LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - Pope Francis made a surprising statement during a homily on St. Paul on Tuesday. and noting "there are still traces" from the effects of having undergone more than six hours of anaesthesia in July 2021 to remove . Pope Francis wardrobe vs. the wind: Is it time to consider Velcro? Click on the different category headings to find out more. 1. Francies has sent the Italian media into a frenzy, with rumours now running rampant that the feast will bring his tenure to a close. Gerard O'Connell March 23, 2021. The ayatollah has not received guests publicly or been photographed in a decade, but he met with Pope Francis in his home last week, greeting him warmly and speaking with him for almost an hour. We need to listen to others, make their sufferings our own and look into their faces. Forgiveness is vital to our emotional health and spiritual survival. 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. This could help healing some family wounds and settle some battles! 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. This has led to unbridled individualism and the desire for self-sufficiency, which has overflowed in insatiable greed. Thank you. You can check these in your browser security settings. Just after his election, the new pope caught the worlds attention when he held a small Holy Thursday liturgy at a youth detention center. Cardinal Cantalamessa: The problem is not in the novelty but how we deal with it, 4. If peoples are to remain brothers and sisters, prayers must rise unceasingly to heaven, and one single word constantly echo on earth. Pope Francis is 81, and he was elected at age 76. But he has arranged a dinner in August, exactly as a previous pope did to announce his retirement. 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. When necessary, use words.". He has served in the Chair of St. Peter for five years. In order to be considered for publication, letters should be brief (around 200 words or less) andinclude the authors name and geographic location. The meeting, experts said, sent a message of peace across the Muslim world. We said nothing, but he looked at me as if he was digging deep inside, a beautiful look that I would never have expected.. Why am I being asked to create an account? Dear Pope Francis: Thank you for 8 years of challenging and healing the church. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. In addition to upcoming trips this year to Congo, South Sudan, Canada, and Kazakhstan, in 2023, he has scheduled a major meeting of the world's bishops to debate the increasing decentralization of the Catholic Church, as well as the continued implementation of his reforms. The statement may be the most direct announcement yet that he will someday retire. Password reset instructions will be sent to your registered email address. Above, Pope Francis meets migrants during his visit at. Speaking during his general audience on May 11, the pope said that retirement can be a "time to leave a good legacy of wisdom, tenderness, and gifts for the family and the community.". March 13, 2021,marked the eighthanniversary of the Argentine cardinal's election as pope. As South Sudanese Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala told America, the popes gesture was seen as nothing less than a miracle, nothing less than Gods intervention, by members of a culture that prizes deference to ones elders. Check out some of the. ROME (AP) Pope Francis will visit Hungary at the end of April, the Vatican said Monday, in a trip expected to focus on migration to Europe and Russia's war in Ukraine. The logo features the symbol of the capital city and colors of both the Holy See and Hungary. liturgical year. if you are trying to comment, you must log in or set up a new account. Italian and Catholic media have been rife with unsourced speculation that the 85-year-old Francis might be planning to follow in Benedict's footsteps, given his increased mobility problems that have forced him to use a wheelchair for the last month. Why am I being asked to create an account? If you are one of our rare donors, you have our gratitude and we warmly thank you. If Catholic Online has given you $5.00 worth of knowledge this year, take a minute to donate. Mitt Romneys plan is even better. Jesus Infinite Community Prayer 2.36K subscribers Join Subscribe 19 Share Save 935 views 6 months ago. Pope Francis explained that all bishops must make a decision as to when to take leave of their flock. The 95-year-old retired pope is physically frail but still alert and receiving occasional visitors in his home in the Vatican gardens. He seemed stunned by the sea of humanity that stretched out in the darkness before him across the square, right down the Via della Conciliazione reaching toward Castel SantAngelo.. Washing the feet of prisoners, women and Muslims at Holy Thursday, March 28, 2013. But the Argentine Jesuit made clear after his July surgery that resigning "didn't even cross my mind.". Pope Francis will celebrate the funeral Mass in St. Peter's . And also, Keeping heartache of unforgiving in your heart is a self-destructive gesture. Kissing the feet of formerly warring South Sudanese leaders, April 11, 2019. Above all, it is important to pray and share, clearly and sincerely, our deep concern for the present and future of the world. Speaking with fellow Jesuits in Slovakia in September, Francis confided that he knew his 10-day hospital stay in July for surgery to remove 33 centimeters (about 13 inches) of his large intestine had fueled hope among some conservative Catholics eager for a new pope. This takes real courage: the courage of compassion, a courage that goesbeyond complacency, beyond the mindset of it doesnt concern me and it has nothing to do with my life. Most modern popes stay in the job until death, but Ratzinger was the first to resign since Gregory XII 1415. Yesterday, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis made a beautiful speech at his retirement.Regardless of religion, see how Pope Francis has beautifully written about the family."FAMILY, PLACE OF FORGIVENESS . We can't do it without youAmerica Media relies on generous support from our readers. Pope Francis embraces a man with a severe skin condition, Nov. 6, 2013. We ask our visitors to confirm their email to keep your account secure and make sure you're able to receive email from us. (i). Here is the full prepared text of Pope Francis’ address at an interreligious meeting, delivered March 6, 2021, in the Plain of Ur, Iraq. "They were preparing the conclave.". Pope Francis celebrated his 85th birthday Friday but still seems to have no plans of stepping down or even slowing down anytime soon. PRESS RELEASE "Asking for forgiveness is not enough" Pope Francis demands answers, actions, and safe spaces for victims of abuse The new Pope Video is an appeal to listen, accompany, and protect people who have been abused by members of the ecclesial community. Heres what we discovered: 211 Check conducted research into the claim about Popes resignation. In recent times, many people have contracted the sickness of forgetfulness, forgetfulness of God and of our brothers and sisters. You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. On March 5, the Pope will resume his public activities beginning with the Angelus. Pope John Paul II raised this challenge when he said, Peace awaits its prophets. Regardless of religion, see how Pope Francis has beautifully written about the family. I greet all of you heads of Churches, political authorities and representatives of the great world religions and I thank you for your presence. The screenshot of the widely forwarded WhatsApp about Pope Franciss claimed retirement speech. Yes, let us dream of religions as sisters and peoples as brothers! Shame to those who plant evil about others. 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That may not have been the case, but if history is any guide, those priests might not have been wrong to have at least discussed the prospect. A Reflection for Friday of the First Week of Lent, by Jill Rice. It seems that my brother Cardinals have gone to the ends of the earth to get one, but here we are! Before giving his blessing, he asked for the crowd to pause and pray for him for a moment first. By cultivating a contemplative and non-predatory approach, the religions are called to listen to the groans of mother earth, which suffers violence. Dear friends, we are making that journey, each with his or her own religious identity, to cultivate peace in the name of God and to acknowledge that we are brothers and sisters. The Irish church, once culturally dominant, had lost thousands of adherents after sexual abuse revelations began there in the 1990s. He greeted the crowds as his brothers and sisters and said: You know that it was the duty of the conclave to give Rome a Bishop. Long after Amoris Laetitia and Laudato Si have faded into history, people will remember the images of this South American pope warmly embracing a man covered in tumors, falling to the ground to kiss the feet of formerly warring African leaders or praying alone in the rain in St. Peters Square at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Pope Francis denounces 'aggressive nationalism' in speech to migrants By Hannah Sparks May 6, 2021 2:31pm Updated Pope Francis walks with a group of refugees he invited to join him on. Long ago, this amphitheatre was the site of brutal mass entertainment: fights between men or between men and beasts. vatican city state. Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Pope Francis said he hadn't considered resigning until now. Pope Francis presides over the recitation of the Holy Rosary (Vatican Gardens, 31 May 2021) [ French - Italian - Portuguese - Spanish] To the Italian Basketball Federation (31 May 2021) [ English - Italian - Spanish] Visit of the Holy Father to the work-community of the Dicastery for Communication (24 May 2021) . Pope Francis explained that all bishops must make a decision as to when to take leave of their flock. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. This is a pope who lives the phrase often attributed to his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi: Preach the Gospel at all times. And lately, in July this year, Pope Francis refuted the same claim in an interview with Televisa Univision. Without forgiveness, the family becomes sick and unhealthy, reads part of the message. Speech: 2021.01.29: To participants in the meeting promoted by the national Catechetical Office of the Italian Episcopal Conference: Speech: Daily Readings for Saturday, March 04, 2023, St. Casimir: Saint of the Day for Saturday, March 04, 2023, Lenten Prayer: Prayer of the Day for Monday, February 27, 2023. 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. 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. 8. In 2021, the teen was seen making her way into a private members club in London with Zahara Jolie-Pitt as the pair joined their mothers, Salma and Angelina Jolie, to celebrate the release of Eternals. Also, We are constantly disappointed. The lives of peoples and young children are not playthings. Cardinal McElroy on radical inclusion for L.G.B.T. Dating apps and porn sites make rescuing sexually exploited women difficult, 4. The stark service, held in an empty, rain-soaked St. Peters Square, was broadcast to millions of people around the world who were isolated for fear of the pandemic. Sixteen of those cardinals are under age 80 and eligible to vote in a conclave to elect Francis's successor. 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. This is the way forward. For the sake of peace, please, in every religious tradition let us defuse the temptation to fundamentalism and every tendency to view a brother or sister as an enemy. Francis of Assisi asked his followers to see others as brothers and sisters, for they were created by the one Creator. That document, which goes into effect Sunday, allows women to head Vatican offices, imposes term limits on priestly Vatican employees, and positions the Holy See as an institution at the service of local churches, rather than vice versa. Cardinal McElroy on radical inclusion for L.G.B.T. BREAKING NEWS: POPE FRANCIS RETIREMENT SPEECH THAT SHOCKS THE WORLD | Don't Ignore! Pope Francis then talked about the right time to "take leave" of his flock, alluding to his possible retirement. Francis said he needed to take action because Benedict's 2007 decision to allow freer celebration of the old rite had divided the church and been exploited by conservatives. Please consult our Contact Us page for other options to reach us. Logging in will also give you access to commenting features on our website. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Pope Francis: Thank you, Benedict, for praying for church By FRANCES D'EMILIO June 29, 2021 VATICAN CITY (AP) Pope Francis on Tuesday offered an affectionate, public thank-you to Benedict XVI, whose retirement from the papacy in 2013 shocked the Roman Catholic Church and the world. . On the contrary, we need to empathize with those who share our humanity, its aspirations, its struggles and its frailties. Please contact us at members@americamedia.org with any questions. The Debrief: Tim Carney on Chicago mayoral race being about rising crime, The Debrief: Conn Carroll on HHS encouraging illegal child labor. Our news comes in the form of job vacancies, scholarships, education and local news. Pope Francis emphasized that the radical call of the Gospel must not be set against human weakness and insisted that it is always necessary to find the road that does not alienate [people] but brings hearts closer to God.. The head of the Catholic Church has had a historic run, but signs point to his tenure nearing its end. Or send us feedback on this article with one of the options below: We welcome and read all letters to the editorbut, due to the volume received, cannot guarantee a response. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited. You can also change some of your preferences. Notable was the timing: The Vatican and the rest of Italy are usually on holiday in August to mid-September, with all but essential business closed. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Its autophagy. Blog: Cybersecurity awareness and why it matters in South Sudan. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. The April 28-30 trip to Budapest . Woe to us if, in our evangelizing commitment, we separate the cry of the poor from the cry of the earth, he added. In the last week, he has announced a consistory to create 21 new cardinals ahead of the dinner. Calling a major consistory in late August to create new cardinals, gathering churchmen for two days of talks on implementing his reform, and making a symbolically significant pastoral visit suggests Francis might have out-of-the-ordinary business in mind. During an unusual Anglican- and Catholic-sponsored retreat for formerly warring South Sudanese leaders, Pope Francis shocked the nations president and four of its five vice presidents by spontaneously bowing to kiss their feet as he begged them to work together for peace. 5. The stark service, held in an empty, rain-soaked St. Peters Square, was broadcast to millions of people around the world who were isolated for fear of the pandemic. 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. No sin is too big to be forgiven. This year, he has focused on making inroads with Shia Muslims, meeting with the revered cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Before him, John Paul II died at age 84 and John Paul I died at 65 after just 33 days on the job. 7. Google's advanced. Please contact us at members@americamedia.org with any questions. We ask readers to log in so that we can recognize you as a registered user and give you unrestricted access to our website. A Shia poet wrote that the baba of Christianity and the baba of Islam would embrace, playing on the similarities between the words for papa and pope in many languages. Please visit ourmembership pageto learn how you can invest in our work by subscribing to the magazine or making a donation. We may request cookies to be set on your device. Please provide an email address so that we can contact you about your feedback if necessary. For all the jet lag, he steadily delivered one speech after the next and enjoyed moments of clear levity . We use our own and third party cookies to improve your user experience; by This was the beatification of Carlo Acutis, 5. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. 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. While enjoying robust health at the time, Benedict said he simply didn't have the strength to carry on. Dear brothers and sisters, as believers it is our responsibility to help eradicate hatred from human hearts and to condemn every form of violence. Today they are fearful, because in all too many parts of the world, rather than dialogue and cooperation prevailing, military confrontation is once again becoming the decisive means for imposing ones own ends. meeting with the revered cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, meeting of the church bells and the minarets, The Vatican restricts Traditional Latin Mass and suppresses private Masses at St. Peters Basilica. Are You A Liturgist With A Passion to Form Young Adults? "It's a call to change," she told a conference this week. 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. He told them: The peace that you proclaim with your lips, you should possess even more abundantly in your hearts (The Legend of the Three Companions, XIV, 5: FF 1469). We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. In fact, all 20th-century popes died in their early 80s or younger, with the exception of Pope Leo XIII, who was 93 when he died in 1903. In honor of eight years of Pope Francis, here are the top eight images from his pontificate. Relationship Counseling - Marriage resources, Falling in Love Finding God Marriage and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, The problem of hatredand how Christians are contributing to it, Jesuit sex abuse expert appointed to Vatican office for child protection, Sin, hell and scrupulosity: How to repent during Lent (and how not to). My dear brother, Patriarch Bartholomew, present here, has helped us to realize that to commit a crime against the natural world is a sin against ourselves and a sin against God (Address in Saint Barbara, 8 November 1997, cited in the Encyclical Laudato Si, 8). Those rumors gained steam last week when Francis announced a consistory to create 21 new cardinals scheduled for Aug. 27. Mr. OConnell writes that there was something new in the Roman air that night: an anticipation that the first non-European pope in 1,200 years, the first Jesuit pope and the first to take the name of St. Francis might, as he told the cardinals in their pre-conclave meeting, open the windows of a dusty church to let the Holy Spirit blow in. Francis also approved term limits for leaders of lay Catholic movements to try to curb their abuses of power, resulting in the forced removal of influential church leaders. Its autophagy. The written resignation speech purportedly written by Pope Francis and circulated on WhatsApp is false. We have before us a vision, the same vision shared by so many young people and men and women of good will: the earth as a common home, in which peoples dwell as brothers and sisters. Forgiveness is the medicine of family joy and happiness. In order to deliver the greatest experience to our visitors we use cutting edge web development techniques that require a modern browser. New book on dialogue with Islam: "If I refuse to discuss your opinions, it is not respect", 3. A Reflection for Friday of the First Week of Lent, by Jill Rice. Instead he went straight to Vinicio and embraced him tightly. people, women and others in the Catholic Church, Cardinal Cupich: Critics of Pope Francis Latin Mass restrictions should listen to JPII. Pope Francis trip to Ireland was expected to be his most challenging yet. 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.. But women still deserve more. Bidens new child allowance is a breakthrough for families. We cannot allow the lives of entire peoples to become mere pawns in a game of power. You can also manage your account details and your print subscription after logging in. Before you can comment, you need to update your profile to include your first and last name, as required in our. 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. May ours not be empty words, but insistent appeals for the welfare of our brothers and sisters, opposing war and death in the name of the One who is peace and life. The Vatican announced Saturday that Francis would visit L'Aquila to celebrate Mass on Aug. 28 and open the "Holy Door" at the basilica hosting Celestine's tomb. To all our readers, Please don't scroll past this. Material from Catholic News Service was used in this report. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. A WhatsApp message forwarded widely in groups about Pope Franciss retirement speech that claims to have shocked the world is false. I think the statement speaks for itself, and you have a sufficient journalistic ability to make a conclusion. As he gave the answer, a ray of light settled on the popes cross and fishermans ring. Are You A Liturgist With A Passion to Form Young Adults? And also, Keeping heartache of unforgiving in your heart is a self-destructive gesture. Two Augustinian sisters say the cloister opens unexpected horizons, 3. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. 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. 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. Without forgiveness, the family becomes sick and unhealthy. You can either click on the link in your confirmation email or simply re-enter your email address below to confirm it. 2. That is welcome news to Sister Nathalie Becquart, one of the top women at the Vatican. 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. Wondering why we ask for your email, or having trouble registering. Gerard OConnell is Americas Vatican correspondent. Moral theology, he concluded, must not be afraid to receive the cry of the poor and make it their own.. 3. When anyone is going through a challenge all they need is support. Be courageous! Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz believes it is important to be able to talk about the devil in order to fight him. Derek Jeter announces retirement at end of the 2014 season Cuts in Vatican: Cardinals and high officials of Curia will have to pay for their own houses, 4. "We hope that all people, especially those harmed by conflicts and internal divisions, might (come) and find the path of solidarity and peace," he said in a statement announcing the visit. Full text of Pope Francis' speech at Meeting for Peace The Church | 2021/10/07 Download document Share Dear brothers and sisters! 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). The two men have a warm relationship, often kissing one another on the cheek and embracing when they meet. Meet Paul Haring, the CNS photographer who covered the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and the election of Francis, numerous international papal trips and the daily action of Vatican life for over a decade. Pope Francis celebrated his 85th birthday Friday but still seems to have no plans of stepping down or even slowing down anytime soon. "What we're seeing is the natural expression, the fruit of the seeds that he has sown," he said. The thrill of his first years as pope had worn off, and the American church was embroiled in what has since been called its summer of shame: the second wave of sexual abuse revelations brought about by the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report, which recounted in detail 70 years of abuse allegations, and revelations that the influential Cardinal Theodore McCarrick had abused minors and seminarians. "With today's news that @Pontifex will go to L'Aquila in the very middle of the August consistory, it all got even more intriguing," tweeted Vatican commentator Robert Mickens, linking to an essay he had published in La Croix International about the rumors swirling around the future of the pontificate. The viral retirement speech allegedly written by Pope Francis and widely circulated on WhatsApp is a long-running hoax that has been online since 2021. Pope Francis will visit Hungary at the end of April, the Vatican said Monday, in a trip expected to focus on migration to Europe and Russia's war in Ukraine. our Pope Francis has previously hinted at his retirement. This fact-check was published as part of an assignment for the Empowering Fact-checking in South Sudan (EFiSS) Training Program by 211 Check, Your email address will not be published. "I don't recall a lot of stories at the time saying that Benedict's visit in 2009 made us think he was going to resign," he said, suggesting that Francis's pastoral visit to L'Aquila might be just that: a pastoral visit.