Pope offers support in call to Mayor of Nice
It has been revealed that Pope Francis made a surprise phone-call to authorities in Nice, France, following the truck rampage that left 84 people dead and more fighting for their lives. According to Vatican Radio, the Pontiff placed a call to the Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, and during their conversation he gave an undertaking to meet, “as soon as possible” with families of the victims of the July 14 attack.
Speaking to Vatican Radio, Mayor Estrosi said the Pope’s first question had been “What can I do for you?” Estrosi added that the call had renewed him in working to help Nice recover from the events of July 14.
“The image of all the flowers, the letters, the toys that have been put on the Promenade to pay tribute to the victims is an image that no one will be able to forget, but the Pope’s words and the comfort he brings alleviates this terrible memory and gives strength and hope to all,” he said
New guidelines for contemplative orders issued
Pope Francis has issued a new set of rules on the governance of women’s contemplative religious communities. Calling for a renewal of such communities, the Pontiff offered the apostolic constitution Vultum Dei Quaerere (Seeking the Face of God) which contains a dozen points of guidance for female religious.
Among the points are an emphasis on the formation of new members for religious orders, on Eucharistic adoration, and on the prayerful reading of the Scriptures.
He writes that every contemplative community should be involved in Eucharistic adoration and lectio divina.
Fruitfulness
“Women’s contemplative life has always represented in the Church, and for the Church, her praying heart, a storehouse of grace and apostolic fruitfulness, and a visible witness to the mystery and rich variety of holiness,” the document states. “Dear contemplative sisters, without you what would the Church be like, or those living on the fringes of humanity and ministering in the outposts of evangelisation? The Church greatly esteems your life of complete self-giving. The Church counts on your prayers and on your self-sacrifice to bring today’s men and women to the good news of the Gospel. The Church needs you!”
Vultum Dei Quaerere can be read at: http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2016/07/22/160722a.html#
Pope greets those who cannot make WYD in Krakow
During his final Sunday Angelus before his official trip to World Youth Day in Poland, Pope Francis sent a greeting to those who have found themselves unable to attend the event. Addressing the “many youth who, unable to be present personally, will follow the event through the media”, he stressed, “We are all united in prayer!”
The Pontiff asked all to “accompany me in prayer” as he set out to travel to Krakow.
Schedule set for Assisi visit
The Vatican has released the full schedule for an afternoon pilgrimage to Assisi by Pope Francis on August 4.
The Pontiff will travel to Assisi by helicopter, arriving at 3:40pm, and will be driven to the basilica of Our Lady of the Angels. There he will pray at the Porziuncola chapel, located inside the basilica. Afterwards he will meet with Franciscan bishops and superiors, and greet pilgrims outside the basilica.
The Pope will leave Assisi at about 6, returning to Rome by helicopter.