HOW POPE FRANCIS RECOVERS FROM ILLNESS, SIGNS OF HOPE IN DESERTS OF POVERTY, INT'L DAY OF WOMEN ... (672 hits)
For Immediate Release From Vatican News!
Pope Francis had a restful night as his clinical condition shows gradual, mild improvement, according to the Holy See Press Office on Sunday morning.
On Saturday evening, the Press Office said the Pope's blood tests revealed stable results, indicating that he is responding well to the prescribed therapies. The Pope will follow the Lenten spiritual exercises, which begin on Sunday, in spiritual communion with the Roman Curia.
Pope Francis continues to gradually improve as he recovers from bilateral pneumonia at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, according to the Holy See Press Office on Sunday evening.
He followed the Spiritual Exercises of the Roman Curia via video link from Gemelli Hospital, which began on Sunday afternoon in the Paul VI Hall and are being led by the Preacher of the Papal Household, Fr. Roberto Pasolini, OFM Cap.
In the morning, the Pope received a visit from Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and the Substitute for the Secretariat of State, Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra. He also attended Mass with those assisting him in these days.
The Pope continued his therapy, as well as respiratory and motor physiotherapy. He is following the prescribed diet, which now includes solid foods.
His condition appears stable, with slight gradual improvements, as stated in Saturday evening’s medical bulletin. However, the overall situation remains complex, prompting doctors to maintain a guarded prognosis.
A medical bulletin is expected to be released on Monday evening, as it was not published on Sunday due to the stability of his clinical condition.
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Pope: In Deserts of Poverty, Volunteers Offer Signs of Hope
Cardinal Michael Czerny, delegated by Pope Francis, presides over the Mass for the Jubilee of the World of Volunteering. He reads the Pope's homily for the occasion in which he praises those who volunteer for their "generosity and commitment" that offers "hope to our entire society." By Tiziana Campisi
The fluorescent uniforms of thousands of volunteers in Rome for the Jubilee of the World of Volunteering stood out in Saint Peter's Square during the Sunday Mass presided over by Cardinal Michael Czerny. Thirty thousand people participate in the Mass on the first Sunday of Lent, and their colorful jackets created a chromatic spectacle, along with the purple liturgical vestments worn for the season of Lent.
Over a hundred concelebrants – including cardinals, bishops, and priests – came for the liturgy presided over by Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. Pope Francis delegated Cardinal Czerny to preside since he has been in hospital since 14 February. But the Pope’s spiritual presence among them in the celebration was symbolized in the papal banner with the papal crest displayed on the central loggia of Saint Peter's Basilica.
Thanks To The Volunteers
In the homily prepared by Pope Francis, and read by Cardinal Czerny, the Pope focused on the beginning of the Lenten journey, but with special words for the volunteers from around the world visiting Rome on pilgrimage. The Pope recalled their service and commitment alongside so many people, “all those small gestures” that “in the deserts of poverty and loneliness” help “a new humanity blossom in the garden that is God’s dream, always and everywhere, for all of us.”
“I thank you heartily, dear friends, because, following the example of Jesus, you serve your neighbours unstintingly. On the streets and in homes, in the company of the sick, the suffering and the imprisoned, with the young and the elderly, your generosity and commitment offer hope to our entire society.”
Jesus Shows The Way Through The Desert
Commenting on the Sunday Gospel, the Pope recalled the temptations Jesus faced in the desert, where He is “led by the Spirit.” And our Lenten journey begins here, “by following the Lord there and sharing in that experience, which he transformed for our benefit.” Because in that “place of silence,” which becomes “a place of listening,” the ability to listen is “put to the test,” and then we must choose “between two completely different voices.” In the desert, Jesus experiences hunger and is tempted by the devil's words, but He rejects them.
“We too are tempted, yet are not alone. Jesus is with us, to guide us through the desert. The Son of God made man does not simply give us an example of how to combat evil. He gives us something much greater: the strength to resist its attacks and to persevere on our journey.”
Three Characteristics of Temptation
In his homily, Pope Francis explains the three aspects of Jesus’ temptation and of our own: “its beginning, the way it takes place and its result,” and invites everyone to compare these two experiences to find support in one’s own “journey of conversion.” He then explains, regarding the beginning of the temptation, “the Lord does not go into the desert to show the strength of his will, but out of filial openness to the Spirit of the Father, whose guidance he readily and freely accepts.” On the other hand, our temptation “is not intentional: evil is prior to our freedom, attacking it from within, like an inner shadow and a constant threat.”
“Whenever we ask God not to lead us into temptation, we need to remember that he has already answered that prayer through Jesus, his incarnate Word, who remains with us always. The Lord is close to us and cares for us, especially in times of trial and uncertainty, when the tempter makes his voice heard.”
International Women's Day: Initiatives For A Better Future
On International Women's Day on March 8, organizations worldwide are commemorating the day with initiatives designed to help better the situation for women and girls. By Kielce Gussie
Every year on March 8 since 1977, the United Nations celebrates women through various initiatives and programs aimed at bettering their rights and situations in the global context—from childhood to adulthood.
The Talitha Kum International anti-trafficking network launched a new Call to Action to tackle the worldwide problem of human trafficking. Separately, with the goal of giving young girls the best start in life, the United Nations Children's Fund has promoted a short video to highlight the need to help girls in Afghanistan learn to read and write.
Young People Against Human Trafficking
At the conclusion of the 11th edition of the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking in February—an initiative established by Pope Francis in 2015—a group of international young people, known as Ambassadors of Hope, drafted a Call to Action.
The Call to Action reiterated the Ambassadors’ commitment to praying and caring for those affected by human trafficking and invited young people worldwide to call on governments, institutions, and people of all backgrounds and faiths to take concrete action against human trafficking.
Sr. Abby Avelino, coordinator of the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking, said the decision to launch the Call to Action on March 8 was “driven by the alarming fact that "70% of the victims of trafficking are women and girls," according to United Nations data.
Giving Girls A Future In Afghanista
Globally, 122 million girls do not go to school, and about 50 million girls and young women cannot read or write a simple sentence. This universal problem is a focus for the United Nations Children’s Fund, which is determined to change this narrative one child at a time.
On International Women's Day this year, they promoted a short film to draw attention to the 3.7 million children in Afghanistan who do not attend school—60% of whom are girls.
Entitled “MILK TEETH – Being young girls in Afghanistan,” the 9-minute film featuring a young girl named Husnia.
It tells the story of Fatima, a 7-year-old girl, who is losing her “milk teeth.” She fears this because it signals she is becoming a woman and will become “like the many invisible women in her country.” Thus, she endeavors to remain a child forever and avoid this fate.
The President of UNICEF Italy, Carmela Pace, explained that this year the organization wanted to dedicate the International Day to these girls in Afghanistan, “a country where girls are prevented from continuing their studies, effectively freezing their future.”
Ms. Pace described how providing them with an education creates opportunities for development and “protects them from risks, dangers, and violations of their rights, such as early marriages, a practice still widespread in the country."
Vatican Ramadan message: Christians and Muslims called to ‘walk side-by-side' In its message for Ramadan, the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue highlights that the Islamic holy month this year coincides with Lent – and calls for “inner transformation”, so that Christians and Muslims might work together for peace. By Olivier Bonnel
As it does every year during the month of fasting, the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue has released its message for Ramadan.
This year’s message, signed by the Dicastery’s new prefect, Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, is centered on the theme: "Christians and Muslims: What We Hope to Become Together."
“This time of fasting, prayer and sharing,” the message reads, “is a privileged opportunity to draw closer to God and be renewed in the fundamental values of religion, compassion and solidarity. This year, Ramadan largely coincides with Lent, which for Christians is a period of fasting, supplication and conversion to Christ.”
This rare alignment in the religious calendar, Cardinal Koovakad writes, "offer a unique opportunity to walk side-by-side, Christians and Muslims, in a common process of purification, prayer and charity.”
An inner transformation "More than simply a month of fasting, Ramadan appears to us Catholics as a school of inner transformation.," the message continues. In Christian tradition, Lent is a similar time, a period when “through fasting, prayer and almsgiving we seek to purify our hearts and refocus on the One who guides and directs our lives".
Both Ramadan and Lent, through their calls to devotion and self-discipline, serve as reminders that faith "is not just about outward gestures but a journey of inner conversion," the message emphasizes.
A world in need of fraternity and dialogue However, Cardinal Koovakad warns that "in a world marked by injustice, conflict, and uncertainty about the future, our shared calling cannot be reduced to spiritual practices alone." He stresses that Christians and Muslims "can bear witness together to the hope that friendship is possible, despite the weight of history and the ideologies that divide us."
In this Jubilee Year centered on hope, the message reaffirms the Christian belief that "hope is rooted in the certainty that God's love is stronger than any trials or obstacles."
Faith in God, the statement continues, is "a treasure that unites us." This year, as both Christian and Muslim traditions converge in the observance of Ramadan and Lent, believers "have a unique opportunity to show the world that faith transforms both individuals and societies, acting as a force for unity and reconciliation." The message underscores that Christians do not simply seek to coexist with Muslims but to "live together in sincere and mutual respect."
Working together for peace The common values shared by Christians and Muslims, such as justice, compassion and respect for creation, “should inspire our actions and our relationships, and serve as a compass for building bridges rather than walls”, the message goes on to say.
“In this season of Ramadan and the approach of ‘Id al-Fitr, we are happy to share this hope with you. May our prayers, our gestures of solidarity and our efforts for peace be tangible signs of our sincere friendship with you. May this feast be an occasion for fraternal encounters between Muslims and Christians, in which we can celebrate together God’s goodness.”
Ukraine’s President reiterates his call for an air and sea truce after Russian attacks overnight reportedly injured at least 18 people across the nation in one of its largest attacks this year. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia welcomes the chance to host a meeting between the U.S. and Ukraine next week. By Linda Bordoni
A brief Saudi Foreign Ministry statement said the U.S.-Ukrainian talks would be held in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, confirming the kingdom’s continued efforts to achieve lasting peace to end the Ukrainian crisis.
Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, announced on Thursday that he would travel to the Arabian Peninsula nation on Monday for a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, ahead of talks later in the week with U.S. officials.
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff also confirmed the meeting is planned and said he was in discussions with Ukraine for a deal framework to end the three-year war with Russia.
In February, Riyadh hosted a meeting between U.S. and Russian officials to discuss ways to halt the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two. Ukraine was not included in those talks, raising concern in Kyiv and among its European allies.
2022 Istanbul protocol The scheduled meeting follows in the footprints of talks between the U.S and Russia that took place in Turkiye in March 2022, in the early weeks of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Witkoff described those negotiations and the resulting so-called Istanbul protocol agreement as substantive, confirming that both Russia and the U.S. see those draft accords as a possible basis for a Ukraine peace deal, though Ukraine's president has previously rejected them as unacceptable.
The 2022 Istanbul draft documents would have obliged Ukraine to give up its NATO ambitions and accept permanent neutral and nuclear-free status in return for security guarantees from the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France - the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.
However, the two sides disagreed over Russian demands, which included a right of veto over actions by the guarantor states to assist Ukraine in the event of an attack.
Three years later, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday that current negotiations could have the Istanbul Agreements as a starting point.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry spokesman said last week that Kyiv had not received any proposals from the U.S. to use the Istanbul documents as a basis for peace negotiations and recalled that President Zelenskiy, as recently as December, rejected the Istanbul approach, describing it as an ultimatum requiring his country's surrender.
Among other points of disagreement in the 2022 negotiations was Russia's demand for deep cuts to the size of Ukraine's armed forces and the number of its tanks, missiles, warplanes and other weapons.
Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Call For Justice And Renewal Amidst Economic And Political Crisis
As Zimbabwe grapples with an economic crisis, rising unemployment, and political tensions, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) has issued a heartfelt Lenten Pastoral Letter calling for justice, renewal, and national introspection. Fr. Johnston Z. Mlambo - Harare.
The Letter, released just days before Ash Wednesday, comes as the nation is suffocating under a massive public debt of $21 billion, against an estimated 2025 budget of $10.6 billion.
The economic turmoil has been exacerbated by rampant corruption, company closures, and widespread job losses, further widening the gap between the rich and the poor.
Proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour
The Pastoral Letter, titled “…to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour” (Luke 4:19), is deeply rooted in the spirituality of the Jubilee Year 2025, with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.”
The bishops draw inspiration from biblical jubilee principles, which emphasise debt relief, social justice, and the restoration of dignity to the oppressed.
The Letter Highlights The Grim Realities Facing Zimbabweans.
The country’s high debt burden continues to stifle development, with excessive interest rates imposed by international financial institutions trapping Zimbabwe and other developing nations in economic bondage.
Divisive Politics Are A Distraction
The bishops echoed Pope Saint John Paul II’s call for decisive action on debt relief, urging global financial reforms to allow struggling nations to break free from cycles of poverty.
Beyond economic woes, Zimbabweans are grappling with political instability and growing tensions within the ruling ZANU-PF political party. The arrest of journalist Blessed Mhlanga, accused of inciting violence, has further deepened fears of political repression.
Meanwhile, public discourse has been dominated by divisive discussions on a possible ‘Third Term’ for President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a move that has caused rifts within both the ruling party and the broader society.
The bishops lament that such distractions divert attention from pressing national issues such as poverty, unemployment, and corruption.
Call For A National Metanoia
The Letter also highlights how corruption has reached alarming levels, infiltrating various sectors of the economy.
“One wonders why the corrupt seem uncensured and even rewarded whilst haemorrhaging the nation,” the bishops state, expressing concern over a governance system that enables wealth accumulation by a few while the majority suffer.
In response to these challenges, the bishops call for a national metanoia—true repentance and transformation.
They argue that Zimbabwe needs more than just individual change; there must be a collective shift in mindset, policies, and institutional structures to promote justice and the common good.
Pope From Hospital: ‘Thank You For Your Prayers, I Accompany You From Here'
Pope Francis sends a message of gratitude and closeness to all those who have been praying for his recovery since he was admitted to hospital 21 days ago. By Vatican News
"I thank you with all my heart for the prayers you offer for my health from [St. Peter’s] Square. I accompany you from here. May God bless you, and may the Virgin protect you. Thank you."
