By Matthew Trojacek with Grzegorz Galazka photos
Pope’s preacher speaks on his humanity, return to faith, and being a Bible “expert”
Franciscan Capuchin Father Roberto Pasolini (photo) is very comfortable with public speaking — it’s basically his job as a Scripture expert called on to give talks and lead retreats around Italy.
On November 9 last year, Pope Francis named Pasolini the next preacher of the Papal Household, succeeding 90-year-old Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa (photo), who held the post for 44 years.
The 53-year-old Pasolini said the call to become the Pope’s preacher was a big surprise and caused him “a great deal of fear.”
“The fact that God is calling me, at this moment, to go right into the heart of the Church, in front of the Pope, the cardinals, the people who support the Christian institution, to speak such important, meaningful words, it scares me,” he told CNA during an interview in Rome on December 11.
“On the other hand, I also felt a great alignment with what was already happening [in my life],” he noted, “because I have always been following words, reading texts, and searching reality for the meaning that can give clarity to our existence.”
Fr. Pasolini’s appointment became somewhat controversial after discovery that, referring to a possible homosexual relationship between Jonathan and David in the Bible, Pasolini had said in a talk, “we are in any case authorized to imagine that the love between David and Saul’s son could have been of this nature.” (CNA)
Vatican officially opens beatification process for late Belgian King Baudouin
On December 21, the Vatican officially opened the beatification process of King Baudouin of Belgium (photo), remembered as a humble leader willing to abdicate his throne rather than approve the decriminalization of abortion in his country.
Baudouin, who witnessed a Belgium transformed by periods of social upheaval and growing secularism, was publicly recognized as a devout Catholic committed to both the Church and his country throughout his more than 40 years on the throne from 1951–1993. (CNA)
Pope to Knights of Malta: Jesus accompanies you on path of generosity
Pope Francis welcomed a delegation of the Archconfraternity of Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist of the Knights of Malta from Catanzaro, Calabria, on January 3, during their visit to the Vatican.
He acknowledged having just celebrated the feast of Mary Most Holy, Mother of God, noting that “she is the protector of your confraternity, which honours her with the title of Hodegetria, ‘she who shows the way,’ that is, Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
Reflecting on the image of Mary, Pope Francis noted that Mary holds in her arms the Saviour born for us.
“This is the event of love to which you bear witness by adoring the Eucharist, serving others, and walking through the history of your city,” said the Pope, before offering a reflection on those three verbs: adore, serve, and walk. (VaticanNews)
Call for peace, progress in war-torn Myanmar
A new bishop has been ordained and installed with a call for peace and progress in war-torn Myanmar, especially in the Kachin region, where a decades-long armed struggle for autonomy continues unabated.
Bishop John Mung La Sam (photo) was ordained on January 12 for Myitkyina diocese in the state capital of war-ravaged Kachin state in northern Myanmar.
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon (photo), who officiated at the ceremony, highlighted the distressing situation in the region, calling on all stakeholders to work for peace and progress of the people.
“The Kachin are faced with crises that are frightening in their scale and complexity: first of all, displacement and emigration in a country where entire communities have been uprooted by the conflict. Families live in camps and yearn for the stability of a home,” Bo said.
For over six decades, Kachins have fought for autonomy from Myanmar through the armed rebel group, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).
Some 33 percent of Kachin’s 1.7 million people are Christians, including about 160,000 Catholics in two dioceses — Myitkyina and Banmaw. (UCANews)
“Being a Christian means learning to be human again”
Speaking to Vatican News after the solemn Mass he had celebrated for the anniversary of Pope Benedict’s death on December 31, Cardinal Kurt Koch (photo) said the late Pope was “a very humble person who approached others and listened to what they had to say.”
“He was a very kind person,” said the Swiss cardinal, who is the head of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity. “If you looked into his eyes, you could see that there was a lot of inner light there.
“It was always very important to him that being a Christian was based on being human. The two went together for him. Being a Christian means learning to be human again. And he was an excellent example of this.”
Pope Benedict himself once said that he was aware that he would not have a long pontificate, that he would not be able to initiate any major projects; that his concern, his mission, was to bring faith back to the center of the Church.
“For him, the question of God was central. The centrality of the question of God was the inner core of his entire work — not just any God, a supreme being in heaven, but the God who is not mute but speaks, who spoke to his people Israel and above all showed his face in Jesus of Nazareth, in Jesus Christ.
“The centrality of the question of God and Christocentricity: that is the inner core [of Pope Benedict’s work] that will certainly remain.” (VaticanNews)
Jubilee Year 2025 begins in Shanghai with baptisms and hope for peace
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The Diocese of Shanghai ushered in the Jubilee Year 2025 with the baptism of 54 catechumens during the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Bishop Joseph Shen Bin (photo) presided over the sacrament January 12 in a solemn Mass attended by more than 1,500 faithful and catechumens at the Cathedral of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.
In his homily, Bishop Shen Bin reflected on the importance of baptism in Christian life, emphasizing that it marks the beginning of an ongoing journey of faith. He called on all Catholics to actively participate in the Jubilee Year, encouraging them to grow in their faith and devotion alongside the newly baptized members of the church.
“Baptism is the foundation of our Christian journey,” the bishop said. “It is a sacrament that calls us to live as followers of Christ, shining with the light of faith, and sharing that light with the world around us.” (LaCroix)
Cardinal Parolin concludes Jordan visit, highlights “strong” Vatican ties, religious coexistence
Secretary of State of the Holy See Cardinal Pietro Parolin (photo) concluded his visit to Jordan on January 14 after presiding over the inauguration Mass of the Church of the Baptism of the Lord at the Baptism site, where he served as Pope Francis’s representative for the historic consecration.
Speaking in an interview with the Jordanian news agency Petra, Cardinal Parolin detailed his mission as Papal Legate for the January 10 church consecration at the Baptism Site, where he witnessed what he described as a “vital and vibrant” Catholic Church in Jordan under the guidance of Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa (photo).
“The relations are excellent,” Parolin said of Jordan-Vatican ties, which have been enhanced by the presence of Jesus’ Baptism site and other holy places in Jordan.
The diplomatic relationship marked its 30th anniversary in March 2024 with a visit by the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagher (photo).
Addressing religious coexistence, Parolin stressed the Holy See’s deep concern for Christian communities across the Middle East.
“Christians can live in their own countries in harmony, coexistence and peace, without ever feeling discriminated against or restricted in their actions,” he said.
“Being fully citizens, Christians are a vibrant component of their countries, like in Jordan, and they contribute significantly to the progress and development of the nation.” (JordanTimes)
Beijing Catholic Parish celebrates 420 Years of history
A Catholic church in China has launched a special “Year of Grace” initiative for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope to celebrate the parish’s founding and commemorate its rich history.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception in China’s capital Beijing, founded some 420 years ago by Venerable Matteo Ricci, started its year-long celebrations on January 14, Agenzia Fides, the Vatican’s missionary news agency, reported on January 16.
In a homily delivered during the inaugural Holy Mass, Father Peter Zhao Jianmin (photo) pointed out that Ricci had traveled tirelessly to bring the flame of faith to China. (UCANews)
