Pope Francis

‘No Longer Slaves…’

January 7, 2015

As we begin this new year, there are two important messages from our Holy Father, Pope Francis. The first, in his Message for the World Day of Peace, celebrated Jan. 1, he took the theme “No Longer Slaves, But Brothers and Sisters” directly from the Scriptures and the words of St. Paul as he commends the slave Onesimus as he returns to Philemon his owner. St. Paul urges Philemon to treat Onesimus as a brother and as a fellow Christian, so that fraternity will be the fundamental bond of family life and the basis of life in society.

The Lessons of 2014

December 27, 2014

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, In the last issue of The Tablet for 2014, the questions are always posed to me to look back on the year which has just passed and emphasize the lessons which, perhaps, we have learned. Like all years, this past year has contained challenges and surprises, joys […]

Pope: Christmas Tree Touches Everyone

December 27, 2014

By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – God did not come to the world with arrogance to impose his might; he offered his powerful love through a fragile child, Pope Francis said. The Christmas tree and Nativity scene are reminders of this mystery of the Incarnation and they both carry “a message of light, hope […]

‘Annus Horribilis’

December 27, 2014

Our city, and indeed the nation, is reeling from the assassinations of two New York City police officers, Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. These two officers of the law, both married, with the 40-year-old Ramos having two sons and Liu being recently married, were gunned down for no reason other than the fact that they […]

Pope Says He Hopes to Travel to Middle East

December 27, 2014

By Francis X. Rocca VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis deplored the “abuses and inhuman acts” of Islamic State militants, and called on all religious leaders to condemn them “unanimously and unambiguously.” He also said he hoped to travel to the Middle East to comfort persecuted Christians there. The pope’s words appeared in a Christmas […]

Pope Warns Curia on ‘Spiritual Alzheimer’s’

December 27, 2014

By Francis X. Rocca VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis’ Christmas greeting to the Vatican bureaucracy this year was an extended warning against a host of spiritual ills to which he said Vatican officials are prone, including “spiritual Alzheimer’s,” “existential schizophrenia,” publicity-seeking, the “terrorism of gossip” and even a poor sense of humor. The pope […]

Filipinos Eagerly Await Pope’s Visit

December 27, 2014

By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) – Filipino Catholics living in the U.S. say the pope’s upcoming visit to the Philippines will be a big boost for their homeland that has experienced so much suffering. “After all the travesties” the country has faced, the visit will provide a “flicker of light and a glimmer of hope,” […]

Pope: Prepare for Christmas With Joy

December 18, 2014

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) – No saint was ever known for having a “funeral face,” Pope Francis said; the joy of knowing one is loved by God and saved by Christ must be seen at least in a sense of peace, if not a smile. Celebrating the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, […]

Popemobile Donated to Holy Land Franciscans

December 11, 2014

The Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land (FFHL) has announced that the popemobile used in Bethlehem by Pope Francis during his pilgrimage of peace last May has been donated to the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land by the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas. According to the Franciscan Media Center, the popemobile will […]