views

Fifteen of the seminarians ordained by Francis are Italian; the others are from Croatia, Peru, Haiti and Japan. The seminarians' ages range from mid-20s to 46. Wearing white robes, the seminarians stood in three rows before the central altar after replying, "Here I am," as their names were called one by one. Francis, reciting a ritual formula, asked if they were worthy to become priests. Later in the ceremony, the seminarians prostrated themselves in a sign of obedience to church authority and to God, on a carpet in front of the altar. During his homily, Francis instructed them to never "tire of being merciful" toward the faithful who confess sins. "Aware of having been chosen among men and appointed in their favor to attend to the things of God, carry out in joy and charity, with sincerity, the priestly work of Christ, solely intent on pleasing God and not yourselves," Francis said. Each seminarian knelt before the pope and held out his ...

Pope Francis donated $500,000 on Saturday to assist Central American migrants currently in Mexico. The money is allotted to help migrant communities amid supposed waning publicity. “Media coverage of this emergency has been decreasing and as a result, aid to migrants by the government and private individuals has also decreased,” read a Vatican statement. The funds are expected to be meted out to 27 projects associated with 16 Mexican dioceses and congregations. The money will be used for food, lodging and basic necessities. In recent months, thousands of migrants have arrived in Mexico, having traveled more than (2,500 miles) on foot and with makeshift vehicles from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala,” read a press release from Peter’s Pence, the organization that’s distributing the funds. “Men and women, often with young children, flee poverty and violence, hoping for a better future in the United States. However, the U.S. border remains closed to them.” The cash is direc...

Pope Francis led the world’s Roman Catholics into Easter at a vigil Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday night, urging the faithful to live not for transient things like wealth and success but for God. The largest church in Christendom was dark at the start of the long service as the pope carved into a candle the numbers of the year 2019 and the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet - Alpha and Omega - signifying that God is the beginning and end of all things. Easter, the most important day in the Church’s liturgical calendar, commemorates the day Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead. Francis, marking his seventh Easter season as pope, wove his homily around the Bible account of the women who went to Jesus’ tomb only to find it empty and the large stone that had sealed it had been cast away. “God takes away even the hardest stones against which our hopes and expectations crash: death, sin, fear, worldliness,” he said. “There is another stone that often se...

Pope Francis sent a message to the Chief Rabbi of Rome Riccardo Di Segni wishing him and the Jewish community a happy Passover, the Italian Jewish newspaper Pagine Ebraiche reported on Thursday. “At the eve of the Festival of Pesach, I wish to extend the most cordial and fraternal wishes to you and to the Jewish Community of Rome. May merciful God accompany you with his blessing and grant you peace and harmony,” the Pope wrote.  “In renewing the bonds of friendship and the shared commitment to the needy in our society on this happy occasion, I assure you that you are in my thoughts and I ask you to continue to pray for me. Chag sameach,” he added, concluding his message with the traditional Hebrew expression to wish a happy holiday. Rabbi Di Segni reciprocated the wishes. “With Easter drawing near, I thank you and send you my cordial wishes for joy, tranquility and health, and for strengthening and beneficial relations of friendship and cooperation. May your prayers be accepted....