Monthly Archives: July 2016

At final Mass, Francis urges 2m at WYD not to be afraid of accepting God’s mercy

Posted on July 31, 2016 by

Pope Francis has concluded the concluding Mass of World Youth Day (WYD with a meditation on the story of a publican who wanted to encounter Jesus despite the hostility and ridicule of those around him. Melding the keynote of his … Continue reading →

Posted in World Youth Day 2016

Francis to WYD vigil: ‘Our answer to terror is fraternity’

Posted on July 31, 2016 by

“This is no time for denouncing anyone or fighting”, Pope Francis told a crowd of 1.6m in a field outside Krakow last night, at the World Youth Day prayer vigil, adding: “We do not want to tear down, we do … Continue reading →

Posted in Pope Francis, Pope Francis address, World Youth Day 2016 | 1 Comment

Pope Francis’s ‘prayer for protection from terrorism’

Posted on July 30, 2016 by

This afternoon at 6:00 p.m., en route to Campus Misericordiae for the World Youth Day Prayer Vigil with young people from around the world, Pope Francis made a brief visit to the Church of St. Francis directly opposite the Archbishop’s residence, … Continue reading →

Posted in peace & reconciliation, Pope Francis, terrorist attacks

Pope Francis, world leader of the anti-slavery movement

Posted on July 30, 2016 by

[Christopher White] Today the United Nations and the international community marks modern slavery day – or as it is officially known, the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons – which spotlights the countless ways women, men, and children are exploited for both work and … Continue reading →

Posted in human trafficking, Pope Francis

Pope Francis in Krakow calls for a mission rooted in mercy

Posted on July 30, 2016 by

Digging deep into the great theme of mercy, Pope Francis last night led a moving Stations of the Cross and this morning visited the iconic Divine Mercy shrine in the city, forever associated with St Faustina Kowalska. He then went … Continue reading →

Posted in Pope Francis address, Pope Francis homily, World Youth Day 2016

Lord Alton deplores BBC’s ‘libel’ in report of Pope’s visit to Auschwitz

Posted on July 30, 2016 by

Last night, a report on BBC News on Pope Francis’s visit to Auschwitz claimed that it was a visit motivated by reparation for the Church’s silence during the Holocaust. (The full clip is not available on the BBC website). In fact, the visit was … Continue reading →

Posted in Holocaust, Pope Francis

Voiceless in Auschwitz, Francis spoke loudly of evil and mercy

Posted on July 29, 2016 by

[Austen Ivereigh] Pope Francis this morning visited the Nazi German death camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau to pray silently in a place which has become the icon of human depravity. After passing through the notorious main gate bearing the cynical words “Arbeit Macht Frei” (Work … Continue reading →

Posted in Poland, Pope Francis

Francis connects with Poles through their experience of God’s mercy

Posted on July 28, 2016 by

God chose to manifest his power not by amazing feats of greatness but rather through small acts of humility, choosing to enter the world as a child born of a woman, Pope Francis this morning told a congregation of at … Continue reading →

Posted in Poland, Pope Francis homily, World Youth Day 2016

Fear will not lead us to put bodyguards at our church doors

Posted on July 28, 2016 by

[Caroline Farrow] The response of the wider world to the abominable murder of Father Jacques Hamel has been in many ways encouraging. As a society, we can still be horrified by the senseless and violent death of a priest. The fact that it … Continue reading →

Posted in UK Church

Francis arrives in Poland, challenges government over immigration

Posted on July 27, 2016 by

Pope Francis has arrived in Poland at the start of a five-day trip to join the 31st World Youth Day. In the flight from Rome, which touched down just before 4pm local time, the Pope referred to the crisis of violence … Continue reading →

Posted in Pope Francis address, World Youth Day 2016