Putting Pope Francis into Perspective

Putting Pope Francis into Perspective

originally published:   October 31, 2014
UPDATED    JUNE 6, 2016

'Pope Francis' – A Chronological List of Quotes and Headlines

Pope Francis, Jorge Mario Bergogaria Divine Mercy, False Prophet, the WILD VOICE

Below is a very abbreviated and incomplete chronological summary list of troubling quotes, headlines, and happenings which have taken place so far in the very young Pope Francis papacy. These news stories and quotes are intentionally presented in very brief format simply to demonstrate that there is an overall most suspicious and undeniable pattern of oddity surrounding Pope Francis. Some would describe many of these quotes and actions of Pope Francis as merely provocative or controversial, others as obvious blasphemous heresies, and sadly some might think they are uplifting and inspirational.

It should also be known that all of the items on the list below are from established, mainstream news sources and may easily be searched in google to confirm.  The WILD VOICE has not used any sources on the list below that are from 'satire' or 'questionable' or 'alternative' news sources.
This summary is meant to give a 'big picture' quick view, but we very much encourage you to really take the time and check this list (each item is dated and sourced) on your own and verify the authenticity and full context of each story.
 
If you find important things that are not included which should be, please don't hesitate to let us know by leaving a comment or by contacting us.

 

"Before Christ's second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers. The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth will unveil the "mystery of iniquity" in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth. The supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God and of his Messiah come in the flesh."
– Catechism of the Catholic Church –



Summary
and Highlights

2013Pope Benedict XVI resigned and lighting struck Saint Peter's Dome hours later; Masonic lodges officially congratulated Jorge Bergoglio on becoming Pope Francis and wrote 'nothing will be as it was before'; Pope Francis claimed that the miracle of Jesus multiplying the bread and fish was really a miracle of 'sharing', not multiplying; Said 'Who am I to judge?' about gay priests; The National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League tweeted 'Thank you Pope Francis from prochoice women everywhere'; Said we are 'living in the myth of Shiva'; Cover of the leading LGBT magazine, The Advocate; Said Atheists Who Do Good Are Redeemed; Started taking selfies with fans…

2014Held the first Muslim/Jewish prayers and Koran readings at the Vatican; Sent an iPhone message to evangelicals through prosperity-gospel millionaire TV preacher Kenneth Copeland; Peace doves attacked; Said to 'scold the Lord' and also that he would baptize aliens; Cover of Rolling Stone; Accidentally said 'the F word'; Cardinal Dolan claimed Francis said 'Catholic Church should not dismiss gay marriage'; Mentioned re-thinking celibacy for priests; Initial synod document suggested shift in Church's position on homosexuality, but was revised; Compared Islamic terrorists to Christian fundamentalists…

2015Claimed lost souls do not go to Hell; Joked about the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ; Claimed that Jesus begged his parents for forgiveness and the Virgin Mary 'reproached' Christ; Became PETA's Man of the Year; Met with a transgender dubbed 'The Devil's Daughter'; Left Lutherans wondering if they can now take Communion in the Catholic Church; Routinely scolded and mocked 'rigid' Catholics; Projected images of animals and humanity onto Saint Peter's for climate change support on the Feast day of the Immaculate Conception…

2016Released a video promoting his prayer intentions featuring Muslim prayer beads, a Buddha statue, and Menorah, but no cross; Changed Roman Missal to include women in Holy Thursday foot-washing; Lutherans received Holy Communion at Saint Peter's Basilica; Announced he will participate in a joint ceremony with the World Lutheran Federation to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation; Suggested that John the Baptist doubted that Jesus Christ was the Messiah; Taught priests that those confessing need not verbalize their sins but can confess through 'the language of the gesture'; Proclaimed that a political candidate is 'not a Christian'; Approved of contraception in special circumstances; Praised an abortion rights advocate; Issued an Exhortation that changes the practice of denying Holy Communion to those who are in 'irregular unions' (divorced and remarried, etc.); Discussed possibility of women deacons; Compared idea of Islamic conquest to Jesus' Words in the Gospel of Saint Matthew; Said that Mother Earth is the one who 'gave us life and safeguards us'; Taught that Jesus 'knew temptation in Himself'…


J E S U S

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. By their fruits you shall know them."
– Gospel of Saint Matthew –



CHRONO
LOGY LIST
2013          2014          2015          2016

 

2013


FEBRUARY 11, 2013
Pope Benedict XVI Resigns – first Papal resignation in over 600 years

Lightning Strikes Saint Peter's Dome – twice

 

MARCH 13, 2013
Jorge Mario Bergoglio becomes 'Pope Francis I'.  He is the first Pope from the Jesuit Order, the first Pope from the Americas, and the first Pope who became a priest after Vatican II.

Newly elected Pope Francis jokes with Cardinals saying 'May God forgive you for what you've done.' (NEW YORK POST)

 

MARCH 14, 2013
Grand Master Gustavo Raffi of the Grand Orient Masonic Lodge of Italy praises election of Pope Francis writing  'with Pope Francis, nothing will be as it was before.'   (GRANDEORIENTE.IT)

 

MARCH 15, 2013
Pope Francis Ditches Red Shoes   (TELEGRAPH)

 

MARCH 16, 2013
Pope Francis reportedly says 'Carnival time is over!' when offered the traditional papal red cape after his election (BBC)

 

MAY 14, 2013
Pope Francis Elected After Supernatural 'Signs' in the Conclave, Says Cardinal – Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the Archbishop of Vienna, who was himself widely tipped as a possible successor to Pope Benedict, said he had personally had two “strong signs” that Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was “the chosen one” in the run up to vote. He said only divine intervention could explain the speed with which the Argentine Cardinal – who did not feature on any of the main lists of likely candidates compiled by Vatican experts – was elected. Speaking to an Anglican conference in London, he also said the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, had a “strange similarity” to the new Pope. He said that the two elections were a “little miracle” and a “sign from the Lord” that the two churches should work towards closer unity.   (THE TELEGRAPH)

 

MAY 22, 2013
Pope Francis Says Atheists Who Do Good Are Redeemed. 'We all have the duty to do good. For Atheists: Just do good and we'll find a meeting point'   (REUTERS) 

 

MAY 23, 2013
Pope Francis officially de-emphasizes papal titles, choosing instead to list himself first by the basic title "Bishop of Rome" in the Vatican's annual directory (NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER)

 

JUNE 2, 2013
Pope Francis speaking about Jesus multiplying the bread and fish says 'Here's the miracle, that it is more a sharing than a multiplying' (CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY)

 

JUNE 6, 2013
Francis was quoted by several members of the Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Religious Men and Women as crudely mocking a group of traditional Catholics for gifting Francis with a spiritual treasure of 3,525 rosaries prayed for his intention. He reportedly said to the LACC group afterwards, 'It's like turning back 60 years! They count rosaries… Please, don't laugh'

 

JUNE 15, 2013
Pope Francis says 'We look for Jesus Christ and say: 'This is your sin, and I will sin again'. And Jesus likes that, because it was his mission: to become the sinner for us' (NEWS.VA)

 

JUNE 30, 2013
Pope Francis tweets 'A Christian is never bored or sad. Rather, the one who loves Christ is full of joy and radiates joy.' (TWITTER)


JULY 08, 2013
Pope Francis says 'I also think with affection of those Muslim immigrants who this evening begin the fast of Ramadan, which I trust will bear abundant spiritual fruit.' (VATICAN.VA)

 

JULY 13, 2013
Pope reportedly says that 1 in 50 Clergy are pedophiles, including Bishops and Cardinals
(CBS NEWS)

 

JULY 16, 2013
Vatican offers 'time off purgatory' for followers of Pope Francis tweets
(CBS NEWS)

 

JULY 26, 2013
Pope Francis tells youth: 'Be rebellious' and 'mess' with dioceses
(THE WASHINGTON TIMES)

 

JULY 29, 2013
When asked about gay priests, Pope Francis replies 'Who am I to judge?' (NEW YORK TIMES)  

 

AUGUST 30, 2013
Pope Francis breaks protocol by bowing to the Queen of Jordan
(THE TELEGRAPH)

 

AUGUST 28, 2013
Pope Francis' Communion Wafers Made by Prisoners in Argentina
(HUFFINGTON POST)

 

AUGUST 31, 2013
Pope Francis begins the Papal Selfie trend

 

SEPTEMBER 04, 2013
Pope Francis says 'The issue for those who do not believe in God is in obeying their own conscience' (NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER)

 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2013
Pope implies The Virgin Mary has 'defects', saying "The Church and the Virgin Mary are mothers…All mothers have defects, we all have defects, but when we speak of our mother’s defects we gloss over them" (VATICAN.VA)

 

SEPTEMBER 13, 2013
Pope says church is obsessed with gays, abortion, and birth control – 'It is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time….We have to find a new balance' (THE NEW YORK TIMES)

 

SEPTEMBER 20, 2013
Pope Speaks Out Against Church's 'Small-Minded Rules' (ABC NEWS)

 

SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
When speaking of Adoration, Pope Francis says 'Fall asleep then, sleep! He is still looking at you.(VATICAN.VA)

 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2013
Pope Francis said  'A person once asked me, in a provocative manner, if I approved of homosexuality. I replied with another question: ‘Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?’ We must always consider the person.'   (AMERICA MAGAZINE)

 

OCTOBER 1, 2013
Pope Francis says:
'Proselytism is solemn nonsense, it makes no sense. We need to get to know each other, listen to each other and improve our knowledge of the world around us'

'The most serious of the evils that afflict the world these days are youth unemployment and the loneliness of the old'

'Each of us has a vision of good and of evil. We have to encourage people to move towards what they think is good'

'I believe in God, not in a Catholic God. There is no Catholic God'

'You know what I think about this? Heads of the Church have often been narcissists, flattered and thrilled by their courtiers. The court is the leprosy of the papacy
'
(LA REPUBBLICA)

 

OCTOBER 10, 2013
Vatican recalls Pope Francis medals after Jesus' name misspelled  
(CBS NEWS)

 

NOVEMBER 11, 2013
Pope Francis said 'As humans, we are born with ignorance and by working we learn culture. Therefore, we move from ignorance to culture. That is the experience of our human genius; of human work – transforming ignorance into culture through science, art, work. Man is the author of culture. So, what happens when man is no longer a builder? He takes over culture and uses it not for improvement and the good of human kind but for selfish reasons. And then things happen. Think of Hiroshima just to name you a far away example. Things happen that create ignorance. Take manipulation, using people for your own good. Consider, for example, mining, open pit mines which pollute the environment, or high voltage cables that do not protect life. I do not know. Then, man, with such culture, is capable of creating ignorance again. That is the second form of ignorance we must be careful of. Because then we create and destroy. The God Shiva, right? The myth which tells that he created the world is a current myth. The God Shiva creates the world and then destroys it. Now, it occurs to me that we are living the myth of Shiva I think.'   (VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH ARGENTINIAN DIRECTOR FERNANDO SOLANAS)

 

NOVEMBER 15, 2013
Pope's unprecedented survey signals far-reaching reform – with Pope Francis has come a growing sense that he intends fundamental change in the way his huge Church is run – and that he wants to include "ordinary" Catholics in it. His unprecedented exercise in consultation – the survey sent to all Catholic bishops with instructions to consult as widely as possible – is a powerful further sign of reform in the old top-down way of governing the Church   (BBC)

 

NOVEMBER 19, 2013
NARAL (National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League) tweets 'Dear Pope Francis, thank you. Signed, #prochoice women everywhere' (TWITTER)

 

NOVEMBER 24, 2013
Pope Francis on Muslims – 'We must never forget that they profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, who will judge humanity on the last day.'   (VATICAN.VA)

 

NOVEMBER 24, 2013
Pope Francis says 'I prefer a church which is bruised, hurting and dirty(VATICAN.VA)

 

NOVEMBER 24, 2013
Pope Francis writes '…Along with the virtues, this means above all the new commandments, the first and the greatest of the commandments, and the one that best identifies us as Christ’s disciples: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (Jn 15:12)….'   (EVANGELII GAUDIUM, VATICAN.VA)

 

NOVEMBER 29, 2013
Pope Francis said during a homily 'In the Gospel, Jesus does not become angry, but pretends to when the disciples do not understand him.'   (CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY)

 

DECEMBER 3, 2013
Pope Francis Leaving Vatican At Night To Minister To Homeless? – A knowledgeable source in Rome told The Huffington Post that “Swiss guards confirmed that the pope has ventured out at night, dressed as a regular priest, to meet with homeless men and women.” When Pope Francis was Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, he was known to sneak out at night to break bread with the homeless, sitting with them on the street and eating with them to show that they were loved. (HUFFINGTON POST)

 

DECEMBER 11, 2013
Pope Francis says 'Never fear the final judgment, because Christ will always be at our side(LA STAMPA)

 

DECEMBER 17, 2013
Pope Francis makes the cover of The Advocate – the leading LGBT magazine

 

DECEMBER 20, 2013
Pope Francis speaking of The Virgin Mary says 'The Gospel does not tell us anything: if she spoke a word or not… She was silent, but in her heart, how many things [she] told the Lord! ‘You, that day, this and the other that we read, you had told me that he would be great, you had told me that you would have given him the throne of David, his forefather, that he would have reigned forever and now I see him there!’ Our Lady was human! And perhaps she even had the desire to say: ‘Lies! I was deceived!'   (VATICAN RADIO)

 

DECEMBER 23, 2013
Time Magazine names Pope Francis 'Person of the Year'

 

DECEMBER 27, 2013
Esquire Magazine names Pope Francis 'Best Dressed Man of the Year'

 

 

2014

 

JANUARY, 2014
Pope sends iPhone message to "The Godfather of the Prosperity Gospel" televangelist Kenneth Copeland via Tony Palmer

 

JANUARY 20, 2014
Pope Francis says 'Sharing our experience in carrying that cross, to expel the illness within our hearts, which embitters our life: it is important that you do this in your meetings. Those that are Christian, with the Bible, and those that are Muslim, with the Quran. The faith that your parents instilled in you will always help you move on.'    (ROME REPORTS)

 

JANUARY 26, 2014
Pope's Peace Doves attacked by Crow and Seagull   (BBC)

 

JANUARY 28, 2014
Pope Francis is on the cover of Rolling Stone

 

FEBRUARY 12, 2014
Pope Francis says 'If you don't feel the need for God's mercy, don't even bother going to Mass!(NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER)

 

FEBRUARY 14, 2014
Pope Francis says 'We all know that the perfect family does not exist, nor a perfect husband or wife'   (VATICAN.VA)

 

FEBRUARY 20, 2014
Pope Francis Opens Vatican Meeting With Urge For Flexibility In Family Reforms (THE HUFFINGTON POST)

 

FEBRUARY 28, 2014
Pope Francis says 'When love fails, and it fails many times, we have to feel the pain of that failure, accompany the people who have felt the failure of their love'   (VATICAN.VA)

Tony Palmer, under Pope Francis's name, releases video stating that 'Real communion is not the bread but the brother'    (THE ARK COMMUNITY)

 

MARCH 03, 2014
Pope Francis accidentally says 'the F word'   (HUFFINGTON POST)

 

MARCH 05, 2014
Pope Francis goes to Confession in public and breaks protocol   (REUTERS)

 

MARCH 05, 2014
Pope Francis gets his own fan magazine, Il Mio Papa (or 'My Pope')

 

MARCH 05, 2014
'Pope Francis:  Church Should Support Civil Unions' – Pope Francis suggested in a newspaper interview that it could support some types of civil unions saying 'We have to look at different cases and evaluate them in their variety.' (CNN)

 

MARCH 10, 2014
As relayed by Cardinal Dolan, Pope Francis says The Catholic Church should not dismiss gay marriage, but should study it
(THE TELEGRAPH)

 

APRIL 3, 2014
Pope Francis says 'Scold the Lord a little. 'Hey you promised me this and you haven't done it!…Prayer must be a negotiation with God'   (CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE)

 

APRIL 6, 2014
Pope Francis said 'Where do you think God is found? In church? No, He's found in your weaknesses.''   (ANSA)

 

APRIL 17, 2014
Pope Francis washes feet of disabled and elderly   (TIME)

 

APRIL 23, 2014
Pope Francis phones woman in invalid marriage, telling her it's okay to take Holy Communion saying 'A little Bread and Wine does no harm'

 

APRIL 24, 2014
Pope says '
There are some priests who are more papist than the Pope'

 

APRIL 28, 2014
Pope Francis tweets 'Inequality is the root of social evil'

 

MAY 9, 2014
Pope Francis calls on governments for 'Legitimate Redistribution' of wealth to the poor  
(HUFFINGTON POST)

 

MAY 12, 2014
Pope Francis quotes Hillary Clinton saying 'It takes a village to raise a child'   (ZENIT NEWS AGENCY)

 

MAY 13, 2014
Pope Francis says he would baptize aliens saying 'Who are we to close doors?'   (THE INDEPENDENT)

 

MAY 24, 2014
Pope Francis visits Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity. Days later, a fire breaks out at the scene.   (THE GUARDIAN)

 

MAY 25, 2014
Pope Francis arrives in Jordan. Before his arrival, those waiting at the airport in Amman felt a magnitude 4.1 earthquake that struck in Israel near its border with Jordan   (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

 

MAY 25, 2014
Pope Francis offers prayers at Israeli separation wall – Stop rouses controversy as pontiff invites Peres and Abbas to Rome in unprecedented papal intervention in peace process.   (THE GUARDIAN)

 

MAY 27, 2014
Pope Francis says 'Since it is not dogma, the door is always open to rethink priestly celibacy(NBC NEWS)

 

JUNE 05, 2014
Pope meets with Televangelist Joel Osteen at the Vatican   (NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER)

 

JUNE 08, 2014
First ever Muslim, Jewish prayers at Vatican   (NY POST)

 

JUNE 13, 2014
Pope Francis says 'The three religions, we have our fundamentalist groups, small in relation to all the rest. A fundamentalist group, although it may not kill anyone, although it may not strike anyone, is violent. The mental structure of fundamentalists is violence in the name of God'..   (CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY)

 

 

JUNE 23, 2014
Pope excommunicates Italian Mafia members   (CNN)

 

JUNE 24, 2014
Pope meets with Televangelist Kenneth Copeland and other Evangelicals at the Vatican   (NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER)

 

JUNE 29, 2014
Pope says 'communists are closeted Christians'.  
(CNN)

 

JUNE 29, 2014
Pope Francis when asked about misogyny and women in the Church said 'The fact is that woman was taken from a rib … (he laughs strongly). I’m kidding, that’s a joke. I agree that the question of women must be explored more deeply, otherwise one cannot understand the Church herself.'   
(IL MESSAGGERO)

 

JULY 27, 2014
Pope Francis gives his Top 10 List on how to be happy – doesn't mention Jesus once   (NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER)

 

JULY 28, 2014
Pope Francis apologizes to Pentecostals   (NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER)

 

SEPTEMBER 01, 2014
Google Translate equates Francis to a “better world” – Either it’s Google giving Francis a wink or a hacker thought of a fun way to show their support for the Holy Father. Go to Google Translate, select Italian as the source language and type in “Bergoglio”. The Pope’s surname translates as “better world” in any target language you choose. It’s hard to explain this little number and even Google Italy seems clueless as to who is responsible. (LA STAMPA)

 

SEPTEMBER 1, 2014
Pope Francis hosts all-star soccer match for peace   (NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)

 

SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
Retired Israeli President Shimon Peres proposes a new global "United Nations of Religions" to Pope Francis   (FOX NEWS)

 

SEPTEMBER 13, 2014
Pope Francis announces that World War III may have already begun  
(BBC)

 

SEPTEMBER 14, 2014
Pope Francis marries 20 couples – some of whom were 'living in sin'   (HUFFINGTON POST)

 

SEPTEMBER 17, 2014
Pope Francis plans on exiling Cardinal Burke   (FOX NEWS)

 

OCTOBER 5, 2014
In interview with La Nacion Pope Francis says 'The world has changed and the Church cannot lock itself into alleged interpretations of dogma.'   (LA NACION)

 

OCTOBER 6, 2014
Pope ditches Latin as official language of Vatican synod (REUTERS)

 

OCTOBER 9, 2014
Pope Francis says 'But God does not exist: Do not be shocked! So God does not exist! There is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, they are persons, they are not some vague idea in the clouds … This God spray does not exist! The three persons exist!'   (VATICAN RADIO)

 

OCTOBER 9, 2014
Pope: Judas a Sinner, But No Worse Than Anyone Else – Pope Francis said 'Judas was not the one who sinned the most: I don't know who sinned the most. … Judas, poor man, is the one who closed himself to love and that is why he became a traitor. And they all ran away during the difficult time of the Passion and left Jesus alone. They are all sinners.'  (USA TODAY)

 

OCTOBER 13, 2014
Pope Francis Family Synod concludes with initial document suggesting dramatic shift in attitude toward gays – Document must be revised after public outcry

 

OCTOBER 17, 2014
Pope Francis rents outs Sistine Chapel to Porsche  
(CNN)

 

OCTOBER 19, 2014
Pope Francis says 'The Church should not fear change…by carefully surveying the signs of the times, we are making every effort to adapt ways and methods' and 'God is not afraid of new things! That is why he is continually surprising us, opening our hearts, and guiding us in unexpected ways.'   (VATICAN RADIO)

 

OCTOBER 23, 2014
Pope Francis said that keeping inmates isolated in maximum security prisons is 'a form of torture' and called life sentences 'a hidden death penalty' that should be abolished along with capital punishment   (NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER)

 

OCTOBER 27, 2014
Pope Says Evolution, Big Bang Are Real, saying 'God is not a divine being or a magician, but the Creator who brought everything to life…Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation, because evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve.'   (USA TODAY)

 

OCTOBER 27, 2014
Pope Francis says 'But there is a third group of Christians…They are lukewarm. They are neither light not dark. And God does not love these'   (VATICAN RADIO)

 

OCTOBER 28, 2014
Pope Francis says 'Jesus prays to the Father for us(NEWS.VA)

 

OCTOBER 29, 2014
Pope Francis says 'It's strange, but if I talk about these subjects then the Pope is a communist, according to some. The fact that the love for the poor is in the center of the gospel is misunderstood.' (NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER)

 

NOVEMBER 5, 2014
Francis codifies pope's ability to fire bishops   (NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER)

 

NOVEMBER 25, 2014
It is reported in Austin Ivereigh's book The Great Reformer, that Tony Palmer, an Anglican and long time friend of Pope Francis, spoke to Bergoglio about whether he should become Catholic. Mr. Palmer described the Cardinal’s response as: “[Bergoglio] told me that we need to have bridge-builders. He counseled me not to take the step because it looked like I was choosing a side and I would cease to be a bridge-builder.”   (THE GREAT REFORMER)

 

NOVEMBER 29, 2014
Pope Francis prays in Istanbul's Blue Mosque – Francis took off his shoes as he entered the huge mosque, before bowing his head in prayer for several minutes, facing Mecca and standing next to Istanbul's Grand Mufti Rahmi Yaranwith Muslim  (REUTERS)

 

DECEMBER 2, 2014
Pope Francis unites Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists in joint declaration against 'slavery'  (NEWS.VA)

 

DECEMBER 2, 2014
Pope Francis compares Islamic Terrorists to Christian fundamentalists, saying 'We have our share of them (fundamentalists). All religions have these little groups'   (REUTERS)

 

DECEMBER 3, 2014
Pope Francis fires head of the Swiss Guard   (NY DAILY NEWS)

 

DECEMBER 14, 2014
Pope Francis says 'I confess something to you, when I have seen a Christian…with such rigidness on the outside, I ask the Lord: ‘But Lord, throw a banana peel in front of them, so that they will take a good fall, and feel shame that they are sinners…'   (VATICAN RADIO)

 

 

2015

 

JANUARY 15, 2015
Pope Francis says there are limits on free speech and if someone speaks badly about his mother, they could 'expect a punch'   (WALL STREET JOURNAL)

 

JANUARY 19, 2015
Pope Francis tells Catholics they 'do not need to breed like rabbits'   (BBC)

 

JANUARY 19, 2015
Pope Francis again references a 1907 apocalyptic book about the reign of the Anti-Christ and the End of the World titled "Lord of the World" by Robert Hugh Benson

 


JANUARY 25, 2015
Balloons Replace Doves as the Vatican Symbol of Peace   (TIME)



JANUARY 27, 2015
Pope Francis meets with, hugs transgender person dubbed 'devil's daughter' "Francis told Lejarraga in an initial phone call that God loves all his children 'as they are.' He went on: "You are a son of God and the Church loves you and accepts you as you are.'"
(NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER)

 

FEBRUARY 15, 2015
Pope Francis Slams 'Prejudiced Mentality' Of Believers Who Fearfully Cling To Religious Laws  
(HUFFINGTON POST)

 

FEBRUARY 18, 2015
New Ways Ministry, a gay Catholic group gets audience with Pope Francis and VIP treatment at Vatican for first time  
(REUTERS)

 

FEBRUARY 26, 2015
Pope Francis Arranges For Homeless Man To Be Buried In The Vatican  
(THE GUARDIAN)

 

MARCH 5, 2015
Pope Francis says in interview 'I told the Lord: 'you are taking care of me. But if your will is that I die or that they do something to me, I ask you only one favor: that it doesn't hurt. Because I'm a big coward when it comes to physical pain.'  
(CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY)

 

MARCH 7, 2015
While commemorating the 50th anniversary of the first time a pope celebrated Mass in the vernacular following the Second Vatican Council Pope Francis said 'You cannot turn back. We have to always go forward, always forward and who goes back is making a mistake…Let us give thanks to the Lord for what he has done in his church in these 50 years of liturgical reform. It was really a courageous move by the church to get closer to the people of God so that they could understand well what it does, and this is important for us: to follow Mass like this.'  
(NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER)

 

MARCH 13, 2015
Pope Francis said of his election 'They (the Cardinals in the Conclave) asked me if I accepted. I said yes. I don't know if they made me take an oath, I don't remember.'  
(CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY)

 

MARCH 15, 2015
Pope Francis, when asked 'What happens to that lost soul? Will it be punished?' replied 'there is no punishment, but the annihilation of that soul. All the others will participate in the beatitude of living in the presence of the Father. The souls that are annihilated will not take part in that banquet; with the death of the body their journey is finished.' 
(LA REPUBBLICA)

 

MARCH 22, 2015
Pope Francis Credited With Performing 'Miracle' As St. Gennaro's Blood Liquifies in Naples  
(HUFFINGTON POST)

 

APRIL 4, 2015
Pope Francis washes the feet of men, women, and a transgender man named 'Isabel' for Holy Thursday at the Roman prison Rebibbia.  
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

 

APRIL 7, 2015
Pope Francis collaborates on commercial pop song with Italian-Argentine musician Odino Faccia titled "So We Can All Be One". Lyrics include "The future is in your mind, In your hands and in your heart. So that all may be one – Gone are the walls, Only the value of the meeting, Which it is the bridge to peace
(CBS NEWS)

 

APRIL 28, 2015
Pope Francis says
'How I wish that Christians could kneel in veneration when a poor person enters the church.'   (VATICAN RADIO)


APRIL 29, 2015
Pope Francis jokes 'being Argentinian, they thought I would call myself  Jesus II'   (NY TIMES)

APRIL 29, 2015
Pope Francis demands equal pay for women, calls pay gap 'Pure Scandal
(NBC NEWS)

 

MAY 6, 2015
Pope Francis d
irects Priests to grant forgiveness to women who had abortions and former abortion doctors

 

MAY 7, 2015
Pope Francis
says decline of marriage 'Is a Form of Male Chauvinism'   (CNS NEWS)

 

MAY 7, 2015
Pope Francis
makes history by welcoming a woman archbishop (Archbishop Antje Jackelén, Head of The Church of Sweden) to an official audience at the Apostolic Palace for the first time  (HUFFINGTON POST)

 

MAY 13, 2015
Vatican officially recognizes Palestinian State in new treaty

 

MAY 29, 2015
Pope Francis said 'There is also a question, whose explanation one does not learn in a catechesis. It is a question I frequently ask myself and many of you, many people ask: “Why do children suffer?”. And there are no answers. This too is a mystery. I just look to God and ask:“But why?”. And looking at the Cross: “Why is your Son there? Why?”. It is the mystery of the Cross. I often think of Our Lady, when they handed down to her the dead body of her Son, covered with wounds, spat on, bloodied and soiled. And what did Our Lady do? “Did she carry him away?”. No, she embraced him, she caressed him. Our Lady, too, did not understand. Because she, in that moment, remembered what the Angel had said to her: “He will be King, he will be great, he will be a prophet…”; and inside, surely, with that wounded body lying in her arms, that body that suffered so before dying, inside surely she wanted to say to the Angel: “Liar! I was deceived.” She, too, had no answers.(VATICAN.VA)

 

 

JUNE 3, 2015
One of Pope’s closest advisors, Argentinean Archbishop Victor Fernández, gives interview explaining how Pope Francis is changing the Church, saying 'The pope goes slow because he wants to be sure that the changes have a deep impact. The slow pace is necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the changes. He knows there are those hoping that the next pope will turn everything back around. If you go slowly it's more difficult to turn things back… . You have to realize that he is aiming at reform that is irreversible…No, there’s no turning back. If and when Francis is no longer pope, his legacy will remain strong. For example, the pope is convinced that the things he’s already written or said cannot be condemned as an error. Therefore, in the future anyone can repeat those things without fear of being sanctioned.'   (Italian newspaper CORRIERE DELLA SERA, May 10, 2015)

 

JUNE 6, 2015
The Pastoral Staff of Pope Francis breaks during a trip to Sarajevo – it is repaired with adhesive tape   (LA STAMPA)

 

JUNE 8, 2015
Pope Francis says to journalists 'Pray for me, and if some of you can't pray because you are not believers, send me good vibrations.'   (CNN)

 

JUNE 12, 2015
Pope Francis to hold his first public meeting with gay activist Simón Cazal, executive director of LGBT rights group SOMOSGAY on July 11, 2015 (PEOPLE MAGAZINE)

 

JUNE 18, 2015
Call for 'Ecological Conversion' – Pope Francis' plea for humanity in his new encyclical Laudato Si (NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER)

 

JUNE 23, 2015
Pope Francis Says Weapons Manufacturers Shouldn’t Call Themselves Christians (HUFFINGTON POST)

 

JUNE 23, 2015
Pope Francis tweets "God’s love is free. He asks for nothing in return; all he wants is for his love to be accepted."
(TWITTER)

 

JUNE 29, 2015
Bolivian Culture Minister Marko Machicaoope says Pope Francis 'specifically requested' to chew coca leaves during his visit to Bolivia. Coca leaves (the raw ingredient for cocaine) were declared an illegal substance under the 1961 UN convention on narcotic drugs.  Pope Francis clarified in a July 13 airplane press conference that he did not try the coca leaves.  When asked where his energy comes from he said 'What drugs are you on? That was the real question. Maté tea helps me but I didn’t try the coca leaves, let me make that clear!'   (REUTERS / LA STAMPA)

 

JULY 7, 2015
Pope hints at 'scandalous' changes for the church – Referring to the synod on the family to be held in October, Pope Francis said to a large crowd 'I ask you to pray fervently for this intention, so that Christ can take even what might seem to us impure, scandalous or threatening, and turn it … into a miracle. Families today need miracles!'   (CNN)

 

JULY 9, 2015
Unbridled capitalism is the 'dung of the devil', says Pope Francis (THE GUARDIAN)

 

JULY 9, 2015
Pope Francis (speaking about Jesus multiplying the fish and loaves) during a homily for the Votive Mass of the Most Holy Eucharist in Bolivia said 'He takes a little bread and some fish, he blesses them and then gives them to his disciples to share with the crowd. This is how the miracle takes place. It is not magic or sorcery. With these three gestures, Jesus is able to turn a mentality which discards others into a mindset of communion and community….And we can imagine this now: we can imagine how they kept passing the loaves and fishes from hand to hand until the food reached those who were farthest away. Jesus managed to generate a current among his followers: they all went on sharing what was their own, turning it into a gift for the others; and that is how they all got to eat their fill. Incredibly, food was left over: they collected it in seven baskets.' (VATICAN)

 

JULY 12, 2015
Pope Francis had accepted a 'Communist Crucifix' featuring a hammer and sickle from Bolivian President Evo Morales on his arrival in Boliva on July 9.  When asked about the controversial gift, Pope Francis said 'I understand this work. For me it wasn't an offense. I carry it with me.'   (THE GUARDIAN)

 

JULY 12, 2015
The New York Times
recapped the Pope's South America trip, writing:
  "he censured capitalism, championed the rights of the poor, warned of irreversible damage to the planet and urged youths to 'make a mess'.  In passionate speeches, the Argentine pontiff urged the destitute to change the world economic order and branded the unfettered pursuit of money as the 'dung of the devil'.  He also sought forgiveness for the sins committed by the Catholic Church against native Americans during the colonial era.  …
Francis called for the poor to have the "sacred rights" of labour, lodging, and land…Food and shelter were essential to human dignity, he said…Francis said that protecting the environment was no longer a choice but a duty if the world wanted to save the planet from ruin.
"   (THE NEW YORK TIMES)

 

JULY 13, 2015
At least 14 people were bitten by snakes and had to be attended by medics during a Mass conducted by Pope Francis in the Paraguayan city of Asuncion   (ALJAZEERA)

 

JULY 20, 2015
Vatican Communications official Fr. Federico Lombardi tells National Geographic 'No one knows all of what he’s doing. His personal secretary doesn’t even know. I have to call around: One person knows one part of his schedule, someone else knows another part…the structure of the curia is no longer clear. The process is ongoing, and what will be at the end, no one knows. The secretary of state is not as centralized, and the pope has many relations that are directed by him alone, without any mediation. In a sense, this is positive, because in the past there were criticisms that someone had too much power over the pope. They cannot say this is the case now.(NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC)

 

JULY 28, 2015
'The Pope Francis Statement That Changed the Church on LGBT Issues' – '…Under the leadership of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church is evolving on LGBT issues….The church is beginning to discern more deeply the full measure of God’s presence in LGBT individuals and, yes, couples, too…'   (TIME MAGAZINE)

 

JULY 29, 2015
'Shadow council' speaker pushes Church acceptance of contraception, gay sex (CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY)

 

AUGUST 5, 2015
Pope Francis said Catholics who have divorced and are civilly remarried 'are not, in fact, excommunicated — they are not excommunicated — and they absolutely must not be treated as if they were'   (CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE)

 

AUGUST 5, 2015
Pope Francis Invites
Oprah, William Morris Agent Agent Ari Emanuel, television producer Brian Grazer, actor Matt Damon, supermogul David Geffen to to the Vatican for summit on how the church is perceived by Western media
(CATHOLIC VOTE, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER)

 

AUGUST 10, 2015
Pope Francis calls Europe's rejection of migrants an 'Act of War'   (THE INDEPENDENT)

 

AUGUST 10, 2015
Vatican For Sale: Very Wealthy Rent the Sistine Chapel, Dine with the Pope and Buy Secret Archives – 'Billionaires now have the opportunity to not only visit the Archives but also purchase a one-of-a-kind high quality copy of a transcript on parchment with a very high price tag (over $100,000 per page). But only an elite group of investors know how to get involved in this opportunity.'
(FORBES)

 

AUGUST 25, 2015
Pope Francis says 'In opposing every attempt to create a rigid uniformity, we can and must build unity on the basis of our diversity of languages, cultures and religions, and lift our voices against everything which would stand in the way of such unity' (VATICAN RADIO)

 

AUGUST 30, 2015
Francis Effect’ Prompts Six in Ten American Catholics to Support Gay Marriage (BRIETBART)

 

AUGUST 31, 2015
During a 'virtual audience' with David Muir called 'Pope Francis and the People', Pope Francis said 'Friendship in society, that's what God created us for.'   (ABC NEWS)

 

SEPTEMBER 1, 2015
Pope Francis emphasizes forgiveness for women who have abortions (THE WASHINGTON POST)

 

SEPTEMBER 2, 2015
Catholics Clash With Church Over 'Sins,' Survey Finds – 'new poll by the Pew Research Center reveals that Americans who identify as Catholic are surprisingly open to non-traditional families, and many don't see birth control, cohabitation, remarriage or gay sex as sins — no matter what the Vatican says. Much smaller but still significant percentages don't even see abortion — grounds for excommunication under canon law — as a sin…Pope Francis, who is coming to the U.S. later this month, has won fans for a less judgmental approach to Catholic rule-breakers' (NBC NEWS).

 

SEPTEMBER 5, 2015
Pope Francis said in a video message to theologians 'Doctrine is not a closed system devoid of dynamics able to raise questions, doubts, inquiries' (CATHOLIC HERALD)

 

SEPTEMBER 6, 2015
Pope Asks All European Parishes to Take In a Refugee Family (VATICAN RADIO)

 

SEPTEMBER 7, 2015
Pope Francis Reforms Roman Catholic Marriage Annulment Procedures (NBC NEWS)

 

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015
Pope Francis said during a homily 'If you are a priest and you can’t manage to be merciful, tell your bishop who will give you a job in administration but please don’t go into the confessional box!  A priest who is not merciful does a lot of harm in the confessional box! He beats people. ‘No, Father, I am merciful but I’m a bit stressed….? It’s true…. Before going to hear confessions, go to your doctor who will give you some pills to make you less stressed' (VATICAN RADIO)

 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2015
In dossier Vatican officials accuse the Holy Father of "giving up an important dogma (annulment process), and assert that he has introduced de facto 'Catholic divorce'…argues that Francis 'circumvented' the regulated process for changing legislation for the universal Church and that motu proprio papal commission had been ordered to keep silent…this decision and others are effectively isolating the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith and that the Pope is steadily making their work superfluous." (NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER)

 

SEPTEMBER 13, 2015
In radio interview interview with Marcelo Figueroa, an evangelical Protestant who is a personal friend of the Pope and journalist at Buenos Aires’ Radio Milenium, Pope Francis said '…Fundamentalists keep God away from accompanying his people, they divert their minds from him and transform him into an ideology. So in the name of this ideological god, they kill, they attack, destroy, slander. Practically speaking, they transform that God into a Baal, an idol..No religion is immune from its own fundamentalisms. In every religion there will be a small group of fundamentalists whose work is to destroy for the sake of an idea, and not reality. And reality is superior to ideas…It’s obvious we’re mistreating creation. We’re not the friends of creation, we treat her sometimes like the worst enemy'  (CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY)

 


SEPTEMBER 13, 2015
In a homily Pope Francis says 'Jesus became the greatest sinner without having committed any. Paul tells us: ‘He became sin for us’, by taking on the image ‘He became the snake. He became sin to save us’; this is the message in the Liturgy of the Word today, the path of Jesus.'  
(VATICAN RADIO)

 

SEPTEMBER 20, 2015
Speaking to youth in Havana Pope Francis did not mention the Name of Jesus once – He said: '…Sure, a person sometimes dreams of things that are never going to happen. But dream them. Desire them. Seek the horizon. Open yourselves to great things. Don’t be wimpy. Open yourselves and dream. Dream that the world with you can be different. Dream that if you give the best of yourself, you are going to help this world be different. Don’t forget. Dream. If you get carried away and dream too much and life cuts you off, don't worry. Dream and share your dreams. Speak about the great things that you want, because inasmuch as your capacity to dream is greater, when life leaves you only half way, you will have gone farther. So, first dream
When a religion becomes a "little convent" it loses the best that it has, it loses its reality of adoring God, of believing in God. It’s a little convent of words, of prayers, of "I’m good and you’re bad,’ of moral regulations. I have my ideology, my way of thinking and you have yours; I close myself in this "little convent" of ideology. Open hearts. Open minds. If you are different than me, why don’t we talk? Why do we always throw rocks at that which separates us? At that in which we are differing? Why don’t we hold hands in that which we have in common? '   (ZENIT)

 

SEPTEMBER 22, 2015
A journalist asked 'There have already been discussions about a communist Pope, now there are event those who speak of a Pope who isn’t Catholic. In the face of these considerations, what do you think?'. Pope Francis answered 'A cardinal friend of mine told me that a very concerned woman, very Catholic, went to him. A bit rigid, but Catholic. And she asked him if it was true that in the Bible, they spoke of an antichrist, and she explained it to him. And also in the Apocalypse, no? And, then, if it was true that an anti-pope, who is the antichrist, the anti-Pope. But why is she asking me this question, this cardinal asked me? “Because I’m sure that Pope Francis is the anti-pope,” she said. And why does she ask this, why does she have this idea? “It’s because he doesn’t wear red shoes.”'  
(CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY)

 

SEPTEMBER 23, 2015
Arizona Mother Recalls When Her Daughter's Heart Healed After a Kiss from Pope Francis  
(PEOPLE)

 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2015
In a homily at Saint Patrick's Cathedral Pope Francis says 'if at times our efforts and works seem to fail and produce no fruit, we need to remember that we are followers of Jesus… and his life, humanly speaking, ended in failure, the failure of the cross'  
(NEW YORK TIMES)


SEPTEMBER 24, 2015
Cardinal Danneels, one of the papal delegates chosen to attend the upcoming Ordinary Synod on the Family, confessed to being part of a radical "mafia" reformist group opposed to Benedict XVI. He said he was part of a secret club of cardinals opposed to Pope Benedict XVI. He called it a "mafia" club that bore the name of St. Gallen. The group wanted a drastic reform of the Church, to make it "much more modern", and for Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio to head it. The group, which also comprised Cardinal Walter Kasper and the late Jesuit Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, has been documented in Austen Ivereigh's biography of Pope Francis, The Great Reformer.  
(NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER)

 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2015
Pope Francis Wants To Be President Of The World – Francis is also campaigning to lead public, secular, political discourse worldwide. He is arguing that the two realms of faith and politics are one
 
(HUFFINGTON POST)

 

 

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
Pope Francis to Release Pop-Rock Album 'Wake Up!' – a prog-rock-infused album titled Wake Up! is the Vatican-approved LP, collaboration with Believe Digital, which features the Pontiff delivering sacred hymns and excerpts of his most moving speeches in multiple languages paired with uplifting musical accompaniment ranging from pop-rock to Gregorian chant. Wake Up! arrives November 27th  
(ROLLING STONE)

 

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
Openly gay actor, journalist, comedian, and vocal supporter of same-sex marriage Mo Rocca served as a Lector (reader) at Pope Francis' Madison Square Garden Mass  
(HOLLYWOOD REPORTER)

 

SEPTEMBER 26, 2015
Shakira Performs John Lennon's 'Imagine' for the Pope at the United Nations – Shakira performed an acoustic version of “Imagine” following the Pope’s speech at the United Nations, lyrics include 'Imagine there's no heaven, It's easy if you try, No hell below us, Above us only sky…Imagine there's no countries, It isn't hard to do, Nothing to kill or die for, And no religion too'   (BILLBOARD/TIME)

 

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015
Pope Francis said 'Look, in the Church women are more important than men, because the church is a woman. It is “la” church, not “il” church. The Church is the bride of Jesus Christ. And the Madonna is more important than popes and bishops and priests. I must admit we are a bit late in an elaboration of the theology of women. We have to move ahead with that theology. Yes, that’s true.' (VATICAN RADIO)

 

OCTOBER 1, 2015
Final Roster of Synod Fathers Revealed –  those pushing for Church reform in pastoral practice (divorce, homosexuality) figure highly, especially among those personally chosen by the Holy Fathermany, if not the majority, of the Pope’s choices are those who would like to see changes in pastoral practice regarding issues relating to marriage and the family…Controversially, the Pope has again chosen 82-year-old Cardinal Godfried Danneels who reportedly advised the king of Belgium to sign an abortion law , told a victim of sexual abuse to keep quiet and once said same-sex 'marriage' was a 'positive development' (NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER)

 

OCTOBER 2, 2015
Pope held private meeting with same-sex couple in U.S. – Pope Francis held a private meeting with a longtime friend from Argentina who has been in a same-sex relationship for 19 years. Yayo Grassi, an atheist and openly gay man, brought his partner, Iwan Bagus, as well several other friends to the Vatican Embassy on September 23 for a brief visit with the Pope. Grassi said the Pope has long known that he is gay, but has never condemned his sexuality or his same-sex relationship, has never been judgmental, or said anything negative.   (CNN)

 

OCTOBER 2, 2015
The Pope's meeting with Kim Davis (the Kentucky clerk who spent six days in jail for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples) on September 24 at the Vatican Embassy in Washington was not intended as a show of support for her cause, the Vatican said Friday. Frederico Lombardi said 'several dozen' people were present at the Vatican Embassy during the meeting, saying 'Such brief greetings occur on all papal visits and are due to the Pope's characteristic kindness and availability…The Pope did not enter into the details of the situation of Mrs. Davis, and his meeting with her should not be considered a form of support of her position in all of its particular and complex aspects.'  
(CNN)

 

OCTOBER 5, 2015
Pope says Church can't be 'museum', must be open to change    (REUTERS)

 

OCTOBER 17, 2015
The Plot to Change Catholicism – '…Francis’s purpose is simple: He favors the proposal, put forward by the church’s liberal cardinals, that would allow divorced and remarried Catholics to receive communion without having their first marriage declared null….'  (NEW YORK TIMES)

 

OCTOBER 18, 2015
Pope Francis calls for changes to papacy and a more decentralized church  (RELIGION NEWS SERVICE)

 

OCTOBER 24, 2015
Pope Francis addresses Synod of Bishops at conclusion – 'It was about bearing witness to everyone that, for the Church, the Gospel continues to be a vital source of eternal newness, against all those who would “indoctrinate” it in dead stones to be hurled at others. It was also about laying bare the closed hearts which frequently hide even behind the Church’s teachings or good intentions, in order to sit in the chair of Moses and judge, sometimes with superiority and superficiality, difficult cases and wounded families…It was about trying to open up broader horizons, rising above conspiracy theories and blinkered viewpoints, so as to defend and spread the freedom of the children of God, and to transmit the beauty of Christian Newness, at times encrusted in a language which is archaic or simply incomprehensible….we have also seen that what seems normal for a bishop on one continent, is considered strange and almost scandalous for a bishop from another; what is considered a violation of a right in one society is an evident and inviolable rule in another; what for some is freedom of conscience is for others simply confusion. Cultures are in fact quite diverse, and each general principle needs to be inculturated, if it is to be respected and applied….The Synod experience also made us better realize that the true defenders of doctrine are not those who uphold its letter, but its spirit; not ideas but people; not formulae but the gratuitousness of God’s love and forgiveness….The Church’s first duty is not to hand down condemnations or anathemas, but to proclaim God’s mercy, to call to conversion, and to lead all men and women to salvation in the Lord.'    (VATICAN RADIO)

 

OCTOBER 28, 2015
Pope Francis' jokes to the World Jewish Congress with David de Rothschild in attendance. He told the story of an anti-Semitic priest who never missed an opportunity to attack the Jews. 'One day, in a sermon, the priest found a pretext and began to attack Jews, as always, in virulent form. Suddenly, Jesus came down from the cross, looked to the Virgin and says, 'Mom, let's go, it seems that they do not like us here.'' (LA NACION)

 

OCTOBER 29, 2015
Pope: God can only love and not condemn – Pope Francis says God can only love and not condemn and that love is His weakness and our victory. He said we are so closely bound to God’s love that nothing can sever us from it….'The gift is God’s love, a God who can’t sever himself from us. That is the impotence of God. We say: ‘God is all powerful, He can do everything!” Except for one thing: Sever Himself from us!…It’s impossible for God to not love us! And this is our safeguard….He is waiting, he is not condemning (us) and he is weeping. Why? Because he loves (us)!(VATICAN RADIO)

 

NOVEMBER 1, 2015
Pope Francis said 'The diverse opinion of the bishops is part of this modernity of the Church and of the diverse societies in which she operated, but the goal is the same, and for that which regards the admission of the divorced to the Sacraments, it confirms that this principle has been accepted by the Synod. This is bottom line result, the de facto appraisals are entrusted to the confessors, but at the end of faster or slower paths, all the divorced who ask will be admitted.' (LA REPUBBLICA)

 

NOVEMBER 5, 2015
Pope Says As a Boy He Wanted to Be a Butcher  (REUTERS)

 

NOVEMBER 6, 2015
Pope Francis: The Christian includes; Pharisees exclude – "The Christian includes, he does not close the door to anyone, even if this provokes resistance…The attitude of the Scribes and the Pharisees is the same, they exclude. [They say,] ‘We are the perfect, we follow the law. These people are sinners, they are publicans’; and the attitude of Jesus is to include. There are two paths in life: the path exclusion of persons from our community and the path of inclusion…This is the ‘including’ of God, against the exclusion of those who judge, who drive away people, persons: ‘No, no to this, no to that, no to that…’; and a little of circle of friends is created, which is their environment. It is a dialectic between exclusion and inclusion. God has included us all in salvation, all!(VATICAN RADIO)

 

NOVEMBER 10, 2015
Catholicism can and must change, Francis forcefully tells Italian church gathering – Pope Francis said 'I do not want a Church concerned with being at the centre and then ends by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures. If something should rightly disturb us and trouble our consciences, it is the fact that so many of our brothers and sisters are living without the strength, light and consolation born of friendship with Jesus Christ, without a community of faith to support them, without meaning and a goal in life. More than by fear of going astray, my hope is that we will be moved by the fear of remaining shut up within structures which give us a false sense of security, within rules which make us harsh judges, within habits which make us feel safe, while at our door people are starving and Jesus does not tire of saying to us: “Give them something to eat”…Christian doctrine is not a closed system incapable of generating questions, doubts and uncertainties, but it is living, it knows how to disturb and to encourage. Its face is not rigid, it has a body that moves and develops, it has tender flesh;Christian doctrine is called Jesus Christ….The Christian humanism that you are called upon to live radically affirms that dignity of every person as Son of God, establishes between all human beings a fundamental fraternity, teaches to understand work, to inhabit creation as our common home, and provides reasons for joy and humour, even in a life that is often very hard.'    (VATICAN RADIO)

 

NOVEMBER 11, 2015
Pope Francis said 'Because Jesus gave us the Eucharist as a meal, there is a close relationship between families and the Mass.  The togetherness we experience in our families is meant, in the family of the Church, to extend to all as a sign of God’s universal love.  In this way the Eucharist becomes a school of inclusion, in which we learn to be attentive to the needs of everyone.  Sadly, the family meal, this great symbol of togetherness, is disappearing in some societies.  Food itself, the very sign of our sharing with other, is wantonly wasted in some places, while our brothers and sisters go hungry in others.  The Eucharist reminds us that our bread is meant to be shared with all.  May our families, and the entire Church, be signs of togetherness and solidarity for the good of the whole human family, especially during the coming Jubilee of Mercy.'    (VATICAN RADIO)

 

NOVEMBER 16, 2015
Pope Francis suggests Lutherans might discern taking Catholic communion individually – Pope Francis has strikingly suggested that Lutherans married to Catholics can personally discern whether to take Communion in the Catholic church, saying it is not his role to give permission to such persons but to encourage them to listen to what God is telling them about their situations. In a moving ecumenical visit to Rome’s Evangelical Lutheran church Sunday afternoon, the pontiff also called for “reconciled diversity” between the Christian denominations and said both must ask forgiveness of each other for historic persecutions. Pope Francis said 'I ask myself: Is sharing the Lord’s Supper the end of a path or is it the viaticum for walking together? It is true that in a certain sense sharing is to say that there are not differences among us, that we have the same doctrine — I underline the word, a word difficult to understand — but I ask myself: Don’t we have the same Baptism? And if we have the same baptism, we must walk together. You are a witness of an even profound path because it is a conjugal path, a path truly of family, of human love, and of shared faith. We have the same Baptism….I respond to you only with a question, What can I do with my husband, so that the Lord’s Supper accompanies me in the paths of my life? It is a problem to which everyone must respond but a pastor friend told me: ‘We believe that the Lord is present there. He is present. You believe that the Lord is present. And what is the difference?’ There are explanations, interpretations. Life is bigger than explanations and interpretations. Always make reference to Baptism. One faith, one baptism, one Lord,’ Paul tells us, 'From there, grab hold of the consequences.' I will not ever dare to give permission to do this because it is not my competence. One Baptism, one Lord, one faith. Speak with the Lord and go forward. I do not dare to say more.' (NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER)

 

NOVEMBER 16, 2015
Obama Invokes Pope Francis to Justify Taking Syrian Refugees – "President Obama on Monday invoked Pope Francis as a way to justify taking in thousands of refugees from war-torn Syria, despite warnings from Congress and several states that doing so runs the risk of taking in terrorists disguised as refugees. "When Pope Francis came to visit the United States and gave a speech before Congress, he didn't just speak about Christians who were being persecuted, he didn't call on Catholic parishes just to admit those who were of the same religious faith, he said protect people who were vulnerable," Obama said in remarks to the press in Turkey."  (THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER)

 

NOVEMBER 17, 2015
Pope Francis Answers Kids' Letters in New Book  – "Pope Francis will answer young readers’ letters in a book that Chicago’s Loyola Press announced Tuesday it will publish March 1 to be titled “Dear Pope Francis: The Pope Answers Letters From Children Around the World” – will include the pope’s responses to 30 handwritten letters from children 6 to 13 years old from around the world."  (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

 

NOVEMBER 17, 2015
Catholic Bishops Revise Voter Guide After Debate Over ‘Pope Francis Agenda’ – "The nation’s Catholic bishops on Tuesday (Nov. 17) passed an updated guide for Catholic voters ahead of next year’s elections, but only after airing unusually sharp disagreements on how much they can, and should, adjust their priorities to match those of Pope Francis. More than any other item on the agenda of the bishops’ annual meeting here, the debate over the lengthy voter guide, called “Faithful Citizenship,” revealed deep divides among the bishops and provided a snapshot of the extent of the “Francis effect” on the U.S. hierarchy." (THE WASHINGTON POST)

 

NOVEMBER 20, 2015
Pope Francis calls Christmas a ‘charade’ as the ‘World continues to wage war’    (THE WASHINGTON TIMES)

 

NOVEMBER 20, 2015
Neurotic priests scare me, says Pope – In comments that had his audience chuckling at a conference on training for the priesthood, the 78-year-old pontiff revealed he is instinctively suspicious of overly pious candidates. Pope Francis said 'I will tell you sincerely, I'm scared of rigid priests. I keep away from them. They bite!…If you are sick, if you are neurotic, go and see a doctor, spiritual or physical. The doctor will give you pills. But, please, don't let the faithful pay for neurotic priests…There are often young men who are psychologically unstable without knowing it and who look for strong structures to support them. For some it is the police or the army but for others it is the clergy. When a youngster is too rigid, too fundamentalist, I don't feel confident (about him). Behind it there is something he himself does not understand. Keep your eyes open!' (AFP)

 

NOVEMBER 21, 2015
Pope Francis says to educators 'To educate is not only to catechize and evangelize in schools, but to open youth to a dimension of transcendence combating every sort of closedness.  Therefore, educators should feel called to take risks because where there is rigidity, there is no humanity, and Christ does not enter.' (VATICAN RADIO)

 

NOVEMBER 26, 2015
Pope Francis tweets 'May my visit to Africa be a sign of the Church’s esteem for all religions, and strengthen our bonds of friendship.'   (TWITTER)

 

NOVEMBER 27, 2015
Pope Francis said to youth in Kenya 'When you don’t understand something, when desperation hits you then look at the cross. That is the great failure of God, that is the destruction of God, and it’s a challenge to our faith. And this is hope, because history did not end in that failure. Rather it’s in the resurrection of Christ that renewed all of us. I am going to tell you something personal. It’s 12 (o’clock) are you hungry? (Laughter and cheers). I am going to tell you something private. In my pocket I always carry two thing: a rosary to pray something which seems odd, this is here is the history of God’s failure, it’s the way of the cross, a small way of the cross, as Jesus suffered and when they condemned him right up to where he was buried with these two things I do the best I can.'   (CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY)

 

NOVEMBER 30, 2015
Pope Francis Sends Shoes to Stand in at Paris Climate Protest – "Pope Francis may not be in Paris, but he took the shoes off his feet to show solidarity with protesters there who are demanding global government action on climate change. Standing in for the thousands of protesters that had planned to be outside of Paris’ Place de la Republique for the beginning of the crucial COP21 climate talks instead are thousands of pairs of shoes. An unassuming pair of black Oxfords sits among the thousands of shoes with a placard that sets it apart.
“Laudato Si,” says a laminated piece of paper next to the shoes, referencing the pope’s second encyclical about the dangers of climate change. The card has Pope Francis’ signature on it for authentication purposes." (SUN TIMES)

 

NOVEMBER 30, 2015
In in-flight interview from Africa to Rome Pope Francis says:
'Yesterday, I went to the Evangelicals, who work hard. And then they came to Mass in the evening. Today I went to the mosque. I prayed in the mosque. Even the Imam got into the popemobile to take a ride around the small stadium. These are small gestures, is that which they want. Because, there is a small group. I think that is Christian, or they say they are Christian, which is is very violent. I don’t really understand this. But, it’s not ISIS, it’s another thing. It’s Christian.'

(after being asked about the dangers of fundamentalism and the Paris attack by ISIS)
'One of the greatest values is the fraternity among us. We are all children of God. We have the same father. In this sense, we have to make politics of unity, reconciliation. A word that I don’t like, but I have to use it is “tolerance.” But, not only tolerance, co-existence, friendship. That’s how it is. Fundamentalism is a sickness that exists in all religions. We Catholics have some, not just some, so many, who believe they have the absolute truth and they move forward with calumnies, with defamation and they hurt (people), they hurt. And, I say this because it’s my Church, also us, all of us. It must be combated.'

(after being asked about the conference on climate change in Paris, COP21)
'I am not sure. I am not sure. But, I can tell you: (it’s) now or never. But, from the first that was in Tokyo, no. They did few things. Every year, the problems are more serious. Speaking to a meeting of university students about what world we want to leave our children, one said, “But are you sure there will be children in this generation? We’ve reached the limit. We’re on the verge of suicide, to use a strong word. And, I’m sure that nearly the entirety of all of those in Paris for the COP21 have this awareness and want to do something.'

(after being asked what Islam and Mohamed have to say to the world today)
'They have virtues, many virtues and these virtues are constructive. I also have the experience of friendship – it’s a strong word, friendship – with a Muslim, a world leader, we can talk, and he had his beliefs and I had mine, he prayed and I prayed. (There are) many values,prayer for example, fasting, religious values. Also other virtues…We can’t cancel out a religious because there are some, or even many fundamentalist groups at a certain point in history. It’s true, wars between religions have always been there throughout history, always. We also need to ask for forgiveness, Catherine de’Medici was no saint, and that 30 years war, that night of St. Bartholomew, we must also ask for forgiveness from the fundamentalist extremists in the religious wars. But they have virtues, one can dialogue with them. Today I was at a mosque, an Imam prayed with me, he wanted to go around the small stadium with me in the popemobile, where there were many who couldn’t enter, and in the popemobile there was the Pope and an Imam. It was possible to speak. As everywhere, there are people with religious values, there are people who don’t…how many wars, not only religious, wars we Christians have made. It wasn’t the Muslims who did the Sack of Rome. They have virtues.' (CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY)

 

DECEMBER 1, 2015
Pope Francis is PETA's (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) Person of the Year (TIME)

 

DECEMBER 2, 2015
'Call Me Francis' a film about “the people’s pope,” has world premier at Vatican – "Depicting what the director Daniele Luchetti described as the “salient moments” of the life of Jorge Mario Bergoglio before he became pope, the film opens with a flashback to 1960s Buenos Aires and a young Bergoglio sneaking a kiss with a girlfriend, a scene that prompted nervous titters from one group of young nuns. (The same group laughed when the future pope, still a Jesuit novice, was told by his superiors that he “prayed badly.”)…All of the tickets at the premiere on Tuesday were reserved for the needy and the volunteers who care for them…'The pope wanted to offer the lowly and the poor their rightful place of honor' said Msgr. Ravelli of the Office of Papal Charities….Among them were people from refugee centers in Roman suburbs and some of the homeless people who wash in the Vatican’s public showers just a few steps from the colonnade that surrounds St. Peter’s Square….The film opens in 700 theaters throughout Italy on Thursday, an exceptionally high number for an Italian release." (NEW YORK TIMES)
The film was produced by Silvio Berlusconi’s Mediaset’s Medusa and TaoDue companies. (THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER)

 

DECEMBER 3, 2015
Meme of Pope Francis 'Rapping' Goes Viral on Social Media – "Fresh off releasing his debut album, Jorge Mario Bergoglio – better known by his stage name, Pope Francis – has become a social media sensation after an image of the pontiff's trip to the Central African Republic appears to show him in the midst of laying down some hot lines." (FOX NEWS)

 

DECEMBER 3, 2015
Pope Francis says 'The world is in need of discovering that God is Father, that there is mercy, that cruelty isn’t the way, that condemnation isn’t the way, because the Church herself sometimes follows a hard line, she falls into the temptation of following a hard line, into the temptation of stressing only the moral rules, many people are excludedNot everyone understands when there is talk of “God’s maternity,” it’s not a popular language – in the good sense of the word – it seems a language that is somewhat chosen. Therefore, I prefer to use tenderness, proper to a mother, the tenderness of God, tenderness born from the paternal insides. God is Father and Mother.' (CREDERE/ZENIT)

 

DECEMBER 7, 2015
Pope Francis Prays for Climate Summit in Paris to Succeed – "The pontiff, who has made fighting climate change a cornerstone of his papacy and issued an encyclical on the contentious topic this year, asked about "the kind of world we want to pass on to those who come after us, to the children who are growing up." Pope Francis said 'For the sake of the common home we share and for future generations, every effort should be made in Paris to mitigate the impact of climate change and, at the same time, to tackle poverty and to let human dignity flourish' (USA TODAY)

 

DECEMBER 7, 2015
Public Art Projection Featuring Images of Humanity and Climate Change to Illuminate St. Peter’s Basilica on the Opening of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy – "On December 8, a coalition convened by the World Bank Group’s Connect4Climate initiative will present a gift of contemporary public art entitled “Fiat Lux: Illuminating our Common Home” to Pope Francis on the opening day of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, to galvanize action and drive global attention to the importance of tackling climate change….At this unprecedented and historic event, beautiful images of our shared natural world will be projected onto the façade of St. Peter’s Basilica in a contemporary work of public art that tells the visual story of the interdependency of humans and life on earth with the planet, in order to educate and inspire change around the climate crisis across generations, cultures, languages, religions and class. The large-scale architectural public art installation is inspired by the themes of climate change, human dignity and the earth’s living creatures in the Encyclical “Laudato Si’” of Pope Francis. Programmed to coincide not only with the Jubilee, but also with COP21 in Paris, the historic occasion will call on citizens of the world to join a global movement to protect our common home."  (THEWORLDBANK.ORG)

 

DECEMBER 8, 2015
Pope Francis Opens Door on His Holy Year of Mercy – "Pope Francis pushed open the great bronze doors of St. Peter's Basilica on Tuesday to launch his Holy Year of Mercy, declaring that mercy trumps moralizing in his Catholic Church….Francis launched the 12-month jubilee to emphasize what has become the leitmotif of his papacy: showing the merciful and welcoming side of a Catholic Church more often known for moralizing and casting judgment." (NBC NEWS)

 

DECEMBER 10, 2015
A group of Orthodox rabbis have issued a public statement advocating partnership with Christians and appreciating the religious value of Christianity. Published on December 3rd on the website of the Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation (CJCUC) in Israel, “To Do the Will of Our Father in Heaven: Toward a Partnership between Jews and Christians” is signed by over 25 prominent Orthodox rabbis in Israel, United States and Europe and calls for cooperation between Jews and Christians to address the moral and religious challenges of our times. (VATICAN RADIO)

 

DECEMBER 11, 2015
Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, insisted the Pope’s support for climate-change science is not mere opinion, but part of the ordinary magisterium, and so is owed the same obedience by the faithful as the recognition that abortion is a mortal sin (which is also part of the ordinary magisterium, he pointed out). 'When the Pope supports this because the majority tell him that scientific opinion thinks this, this isn’t an opinion; this is magisterium,' he said, stressing it’s not dogma and infallible, but still demands a level of obedience.  (NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER)

 

DECEMBER 12, 2015
Catholics Should Not try to Convert Jews, Vatican Says – "Catholics should not try to convert Jews and should work with them to fight anti-Semitism, the Vatican said on Thursday in a major new document…'In concrete terms this means that the Catholic Church neither conducts nor supports any specific institutional mission work directed towards Jews,' said the document, adding that there was a 'principled rejection of an institutional Jewish mission'. A Vatican expert in Catholic-Jewish dialogue said it was the first time a repudiation of active conversion of Jews had been so clearly stated in a Vatican document." (NBC NEWS)

 

DECEMBER 14, 2015
Pope Francis' trip will include a US-Mexico border Mass – A cross-border Mass will take place during Pope Francis’ visit to Mexico…Bishop Seitz said 'Pope Francis’ visit will undoubtedly call attention to many realities that are lived on both sides of the U.S. – Mexico border, particularly the plight of so many migrants and refugees fleeing violence and poverty in their home countries, in search of better lives for themselves and their children.'" (CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY)

 

DECEMBER 14, 2015
Jens Kruse of Rome’s Evangelical Lutheran Church has said he believes Pope Francis 'opened the door' to intercommunion when the Holy Father spoke to his church last month, and that his parishioners generally have the same opinion and that he thinks his flock feel freer, in accordance with their conscience, to receive the Eucharist in the Catholic Church after Francis’ comments on November 15 (NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER)

 

DECEMBER 14, 2015
Pope calls on world leaders to adopt Paris climate deal – "There have been reports Francis personally intervened to push the December climate change deal through. According to claims reported by the BBC, the pope phoned the president of Nicaragua to convince him to sign the deal." (THE WASHINGTON POST)

 

DECEMBER 15, 2015
Francis calls on global leaders to abolish death penalty, provide healthcare, forgive debt – "Among the pontiff’s requests, made Tuesday with the publication of his annual message for the upcoming World Day of Peace: Abolition of the death penalty, conditions for legal residency for migrants, jobs for the unemployed, access to medical care for all, and forgiveness of international debt burdens." (NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER)

 

DECEMBER 21, 2015
Pope Francis gives another lump of coal to Vatican prelates, calling them out for 'scandals' – For the second year running, Pope Francis used his Christmas speech to Vatican prelates to criticize them for the scandals and corruption — "diseases," he called them — that have bedeviled the Vatican in recent years. 'Some of these diseases became evident in the course of the past year, causing no small pain to the entire body and harming many souls, even by scandal,' he said….In a Christmas address to the Vatican’s lay employees, Francis struck a far friendlier note, thanking them for their service during the year and saying 'I also want to ask your forgiveness for the scandals in the Vatican,' he said, asking the staff to pray for wrongdoers. (THE LOS ANGELES TIMES)

 

DECEMBER 21, 2015
The Vatican announced that Greg Burke (Opus Dei member), a former Time magazine and Fox News correspondent in Rome who has served as senior communications adviser to the Secretariat of State since 2012, has been named the new vice director of the Holy See Press Office. Although the announcement did not say so explicitly, it’s believed that the appointment sets Burke up as heir apparent to the Rev. Federico Lombardi. (CRUX)

 

DECEMBER 23, 2015
Pope Francis  is awarded the International Charlemagne Prize – The prize is the oldest and best-known prize awarded for work done in the service of European unification. A communiqué by the Prize Committee said that Pope Francis has sent “a message of hope and encouragement" at a time in which "many citizens in Europe are seeking orientation.” The Pope – it continues – is a witness for a community based on values which include a sense of humanity, the protection of resources and dialogue between cultures and religions at a European level. (NEWS.VA)

 

DECEMBER 27, 2015
Pope Francis said 'How comforting it is for us to reflect on Mary and Joseph teaching Jesus how to pray!…We know what Jesus did on that occasion. Instead of returning home with his family, he stayed in Jerusalem, in the Temple, causing great distress to Mary and Joseph who were unable to find him. For this little “escapade”, Jesus probably had to beg forgiveness of his parents. The Gospel doesn’t say this, but I believe that we can presume it. Mary’s question, moreover, contains a certain reproach, revealing the concern and anguish which she and Joseph felt.' (NEWS.VA)

 

DECEMBER 27, 2015
How Pope Francis Became the 'People's Pope' in 2015 – Pope Francis is known for being a different kind of pope. He has called for equal pay for women, advocated for forgiveness for women who have received abortions and couples that have been divorced or remarried, and even pushed world leaders to address climate change. Over the last year, he has also made efforts to interact with different people and speak up for their needs. He has met with members of the LGBT community, people with disabilities, prisoners and others:  He Had Lunch With Gay, Transgender Inmates; He Met With a Gay-Rights Activist; He Made a Plea for Man and Nature; He Took Selfies With Students; Met With a Gay Couple While in U.S.; He spoke at a Ground Zero Interfaith Prayer Service; Homeless Man on the Pope: 'You Know You Are Not Alone.', He Stopped to Bless Children; Meets With Church Sex-Abuse Victims.
(MSNBC)

 

DECEMBER 28, 2015
Donald Trump, Pope Francis Tie for Second Place as Most Admired Man of 2015   (NBC NEWS)

 

2016

 

JANUARY 4, 2016
Will Pope Francis Become a Holy Man for the World? – Deepak Chopra writes "Pope Francis I is poised to be more than a very popular pontiff graced with humility and an approach of love and gentleness, two words he often uses. He could rise to become a symbol of holiness beyond the Catholic Church, as the Dalai Lama is a symbol of enlightenment beyond Tibetan Buddhism….Standing outside the Church looking in, millions of non-Catholics feel a fresh wind blowing…To an outsider, it has appeared that modern Catholicism has been mired in a rearguard effort to protect theology at all costs. As beloved as John Paul II was, his views on dogma were totally conservative, and his strong arm of enforcement, the cardinal who became Benedict XVI, was even more strict. Under their guidance, the Church fell behind by decades when it came to modern social trends."   (THE HUFFINGTON POST)

 

JANUARY 7, 2016
In first prayer video, Pope stresses interfaith unity – An initiative of the Jesuit-run global prayer network Apostleship of Prayer, the video was filmed in collaboration with the Vatican Television Center and marks the first time the Pope’s monthly prayer intentions have been featured on video. Pope Francis says 'Many think differently, feel differently, seeking God or meeting God in different ways. In this crowd, in this range of religions, there is only one certainty that we have for all: we are all children of God'. (Note: The video includes a Lama, a Rabbi, and an Islamic leader and shows imagery of a statue of Buddha, Muslim prayer beads, a Minora, and a Baby Jesus doll).   (CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY)

 

JANUARY 10, 2016
Pope Francis baptized 13 girls and 13 boys in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel in an annual tradition commemorating the baptism of Jesus…During his remarks, amid the sound of crying babies, he encouraged the mothers present to nurse their children, saying 'Just one bit of advice: when a child cries because he's hungry, I'll say to the mothers — if your child is hungry, feel free to feed him here'.    (CNN)

 

JANUARY 10, 2016
Pope Francis met with Jean Todt, the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety. He was accompanied by a delegation from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. The UN General Assembly proclaimed the period 2011–2020 as the Decade of Action for Road Safety, with a goal to stabilize and then reduce the forecast level of road traffic fatalities around the world by increasing activities conducted at the national, regional and global levels.    (VATICAN RADIO)

 

JANUARY 10, 2016
Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Google parent company Alphabet, had an unusual meeting on his calendar on Friday — a private sit-down with Pope Francis at the Vatican. – Neither Google nor the Vatican would comment on what the two discussed during the meeting. A video report showed the pontiff shaking hands with Schmidt and Jared Cohen, director of Google Ideas. Schmidt said to Francis, "I want to work with you to make these points. … We will make it happen." The pope responded, "Pray for me. Don't forget." It's not known what the two were referring to.   (NBC NEWS)

 

JANUARY 12, 2016
President Barack Obama uses Pope Francis as an example in his final State of the Union address.   (CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY)

 

JANUARY 13, 2016
The Vatican Cookbook Is Coming and It Includes This Pope Francis-Inspired Pizza Recipe (PEOPLE MAGAZINE)

 

JANUARY 13, 2016
Pope Francis Release: New Album Includes Spoken Reflections By Pontiff – A new album released by Warner Music Latina launched worldwide Friday titled "La Familia," features eight tracks featuring spoken reflections by the Pope. The album includes six instrumental pieces that highlight recordings of the Pope’s voice. There is also a single called "La Madre," which is performed by Mexican pop icon Mijares. Warner Music Latina expressed the following: 'This project was created with the hope of disseminating the messages and teachings of Pope Francis.' (LATIN TIMES)

 

JANUARY 14, 2016
Catholics and Lutherans Reuniting for Reformation Anniversary – Catholics and Lutherans have made another step toward joint commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017 by issuing common liturgical guidelines for ecumenical services to mark the occasion. The guidelines, in a booklet called “Common Prayer,” provide a template for an ecumenical service, complete with suggested prayers, appropriate hymns and themes for sermons…When a Lutheran woman married to a Catholic asked Pope Francis about this during his visit to her church in Rome last November, he said he couldn’t decide the question but hinted strongly that he supported it. “It is a question that each person must answer for themselves … there is one baptism, one faith, one Lord, so talk to the Lord and move forward,” he told the congregation, which broke out in applause…The booklet suggests that ecumenical services have two presiders, one Catholic and one Lutheran, and several prayer readers of both faiths.     (AMERICA MAGAZINE)

 

JANUARY 18, 2016
Pope Francis greets ecumenical delegation – Pope Francis said to the Finland Lutheran Delegation 'In a special way, we can thank the Lord for the fruits of the dialogue between Lutherans and Catholics. Here I think in particular of the common document on Justification in the Life of the Church. Building on these foundations, your dialogue is making promising progress towards a shared understanding, on the sacramental level, of Church, Eucharist and Ministry.(NEWS.VA)

 

JANUARY 18, 2016
Pope Francis meets with IMF's (International Monetary Fund) Managing Director Christine Lagarde – The two also met in the Vatican on December 10, 2014   (NEWS.VA)

 

JANUARY 18, 2016
Pope Francis: obstinate Christians are rebels and idolaters – Pope Francis said in a homily 'Christians who obstinately maintain ‘it’s always been done this way,' this is the path, this is the street—they sin: the sin of divination. It’s as if they went about by guessing: ‘What has been said and what doesn’t change is what’s important; what I hear—from myself and my closed heart—more than the Word of the Lord.’ Obstinacy is also the sin of idolatry: the Christian who is obstinate sins! The sin of idolatry. ‘And what is the way, Father?’ Open the heart to the Holy Spirit, discern what is the will of God…This is the message the Church gives us today. This is what Jesus says so forcefully: ‘New wine in new wineskins.’ Habits must be renewed in the newness of the Spirit, in the surprises of God.' (NEWS.VA)

 

JANUARY 21, 2016
Pope Francis changes Holy Thursday foot-washing ritual to include women – Francis said 'I have decided to make a change to the Roman Missal. I therefore decree that the section according to which those persons chosen for the washing of the feet must be men or boys, so that from now on the pastors of the Church may choose the participants in the rite from among all the members of the People of God.' (CNN)

 

JANUARY 21, 2016
Lutheran Group Reportedly Given Holy Communion in St. Peter's Basilica – A Lutheran group from Finland, led by their bishop, Samuel Salmi of Oulu, reportedly received Holy Communion in St Peter’s basilica this week, despite indicating to the priests present that they were ineligible to do so.  According to Finnish news agency Kotimaa at the time of Communion, the Finnish Lutherans put their right hand on their left shoulder to show they could not receive the Eucharist and wanted to receive a blessing instead. The Finnish Lutheran bishop said the priests distributing Communion ignored the sign and offered the Lutherans Communion anyway. The bishop also received the Eucharist. Bishop Salmi said Pope Francis was not present at the Mass, but said the Pope had repeatedly indicated he would like to develop unity between different denominations. The bishop, who in 2011 said homosexuals should have "full rights" in the Lutheran church, also told the news agency that Pope Francis has theological enemies in the Vatican and so may be limited in how freely he can speak.   (NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER)

 

JANUARY 22, 2016
Pope Francis met with Apple CEO Tim Cook.   (ABC NEWS)

 

JANUARY 25, 2016
Pope Francis intends to participate in a joint ceremony of the Catholic Church and the World Lutheran Federation to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in Lund, Sweden on October 31, 2016.   (VATICAN)

 

JANUARY 26, 2016
Pope Francis asks Protestants for forgiveness for past persecution.   (REUTERS)

 

JANUARY 27, 2016
Pope Francis Said to Bless Human-Animal Chimeras – A Spanish scientist (Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, a prominent stem-cell biologist) told Scientific American that Pope Francis personally blessed his cutting edge research to mix human cells into animal bodies. Belmonte told Scientific American "Spain is a very Catholic country, so we had to go through the Pope. He very nicely said yes…Yes. The current Pope. So the Vatican is behind this research and has no problem based on the idea is to help humankind. And in theory all that we will be doing is killing pigs.” The Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Vatican’s scientific body, did not respond to an e-mail seeking to confirm Pope Francis’s position   (MIT TECHNOLOGY REVIEW/SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN)

 

JANUARY 28, 2016
Leonardo DiCaprio meets pope to talk about environment – DiCaprio, who is known as Leo, was received by Pope Francis, the Vatican said, without giving details. DiCaprio, speaking Italian, thanked the pope for receiving him and then, switching to English, gave him a book of paintings by 16th century Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch. Pointing to one painting, DiCaprio told the pope it had hung over his bed as a boy and said "through my child's eyes it represented our planet." "It represents to me the promise of the future and enlightenment and it is representational of your view here as well," he said. He later gave the pope a check for an undisclosed sum which appeared to be a donation for papal charities.  (REUTERS)

 

FEBRUARY 2, 2016
Pope Francis to Make Acting Debut  – he will play himself in the new religious movie “Beyond the Sun,” marking his acting debut and the first time that a pope has appeared in a feature film   (VARIETY)

 

FEBRUARY 2, 2016
Pope Francis urges world not to fear China’s rise – In an interview Pope Francis said 'For me, China has always been a reference point of greatness. A great country. But more than a country, a great culture, with an inexhaustible wisdom'   (ASIA TIMES)

 

FEBRUARY 5, 2016
In Historic Move, Pope to Meet With Leader of Russian Orthodox Church – Francis is proving to be an ambitious, diplomatic actor on the world stage. He helped broker the reconciliation between the United States and Cuba, and won the regard of Mr. Castro, the Cuban president. Mr. Castro, in turn, helped arrange plans for the meeting next week.   (NEW YORK TIMES)

 

FEBRUARY 5, 2016
Pope Francis released new prayer intention video 'Care for Creation' – He says 'Believers and unbelievers agree that the earth is our common heritage, the fruits of which should benefit everyone. However, what is happening in the world we live in? The relationship between poverty and the fragility of the planet requires another way of managing the economy and measuring progress, conceiving a new way of living. Because we need a change that unites us all. Free from the slavery of consumerism. This month I make a special request: That we may take good care of creation–a gift freely given–cultivating and protecting it for future generations. Caring for our common home.(THEPOPEVIDEO.ORG)

 

FEBRUARY 5, 2016
Pope Francis spoke about John the Baptist saying 'But he also suffered in prison – let us say the word – the interior torture of doubt: ‘But maybe I made a mistake? This Messiah is not how I imagined the Messiah would be.’ And he invited his disciples to ask Jesus: ‘But tell us, tell us the truth: are you He who is to come?’ because that doubt made him suffer. ‘Was I mistaken in proclaiming someone who isn’t [who I thought]?’ The suffering, the interior solitude of this man. ‘I, on the other hand, must diminish, but diminish thus: in soul, in body, in everything(VATICAN RADIO)

 

FEBRUARY 8, 2016
In an interview, Pope Francis said 'Europe must and can change. It can and must reform itself. If it is unable to financially help the countries from which the refugees come from, you must face the problem of how to address this great challenge that is primarily humanitarian, but not only. Is an educational system is broken: that transmitting values from grandparents to grandchildren, from parents to children. It is appropriate to consider the problem of how to rebuild it. ' Often, Bergoglio uses a Biblical metaphor. He compares the Old Continent to Sarah, the wife of Abraham. Sarah was sterile and when she was more than seventy years old, according to the customs of those remote times she gave her slave to her husband so he could father a child on her. But then, miraculously, she succeeded in having one at the age of ninety. 'Europe,' Francis loves to repeat, 'is like Sarah, who first feared but then smiled secretly.' His hope, referring to what he had said, is that Europe will "smile secretly" at the immigrants.'  (CORRIERE DELLA SERA)

 

FEBRUARY 11, 2016
To priests who have been selected as Missionaries of Mercy. On confession Pope Francis said: '…If someone comes to you and feels something must be removed from him, but perhaps he is unable to say it, but you understand …it’s all right, he says it this way, with the gesture of coming. First condition. Second, he is repentant. If someone comes to you it is because he doesn’t want to fall into these situations, but he doesn’t dare say it, he is afraid to say it and then not be able to do it. But if he cannot do it, ad impossibila nemo tenetur. And the Lord understands these things, the language of gestures. Have open arms, to understand what is inside that heart that cannot be said or said this way … somewhat because of shame … you understand me. You must receive everyone with the language with which they can speak. Finally, I would like to mention a component of which there is not much talk, but which in fact is determinant: shame. It is not easy to put oneself before another man, although knowing that he represents God, and to confess one’s sin. One feels shame, be it for what one has done, be it for having to confess it to another. Shame is an intimate sentiment that cuts into one’s personal life and it requires on the part of the confessor an attitude of respect and encouragement. Often shame makes one mute and …The gesture, the language of the gesture….'   (ZENIT)

 

FEBRUARY 8, 2016
In an interview, Pope Francis said 'Europe must and can change. It can and must reform itself. If it is unable to financially help the countries from which the refugees come from, you must face the problem of how to address this great challenge that is primarily humanitarian, but not only. Is an educational system is broken: that transmitting values from grandparents to grandchildren, from parents to children. It is appropriate to consider the problem of how to rebuild it. ' Often, Bergoglio uses a Biblical metaphor. He compares the Old Continent to Sarah, the wife of Abraham. Sarah was sterile and when she was more than seventy years old, according to the customs of those remote times she gave her slave to her husband so he could father a child on her. But then, miraculously, she succeeded in having one at the age of ninety. 'Europe,' Francis loves to repeat, 'is like Sarah, who first feared but then smiled secretly.' His hope, referring to what he had said, is that Europe will "smile secretly" at the immigrants.'  (CORRIERE DELLA SERA)

 

FEBRUARY 12, 2016
Cuba To Be the Capital of Unity, Says Pope Francis – After signing a joint statement in this capital with the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, the Pope praised the Cuban people, and specially President Raul Castro, who was present in the historic event. 'I appreciate its active readiness; if it continues this way, Cuba will be the capital of unity,' said Pope Francis'  (PRENSA LATINA)

 

FEBRUARY 15, 2016
Pope Francis meets with children who wrote letters for new book – When asked about his love for Jesus, Pope Francis said 'I do not know if I truly love Jesus. I try to love him, but I am sure that He loves me. I’m quite certain of this.' He said his favourite thing about being Pope was 'being around people,' adding he 'learned something every time' he met someone new.    (VATICAN RADIO)

 

FEBRUARY 16, 2016
Pope Francis Asks For Forgiveness – Pope Francis has asked Mexican indigenous people in Chiapas state for forgiveness over they way they have been excluded from society. He made his appeal while celebrating Mass in three native languages after a new Vatican decree approved their use. The Pope also used the open-air service in San Cristobal de las Casas to warn about threats to the environment.   (BBC)

 

FEBRUARY 17, 2016
Pope Francis said to a group of prisoners in Mexico 'The one who has suffered the greatest pain, and we could say "has experienced hell”, can become a prophet in society.'   (ROME REPORTS)

 

FEBRUARY 18, 2016
Pope Francis On Donald Trump: 'This Man Is Not Christian' – When asked specifically about Trump's proposal, Pope Francis said 'A person who only thinks about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian,' he said, according to reporters who were on the plane with the pontiff. The pope stressed that he was not suggesting whom American voters should support in the election: 'I am not going to get involved in that. I would only say that this man is not Christian if he has said things like that.'    (HUFFINGTON POST)

 

FEBRUARY 18, 2016
Pope Francis Says Contraception Can Be Acceptable in Regions Hit by Zika Virus    (THE WALL STREET JOURNAL)

 

FEBRUARY 18, 2016
Pope Francis Renews Passport as Jorge Mario Bergoglio    (ABC NEWS)

 

FEBRUARY 18, 2016
In Flight Press Conference from Mexico to Rome –
When asked if Catholics in a 'second union' can receive Communion,
Pope Francis said 'This is the last thing. Integrating in the Church doesn’t mean receiving communion. I know married Catholics in a second union who go to church, who go to church once or twice a year and say I want communion, as if joining in Communion were an award. It’s a work towards integration, all doors are open, but we cannot say, ‘from here on they can have communion.’ This would be an injury also to marriage, to the couple, because it wouldn’t allow them to proceed on this path of integration. And those two were happy. They used a very beautiful expression: we don’t receive Eucharistic communion, but we receive communion when we visit hospitals and in this and this and this. Their integration is that. If there is something more, the Lord will tell them, but it’s a path, a road.'

Pope Francis was asked 'Some wonder how a Church that claims to be merciful, how can the Church forgive a murderer easier than someone who has divorced and remarried? '
He replied 'I like this question! On the family, two synods have spoken. The Pope has spoken on this all year in the Wednesday Catechisms. The question is true, you posed it very well.'

A reporter again brought up the vote on same sex unions and the 2003 Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith document that expressly states that Catholic parliamentarians must not vote for these laws. She asked if this document is 'still in effect' and 'what is the position a Catholic parliamentarian must take.
Pope Francis replied 'I do not remember that 2003 document from the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith well but every Catholic parliamentarian must vote according their well-formed conscience. I would say just this. I believe it is sufficient because – I say well-formed because it is not the conscience of 'what seems to me.' I remember when matrimony for persons of the same sex was voted on in Buenos Aires and the votes were tied. And at the end, one said to advise the other: 'But is it clear to you? No, me neither, but we’re going to lose like this. But if we don't go there won't be a quorum.' The other said: 'If we have a quorum we will give the vote to Kirchner.' And, the other said: 'I prefer to give it to Kirchner and not Bergoglio.' And they went ahead. This is not a well formed conscience. On people of the same sex, I repeat what I said on the trip to Rio di Janeiro. It’s in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.'   (CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY)

 

FEBRUARY 21, 2016
Pope Francis Against the Death Penalty: Criminals Too Have the Right to Life – Christians must work to abolish the death penalty and improve prison conditions, Pope Francis said: 'The commandment ‘Thou shall not kill’ has absolute value and concerns both the innocent and the guilty,' he said. Even criminals 'maintain the inviolable right to life, the gift of God.'    (CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY)

 

FEBRUARY 24, 2016
Pope Francis wants more dialogue with Islam – For Pope Francis, dialogue with Islam is a core issue. He recently voiced hopes to meet a major Sunni leader: the Grand Imam of al-Azhar Mosque, Ahmed el-Tayeb. 'I want to meet him. I know that he would like it' the Pope said    (CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY)

 

FEBRUARY 28, 2016
Excerpt from Pope Francis' children's book: Pope Francis answers if he was ever an altar boy this way. He writes: 'Dear Alessio, yes, I was an altar boy. And you? What part among the altar boys do you have? It’s easier to do now, you know: You might know that, when I was a kid, Mass was celebrated different than today. Back then, the priest faced the altar, which was next to the wall, and not the people. Then the book with which he said the Mass, the missal, was placed on the right side of the altar. But before reading of the Gospel it always had to be moved to the left side. That was my job: to carry it from right to left. It was exhausting! The book was heavy! I picked it up with all my energy but I wasn’t so strong; I picked it up once and fell down, so the priest had to help me. Some job I did! The Mass wasn’t in Italian then. The priest spoke but I didn’t understand anything and neither did my friends. So, for fun we’d do imitations of the priest, messing up the words a bit to make up weird sayings in Spanish. We had fun, and we really enjoyed serving Mass.'    (LOYOLA PRESS)

 

FEBRUARY 29, 2016
Pope Francis Praises Italy's Leading Abortion Rights Proponent – Pope Francis shocked church traditionalists and pro-life advocates after he recently praised a leading abortion rights advocate and even dubbed her as one of Italy's 'forgotten greats.' The pontiff made the statement during an interview last Feb. 8 with Corriere Della Serra, where he compared former Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino to great historical figures such as Konrad Adenauer and Robert Schuman. Pope Francis acknowledged that his statements were "controversial" but dismissed them, saying, 'True, but never mind. We have to look at people, at what they do.'    (CHRISTIAN TODAY)

 

MARCH 2, 2016
Pope Changes the Protocol for Catholic Heads of State and “Irregular” Marriages – At Pope Francis’ request from now on, Catholic heads of state in irregular marital unions will be able to meet the Pope along with their spouse and the latter will also be able to appear in official group photos when gifts are exchanged. Until today, in such cases, the husband or wife had to wait in another room and the Pope greeted them separately at the end of the audience.    (LA STAMPA)

 

MARCH 2, 2016
Pope Francis said 'The only continent that can bring about a certain unity to the world is Europe. China has perhaps a more ancient, deeper, culture. But only Europe has a vocation towards universality and service….If Europe wants to rejuvenate, it is necessary for it to find anew its cultural roots. Of all Western countries, the European roots are the strongest and deepest. By the way of colonization, these roots even reached the New World. But, by forgetting its history, Europe weakens itself. It is then that it risks becoming an empty place. We can speak today of an Arab invasion. It is a social fact.. How many invasions Europe has known throughout its history! It has always known how to overcome itself, moving forward to find itself as if made greater by the exchange between cultures.'    (LA VIE)

 

MARCH 2, 2016
Vatican Newspaper Essays Say Women Should Preach at Mass – The pontiff has repeatedly called for women to have a greater role in the church, but he has also reiterated the ban against ordaining women as priests and has warned against “clericalizing” women by trying to make them cardinals or to focus on promoting them to higher church offices. Then again, that the Vatican’s own newspaper would dedicate so much space to the issue of women preachers is intriguing, said Massimo Faggioli, a church historian at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. “I think it is a big signal,” he said.   (RELIGION NEWS SERVICE)

 

MARCH 4, 2016
Now You Can ‘Click to Pray’ with Pope Francis from Your iPhone – For the “24 Hours for the Lord,” the Vatican announced the launch Friday of an app called “Click to Pray.” The app reminds users to pray at three different times of day for specific intentions and lets users ask other people to pray for them. – An initiative by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, the “Click to Pray” app allows users to take part in a mobile network of prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father, with reminders at different points of the day to pray for a specific intention.    (THE WASHINGTON POST / VATICAN RADIO)

 

MARCH 4, 2016
Non-Catholics Invited to the Confessional – Clerics invite non-Roman Catholics to come to confessional to 'say what’s on their heart', as part of initiative launched by Pope Francis. The Roman Catholic Church is inviting non-Catholics to sample the experience of going to confession in an effort to promote the idea of forgiveness.    (THE TELEGRAPH)

 

MARCH 5, 2016
Another Pope Francis House Goes Up in Alabama – The house is being built through Habitat for Humanity in honor of Pope Francis and his commitment to "work confers dignity." Pope Francis houses are being built across the country with donations made to honor Pope Francis and his commitment for assisting those in need.  (ALABAMA MEDIA GROUP)

 

MARCH 8, 2016
Archdiocese of Mexico City publication questioned a rebuke from Pope Francis, in which he criticized Mexico's bishops (CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE)

 

MARCH 8, 2016
International Women's Day Google Doodle Mentions Pope Francis – Google has marked International Women’s Day with a special live-action Google Doodle featuring real women discussing their hopes for the future. One of the more notable women featured is anthropologist Jane Goodall – who said she wants to meet the Holy Father. “I will discuss the environment with Pope Francis,” she said during the video. (VATICAN RADIO)

 

MARCH 15, 2016
In a homily Pope Francis said 'The serpent is a symbol of sin. The serpent that kills but also a serpent that saves. And this is the Mystery of Christ. Paul, when speaking about this mystery, said the Jesus emptied himself, humiliated himself and destroyed himself in order to save us. And (what’s) even stronger, ‘he became sin. Using this symbol, he became a serpent. This is the prophetic message of today’s reading. The Son of Man, who like a serpent, ‘became sin,’ is raised up to save us.' Pope Francis went on to explain that this is 'the story of our redemption, this is the story of God’s love. If we want to know God’s love, let us look at the Cross, a man tortured' a God, 'emptied of his divinity,' 'dirtied by sin.' But at the same time, he concluded, a God who through his self-annihilation, defeats forever the true name of evil, that Revelation calls 'the ancient serpent.' 'Sin is the work of Satan and Jesus defeats Satan by “becoming sin” and from there he lifts up all of us. The Cross is not an ornament or a work of art with many precious stones as we see around us. The Cross is the Mystery of God’s annihilation for love. And the serpent that makes a prophecy in the desert is salvation, it is raised up and whoever looks at it is healed. And this is not done with a magic wand by a God who does these things: No! This is done through the suffering of the Son of Man, through the suffering of Jesus Christ.'' (NEWS.VA)

 

MARCH 16, 2016
An interview with Pope Benedict XVI is published.  He is quoted as saying 'The missionaries of the 16th century were convinced that the unbaptized person is lost forever. After the [Second Vatican] Council, this conviction was definitely abandoned. The result was a two-sided, deep crisis. Without this attentiveness to the salvation, the Faith loses its foundation….Why should you try to convince the people to accept the Christian faith when they can be saved even without it?…if Faith and Salvation are not any more interdependent, even Faith becomes less motivating….Even less acceptable is the solution proposed by the pluralistic theories of religion, for which all religions, each in its own way, would be ways of salvation and, in this sense, must be considered equivalent in their effects' (AVVENIRE –  THE ITALIAN BISHOPS' CONFERENCE DAILY PAPER)

 

MARCH 16, 2016
Pope Francis Is Joining Instagram (TIME)

 

MARCH 16, 2016
Carlo Maria Vigano Fired: Pope Francis To Replace US Vatican Ambassador Who Set Up Kim Davis Meeting – The Vatican is replacing controversial ambassador Carlo Maria Vigano, the man responsible for arranging the meeting between Pope Francis and antigay gay Kentucky clerk Kim Davis last fall during his visit to the U.S. Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano is a staunch conservative and was vocally opposed to same-sex marriage throughout his five-year tenure as the Vatican’s nuncio to the United States.  (LATIN TIMES)

 

MARCH 18, 2016
Vatican To Undertake Ecological Initiatives During Easter Season – During Holy Week and in the Easter season, the Vatican will take part in several initiatives highlighting the importance of ecology and the care for creation. The Governorate of Vatican City State announced March 18 that the thousands of floral arrangements for the Easter morning Mass and the pope's solemn blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city and to the world), will be repurposed after the celebrations….The cupola of St. Peter's Basilica and Bernini's famed colonnade will also go dark March 19 for one hour in an effort to promote climate change awareness…The Vatican announced it will join countries around the world in turning off non-essential lights for "Earth Hour 2016," an event promoted by the World Wildlife Fund International.  (CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE)

 

MARCH 24, 2016
Pope More Popular Than World Leaders – Pope Francis is more popular than any political world leader, an opinion poll has suggested. The poll by WIN/Gallup International indicates that Roman Catholics and Jews have the most favourable opinion of the Pope. More than half of the world's protestants and even the majority of atheists and agnostics view him favourably(BBC NEWS)

 

MARCH 25, 2016
Pope Francis Washes the Feet of Muslim Migrants – They were Muslim, Hindu, Catholic and Coptic Christians. And one by one, Pope Francis knelt down before these migrants on Holy Thursday and washed their feet. In his homily Pope Francis said 'Even today, here, there are two gestures: this, of all of us together, Muslims, Hindus, Catholics, Copts, Evangelical [Protestants] brothers and sisters – children of the same God – we want to live in peace, integrated. One gesture. Three days ago, an act of war, of destruction in a European city, by people who do not want to live in peace. Though behind that gesture, as there were behind that of Judas, there were others. Behind Judas there were those who offered money, that Jesus be delivered up to them. Behind that [other] gesture [on Tuesday in Belgium], there are manufacturers, arms dealers who want blood, not peace; they want the war, not fraternity. Two gestures, just the same: Jesus washes feet, Judas sold Jesus for money. You, we, all of us together, of different religions, different cultures, but children of the same Father, brothers – and there, those poor people, who buy weapons to wreck fraternity. Today, at this time, when I do the same act of Jesus washing the feet of twelve of you, let us all make a gesture of brotherhood, and let us all say: “We are different, we are different, we have different cultures and religions, but we are brothers and we want to live in peace. This, then, is the gesture that I make with you. Each of us has a story, each of you has a story you carry with you. Many crosses, many sorrows: but also an open heart that wants brotherhood. Let each, in his religious language, pray the Lord that this brotherhood be contagious in the world, that there be no 30 pieces of silver to purchase a brother’s murder, that there be always brotherhood and goodness. So be it.' (THE WASHINGTON POST / VATICAN RADIO)

 

MARCH 25, 2016
Pope Condemns Europe's Failure To Help Migrants in Easter Message  (THE TELEGRAPH)

 

MARCH 28, 2016
Pope Francis said 'I repeat, once again, that violence and murderous hatred lead only to pain and destruction; respect and fraternity are the only way to achieve peace.(VATICAN)

 

MARCH 30, 2016
'She's in heaven' – Pope Francis says of Mother Angelica  (CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY)

 

APRIL 4, 2016
Pope Francis met with the SSPX's superior general, Bishop Fellay at the Vatican. (CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY)

 

APRIL 5, 2016
In his video prayer intentions for April, Pope Francis says 'I thank you, small farmer. What you do is essential for the life of all. As a person, as a child of God, you deserve a decent life. But I wonder: how is your work compensated? This earth is a gift from God. It is not right to exploit it for the benefit of just a few, depriving the great majority of their rights and benefits. Please consider adding your voice to mine in this prayer: that small farmers may receive just compensation for their invaluable work.(VATICAN RADIO)

 

APRIL 6, 2016
Pope Francis Meets Divorced/Separated Support Group (VATICAN RADIO)

 

APRIL 6, 2016
Pope Francis: Use Sport To Bring People Together – Pope Francis gave his support to the Day of Sport for Development and Peace, sponsored by the United Nations. To mark the day, the UN Office on Sport for Development and Peace launched a campaign “Let’s play for Sustainable Development Goals”. Pope Francis said 'Sport is a universal language that brings together peoples, and can help persons meet and overcome conflicts. Therefore, I encourage you to live the dimension of sports as the gymnasium of virtue in the full development of individuals and communities.(VATICAN RADIO)

 

APRIL 7, 2016
Catholics and Methodists Can Learn From One Another, Pope Says – The pope met at the Vatican with members of the World Methodist Council, the Methodist Council of Europe and the Methodist Church in Britain who attended the opening of the new Methodist Ecumenical Office in Rome.    (CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE)

 

APRIL 8, 2016
Pope Francis' Apostolic Exhortation on The Joy of Love – The Vatican published Pope Francis’ eagerly-awaited Apostolic Exhortation on the family. The lengthy document, entitled ‘Amoris Laetitia’, or The Joy of Love focuses on the need for “personal and pastoral discernment’” for individuals, recognizing that “neither the Synod, nor this Exhortation could be expected to provide a new set of general rules, canonical in nature and applicable to all cases”.   (VATICAN RADIO)

Pope Emphasizes Flexibility Over Rules for Modern Families   (ABC NEWS)
Pope Francis Cracks Open The Door To Divorced Catholics, Closes It On Gay Marriage (LOS ANGELES TIMES)
Pope Francis Softens Communication Ban For Divorcees, Shifts Tone On Family   (MSNBC)
Pope Francis Urges Tolerance, Offers Hope To Divorced Catholics On Communion   (NBC NEWS)
More Tolerance, Less Judgement – Pope: Ease Up on Divorce and Gays   (CNN)
Pope Has Good News for Divorced Catholics, Not So Much For Gays   (USA TODAY)
Pope's Plan: A Less Judgemental Church   (HUFFINGTON POST)
Pope Insists Conscience, Not Just Rules, Must Lead Faithful   (WASHINGTON TIMES)
Pope Francis Says Conscience, Not Dogma, Must Guide Catholics In Family Life   (FOX NEWS)
Pope Francis, Urging Less Judgement, Signals Path for Divorced On Communion   (NEW YORK TIMES)
Pope Francis Offers Hope To Divorced Catholics, Says No to Gay Marriage   (THE WASHINGTON POST)

 

APRIL 8, 2016
The New Morality of Pope Francis – For years, priests have been quietly defying the Vatican on family issues. Now Pope Francis has brought them out of the shadows. the Pope’s summary and conclusion about the questions raised at the Synod, which found itself focused on whether divorced and remarried Catholics can receive Communion. Francis takes that up. He says, all but explicitly, yes they can. But it is how he does so that lends this declaration its revolutionary significance. Formerly, in accordance with the Catholic doctrine of the “indissolubility” of marriage, the divorced and remarried were officially shunned. They remained in the pew while most others in the church went forward to the Communion rail. But that shunning is history. “It is important that the divorced who have entered a new union should be made to feel part of the Church,” Francis declares. How that feeling is expressed in practice is to be determined, he writes, not by “a new set of general rules, canonical in nature and applicable to all cases,” but by “a responsible personal and pastoral discernment of particular cases.(THE NEW YORKER)

 

APRIL 11, 2016
Pope Francis said 'It hurts when I read that small passage from the Gospel of Matthew, when Judas, who has repented, goes to the priests and says: ‘I have sinned' and wants to give … and gives them the coins. ‘Who cares! – they say to him: it’s none of our business!’ They closed their hearts before this poor, repentant man, who did not know what to do. And he went and hanged himself. And what did they do when Judas hanged himself? They spoke amongst themselves and said: 'Is he a poor man? No! These coins are the price of blood, they must not enter the temple… and they referred to this rule and to that… The doctors of the letter. " The life of a person did not matter to them, the Pope observed, they did not care about Judas’ repentance. He continued saying 'History tells us of many people who were judged and killed, although they were innocent: judged according to the Word of God, against the Word of God. Let’s think of witch hunts or of St. Joan of Arc, and of many others who were burnt to death, condemned because according to the judges they were not in line with the Word of God.'(VATICAN RADIO)

 

APRIL 14, 2016
Pope Francis warns against those who resist the Spirit With 'so-called fidelity to the law' and invites the faithful to pray for the grace of the docility to the Spirit.  (VATICAN RADIO)

 

APRIL 14, 2016
Cardinal Kasper Says Pope’s Synod Document “Changes Everything” – Cardinal Kasper said 'It seems clear to me as to many other observers, that there can be situations of divorced and remarried where on the way of inclusion, absolution and communion become possible. This could happen not as a general law or as a general permission but according a spiritual and pastoral discernment judging case by case.' The President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity said: 'I don’t like to say, ‘this is revolutionary’, because revolutionary sounds like giving up or destroying something by violence, whereas the document is a renewal and an updating of the original holistic Catholic vision.' (VATICAN RADIO)

 

APRIL 16, 2016
Pope Visits Migrants on Greek Island of Lesbos, Takes 3 Families Back to Vatican – Pope Francis spoke to the refugees, saying 'May the world, the Good Samaritan, come to your aid with respect for human dignity.' The Pope invited three Syrian migrant families to go with him. The Vatican will take responsibility for the three families. (CNN)

 

APRIL 16, 2016
During an in-flight press conference, Pope Francis was asked to settle debate about his post-synodal apostolic exhortation on the family and whether the document opened new possibilities for divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to receive Communion under some circumstances. 'I could say, 'Yes. Period,' but that would be too short a response,' the pope said. 'I recommend everyone read the presentation made by Cardinal (Christoph) Schonborn' at the Vatican news conference presenting the document. The cardinal, archbishop of Vienna, had said the document represented "true innovations, but no break" with church tradition.    (AMERICA MAGAZINE)

 

APRIL 16, 2016
Pope Says Its Crazy To See His Meeting With Bernie Sanders As Political – Pope Francis said on Saturday that his meeting with Bernie Sanders, contesting the Democratic candidacy for the U.S. Presidency, was not meddling in politics and that anyone who thought otherwise should 'look for a psychiatrist'.   (REUTERS)

 

APRIL 19, 2016
Will Pope Francis Dump the Just War Doctrine? – Pope Francis gives every indication of wanting to go down as one of the great reformers in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. With the recent publication of the apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia (or The Joy of Love), he finally pronounced on whether the church would begin allowing divorced and remarried Catholics (whose first marriages haven't been annulled) to receive the sacrament of communion. Answer: Official doctrine says no, but priests can say yes. So what's next? If a landmark three-day conference held at the Vatican last week is any indication, it may well be the church's position on matters of war and peace. Participants in the conference called on the pope to issue an encyclical or other authoritative teaching document in which he would advise Catholics to stop using the church's long tradition of just war theorizing to analyze international relations.     (THE WEEK)

 

APRIL 22, 2016
Pope Francis Reneges On Offer to Take in Christian Refugees – A Christian brother and sister from Syria felt blessed to have been among the dozen refugees selected to start a new life in Italy — but now say their savior, Pope Francis, abandoned them on a Greek island. Their dreams were shattered when they were informed the following day that they would not be traveling to Rome. Instead, three Muslim families were taken. Asked why they were all Muslim, Francis said there was something wrong with the papers of a Christian family on the list. The Vatican declined comment.   (NEW YORK POST)

 

APRIL 23, 2016
An estimated 70,000 teenagers were in Rome to celebrate Francis's Jubilee dedicated to the theme of mercy. In a surprise move Pope Francis heard confessions from 16 of them and a video message from him was broadcast at a rock and rap concert. One of the teenagers chosen to confess said she had been trembling as she approached the chair on which the pope was sitting in St Peter's Square. "But as soon as I sat down I had the feeling of being next to a normal person rather than the pope. Francis is really one of us," Anna Taibi, 15, told La Repubblica newspaper. The Sicilian teenager said she had been touched by Francis's tenderness as he listened to her confession. "I expected him to give me a penance … instead he absolved me and let me go."    (AFP)
Francis: A life without Jesus is like a cell phone without signal – The Pope said this in a video message he recorded for the young people gathered at the Olympic Stadium for the Jubilee of Boys and Girls  (LA STAMPA)

 

APRIL 24, 2016
Pope Francis made a surprise appearance at an Earth Day event. In vintage Francis style, he had a prepared text but abandoned it when he took the stage, delivering an entirely impromptu set of remarks. He said '…we all have something in common, we’re all human. And in this humanity, we can get close to each other to work together … “But I belong to this religion, or to that one …” it doesn’t matter! Let’s all go forward to work together, respecting each other, respecting!'   (CRUX)

 

APRIL 30, 2016
Pope Greets Rotary Members At Special Jubilee Audience – Nearly 9,000 Rotary members attended the Jubilee Audience in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday at the invitation of Pope Francis. Rotary kicked off the Rotarian Jubilee on Friday afternoon, with a conference on the challenges refugees are facing worldwide. The conference organized by the Jesuit Refugee Service – in partnership with Rotary, UNHCR and WFP – and entitled “Helping Refugees to Start Over”, focused on the work that can be done to give millions of refugees dignity and quality education. Mr. Ravindran, President of Rotary International, called Pope Francis a model for Rotarians, saying "he is doing exactly what every Rotarian should be doing. So we see a great synergy of thought with this Pope, and being here, receiving his blessing, I think is something quite wonderful for us."   (VATICAN RADIO)

 

MAY 3, 2016
Pope Francis released his prayer intention video for May. The intention reads "Respect for Women: That in every country of the world, women may be honored and respected and that their essential contribution to society may be highly esteemed". Here is the full text of the video (both his words and the SUPERIMPOSED TEXT): "Women – The contribution of women in all areas of human activity is undeniable, beginning with the family. – But only to recognize it…Is that enough? – We have done little for the women who are in very difficult situations–despised, marginalized, and even reduced to slavery. – We must condemn sexual violence against women and remove the barriers that prevent their full integration into social, political, and economic life. – If you think this is clearly right, join my petition. It is a prayer–that in all countries of the world women may be honored and respected and valued for their essential contribution to society. – I DO MY JOB AS WELL AS A MAN. – I WILL NEVER BE A SLAVE. – NO GENDER VIOLENCE. – ENOUGH OF DISCRIMINATION AT WORK. – MEN AND WOMEN ARE CHILDREN OF GOD."    (VATICAN RADIO)

 

MAY 3, 2016
Archbishop Bruno Forte, the Special Secretary for the synods on marriage and family gave a presentation on Amoris Laetitia where claimed that Pope Francis said 'If we speak explicitly about communion for the divorced and remarried, you do not know what a terrible mess we will make. So we won’t speak plainly, do it in a way that the premises are there, then I will draw out the conclusions.'   (ZONALOCALE, translation by ONE PETER FIVE)

 

MAY 3, 2016
U2's Lead Guitarist Rocks Sistine Chapel – The Edge from Irish rock band sensation U2 played “the most beautiful parish hall in the world” this weekend – the Sistine Chapel. The performance, the first-ever rock concert in the historic chapel, was given for about 200 doctors and researchers who attended a conference at the Vatican last week on regenerative medicine. The conference discussed the use of adult stem cells to cure difficult and rare diseases. The singer dedicated his performance of the 2000 song “Walk On” to Pope Francis, who he called “the people’s pope.” Speakers at the conference included Pope Francis and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.   (CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY)

 

MAY 12, 2016
Pope Says Church Should Study Ordaining Women As Deacons – The Pope's potentially groundbreaking remarks came, as they often do, in an off-the-cuff response to a question – and it was not altogether clear exactly what he meant. 'Constituting an official commission that might study the question?' the pontiff asked, according to National Catholic Reporter. 'I believe yes. It would do good for the church to clarify this point. I am in agreement. I will speak to do something like this.' It is not clear, however, whether the Pope meant that the Vatican will study the role of women deacons in history or the possibility that women could be deacons in the future. The Vatican press office declined to comment, saying they are awaiting a full transcript of Francis' remarks. Vatican Radio, however, which is run by the church, portrayed the Pope's remarks as a broad call "to set up a commission to study the possibility of reinstating female deacons." The question is controversial because it would open the door for women into the Catholic Church's all-male clergy. Since Vatican reforms in the mid 1960s, "permanent deacons" — those who do not plan on becoming priests — can perform many of the same functions as priests, including preach, celebrate marriages, lead funeral services and run parishes   (CNN)
Pope Calls For Commission To Study Reinstating Female Deacons – Pope Francis led an in-depth discussion on Thursday about the role of women in the Church, saying he wants to set up a commission to study the possibility of reinstating female deacons. Questioned about the prospect of changes to Canon Law which would facilitate the reform process being undertaken by many women’s congregations, the Pope said such changes could be possible, providing they were the result of a process of discernment by the competent authorities.   (VATICAN RADIO)

 

MAY 16, 2016
Speaking to France's Roman Catholic newspaper, La Croix, Francis said Europe should better integrate migrants and praised the election of the new Muslim mayor of London as an example of where this had been successful. He said 'Faced with current Islamist terrorism, we should question the way a model of democracy that was too Western was exported to countries where there was a strong power, as in Iraq, or Libya, where there was a tribal structure. We cannot advance without taking these cultures into account.'  The pope praised the election of Sadiq Khan as the first Muslim mayor of London, saying 'In London, the new mayor was sworn in in a cathedral and will probably be received by the queen. This shows the importance for Europe to regain its ability to integrate.' Ten days ago, the pope lambasted Europe over what he sees as its inadequate response to the influx of migrants fleeing war and poverty in the Middle-East and Africa.   (REUTERS)
Pope Francis said 'It is true that the idea of conquest is inherent in the soul of Islam. However, it is also possible to interpret the objective in Matthew’s Gospel, where Jesus sends his disciples to all nations, in terms of the same idea of conquest. In the face of Islamic terrorism, it would therefore be better to question ourselves about the way in which an overly Western model of democracy has been exported to countries such as Iraq, where a strong government previously existed.'   (LA STAMPA)

 

MAY 19, 2016
Pope Francis is to meet the grand imam of Cairo's Al-Azhar at the Vatican on Monday in an unprecedented encounter between the leader of the world's Catholics and the highest authority in Sunni Islam. The hugely symbolic visit comes against the backdrop of a recent improvement in relations between the two faiths after serious tensions during the time of Francis's predecessor, Benedict XVI. Ties were badly soured when the now-retired Benedict made a September 2006 speech in which he was perceived to have linked Islam to violence, sparking deadly protests in several countries and reprisal attacks on Christians. Dialogue resumed in 2009 but was suspended again by Al-Azhar in 2011 when Benedict called for the protection of Christian minorities after a bomb attack on a church in Alexandria, an intervention that was perceived as meddling in Egypt's internal affairs. Relations have steadily improved since Francis became pope in 2013 with inter-faith dialogue near the top of his agenda, something he underlined with a personal message to the Muslim world to mark the end of the first month of Ramadan of his pontificate.   (AFP)

 

MAY 20, 2016
Milan and Italian Sporting Authorities CONI, FIGC and Lega Serie A Enjoy Memorable Private Audience With Pope Francis – Addressing his guests, Pope Francis said 'You’re champions of sport, but above all champions in life. Your presence offers me the opportunity to express my appreciation of the professional qualities and wonderful traditions that distinguish your clubs and the world of football in general. Many supporters, especially youngsters, are keen followers of yours. You attract the attention of these people, who admire you, and therefore you’re required to behave in a way that demonstrates the human qualities of athletes acting as testimonials of the authentic values of sport.'   (JUVENTUS)

 

MAY 20, 2016
Commenting on the Gospel passage in which Christ speaks with the Pharisees about adultery, Pope Francis said the Lord overcomes the human vision which would reduce the vision of God to a casuistic equation. The Gospel, the Pope said, is full of examples of the Pharisees and the doctors of the law attempting to trap Jesus by catching Him off guard, seeking to undermine the authority and favour he enjoys with the people. One of those attempts is related in the day’s Gospel, in which the Pharisees tempt Him by asking if it is licit for a man to put away his wife.
Pope Francis said 'But Jesus, so merciful, He is so great, that he never, never, never, closes the door to sinners. And so He does not limit Himself to proclaiming the truth of God, but goes on to ask the Pharisees what Moses had established in the Law. And when the Pharisees responded that Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce, Jesus replied that this was permitted “because of the hardness of your hearts.” That is, Jesus always distinguished between the truth and “human weakness” without “twisting words.” In the world in which we live, with this culture of the provisional, this reality of sin is so strong. But Jesus, recalling Moses, tells us: “But there is hardness of heart, there is sin, something can be done: forgiveness, understanding, accompaniment, integration, discernment of these cases… But always… But the truth is never sold. And Jesus is capable of stating this very great truth, and at the same time being so understanding with sinners, with the weak.'
And so, Pope Francis emphasized, these are “the two things that Jesus teaches us: truth and understanding.” This is what the “enlightened theologians” fail to do, because they are closed in the trap of “a mathematical equation” of “Can it be done? Can it not be done?” and so they are “incapable both of great horizons, and of love” for human weakness.
 
(VATICAN RADIO)

 

MAY 22, 2016
Pope Francis strongly implied that the terrorists who attacked Paris and Brussels did so because they 'grew up in a ghetto.' He also applauded the election of Muslim mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, stating it 'illustrates the need for Europe to rediscover its capacity to integrate'.  Pope Francis also claimed Europe’s declining birth rate is a 'grave problem' that makes mass Muslim migration 'necessary.' He described this 'demographic emptiness' as a result of 'a selfish search for well-being'. Pope Francis criticised France’s 'exaggeration' of the separation of church and state, expressing disapproval of the country’s ban on the niqab in public places. This type of veil has been banned in Muslim-majority countries Azerbaijan and Chad. Polls show the vast majority of people in Islamic countries, apart from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, widely disapprove of the garment. Suggesting that the fear of migration in Europe is partly based on a fear of Islam, Pope Francis was asked whether he felt that such fears are justified. He said he didn’t think that 'there is a fear of Islam as such but of [Islamic State] and its war of conquest, which is partly drawn from Islam'. 'It is true that the idea of conquest is inherent in the soul of Islam. However, it is also possible to interpret the objective in Matthew’s Gospel, where Jesus sends his disciples to all nations, in terms of the same idea of conquest' the Pope said.    (BREITBART)

 

MAY 23, 2016
Benedict XVI Sees Resignation as Expanding Petrine Ministry – Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the personal secretary of the Pope Emeritus and prefect of the Pontifical Household, has confirmed the existence of a group who fought against Benedict’s election in 2005, but stressed that "Vatileaks" or other issues had "little or nothing" to do with his resignation in 2013. Archbishop Georg Gänswein said Benedict did not abandon the papacy like Pope Celestine V in the 13th century but rather sought to continue his Petrine Office in a more appropriate way given his frailty. “Therefore, from 11 February 2013, the papal ministry is not the same as before,” he said. The German prelate especially highlighted Regoli’s account of “a dramatic struggle” that took place in the 2005 Conclave between the “so-called ‘Salt of the Earth Party’” (named after the book interview with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) comprising “Cardinals Lopez Trujillo, Ruini, Herranz, Ruoco Varela or Medina" and their adversaries: "the so-called St. Gallen group” that included “Cardinals Danneels, Martini, Silvestrini or Murphy O’Connor” — a group Cardinal Danneels referred jokingly to as “a kind of mafia-club,” Archbishop Gänswein recalled.   (NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER)

 

MAY 23, 2016
Leaders of the World’s Two Largest Faiths Reconciled With a Hug and a Kiss – With a hugely symbolic hug and an exchange of kisses on the cheek, Pope Francis and the grand imam of Cairo's al-Azhar Mosque took a major step toward restoring relations between major branches of the world's two largest faiths, Roman Catholicism and Sunni Islam. The two met privately for 25 minutes in the pope's private library at the Vatican. 'This meeting is the message' the pope told the imam, Ahmed Mohamed el-Tayeb.   (THE WASHINGTON POST)

 

MAY 26, 2016
After Pope Francis celebrated Corpus Christi Mass, a procession followed from the Basilica of St. John Lateran to the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Just like last year, Pope Francis didn't directly take part in the procession. He was however, driven to St. Mary Major. Upon his arrival, he concluded the liturgical celebrations.  (ROME REPORTS)

 

MAY 29, 2016
Pope Francis To Author New Book Answering Teens' Questions – After becoming the first Pope to author a children's book earlier this year, Pope Francis will soon come out with another, based on his responses to questions posed by youth through a new online platform.   (CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY)

 

MAY 29, 2016
Pope Francis gives awards to Richard Gere, George Clooney and Salma Hayek – Pope Francis on Sunday awarded medals to American actors at an event held at the Vatican to promote the work of a foundation inspired by the pontiff, Scholas Occurrentes.  The foundation connects technology with arts and sports in order to promote social integration and the culture of encounter for peace. Francis had created a similar organisation when he was Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, but Scholas has now become an international foundation working out of the Vatican. “Important values can be transmitted by celebrities,” said one of the organisers.   (REUTERS / ROME REPORTS)

 

MAY 30, 2016
Pope Francis held an emotional meeting with hundreds of children on Saturday and told them migrants 'are not dangerous, but in danger'. The meeting followed a surge in migrant traffic this week between Libya and Italy.   (RETUERS)

 

MAY 30, 2016
In a homily Pope Francis said 'Jesus was Himself tempted to lose the memory of His own mission, to not give way to prophecy and to prefer security instead of Hope. To this people Jesus, because he knew temptation in Himself, reproaches'   (VATICAN RADIO)

 

MAY 31, 2016
Pope Francis met 12 YouTube vloggers for an hour-long, face-to-face meeting. The vloggers present cover everything from video games to beauty tips in their videos. The “private” meeting will eventually be vlogged by each of the participants, who come from 10 countries and have a collective total of 26 million subscribers. According to YouTube, the group talked about “immigrant rights, gender equality, loneliness and self-esteem, and greater respect for diversity of all kinds.”   (WASHINGTON POST)

 

JUNE 1, 2016
Pope Meets With Jains To Promote Healing and Caring for Earth and Humanity – Jainism is an ancient Indian religion that promotes compassion and non-violence. Pope Francis spoke to the group about the responsibility all have to care for creation and mother Earth and thanked them for how they view the world. He said 'We all love mother Earth, because she is the one who has given us life and safeguards us; I would also call her sister Earth, who accompanies us during the journey of our existence. Our duty is to take care of her just as we would take care of a mother or of a sister, with responsibility, with tenderness and with peace.'    (ROME REPORTS)

 

JUNE 1, 2016
Campaigners For Women's Ordination Have Unprecedented Meeting with Vatican Representative – Women’s Ordination Worldwide wants to re-open dialogue in the Church. Since 2002, around 150 women have been “ordained” and all of them have been excommunicated as a result. Yesterday evening members of the group had an unprecedented meeting with an official from the Vatican Secretariat of State who agreed to give a petition to the Pope calling for the excommunications to be lifted, and who, according to the women, listened to “our heartfelt plea for women priests in our Church”. Campaigners have been encouraged by Pope Francis’s recent remarks that he wanted to set up a commission to explore the question of women deacons. For the first time the group has been given official permission to hold a public demonstration in the gardens of Castel Sant’Angelo on the day that the Pope celebrates a jubilee mass for priests. Members of the women’s ordination group have also been given tickets to attend the Mass.    (THE TABLET)

 

JUNE 2, 2016
Pope Francis' Prayer Intention for June: Human Solidarity – In the video presentation Pope Francis says 'In our cities the elderly and sick are neglected. Can we ignore it? Our cities should be characterized above all by solidarity, which entails not only giving to the needy , but also taking responsibility for one another and fostering a culture of encounter. Will you join me in my prayer? That the aged, marginalized, and those who have no one may find–even within the huge cities of the world–opportunities for encounter and solidarity.'    (VATICAN RADIO)

 

JUNE 3, 2016
The spiritual seat of the world's Orthodox Christians issued a call for unity ahead of the first ever meeting of the faith's 14 independent churches that is expected to discuss the churches' common future and efforts to heal the nearly 1,000-year rift with the Roman Catholics. All the Orthodox churches, old and new that emerged over the centuries, have never met like this before — not since the "great schism" of 1054, when the Orthodox and Roman Catholics split after disputes over the Vatican's power.   (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

 

JUNE 6, 2016
An elderly couple with disabilities on the outskirts of Rome now has an electric scooter, thanks to a gift from Pope Francis.     (CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY)

 

JUNE 6, 2016
Pope Francis to Address Americans at Evangelical Event with Special Video Message – PULSE, a student-led evangelism movement founded by Nick Hall, has called 1 million Americans to gather on the National Mall in Washington DC on July 16th and join in prayer for the nation at an event called "Together 2016." The event will feature a personal video message from Pope Francis. More Than 40 Well-Known Musicians, Authors, Pastors, Speakers Will Take Stage At National Mall July 16th. Confirmed speakers and artists include: Hillsong United, Kari Jobe, Francis Chan, Lecrae, Nick Hall, Passion, Crowder, Kirk Franklin, Ravi Zacharias, Jeremy Camp, Andy Mineo, Michael W. Smith, Lauren Daigle, Christine Caine, Mark Batterson, Matthew West, Jo Saxton, Mike Kelsey, Casting Crowns, John K. Jenkins, Sr., Josh McDowell, Laurel Bunker, Luis Palau, Tedashii, Tasha Cobbs, Lacey Sturm, York Moore, Trip Lee, Sammy Rodriguez, Ronnie Floyd, Reid Saunders, Bob Lenz, Jose Zayas, Jennie Allen, Nabeel Qureshi, Ann Voskamp, KB, Christine D’Clario, Matt Maher, Sammy Wanyonyi, Lindsey Nobles, Amena Brown, and Josh Brewer   (CHRISTIAN NEWS WIRE – Press Release, Icon Media)

 

 

 

 

Please also seeIs Pope Francis the False Prophet?


Take Heed
of These Signs
Jesus, Christ, Trinity, God, Father, Son, The WILD VOICE, Maria Divine Mercy, Virgin Mary

 

 

 

 

In all humility and in full knowledge of our own unworthiness, we have the duty to declare that the overwhelming worship expressed towards Francis I is due to his defenders' love towards the rebellious commandments and false teachings of this man.

+  To follow Francis' commandments is to make him like unto God.

+  To call those who follow the Laws of God 'fundamentalists' means to not accept God's Laws.

To declare blasphemous those who oppose a pharisee's heresies against God is to honor a rebellious man before God.

+  To defend a burglar in order to condemn the victim of his theft is to betray God.

+  To push for modernism in order to appeal to the world and refill our churches is to be an arrogant hypocrite who would rather direct humanity towards eternal flames by changing God's Saving Word in order to suit his/her own worldly desires without crucifying his/her own flesh in imitation of Christ.

+  Based on God's Holy Word, therefore, to honor and obey the one who now unlawfully occupies Peter's Chair is to honor and obey Satan who is his lord.

Shall you continue on this path and accept the lies told by the False Prophet, soon you will worship the man of sin, the murderer, the Beast, the one universally known as the Antichrist.

This is the belief of the original Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
Whoever denies this, denies God and His Word.


"The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false, so that all who have not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned." – 2 THESSALONIANS 2

Pope Francis, False Prophet, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, The WILD VOICE, Maria Divine Mercy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Comment/Context/Description: 

First entry of this piece on the 9th of June, 2016.

It will be interesting to see how many scandalous quotations are added as time goes along.