Mary, the Queen of all and cancer patients

The meeting of the joint working group concluded at the Vatican.  The Vietnamese delegation received by Pope Francis.  In a joint statement released today, there is also talk of the establishment "as soon as possible" of the non-permanent papal representative in Vietnam.

At the general audience in the Paul VI hall, Pope Francis highlights the practice of sharing and helping the poor, typical of the first Christian communities.  The positive example of Barnabas;  the negative example of Ananias and Sapphira, marked by hypocrisy.  "A life set only on profiting and taking advantage of situations at the expense of others inevitably causes inner death".  The little girl who played in front of the pontiff.

The Court of Appeal of three judges dismissed the appeal by 2 to 1. He remains in prison, serving a sentence of six years.  Card. Pell's lawyers plans to appeal to the High Court.  The note from the Vatican.

At the Angelus, Pope Francis explains that "the fire" that Jesus came to ignite, pushes disciples "to abandon every attitude of laziness, apathy, indifference".  Christianity has spread "overcoming every division between individuals, social categories, peoples and nations".  It is urgent to live in "adoration of God" and in the "willingness to serve others".  One cannot "combine Christian life and worldliness", "superstitious practices" and "a hostile attitude to one's neighbor".

At the Angelus, Pope Francis explains the words used by Mary in the Magnificat: Magnify and rejoice.  "If we want our life to be happy, God must be placed first, because he alone is great".  Closeness to the peoples of South Asia affected by the monsoons.  The rosaries blessed by the Pope will be distributed to Syrian families.

In a message published today, the pontiff expresses closeness to all those who have been touched by the tragedy and acknowledges that he does not have "pre-packaged answers". He does however reach out to the people of the city, saying "you are not alone", entrusting to Christ "our questions, our pain, our anger", urging people to look “towards the Madonna della Guardia", and calling for reconstruction in solidarity, together with the Church of Genoa.

During the Angelus, Pope Francis suggested attitudes to "grasp God’s passage in one's life". Like pilgrims, we must “be ready with clothes tight around the hips” and keep “lights burning” to enlighten with faith "the many ‘nights’ of life". The eternal joy of heaven means that “the servants, that is, us, will no longer serve God, but God himself will put himself at our service." The pontiff cited the 70th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, which "impose limits on the use of force and are aimed at protecting civilians and prisoners in time of war." War and terrorism represent "the great human defeat".

The new statutes of the Institute for the Works of Religion will be valid for two years ad experimentum. Changes were necessary to adapt them to the needs of the times and use the collaboration and responsibility of experienced lay Catholics.

For the World Resources Institute, Qatar, Israel, Lebanon, Iran and Jordan are among the countries at risk. They use over 80 percent of their total water resources. Prolonged droughts and ever-rising temperatures are compounded by inadequate investment in wastewater reuse. Waste must be limited to avoid a catastrophe.

The meeting was cordial and relaxed. Zelensky, who is Jewish, is attentive to Ukrainian expectations, whilst maintaining a certain neutrality vis-à-vis Orthodox issues. Orthodoxy’s 12 Orthodox have not followed Moscow in breaking communion with Constantinople.

At the resumption of catechesis after the summer break, Pope Francis comments on the first miracle described in the Acts of the Apostles.  The "game of looks" between the cripple, Peter and John.  The Church "place of liberation and healing".  The memory of Edith Stein and her courageous choices: "an authentic conversion to Christ", the "gift of her life against all forms of intolerance and ideological perversion".  Many pilgrims from Asia are present.

More "walks" (unauthorized events) and new arrests planned for August 10.  The protest was born from demand that all opposition candidates be guaranteed place  in municipal elections, but it has become a movement of intolerance towards Putin.  Thousands of arrests, use of batons and tear gas, fingerprinting and DNA, phones seized, internet blocked.  But the bold and provocative attitude of young people grows.

A musician from the Philippines, two journalists from Myanmar and India, and two activists from Thailand and South Korea contributed with “courage and creativity" to human development on the continent. The award ceremony is set for 9 September.

Pope Francis wants to express his gratitude to the priests who work "in the trenches", to encourage them in joy and to praise the Lord with Mary.  The letter was born from the "pain" for the victims of abuse by members of the clergy and from that experienced by so many consecrated persons, for the "suspicion" that is also poured on them, that can generate "doubt, fear  and mistrust ".  "Brothers, let us indeed acknowledge our weaknesses, but also let Jesus transform them and send us forth anew to the mission."