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AYRSHIRE, Scotland (AP) -- Donald Trump, in a closely watched visit to Scotland on Friday, hailed Britain's vote to leave the European Union, drawing parallels to the anger driving his own presidential campaign....
(Vatican Radio) As Pope Francis is on his way to Armenia this Friday 24th of June and scheduled to land at 1 pm Rome time in the nation's capital Yerevan it's perhaps time to highlight his proclamation back on the 12th of April 2015 of a 10th century Armenian monk St Gregory of Narek as Doctor of the Church. Please find below a selection of the Popes words relating to St Gregory of Narek delivered in the Vatican on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of 'Metz Yeghern':"Today is a propitious occasion for us to pray together, as we proclaim Saint Gregory of Narek a Doctor of the Church. I wish to express my deep gratitude for the presence here today of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, and His Beatitude Nerses Bedros XIX, Patriarch of Cilicia of Armenian Catholics.Saint Gregory of Narek, a monk of the tenth century, knew how to express the sentiments ...
(Vatican Radio) As Pope Francis is on his way to Armenia this Friday 24th of June and scheduled to land at 1 pm Rome time in the nation's capital Yerevan it's perhaps time to highlight his proclamation back on the 12th of April 2015 of a 10th century Armenian monk St Gregory of Narek as Doctor of the Church. Please find below a selection of the Popes words relating to St Gregory of Narek delivered in the Vatican on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of 'Metz Yeghern':
"Today is a propitious occasion for us to pray together, as we proclaim Saint Gregory of Narek a Doctor of the Church. I wish to express my deep gratitude for the presence here today of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, and His Beatitude Nerses Bedros XIX, Patriarch of Cilicia of Armenian Catholics.
Saint Gregory of Narek, a monk of the tenth century, knew how to express the sentiments of your people more than anyone. He gave voice to the cry, which became a prayer, of a sinful and sorrowful humanity, oppressed by the anguish of its powerlessness, but illuminated by the splendour of God’s love and open to the hope of his salvific intervention, which is capable of transforming all things. “Through his strength I wait with certain expectation believing with unwavering hope that… I shall be saved by the Lord’s mighty hand and… that I will see the Lord himself in his mercy and compassion and receive the legacy of heaven” (Saint Gregory of Narek, Book of Lamentations, XII)"....
And again further on in this message Pope Francis referring to the sorrowful anniversary of the 'Metz Yeghern' goes on to say:
"May this sorrowful anniversary become for all an occasion of humble and sincere reflection, and may every heart be open to forgiveness, which is the source of peace and renewed hope. Saint Gregory of Narek, an extraordinary interpreter of the human soul, offers words which are prophetic for us: “I willingly blame myself with myriad accounts of all the incurable sins, from our first forefather through the end of his generations in all eternity, I charge myself with all these voluntarily” (Book of Lamentations, LXXII). How striking is his sense of universal solidarity! How small we feel before the greatness of his invocations: “Remember, [Lord,]… those of the human race who are our enemies as well, and for their benefit accord them pardon and mercy… Do not destroy those who persecute me, but reform them, root out the vile ways of this world, and plant the good in me and them” (ibid., LXXXIII)."
For the full message of Pope Francis relating to the 100th anniversary of 'Metz Yeghern':
For more about St Gregory of Narek:
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis is on his way to Armenia, the “first Christian nation,” for a three day pastoral visit. The journey to the former Soviet Caucasus region will be the Pope’s 14th foreign trip as pontiff. He will return to the area again in September for visits to Georgia and Azerbaijan. The focus of the visit will be to consolidate ecumenical relations with the Armenian Apostolic Church, to encourage the small, local minority Catholic Church, and to show the Pope’s closeness to Armenian Christians who historically, suffered periods of persecution and massacres.Francis departed Rome’s Fiumicino airport shortly before 9.30 am; he is due to arrive in four hours’ time at 'Zvartnots' international airport in Yerevan, at around 15:00 local time (12:00 GMT). Following the airport welcoming ceremony with local dignitaries, the Pope will pray at the apostolic Cathedral in Etchmiadzin. For the duration of his visi...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis is on his way to Armenia, the “first Christian nation,” for a three day pastoral visit. The journey to the former Soviet Caucasus region will be the Pope’s 14th foreign trip as pontiff.
He will return to the area again in September for visits to Georgia and Azerbaijan. The focus of the visit will be to consolidate ecumenical relations with the Armenian Apostolic Church, to encourage the small, local minority Catholic Church, and to show the Pope’s closeness to Armenian Christians who historically, suffered periods of persecution and massacres.
Francis departed Rome’s Fiumicino airport shortly before 9.30 am; he is due to arrive in four hours’ time at 'Zvartnots' international airport in Yerevan, at around 15:00 local time (12:00 GMT). Following the airport welcoming ceremony with local dignitaries, the Pope will pray at the apostolic Cathedral in Etchmiadzin. For the duration of his visit, Pope Francis will reside at the Apostolic Palace, seat of the Supreme Patriarch (Catholicos) of All Armenians, Karekin II.
Pope Francis will pay a courtesy visit Friday to the President of the Republic Serzh Sargsyan in the Presidential Palace in Yerevan, where he will meet with national and civil authorities and members of the diplomatic corps. Later, the Pope will meet privately with the Catholicos Karekin II in the Apostolic Palace of Etchmiadzin.
As is his tradition, on the eve of his trip, Pope Francis went in private to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore Thursday evening, where he remained in prayer before the image of Our Lady, Salus Populi Romani, asking her to bless his visit to Armenia. As in prior visits to the Marian shrine, the Pope laid flowers on the altar in homage to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
(Vatican Radio) In a dramatic turn of events, Britain has voted to leave the European Union. Official results show that roughly 52 percent of Britons chose to leave the EU in Thursday's referendum with just over 48 percent voting to remain. European shares have fallen as has the British pound.Listen to Stefan Bos' report: With the vote, Britain entered uncharted waters early Friday. Britain's largest newspaper The Sun carried a massive headline saying "See EU Later!" and The Daily Mail newspaper shouted: "We're Out". After 43 years, it added, the UK is "freed from the EU shackles".As the first results came in, people at the Leave Camp were celebrating. "Dare to dream that the dawn is breaking on an independent United Kingdom," said Nigel Farage, leader of the eurosceptic UK Independence Party."This will be a victory for real people, a victory for ordinary people, a victory for decent people ... Let Ju...
(Vatican Radio) In a dramatic turn of events, Britain has voted to leave the European Union. Official results show that roughly 52 percent of Britons chose to leave the EU in Thursday's referendum with just over 48 percent voting to remain. European shares have fallen as has the British pound.
Listen to Stefan Bos' report:
With the vote, Britain entered uncharted waters early Friday. Britain's largest newspaper The Sun carried a massive headline saying "See EU Later!" and The Daily Mail newspaper shouted: "We're Out". After 43 years, it added, the UK is "freed from the EU shackles".
As the first results came in, people at the Leave Camp were celebrating. "Dare to dream that the dawn is breaking on an independent United Kingdom," said Nigel Farage, leader of the eurosceptic UK Independence Party.
"This will be a victory for real people, a victory for ordinary people, a victory for decent people ... Let June 23 go down in our history as our independence day."
Yet those who campaigned to remain fear the decision will shatter the stability of Europe's continental unity forged after World War II in hopes of making future conflicts impossible.
EAST EUROPE CONCERNED
And in Eastern Europe political leaders woke up in a state of shock. Even Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán one of Europe's most eurosceptic leaders, had bought advertisement space in major British newspapers saying Hungary was proud to remain with Britain in the EU.
However in comments published by Hungarian media he also said that the EU should undergo an identity change and learn from millions of people.
Robert Fico, the prime minister of Slovakia which takes over the rotating EU presidency on July 1 said following the vote that Europe will never be the same. Slovakia and other East European countries fear it will also impact billions of euros in subsidies they receive as well as the social rights of the many Eastern European workers in Britain.
In Western Europe, Germany, Europe's largest economy, also expressed concern with chancellor Angela Merkel warning that Britain would be seen as an outsider by the rest of the EU.
LONG NEGOTIATIONS
Analysts say Britain's decision raises the likelihood of years of negotiations over trade, business and political links with what will become a 27-nation bloc. In essence the vote marks the start - rather than the end - of a process that could take decades to unwind.
Immediately after the news, the pound suffered one of its biggest one-day falls ever, plummeting more than 10 percent in six hours, from about $1.50 to below $1.35.
Traders are concerned that severing ties with the single market will hurt the British economy and undermine London's position as a global financial center.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has departed from Italy for a three-day Apostolic Voyage to Armenia.As the Pope began his journey, he sent the following telegram to Sergio Mattarella, the President of Italy:In the moment in which I undertake my Apostolic Voyage to Armenia in order to draw from the ancient wisdom of that people, to confirm them in the faith, to support every effort along the path of peace and reconciliation, I address to you, Mr President, and to the whole Italian nation my cordial greetings, which I accompany with an encouragement to the entire country to remain on the front line of solidarity, looking to the future with confidence and hope.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has departed from Italy for a three-day Apostolic Voyage to Armenia.
As the Pope began his journey, he sent the following telegram to Sergio Mattarella, the President of Italy:
In the moment in which I undertake my Apostolic Voyage to Armenia in order to draw from the ancient wisdom of that people, to confirm them in the faith, to support every effort along the path of peace and reconciliation, I address to you, Mr President, and to the whole Italian nation my cordial greetings, which I accompany with an encouragement to the entire country to remain on the front line of solidarity, looking to the future with confidence and hope.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis arrives in the Armenian capital Yerevan on Friday afternoon for his 14th foreign pastoral visit. He’ll be spending three days in the country, travelling to the nearby town of Etchmiadzin, seat of the Armenian Apostolic Church, as well as to the northern city of Gyumri and to the famous Khor Virap monastery on the border with Turkey.Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as the state religion at the beginning of the fourth century and the great majority of people in the country today belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church which is part of the Oriental Orthodox family.Relations with other Christian communities, including the small Armenian Catholic and Roman Catholic Churches, are very good and Pope Francis will be focusing on the importance of ecumenical dialogue and action at a prayer service on Saturday in Yerevan’s Republic Square.To find out more, Philippa Hitchen spoke to Fr John Barker who heads the tiny Anglican communit...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis arrives in the Armenian capital Yerevan on Friday afternoon for his 14th foreign pastoral visit. He’ll be spending three days in the country, travelling to the nearby town of Etchmiadzin, seat of the Armenian Apostolic Church, as well as to the northern city of Gyumri and to the famous Khor Virap monastery on the border with Turkey.
Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as the state religion at the beginning of the fourth century and the great majority of people in the country today belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church which is part of the Oriental Orthodox family.
Relations with other Christian communities, including the small Armenian Catholic and Roman Catholic Churches, are very good and Pope Francis will be focusing on the importance of ecumenical dialogue and action at a prayer service on Saturday in Yerevan’s Republic Square.
To find out more, Philippa Hitchen spoke to Fr John Barker who heads the tiny Anglican community in Armenia and represents the Archbishop of Canterbury for relations with the Armenian Apostolic Church….
Listen:
Fr John says there is an impressive level of warmth, agreement and mutual understanding in Armenia between all the different Churches.
He says the people have a dual hope for this papal visit: firstly that the memory of the genocide, a century ago, will be brought back into the public eye. But “just as importantly” he says, there is a hope that “it will show again that we have the potential to speak as one Christian voice, irrespective of whether we come from an Apostolic, a Catholic or an Anglican background.
The Armenian Church today, he continues, have a “very significant voice” in public life, since around 95% of people are members of the Church and around half of those practice their faith on a regular basis.
(Vatican Radio) Cardinal Charles Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, Myanmar, has issued an appeal bringing attention to a mounting crisis in the country and calling for peace. He details a long list of social and political problems: the war-ravaged Kachin region of the country, camps with more than 150,000 dispossessed people, land mines, human trafficking, drugs and the looting by arms of the country’s wealth of natural resources.“I earnestly appeal to all,” says the Cardinal. “I wish to raise my voice on behalf of these people whose voice is stifled.” He notes that he is not a politician but that he has lived with the people for 22 years, speaks their language and knows their pain. “A valiant race is brought down to its knees in injustice. What a sorrow!”Amidst looting of the country’s wealth of jade, Cardinal Bo urges the government of Myanmar to eschew homogeneity and embrace a cooperative and inclusive federal system. He pleads for all p...
(Vatican Radio) Cardinal Charles Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, Myanmar, has issued an appeal bringing attention to a mounting crisis in the country and calling for peace. He details a long list of social and political problems: the war-ravaged Kachin region of the country, camps with more than 150,000 dispossessed people, land mines, human trafficking, drugs and the looting by arms of the country’s wealth of natural resources.
“I earnestly appeal to all,” says the Cardinal. “I wish to raise my voice on behalf of these people whose voice is stifled.” He notes that he is not a politician but that he has lived with the people for 22 years, speaks their language and knows their pain. “A valiant race is brought down to its knees in injustice. What a sorrow!”
Amidst looting of the country’s wealth of jade, Cardinal Bo urges the government of Myanmar to eschew homogeneity and embrace a cooperative and inclusive federal system. He pleads for all parties to pursue peace, to participate in peace conferences and to allow displaced people to return to their homes.
To religious leaders he request that they explore options for peace in a proactive way, avoiding bloodshed and calling for unity between faith groups. “Is Christ divided?” he asks. “Religious leaders need to believe in peaceful solution [s] to the problems. Peace is the core of all religions. All human beings are brothers and sisters.”
Cardinal Bo also appealed to the International community, international organizations, the people of Kachin and the people of Myanmar to strive for unity and peace.
Please find Cardinal Bo’s full statement below:
My Dear Myanmar People,
On behalf of all the people of good will, I take this opportunity to make an urgent appeal for peace and reconciliation in this long suffering nation. I call upon my country men and women to seize the opportunity for greater democracy, peace and justice.
After six decades of suffocating political system, democracy has been enthroned through the sacrifice of hundreds of our country men and women. We are grateful to all for this spring of democracy. I applaud all, the political parties, the army, the civil society and religious leaders for their sagacity. Things are not the perfect but we are miles away from ten years ago. Myanmar stands on the world stage with great dreams.
But there are areas where this dream is still to reach. I refer to the war ravaged Kachin areas. More than 150,000 languish in camps. Their life is being diluted for the last five years. The once proud people are reduced to the status of IDPs and expecting international handouts. They have nowhere to go. Their lands are mined. This chronic war has produced no winners. Only losers. The losers being the innocent people languishing in dark camps. Land mines abound. Human trafficking snatches the youth to virtual hell. Drug menace is an incremental death sentence on the Kachin youth. Natural resources are looted by any one with arms. While the Kachins struggle for a roof over their head and food in their plates, billions are made through Jade mines in their land. This is the root cause of conflict.
I earnestly appeal to all. I am not a politician. I wish to raise my voice on behalf of these people whose voice is stifled. I have lived with these people for 22 years, speak their language. I have known their pain. I have known their tears. I have known them as one of the most generous people, but today I see them waiting for food, shelter and other hand outs. A valiant race is brought down to its knees in injustice. What a sorrow! Their rich natural resources are looted by all - including foreigners. As they stand at the bleak junction of history they look forward to the world to come to their help. So my brothers and sisters, moved by a human tragedy of immense proportion, I make a compassionate appeal on behalf of them to all.
To the government of Myanmar:
Kindly Pursue peace with sincerity. The planned 21st Century Panglong conference must be held with all the parties.
Eschewing all past configuration of ONE NATION, ONE RACE, ONE RELIGION, we implore you to move towards a rainbow nation with a federal system.
Peace with justice is possible. Assimilation of communities has failed, but integration of communities is possible. Let peace become the national religion, justice become the national language.
Kindly resist all efforts of extremist groups to take the nation back to the era of hatred. We appeal to the Army to further peace. With the help of ASEAN and UN bring all warring parties to negotiation table.
Neither the Myanmar Army nor the KIA can achieve conclusive victory. History is witness to this. So kindly do not prolong the agony of the innocents.
To the armed groups in Kachins:
KIO and KIA and other armed groups have made great sacrifices for the causes you hold sacred.
You have a place in your people's history. Through your resistance you have made your voices heard loud and clear.
But this chronic war takes us nowhere. I plead with you to explore avenues of peace, participate in peace conferences. Panglong Conference is an opportunity not to be missed by any party.
I have visited the IDP camps. The people want to return to their homes. Their right to return is denied because all parties have mined their villages.
In the IDP camps people are tired of war. They had lived in their villages peacefully. IDP life is destroying the cultural wealth of Kachins. No one could control the human trafficking, drug menace.
The next generation lives at a great risk. Why this war then?
To the religious leaders:
Most of the Kachins are Christians – either Baptists and other denominations or Catholics. I laud your accompaniment of your people in their hour of need.
But people themselves are raising the question: What is the position of religious leaders in this war? We are not NGOs delivering international handouts to our people. Our faith makes us to pursue peace with justice. Where are we in peace talks? I strongly feel we are failing our people by not pro-actively exploring peace.
Some of us have even seen war as the only solution. War is always unjust said Pope John Paul II. There is no just war. There is no theological justification for spilling the blood. Armed resistance has its place in a people's struggle. But war is the last recourse.
There is no justification for seeking solutions ONLY through armed resistance. We have allowed denominational discriminations, we have allowed IDP camps to be hotbed of denominational conflict. Is Christ divided? When the innocent unharmed civilians are forced to obey all kinds of armies, lose their children to the war some of us chose silence. We need to remember the searing words of Rev Martin Luther King Jr " This generation will weep not for evil deeds of the bad men, but for the appalling silence of the good men". We cannot be silent to the oppression of our people either government or any other armed groups. As pastors we stay with the people especially those who are vulnerable. The time has come to wipe every tear from the Kachin's eye. That does not come through war alone. Religious leaders need to believe in peaceful solution to problems. Peace is the core of all religions. All human beings are brothers and sisters.
I appeal to my fellow religious leaders - both Baptists and Catholics: Blessed are the peace makers. We have a moral duty to promote peace. Let us come together as Christian groups. Without forfeiting our right to resist, we must give a chance for this government to work for peace. Only ten years ago democracy was a dream in this country. Today we have the march of democracy. I do believe peace also will have its date with destiny in this land. Give peace a chance. Let us talk peace.
To the International community:
I appeal to the international community, to encourage peace moves in this land. In our dark days of oppression your support melted the arrogance of evil. Now we plead for the next phase of a nation, built on peace and justice. Do not allow this chronic war to prolong t even for a day. Democracy is still in its dawn. I plead with you, journey with the people of Myanmar through strong support to peace with justice and building a federal nation.
To the INGOs:
The INGOs walked with our people when war broke out in 2011. After five years a compassion fatigue has set in with the food supply drying out and the rations reduced. Starvation and poverty is gripping our IDPs. Kindly accompany our people till there is a durable solution as you continue support durable solutions. In your operational areas, pressurize the parties to return to negotiation. Our people need justice in the long run, charity in the short term. Charity cannot become a solution to a chronic war.
To the people of Kachin:
My dear Kachin people, I have known your joy, your greatness. As you face the great challenge in your history, we wish you peace. We pray that your sons and daughters are protected from war, human trafficking and drug. May the Good Lord bring you peace. I appeal to your great qualities of hospitality and warmth to treat all equally, avoiding any conflict among religions and races or denominations. Stay united. This war started for the dignity of Kachins. Let not disunity destroy that dream. A fragmented population invites its own peril.
To the people of Myanmar:
The people of Myanmar are one of the most graceful people. This land belongs to all of us. The people of Myanmar should resist all efforts to fragment this nation by merchants of hatred and religious extremists. We need to believe : Unity in Diversity. Dignity in diversity. Peace has a huge dividend to all of us. We will became a great nation, a shining star of East Asia once again.
I appeal to the Army, new government, the armed groups to start that pilgrimage of peace with justice - through negotiations. Praying for a future Myanmar without war and want
+ Cardinal Charles Maung Bo., SDB, DD. ARCHBISHOP OF YANGON.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent the following telegram to the President of the Republic of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic:As I fly over Croatia on my way to Armenia for a pastoral visit, I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens, together with my prayers that Almighty God will bless all of you with peace and well-being.Franciscus PP.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent the following telegram to the President of the Republic of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic:
As I fly over Croatia on my way to Armenia for a pastoral visit, I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens, together with my prayers that Almighty God will bless all of you with peace and well-being.
Franciscus PP.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent the following telegram to the President of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bakir Izetbegovic:I extend cordial greetings to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens, as I fly over Bosnia and Herzegovina en route to Armenia for a pastoral visit. I pray that Almighty God may grant you all His blessings.Franciscus PP.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent the following telegram to the President of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bakir Izetbegovic:
I extend cordial greetings to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens, as I fly over Bosnia and Herzegovina en route to Armenia for a pastoral visit. I pray that Almighty God may grant you all His blessings.
Franciscus PP.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent the following telegram to Filip Vujanovic, the President of Montenegro:As I fly over Montenegro on my apostolic journey to Armenia, I extend cordial greetings to Your Excellency. I pray that Almighty God may bestow upon you and your fellow citizens peace and prosperity.Franciscus PP.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent the following telegram to Filip Vujanovic, the President of Montenegro:
As I fly over Montenegro on my apostolic journey to Armenia, I extend cordial greetings to Your Excellency. I pray that Almighty God may bestow upon you and your fellow citizens peace and prosperity.
Franciscus PP.
