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Pope to Meet Cairo’s Grand Imam of Al-Azhar by Deborah Castellano Lubov
The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis will meet the Grand Imam of Cairo’s Al-Azhar, Ahmed al Tayyeb, at the Vatican.
In an unexpected briefing in the Holy See Press Office on Thursday, Fr. Federico Lombardi, the press office director, told journalists present, “An audience between the Pope and the Imam of Al-Azhar is being prepared for Monday,” and noted that the visit’s schedule was still being defined.
Such an encounter between the Pope and the Imam of Al-Azhar, who many Muslims consider to be the highest authority in Sunni Islam, Fr. Lombardi noted, “is a first.”
The Imam of Al-Azhar heads Egypt’s Al-Azhar Mosque and Al-Azhar University, which the Vatican spokesman noted, is considered to be “the most authoritative theological-academic institution of Sunni Islam.”
There has been speculation this official visit would take place since February after a Vatican delegation visited Al-Azhar university and expressed the Holy See’s willingness to welcome the Grand Imam for a meeting with Pope Francis.
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On the NET:
English website of Al-Azhar University: http://www.azhar.edu.eg/En/u.htm
Pope’s Telegram of Condolences for Victims of EgyptAir Flight Crash by ZENIT Staff
Here is the Vatican-provided text of the telegram Pope Francis sent this afternoon offering his condolences for the victims of EgyptAir Flight 804 which crashed in the Mediterranean, in the night betweenWednesday and Thursday, claiming 66 lives.
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His Excellency Abdel Fattah Al Sisi
President of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Cairo
Having learned with sadness of the tragic crash of the Egyptian passenger airliner, Pope Francis wishes to assure you of his prayers and solidarity at this difficult time and commends the souls of the deceased of various nationalities to the mercy of the Almighty. Upon the relatives of the passengers and all those involved in the search and rescue efforts, His Holiness invokes the divine blessings of strength and peace.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Secretary of State[Original text: English]
Pope Tells Italian Soccer Players to Be ‘Champions in Life’ by Deborah Castellano Lubov
“Be champions in sport, but, above all, champions in your life.”
Pope Francis said this today in the Vatican when he received representatives of Italy’s Serie A soccer league and players from its Juventus and AC Milan teams, just one day before they’ll compete in the final of the Italian Cup at Rome’s Olympic Stadium.
In his address, Francis encouraged the players to always focus on that which is “truly good and beautiful,” and to never be afraid to show their fans “the moral and religious principles” on which they base their lives.
The Pontiff reminded the players that they are not just athletes, but, first of all, human beings, which requires listening to one’s conscience, and showing respect, understanding, and forgiveness.
As role models for many fans, especially the young who wish to imitate them, players’ behavior should always reflect “the authentic values of sport,” the Argentine Pope said.
Human and moral virtues, such as harmony, loyalty, and friendship, the Pope said, contribute to the success of a team.
When teams witnessing moral values, Francis stressed, that any ways in which sport has been darkened by negative episodes can be overcome and its real purpose can be understood.
Pope Francis concluded, thanking them again for their visit, asking them to pray for him, and imparting on them and their families God’s blessing.
Pope Francis Names New Custos of Holy Land by ZENIT Staff
Fr. Francesco Patton is the new Custos of the Holy Land, succeeding Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who has led the Custody for the last twelve years.
According to a statement today released by the Holy See Press Office, the priest was appointed by the General Council of the Order of Friars Minor and approved by the Holy See, in accordance with the Papal Statutes that regulate this entity of the Franciscan Order.
Francesco Patton was born in Vigo Meano in the diocese of Trent, Italy on Dec. 23, 1963. The priest, who is also fluent in English and Spanish, belongs to the Franciscan Province of St. Anthony in Italy.
He made his first religious profession on Sept. 7, 1983 and his solemn profession on Oct. 4, 1986; and was ordained a priest on May 26, 1989. In 1993, he obtained a licentiate in Communication Sciences from the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome.
He has served in various capacities in his province and also within the Order. He was twice Secretary General of the General Chapters, in 2003 and 2009; visitator general in 2003, minister provincial of St. Vigilium, Trent, from 2008 to 2016; and president of the Conference of Provincial Ministers of Italy and Albania (COMPI).
He has also served in many roles outside of the Order: as member of the diocesan presbyteral council and secretary of the diocesan pastoral council of the archdiocese of Trent; professor of social communications at the Studio Teologico Accademico Tridentino; and collaborator with the diocesan weekly, the diocesan radio and Telepace Trento. He registered with the journalists of Trentino-Alto Adige as publicist in 1991.
Pope’s Morning Homily: Jesus Is Understanding, Doesn’t ‘Negotiate’ With Truth by Deborah Castellano Lubov
Jesus does not negotiate with the truth.
According to Vatican Radio, Pope Francis stressed this during his daily morning Mass today at Casa Santa Marta, as he drew inspiration from today’s Gospel reading in which Christ speaks with the Pharisees about adultery.
The Pope recalled that the Gospel 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 favor he enjoys with the people, and noted that today we see such an attempt as the Pharisees ask Him if it is licit for a man to put away his wife.
Pope Francis went on to explain the “trap” of “casuistry,” concocted by “a small group of enlightened theologians,” convinced that they “have all the knowledge and wisdom of the people of God.” It is a snare from which Jesus escapes, the Pope said, by going “beyond,” “to the fullness of matrimony.”
Jesus Never Negotiates With the Truth
The Pope recalled that the Lord had already done so with the Sadducees, when they had questioned Him about the woman who had had seven husbands. At the resurrection, Jesus affirmed, she would not be the wife of any of them, because in heaven “they neither marry nor are given in marriage.”
In that case, the Pope said, Christ looked to the “eschatological fullness” of marriage. With the Pharisees, on the other hand, He referred to “the fullness of the harmony of creation.” “God created them male and female,” and “the two became one flesh.”
“They are no longer two, but one flesh, and so no human must separate what God has joined. Both in the case of the levirate marriage and in this case, Jesus responds with the overwhelming truth, with the blunt truth: This is the truth! Always from the fullness. And Jesus never negotiates with the truth.
“And these people,” he continued, “this small group of enlightened theologians, always negotiate with the truth, reducing it to casuistry. And Jesus never negotiates with the truth. And this is the truth about marriage, there is no other.”
“But Jesus,” Pope Francis underscored, “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.”
In the midst of today’s world of the provisional and sin, we are to remember Jesus has reminded us what we can do, Francis stressed, namely forgive, be understanding, accompany, integrate and discern.
“Jesus is capable of stating this very great truth, and at the same time being so understanding with sinners, with the weak.”
The two things that Jesus teaches us here, the Pope explained, are 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 are therefore incapable both of great horizons, and of love for human weakness.”
The Pope instead suggested faithful think back to the “delicacy” with which Jesus treated the adulteress woman who was about to be stoned, telling her, ‘Neither do I condemn you: Go forth, and sin no more.’
Pope Francis concluded, praying “May Jesus teach us to have at heart a great adhesion to the truth, and also at heart a great understanding and accompaniment for all our brothers who are in difficulty.
FORUM: ‘Pontifical Diplomacy’ by Nigel Baker
Below is a reflection of British Ambassador to the Holy See Nigel Baker on the Pope’s diplomacy and Holy See diplomats. This reflection, entitled ‘Pontifical Diplomacy,’ is from Ambassador Baker’s blog available on the British Embassy to the Holy See Website:
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The international activism and high profile of Pope Francis has generated renewed interest in the nature and practice of the Holy See’s diplomacy. Just in the last week, the Pope visited the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy – the papal diplomatic college – to meet the young priests preparing there to take up their role as a member of the Holy See’s diplomatic service. Cardinal Parolin, the Secretary of State and senior diplomat in Papal service, has spoken a great deal recently about the Holy See’s international role, not least during a visit to the Baltic States. And a new book, La Diplomazia Pontificia, has just been published, written by the young Italian researcher Matteo Cantori, that seeks to set out the history and development of the Pope’s diplomacy.
The Holy See has always played a diplomatic role. It was once the most important destination for envoys from other countries – one of the reasons why my embassy, by virtue of the despatch of an ambassador to the Holy See by King Edward IV in 1479, is the oldest embassy in the British diplomatic service. Cardinal Parolin has set out some of the Holy See’s modern international priorities, including “the promotion of peace, respect for humanitarian law in the case of conflict, disarmament, the peaceful use of nuclear energy, human rights, including the right to life and religious freedom, the care of migrants and refugees, integral human development, environmental protection, the protection of the cultural and artistic heritage of humanity, the provision of sufficient food resources, adequate health-care, education, and so on”. And in order to further these aims, the Pope has a network of ambassadors, known as Apostolic Nuncios (the word comes from the Latin verb nuntio, from which our own word “announce” derives). There were 35 Nuncios back in 1950. The Holy See has relations with over 180 states today. Pontifical diplomacy is a global concern.
It is also, I think, changing. Under Pope Francis, Papal nuncios are expected to be more proactive, responding to the international demands of the first Pope from the New World. The Holy See is increasing its representation at multilateral organisations, such as the United Nations. And like all diplomatic services around the world, it has to respond to the new circumstances in which we find ourselves: a globalised world with a 24 hour news cycle, in which diplomats have to be able to act with speed and flexibility without losing the professionalism and discretion which is the hallmark of the calling. The sort of creativity this demands has been seen in recent Papal activities, such as Pope Francis’s visit to Lesbos to highlight the migration crisis, or his decision last year to open the Holy Year of Mercy not in Rome, but in war-torn Bangui in Central African Republic.
Holy See diplomats are also fundamentally different. They are, first and foremost, priests, and a key part of their job is to be the link between Rome and local Bishops’ Conferences. That was the Pope’s message to those in training at the Ecclesiastical Academy – never forget your primary vocation. It means they bring a wholly different perspective to the diplomatic scene. And this is something that is of immense value to those of us tempted to forget that the diplomatic role – in essence, working for the peace and prosperity of our countries – is in the end about the dignity and well-being of the people we serve.
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On the NET:
Link to the original piece on Ambassador Baker’s Blog: http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/nigelbaker/2016/05/18/pontifical-diplomacy/
In Mali’s North, the Church Is But Slowly Rebuilding by Emmanuelle Kaeser
Father Germain Arama is in charge of finances for the Diocese of Mopti, Mali. He spoke with international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need May 19, 2016, about the situation in the north of the country, which was briefly controlled by jihadists in 2012, and still remains dangerous territory.
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The Church hasn’t really re-established herself in the North since 2012 on account of the security situation. There are no resident priests there and no stable presence of the Church. Would you confirm that?
It’s true. It is a difficult situation. There are suicide bombers, and bombs left here and there. All pastoral work is on hold for the time being. The only priest who goes there from time to time to celebrate Mass, has to leave by plane with an armed guard. Or, if he goes by car, it takes him a whole day and there is no possibility for him of residing there permanently.
Are there still tensions between Christians and Muslims in the country?
Christians and Muslims live side by side, day in, day out. It’s not from there that the problems come. At the start of the rebellion there were some who thought the underlying reasons were religious, but in fact it wasn’t the case. The northern region, known as Azawad, wanted independence and it took advantage of the crisis in Libya to get help in the fight. That was the problem, above all.
So what about the jihadists?
There are two sorts of jihadists with two different visions. There are those who joined in with the rebels in order to gain independence for Azawad, and there are those who wanted to make the whole of Mali Islamic. In any case, they did not see eye to eye.
What has happened to those who were trying to impose sharia in Mali? Are there still some of them left in the country?
They were defeated. Some of them were killed, others — no one knows where they are. They must have hidden, or they have fled to Mauritania, or to Algeria, here or there. But we have to accept that there are some of them still among us, still here. Some of them even came from our own villages. That is why there are still bombings and suicide attacks.
What are the principal challenges facing the Catholic Church today?
Reconciliation. Many Christians have lost family members. The Muslims have also lost dear ones, here an uncle, there a brother. There has been so much plotting! But now people simply have to agree to be reconciled. And if we, we Christians, want a lasting peace, we have to go through this process of reconciliation. It is unavoidable.
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Aid to the Church in Need is an international Catholic charity under the guidance of the Holy See, providing assistance to the suffering and persecuted Church in more than 140 countries. www.churchinneed.org (USA); www.acnuk.org (UK); www.aidtochurch.org (AUS); www.acnireland.org (IRL); www.acn-aed-ca.org (CAN)www.acnmalta.org (Malta)
Pope Francis’ Address to Italian Soccer Players by ZENIT Staff
Here is a ZENIT translation of Pope Francis’ address today to the delegations of the national soccer teams of Italy, Juventus and AC Milan, in the Sala Clementina of the Apostolic Palace, the day before they compete in the final match of the Italian Cup tomorrow night at Rome’s Olympic Stadium:
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Dear Friends of Italian Soccer,
I am happy to receive you on the occasion of the final match of the Italy Cup, which will be played tomorrow evening at Rome’s Olympic Stadium. I greet you cordially, Directors, soccer players, technicians and escorts of Juventus and of Milan, as well as the representatives of the Serie A National League, with the President Maurizio Beretta, whom I thank for his words.
Your presence offers me the opportunity to express my appreciation for the professional talent and the beautiful traditions that distinguish your sports societies and the environment of soccer in general. I think of the many fans, especially young people, who like to follow you. You attract the attention of these people, who admire you; therefore, you are called to behave so that they can always perceive in you the human qualities of athletes committed to witnessing the authentic values of sport.
The success of a team, in fact, is the result of a multiplicity of human virtues: harmony, loyalty, the capacity for friendship and dialogue, solidarity; they are spiritual values, which become sports values. By exercising these moral qualities, you can highlight even more the true end of the world of sport, marked sometimes also by negative episodes.
It is simply about demonstrating that, before being a soccer player, each one of you is a person, with his limitations and his merits, but above all with his conscience, which I hope is always enlightened also by your relationship with God.
Therefore, may the flavor of fraternity, of mutual respect, understanding and also forgiveness never fail among you. Make it so that the man is always in harmony with the athlete. And to find this harmony between man and athlete, it is always very helpful to rediscover the attitude of the amateur, of the “dilettante,” which is the basis of a team, of which it is born. Always rediscover this, which makes the harmony between man and athlete grow. Be champions in sport, but, above all, champions in life!
Always exalt what is truly good and beautiful, through a pure witness of the values that should characterize genuine sport. And do not be afraid to make known to your admirers, with serenity and balance, the moral and religious principles on which you wish to base your life. Of help in this perspective, is the effort that the Serie A League is making, so that the game of soccer can constitute a positive message for the entire society.
I thank you again for your visit and I wish you every good. I ask you, please, to pray for me, and I invoke upon you and upon your families the Lord’s blessing.[Original text: Italian] [Translation by ZENIT]
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