CNS photo/Vatican Media Pope Francis urges us to care for the young and for the old, in families and in society at large. Speaking at Mass at the Casa Santa Marta, he says that to neglect children and the elderly because they are not productive is not a sign of God's presence. September 30, [...]
Wednesday, September 18, 2019 “The Church doesn’t belong to Bergoglio but to Christ." —Italian Catholic journalist Vittorio Messori, author in 1984 of The Ratzinger Report, an interview book with then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI) and then of an interview with John Paul II, at the time when interviewing a Pope was quite unusual [...]
Wednesday, September 11, 2019 "Schism embraces two distinct species: heretical or mixed schism, and schism pure and simple. The first has its source in heresy or joined with it, the second, which most theologians designate absolutely as schism, is the rupture of the bond of subordination without an accompanying persistent error, directly opposed to a definite dogma. This distinction was drawn by St. Jerome and St. Augustine. 'Between heresy and [...]
Archbishop Vigano in a 2013 photo (CNS photo/Roberto Gonzalez) Monday, September 9, 2019 — Feast of St. Peter Claver, S.J. (1580-1654) St. Peter Claver was born at Verdu, Catalonia, Spain, in 1580, of impoverished parents descended from ancient families. He studied at the Jesuit college of Barcelona, entered the Jesuit novitiate at Tarragona in 1602, and took his final vows on August 8th, 1604. [...]
Pope Francis during his weekly General Audience (AFP or licensors) At the weekly General Audience, Pope Francis says the Church is like “a field hospital” that must care for the sick, even when our actions incite envy and hatred in others. Continuing his catechesis on the Acts of the Apostles, Pope Francis reflected on [...]
Pope Francis during his weekly General Audience (AFP or licensors) During his General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis reflects on how the Christian community is born of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and grows through the mutual sharing of life among the Lord’s disciples. August 21, 2019 In his continuing catechesis on the [...]
Pope Francis during the Sunday Angelus (Vatican Media) Pope Francis reflects on this Sunday’s Gospel and on Jesus’ call to be vigilant and to “light our lamps” as we await the final encounter with the Father. August 11, 2019 In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples to “gird your loins and light your [...]
Pope waves to pilgrims in St Peter's Square during the Angelus (Vatican Media) At the Sunday Angelus address, Pope Francis speaks of the importance of not feeling burdened when offering a warm welcome and a sense of fraternity to those in need as a way of combining contemplation and action. By Francesca Merlo Pope [...]
The Pope reflects on the Parable of the Good Samaritan and says the trait of a true Christian is to always be merciful and compassionate. By Linda Bordoni Pope Francis on Sunday upheld the example of the Good Samaritan as a model for Christians, explaining that only by loving our neighbours as ourselves, do we show [...]
Saturday, July 6, 2019 "Do you see any signs that the Vatican, under Pope Francis, is taking proper steps to address the serious issues of abuse? If not, what is missing?" —Question from the Washington Post this spring to Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano (link) "The signs I see are truly ominous. Not only is Pope Francis doing close [...]
