“I wept when I saw reports on the news of Christians crucified in a certain country.” —Pope Francis, homily at morning Mass Friday, May 2, in the Domus Santa Marta chapel in the Vatican, where Francis lives. He was referring to the cruxifixion of two men in Syria by rebel forces. Syrian residents flee their [...]
Pope Francis' appeal for peace in Syria at the General Audience - St. Peter's Square - Vatican City, April 09, 2014 Last Monday, at Homs in Syria, the Reverend Father Frans van der Lugt, a Dutch Jesuit confrere of mine, 75, was killed. He arrived in Syria about 50 years ago, and always did good to everyone, with [...]
Sunday 10 PRAYERS FOR THOSE HIT BY DEADLY TYPHOON During the Angelus with pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope expressed his concern and prayers for the estimated tens of thousands of people dead and others affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan, which devastated parts of the central Philippines November 8. “I wish to express my closeness [...]
Friday 5 POPE FRANCIS’ FIRST ENCYCLICAL Lumen Fidei (“The Light of Faith”) is a celebration of Christian faith as the guiding light of a “successful and fruitful life,” inspiring social action as well as devotion to God, and illuminating “every aspect of human existence,” including philosophy and the natural sciences. The document completes [...]
Christians must help the people of Syria because “where there is suffering, Christ is present,” Pope Francis told representatives of Catholic aid agencies working in Syria and with Syrian refugees in neighboring countries. “How much suffering, how much poverty, how much pain; and it’s Jesus who suffers, who is poor, who is thrown out of his [...]
