ZENIT in Roswell, Georgia, United States "Pope Francis’ In-flight Press Conference Touches a Host of Issues..." for Monday, 27 June 2016

ZENIT in Roswell, Georgia, United States "Pope Francis’ In-flight Press Conference Touches a Host of Issues..." for Monday, 27 June 2016


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Pope Francis’ In-flight Press Conference Touches a Host of Issues by ZENIT Staff

Flying home from Armenia on Sunday, Pope Francis gave a press conference in which he spoke on a variety of issues, including the Armenian genocide, the relation of the Church to people with homosexual tendencies, and Britain’s vote to leave the European Union.
Sunday’s in-flight press conference began with questions about the Apostolic Voyage to Armenia that Pope Francis had just concluded. Asked about his message for Armenia for the future, the Holy Father spoke about his hopes and prayers for justice and peace, and his encouragement that leaders are working to that end. In particular, he talked of the work of reconciliation with Turkey and with Azerbaijan. The Pope will be travelling to Azerbaijan later this year.
Pope Francis also spoke about his use of the word ‘genocide,’ acknowledging the legal import of the expression, but explaining that this was the term commonly in use in Argentina to refer to the massacre of Armenians during the first World War.
During the press conference, Pope Francis also addressed a number of religious and ecumenical issues. Speaking about the controversy that arose from remarks by the Prefect of the Pontifical Household, Archbishop Georg Ganswein, who in a speech earlier this month had spoken of an expanded “Petrine ministry,” Pope Francis insisted there was only one Pope, while praising the Pope Emeritus as a “great man of God.”
About the Pan-Orthodox Council, which concluded Sunday in Crete, the Pope said, “A step was made forward . . . I think the result was positive.” In response to a question about upcoming commemorations of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, Pope Francis said, “I think perhaps this is also the right moment for us not only to remember the wounds on both sides, but also to recognize the gifts of the Reformation.” He also had words of praise for Martin Luther.
Pope Francis also answered a question about women deacons, and his decision to form a commission to study the issue. He said he was surprised and annoyed to hear that his remarks were interpreted to mean that the Church had opened the door to deaconesses. “This is not telling the truth of things,” he said. But, he continued, “women’s thought is important,” because they approach questions differently from men. “One cannot make a good decision without listening to women.”
Reporters also questioned the Pope about recent events, including the recent “Brexit” vote in Britain. He said he had not had time to study the reasons for the British vote to leave the European Union, but noted that the vote showed “divisions,” which could also be seen in other countries. “Fraternity is better, and bridges are better than walls,” he said, but he acknowledged that there are “different ways of unity.” Creativity and fruitfulness are two key words for the European Union as it faces new challenges.
The secular press, meanwhile, latched onto remarks Pope Francis made concerning the Church’s relationship to homosexuals. Insisting once again that homosexuals must not be discriminated against, the Pope said that the Church should apologize to homosexuals and ask forgiveness for offending them – but he added, the Church should also ask forgiveness of any groups of persons who have been hurt by Christians who do not live up to the Gospel. There will always be good and bad Christians in the Church, he said, citing Christ’s parable of the wheat and the weeds. “All of us are saints, because all of us have the Holy Spirit. But we are all sinners, [and] I [am] the first.”
Finally, answering a question from Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Pope Francis reflected on his visit to the Memorial at Tzitzernakaberd, and his upcoming journey to Poland, which will include a visit to Auschwitz. The Pope said that in such places, he likes to reflect silently, “alone,” praying that the Lord might grant him “the grace of crying.”
At the conclusion of the press conference, Pope Francis thanked the reporters for their hard work and goodness.
From Vatican Radio
Returning From Armenia, Pope Stops at Santa Maria Maggiore by Deborah Castellano Luboy

Moments after landing in Rome’s Fiumicino Airport Sunday afternoon, Pope Francis traveled to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to offer thanks for the success of his three-day Apostolic Trip to Armenia, July 24-26, the first nation ever to adopt Christianity as a state religion.
According to a note from the Holy See Press Office, before returning to the Vatican, after landing safely at the airport, the Pope made his usual detour to go to the Marian Basilica.
The Holy Father always venerates the icon before and after his international apostolic trips.
During his time inside, Francis prayed before the ancient image of Mary, Salus Populi Romani, in silence for several minutes, and left flowers for the Blessed Mother.
Supreme Court Strikes Down Parts of Texas Abortion Law by ZENIT Staff

The US Supreme Court handed down a decision Monday in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt that invalidates a Texas law requiring abortion facilities to meet the same health and safety standards as ambulatory surgical centers and that further protected women by requiring abortionists to have admitting privileges at a local hospital in the event a woman must seek hospital care due to post-abortion complications.
Senior Counsel Steven H. Aden for Alliance Defending Freedom weighed in on the decision, saying that abortionists “shouldn’t be given a free pass to elude medical requirements that everyone else is required to follow.”
“We are disappointed that the Supreme Court has ruled against a law so clearly designed to protect the health and safety of women in the wake of the Kermit Gosnell scandal,” Aden said. “The law’s requirements were commonsense protections that ensured the maximum amount of protection for women, who deserve to have their well-being treated by government as a higher priority than the bottom line of abortionists. Any abortion facilities that don’t meet basic health and safety standards are not facilities that anyone should want to remain open.”
Gosnell was an abortion doctor in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 2013, Gosnell was convicted of first degree murder in the deaths of three infants and involuntary manslaughter in the death of a mother who was his patient, Karnamaya Mongar. Gosnell was also convicted of 21 felony counts of illegal late-term abortion, and 211 counts of violating the 24-hour informed consent law. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
For his part, Fr. Frank Pavone, director of Priests for Life, said the Supreme Court is now acting like “the Supreme Medical Board, setting its own standards for patient care in the United States.”
Fr. Pizzaballa to Succeed Patriarch Twal in Jerusalem by ZENIT Staff

Pope Francis on Friday accepted the resignation of Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal, who reached the age limit of 75 last October, and has appointed former Custos of the Holy Land, Franciscan Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, to succeed him.
Fr. Pizzaballa, 51, will receive episcopal ordination on Sept. 10 in the Italian City of Bergamo.
Born in Cologno al Serio, Italy, in 1965, Pierbattista Pizzaballa would later give his religious vows in 1989, and be ordained a priest in 1990. He holds a bachelors degree in theology from the Pontifical Antonianum University, Rome, and completed his studies in the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum of Jerusalem.
After finishing his studies, Father Pizzaballa served as professor of biblical Hebrew at the Franciscan Faculty of Biblical and Archaeological Sciences of Jerusalem. He began his service in the Custody of the Holy Land in 1999 and in 2011 was appointed as Guardian of the Convent of Sts. Simeon and Anna in Jersualem.
He served as patriarchal vicar from 2003 to 2008. The General Definitorium appointed him as Custos of the Holy Land and Guardian of Mount Zion in 2004, a role he held until April this year.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem serves some 293,053 Catholics, and is served by some 464 priests, 9 permanent deacons, and 1,612 religious.
Myanmar (Burma)
Also on Friday, the Pope appointed Bishop Basilio Athai as archbishop of Taunggyi, Myanmar. He was already serving as auxiliary of the archdiocese.
Taunggyi has a population of 1.75 million but with less than 7,000 Catholics. They are served by around 35 priests and 80 religious. Burma is a mostly Buddhist nation, but is high on the list of nations with the most troublesome record in regard to religious freedom. There are 16 Catholic dioceses and archdioceses in the nation.
Related: Report Card on Religious Freedom
Northern Mariana Islands
The Holy Father further appointed Fr. Ryan Jimenez as bishop of Chalan Kanoa, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.
The Islands are under US administration as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific.
The diocese has a population of some 72,000 with about 43,000 Catholics. They are served by 15 priests and some 20 religious.

Ryan Jimenez was born in Dumaguete City, Philippines, in 1971, and was ordained a priest in 2003. He holds a Masters degree from St. Patrick’s Seminary and University, California, USA, and has served in a number of pastoral roles including parish vicar, special secretary to the bishop of Chalan Kanoa, rector of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral, president of the diocesan commission for the cultural heritage of the Church, and diocesan chancellor. He is currently apostolic administrator of the same diocese.
Gibraltar
The Pope also appointed Msgr. Carmelo Zammit as bishop of Gibraltar
Carmelo Zammit was born in Gudja, Malta, in 1949 and was ordained a priest in 1974. He holds a Bachelors Degree in philosophy, Italian and economics and a licentiate in theology from the University of Malta, and a licentiate in canon law from the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome. He has served in a number of pastoral roles in Gibraltar, including judicial vicar, episcopal delegate for Catholic education, school chaplain and parish priest. Upon returning to Malta in 1998, he became chancellor of the archdiocese and judge in the ecclesiastical tribunal. He is currently canon of the Metropolitan Chapter and judicial vicar.
The Gibraltar diocese has some 24,000 Catholics, served by eight priests and two religious.
Australia
The Pope appointed Msgr. Anthony Randazzo and Fr. Richard James Umbers as auxiliaries of the Archdiocese of Sydney, Australia, where they will join one other auxiliary in assisting Archbishop Anthony Fisher.
Randazzo was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1966, and was ordained a priest in 1991. He holds a Bachelors degree in theology from the Brisbane College of Theology and a licentiate in canon law and a diploma in law from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. He is currently judge of the National Appeal Tribunal of the Catholic Church of Australia and New Zealand, and assistant to the archbishop of Brisbane. In 2007 he was named Chaplain of His Holiness.
Umbers was born in Otahuhu, New Zealand, in 1971, became a member of Opus Dei in 1990, and was ordained a priest in 2002. He holds a licentiate and a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Navarra, Spain, and has served in a number of roles. He is currently chaplain of Warrane Collage of the University of New South Walkes, member of the Organising Committee of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, representative for Sydney at the St. John of God Hospitals, and representative of the archbishop in the presbyteral committee.
Sydney has a population of more than 2.6 million, with about 621,000 Catholics. They are served by some 445 priests, three permanent deacons and around 1,300 religious.
Pontifical Academy of Sciences
Finally, the Pope appointed Francis Leo Delmonico, professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and director of the New England Organ Bank, and Cédric Villani, professor of mathematics at the University of Lyon and director of the Institut Henri Poincaré (UPMC/CNRS), Paris, France, as ordinary members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
Pope Sends Telegrams Returning From Armenia by ZENIT Staff

Below are the texts of the telegrams Pope Francis sent to the Heads of State of the countries his plane flew over yesterday while flying from Armenia to Rome after his 14th Apostolic Visit abroad, June 24-26:
***
TURKEY:
HIS EXCELLENCY RECEP TAYYIP ERDOĞAN
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY
ANKARA
AS MY RETURN FLIGHT CARRIES ME OVER TURKEY, I RENEW TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS MY GOOD WISHES, AND I INVOKE THE ALMIGHTY´S BLESSING UPON YOUR LAND.
FRANCISCUS PP.
***
BULGARIA:
HIS EXCELLENCY ROSEN PLEVNELIEV
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
SOFIA
FLYING OVER BULGARIA ON RETURNING FROM MY VISIT TO ARMENIA, I RENEW MY BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE NATION.
FRANCISCUS PP.
***
SERBIA:
HIS EXCELLENCY TOMISLAV NIKOLIĆ
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
BELGRADE
FLYING OVER SERBIA ON THE RETURN JOURNEY FROM MY PASTORAL VISIT TO ARMENIA, I WISH TO RENEW MY BEST WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, AND UPON ALL IN THE NATION I INVOKE THE BLESSING OF ALMIGHTY GOD.
FRANCISCUS PP.
***
MONTENEGRO:
HIS EXCELLENCY FILIP VUJANOVIĆ
PRESIDENT OF MONTENEGRO
PODGORICA
AS I FLY OVER MONTENEGRO ON RETURNING FROM ARMENIA, I EXTEND ONCE AGAIN MY GOOD WISHES TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS AND THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
***
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
HIS EXCELLENCY BAKIR IZETBEGOVIĆ
PRESIDENT OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
SARAJEVO
AS MY RETURN FLIGHT TO ROME CARRIES ME OVER BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, I RENEW TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS MY GOOD WISHES AND THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS.
FRANCISCUS PP.
***
CROATIA:
HER EXCELLENCY KOLINDA GRABAR-KITAROVIĆ
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
ZAGREB
FLYING OVER CROATIA ON THE RETURN FROM MY JOURNEY TO ARMENIA, I RENEW TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS MY BEST WISHES AND THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS FOR THE CROATIAN PEOPLE.
FRANCISCUS PP.[Original texts: English] [Telegram texts provided by the Vatican]
***
To His Excellency
The Honorable Sergio Mattarella
President of the Italian Republic
Quirinale Palace – 00187 Rome
Upon returning from the Pastoral Visit to Armenia, where I was able to meet several representatives of the population and express my affectionate esteem to the Christian Communities charged with history, exhorting all to continue on the path of dialogue and concord, I send to you, Mister President, and to the dear Italian Nation, my auspicious greetings, united to the hope of a growing commitment in favor of the needs of the people, in particular of the family, foundation of coexistence and remedy against social disintegration.
Francis PP.[Original texts: English] [Telegram texts provided by the Vatican]
Pope Presented With Brick Painted by Children of Pakistani Couple Burned Alive by Michaela Koller

The Pakistani human rights lawyer Aneeqa Anthony brought a painted brick to the general audience with Pope Francis last Wednesday morning, symbolizing the numerous Christians enslaved in brick factories in Pakistan. The International Society for Human Rights (ISHR) in Frankfurt (Germany) supported Anthony in doing so, with the aim of paving the way to equality for minorities.
One such obstacle includes the blasphemy laws. This “stumbling block” (the brick pictured) was designed by the three children of the Christian couple Shama Bibi (26) and Shahzad Masih (28) who were severely beaten and burned alive in a brick kiln by a mob in November of 2014. Anthony is representing the children in court.
The Christian couple were accused of having burned pages from the Koran. They also worked as slaves in a brick factory. According to police findings, the owner had incited an Islamic preacher into publicly accusing the couple of blasphemy. A fanatical mob eventually dragged them around the brick factory, beat them half to death, and then pushed them into a brick kiln, killing them both. At the time, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran called this a “barbaric act” and asked Islamic authorities to denounce the deed.
Aneeqa Anthony said to Pope Francis in their personal encounter: “This modest gift from my country was designed by the children of slaves, who like many Christians, toiled in a brick factory. They were forced to witness how their parents Shama and Shahzad, were burned alive in a brick kiln by a fanatical mob for alleged blasphemy in November of 2014. My colleagues and I, who are lawyers, put the suspects behind bars.
“We are all no longer safe in our home. Pakistan is not a safe country of origin – not for Christians like us, and especially not for the children of Shama and Shahzad. European countries should not close their doors to suffering Christians. Help us convince their governments!”
Pope Francis took the brick, regarded the paintings of the children thoroughly and listened carefully to the story, especially to the fact, that Anthony’s husband and two little children had been also invited to the front row meeting but the Italian embassy did not issue a visa for them.
On April 16, the prime suspect of the lynching was released on bail. The children, now aged three, five and seven years, were nearly also incinerated. Observers feared that the suspects may perpetrate an act of revenge; as of the beginning of December of last year, a call to murder Anthony, the lawyer on the case, began circulating in Lahore.
According to the World Slavery Index, Pakistan is among the top five countries that employ the most slaves in absolute numbers, many of them belonging to the Christian minority (2.7 percent of Pakistan’s population).[Translation by Maya Robinson| International Society for Human Rights]
US Bishops Denounce Supreme Court’s Abortion Ruling by ZENIT Staff

Today the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 5-3 ruling in the abortion facility medical standards case, Woman’s Whole Health v. Hellerstedt. Deirdre McQuade, assistant director for pro-life communications at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, reacted to the loss.
“The Court has rejected a common-sense law protecting women from abortion facilities that put profits above patient safety,” McQuade said. “The law simply required abortion facilities to meet the same health and safety standards as other ambulatory surgical centers – standards like adequate staffing, soap dispensers, and basic sanitary conditions. It required abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, and that hallways be wide enough to allow emergency personnel through with stretchers, should a life-threatening emergency arise.”
“Abortion claims the lives of unborn children, and too often endangers their mothers, as well,” she added. “This ruling contradicts the consensus among medical groups that such measures protect women’s lives.”
On February 1, the USCCB’s General Counsel had filed an amicus curiae brief calling for the law to be upheld on behalf of USCCB, the Texas Catholic Conference, and several other Christian partners.
Message of Father Pizzaballa, New Patriarch of Jerusalem, to the Diocese by ZENIT Staff

Below is the message of Archbishop Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator of Latin Patriarchate, to the Diocese, which was published June 24 on the official website of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal and appointed Father Pizzaballa to succeed him.
***
Beloved Brothers and Sisters,
The Lord give you peace!
I have been asked to “return to Jerusalem” (cf. Lk 24), like the Apostles after “the events in Jerusalem” and the encounter with the Risen One. Through the Pope, the Lord has asked me to return to the Holy City after my experience as Custos of the Holy Land.
I do not hide that I was surprised by this request, knowing my personal and objective limitations. You can therefore imagine my trepidation and my concern for the task that has been entrusted to me. I can also understand your many questions and perhaps even some misgivings.
However, I know that it is He who calls and sends, and I trust in Him. “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor 12:9).
I return to Jerusalem, primarily with the desire to serve the local clergy and the whole community, asking all of you for understanding, friendship and collaboration.
The Church of Jerusalem on the Feast of St. John the Baptist echoes, on the lips and from the heart the Canticle of Zechariah, the powerful salvation born of the house of David sent before the Lord to prepare His way, here where it all began.
Like John the Baptist, we must first look at Him and look to Him to recognize ourselves as a Church. Only then can we become a balm for the many wounds of this Land and the people who live here.
Prepare the way, nothing else is asked of us, open up paths, walkways and boulevards. Be free from all that hinders our encounter with Him and with one another. I know I am not alone but with those who preceded me: the Patriarchs Michel Sabbah and Fouad Twal, the emeritus and auxiliary Bishops, the patriarchal vicars, abbots and major superiors, priests, permanent deacons, men and women religious, the new movement communities, the holy people of God, with whom I want to and I will share this task that has been entrusted to me. A special prayer and special thoughts for the seminarians of the Diocese, whom I hope to meet soon. I also assure you in the spirit of the Synod my full cooperation with the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land (ACOHL) and the Conference of the Latin Bishops of the Arab Regions (CELRA).
A special thought goes to our young people. They are the future of our Church and we look to them with hope and confidence. I am thinking in particular of those involved in various initiatives of the Patriarchate, in schools, parishes and universities. These are important places for encounter and sharing that deserve our full attention. These are invaluable resources that help young people to build the dream of their future here, and also the structures necessary for all of us, with clarity, transparency and solidarity, for which we are committed to support.
Salvation has the “form” of an encounter. Accepting the invitation of Pope Francis, I would like to share from Jerusalem, from this holy and wounded city for us and for the whole Church: the ability to meet and greet one another, build roads and bridges, and not walls between us and the Lord, between Bishops and Priests, Priests and Laity, between us and the other Churches, between us and our Jewish and Muslim brothers and friends, between us and the poor, between ourselves and those in need of mercy and hope. Only in this way can we fully respond to the special universal vocation of the Church of Jerusalem, the Church of the Holy Places.
“Beginning from Jerusalem” (Lk 24:47), I will be with you and for you, as the one who opens paths, who promotes the culture of encounter and shares with each and every one the challenge and enthusiasm of following Jesus for the good of the Church and the world.
I am confident that I can count on your support, with the prayers from the contemplative oases of the Diocese and of the entire people of God, that I particularly need. May the Lord accompany us in this our new journey together.
+ Pierbattista[Courtesy of the website of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem]
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