Pope Benedict XVI was "deeply ashamed" of sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests

Vatican City, Apr. 15, 2008 (vaticans.org) - During an exchange with reporters who accompanied him on an April 15 flight from Rome to Washington, Pope Benedict XVI said that he was "deeply ashamed" of the sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests. The Holy Father told reporters that he would "do everything possible to heal this wound." Specifically, he said that it was important to exclude pedophiles from the priesthood. The Pope's reaction to the sex-abuse scandal is a leading concern among reporters covering the papal visit to the United States. As prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, prior to his election as Pope, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was responsible for disciplinary action imposed on pedophile priests. Close associates report that the future Pontiff was appalled by the information he received from the US about priestly misconduct. Vatican officials have indicated that the Pope will address some remarks t ...Read More

The agenda of the papal voyage to the United States

Vatican City, April 5, 2008 (vaticans.org)– When, in mid-April, Benedict XVI lands at the military airport of Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, the United States will take the lead in the list of the countries most visited by the popes, tieing Poland for the number of visits, with nine, and Turkey for the number of popes who have visited, with three, following his predecessors Paul Vi and John Paul II. The latter, a ceaseless traveler, made the rounds all over the United States. During his first visit, in 1979, he visited seven cities in six days, delivering 63 speeches. The more sedate Joseph Ratzinger, who also make a visit of seven days, will instead stop in only two places: Washington – where he will meet George W. Bush at the White House on April 16 – and New York. He will deliver just 11 speeches. But the mere announcement of at least two of these are already causing jitters, after the current pope showed the world in Regensburg to what daredevil extremes he is wi ...Read More

Pope Benedict XVI's reflections should help Americans make a "deeper moral judgment"

VATICAN CITY, April 09,2008 (vaticans.org) -- Pope Benedict XVI will not bring political directives during his U.S. trip, but his reflections should help Americans make a "deeper moral judgment" during this year's election campaign, a leading U.S. cardinal said.Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, one of two U.S. cardinals who will accompany the pope from Rome to the United States in mid-April, said he thinks Americans will listen closely to what the pope has to say."The pope is coming at a particularly sensitive time, with the presidential election scheduled for November," Cardinal Stafford told CNS in an interview April 8 in his Vatican office.The cardinal said he does not expect the pope to address partisan political issues, but to "heighten people's awareness" about what is right and what is wrong."That is what a religious leader is about, to re ...Read More

Syria and Jordan called on US to share refugee burden

WASHINGTON, April 09, 2008 (vaticans.org) -- The ambassadors of Syria and Jordan called on the United States to share the burden of the unprecedented Iraqi refugee crisis."The situation is terrible and the burden" on Syria's resources and population is horrendous, said Imad Moustapha, Syrian ambassador to the U.S. The "United States is categorically refusing to help" solve the refugee crisis, "the largest exodus in the Middle East," he said.Moustapha was a participant on one of several panels at an April 4 forum, "The Iraqi Refugee Crisis: Law, Policy and Practice," in Washington. The forum, sponsored by Villanova University School of Law in Pennsylvania, gathered advocates, aid workers and lawyers involved with Iraqi refugees.Moustapha stressed the economic and security problems that 1.5 million Iraqi refugees in Syria have caused the already strained government, which subsidizes so ...Read More

Pope will pray for world peace at ground zero

VATICAN CITY, April 11, 2008, (vaticans.org)-- In addition to praying at ground zero in New York for the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and for their families, Pope Benedict XVI will pray for peace and understanding in the world.On April 10 the Vatican posted on its Web site the missal Pope Benedict will use during his April 15-20 visit to Washington and New York; the missal includes the prayer he will recite at ground zero April 20.Describing the site as "the scene of incredible violence and pain," the prayer asks God to grant eternal light and peace to all who died there when terrorists flew two planes into the World Trade Center. It also recalls those who died the same day at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pa.According to the missal, the pope will pray: "God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world: peace in the hearts of all men and women and peace among the nations of the eart ...Read More

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone's preview of Pope's US trip

Vatican City, Apr. 10, 2008 (vaticans.org) - Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone , the Vatican Secretary of State, has offered a preview of next week's trip by Pope Benedict XVI to the US, in a pair of interviews with American news outlets. Speaking to an Associated Press reporter, Cardinal Bertone said that the Holy Father will address the effects of the sex-abuse scandal when he speaks to the clergy in New York. The Pontiff "will try to open the path of healing and reconciliation," the cardinal said. He added that the Pope is keenly aware of the suffering endured by victims of priestly abuse, and the damage done to the Church as a whole, "because it was a contradiction with the great educational mission of the Church." In a separate interview with the Fox News network-- which was taped for a future telecast-- the Secretary of State added the observation that the sex-abuse scandal has left an "open wound." Some American observers have questi ...Read More

Pope Benedict XVI released a message to the United States

Vatican City, Apr. 12, 2008 (vaticans.org) - Pope Benedict XVI has released a message to the people of the United States, in preparation for his trip to America next week. In his message the Holy Father says that he is coming to the US to proclaim that "Jesus Christ is hope for men and women of every language, race, culture, and social condition." The Pontiff also confirms that in his address to the UN he will emphasize the importance of natural law, "the law written on the human heart." The papal message, released by the Vatican press office on April 8, came in the form of a video. The message was released one week before the Pope is scheduled to arrive in the US. The Pope spoke mostly in English, with a brief portion in Spanish. The full text of the Pope's message follows: Dear Brothers and Sisters in the United States of America,The grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you ...Read More

500 Christians protest over the torture of a Christian girl

Lahore, Pakistan, mar.30, 2008 (vaticans.org) - At least 500 Christians protested this friday in Lahore against the police who arrested, tortured, and falsely accused of theft a 16-year-old Christian girl, Farzana. The protesters, holding wooden crosses, tried to reach the office of the superintendent of police, but officers confronted and clubbed them, and arrested eight protesters, jailing them for two hours, according to a press release sent to AsiaNews from Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan. The deputy superintendent of female police, Asmi Khan, has assured the officials of the SLMP that Farzana will be tried fairly and will be released if found not guilty. Farzana worked as a maid for three months at the house of some Muslims, for 500 rupees (8 dollars) per mon ...Read More

The Lord Added To Their Number

by Fr.Michael Platts O.P.30 March 2008Second Sunday of Easter (Low Sunday) (A)Readings:Acts 2:42-47And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking brea ...Read More

Thousands of faithful gather to reflect on God's compassion in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Mar.30, 2008 (vaticans.org) - More than 7 thousand Catholics gathered at the pastoral centre of the archdiocese of the former Saigon, for two prayer vigils on the message "God is rich in compassion". Present at the vigils was Peter Tran Dinh Tu, bishop of Phu Cuong and president of the bishops' commission for divine worship.The participants included many young Catholics from various dioceses in the country, who are in Ho Chi Minh City for school or work. Thanh, who comes from the diocese of Thanh Hoa, tells AsiaNews: "Coming here is like being with a second family, and is an opportunity for my spiritual life: I went to confession and received communion during Holy Week".Cuong, a young man from the parish of Binh An, a ...Read More

Born-again Christian Killed in Philippines

Manila, Philippines, Mar.27, 2008 (vaticans.org) – A Pentecostal pastor was killed inside a church in Massin town in Iloilo province, southern Philippines, on the night of 18 March, according to police reports. No clear motive has been given.Armando Corio, a born-again Christian, died in hospital from wounds to the head and the chest. Eyewitnesses said that the murder could have been committed by Rizalde Cordero who was seen fleeing the church with a knife in the night of 18 March. Police are still looking for him.The situation for men and women religious in southern Philippines remains critical. Both Catholics and Protestant are increasingly targeted by extremists and common bandits wh ...Read More

Pope recalls the world day of prayer and fasting for missionary martyrs

Rome,Italy, Mar.25, 2008 (vaticans.org) - In the light of the Resurrection of Christ, "special value is accorded to commemoration and prayer for the missionary martyrs who died in 2007, while they were carrying out their missionary service. This is a duty of gratitude for the entire Church, and an encouragement for each of us". These were some of Benedict XVI's words following the recitation of the Regina Caeli, on the occasion of the annual day of prayer and fasting for missionary martyrs. This commemoration is observed today, on the occasion of the anniversary of the martyrdom of Oscar Arnulfo Romero, archbishop of San Salvador. This day, which is usually dedicated to prayer and fasting, falls on the first day after Easter. The pope cheerfully suggested, given the festive atmosphere, not to fast, but to pray: "To remember ...Read More

Urbi et Orbi message of Pope: May Easter joy heal the wounds of humanity today

Vatican City, Mar.24, 2008 (vaticans.org) - Darfur and Somalia, the "afflicted Middle East", the Holy Land, Iraq, Lebanon and Tibet, these are the "wounds of humanity" today to which Benedict XVI made direct reference in his message "Urbi et Orbi" (to Rome and to the world) pronounced from the balcony of the basilica of Saint Peter, at the end of the Easter Mass. But, next to these regions for which, he said, "I encourage to seek solutions that will safeguard peace and the common good", the pope's thoughts were extended to all men, all families, all peoples. "Dear Christian brothers and sisters in every part of the world, dear men and women whose spirit is sincerely open to the truth", he said, "let no heart be closed to the omnipotence of this redeeming love! Jesus Christ died and rose for all; he is our hope – true hope for every human being". ...Read More

'Come With Me, And I Will Show You'

by Fr.John D. O'Connor O.P.23 March 2008Easter SundayReadings:Acts 10:34,37-43And Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil , for God was with him. And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised h ...Read More

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