Pope Francis Tag

DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING FOR PEACE • After the prayer of the Angelus, on Sunday, 4 February, Pope Francis announced that “…Faced with the tragic prolonging of conflicts in various parts of the world, I invite all the faithful to join me in a Special Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace on 23 February, the Friday of the First week of Lent. “We will offer it in particular for the populations of the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.” Both African countries are hit hard by civilRead More
INTERVIEW WITH FR LUDWE JAYIYA, SOUTH AFRICA • When Pope Francis met with his fellow Jesuits during his recent visit to Peru, one of the elder members asked him what he, as Pope and Jesuit, expected from them at this moment in the Church. His answer was brief and clear: “Vatican II.” Only a few days earlier, I had interviewed a young priest from South Africa, Fr. Ludwe Jayiya, parish priest in Port Elizabeth`s  Mater Dei parish, who had spent all, literally all his savings (priests in South Africa doRead More
POPE FRANCIS’ MESSAGE FOR WORLD COMMUNICATION DAY, by the editorial team • The feast of St. Francis de Sales, the patron saint of journalists, celebrated on 24 January, was also the day Pope Francis published his message for the 52nd World Communications Day. In his message, Francis spoke about “fake news” and “journalism for peace.” From the editorial team of schoenstatt.org, as part of its commitment to professional communication that is in solidarity with and at the service of a covenant culture, we not only want to share this message,Read More
WORLD DAY OF PEACE • The World Day of Peace was celebrated on 1 January 2018 and Pope Francis chose this as the theme for this year: “Migrants and refugees: men and women in search of peace.” In his message for this day, the pontiff warned against those who sow fear towards those who have been displaced and talks about how it is necessary to “welcome, protect, promote and integrate” these groups to “transform cities into places of peace.” “Migrants and refugees: men and women in search of peace” PopeRead More
WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES • During the Mass he celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica on 14 January on the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope Francis called on society to forget preconceived ideas, to not raise barriers and to be open to the “enriching” encounter with the other. The Holy Father presided over the celebration at which several immigrants and refugees were present, saying that the “true encounter with the other does not end with welcome, but involves us all in the three further actions which IRead More
PERU, Jorge Sosa Alonso with Maria Fischer • In Trujillo, more than 60 venerated images from all over northern Peru came together for the visit by Pope Francis. Among them was an image of Our Lady of Schoenstatt. On 19 January, Jorge Sosa Alonso took her to the waterfront esplanade of Huanchaco where the Holy Father celebrated Mass on 20 January and he then took her to the Plaza de Armas Square, where the Marian celebration was held. In preparation for the Pope’s visit, on Wednesday 17 January, a largeRead More
CHILE, Verónica Gutiérez • On 18 January, we had every reason to celebrate. Pope Francis had finished his visit to Chile. He crowned the Virgen de Carmen ( Our Lady of Carmel), patroness of Chile, three times, and it was Covenant Day. The pontiff celebrated his third Mass in the northern part of the country in Iquique, where he crowned the Virgin of Tirana, la “Chinita” as she is affectionately called. Moments later, a thief stole the crown of the Cenacle Shrine of Bellavista. How difficult it is to beRead More
SYNOD 2018, María Fischer • On the 31st of December the large survey in preparation for Synod 2018 ended. Now what? “Join us, dedicate a prayer for Synod 2018. One prayer. Each day. The whole world. Together we are Church.” This invitation for the initiative, “Pray for Synod” extended from its website as well as other social media sites (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram), invites young people, older people and the entire Church to accompany the preparation for the Synod about Youths—Faith and Discernment in October 2018— with a network of prayer.Read More
CHILE, editorial team • We were just informed about the painful event in the Shrine of Bellavista, Chile. The following announcement was posted on the social networks of the Schoenstatt Bellavista Cenacle Shrine that we want to share with all of Schoenstatt:   We are sorry to inform you that on this 18 January the Bellavista Shrine was attacked by anti-social people; they stole the Blessed Mother’s crown, with which our Father and Founder crowned her in 1949. Please share this painful news to prevent these people from breaking downRead More
EUROPE, Maria Fischer with material from Santegidio.org • “More than 3,100 people have already drowned in the Mediterranean this year.  Now for the first time, Italy’s military has brought refugees directly from Libya.  The Italian Church makes this possible,” according to a message that went around the world on Christmas Eve.  Italy’s Church in collaboration with the Community of Sant’Egidio, a small and highly committed ecclesial movement founded in 1968. Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Community of Sant’Egidio, received an audience with Pope Francis on the morning of December 22,Read More