Paul Keenan
Pope stresses forgiveness during private Assisi Pilgrimage
Pope Francis made ‘forgiveness’ the theme of his private pilgrimage to Assisi on August 4. Having prayed in silence at the Porziuncola chapel where St Francis founded the Franciscan order in the 13th Century, his papal namesake delivered an address at the Basilica of St Mary in which he stressed that “too many people are caught up in resentment and harbour hatred because they are incapable of forgiving”.
“Dear brothers and sisters, in this Holy Year of Mercy, it becomes ever clearer that the path of forgiveness can truly renew the Church and the world. To offer today’s world the witness of mercy is a task from which none of us can feel exempted. The world needs forgiveness; too many people are caught up in resentment and harbour hatred, because they are incapable of forgiving. They ruin their own lives and the lives of those around them rather than finding the joy of serenity and peace. Let us ask Saint Francis to intercede for us, so that we may always be humble signs of forgiveness and channels of mercy.”
Holy See calls for greater help for children in conflict
The Holy See’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations has urged that body to do more on behalf of children victimised by conflict.
Addressing a Security Council open debate on the subject of Children and Armed Conflict, Archbishop Bernardito Auza insisted the protection of children is “incumbent” on all.
“Never in recent memory have so many children been subjected to such violent brutality,” the archbishop pointed out. “Children used as soldiers, suicide bombers, sex slaves, and disposable intelligence-gatherers in the most dangerous military operations. The deliberate destruction of their schools and hospitals in total disregard of international humanitarian law has become a strategy of war. These crimes must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
Referring to the latest report of the UN Secretary General on the issue of children in conflict, Archbishop Auza pointed out: “The year 2014 was described as the worst year for children affected by armed conflict. But as the [report] covering the year 2015 illustrates, the 2014 horror-list has been surpassed by the number of children caught in armed conflicts and the scale and severity of violations in 2015.
“The obligation to put an end to barbaric acts against children caught in armed conflict is incumbent upon every one of us.”
Cardinal hints at progress on Rome-Beijing relations
The Vatican is on the cusp of an accord with China over the appointment of bishops in that country, a leading prelate in the region has claimed.
In a pastoral letter issued on the Hong Kong diocesan website, Cardinal John Tong states that “the Catholic Church has gradually gained the reconsideration of the Chinese Government, which is now willing to reach an understanding with the Holy See on the question of the appointment of bishops in the Catholic Church in China and seek a mutually acceptable plan”.
The appointment of bishops remains one of the most fraught issues between Rome and Beijing, but Cardinal Tong’s message comes at a time of warmer relations than before between the two.
More than once, Pope Francis and President Xi Jinping have exchanged goodwill messages, hinting at the possibility of diplomatic progress between them.