Pope Francis is shaken and saddened by the ‘homicidal folly and senseless hatred’ that has left at least 50 people dead in an attack on a nightclub in Orlando, Florida. A statement released by the Holy See Press Office Director, Father Federico Lombardi SJ, on the Orlando massacre which has been described as the worst mass shooting in American history. “The terrible massacre that has taken place in Orlando, with its dreadfully high number of innocent victims, has caused in Pope Francis, and in all of us, the deepest feelings of horror and condemnation, of pain and turmoil before this new manifestation of homicidal folly and senseless hatred…
Pope Francis celebrated Mass in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta on Friday morning. In remarks to the faithful following the Readings of the Day, the Holy Father focused on three attitudes that are characteristic of the Christian: “standing” before God in “silence” to hear His voice and readiness to “go out” into the world to proclaim what one has heard to others. The Pope also warned against the danger of paralyzing fear in Christian life, no matter where one is in one’s journey with God and regardless of one’s state of life in the Church: Standing upright and walking To explore this issue, and how to escape the tunnel of fear, the Pope focused on the the prophet Elijah, from whose book the First Reading of the Day was taken…
On Thursday in the Holy See Press Office a press conference was held to present the Jubilee of the sick and disabled from the 10th to 12th June. The panel was composed of Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation, Bishop José Octavio Ruiz Arenas and Msgr. Graham Bell, respectively secretary and under-secretary of the same dicastery…
Jesus’ first miracle, at the Wedding Feast of Cana, was the focus of Pope Francis’ catechesis at the General Audience Wednesday 8th June 2016. Following on from his earlier reflections on parables of mercy during this Jubilee Year, the Pope said Christ’s miracles were not performed so that people would “marvel” at them, but rather, through them, Christ revealed the Father’s love for us…
Fil-laqgħa tal-Kulleġġ tal-Kappillani tal-Erbgħa 1 ta’ Ġunju 2016, Mons. Arċisqof ikkomunika d-deċiżjoni tiegħu rigward il-post tat-tfal fiċ-ċelebrazzjoni tal-Ewwel Tqarbina. Id-deċiżjoni tiegħu hi li fiċ-ċelebrazzjoni tal-Ewwel Tqarbina, it-tfal ikunu miġburin flimkien fuq quddiem fil-knisja; il-ġenituri u l-qraba jkunu f’xi post ieħor fil-knisja, mhux ħdejn it-tfal. Waqt it-tqarbin, it-tfal jitqarbnu l-ewwel huma; imbagħad wara li jitqarbnu kollha, jitqarbnu dawk preżenti fil-kongregazzjoni. Jekk issir purċissjoni qabel il-quddiesa, it-tfal jimxu huma l-ewwel flimkien…
Statement by Caritas Europa and JRS ahead of the Justice and Home Affairs Council starting tomorrow
08/06/2016
While interior ministers meet tomorrow to discuss EU migration policies, people trying to reach the safety of Europe continue to die en route. Caritas Europa and Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Europe calls on European leaders to alter its restrictive approach to migration. Policies focused on deterrence, including the agreement with Turkey, are not stopping people from trying to reach our countries…
Pope Francis has urged believers to be true Christians and give flavor to the life of others, not to be tempted to shine light upon themselves but to bring the light of faith to their neighbors and to mankind. The Pope was speaking on Tuesday morning during Mass at the Casa Santa Marta. Drawing inspiration from the Gospel reading of the day, Pope Francis spoke of when Jesus told his disciples “you are the salt of the earth”, “you are the light of the world”…
The Archbishop addresses a Symposium on Mercy towards immigrants
06/06/2016
It-Tnejn 6 ta’ Ġunju 2016, l-Arċisqof Charles J. Scicluna ndirizza s-Symposium ‘Mercy towards Immigrants: Theology and Society in Dialogue’, f’Villa Francia, Ħal Lija. L-Arċisqof saħaq li bil-ħitan li qed jittellgħu fl-Ewropa qed jinħoloq stil ġdid ta’ apartheid. Mal-kliem tal-Papa, l-Arċisqof qal li wieħed għandu jerġa lura mill-idea li wieħed għandu jibni l-ħitan biex pajjiż jew stat iħossu iktar sigur…
Pope Francis delivered the homily at Mass on Sunday morning, during which he also presided over the canonization of two new saints: Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary, and Maria Elizabeth Hesselblad. Homily by Pope Francis The word of God, which we have just heard, points us to the central event of our faith: God’s victory over suffering and death. It proclaims the Gospel of hope, born of Christ’s paschal mystery, whose splendour is seen on the face of the Risen Lord and reveals God our Father as one who comforts all of us in our afflictions. That word calls us to remain united to the Passion of the Lord Jesus, so that the power of his resurrection may be revealed in us. In the Passion of Christ, we find God’s response to the desperate and at times indignant cry that the experience of pain and death evokes in us. He tells us that we cannot flee from the Cross, but must remain at its foot, as Our Lady did. In suffering with Jesus, she received the grace of hoping against all hope (cf…
The Archbishop celebrates Mass with the Filipino community in Malta
05/06/2016
On Sunday 5th June 2016, Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna celebrated Mass with the Filipino Community in Malta, at St Barbara Church in Valletta. Homily by Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna
Church of St Barbara, VallettaSunday 5th June 2016 Two large groups of people. One large group of people entering the city and another group of people coming out of the city…
