We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. Gerard OConnell is Americas Vatican correspondent. Writer: Deng Akok Madhan A WhatsApp message forwarded widely in groups about Pope Francis's retirement speech that claims to have shocked the world is false. Pope Francis wardrobe vs. the wind: Is it time to consider Velcro? Sixteen of these new cardinals are under the age of 80 and therefore eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a successor if Francis does retire. We need to realize, All of this affects me, it could have happened here too, even to me. "They were preparing the conclave.". Forgiveness is the medicine of family joy and happiness. Maintaining a wound of the heart is a self-destructive action. And lately, in July this year, Pope Francis refuted the same claim in an interview with Televisa Univision. The claim was circulated a year ago and continued even though it was proven false after a fact check. Francis has praised Benedict's decision to retire as "opening the door" for future popes to do the same, and he had originally predicted a short papacy for himself of two to five years. It is necessary that knowledge becomes practical through listening and welcoming of the least ones, the fragile ones, and the one who is considered discarded by society., Pope Francis recalled that in theological disputes, St. Alphonsus preferred reason to authority and did not stop at the theoretical formulation of principles but allowed himself to be questioned by life itself. He became an advocate of the ones who are least in the world, the most fragile, those discarded by society and the poor and put himself at the service of consciences that tried, even through thousands of difficulties, to do good because [they felt] called by God to holiness., Drawing on the saints writings, Pope Francis emphasized that the proclamation of the Gospel in a rapidly changing society requires the courage to listen to reality, so as to educate consciences to think in a different way, in discontinuity with the past., The Jesuit pope called St. Alphonsus the master and patron of confessors and moral theologians., He offered constructive responses to the challenges of the society of his day through popular evangelization, by indicating a style of moral theology that was capable of keeping together the demands of the Gospel and human fragility., Pope Francis emphasized that the proclamation of the Gospel in a rapidly changing society requires the courage to listen to reality, so as to educate consciences to think in a different way, in discontinuity with the past., Turning to our own day, Francis highlighted the many challenges we are faced with: the pandemic, and work in the post-covid world, to assure care is provided for all, the defense of life, the input that comes from artificial intelligence, the safeguarding of creation, the anti-democratic threat, and the urgent need for human fraternity.. But we still want your feedback. Dear brothers and sisters, as believers it is our responsibility to help eradicate hatred from human hearts and to condemn every form of violence. He has sciatica, a condition that causes severe pain in the lower back and legs, which caused him to cancel several public appearances in 2021. This is a pope who lives the phrase often attributed to his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi: Preach the Gospel at all times. "While celebrating his birthday, Vatican watchers are also looking for more concrete signs of compliance regarding the pope's new rules, especially from those who report directly to him within the Vatican," Gahl said in an email, noting that a change in culture is needed alongside Francis' new policies and regulations. The Pope has repeatedly warned that having ideologies in the Church will create division. We ask our visitors to confirm their email to keep your account secure and make sure you're able to receive email from us. pope francis retirement speech continuation Unforgiving is Evil and a poison that intoxicates and kills the one who refuses to forgive. Reporters Notebook: What did Blinken tell his Russian counterpart? Pope Francis will celebrate the funeral Mass in St. Peter's . Also, We are constantly disappointed. Most modern popes stay in the job until death, but Ratzinger was the first to resign since Gregory XII 1415. Now that the nine-year project has been rolled out and at least partially implemented, Francis's main task as pope has in some ways been accomplished. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. If youre already a subscriber or donor, thank you! Dating apps and porn sites make rescuing sexually exploited women difficult, 4. Material from Catholic News Service was used in this report. In 2009, Benedict visited L'Aquila, which had been devastated by a recent earthquake, and prayed at Celestine's tomb, leaving his pallium stole on it. In the summer of 2021, Pope Francis had undergone surgery for diverticulitis, a condition which creates inflammation in the diverticula. As per Catholic News Agency, doctors had to remove one of Pope's side colons. The Italian rumour mill is in a spin right now as Pope Francis looks to follow in the footsteps of a previous pope and retire early.. I can only reiterate that war is a failure of politics and of humanity, a shameful capitulation, a stinging defeat before the forces of evil (Fratelli Tutti, 261). Eight years ago today, Pope Francis emerged on the balcony of St. Peters Square for the first time, clad not in the red ermine cape and new red loafers prepared for the next pope, but in a simple white cassock and his old black orthopedic shoes. Stations of the Cross: Every Friday of Lent, 'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education', Almsgiving, Prayer, and Fasting: The Three Pillars of Lent. The image went viral, part of the Francis effect that touched the hearts of the world early in the Francis papacy. The Pope mentioned that St. Paul had to decide when to leave his flock of Christians to the care of others. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. And even though, as America has learned, Francis wrote todays message prior to his recent trip to Iraq, the remarks may hold special significance to Catholics hurt by last weeks response from Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that states priests should not bless same-sex unions. The feats are made even more notable in light of his intestinal surgery over the summer, persisting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and push back against some of his initiatives from more conservative members of the church. In the various meetings, we shared our conviction that a change is needed in relationships between peoples, and between peoples and the earth. Google's advanced. "Some wanted me dead," Francis said of his critics. He had learned to stifle his anger when people harassed him for his skin condition: His face and body are covered in severe tumors that often bleed through his shirt, his aunt told CNN. The parish priest made various appeals to international community on behalf of migrants. You can check these in your browser security settings. During the night of the popes two-day trip, former papal ambassador to the United States Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigan released a bombshell letter alleging that members of the Roman hierarchy had turned a blind eye to former Cardinal McCarricks abuse. Pope Francis then talked about the right time to "take leave" of his flock, alluding to his possible retirement. You can get more information on In the moment, though, Pope Francis declined to comment on the letter. We didnt speak. Regardless of religion, see how Pope Francis has beautifully written about the family. For daily job alerts and guide to worldwide visas, join our WhatsApp and Telegram group, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHOULD AN APPLICANT PAY MONEY TO ANYONE IN GETTING A JOB WE HAVE PUBLISHED. Images of Mary with a miraculous history in Rome, 1. Forgiveness is the asepsis of the soul, the purification of the spirit and the liberation of the heart. Pope Francis high praise for St. Alphonsus came in a message to Michael Brehl, C.Ss.R., the Canadian-born superior general of the Redemptorists, on the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (16961787) as a doctor of the church. In the same year, he underwent surgery due to diverticulitis, which is inflammation of the diverticula - pockets that form in the lining of the intestine. If peoples are to remain brothers and sisters, prayers must rise unceasingly to heaven, and one single word constantly echo on earth. Something went wrong, please try again later. Our times demand that we be the voice of all those believers, ordinary people, defenceless and weary of violence, so that those who have responsibility for the common good will commit themselves not only to condemn wars and terrorism, but also to create the conditions to prevent them from flaring up. Pope Francis greets family members as he arrives to lead his general audience in the San Damaso courtyard at the Vatican in this Sept. 9, 2020, file photo. It is good that we have gathered here, carrying in our own hearts and in the heart of Rome the faces of those entrusted to our care. continuing to browse, we understand that you accept their use. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. We cannot continue to accept wars with the detachment with which we watch the evening news, but rather make an effort to see them through the eyes of the peoples involved. EPA. There is no healthy marriage or healthy family without the exercise of forgiveness. Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz believes it is important to be able to talk about the devil in order to fight him. That why I am here, as your bishop, for this moment of sharing, because it is very important that the Diocese of Rome be committed to this process. Password reset instructions will be sent to your registered email address. BREAKING NEWS: POPE FRANCIS RETIREMENT SPEECH THAT SHOCKS THE WORLD | Don't Ignore! Cardinal McElroy on radical inclusion for L.G.B.T. If you have a message for the author, we will do our best to pass it along. Pope Francis embraces a man with a severe skin condition, Nov. 6, 2013. Once they are added to the ranks of princes of the church, Francis will have stacked the College of Cardinals with 83 of the 132 voting-age cardinals. When necessary, use words.". The Popes claimed speech continued to pin unforgiveness as toxins that kill anyone who can not forgive the other. If there are those in the grip of hostility, factions and partisan games, we ourselves repeat the words of the Imam Ali: There are two types of people: your brothers and sisters in faith, and those who are your fellow human beings. Moral theology, the pope said, cannot be only about principles and formulations, but must respond to the reality of the person in need. In announcing the Aug. 27 consistory, Francis also announced he would host two days of talks the following week to brief the cardinals about his recent apostolic constitution reforming the Vatican bureaucracy. When he came close to us, I thought he would give me his hand [to kiss], Mr. Rivas aunt, Caterina Lotto, told CNN. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. Francis also has set in motion an unprecedented two-year consultation of rank-and-file Catholics on making the church more attuned to the laity. Required fields are marked *. Keeping the heartache of unforgiving in your heart is a self-destructive gesture. Please provide an email address so that we can contact you about your feedback if necessary. Unforgiving is Evil and a poison that intoxicates and kills the one who refuses to forgive. Thank you. This is false. Interview: Whats it like to photograph Pope Francis? We dont have comments turned on everywhere anymore. By cultivating a contemplative and non-predatory approach, the religions are called to listen to the groans of mother earth, which suffers violence. As Americas Vatican correspondent Gerard OConnell details in his book The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Account of the Conclave that Changed History (Orbis, 2019), when Francis emerged on the balcony of St. Peters Basilica for the first time as pope, he just stood there in silence, immobile. Please send to all the families you know. Before him, John Paul II died at age 84 and John Paul I died at 65 after just 33 days on the job. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. In recent times, many people have contracted the sickness of forgetfulness, forgetfulness of God and of our brothers and sisters. The earth we inhabit bears the scars of this, while the air we breathe is rich in toxins but poor in solidarity. If youre already a subscriber or donor, thank you! Derek Jeter announces retirement at end of the 2014 season Francis tapped her to help organize the two-year consultation process of Catholics around the globe that will end in 2023 with a meeting of bishops, known as a synod. A Reflection for Friday of the First Week of Lent, by Jill Rice. This could help healing some family wounds and settle some battles! Those who do not forgive are physically, emotionally, and spiritually ill. And they will suffer in two ways. Christopher Bellitto, a church historian at Kean University in Union, New Jersey, noted that most Vatican watchers expect Francis will eventually resign, but not before Benedict dies. If there are those who work to foment division and conflict, we ourselves believe in the importance of journeying together for peace: with one another, and never again against one another. The message, which urged people to read regardless of religion, centred on the family as a place of forgiveness. One image called the encounter a meeting of the church bells and the minarets, the towers from which Muslims are called to prayer. As a frequent reader of our website, you know how important Americas voice is in the conversation about the church and the world. Faced with the Vatican's $57 million budget deficit, the pope has commanded a 10 percent pay cut for cardinals and whittled down pay for other Vatican employees since his birthday last year. A beam of light hits Pope Francis cross on his return flight from Dublin, Aug. 26, 2018. Today, we humbly ask you to defend Catholic Online's independence. Cardinal Cantalamessa: The problem is not in the novelty but how we deal with it, 4. Bidens new child allowance is a breakthrough for families. I greet all of you - heads of Churches, political authorities. "And we can say it's not an easy path.". Benedict was 85 when he resigned in February 2013, becoming the first pope to step down in 600 years and paving the way for Francis' election. people, women and others in the Catholic Church, Cardinal Cupich: Critics of Pope Francis Latin Mass restrictions should listen to JPII. Message: . After the reflection, the pope carried a monstrance from St. Peters Basilica into the square, hoisting it above his head with great effort, buffeted by the wind and rain, as the church bells and ambulance sirens echoed through Romes empty streets. The new Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy asks "everyone to make an extraordinary sacrifice.". The life of peoples cannot be subject to the interests of a few, or prey to sectarian and nationalistic fervour. For this reason, the family must be a place of life and not a place of death; a place of forgiveness, a place of paradise and not a place of hell; a healing territory and not a disease; an internship of forgiveness and not guilt, the message continues. Achieving unity between the Eastern and Western churches, which have been in schism since the Middle Ages, is one of Pope Francis major goals. The Italian rumour mill is in a spin right now as Pope Francis looks to follow in the footsteps of a previous pope and retire early. 3. Every year since, the pope has washed the feet of women, minorities and those on the margins of society, like the elderly, at his Holy Thursday liturgies. There is no healthy marriage or healthy family without the exercise of forgiveness. Peace is not primarily an agreement to be negotiated or a value to be celebrated, but an attitude of the heart. Manchin and Haley at least talk the right way against federal spending, Donald Trump's five-pronged attack plan against Ron DeSantis looks pretty weak, Reporters Notebook: Bidens student loan forgiveness plan in Supreme Court's crosshairs. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Since youre a frequent reader of our website, we want to be able to share even more great, As a frequent reader of our website, you know how important. Holy Father's Message, signed by the Secretary of State, to the young people taking part in the annual Taiz encounter (30 December 2021), Video message of the Holy Father for the inauguration of the academic year of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, in Milan, on the centenary of its foundation (19 December 2021), Message of Pope Francis to His Holiness Bartholomew I on the occasion of the Feast of Saint Andrew (30 November 2021), Message of His Holiness Pope Francis to mark the 70th anniversary of the International Organization of Migration (IOM) (29 November 2021), Video message of the Holy Father on the occasion of his upcoming Apostolic Journey to Cyprus and Greece [2-6 December 2021] (27 November 2021), Message of the Holy Father, signed by the Cardinal Secretary of State, for the Semaines Sociales de France (26 November 2021), Video Message of the Holy Father for the 11th Festival of the Social Doctrine of the Church [Verona, 25-28 November 2021] (25 November 2021), Message of His Holiness Pope Francis to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities [3 December 2021] (20 November 2021), Video Message of the Holy Father to mark the conclusion of the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for Culture (23 November 2021), Message of the Holy Father to participants in the Ecclesial Assembly of Latin America and the Caribbean [21-28 November 2021] (15 October 2021), Video Message of the Holy Father to the Daughters of Charity on the occasion of the General Assembly (20 November 2021), Message of His Holiness Pope Francis to Participants in the VII Conference Rome MED Dialogues (20 November 2021), Message of the Holy Father to participants in the World Meeting of Justice and Peace Commissions of Episcopal Conferences [Video Conference, 17 18 November 2021] (15 November 2021), Video message of the Holy Father to mark the 75th anniversary of Unesco (12 November 2021), Message of the Holy Father on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of UNESCO (11 November 2021), Message of the Holy Father on the occasion of the conference Promoting child safeguarding in the time of Covid-19 and beyond [Rome, 4 November 2021] (21 October 2021), Message of the Holy Father Francis to the Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) in Glasgow [Glasgow, 31 October - 12 November 2021] (29 October 2021), Message of His Holiness Pope Francis, signed by the Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, on the occasion of the opening of a high-level global meeting on the elimination of child labor in agriculture (2 November 2021), World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.