BLOG: Pope Francis,Vatican Connections
Pope Francis celebrated Holy Mass for Ash Wednesday at the Basilica of Santa Sabina on the Aventine hill in Rome. In his homily, the Holy Father said Lent is a path that “leads to the triumph of mercy over all that would crush us or reduce us to something unworthy of our dignity as God’s ...read more
On Sunday, February 26, 2017, the Holy Father Francis visited the Anglican Communion in the Church All Saints’ in Rome, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of that community. The rite, characterized by typical elements of Anglican sung Vespers, began with the welcome greeting and the Holy Father’s blessing of an icon of Christ (San Salvatore). ...read more
Last Sunday, Pope Francis visited the parish of Santa Maria Josefa del Cuore di Gesù in Ponte di Nona, in the eastern outskirts of Rome, an area of ??town that suffers problems such as poverty and unemployment. It was his thirteenth visit to a parish in his diocese. John Paul II had also visited that ...read more
Last Saturday the Pope appointed Henryk Hoser, Archbishop of Warsaw, as the special envoy to Medjugorje. In the official statement by the Holy See, it reads that: The mission has the aim of acquiring a deeper knowledge of the pastoral situation there, and above all, of the needs of the faithful who go there on pilgrimage, ...read more
Dozens of poster posted by anonymous protestors opposing the Pope were plastered along streets in the center of Rome last Saturday morning. The posters depict a very stern looking Pope Francis and a clear message – criticizing some of his policies, and referring to specific events, such as the most recent events concerning the Order ...read more
Read Pope Francis’ message for Lent 2017 below: The Word is a gift. Other persons are a gift. Dear Brothers and Sisters, Lent is a new beginning, a path leading to the certain goal of Easter, Christ’s victory over death. This season urgently calls us to conversion. Christians are asked to return to God “with ...read more
On the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, the Church also marked the World Day of Consecrated Life with Mass in Saint Peter’s basilica. In his homily, Pope Francis encouraged those present to rekindle “what originally set their hearts afire” to answer God’s call, which he came back to when meeting with a ...read more
Pope Francis presided at Holy Mass with the members of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, the XXI World Day for Consecrated Life. Find the full text of his prepared homily below: When the parents of Jesus brought the Child in fulfilment of ...read more
Join us in prayer for the intentions entrusted to us by Pope Francis. For February 2017, we join the Holy Father in praying for: Comfort for the Afflicted – That all those who are afflicted, especially the poor, refugees, and marginalized, may find welcome and comfort in our communities. Daily Offering Prayer God, our Father, I offer ...read more
The following is the message of condolences for the victims of the terrorist attack that took place late yesterday evening in a mosque in Québec in Canada, sent by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin on behalf of the Holy Father Francis to Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, archbishop of Québec. ...read more