BEING a good Christian demands concrete action and deeds, Pope Francis said. And, he said, the “how-to” manual was found in the beatitudes and the Last Judgment, which spelt out the consequences awaiting those who failed to help others in need. Jesus offered a guide to life that was “so simple, but very difficult”, the Pope said on June 9 ... Read More »
PRAYING for peace in the Holy Land alongside leaders of long-antagonistic nations, Pope Francis called on God to act where human efforts had failed, to end what he described as violence inspired by the devil. “More than once we have been on the verge of peace, but the evil one, employing a variety of means, has succeeded in blocking it,” ... Read More »
THOSE who insist others pray and believe exactly like they do, those who have alternatives to every Church teaching and benefactors who use the Church as a cover for business connections may call themselves Catholics, but they have one foot out the door, Pope Francis said. “Many people say they belong to the Church”, but in reality have “only one ... Read More »
THE Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, will be in Rome on Sunday, June 8, to take part in the prayer for peace in the Holy Land. During the Mass in Bethlehem on May 25, Pope Francis invited Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli President Shimon Peres to pray with him at the Vatican for peace in the Holy Land. ... Read More »
MEETING more than 50,000 Catholic charismatics in Rome’s Olympic Stadium, Pope Francis admitted he was not always comfortable with the way they prayed, but he knelt onstage as they prayed for him and over him by singing and speaking in tongues. “In the early years of the charismatic renewal in Buenos Aires, I did not have much love for charismatics,” ... Read More »
POPE Francis blamed a “culture of well-being” and comfort for convincing married couples that a carefree life of world travel and summer homes was better than having children. He said married couples should look at how Jesus loves his Church to learn how to be faithful, perseverant and fruitful in their vocation. About 15 married couples celebrating their 25th, 50th ... Read More »
STANDING before a replica of the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes from France, Pope Francis told Vatican employees and other guests that Mary is a mother who never makes her children wait for a response to their prayers. “She is the virgin of readiness, Our Lady of Haste,” the Pope said on May 31 at the end of a ... Read More »
POPE Francis, Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet at the Vatican on Pentecost Sunday (June 8) to pray for peace. Vatican spokesman Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi confirmed the date in a statement on May 29. During his recent visit to the Holy Land, the Pope spontaneously invited Mr Peres and Mr Abbas to come to the ... Read More »
POPE Francis has called on the world’s Christians to pray with him for peace in the Middle East, to help convince governments to come to the aid of refugees and pray for Christian unity. While peace was a gift from God, it was also built out of the day-to-day handiwork of individuals: true “artisans of peace”, who were capable of ... Read More »
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