Catholic News 2
MOSCOW (AP) -- To understand what the Kremlin thinks about the prospect of Hillary Clinton becoming the U.S. president, it was enough to watch Russian state television coverage of her accepting the Democratic nomination....
ROUEN, France (AP) -- Muslims in France and Italy flocked to Mass on Sunday, a gesture of interfaith solidarity following a drumbeat of jihadi attacks that threatens to deepen religious divisions across Europe....
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- IOC President Thomas Bach defended the decision not to ban Russia's entire team from the Rio Games, declaring Sunday that the doping crisis won't damage the Olympic body's credibility and taking a swipe at global anti-doping officials for failing to act sooner against state-sponsored cheating in Russia....
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Texas will allow concealed handgun license holders to carry their weapons into public university buildings, classrooms and dorms starting Monday, which is also the 50th anniversary of the mass shooting at the University of Texas' landmark clock tower....
LOCKHART, Texas (AP) -- Authorities confirmed Sunday that 16 people were killed in the fiery crash of a hot air balloon in Central Texas, saying it will take "a long process" to identify the victims of the worst such disaster in U.S. history....
CLEVELAND (AP) -- As he turns his attention to the general election, Donald Trump is signaling that he is ready to tone down his fiery rhetoric on illegal immigration - at least behind closed doors....
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Hillary Clinton defended the bereaved parents of a Muslim U.S. Army captain, saying Donald Trump has a "total misunderstanding" of American values and has inflamed divisions in American society. Her comments came after the Republican nominee refused to back down from his criticism of the Gold Star parents' remarks....
(Vatican Radio) Over a million and a half young people from across the globe gathered on the outskirts of Krakow on Sunday morning for the final mass of World Youth Day. The celebration, led by Pope Francis, culminated in the announcement of the venue for the next event, scheduled to take place in 2019.During the Mass, the Pope told the young people that each one of them is precious and valued by God, who doesn’t care what clothes they wear or what kind of cell phone they use. He urged them to be courageous and to share God’s love with others, as our correspondent in Krakow, Lydia O’Kane reports….Listen: As the sun came up at the Campus Misericordia on Sunday morning the many thousands of pilgrims who had remained in these grounds overnight prepared themselves for the final Mass of this World Youth Day.Pope Francis was entering this camp for the second time in 24 hours, and as he travelled through this field greeting the sea of youth, the Israeli sin...
(Vatican Radio) Over a million and a half young people from across the globe gathered on the outskirts of Krakow on Sunday morning for the final mass of World Youth Day. The celebration, led by Pope Francis, culminated in the announcement of the venue for the next event, scheduled to take place in 2019.
During the Mass, the Pope told the young people that each one of them is precious and valued by God, who doesn’t care what clothes they wear or what kind of cell phone they use. He urged them to be courageous and to share God’s love with others, as our correspondent in Krakow, Lydia O’Kane reports….
Listen:
As the sun came up at the Campus Misericordia on Sunday morning the many thousands of pilgrims who had remained in these grounds overnight prepared themselves for the final Mass of this World Youth Day.
Pope Francis was entering this camp for the second time in 24 hours, and as he travelled through this field greeting the sea of youth, the Israeli singer Noah gave a rendition of the Ave Verum and the Ave Maria.
Following an intense week of prayer, reflection and events the Holy Father made his way to the alter for the last time here in Krakow, bathed in the glorious image of Jesus, Divine Mercy. The patrons of this World Youth Day, and symbols of God’s mercy, St John Paul II and St Faustina Kowalska were also remembered.
The Pope’s homily at this closing Mass was one of encouragement to the hundreds of thousands of young people who had come from all over the world for this event.
He told them that “no one is insignificant. God counts on you for what you are, not for what you possess.”
The Pope explained to them that, their real stature was their spiritual identity. “At times in our lives, we aim lower rather than higher”, the Holy Father noted, but God is always “cheering us on; he is our biggest fan.”
Pope Francis urged the young pilgrims here to be courageous, not to be afraid to take risks, not to be discouraged “if people laugh because they believe in the gentle and unassuming power of mercy.”
The Pope concluded his homily with this message, “World Youth Day begins today and continues tomorrow, in your homes, since that is where Jesus wants to meet you from now on.”
And then it was time for one of the highpoints of this celebration, the announcement of the venue for the next World Youth Day. With joy, the Holy Father revealed that this 2019 youth meeting would take place in Panama with these words, “the providence of God always precedes us. Just think that it has already decided the next milestone in the great pilgrimage started in 1985 by St. John Paul II. And therefore I announce with joy that the next World Youth Day - after the two diocesan ones - will be in 2019 in Panama City!
It was then left to the next host of this event to lead the festivities, which they did in style.
Panama pilgrims along with the country’s president erupted with joy and cheering and the country’s distinctive blue, white and red starred flag took pride of place on the stage here at the Campus Misericordiae. As Panama fever took hold Bishops and nuns danced with pilgrims, as the youth of this country invited their fellow participants to join them there in three years’ time to celebrate their faith and be witnesses to Christ’s love.
(Vatican Radio) At the end of the closing Mass for World Youth Day 2016, Polish Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, currently President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, had words of gratitude for Pope Francis. After thanking the Pope for choosing Krakow as the site for World Youth Day, Cardinal Rylko said, “Now, at the end of these days spent in Krakow, with hearts full of joy, these young people want to express to you, Holy Father, their filial devotion and their profound gratitude.”Cardinal Rylko asked Pope Francis to send forth the young people as missionaries: “Holy Father, bless this people of disciples and missionaries of Christ. They are ready to go and bring the flame of his merciful love to the ends of the earth, symbolized by the torches that now you will now give to five young people from the five continents.Below, please find our unofficial translation of Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko’s prepared remarks: Holy Father!The 31st World Youth Day is coming t...
(Vatican Radio) At the end of the closing Mass for World Youth Day 2016, Polish Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, currently President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, had words of gratitude for Pope Francis. After thanking the Pope for choosing Krakow as the site for World Youth Day, Cardinal Rylko said, “Now, at the end of these days spent in Krakow, with hearts full of joy, these young people want to express to you, Holy Father, their filial devotion and their profound gratitude.”
Cardinal Rylko asked Pope Francis to send forth the young people as missionaries: “Holy Father, bless this people of disciples and missionaries of Christ. They are ready to go and bring the flame of his merciful love to the ends of the earth, symbolized by the torches that now you will now give to five young people from the five continents.
Below, please find our unofficial translation of Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko’s prepared remarks:
Holy Father!
The 31st World Youth Day is coming to an end. Before you there are crowds of young people gathered from the remotest corners of the planet. It is a beautiful image of a young Church, full of joy and missionary enthusiasm. Here, are the young people who have accepted your invitation to participate in this particular WYD, because it is combined with the celebration of the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, in the name of the Gospel Beatitude: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Mt 5,7).
Thank you, Holy Father, for choosing Krakow as the place to celebrate this World Youth Day! It is the city that houses the Shrine of Merciful Jesus, the destination of many pilgrims from all over the world. It is also the city of the two great apostles of Divine Mercy: Saint Faustina Kowalska and Saint John Paul II, who have accompanied and guided young people during this World Youth Day.
Here in Krakow we experienced wonderful and unforgettable days. This WYD showed us mercy as the beating heart of the Gospel and Christianity, because Christianity and mercy are the same! Merciful Jesus, venerated in the Shrine of Lagiewniki, truly walked among us and his gaze filled with tender love has deeply touched our hearts. How many important decisions have matured in the young these days: the choice of a Christian marriage, the priesthood, or the consecrated life! The young people have experienced such joy being together as brothers, thus testifying to the world that it is beautiful to be a Christian, that following Christ in their lives is worth it!
Now, at the end of these days spent in Krakow, with hearts full of joy, these young people want to express to you, Holy Father, their filial devotion and their profound gratitude. Thank-you for presided over this World Youth Day! Thank you for the words you addressed to the young people, words that keep hope alive and give each person renewed courage.
Holy Father, it is now the moment of missionary sending. In August 2002, during the inauguration of the Shrine of Merciful Jesus right here in Krakow, John Paul II said: “You have to light this spark of God's grace. You have to transmit to the world the fire of mercy. In the mercy of God the world will find peace and mankind will find happiness!” (Homily at the dedication of the Shrine of Krakow-Lagiewniki, 17 August 2002). Today, in this “field of mercy”, the Holy Pontiff’s words find their prophetic fulfillment! Today these young people, touched by God's mercy, return to their countries, as apostles and witnesses of mercy.
Holy Father, bless this people of disciples and missionaries of Christ. They are ready to go and bring the flame of his merciful love to the ends of the earth, symbolized by the torches that now you will now give to five young people from the five continents.
Thank you, Holy Father!
(Vatican Radio) The Archbishop of Panama, José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta, has welcomed with great enthusiasm the news that his archdiocese will host the 2019 edition of World Youth Day, and has already extended an invitation to youthful pilgrims from all around the world.“I assure you that Panama has been blessed by Pope Francis,” he said. “From among the littlest, [Pope Francis] has chosen us to host the next [World] Youth Day 2019,” he said.The Archbishop of Panama made the remarks and issued his invitation in a video released shortly after Pope Francis made the official announcement, at the end of the closing Mass of the 2016 World Youth Day celebrations in Krakow, Poland.
(Vatican Radio) The Archbishop of Panama, José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta, has welcomed with great enthusiasm the news that his archdiocese will host the 2019 edition of World Youth Day, and has already extended an invitation to youthful pilgrims from all around the world.
“I assure you that Panama has been blessed by Pope Francis,” he said. “From among the littlest, [Pope Francis] has chosen us to host the next [World] Youth Day 2019,” he said.
The Archbishop of Panama made the remarks and issued his invitation in a video released shortly after Pope Francis made the official announcement, at the end of the closing Mass of the 2016 World Youth Day celebrations in Krakow, Poland.
