Why did the Pope go to Egypt?
Pope Francis’ trip to Egypt on April 28 and 29 was a real success on all levels. But no one could’ve known for sure that was going to be the case. On paper, it was high-risk trip. The impressive security device put in place by the Egyptian government along the main roads the Pope was going to go through, with agents stationed every 500 meters, was eloquent enough to confirm it. Helicopters and drones were making sure no risks would threaten the mass held at the military stadium on the morning of April 29, while security forces on the ground wouldn’t allow any mobile phones in. Anti-explosive trained dogs even sniffed the briefcases and hand luggage of the journalists joining the ...

Pope Francis at audience: our faith an anchor in heaven
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis held his weekly General Audience in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, during which he continued his catechetical reflections on the theme of Christian hope, focusing specifically on the final words of comfort and consolation the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew records Our Lord speaking to the  disciples immediately before ascending into heaven and taking His place at the right hand of the Father. “‘I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world. (Mt 28:20)’” began Pope Francis in his main catechesis, quoting the very last words of Matthew’s Gospel. “These last words of the Gospel of Matthew,” he went on to say, “recall the prophetic proclamation we find at its beginning: ...

9 Easter quotes from Pope Benedict XVI on his 90th birthday
Ever since his birth and Baptism, Pope Benedict has been tied to the mystery of Easter. Pope Benedict XVI was born 90 years ago on April 16, 1927, which happened to also be Holy Saturday. On that same day, Pope Benedict’s parents brought him to the church to be baptized at the Easter Vigil ceremonies, a providential occurrence as he was born at 8:30 in the morning and at the time the anticipated liturgy was also celebrated in the morning. As a result, his first full day of life, both on earth and in the Church, was Easter. It is a special connection that has lasted his whole life and has resulted in many profound reflections on the “feast of all feasts” ...

Jesus is risen! He is truly risen!
“Jesus is risen!” – “He is truly risen, as he said!” Those were Pope Francis’ words as he delivered his traditional Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) message from the central loggia of St Peter’s Basilica on a sunny Easter Sunday. The Pope said that “by his resurrection, Jesus Christ has set us free from the slavery of sin and death, and has opened before us the way to eternal life.” In every age, the Holy Father underlined, “the Risen Shepherd tirelessly seeks us, his brothers and sisters, wandering in the deserts of this world.  He goes in search of all those lost in the labyrinths of loneliness and marginalization.  He takes upon himself all those victimized ...

Pope Francis: Jesus demands to be loved in the downtrodden
“This Jesus, who accepts the hosannas of the crowd,” said Pope Francis in his homily, “knows full well that they will soon be followed by the cry: ‘Crucify him!’ He does not ask us to contemplate Him only in pictures and photographs, or in the videos that circulate on the internet.  No.  He is present in our many brothers and sisters who today endure sufferings like his own: they suffer from slave labour, from family tragedies, from diseases. They suffer from wars and terrorism, from interests that are armed and ready to strike. Women and men who are cheated, violated in their dignity, discarded.” The Holy Father went on to say, “Jesus is in them, in each of them, and, ...

Shalom Catholic community participates in the international meeting regarding World Youth Day 2019 and the next Synod of the Bishops in 2018
Between 5 and 9th April, the meeting “From Krakow to Panama – The Synod on the Way with the Young People” is been held in Rome, organized by the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life. The meeting aims to collect the pastoral fruits of the last WYD, held in Krakow, Poland, on July 2016. An evaluation of various aspects of the previous WYD will be done in order to prepare the responsible for the Youth Day in the dioceses of the world and within the Missionaries Communities and Ecclesial Movements. Two days of the meeting will be devoted to study the preparatory document for the next Synod of Bishops, 2018, which will focus on the theme “Young people, Faith ...

New Evangelization to care for shrines
Pope Francis issued an Apostolic Letter motu proprio on Saturday, in which he transfers general responsibility for the creation, discipline and administration of Catholic shrines and sanctuaries throughout the world, to the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization. The new arrangement leaves in place the special laws granting other authorities specific competence over certain shrines and sanctuaries – and the pilgrims and pilgrimages associated with them. The Council for New Evangelization will now be directly responsible the establishment of international Sanctuaries and the approval of their respective statutes, as well as for the study and implementation of measures to promote the evangelizing role of the sacred places in the life of the Church and of the faithful, ...

Lent is a key time to open ourselves to the light of Christ and let go of all the “false lights” that lead us away
Pope Francis said Lent is a key time to open ourselves to the light of Christ and let go of all the “false lights” that lead us away from him, taking us instead down a path of darkness marked by our own selfishness. “If now I were to ask you, do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Do you believe that he can change your heart? Do you think you can see reality as he sees it, not as we do? Do you believe that he is light, that he gives us the true light?” the Pope asked March 26, telling pilgrims to respond in silence. The walk in the light of Christ means to convert, he ...

The Holy Eucharist in the Life of Bl. Teresa of Calcutta
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta writes: “These desires to satiate the longings of Our Lord for souls of the poor — for pure victims of his love — goes on increasing with every Mass and Holy Communion” (MFG, p. 19). For this reason back in 1946-47 when she was writing the very first Constitutions for the future Congregation of the Missionaries of Charity which she was asked by Jesus, her Crucified Spouse, to found, she writes: ‘The Sisters should use every means to learn and increase that tender love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament” (R. 34; MFG, p. 31). Bl. Teresa not only renewed daily her “call within a call” to give wholehearted free service to the poorest of ...