In the letter to the faithful for Lent, Fr. Ibrahim recalls the suffering of 10 years of war, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Parents don't have money to feed their children, unemployment and inflation are on the rise. Suicides of desperate fathers are on the rise. “Emergency first Aid” intervention from the Church. The example of the father of Jesus, who "did not flee from the unknown".
A Christian's mission, Francis said at the Angelus, is "ignite little lights in people's hearts; be little lamps of the Gospel that bring a little love and hope ". In Lent a "fast" from gossip. A prayer for children suffering from rare diseases.
Commentary on the Gospel of the 2nd Sunday of Lent B (Mark 9, 2-10).
The theme from Ps 103: 3: "He forgives all your sins". A guide "to offer some suggestions to allow parishes and Christian communities to prepare themselves to live the initiative 24 hours for the Lord.”
This year's work program for Catholics has been drawn up by bishops and the Patriotic Association. Deepen the history of the Party, the Long March, Socialism, aligning with the leadership of Xi Jinping. A Theological Forum on Sinicization is also planned. More than a "pastoral" program, it is a political program in which the "independent and autonomous Church" is exalted.
The Gospel of the first Sunday of Lent reminds us of “this cunning enemy, interested in our eternal condemnation, our failure”. Yesterday afternoon Francis visited Ms Edith Bruck, a poet who survived the Holocaust.
The Holy See’s total revenues reached € 260.4 million against € 310.1 million in expenses, with an expected deficit of € 49.7 million in 2021. Most spending (68 per cent) will go apostolic activities; 17 per cent will pay for patrimony and other assets management, and 15 per cent to administration and service activities.
The church was built in 2000, with all the permits and praise of the local authorities. There are two reasons for the destruction: the land’s commercial value and erasing the "showy" symbolism of the religious building. The policy of "sinicization" launched by Xi Jinping and implemented in Zhejiang and Xijiang. 16,000 mosques were also destroyed or damaged. The appeal to the Pope and the Vatican.
In a video message to the 65th Religious Education Congress organised by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Francis states that there is a need for a community that can support us, that can help us and in which we help each other to look forward, to a tomorrow in which we will have to “act in the Samaritan’s style”, that is, by “letting myself be struck by what I see.”
Global debt is equal to 355 percent of global GDP. China's debt jumped by 335 per cent of GDP. Countries are going into greater debt to support companies and workers. The trend will continue in 2021. Finding a balanced exit strategy will be the big challenge.
Note from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on the celebrations of Holy Week in times of Covid-19. "It is suggested to facilitate and privilege the media coverage of the celebrations presided over by the bishop, encouraging the faithful who are unable to attend their own church to follow the diocesan celebrations as a sign of unity".
On Ash Wednesday, Francis recalls “our journey then is about letting him take us by the hand. The Father who bids us come home is the same who left home to come looking for us; the Lord who heals us is the same who let himself suffer on the cross; the Spirit who enables us to change our lives is the same who breathes softly yet powerfully on our dust.”
Francis has introduced changes to the Vatican Criminal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure. The changes reflect “the changed sensitivities of the times” and go beyond “outdated inspirational criteria and functional solutions”.
