Overcome Indifference and Win Peace
God is not indifferent! God cares about mankind! God does not abandon us! At the beginning of the New Year, I would like to share not only this profound conviction but also my cordial good wishes for prosperity, peace and the fulfilment of the hopes of every man and every woman, every family, people and nation throughout the world, including all Heads of State and Government and all religious leaders. We continue to trust that 2016 will see us all firmly and confidently engaged, on different levels, in the pursuit of justice and peace. Peace is both God’s gift and a human achievement. As a gift of God, it is entrusted to all men and women, who are called to attain it. Read the 2016 World Day of Peace Message
So, What Did Pope Francis Give Up for Lent?
Indifference. The focus of Pope Francis’s “Message for Lent” is on fighting indifference in all its manifestations. “Indifference to our neighbor and to God also represents a real temptation for us Christians. Each year during Lent we need to hear once more the voice of the prophets who cry out and trouble our conscience…”
Pope Francis, World Day of Peace Message – No Longer Slaves
In his January 1 World Day of Peace message, Pope Francis address the bane of human trafficking. “Tragically, the growing scourge of man’s exploitation by man gravely damages the life of communion and our calling to forge interpersonal relations marked by respect, justice and love.” Read Pope Francis’s World Day of Peace Message
The Pope Francis Effect: Changing Political Discourse
and Challenging the Church of the Global North. By Tom Cordaro, November 1, 2014 Cordaro summarizes some of the major themes of Pope Francis as he address the Global Human Family and the Global Catholic Family. A Pax Christi Resource. Read it here.
Pope To G20: 'Unbridled Consumerism' Damages The Planet
The WorldPost | By Nathan Gardels Posted: 11/12/2014 1:41 pm EST
In what has become an annual ritual, Pope Francis now sends a letter to whomever is chairing the G20 each year to express his concerns about the global economy and the state of world affairs. Here is his letter this year to Tony Abbott, the prime minister of Australia, who is chair of the G20 Leaders' Summit that convenes in Brisbane Nov. 15-16: Read the letter
Pope Francis on Abolition of the Death Penalty and Life Imprisonment
From National Catholic Reporter, Oct 23, 2014
Pope Francis called for abolition of the death penalty as well as life imprisonment, and denounced what he called a "penal populism" that promises to solve society's problems by punishing crime instead of pursuing social justice. "All Christians and people of good will are thus called today to struggle not only for abolition of the death penalty, whether it be legal or illegal and in all its forms, but also to improve prison conditions, out of respect for the human dignity of persons deprived of their liberty. Read more
Pope Francis Quote Book
“God will judge us on our love, on how we have loved our brethren, especially the weakest and the neediest.” From “Do we want to become holy? Yes or No?” A Pope Francis book of quotes and images on the first anniversary of his papacy
An Economist Considers Pope Francis’ Critique of Capitalism
By Jeffrey D. Sachs America Magazine March 24, 2014
In “Joy of the Gospel” Pope Francis stated “In today’s world of instant communication and occasionally biased media coverage, the message we preach runs a greater risk of being distorted or reduced to some of its secondary aspects. In this way certain issues which are part of the Church’s moral teaching are taken out of the context which gives them their meaning…” This statement is especially true about Francis’ comments on “trickle down” economics. This article, written from an economist’s perspective, is helpful background for addressing the moral Scriptural foundation of Pope Francis’ comments on our Christian responsibility in our global and national economies.
“Jesus’ teachings offer good news for the righteous, whether they are the poor and marginalized or the rich who are generous with their bounty. All can find a place in the kingdom. Yet there is little comfort for those who expect that their wealth alone will save them. The story of Lazarus and the rich man is a reminder of the fate of the wealthy who ignore the poor in their midst (Lk 16:19-31). So we should not be surprised by the highly divergent reactions to Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation,…“ Read full article
Pope Francis Reveals Top 10 Secrets to Happiness
National Catholic Reporter – The Francis Chronicles Slowing down, being generous and fighting for peace are part of Pope Francis' secret recipe for happiness. Read more…
Migrants and Refugees: Towards a Better World
“Development cannot be reduced to economic growth alone, often attained without a thought for the poor and the vulnerable. A better world will come about only if attention is first paid to individuals; if human promotion is integral, taking account of every dimension of the person, including the spiritual; if no one is neglected, including the poor, the sick, prisoners, the needy and the stranger (cr. Mt 25:31-46); if we can prove capable of leaving behind a throwaway culture and embracing one of encounter and acceptance.”Pope Francis, “Message of his holiness Pope Francis for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (2014)”.
Pope Francis Visits with President Obama
Quote: "And it isn't just an economic issue, it's a moral issue. I think the Pope was speaking to the danger that over time we grow accustomed to this kind of inequality and accept it as normal. But we can't."President Obama in reference to his discussion, March 27, on income inequality with Pope Francis. The President said he admires the Pope's courage to speak out on economic and social issues.
Want to follow Pope Francis VIA Twitter?
Welcome to the official Twitter Site of Pope Francis . Check it out. According to the Vatican Pope Francis, who took his name from the patron saint of animals, is writing an encyclical on "the ecology of mankind". In a speech about two weeks after his election Pope Francis said he had taken the name of St. Francis because he "teaches us profound respect for the whole of creation and protection of our environment, which all too often, instead of using for the good, we exploit greedily, to one another's detriment."