(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis during his Wednesday General Audience continued his catechesis on Christian hope, highlighting Mary the Mother of Hope.Listen to this report: On the eve of his Apostolic visit to Fatima, Pope Francis on Wednesday, described Mary as the Mother of Hope adding that she was a woman of courage, perseverance and obedience.Speaking to the thousands of pilgrims and tourists in St Peter’s Square, the Pope said that, “Our Lady’s experience of motherhood models that of so many mothers in our world.” Mothers who have had to confront the suffering of their children.He went on to say that she courageously accepted her vocation and welcomed the new life entrusted to her. The Holy Father also noted how despite the trials in her life, she remained always obedient to God.Mary, Pope Francis commented, is with her son until the very end. Her image, he said “standing at the foot of the cross and grieving the death of her inno...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis during his Wednesday General Audience continued his catechesis on Christian hope, highlighting Mary the Mother of Hope.
Listen to this report:
On the eve of his Apostolic visit to Fatima, Pope Francis on Wednesday, described Mary as the Mother of Hope adding that she was a woman of courage, perseverance and obedience.
Speaking to the thousands of pilgrims and tourists in St Peter’s Square, the Pope said that, “Our Lady’s experience of motherhood models that of so many mothers in our world.” Mothers who have had to confront the suffering of their children.
He went on to say that she courageously accepted her vocation and welcomed the new life entrusted to her. The Holy Father also noted how despite the trials in her life, she remained always obedient to God.
Mary, Pope Francis commented, is with her son until the very end. Her image, he said “standing at the foot of the cross and grieving the death of her innocent Son has inspired artists of every age to present her as a model of persevering hope in God’s promises.”
The hope that Our Lady had, underlined the Pope, was the fruit of a life of prayer and daily effort to be conformed to God’s will, and was fulfilled in Jesus’ rising to new life. We are not orphans, Pope Francis added, “we have a Mother in heaven who is the Holy Mother of God.”
Following his catechesis, the Holy Father, greeting Portuguese speaking pilgrims asked for prayers for his upcoming visit to Fatima. He also had words of welcome for a delegation of young Russian priests of the Patriarchate of Moscow who are being hosted by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian unity.
President Joe Biden presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 3, 2024. / Credit: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty ImagesCNA Staff, May 6, 2024 / 16:15 pm (CNA).Katie Ledecky, Olympic swimmer, devout Catholic, and winner of 10 Olympic medals, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Friday. "Thank you Mr. President for this honor, and thank you to everyone at the White House for an incredibly special day!" Ledecky wrote in a post on X.Since she began her Olympic career in 2012 as a 15-year-old in the London Olympics, Ledecky has earned seven Olympic gold medals and three silver medals. She also earned 26 world championship medals, 21 of which are gold, and she currently holds two world records in the 800- and 1,500-meter freestyle events. Ledecky finds herself among other iconic athletes including gymnast Simone Biles, golfer Tiger Woods, and baseball star Babe Ru...
Naples Archbishop Domenico Battaglia kisses the reliquary containing the blood of St. Januarius on May 4, 2024. / Credit: Chiesa di NapoliACI Prensa Staff, May 6, 2024 / 16:48 pm (CNA).The miracle of the liquefaction of the blood of St. Januarius, bishop, martyr, and patron saint of Naples, Italy, was repeated in St. Clare Basilica on May 4.The Archdiocese of Naples reported on its website that on May 4 at 6:38 p.m. local time, the miracle of the liquefaction of the blood of St. Januarius occurred once again. St. Januarius was martyred in the year 305, during the fierce persecution unleashed by the Roman emperor Diocletian.The miraculous liquefaction occurred during the Mass offered by the archbishop of Naples, Domenico Battaglia, with Abbot Vincenzo De Gregorio participating and the mayor of Naples, Gaetano Manfredi, in attendance.When the miracle is repeated, a white cloth is waved to indicate to the people that the miraculous sign has taken place. On this occasion, De G...
Bishop Bart van Roijen walked the length of the Gaza Strip on April 29 in support of those suffering due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. / Development and Peace - Caritas CanadaCNA Staff, May 6, 2024 / 17:20 pm (CNA).A Catholic bishop walked the length of the Gaza Strip on April 29 in support of those suffering due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Bishop Bart van Roijen of the Diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador in Newfoundland, Canada, walked 42 kilometers, a little over 26 miles, from York Harbor to Corner Brook and ended his journey with a prayer service at the Cathedral of the Holy Redeemer. People around the world are participating in similar walks to call for a cease-fire in Gaza and for peace in both Israel and Palestine. Van Roijen told CNA in an interview that he felt called to do this walk because he wanted "to quietly witness to the sufferings of both citizenries and to make a strong statement that the atrocities, damage, and indignities that are being don...