Pope Francis greets the crowd during his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican June 5, 2019.
Photo: CNS Pope’s reminder of the source of salvation
Only God’s infinite mercy can bring us salvation, Pope Francis said in his Easter message. Describing the world as “full of persons suffering in body and spirit”, with the daily news full of stories of brutal crimes and large-scale armed conflicts, the Pope said “the risen Christ points out paths of hope to beloved Syria, a country torn by a lengthy conflict”.
The Syrian conflict, the Pontiff said, had been accompanied by “destruction, death, contempt for humanitarian law and the breakdown of civil concord”. He entrusted the current Syrian peace talks “to the power of the risen Lord”, in the hope “that good will and the cooperation of all will bear fruit in peace and initiate the building of a fraternal society respectful of the dignity and rights of each citizen”.
Similarly he prayed that the Easter message may overcome hardened hearts throughout the Mediterranean and Middle East, particularly in Iraq, Yemen and Libya, and between Israelis and Palestinians in the Holy Land.
The Holy Father also prayed for Jesus to “water the seeds of hope and prospects for peace in Africa”, and to accompany peace efforts in Ukraine, console the people of Venezuela and draw the Christian family closer to terrorism’s victims.
Italian special forces ‘are not on papal protection duty’
Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi SJ has rejected claims that Italian special forces are operating in Vatican City State protecting the Pope.
While there is “a daily fruitful cooperation between the Vatican Gendarmerie and the Italian police organisations”, Fr Lombardi dismissed a report by Italian journalist Luigi Bisignani as having “no foundation”.
The comments came against the background of Triduum celebrations notable for the presence of security personnel and Italian police in and around St Peter’s following the recent terrorist attack in Brussels. Fr Lombardi insisted that the celebrations would take place as planned.
In his homily at Good Friday’s Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion, Fr Raniero Cantalamessa OFM Cap., preacher of the papal household, said Christians must learn that vengeance is the opposite of mercy, arguing that most of the world’s suffering comes from a desire for revenge.
Gestures speak louder than words
Pope Francis washed the feet of several refugees, including Muslims, Hindus and Copts, on Holy Thursday’s Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
Maintaining that gestures, like Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, “speak louder than words,” the Pope said even coming together stands as a gesture revealing a desire to live in peace as brothers and sisters despite different cultural and religious backgrounds.
The Pontiff celebrated the Mass at the Centre for Asylum Seekers at Castelnuovo di Porto, about 24km north of Rome, where he was greeted by Archbishop Rino Fisicella, the main organiser of the Vatican’s Year of Mercy initiatives, and met with refugees from 26 countries.
In his brief homily, Pope Francis acknowledged the suffering endured by the refugees and asked them to pray in “their own religious language” so that there may “always be brotherhood and goodness”.
No undue concern for Benedict
Although Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is growing more frail, there are no particular concerns or worries regarding his health, Fr Federico Lombardi has said. Following an interview in which Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the retired Pope’s personal secretary, said Pope Benedict was slowly “fading”, Fr Lombardi issued a statement that though the retired Pope is growing frail his health raised no particular concerns and that his “mind is perfectly lucid”.
photo: CNS
