Pope’s Morning Homily: Division in the Church Keeps People From Seeing the Lord... from ZENIT in Roswell, Georgia, United States for Monday, 12 September 2016

Pope’s Morning Homily: Division in the Church Keeps People From Seeing the Lord... from ZENIT in Roswell, Georgia, United States for Monday, 12 September 2016
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Pope’s Morning Homily: Division in the Church Keeps People From Seeing the Lord by ZENIT Staff

Pope Francis today reiterated a message he gave just last week to new bishops in mission territories: Division is the devil’s main weapon against the Church.
The Pope said this at morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta today, Vatican Radio reported.
Related: Division Is Devil’s Main Weapon, Pope Tells Bishops
Divisions destroy the Church, he said, and the devil seeks to attack the root of unity: the celebration of the Eucharist.
Today’s Mass marked the feast of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Commenting on the reading from the First Letter to the Corinthians — where St Paul rebuked the Corinthians for their contentiousness — Pope Francis said, “The devil has two very powerful weapons to destroy the Church: divisions and money.” And this has happened from the beginning: “ideological, theological divisions that lacerate the Church. The devil sows jealousy, ambitions, ideas, but to divide! Or greed.” And, as happens after a war, “everything is destroyed. And the devil is pleased. And we, naïve as we are, are his game.” “It is a dirty war, that of divisions,” he repeated. “It’s like terrorism,” the war of gossiping in the community, that of language that kills”:
“And the divisions in the Church do not allow the Kingdom to grow; they do not allow the Lord to be seen as He is. Divisions make you see this part, this one against the other. Always against! There is no oil of unity, the balsam of unity. But the devil goes elsewhere, not only in the Christian community, he goes right to the root of Christian unity. And this happens here, in the city of Corinth, to the Corinthians. Paul rebukes them precisely because divisions arise, right at the heart of unity, that is, in the Eucharistic celebration.”
In the case of Corinth, riches make divisions between the rich and the poor precisely during the Eucharist. Jesus, the Pope said, “prayed to the Father for unity. But the devil seeks to destroy it” even there:
“I ask you to do everything possible to not destroy the Church with divisions; they are ideological, they come from greed and ambition, they come from jealousy. And above all to pray, and to keep the founts, the very roots of the unity of the Church, which is the Body of Christ; which we, every day, celebrate [in] His sacrifice in the Eucharist.”
Saint Paul speaks about the divisions among the Corinthians, two thousand years ago:
“Paul could say this to all of us today, to the Church of today. ‘Brothers, in this I cannot praise you, because you are gathered together not for the better, but for the worse!’ But the Church gathers everyone together — for the worse, for divisions: for the worse! To soil the Body of Christ in the Eucharistic celebration! And the same Paul tells us, in another passage: ‘He who eats and drinks the Body and the Blood of Christ unworthily, eats and drinks his own condemnation.’ Let us ask the Lord for the unity of the Church, that there may not be divisions. And for unity also in the root of the Church, which is precisely the sacrifice of Christ, which we celebrate every day.”
Among those present at the day’s Mass was Archbishop Arturo Antonio Szymanski Ramírez, the Archbishop emeritus of San Luis Potosí in Mexico, who turned 95 in January. Pope Francis noted his presence at the beginning of his homily, recalling that the Archbishop had taken part in the Second Vatican Council, and that he still helps in a parish. The Holy Father had received Archbishop Szymanski in an audience on Friday.
—
Readings provided by the US bishops’ conference:
Monday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 443
Reading 1 1 COR 11:17-26, 33
Brothers and sisters:
In giving this instruction, I do not praise the fact
that your meetings are doing more harm than good.
First of all, I hear that when you meet as a Church
there are divisions among you,
and to a degree I believe it;
there have to be factions among you
in order that also those who are approved among you
may become known.
When you meet in one place, then,
it is not to eat the Lord’s supper,
for in eating, each one goes ahead with his own supper,
and one goes hungry while another gets drunk.
Do you not have houses in which you can eat and drink?
Or do you show contempt for the Church of God
and make those who have nothing feel ashamed?
What can I say to you? Shall I praise you?
In this matter I do not praise you.
For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you,
that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over,
took bread and, after he had given thanks,
broke it and said, “This is my Body that is for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant in my Blood.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,
you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters,
when you come together to eat, wait for one another.
Responsorial Psalm PS 40:7-8A, 8B-9, 10, 17
R. (1 Cor 11:26b) Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin offerings you sought not;
then said I, “Behold I come.”
R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.
“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!”
R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.
May all who seek you
exult and be glad in you
And may those who love your salvation
say ever, “The LORD be glorified.”
R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.
Alleluia JN 3:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK 7:1-10
When Jesus had finished all his words to the people,
he entered Capernaum.
A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die,
and he was valuable to him.
When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him,
asking him to come and save the life of his slave.
They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying,
“He deserves to have you do this for him,
for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us.”
And Jesus went with them,
but when he was only a short distance from the house,
the centurion sent friends to tell him,
“Lord, do not trouble yourself,
for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.
Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you;
but say the word and let my servant be healed.
For I too am a person subject to authority,
with soldiers subject to me.
And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes;
and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes;
and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him
and, turning, said to the crowd following him,
“I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”
When the messengers returned to the house,
they found the slave in good health.
We Aren’t as Free as We Think, Warns Pope by Kathleen Naab

Pope Francis is warning that “many, many” people are enslaving themselves under the pretext of being free.
The Pope said this Saturday at the jubilee audience of this month — these jubilee audiences are being held one Saturday a month as part of the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Citing 1 Peter 1:18-21, the Holy Father stressed that the word “redemption” is important.
“It seems that the man of today no longer likes to think of being liberated and saved by God’s intervention. In fact, the man of today deceives himself about his freedom,” he said.
Francis said that “illusions are sold under the pretext of freedom” and “new slaves are created in our days in the name of a false liberty! – so many, many slaves.”
The Pope said these people might boast, “I do this because I want to; I take drugs because I like to, I’m free.”
In fact, he exclaimed, “they are slaves! They become slaves in the name of freedom.”
“We are in need of God freeing us from every sort of indifference, egoism and self-sufficiency,” he added.
“He is the Lamb that was sacrificed for us, so that we could receive a new life made up of forgiveness, love and joy. These three words are beautiful: forgiveness, love and joy. Everything He assumed was also redeemed, freed and saved. It is certainly true that life tries us and sometimes we suffer because of this. However, in these moments we are invited to direct our gaze to Jesus crucified, who suffers for us and with us, as sure proof that God does not abandon us. Therefore, let us never forget that in anguishes and persecutions, as well as daily sorrows, we are always liberated by God’s merciful hand, who raises us to Himself and leads us to a new life.”
—
On ZENIT’s Web page:
Full text: https://zenit.org/articles/jubilee-audience-on-redemption/
Loved Ones of 9/11 Victims Say Faith Is What Gets Them Through by Deborah Castellano Lubov

From ZENIT Archives
***
When your heart is broken, how do you cope? According to many who lost their loved ones when the World Trade Center was attacked, it is their faith.
ZENIT was at Ground Zero when Pope Francis visited this morning and had the chance to speak with relatives and friends of those killed in the attacks.
Brendan Grady, who lost his brother Christopher, a trader for Cantor Fitzgerald, said it was an honor for Pope Francis to be at Ground Zero to remember him.
“I feel like my brother’s grave site was blessed,” he said soberly. “Not everyone can say their relative’s grave site was blessed by the Pope.”
Gives all peace
Judy Grimmer’s husband David died. He worked for Marsh McLennan on the 98th floor of Tower One. Recalling when she heard the planes hit, she said, “I immediately started to pray. ‘Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in you.’ My faith and prayers got me through … and get me through.”
“I can’t imagine my life without my faith,” Grimmer said.
On what today’s visit from Pope Francis means to her, she responded, “David was studying to be a priest at one time, so it’s very special that the Pope is here for him. […] This is the second time I was here. The first time I was here was the 10th anniversary when they put the [Freedom Tower] up. That’s the only time I came because I wanted it to be positive. I never wanted to just come to see an empty hole.”
“So this is wonderful not only because it is completed, but because the Holy Father is here. I am such a devout Catholic, and so is my husband and my family, and I hope everyone finds peace with him coming here. He’s making such a difference in this world. God bless you.”
One man, before the Pope arrived, spoke to reporters about how he had lost his daughter who was a flight attendant on one of the planes that hit the tower. He lamented that she wasn’t supposed to work that day, but was covering for someone sick.
Beacon for the world
Matthew Sellitto also reflected that the Pope is an image of goodness, and what happened here, 14 years ago, is the image of evil.
“I lost my son,” Sallitto, who was keeping a strong front, told us. His son, also Matthew, was in the First Tower. “He worked in Cantor Fitzgerald that lost the most people that day. He was 23, the youngest person in the building. He had graduated college, the University of Vermont, and had gotten this job at Cantor and loved it.”
“There’s a deeper meaning of [the Pope] coming here, to what we feel in this country is ‘hallowed ground,’ because so many lives were lost here this day,” he added, noting,”Pope Francis shows the world that he comes to bless, to make holy, what some tried to make evil and tried to destroy. He comes here and says we’ll make good come out of bad.”
Sallitto said it’s great that Pope Francis came. “I am Catholic,” he said, “but I think the world, not just Catholics, sees the Pope in a very special way. Obviously, to us Catholics, we see him one way, but I do think the world does look to him for guidance.”
ZENIT asked him if his faith has helped him. He responded, yes. “But I must say,” he added, “I don’t know how you can get through life without faith. It’s what you hold on to.”
“I just think the Pope is hope, a beacon for the world. He is down to earth, he sees many of the problems in the world, and speaks out on them in a way we all can relate to, and gives us some comfort level.”
Another man lost his sister, Deborah, in the Pentagon. As he and his wife conversed with us, the man’s wife pointed out on her smartphone how the reflection on the Freedom Tower was that of a cross, and indeed, it was.
Another loved one of a lost family member, who asked to remain anonymous, told me, “It has been a very significant day for me. Pope Francis is coming here with a message of joy,” she said.
JUBILEE AUDIENCE: On Redemption by ZENIT Staff

Below is a ZENIT translation of Pope Francis’ address during his Jubilee Audience that was held Saturday morning in Saint Peter’s Square, a meeting that Francis decided to hold for pilgrims and faithful coming to Rome for the Jubilee of Mercy.
* * *
Dear Brothers and Sisters, good morning!
The passage we heard speaks to us of God’s mercy, which is acted in the Redemption, namely in the salvation that was given to us with the blood of His Son Jesus (Cf. 1 Peter 1:18-21). The word “redemption” is little used, yet it is fundamental because it indicates the most radical liberation that God could carry out for us, for all of humanity and for the whole of Creation. It seems that the man of today no longer likes to think of being liberated and saved by God’s intervention. In fact, the man of today deceives himself about his freedom as strength to obtain everything. He even boasts about this, but in reality it is not so. How many illusions are sold under the pretext of freedom and how many new slaves are created in our days in the name of a false liberty! – so many, many slaves: “I do this because I want to; I take drugs because I like to, I’m free, I do this other …” They are slaves! They become slaves in the name of freedom. We have all seen people of this sort that end up on the ground. We are in need of God freeing us from every sort of indifference, egoism and self-sufficiency.
The Apostle Peter’s words express very well the meaning of the new state of life to which we are called. Becoming one of us, not only does the Lord Jesus assume our human condition but He raises us to the possibility of being children of God. With His Death and Resurrection Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb, conquered death and sin to free us from their dominion. He is the Lamb that was sacrificed for us, so that we could receive a new life made up of forgiveness, love and joy. These three words are beautiful: forgiveness, love and joy. Everything He assumed was also redeemed, freed and saved. It is certainly true that life tries us and sometimes we suffer because of this. However, in these moments we are invited to direct our gaze to Jesus crucified, who suffers for us and with us, as sure proof that God does not abandon us. Therefore, let us never forget that in anguishes and persecutions, as well as daily sorrows, we are always liberated by God’s merciful hand, who raises us to Himself and leads us to a new life.
God’s love is unbounded: we can always discover new signs that indicate His care in our difficulties and especially His will to gather us and precede us.
The whole of our life, though marked by the frailty of sin, is under God’s gaze who loves us. How many pages of Sacred Scripture speak to us of God’s presence, closeness and tenderness for every man, especially for the little ones, the poor and the afflicted! God has great tenderness, a great love for the little ones, for the weakest, for the rejected by society. The more we are in need the more His gaze on us is filled with mercy. He feels a merciful compassion in our regard because He knows our weaknesses. He knows our sins and He forgives us — He always forgives! He is so good; our Father is so good.
Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, let us open ourselves to Him, let us receive His grace! Because, as the Psalm says, “Let Israel hope in the LORD, For with the LORD is mercy, with Him is plenteous redemption,” (130:7).[Original Text: Italian] [Translation by ZENIT]
Vatican’s Commission on Protecting Minors Releases Statement by ZENIT Staff

Below is the Vatican-provided statement released by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors today in the Vatican:
***
The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors [PCPM] works throughout the year and came together in Rome from September 5 through 11 for a week of Working Group meetings, [Guidelines, Healing and Care, Education, Formation, Theology and Spirituality, Canonical and Civil Norms] and for its Plenary Assembly.
The Working Group meetings focused on the updates for current projects, and developing draft proposals for the Holy Father, Pope Francis. For example, the Commission has developed a template for guidelines in the safeguarding and protection of children, adolescents and vulnerable adults, which we will shortly present to the Holy Father for his consideration.
Education is key
Highlights of this Plenary Assembly were the members’ reports on the progress of on-going education programs, both at a local level and in the Vatican.
These initiatives are part of the Commission’s effort to be of service to the Holy Father by placing their expertise at the disposition of local churches and church leaders. Commission members have also been invited to give talks and take part in various conferences and workshops on all five continents.
These include: talks and workshops held in Australia, in the Archdiocese of Melbourne; in South Africa (SACBC), an orientation program for New Missionaries; in the Philippines [CBCP], a workshop for the Archdiocese of Manila; in Colombia, a talk with clergy of the Archdiocese of Bogotá, a workshop with religious communities, workshops with the Major Seminary and a workshop with evangelization leaders; USA, a talk with “United States National Safe Environment and Victims Assistance Coordinators”; a workshop in Fiji; in New Zealand a series of talks and workshops with the bishops and religious leaders; in Ghana a meeting with the secretary generals of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar from the Association of [SECAM]; a meeting in Tanzania with child protection practitioners from the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa [AMECEA] in Argentina, a discussion with seminarians and clergy of the Diocese of Moron, Buenos Aires; In Santo Domingo, a meeting with fifty formators from thirteen different nations belonging to the Council of Latin American Bishops Conferences [CELAM]; a meeting with Bishops and canonists of Slovakia and Czech Republic; in Italy, a seminar for Abbots of the Benedictine Confederation and participation in the Anglophone Safeguarding Conference.
In the context of the Vatican, Commission members were invited to address meetings of the Pontifical Ecclesiastic Academy and the Congregation for Consecrated Life.
In the coming week members have also been invited to address the training for new bishops held by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, a meeting of the Congregation for the Clergy and the training for new Bishops held by the Congregation for bishops.
Other education programs planned in the coming months include workshops in Mexico, Ecuador and with the Colombian Bishops Conference. The Commission has also been asked to address the Conference of Major Superiors of Men in the US and to hold a workshop for the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences [FABC].
Day of Prayer
A survivor of clerical child sexual abuse made the proposal of a Day of Prayer to the Commission. The Commission believes that prayer is one part of the healing process for survivors and the community of believers. Public prayer is also an important way of consciousness raising in the Church.
The Holy Father has requested that National Bishops Conferences choose an appropriate day on which to pray for the survivors and victims of sexual abuse as part of a Universal Day of Prayer initiative.
The Commission was happy to learn that many Bishops Conferences have already taken steps to enact the proposal.
We were informed that in Australia, the Church throughout the country marked the Day of Prayer on Sunday September 11, in conjunction with their National Day for Child Protection.
The Bishops of the Philippines have already begun to discuss how best to implement the Day of Prayer and will soon announce a date.
The Southern African Bishops Conferences [SACBC] have embraced the proposal dedicating three days to the initiative from Friday December 2 to Sunday December 4., the second Sunday of Advent. Friday will be observed as a day of fasting, there will be a penitential vigil on Saturday and on Sunday a statement prepared by the SACBC, will be read out in all parishes.
The PCPM has prepared resources and materials for the Universal Day of Prayer and we are happy to make them available on request.
MOTU PROPRIO “As a Loving Mother”
The Holy Father’s motu proprio “As a Loving Mother” was discussed. Accountability in dealing with the scandal of child sexual abuse by clergy has been a major concern for the Commission from the outset. In February 2015, the Commission made a proposal to the Holy Father regarding bishop accountability. In “As a Loving Mother”, Pope Francis goes beyond the accountability of bishops broadening it to other Church leaders. The Commission has welcomed this.
Coming soon the PCPM Website
Our presence in the digital world is seen as key to furthering the Commission’s efforts to collaborate with local Churches and disseminate the importance of the protection and safeguarding of minors and vulnerable adults. In the coming months the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors will be going live with its own website. It is also our hope that it will be a useful resource for the Church and all people of good will in our common goal, which is to make our Church and our society a safe home for all.
The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors was created by Pope Francis in March of 2014. The Chirograph of His Holiness Pope Francis states specifically, “The Commission’s specific task is to propose to me the most opportune initiatives for protecting minors and vulnerable adults, in order that we may do everything possible to ensure that crimes such as those which have occurred are no longer repeated in the Church. The Commission is to promote local responsibility in the particular Churches, uniting their efforts to those of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, for the protection of all children and vulnerable adults.”[Original text: English] [Vatican-provided text]
Public Comment Period on HHS Mandate Ends Sept. 20 by ZENIT Staff

Sept. 20 will end the public comment period in response to the Supreme Court’s decision on the Little Sisters of the Poor suit against the Affordable Care Act’s contraception and abortion mandate.
After hearing oral arguments March 23 in Priests for Life vs. HHS and six other cases against the mandate, including the Little Sisters, the Supreme Court sent the cases back to the lower courts with the admonition that the Obama administration and the petitioners – 37 in all – should sort it out themselves. On July 22, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a notice in the Federal Register asking the public for its ideas.
“For everyone who understands how important this case is, this is our opportunity to stand together strongly for religious liberty,” said Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life and a named petitioner in Priests for Life vs. HHS. “You can be sure that those who want to advance abortion and contraception at the expense of religious liberty will let their voices be heard. We must not fail to raise ours.”
To file a comment, click here: https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=CMS-2016-0123-0001
16th Meeting of Council of Cardinals In Progress by ZENIT Staff

The 16th meeting of the Council of Cardinals is taking place in the Vatican. The C9, as the group is commonly called, is studying the plans for reforming the Apostolic Constitution “Pastor Bonus” on the Roman Curia.
The meeting will continue through the 14th.
The Council of Cardinals consists of the following nine prelates: Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State; Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa, archbishop emeritus of Santiago, Chile; Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Bombay; Cardinal Reinhard Marx, archbishop of Munich; Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, archbishop of Kinshasa, Congo; Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley, archbishop of Boston; Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy; Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga, archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras; and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State.
Bishops File Comment on HHS Mandate by ZENIT Staff

On September 9, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) filed comments with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) objecting to mandated involvement in coverage of abortifacients, contraceptives, and sterilization, on pain of crushing fines. The comments responded to HHS’s request for information on how best to accommodate stakeholders with religious objections to such coverage, while assuring that people with no religious objection can still obtain it.
To file a comment, click here: https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=CMS-2016-0123-0001
On May 16, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Little Sisters of the Poor v. Burwell and related cases challenging the HHS mandate. The mandate requires health plans to cover contraceptives – including abortifacient contraceptives– and sterilization procedures. Religious nonprofit organizations engaged in charitable ministry are not exempt from the mandate. In a set of cases involving a number of religious organizations, the Supreme Court overturned the lower court decisions and sent those cases back to the lower courts so that the parties would have an opportunity to reach an amicable resolution.
“This latest round of rulemaking,” the USCCB’s Office of General Counsel wrote, “presents an opportunity for the Administration to achieve its asserted interest … and, at the same time, bring to an amicable end an unprecedented and protracted dispute with the religious community.”
The petitioners in Little Sisters of the Poor v. Burwell have themselves “spelled out with particular clarity how the Administration can achieve its stated policy goals without forcing those with sincerely held religious objections to assist.” For this to happen, any government-mandated contraceptive coverage must be “truly independent of petitioners and their plans—i.e., provided through a separate policy, with a separate enrollment process, a separate insurance card, and a separate payment source, and offered to individuals through a separate communication.”
“For this system to work, however, it must be the case that no further involvement of objecting employers is required.” In addition, to protect the conscience rights of individuals who themselves may have religious objections to contraception and sterilization coverage, enrollment in such coverage “must not be automatic.”
The full text of the comment letter is available at: www.usccb.org/about/general-counsel/rulemaking/upload/HHS-Comments-on-Coverage-for-Contraceptive-Services-Sept-16.pdf.
Pope’s Program for Georgia, Azerbaijan (Slightly Updated) by ZENIT Staff

Below is a slightly updated version of the Vatican released program, detailing Pope Francis’ apostolic visit to Georgia and Azerbaijan, Sept. 30 – Oct. 2. It was published today by the Holy See Press Office:
***
Friday, 30 September 2016
09:00 Departure from Rome’s Fiumicino airport for Tbilisi
15:00 Arrival at the International Airport of Tbilisi
Welcoming ceremony
15:30 Courtesy visit to the President of the Republic at the Presidential Palace
16:00 Meeting with the Authorities, the Civil Society and the Diplomatic Corps in the Courtyard of the Presidential Palace
16:40 Meeting with His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos and Patriarch of All Georgia at the Patriarchal Palace
18:00 Meeting with the Assyrian-Chaldean Community at the Catholic Chaldean Church of St. Simon Bar Sabbae
Saturday, 1 October 2016
10:00 Holy Mass at M. Meskhi Stadium
15:45 Meeting with Priests, Men and Women Religious, Seminarians and Pastoral Agents gathered in the church of the Assumption
17:00 Meeting with people assisted and operators of the Works of Charity of the Church before the Assistance Centre of the Camillian Order
18:15 Visit to the Svietyskhoveli Patriarchal Cathedral in Mskheta
Sunday, 2 October 2016
07:55 Farewell ceremony at the International Airport of Tbilisi
08:10 Departure by plane for Baku
09:30 Arrival at “Heydar Aliyev” International Airport of Baku
Official welcome
10:30 Holy Mass at the church of the Immaculate in the Salesian Centre in Baku
12:45 Luncheon with the Salesian Community and the Papal Entourage
15:30 Welcoming Protocol Ceremony in the Square of the Presidential Palace of Ganjlik
Courtesy visit to the President of the Republic at the Presidential Palace of Ganjlik
16:30 Visit to the Memorial to those killed for Independence
17:00 Meeting with the Authorities at “Heydar Aliyev” Centre
17:45 Private meeting with the Sheikh of the Caucasus Muslims at “Heydar Aliyev” Mosque
18:00 Interreligious meeting with the Sheikh and with the Representatives of the different Religious Communities of the country
19:00 Farewell ceremony at the Airport of Baku
19:15 Departure by plane for Rome/Ciampino
22:00 Arrival at Rome/Ciampino Airport
_____________________
time zones
Rome: +2h UTC
Tbilisi: +4h UTC
Baku: +4h UTC
Bulletin of the Holy See Press Office, 12 September 2016© Copyright – Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Pope Prays for Peace at Ground Zero by Kathleen Naab

From Zenit Archives:
***
In a solemn interreligious ceremony today at Ground Zero, site of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Pope Francis said this place points not only to the “mindset which knows only violence, hatred and revenge” but also to “a hymn to the triumph of life over the prophets of destruction and death, to goodness over evil, to reconciliation and unity over hatred and division.”
The ceremony included reflections from a rabbi and an imam, as well as several other religious leaders, and concluded with children of many races holding hands and singing St. Francis’ Peace Prayer.
“Grief is palpable” here, the Holy Father said. And the waters of the memorial “flowing toward that empty pit” remind of “yesterday’s tears, but also of all the tears still being shed today.”
But, the Pontiff said, “It is a source of great hope that in this place of sorrow and remembrance I can join with leaders representing the many religious traditions which enrich the life of this great city.”
“For all our differences and disagreements, we can live in a world of peace,” he affirmed. “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.”
To bring this about, the Holy Father said, we must “uproot from our hearts all feelings of hatred, vengeance and resentment.”
And this, he said, “is only possible as a gift from heaven.”
He asked those gathered to spend a moment in silence and prayer “each in his or her own way.”
“Let us implore from on high the gift of commitment to the cause of peace. Peace in our homes, our families, our schools and our communities. Peace in all those places where war never seems to end. Peace for those faces which have known nothing but pain. Peace throughout this world which God has given us as the home of all and a home for all. Simply PEACE.”
—-
On ZENIT’s Web page:
Full text: http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-s-address-at-ground-zero
Cardinal Sean O’Malley’s Statement on 9/11 Anniversary by Cardinal Sean O'Malley

Cardinal Seán O’Malley, archbishop of Boston and president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, issued a statement Sunday on the 15th anniversary of September 11th, the tragic day for the city of New York in which attacks committed by terrorists belonging to the Islamic Al Qaeda terror network destroying the World Trade Center claimed some 3,000 lives. Pope Francis visited the Ground Zero memorial at the World Trade Center site in New York on September 25th, 2015, during his Apostolic Visit to the United States and Cuba:
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Anniversaries, be they of joyful, sad or tragic events, are times of reflection, moments of gratitude or sorrow accounting for lessons learned and hopes for the future. The fifteenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks is a day which warrants prayerful attention in the Catholic community and deserves thoughtful reflection in our nation as a whole.
The first priority for our Archdiocese is remembrance of those lost in these unconscionable attacks. The celebration of the Eucharist reminds us that the light of Christ is not extinguished by darkness and evil. This Sunday we pray in a special way for the innocent civilians and the public safety first responders whose lives were taken when hijacked planes were used as means of destruction in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, and for the families and loved ones of the victims. We also remember all those in the military, government service who have made the ultimate sacrifice of service in the international conflicts which have engulfed the world since September 11, 2001. As Catholics our prayer extends to all who people who have died in these conflicts and to the tens of thousands of refugees driven from their homes and lands.
This fifteenth anniversary also recalls the meaning we attribute to 9/11 and its consequences. In the first instance, it was a terrorist attack on civilians which violated all established moral and legal norms of conduct. The events of that day also illustrated for our country and others a fundamental vulnerability to modern acts of terrorism. Since then, many nations have experienced similar forms of violence. These numerous attacks and the responses of large scale military operations have been further complicated by appeals to religion as a motivating factor in terrorist violence. These appeals have no defensible foundation or justification. Notably, Muslim leaders have time and again repudiated the call to violence. The responses to terror by the United States and other nations are based in an established moral-legal foundation, but they have also caused large scale civilian casualties and in specific cases have had devastating consequences for entire countries.
Full and appropriate consideration of the tragic events of 9/11 goes beyond the scope of a single day, even this anniversary. However, there are fundamental principles which should inform all of our reflection and analysis:
Religion cannot and should not be placed in the service of wars of terror or aggression, the use of deadly force is morally justifiable only in circumstances of defense of life and safety.
All religious leadership, regardless of denomination, should actively seek and advocate to resolve conflicts through peace and reconciliation.
Refugees and migrants have rights which must be recognized and as best possible provided for by states, international organizations and religious communities.
Restoration following the conflicts of the last fifteen years will require both meaningful international cooperation and significant financial and humanitarian resources from public and private sources.
On this day of remembrance, we join with all people of good will in commending those lost on September 11, 2001 to the mercy of our loving God as we renew the commitment to work for a society based in compassion, justice and peace.
*Cardinal Seán is in Rome this week for meetings.
Summary of Jubilee Audience: On Redemption by ZENIT Staff

Saturday morning, Pope Francis held one of his “Jubilee Audiences” — a general audience that during this Year of Mercy generally is held one Saturday a month.
Here is the English-language summary of his address:
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Dear Brothers and Sisters: In our catechesis for this Holy Year of Mercy, we reflect today on the word “redemption”: God has redeemed all humanity, liberating us by the precious blood of his Son Jesus (1 Pet1:18-21). How many ways we can be enslaved by false freedom; how much we need God to truly free us. We are called to a new life, raised to the dignity of children of God. Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God, was sacrificed for us, that we might receive forgiveness, love and joy. And so when we suffer and are put to the test, we are called to look intently upon the crucified Jesus: it is he who suffers for us and in us, reveals God’s boundless love for us and never abandons us. The Lord knows well our weaknesses and our sins: yet where our needs abound, his mercy abounds all the more and fills our hearts.
Speaker:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly those from Botswana, South Africa, the Philippines and the United States of America. During your visit to the Eternal City, may your faith in the crucified and risen Christ be renewed and strengthened. May God fill you with his reconciling and tender mercy. God bless you all![Original text: English] [Vatican-provided text]
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