(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent the following telegram to the President of the Republic of Serbia, Tomislav Nikolic:Entering Serbian air space on my pastoral journey to Armenia, I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens, and I invoke divine blessings upon the nation.Franciscus PP.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent the following telegram to the President of the Republic of Serbia, Tomislav Nikolic:
Entering Serbian air space on my pastoral journey to Armenia, I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens, and I invoke divine blessings upon the nation.
Franciscus PP.
(Vatican Radio) His Holiness Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of His Beatitude Patriarch Fouad Twal, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem who reached the age of 75 for retirement last October. The Pope has elevated to Archbishop Franciscan Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, former Custos of the Holy Land for twelve years, and appointed him as Apostolic Administrator sede vacante of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. He will hold the position until the appointment of a new Patriarch.In a statement posted on its online site, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said “The Bishops, clergy and faithful of the Latin Patriarchate sincerely thank His Beatitude Patriarch Fouad Twal who has just completed his mission, and welcome the Apostolic Administrator with best wishes in his new mission. The entire Diocese joins in prayer for the intentions of the Patriarch Emeritus and the new Apostolic Administrator.”The Episcopal Ordination of ...
(Vatican Radio) His Holiness Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of His Beatitude Patriarch Fouad Twal, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem who reached the age of 75 for retirement last October. The Pope has elevated to Archbishop Franciscan Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, former Custos of the Holy Land for twelve years, and appointed him as Apostolic Administrator sede vacante of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. He will hold the position until the appointment of a new Patriarch.
In a statement posted on its online site, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said “The Bishops, clergy and faithful of the Latin Patriarchate sincerely thank His Beatitude Patriarch Fouad Twal who has just completed his mission, and welcome the Apostolic Administrator with best wishes in his new mission. The entire Diocese joins in prayer for the intentions of the Patriarch Emeritus and the new Apostolic Administrator.”
The Episcopal Ordination of Father Pizzaballa will take place in September.
Bishop Shomali welcomes appointment of new Administrator
Auxiliary Bishop William Shomali of the Latin Patriarchate has welcomed the appointment of Archbishop-elect Pizzaballa saying that he knows the situation in the Holy Land very well and that reaction has been very positive.
Wishing him success in his new mission, Bishop Shomali says he expects Fr. Pizzaballa will be able to contribute to interrfaith dialogue and in the administration of the Patriarchate.
Bishop Shomali observes that it is not the first time that a Franciscan Custos has been at the helm of the Latin Church in the Holy Land. He notes that Mgr. Piavi of the early XXth century and Mgr. Gori (1950s) were two Franciscans to sit as Patriarchs. “So, it’s an experience that repeats itself for the good of the diocese,” he adds.
Gratitude for Patriarch Twal’s years of service
Bishop Shomali extends “truly sincere thanks” to Patriarch Twal for the nine years he has dedicated to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. “We are grateful to him; we wish him good health and that he continues to serve the mission in other ways.” Regarding his hopes for a future of peace in the Holy Land, Bishop Shomali says politicians need to have “a lot of good will” and “we will help through our prayers.”
Patriarch Twal, born in Jordan, succeeded Palestine native Michel Sabbah as the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem on 21 June 2008. He was enthroned at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem the following day.
On 29 June 2008, Patriarch Twal received the pallium at the hands of Pope Benedict XVI at a Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Former Franciscan Custos becomes Apostolic Administrator of Latin Patriarchate
From northern Italy, Pierbattista Pizzaballa was ordained priest on 15 September 1990. He was transferred to the Holy Land, in Jerusalem, in October 1990.
In July 1999 he formally entered in service to the Custody of the Holy Land. In 1995 he was responsible for the publication of the Roman Missal in Hebrew, and translated various liturgical texts in Hebrew for the Catholic Communities in Israel. He lectured Hebrew at the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum. He covered the role of Vicar General of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem for the pastoral care of Hebrew-speaking Catholics in Israel. Since 2008 he is a Consultor in the Commission for relations with Judaism of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Unity among Christians.
He was elected Custos of the Holy Land in 2004 and was repeatedly confirmed in that position until he stepped down last April.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis arrived in Armenia’s capital Yerevan at 12.55 pm Rome time on Friday 24th June to begin his 14th apostolic journey abroad. Armenia is a landlocked mountainous nation which borders with to the west Turkey, to the East Azerbaijan, to the north Georgia and to the South Iran.He was warmly welcomed by the President of the nation’s Republic Serzh Sargsyn and the Catholicos of All Armenia Karekin II. Also present were the Armenian Catholic Patriarch of Armenia Grégoire Pierre XX and other religious and civil authorities.This visit, to the first country ever to adopt Christianity as a state religion sported a logo which highlighted this historic factor along with the dates of the journey which are the 24th to the 26th of June.It’s a circular logo divided in half by two colours: yellow for the Vatican and purple for the Armenian city of Etchmiadzin, seat of the Armenian Apostolic Church where Pope Francis is staying as a guest of t...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis arrived in Armenia’s capital Yerevan at 12.55 pm Rome time on Friday 24th June to begin his 14th apostolic journey abroad. Armenia is a landlocked mountainous nation which borders with to the west Turkey, to the East Azerbaijan, to the north Georgia and to the South Iran.
He was warmly welcomed by the President of the nation’s Republic Serzh Sargsyn and the Catholicos of All Armenia Karekin II. Also present were the Armenian Catholic Patriarch of Armenia Grégoire Pierre XX and other religious and civil authorities.
This visit, to the first country ever to adopt Christianity as a state religion sported a logo which highlighted this historic factor along with the dates of the journey which are the 24th to the 26th of June.
It’s a circular logo divided in half by two colours: yellow for the Vatican and purple for the Armenian city of Etchmiadzin, seat of the Armenian Apostolic Church where Pope Francis is staying as a guest of the Catholicos Karekin II.
Within the design one can spy the outlines of two significant places in Armenia: snow capped Mount Ararat with its biblical connotations and the Monastery of Kor Virap located on its flanks, which Pope Francis will also visit on Sunday . A significant monastery where Gregory the Illuminator credited for the conversion of this nation to Christianity in 301, so at the beginning of the fourth century, was once held prisoner at the bottom of a well.
Pope Francis follows in the footsteps of John Paul II who visited Armenia in 2001. But this papal visit will take place in a very different context. Pope Francis has made sure that this meeting between churches has a popular element to it. As always during his journeys he has come to be with the people of the nation unusually for Armenia in the public Square.
The first such moment is marked by Holy Mass on Saturday in the north east of the country in the second largest city of the nation Gyumri, hard hit by an earthquake back in 1988. A mass which an estimated 400 000 people are expected to attend.
The second is an ecumenical encounter later in the day to pray for peace in Yerevan’s main Square. A square which has hosted many artistic events and concerts by well- known singer of Armenian origin Charles Aznavour.
Pope Francis is popular in Armenia, a nation where Christian identity blends into Armenian identity. Many of the people especially women wear huge pectoral crosses and taxi drivers make the sign of the cross several times whenever they pass in front of churches.
Armenians know of his proclamation on the 12th of April 2015 of a 10th century Armenian monk St Gregory of Narek as Doctor of the Church. And above all of his words in this same message to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1915 'Metz Yeghern' or the great evil as Armenians call the massacres in this nation at the hand of the Ottoman Empire. A dark chapter in the history of Armenia Pope Francis is set to mark first thing Saturday morning when he pays tribute to the memory of the fallen at the ‘Tzitzernakaberd’ Memorial complex where he’ll be meeting with ten descendants of the Armenian refugees housed in the summer residence of Castelgandolfo by his twentieth century predecessor Benedict XV back in 1915.
I'm Veronica Scarisbrick
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent the following telegram to the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Rosen Plevneliev:As I fly over Bulgaria on my way to Armenia, i extend cordial greetings to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens. Invoking upon all of you Almighty God’s blessings of peace and prosperity.Franciscus PP.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent the following telegram to the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Rosen Plevneliev:
As I fly over Bulgaria on my way to Armenia, i extend cordial greetings to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens. Invoking upon all of you Almighty God’s blessings of peace and prosperity.
Franciscus PP.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis commented on Britain's decision to leave the European Union saying it must be followed by "guarantees" for the good of both Britain and countries on the continent.Speaking to journalists aboard the Papal plane during his journey to the Armenian capital, Yerevan, the Pope said the referendum result must be respected because it was wanted by the people."It was the will expressed by the people and this requires a great responsibility on the part of all of us to guarantee the good of the people of the United Kingdom, as well as the good and co-existence of the European continent" he said.Pope Francis also expressed his satisfaction for the signing of a ceasefire in Columbia between the government and the FARC rebels."I am happy for this news that I received yesterday. Over fifty years of war, of guerrilla warfare, so much spilt blood”. It was good news” he said.And he expressed his hope that the nations that have wo...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis commented on Britain's decision to leave the European Union saying it must be followed by "guarantees" for the good of both Britain and countries on the continent.
Speaking to journalists aboard the Papal plane during his journey to the Armenian capital, Yerevan, the Pope said the referendum result must be respected because it was wanted by the people.
"It was the will expressed by the people and this requires a great responsibility on the part of all of us to guarantee the good of the people of the United Kingdom, as well as the good and co-existence of the European continent" he said.
Pope Francis also expressed his satisfaction for the signing of a ceasefire in Columbia between the government and the FARC rebels.
"I am happy for this news that I received yesterday. Over fifty years of war, of guerrilla warfare, so much spilt blood”. It was good news” he said.
And he expressed his hope that the nations that have worked to mediate the accord manage to set it in stone so that it can never be reversed.
“My best wishes go to Colombia that is now taking this step” Pope Francis concluded.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent the following telegram to the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan:Flying over turkey on my pastoral visit to Armenia, I extend best wishes to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens, with prayers that the Most High will bestow upon all in the nation His choicest blessings.Franciscus PP.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent the following telegram to the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan:
Flying over turkey on my pastoral visit to Armenia, I extend best wishes to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens, with prayers that the Most High will bestow upon all in the nation His choicest blessings.
Franciscus PP.
London, England, Jun 24, 2016 / 04:26 am (CNA/EWTN News).- After Britain's passing of the historic referendum to withdraw from the European Union, the UK's leading prelate stressed the need to continue working with the international community, and to ensure that the vulnerable in society remain protected.“A great tradition of the United Kingdom is to respect the will of the people, expressed at the ballot box,” said Cardinal Vincent Nichols, archbishop of Westminster in a statement Friday. “Today we set out on a new course that will be demanding on all.”“Our prayer is that all will work in this task with respect and civility, despite deep differences of opinion,” the cardinal continued.“We pray that in this process the most vulnerable will be supported and protected, especially those who are easy targets for unscrupulous employers and human traffickers.”The British withdrawal from the European Union referendum – popularly...
London, England, Jun 24, 2016 / 04:26 am (CNA/EWTN News).- After Britain's passing of the historic referendum to withdraw from the European Union, the UK's leading prelate stressed the need to continue working with the international community, and to ensure that the vulnerable in society remain protected.
“A great tradition of the United Kingdom is to respect the will of the people, expressed at the ballot box,” said Cardinal Vincent Nichols, archbishop of Westminster in a statement Friday. “Today we set out on a new course that will be demanding on all.”
“Our prayer is that all will work in this task with respect and civility, despite deep differences of opinion,” the cardinal continued.
“We pray that in this process the most vulnerable will be supported and protected, especially those who are easy targets for unscrupulous employers and human traffickers.”
The British withdrawal from the European Union referendum – popularly known as “Brexit” – was passed by a narrow margin on Thursday. The results were released early Friday morning, showing that 52% of British citizens had voted to exit the EU.
Debates leading up to the referendum centered on a variety of concerns, including the impact such a decision would have on immigration and the economy, both in Britain and Europe.
“We pray that our nations will build on our finest traditions of generosity, of welcome for the stranger and shelter for the needy,” said Cardinal Nichols said.
“We now must work hard to show ourselves to be good neighbours and resolute contributors in joint international efforts to tackle the critical problems our world today.”
Over 30 million people – nearly 72% – took to the polls for the historic the referendum, the highest voting turnout the nation had seen since 1992, the BBC reports.
In response to Friday's results, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced he would be stepping down in October. Cameron had been a supporter of the “Remain” campaign from the start, the BBC said.
In a June 24 interview shortly after the results of the referendum came through, Catholic Herald editor Luke Coppen told CNA he was surprised by the outcome, but said it was impossible at this juncture to know how it would affect British Catholics.
“We have no data about how Catholics voted, but certainly Catholics were vocal on both sides of the debate,” he said. “I suppose the result leaves Catholics divided.”
Coppen added that most of the nation's bishops favored remaining in the EU, “so I think they are likely to feel deeply disappointed this morning.”
“The vote is historic, but the long-term consequences are obviously certain. I hope that after a bruising and at times quite unpleasant referendum debate, there will be a resurgence of kindness, neighbourliness and compassion.”
Britain has been part of the EU since 1973 when it joined European Economic Community, later to be known as the EU. The June 23 referendum was the second such vote pertaining to British membership in the EU, the first taking place in 1975.
Anian Christoph Wimmer contributed to this story.
Yerevan, Jun 24, 2016 / 05:12 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis has said the result of the U.K.’s referendum to leave the European Union reflects the “will of the people” and that there is now a “great responsibility” to ensure the well being of people in the U.K. and peaceful coexistence on continental Europe.Addressing reporters on the papal plane to Armenia, the Holy Father said he had only read basic information about the result of the vote just before leaving Rome, but said he felt it was “the will of the people”.“It demands great responsibility on our part,” he said, “to ensure the well being of the people in the United Kingdom, and the coexistence of the people on the European continent. So I wait.”The U.K. voted yesterday in a referendum to leave the European Union after 43 years as a member of the economic-political bloc.Before addressing the “Brexit” vote, the Pope also shared his reaction to the...
Yerevan, Jun 24, 2016 / 05:12 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis has said the result of the U.K.’s referendum to leave the European Union reflects the “will of the people” and that there is now a “great responsibility” to ensure the well being of people in the U.K. and peaceful coexistence on continental Europe.
Addressing reporters on the papal plane to Armenia, the Holy Father said he had only read basic information about the result of the vote just before leaving Rome, but said he felt it was “the will of the people”.
“It demands great responsibility on our part,” he said, “to ensure the well being of the people in the United Kingdom, and the coexistence of the people on the European continent. So I wait.”
The U.K. voted yesterday in a referendum to leave the European Union after 43 years as a member of the economic-political bloc.
Before addressing the “Brexit” vote, the Pope also shared his reaction to the news yesterday that Colombia’s long internal conflict had come to an end.
“I am happy about this news that came to me yesterday, after more than 50 years of war, of conflict, and much bloodshed,” he said. “I hope that the countries that work for peace keep it.” He wished the country well on its “next step.”
The Pope arrived at 2.50pm local time at Yerevan’s international airport after a four hour flight from Rome. Immediately after arrival, the Holy Father was driven to the Apostolic Cathedral in Etchmiadzin where he is due to deliver the first discourse of his 14th visit outside Italy.
Edward Pentin is a contributor to the National Catholic Register. He is joining Pope Francis on the papal flight to Armenia.
PICKENS, S.C. (AP) -- Mike Simpson cried as his wife was sentenced to life in prison for killing their children in their South Carolina home. He has one of the bullets fired still in his skull, but he has lost almost all his memories of his 7-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son....
AYRSHIRE, Scotland (AP) -- Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, visiting Scotland the day after the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, hailed the move, saying voters "took back their country."...
