Francis’ video message a few days ahead of his departure for the two South American countries, “Thank you for the love you demonstrate towards those who are discarded by society”

“I will visit you as a pilgrim of the joy of the Gospel, to share “the peace of the Lord” with all and “to confirm you in the same hope”. Peace and hope, shared among all”. So Pope Francis begins his video message to all the “brothers and sisters of Chile and Peru” sent, as usual, a few days before the departure for his apostolic journey scheduled from 15 to 22 January.

The Pope speaks to the Diplomatic Corps and relaunches the Declaration of Human Rights: stop the arms race, the “ideological colonizations”, the trafficking of human beings. A call for dialogue in Korea and Syria, for the welcome and integration of migrants and refugees, and for the respect of climate commitments. The urgency of family support

The Pope baptized 34 newborns in the Sistine Chapel, “catechists will come afterwards, with ideas and explanations. But don't forget: if you don't speak the language of love at home, you won't be able to pass on” what we believe in.

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The Egyptian president intervened at the Coptic Christmas Eve Mass, to show the strong bond that in this historic moment, strengthens the largest Christian community to the Middle East and to Egypt's current strong man.

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Among the various reasons, two seem to be decisive: the Local Church’s self-referential precariousness and the many ambiguities of the outgoing government on the Bolivian issue.

It is significant that the first thing the Archangel Gabriel tells Mary about the son she will conceive is his name. Even before Our Lady learns of her son’s divinity, she is told to name him Jesus. Clearly, the name of Jesus is of great importance, which may be the reason so many people say it, whether with reverence or in vain.

On this Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus it’s good to consider the power of names, and especially the name Our Lord was given when he assumed our human nature. It is a name that can heal and protect us.

O God of Sarah and Abraham,
our tears are mixed with yours,
weeping for the cities in the world.

We weep for the holy cities and especially for Jerusalem:
where brothers and sisters kill each other,
where hatred feeds and nourishes anger,
where animosity blinds mercy,
where religions divide,
as children learn to hate and the elderly nurse old grudges.

We see, and we grieve;
and yet we have not loved the things that make for peace.

So we pray:

At the end-of-year Te Deum, the Pope is “Grateful to the Romans who love the city not with words but with deeds, despite tight economic circumstances, many people do not pity themselves”.

Mary, Mother of God

January 1, 2018

On this day the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, our Lady's greatest title. This feast is the octave of Christmas. In the modern Roman Calendar only Christmas and Easter enjoy the privilege of an octave. According to the 1962 Missal of Saint John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, it is the Solemnity of Circumcision of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Fides Agency annual dossier confirms: for eight consecutive years, the Latin American nations hold the record for the largest number of Catholic pastoral care workers murdered. The data and documentation are marked by valuable - and rare - considerations on the martyr feature marking the Church’s entire journey through history.