“Perhaps we have not yet encountered Jesus personally,” Pope Francis said in his Angelus address on Sunday. “Perhaps we have not recognized Him as our Saviour.” The Holy Father was commenting on the day’s Gospel, which relates the “dialogue” between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. Because of the great respect Jesus shows her [...]
March 19, 2017, Sunday -- Meet an Extraordinary Man This Week in Washington D.C. Meet an Extraordinary Archbishop this Week in Washington D.C. "His name is Thaddeus" An extraordinary archbishop got on an airplane today in the the former East bloc to fly to Washington D.C. He will land in D.C. tonight. His name is Thaddeus [...]
The parable of the poor man, Lazarus, lying at the rich man’s door, was at the heart of Pope Francis’ homily at the Santa Marta Mass on Thursday morning. The Pope warned of the risks we run if we have the same uncaring attitude towards the poor and homeless people we see around us today. Reflecting [...]
“This is a plague, a hidden cry which must be heard by us all and which we cannot continue to pretend not to see and hear”. Pope Francis called for prayer for “all the young victims of violence, abuse, exploitation and war”, at the end of the Angelus on 12 March in Saint Peter’s Square. The [...]
In a world that is becoming accustomed to a lifestyle that is less than human, characterized by “widespread indifference”, increasingly “virtual and less personal” means of communication, a shortage of firm values and a “culture of having and of appearing”, we must encourage more dialogue and listening. This is what Pope Francis said Saturday, 11 March [...]
True fasting is helping your neighbour; while false fasting mixes religiosity with dirty deals and the bribes of vanity. That was the message of Pope Francis at the morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta on Friday. The readings of the day speak about fasting; that is, the Pope explained, “about the penance that we are [...]
The compass of the Christian directs him to follow Christ crucified, not a disincarnate god, but God made flesh, Who bears in Himself the wounds of our brothers. That was the message of Pope Francis at the morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta on Thursday. The invitation to be converted resounds strongly at the beginning [...]
15 Feb 2017 – By Jonathan Luxmoore OXFORD, England (CNS) — A prominent Catholic ecumenist has urged a better understanding of the Russian Orthodox Church. “Those suspicious of the Russian Orthodox stance should go and see what’s happening,” said Barbara Hallensleben, a consultor with the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. “Of course, nationalist and [...]
· A journey of hope · Lent should be lived as a “journey of hope” which leads Christians “from slavery to freedom”. This reminder was at the heart of the Holy Father’s reflection for the General Audience on Ash Wednesday, 1 March, in Saint Peter’s Square. The following is a translation of the catechesis, which Pope [...]
“Return to me with all your heart… Return to the Lord.” The Holy Father began his homily for the beginning of lent with the words of the prophet Joel, from the first Reading: “Return to me with all your heart… Return to the Lord.” These words, the Pope said, apply to everyone, and exclude no one; “we [...]