Pope Francis

18 Aug, 2014

Relatives die in crash

A Vatican spokesman confirms that three of Francis’ relatives, a niece and two great-nephews, died in a car accident in Argentina. Francis’ nephew, Emanuel Bergoglio, remains in intensive care in an induced coma. He is seriously injured with liver trauma, a fractured femur and other injuries. His wife, Carmona Valeria, and their eight-month-old son Jose die at the scene. His other son, Antonio, dies later at the hospital. Father Federico Lombardi:

The pope has been informed and he is painfully sorry.

Francis is asking for prayers.

17 Aug, 2014

Victim’s father baptised

The Pope baptises 62-year-old Lee Ho-Jin, the father of one of the victims from the Sewol Ferry tragedy, at Seoul Nunciature 0n Sunday. He meets with some of the family members from the ferry tragedy before Mass with thousands of Koreans at the World Cup stadium in Daejon. Last week Lee had completed a pilgrimage from the site of the ferry disaster to Daejeon, to help overcome the grief of losing his son. Vatican spokesperson:

The pope was only too happy to be able to conduct an unscheduled baptism of an adult into the Korean Church

15 Aug, 2014

Poses for a ‘selfie’

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Francis takes time to pose for a ‘selfie’ while in South Korea. He was onstage greeting visitors when a young man asked him to pose with him in a ‘selfie.’ Francis obliged, smiling and pointing at the young man as he took the photographs of the two of them together.

. @Pontifex poses for a selfie in South Korea http://t.co/RFZI54B0wg pic.twitter.com/Ss6q2YuJ6s

— ITV News (@itvnews) August 16, 2014

14 Aug, 2014

Visits South Korea

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Francis visits South Korea, marking the first papal visit to the country in 25 years. A small percentage of the country’s population, around 10 percent, practices Catholicism, but it is considered to be the fastest growing religion there. Lionel Jensen, associate professor of East Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Notre Dame:

The Pope’s visit to South Korea is the first part of a very intelligent opening to Asia. The Pope’s presence is a powerful symbol of the Vatican’s recognition that it is in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa that the church is growing most prominently.

Francis will stay in the country for five days, and his itinerary includes: beatifying 124 Korean martyrs, helping with celebrating the 6th Asian Youth Day, which is a gathering of Asian Catholic youth and holding a Holy Mass for Peace and Reconciliation, expected to be aimed at prayers for peace, including South and North Korean relations.

10 Aug, 2014

Expresses ‘disbelief’ over Iraq violence

Iraq0 Comments

During his weekly blessing in St. Peter’s Square, Francis says what is happening in Iraq “leaves us in disbelief.” He urges the international community to find a political solution “to stop these crimes.” He specifically cites:

the thousands of people, including Christians, who have been brutally forced from their homes, children who have died from thirst during the escape and women who have been seized.

15 Jul, 2014

Child migrants should be ‘welcomed and protected’

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In a letter read at a Vatican conference in Mexico City on human migration and development, Francis says migration “has now become a hallmark of our society and a challenge.” The Pope says immigrants:

continue to be the subject of racist and xenophobic attitudes…Many people forced to emigrate suffer, and often die, tragically; many of their rights are violated, they are obliged to separate from their families and, unfortunately, continue to be the subject of racist and xenophobic attitudes.

13 Jul, 2014

Sex scandals: ‘A leprosy in our house’

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Francis tells an Italian newspaper that the Catholic Church’s requiring its clergy to remain celibate is a “problem” for which “there are solutions.” Allegedly, the Pope told the newspaper that one in 50 members of the clergy are pedophiles, and he says the Church’s sex abuse scandal is “a leprosy in our house.” The Pope tells Eugenio Scalfari, the 90-year-old founder of La Repubblica:

The 2 percent of pedophiles are priests, and even bishops and cardinals. And others, even more numerous, know about it but keep quiet. They punish without saying the reason why. I find this state of things untenable and it is my intention to confront it with the severity it requires.

7 Jul, 2014

Asks forgiveness for child abuse victims

Apology0 Comments

In a homily given during a private mass today with six victims of clerical sexual abuse, Francis apologizes and asks for forgiveness:

I beg your forgiveness, too, for the sins of omission on the part of Church leaders who did not respond adequately to reports of abuse made by family members, as well as by abuse victims themselves. This led to even greater suffering on the part of those who were abused and it endangered other minors who were at risk.

Meets sex abuse victims

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For the first time as leader of the Catholic church, the pope meets with victims of clerical sexual abuse. The meeting takes place at the pope’s private residence, Casa Santa Marta , located in Vatican City. Six victims from Europe meet with Francis. The Vatican says:

It is important that we respect the delicate nature of such a meeting and the dignity and privacy of those involved.

5 Jul, 2014

Nature exploitation ‘sin of modern times’

Gives Talk0 Comments

The Pope brands the destruction of rain forests in South America and other forms of environmental exploitation as a sin of our time. He calls for more respect for nature and urges the attendees of his address at the University of Molise to convert themselves: to a type of development that knows how to respect creation.

This is our sin, exploiting the Earth and not allowing her to her give us what she has within her.

1 Jul, 2014

‘You will conquer Rome and own the world’

Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi ISIS Makes Statement0 Comments

Al-Baghdadi says in a recruiting video for ISIS that the self-declared caliphate, now known as Islamic State, will defeat the Vatican and conquer the globe.

Rush O Muslims to your state. It is your state. Syria is not for Syrians and Iraq is not for Iraqis. The land is for the Muslims, all Muslims. This is my advice to you. If you hold to it you will conquer Rome and own the world, if Allah wills.

29 Jun, 2014

‘Iraqi leaders must talk’

Announcement0 Comments

During the weekly mass at St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis asks the Iraqi leaders to use dialogue to avoid any further warfare in the region.

The news from Iraq is unfortunately very saddening. I join the bishops from that country in calling on the rulers to preserve national unity and avoid war through dialogue. I express my closeness to the thousands of families, especially the Christian ones, who have had to leave their homes and are in serious danger. Violence generates more violence. Dialogue is the only path to peace. Let’s pray to the Virgin Mary to look after the Iraqi people.

Praises Pope Francis

Elton John Interview0 Comments

Elton John shows his support to Pope Francis in an interview with Sky News:

He’s excited me so much by his humanity and taking everything down to the humility of faith…it’s all basically about love and taking everybody in inclusiveness.

‘Communists have stolen our flag’

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Pope Francis responds to allegations that he sounds like a Leninist because he criticizes capitalism:

I can only say that the communists have stolen our flag. The flag of the poor is Christian. Poverty is at the center of the Gospel. Communists say that all this is communism. Sure, twenty centuries later. So when they speak, one can say to them: ‘but then you are Christian.’

21 Jun, 2014

Excommunicates Italian Mafia

Announcement0 Comments

Francis announces that Italian Mafia members are excommunicated and no longer a part of the Catholic Church. Excommunication excludes Catholics from the church and can be imposed by church authorities for serious offenses. No Pope has ever discussed the issue of excommunication and the Mafia.

Those who in their life have gone along the evil ways, as in the case of the Mafia, they are not with God, they are excommunicated.

20 Jun, 2014

Against legalizing recreational drugs

Makes Statement0 Comments

Francis tells delegates at a drug-enforcement conference in Rome that attempts to legalize recreational drugs such as marijuana…

…Are not only highly questionable from a legislative standpoint, but they fail to produce the desired effects. Let me state this in the clearest terms possible: the problem of drug use is not solved with drugs!

25 May, 2014

Meets Abbas in Bethlehem

Mahmoud Abbas Makes Statement0 Comments

Francis meets with Abbas, and holds and open air Mass for 8,000 local Christians near Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity. The Pope arrives in Bethlehem by helicopter from Jordan. Israel permits over 600 Christians from the Gaza Strip to travel to Bethlehem, while Palestinian authorities deploy 3,000 security forces in the city to supervise the visit. Abbas:

For the good of all, there is a need to intensify efforts and initiatives aimed at creating the conditions for a stable peace based on justice, on the recognition of the rights of every individual, and on mutual security.

13 Feb, 2014

Rolling Stone cover

Magazine Cover0 Comments

Francis appears on the cover of the first February 2014 issue of Rolling Stone magazine. Inside the magazine, there is a profile of Francis by editor Mike Binelli.

In less than a year since his papacy began, Pope Francis has done much to separate himself from past popes and establish himself as a people’s pope.

23 Dec, 2013

Time – Person of the Year

Time Magazine0 Comments

The Pope is chosen as Time’s Person of the Year for 2013. Other candidates for this year’s award are NSA leaker Edward Snowden, gay rights activist Edith Windsor, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Syrian President Bashar Assad. Managing editor Nancy Gibbs explains the choice

He really stood out to us as someone who has changed the tone and the perception and the focus of one of the world’s largest institutions in an extraordinary way.

Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi says:

The Holy Father is not looking to become famous or to receive honor. But if the choice of Person of Year helps spread the message of the Gospel — a message of God’s love for everyone — he will certainly be happy about that.

29 Jul, 2013

‘Won’t judge’ gay priests

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Pope Francis says he won’t judge gay priests. To reporters on an flight returning to Italy from a visit to Brazil:

If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?

Questioned on the possible existence of a ‘gay lobby’ in the Vatican:

When I meet a gay person, I have to distinguish between their being gay and being part of a lobby. If they accept the Lord and have good will, who am I to judge them? They shouldn’t be marginalized. The tendency (to be homosexual) is not the problem. They are our brothers.

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