Tag: Pope Francis

Partisan pope? Falwell critiques Pope Francis on Twitter

thmbfallwellfrancis(RNS) The alliance between Roman Catholics and evangelical Protestants on a range of issues dear to social conservatives has been one of the biggest storylines in religion and politics in recent decades.

But in the Age of Pope Francis and the Era of President Trump that union may be fraying.

In a tweet posted Monday night (Nov. 14), Jerry Falwell Jr. — a Baptist and leader of the religious right who was one of Trump’s chief promoters — delivered a pithy and pointed critique of the pontiff.

“Pope Francis lost all credibility when he failed to call out US Left for policies that impoverished inner cities 4 Dem politicalgain,” Falwell tweeted.   Continue reading →

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Pope Francis urges UN conference to ‘act without delay’ on climate change

The international community has a “serious ethical and moral responsibility to act without delay” in combating climate change, Pope Francis said in a message to COP22, the UN climate conference taking place in Marrakech, Morocco.

In his message, dated November 10 and released November 15, Pope Francis encouraged those taking part in their conference in their work of implementing last year’s Paris climate-change agreement.

Citing the need for “the promotion of lifestyles aimed at favoring sustainable models of production and consumption,” the Pope called for a “culture of protection” of one’s neighbor as well as of creation.

SOURCE

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Francis, Benedict praise Bartholomew I as a brother in faith

pope_francis_and_patriarch_bartholomew_i_in_greece_april_16_2016_credit_losservatore_romano_cna-1In their forewords to a new book about the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church Patriarch Bartholomew I, Pope Francis and retired Pope Benedict XVI praised the faith and goodness of the ecumenical patriarch.

“Today, we brothers in the faith and hope that does not disappoint, we are deeply united in the desire that Christians of the East and the West can feel part of the one and only Church,” Pope Francis wrote.

The forewords were contributions to the book Bartholomew, Apostle and Visionary by John Chryssavgis, written in honor of the 25th anniversary of the patriarch’s election as head of the Eastern Orthodox Church. It was released Oct. 11.   Continue reading →

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New UN Secretary General could become key papal ally

4fb49bf260095aada6cf3e65ab85cb62-690x450ROME- Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres is set to become the next United Nations secretary-general, and as a Catholic Socialist with a deep concern for refugees and global justice generally, he could become a key ally of Pope Francis.

Guterres emerged as the Security Council runaway favorite on Wednesday, when all 15 members agreed to put his name forward to a formal vote, which happened on Thursday.

Having the support of the world’s super-powers: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, makes him first in line to replace South Korean Ban Ki-moon, though he still needs the approval of the U.N. General Assembly. The voting will take place on Oct. 17.   Continue reading →

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Pope, Anglican leader call for unity in mission and service

6c85b873ed47e29ac4ac12b4a913c5c1-690x450ROME – Pope Francis and Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury together charged 19 pairs of Catholic and Anglican bishops to return to their home countries and work together to promote joint prayer, joint proclamation of the Gospel and, especially, joint works of charity and justice.

“Today we rejoice to commission them and send them forth in pairs as the Lord sent out the 72 disciples,” the pope and archbishop said in a common declaration signed Oct. 5 at the end of an evening prayer service.

The 38 bishops, who are part of the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission on Unity and Mission, included: for the United States, Episcopalian Bishop John Bauerschmidt of Tennessee and Catholic Auxiliary Bishop Denis J. Madden of Baltimore; for Canada, Anglican Bishop Dennis Drainville of Quebec and Catholic Bishop Gary Gordon of Victoria, British Columbia; and for Australia, Anglican Bishop John Parkes of Wangaratta and Catholic Archbishop Christopher Prowse of Canberra-Goulburn.   Continue reading →

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Welcoming refugees protects us from terrorism, Pope says

VcnpgzwgweaambgfATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has encouraged Europeans to welcome refugees, calling authentic hospitality “our greatest security against hateful acts of terrorism.”

Francis Saturday spoke to alumni of Jesuit schools in Europe who were in Rome for a conference on refugees.

The pope said: “I encourage you to welcome refugees into your homes and communities, so that their first experience of Europe is not the traumatic experience of sleeping cold on the streets, but one of warm welcome.”

He said each refugee “has a name, a face and a story, as well as an inalienable right to live in peace and to aspire to a better future” for their children.   Continue reading →

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Pentecostals meet Pope Francis; World Council of Churches’ Tveit speaks at Pentecostal conference

pentecostal-world-fellowship-conferencePope Francis met with a group of Italian Pentecostal pastors Sept. 8, telling them that unity is achieved by walking patiently together.

In São Paulo, Brazil, on Sept. 7, Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches spoke about climate change during the opening day of the 24th Pentecostal World Conference.

“We all sin against the Holy Spirit if we ignore climate change,” said Rev. Tveit.

The encounters between the head of the Catholic Church and the leader of the WCC which represents mainly Anglican, Orthodox and traditional Protestant churches comes at time of greater ecumenical contact across the board.    Continue reading →

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Ecumenical autumn: Pope’s calendar filled with dialogue opportunities

Pope Francis greets Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, England, spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, during a private meeting at the Vatican in this June 16, 2014, file photo. The pope will meet Archbishop Welby in Assisi during an interfaith peace meeting this month and in Rome in October. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano) See VATICAN-LETTER-POPE-ECUMENISM Sept. 1, 2016.
Pope Francis greets Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, England, spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, during a private meeting at the Vatican in this June 16, 2014, file photo. The pope will meet Archbishop Welby in Assisi during an interfaith peace meeting this month and in Rome in October. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano) See VATICAN-LETTER-POPE-ECUMENISM Sept. 1, 2016.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Hopes for Christian unity may not be spring fresh, but Pope Francis’ fall calendar is filled with ecumenical appointments.

Even as developments within Christian denominations seem to be solidifying differences that would make full unity difficult, there is no sign that the desire to meet and dialogue is waning. And, in fact, divided Christians are finding more opportunities to pray together and engage in joint work to help the poor and needy.

Pope Francis will open his season of ecumenical engagements Sept. 20 when he joins other Christian leaders and representatives of other religions in Assisi to commemorate the 30th anniversary of St. John Paul II’s interreligious peace gathering. Ten days later, Pope Francis flies to Georgia, a predominantly Orthodox nation. In October, he will meet and pray with Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury and, at the end of the month, he will fly to Sweden to take part in ecumenical events launching commemorations of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.   Continue reading →

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Islamic State names Pope as enemy number one

pope-francisIslamic State has singled out Pope Francis as its chief enemy.

The Middle East terror group describes the pope as a “non-believer” in its latest publication. IS condemns him for “defending” homosexuals who it says have an immoral lifestyle, the Express reports.

The terrorists also attack the pope for seeking dialogue with “moderate” Islam. Such moderate Muslims include Imam Ahmed al Tayeb, of Al Azhar university in Cairo, Egypt, who IS says is apostate for describing Christianity as a religion of love and peace.

Pope Francis has insisted the war on terror being waged across the world is not a religious war. He admitted however that the world was at war, when he spoke to journalists on the plane to Poland for World Youth Day, after Catholic priest Jacques Hamel had his throat slit by two IS followers in France.  Continue reading →

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