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(Vatican Radio) French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, Archbishop of Lyon, spoke of the significance of Wednesday’s private meeting between Pope Francis and President Francois Hollande in the Vatican and about the mood in France following the recent murder of a French priest near Rouen. Cardinal Barbarin was interviewed by Vatican Radio’s French Service shortly after the meeting was announced. Cardinal Barbarin noted that President Hollande had telephoned the Pope almost immediately after the “horrific” murder of 85 year old Father Jacques Hamel who had his throat slit while celebrating Mass in his church near the city of Rouen on July 26th. The perpetrators were two young French terrorists of North African origin. He said the conversation between the Pope and the French leader following that brutal act was “good, brotherly and moving.”Asked whether there was a climate of revenge in France following Father Hamel’s murder, Cardinal ...
(Vatican Radio) “I am extremely humbled that our Holy Father Pope Francis has selected me to lead this newly formed dicastery,” says Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas, on his appointment as Prefect of the newly formed Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life. In a statement published on the diocesan website, Bishop Farrell said, “I look forward to being part of the important work of the universal Church in the promotion of the laity and the apostolate of the laity and for the pastoral care of the family in accordance with the Pope’s recent apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, the Joy of Love, and the support of human life.”Bishop Farrell said he was grateful for the appointment, he was experiencing “mixed emotions” about leaving the Diocese. “Dallas has been my home for 10 years and, from the beginning, I quickly grew to love the beautiful people and culture here,” he said. Noting with appreciation and gratitude the “har...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis had a private meeting in the Vatican on Wednesday with France’s President Francois Hollande. Their meeting came three weeks after the brutal murder of the elderly French priest, Father Jacques Hamel, who was killed by two young French terrorists claiming allegiance to the so-called Islamic State group whilst he was celebrating Mass in his church near the city of Rouen. Following the murder of Father Hamel, President Hollande telephoned Pope Francis to express his closeness and told him that “when a priest is attacked all of France is wounded.” Speaking on his flight to Poland, the Pope thanked the French President “in a special way” for having contacted him like “a brother.” President Hollande was accompanied on his visit to the Vatican by the French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve and the French ambassador to the Holy See, Philippe Zeller. Wednesday’s encounter marked the ...
The recent wave of unrest that has seen the burning of over 100 schools resulting in the destruction of property across Kenya are a scheme by well-organised cartels that seek to destabilise and disrupt learning in secondary schools across the country, principals of Catholic-sponsored schools have said.The principals who recently met during the annual Conference for Principals of Catholic-sponsored Schools at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) Nairobi exchanged experiences as they tried to come to terms with the unprecedented number schools and dormitories torched, in Kenya.The School Heads explained that investigations were pointing to some radicalised vulnerable children funded to torch school dormitories and buildings. Non-teaching staff members of schools were also said to be colluding with students to frustrate school principals. Then there are student strikes orchestrated due to fear of taking exams. These are some of the reasons advanced by the Catholic s...
Vatican City, Aug 17, 2016 / 06:03 am (CNA/EWTN News).- After a recent report confirmed that violence against children has increased in conflict zones, the Holy See is urging the United Nations and local governments to protect the innocent youth who are caught in the crossfire of violence around the world.“Never in recent memory have so many children been subjected to such violent brutality: children used as soldiers, suicide bombers, sex slaves, and disposable intelligence-gatherers in the most dangerous military operations,” read a recent statement from Archbishop Bernardito Auza, the Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations.“These crimes must be condemned in the strongest possible terms,” he said.The archbishop's statements came during the United Nation's Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict, which took place on Aug. 2 and was organized by the country of Malaysia.The council reviewed the S...
Vatican City, Aug 17, 2016 / 09:47 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Jesus’ miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fishes is a lesson for us all, Pope Francis said Wednesday.“His compassion is not a vague sentiment,” the Pope said, adding that Jesus “loves us so much, and wants to be close to us.”The Pope reflected on the miracle of Jesus’ feeding of 5,000 people as recounted in the Gospel of Matthew, saying that the miracle offered a lesson for Christ’s disciples.“He shows them that the few loaves and fishes they have, with the power of faith and of prayer, can be shared by all the people,” the Pope said. “It is a miracle that he does, but it is the miracle of faith, of prayer with compassion and love.”The pontiff summarized the gospel account in his catechesis at the weekly General Audience in the Paul VI Hall Aug. 16.“Jesus wishes to withdraw and pray, but seeing the multitudes, is moved by compassion and chooses to ...
IMAGE: CNS photo/Max Rossi, ReutersBy Junno Arocho EstevesVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Jesus' compassion toward people in need isnot a vague sentiment, but a calling for Christians to bring that samecompassion to others, Pope Francis said. By miraculously feeding thousands of people, Jesus made an act"of faith and prayer" that "shows the full strength of his willto be close to us and to save us," the pope said Aug. 17 at his weeklygeneral audience. Thousands of people packed the Paul VI audience hall, waving andstretching out their hands eagerly, hoping to greet the pope. Noticing a smallchild surrounded by people trying to greet them, Pope Francis motioned thecrowd to make way and gave the child a blessing. In his audience talk, the pope reflected on the Gospel reading of themultiplication of the loaves and fishes. Jesus, he noted, "does not have acold heart," but rather is moved by those who follow him and "feelsbound to this crowd."However, the pope noted that Jesus is not only concern...
IMAGE: CNS photo/Rebecca Kirstin Patton, The Texas Catholic By Cindy WoodenVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis has named Bishop Kevin J.Farrell of Dallas to head the Vatican's new office for laity, family and life.The Dublin-born bishop will celebrate his 69th birthdaySept. 2, the day after the new Vatican office officially begins its work.In a statement a few hours after his appointment wasannounced in Rome, Bishop Farrell said he was "extremely humbled"Pope Francis chose him to lead the new office."I look forward to being part of the important work ofthe universal church in the promotion of the laity and the apostolate of thelaity and for the pastoral care of the family in accordance with the pope'srecent apostolic exhortation, 'Amoris Laetitia,' ('The Joy ofLove'), and the support of human life," he said.At the same time, Bishop Farrell said he had "mixedemotions" about leaving Dallas, its people and priests.Bishop Kevin Farrell is the brother of Bishop BrianFarrell, secretary of...
SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) -- A Maryland woman has collected and delivered more than 20,000 new and gently used bras and 50,000 feminine hygiene products to shelters around the country....
