Catholic News

• 'Raise your head high, and keep your hearts light and awake,' Pope tells pilgrims (Vatican Press Office)
  Reflecting on the Gospel reading of the First Sunday of Advent (Luke 21:25-28, 34-36), Pope Francis said during his December 1 Angelus address that “Jesus’ invitation is this: raise your head high and keep your hearts light and awake.” Jesus wanted to free His contemporaries “from present anxieties and false convictions, showing them how to stay awake in their hearts, how to read events from the plan of God, who works salvation even within the most dramatic events of history,” the Pope told pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square. “That is why He suggests that they turn their gaze to Heaven to understand the things of earth.” “If worries weigh down our hearts and induce us to close in on ourselves, Jesus, on the contrary, invites us to lift up our heads, to trust in His love that wants to save us and that draws close to us in every situation of our existence, He asks us to make room for Him in order to find hope again,” Pope Francis continued. He concluded: And so, let us ask ourselves: is my heart weighed down by fear, worries and anxieties about the future? Do I know how to look at daily events and the vicissitudes of history with God’s eyes, in prayer, with a broader horizon? Or do I let myself be overcome by despondency? May this Advent season be a precious opportunity to lift our gaze to Him, who lightens our hearts and sustains us on our way. Let us now invoke the Virgin Mary, who even in times of trial was ready to accept God’s plan.
• Synodality, Nicaea commemoration foster Christian unity: papal message to Ecumenical Patriarch (Vatican Press Office)
  As is customary, a Vatican delegation, led by Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, traveled to Istanbul to take part in the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s celebration on November 30 of the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, brother of St. Peter and patron saint of Constantinople. Cardinal Koch also delivered a message from Pope Francis to the Ecumenical Patriarch, who holds a primacy of honor among the Orthodox churches. The recently concluded synod on synodality “will certainly foster relations between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, which has always kept this constitutive ecclesial dimension alive,” Pope Francis wrote. “Listening without condemning,” which Pope Francis said characterized the synod, “should also be the manner in which Catholics and Orthodox continue their journey towards unity.” “The now imminent 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea will be another opportunity to bear witness to the growing communion that already exists among all who are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” the Pope continued. Echoing comments made two days earlier, the Pope expressed his desire “to celebrate this event together with you, and I sincerely thank all those who have already begun working to make that possible.”
• Papal nuncio fears 'hope is dead' in Syria (Vatican News)
  Cardinal Mario Zenari, the apostolic nuncio in Damascus, reported that “hope is dead, dying, or in some cases already buried” in Syria after years of civil war. In an interview with Vatican News, Cardinal Zenari said that the latest offensive by jihadist rebels, who seized full control of Aleppo, has brought chaos to that city: Government offices have disappeared, the army is nowhere to be seen, and armed groups are roaming, having promised not to harm civilians. So far, they seem to have kept this promise, but people remain fearful and are staying locked in their homes. The Vatican representative said that the bishops of Syria have pledged to remain in Aleppo with their people. But after fourteen years of warfare, with no resolution on the horizon, many Syrians—especially the young—wish only to “escape,” he said.
• British Parliament votes in favor of euthanasia (CNBC)
  By a decisive count of 330 to 275, the British Parliament has voted to move forward with legislation that would allow for physician-assisted suicide. The November 29 vote does not constitute passage of the bill, which still faces debate and future votes in the House of Commons and House of Lords. But the initial vote gave an indication of substantial support for the legislation. The Catholic bishops of England and Wales had argued against passage of the bill, emphasizing the threat to vulnerable people.
• Papal letter urges Nicaraguans to maintain faith, hope (Vatican Press Office)
  Pope Francis has issued a letter to the faithful of Nicaragua, encouraging them to maintain their “faithfulness to the Church,” in the face of an escalating campaign of government oppression. Although his letter does not mention the steps that the Ortega regime has taken to suppress the Catholic Church—including the arrest and expulsion of bishops and priests and the seizure of church properties—the Pope’s message is clearly intended to bolster the confidence of the faithful. “Do not forget the Lord’s loving Providence, which accompanies us and is our only sure guide,” he writes. The Pontiff suggests that the Catholics of Nicaragua find renewal in their celebration of the feast of the Immaculate Conception, their preparation for the Jubilee Year 2025, and their devotion to the Rosary. While Nicaragua’s bishops have been frequent critics of the Ortega government, warning about the loss of democratic government, the Vatican has avoided direct criticism of the regime.
• Russian bombers hits Franciscan college in Syria (AsiaNews)
  A Russian air raid, in support of Syrian government forces, hit the Terra Sancta College, run by the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, on December 1. No casualties were reported, although the institution was heavily damaged. The Russian raids were a response to the advance of rebel forced that seized control of Aleppo, the second-largest city in Syria.
• Sales of printed Bibles soar 22% in US (Wall Street Journal)
  Sales of printed copies of the Bible have soared 22% in the United States this year, according to The Wall Street Journal, during a period in which “total US print book sales were up less than 1%.” 13,713,000 printed Bibles were sold during the first ten months of this year—up from 11,219,000 during the same period last year. Sales have increased steadily in recent years; 9,731,000 printed Bibles were sold during the entire year in 2019.
• 'Do no harm, take care, heal': papal warning against discarding human life (Vatican Press Office)
  Reflecting on the classical adage primum non nocere, secundum cavere, tertium sanare [first not to harm, second to take care, third to heal], Pope Francis warned against the discarding of human life. “Dear friends, classical wisdom today encounters a rapidly developing technology, which must never proceed without deontology,” Pope Francis said on November 29 to a delegation from the Department of Dentistry at the University of Naples Federico II, in an audience marking the 800th anniversary of the university’s founding. The Pope warned: Otherwise, if it neglects human dignity – which is the same for all! – medicine runs the risk of lending itself to the interests of the market and ideology, instead of devoting itself to the good of nascent life, of suffering life, of destitute life. The doctor exists to heal from evil: always cure! No life is to be discarded. “But this person won’t make it…”. Accompany him or her to the very end. I urge you to foster a science that is always at the service of the person.
• Papal tribute to those who preserve Nagasaki's hidden Christian sites (Vatican Press Office)
  Pope Francis thanked members of the Hidden Christian Research Association for their work of preserving and researching the hidden Christian sites in the Japan’s Nagasaki region, where the faith was handed on between the 17th and 19th centuries amid persecution. The Pope, in a November 30 audience, expressed hope that the sites will “serve as a living testimony to the fidelity of so many Japanese Christians who passed on the precious treasure of the faith as a legacy from generation to generation.” The Pope added: Dear friends, when we think of the heroism of the early missionaries, the courage of the Japanese Martyrs and the perseverance of your country’s small but faithful Catholic community down the centuries, how can we not think of our fellow Christians who in our own day are enduring persecution and even death for the name of Jesus? I ask you to join me in praying for them, and for all those who suffer the bitter fruits of war, violence, hatred and oppression.
• Leading Vatican prelates condemn political oppression in Nicaragua, Venezuela, US State Dept. says (CWN)
  Pope Francis received US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, along with his wife and others, in a November 27 audience.
• Papal praise for Hindu spiritual leader's legacy, call to promote common values (Vatican Press Office)
  Pope Francis received swamis from Sivagiri Mutt, a Hindu pilgrimage site in Kerala, India, as they took part in a conference marking the 100th anniversary of Narayana Guru’s first All Religions’ Conference. “Sree Narayana Guru dedicated his life to promoting a social and religious awakening by his clear message that all human beings, regardless of their ethnicity or their religious and cultural traditions, are members of the single human family,” the Pope said on November 30. “He insisted that there should be no discrimination against anyone in any way and at any level. His message is pertinent to our world today.” “As followers of our respective religious traditions, we ought always to cooperate with all people of good will in promoting a culture of respect, dignity, compassion, reconciliation and fraternal solidarity,” the Pope continued. “In this way, we can help to defeat the culture of individualism, exclusion, indifference and violence that sadly is spreading.” The Pope added, “Drawing from the spiritual truths and values that we have in common, yet firmly rooted in and committed to our own religious beliefs and convictions, may we walk together and work together to build a better humanity!”
• Council of Cardinals meeting this week (Vatican Press Office)
  The Council of Cardinals is meeting at the Vatican this week, under the leadership of Pope Francis. The Vatican has not disclosed the topics to be discussed by the Council. At its most recent meeting, in June, the Council heard presentations on economics, canon law, and the protection of minors, and also discussed world conflicts. Originally created to advise the Pontiff on the restructuring of the Roman Curia—a process that was completed with the promulgation of Praedicate Evangelium in March 2022—the Council of Cardinals has remained in place as an advisory body without specific responsibilities.
• Pope meets with French lawmakers, reflects on education, end-of-life care (Vatican Press Office)
  Pope Francis received lawmakers and government officials from southern France on November 30 and offered reflections on education and end-of-life care, seven months after the Macron administration proposed the legalization of euthanasia. Pope Francis spoke of “the urgency of offering young people an education that guides them towards the needs of others and rewards the sense of effort.” He explained that “Involving young people, involving them in the real world, in a visit to the elderly or to disabled people, a visit to the poor or migrants, this opens them to the joy of hospitality and giving.” The Pope added: I also hope that, with your contribution too, the debate on the essential question of the end of life can be conducted in truth. It is a matter of accompanying life to its natural end through a more extensive development of palliative care. As you know, people at the end of life need to be supported by assistants who are faithful to their vocation, which is that of providing assistance and relief even while not being able to cure. Words are not always necessary, but taking a sick person by the hand, taking them by the hand, this does a great deal of good and not only to the sick person, but to us too.
• Biden administration targeted Christian colleges for enforcement actions (Fox News)
  During the Biden administration, nearly 70% of all actions taken to enforce anti-discrimination laws were aimed a faith-based colleges and career schools, the American Principles Project reports. The report, based on data from the Department of Education, notes that faith-based schools account for less than 10% of the country’s student population.
• Ontario's euthanasia regulators have failed to refer over 400 'compliance issues' to law enforcement, report charges (New Atlantis)
  The chief coroner’s office in the Canadian province of Ontario has identified 428 “compliance issues” with euthanasia law since 2018, but has failed to refer them to law enforcement for investigation, The New Atlantis, citing leaked documents, has reported. “After more than 400 identified issues with compliance, ranging from broken safeguards to patients who were euthanized who may not have been capable of consent, [the chief coroner’s] office has failed to alert the public or take any steps to prosecute offenders,” according to the report. “Whether or not these hundreds of ‘issues’ are in fact violations of criminal law is unclear precisely because none of them have been referred to law enforcement for investigation.”
• Msgr. Philip Reilly, pro-life hero, dead at 90 (CatholicPhiladelphian)
  Msgr. Philip Reilly, a beloved figure in the American pro-life movement, died on November 30 at the age of 90. The founder of the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants, Msgr. Reilly had been a leading figure in the development of sidewalk counseling, spending countless hours outside abortion clinics offering help to pregnant women, and training scores of others to do the same. A long fight with skin cancer left his face badly disfigured, but did nothing to diminish his energy for the cause or his infectious good humor.
• Filipino prelate pleads for calm as government leaders feud (CBCPN)
  Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila has asked for prayers “that sobriety may prevail” and that the country’s political leaders “may have the humility to listen to each other with respect,” as the country’s president and vice-president continued an intense public feud. Vice President Sara Duterte recently announced that she had hired an assassin to kill President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., if she herself is killed. The threat marked a dramatic escalation of tensions between the two. Marcos supporters have made Duterte the focus of a corruption investigation, while her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, is also being investigated for extra-legal killings in his aggressive war on drug trafficking. Vice President Duterte has now hinted the Marcos may seek her death—and that she would be ready to avenge the killing.
• Bolivian VP, Pontiff discuss ecology, social justice (Vatican Press Office)
  Pope Francis received David Choquehuanca, the vice president of Bolivia, on November 29. “We discussed Climate Change, the care of Mother Earth and the importance of Social Justice for the peoples of the world,” Choquehuanca stated on his Facebook page. Choquehuanca also met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope’s Secretary of State, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations. Bolivia, a South American nation of 12.2 million (map), is 92% Christian (78% Catholic), 3% ethnic religionist, and 2% Bahaʾi. In August, three Jesuit provincials were indicted there on charges of covering up sexual abuse by a deceased Jesuit archbishop.
• December papal prayer intention: for pilgrims of hope (USCCB)
  The Pope’s prayer intention for December 2024, disseminated by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer), is “we pray that this Jubilee Year strengthen our faith, helping us to recognize the Risen Christ in our daily lives, and that it may transform us into pilgrims of Christian hope.”
• World Council of Churches releases statements on Gaza, Ukraine, climate (World Council of Churches)
  At a meeting in Cyprus, the executive committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) approved statements on Haiti, the war in the Middle East, climate and biodiversity, Sudan, the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, multilateral cooperation, and a just peace in Ukraine. 350 Protestant and Orthodox communities belong to the WCC, which is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. “We especially urge and appeal for de-escalation of increasing threats and rhetoric in various countries regarding the possible use of nuclear weapons in this conflict,” the WCC said in its statement on Ukraine. “All such threats and all measures that lower the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons carry risks of such enormity and of such global, ecological and intergenerational consequence that they simply cannot be contemplated.” In its statement on the Middle East, the WCC said: Plausible allegations of genocide in Gaza, war crimes and violations of fundamental international humanitarian law and principles—as well as scholasticide and ecocide—demand urgent global attention and accountability. With regard to the issue of humanitarian assistance, as the borders of Gaza are controlled by the Israel Defense Forces, it is the obligation of the State of Israel to ensure necessary food and medical goods for the Palestinian population of the territory. In an address at the meeting, Dr. Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, a German Lutheran bishop who serves as moderator of the WCC central committee, asked, “Should we act as prophets or as pastors? And what do we mean when we talk about prophetically speaking truth to power? How can the churches critically accompany political processes? When should they speak up to power in ways which are more shocking than comforting and sustaining?”
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