form of mental health support. "We do not diagnose, prescribe, or treat. We cannot do that for legal reasons, and it is not within our scope," he noted. "We can offer spiritual guidance and assistance."
Advocacy
Bishop Dolan emphasized the need for advocacy in promoting mental health services, speaking about at encouraging government support for mental health professionals and increasing public access to care.
"We try to encourage the government to ensure proper funding to educate students of psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience," he said, pointing out that the lack of sufficient counselors and psychologists is a global issue. "We need to advocate for that."
Bishop Dolan shared the positive impact of mental health ministry on the lives of those involved.
"Thousands of people have responded beautifully to this mental health ministry," he said.
The Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers
Bishop Dolan highlighted the crucial work of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers (CMHM), a lay organization that significantly supports the mental health ministry.
Sisters Hospitallers: Learning Humanity From The Mentally Ill
October 10 marks World Mental Health Day. The Superior General of the Sisters Hospitallers reflects on how people with mental health problems have much to teach, especially in humanity, a much-needed virtue in our individualistic world. By Patricia Ynestroza
World Mental Health Day is marked on October 10, 2024, with the theme: “Mental Health at Work”. In an interview with Vatican News, Sister Idília Carneiro, Superior General of the Sisters Hospitallers, a religious congregation primarily dedicated to caring for people with mental illnesses, intellectual disabilities, and other special needs, reflects on the congregation’s main challenge after their General Chapter this past May: to maintain their identity and presence in the health world, especially considering the challenges posed by mental health, illness, and psychic suffering, all while embracing the congregation’s charismatic approach to the world.
Welcoming The Mentally Ill And Learning From Them
The Superior General emphasized that it is essential to understand that those who are mentally ill are “people experiencing psychic suffering. Therefore, the first step is to welcome them in their reality and also their families when the situation is more comprehensive.” Illness, she noted, does not entirely define a person, it only affects certain dimensions, and each of these people possess great human richness and sensitivity.
