We are here to crown a King, and we crown a King to serve. What is given today is for the gain of all. For Jesus Christ announced a Kingdom in which the poor and oppressed are freed from the chains of injustice. The blind see. The bruised and broken-hearted are healed. That Kingdom sets Read more
Pope Francis is urging 20 Italian Bishops to seek ways to revitalize their pastoral care in areas facing depopulation, marginalization, and economic difficulty. The pope is asking Bishops to overcome “nostalgia for the past” and take bold steps to be a consoling presence in places where hardship is abound. Parishes, he added, should become training Read more
One of the buzz-phrases of Catholic theology – cited in virtually every document from the Vatican – is that the liturgy, and especially the Eucharist, is ‘the source and summit’ of the Christian life. The origins of the phrase are complex, but it enters mainstream Catholic discourse with the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy in Read more
“Holiness transcends denominational boundaries”, said Pope Francis while meeting a delegation of the Salvation Army. The pope was quoting a comment made by former Salvationist leader General Andre Cox during a 2014 papal audience. During the audience, Francis also recalled the first lesson he ever received in ecumenism. He was four years old and met Read more
Pope Francis appeared to take aim at Cuba’s communist regime in comments at a Mass at Havana’s Revolution Square on Sunday. The Pontiff told the crowd that “service is never ideological”. Speaking in a plaza dominated by a towering portrait of revolutionary Che Guevara, the Pope told the crowd they should “serve people, not ideas”. Read more
Confirmation that Pope Francis intends a complete overhaul of the Roman Curia has been made official following the first meeting of the Council of Cardinals appointed to help the Pope govern the Church. The aim is to emphasise the Curia’s role of service to the universal Church and the local churches “in terms of subsidiarity, Read more
Monday evening in the Vatican Basilica, Pope Benedict presided at Vespers for the opening of the academic year in pontifical universities. His homily focused on priestly ministry. The Pope then went on to identify three preconditions for a priest’s life to ensure its conformity to Christ: “the aspiration to collaborate with Jesus in spreading the Read more
Just before flying out of Madrid, Pope Benedict took time out and stopped at the Madrid IFEMA conference centre to say thanks to the 14,000 volunteers who worked to stage World Youth Day. “With your service, you have shown the face of kindness, friendliness and commitment to others,” the the 84 year old pope said. Read more
