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BEIRUT (AP) -- Kurdish-led Syrian forces began an offensive Sunday to liberate the Islamic State group's de facto capital of Raqqa, clashing with the extremists north of the Syrian city and warning neighboring Turkey not to interfere in the operation....
CHESNEE, S.C. (AP) -- For 13 years, the relatives came together periodically to grieve of one of South Carolina's grisliest mass shootings and compare leads with stumped investigators....
DETROIT (AP) -- At Sunday services, in rallies and on social media, black pastors urged congregants to vote, hoping to inspire a late flood of African-American turnout that could help propel Democrat Hillary Clinton to victory in critical swing states on Tuesday....
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- FBI Director James Comey abruptly announced Sunday that a review of newly discovered emails sent or received by Hillary Clinton has not changed his conclusion that the Democrat should not face criminal charges. His announcement came in a letter to congressional lawmakers two days before Election Day....
WOODRUFF, S.C. (AP) -- The Latest on the investigation after a missing woman was found chained inside a storage container (all times local):...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Sunday for the Jubilee for Prisoners in Saint Peter’s Basilica, during which he reminded prison detainees to never lose hope, or fall into the temptation that they can never be forgiven.Around 1,000 detainees from 12 countries took part in the weekend celebrations, along with their families, prison chaplains and staff, and various associations.The Jubilee for Prisoners marks one of the final major events of the Jubilee of Mercy, which will come to an end on November 20.Listen to Ann Schneible’s report: Pope Francis centred his homily for Mass for the Jubilee of Prisoners on the theme of hope as it appears in the day’s Mass readings.For instance, there are the seven brothers from the second book of Maccabees who speak about the hope of being raised again by God, and then Jesus’ response to the Sadducees, that God is not “the God of the dead, but of the living.”“Hope is a gift of God,” an...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Sunday for the Jubilee for Prisoners in Saint Peter’s Basilica, during which he reminded prison detainees to never lose hope, or fall into the temptation that they can never be forgiven.
Around 1,000 detainees from 12 countries took part in the weekend celebrations, along with their families, prison chaplains and staff, and various associations.
The Jubilee for Prisoners marks one of the final major events of the Jubilee of Mercy, which will come to an end on November 20.
Listen to Ann Schneible’s report:
Pope Francis centred his homily for Mass for the Jubilee of Prisoners on the theme of hope as it appears in the day’s Mass readings.
For instance, there are the seven brothers from the second book of Maccabees who speak about the hope of being raised again by God, and then Jesus’ response to the Sadducees, that God is not “the God of the dead, but of the living.”
“Hope is a gift of God,” and should be nourished, the Pope said.
“Whenever someone makes a mistake, the Father’s mercy is all the more present, awakening repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace.”
The Pope acknowledged that the loss of freedom experienced by detainees, is the worst part of serving time for one’s crimes. However, he urged those in prison to maintain the “breath” of hope.
The Holy Father turned to day’s reading from the letter to the Romans, in which “Paul almost seems to tell us that God too hopes”.
“His mercy gives him no rest. He is like that Father in the parable, who keeps hoping for the return of his son who has fallen by the wayside”.
“If God hopes, then no one should lose hope. For hope is the strength to keep moving forward. It is the power to press on towards the future and a changed life. It is the incentive to look to tomorrow, so that the love we have known, for all our failings, can show us a new path.”
Pope Francis spoke of the “hypocrisy” of those who see prisoners only as “wrongdoers”, and who disregard the possibility of rehabilitation.
Going off the cuff from his prepared homily, the Pope said how every time he enters a prison, he asks himself: “‘Why them and not I?’ All of us have the possibility of making mistakes.”
The Holy Father reminded those in prison to not be held “captive” by their past mistakes, and “never yield to the temptation of thinking that we cannot be forgiven.”
Pope Francis turned his reflection to the importance of forgiveness among those who have experienced violence or abuse against themselves or their loved ones.
Acknowledging that there are some wounds that only God can heal, the Pope said that, nonetheless, “when violence is met with forgiveness, even the hearts of those who have done wrong can be conquered by the love that triumphs over every form of evil.”
“In this way, among the victims and among those who wronged them, God raises up true witnesses and workers of mercy.”
Pope Francis concluded his reflection by turning to the statue of Our Lady of Mercy, an image of Mary with the child Jesus, who is holding a set of chains.
“May she intercede for you, so that your hearts can experience the power of hope for a new life, one worthy of being lived in complete freedom and in service to your neighbour.”
(Vatican Radio) The Jubilee for Prisoners celebrated on Sunday gave prisoners, their families, prison chaplains and staff the chance to hear Pope Francis’ message of hope and mercy. In his homily, the Holy Father stressed that “hope was a gift of God” and that “his mercy gives him no rest.”One of those attending the Mass in St Peter’s Basilica was Monsignor Roger Reader, prison advisor to the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, who dropped into the studios of Vatican Radio following the event.Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s interview with Monsignor Roger Reader Reflecting on the Pope’s homily, Mons Reader said, it was very encouraging to hear that message of hope. It is something, he added, that he himself tries to instill in those prisoners who think that prison is just for bad people. “There is hope for everybody in prison”, he underlined, “prison shouldn’t only be about bad people but should be...
(Vatican Radio) The Jubilee for Prisoners celebrated on Sunday gave prisoners, their families, prison chaplains and staff the chance to hear Pope Francis’ message of hope and mercy. In his homily, the Holy Father stressed that “hope was a gift of God” and that “his mercy gives him no rest.”
One of those attending the Mass in St Peter’s Basilica was Monsignor Roger Reader, prison advisor to the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, who dropped into the studios of Vatican Radio following the event.
Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s interview with Monsignor Roger Reader
Reflecting on the Pope’s homily, Mons Reader said, it was very encouraging to hear that message of hope. It is something, he added, that he himself tries to instill in those prisoners who think that prison is just for bad people. “There is hope for everybody in prison”, he underlined, “prison shouldn’t only be about bad people but should be about hope and should be about looking for forgiveness and that for everybody with an open heart, forgiveness is there for them.”
So what has been the effect of Year of Mercy on the lives of prisoners? According to Mons Reader there have been many projects associated with the Jubilee, in particular, the prison advisor commissioned an icon of the Mercy of Jesus Christ and each prisoner in England and Wales has been given a copy. He said, the feedback he has received has been tremendous. “They are saying, “you remembered us, the Church is there for us…”” Monsignor Reader added, that there has also been an upsurge in people wanting to volunteer in prisons which, he said was very positive because they have a huge role to play.
During the Angelus on Sunday in St Peter’s Square Pope Francis appealed for better living conditions for prisoners, something the Monsignor feels strongly about, “… you’re never going to rehabilitate somebody by making them live in squalor, that’s not going to work", he said.
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- Justin Bieber could add another five MTV EMA European music awards to the five he won last year....
NEW YORK (AP) -- When Kenneth Chamberlain Sr.'s medical alert pendant accidentally went off five years ago, the 68-year-old told police who showed up that he was fine, barred them from entering his apartment and repeatedly asked them to go away....
MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) -- U.N. climate talks open Monday against the backdrop of a U.S. election that could have a major impact on America's role in the global agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions....
