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Herald Malaysia
3 days ago
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Pope at Mass: Take summer to savor moments of reflection
Presiding over Mass at the Cathedral of Albano, Pope Leo reflects on hospitality, service, and listening as essential elements to building a relationship with God and others. Jul 21, 2025 Pope Leo XIV presides over Holy Mass at the Cathedral of Albano (@Vatican Media) By Kielce GussieMarking his third Sunday at the papal summer residence in the Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV presided over Mass for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time at the nearby Cathedral of Albano. At the start of his homily, the Pope joked about having to change in plans to visit Albano back in May. "As you know, I was supposed to arrive on May 12, but the Holy Spirit had other plans. Still, I'm truly happy to be here, and with this sense of fraternity and Christian joy, I greet all of you present." Reflecting upon the first reading and the Gospel, he said these passages call us to reflect on hospitality, service, and listening. Good hosts The Pope first looked at the the first reading from Genesis where three men visit Abraham 'in the heat of the day'. Pope Leo pointed out how Abraham's response to these visitors as master of the house was one of hospitality. With this attitude, the atmosphere changed and, as the Pope highlighted, 'the afternoon's stillness is filled with gestures of love' from Abraham, his wife Sarah, and their servants. In that setting, God shares the news the couple had been waiting for: they will have a son. This encounter encourages us to reflect on how God chose the path of hospitality to enter into Abraham and Sarah's lives. Twin dimensions of hospitality Turning to the Gospel, Pope Leo commented on how the passage 'teaches us about God's way of acting.' Jesus came as a guest in the house of Martha and Mary, not as a stranger but as a friend during a celebration. The two sisters react to their guest in very different ways: Martha welcomes him by serving, while Mary sits at his feet to listen to him. Jesus responded to Martha's comments by inviting her to see the value of listening. Yet, the Pope stressed that 'it would be incorrect, however, to see these two attitudes as mutually exclusive, or to compare the merits of the two women.' Service and listening, he said are 'twin dimensions of hospitality.' When striving to live these two aspects in our daily lives, our relationship with God must come first and we need to live out our faith through concrete actions, according to our state in life. But we can only do this after reflecting on the Word of God and listening for the Holy Spirit. In order to do this, the Pope called us to dedicate times of silence and prayer, eliminating distractions, so we can focus on God and give him space to speak to us. He argued 'this is a dimension of the Christian life that we particularly need to recover today, both as a value for individuals and communities, and as a prophetic sign for our times.' The Pope pointed out that summer is a good moment to push for this and experience the beauty of our relationship with God and how it can help us be more open to others. Summer vacation and God As summer often offers more free time to reflect and spend time with others, Pope Leo challenged everyone to 'make good use of this, by leaving behind the whirlwind of commitments and worries in order to savor a few moments of peace and reflection' and to visit others. Summer can be an opportunity to care for others, get to know them, and listen to them. These are all expressions of love, the Pope explained, of which we are all in need. He argued that if we courageously try to live these out, we will be promoting a culture of peace, 'helping those around us to overcome divisions and hostility and to build communion between individuals, peoples and religions.' Recognizing that this demands effort and sacrifices, Pope Leo stressed that it is in these efforts that 'something worthwhile can be built in life.' Listening to and serving others is the only way to create and strengthen genuine relationships with others. Thank you for your service At the end of Mass, Pope Leo presented the Bishiop of Albano, Vincenzo Viva, with a chasuble. "We present this gift to His Excellency, an expression of our closeness to his diocesan Church, with the hope that the Lord's blessing may always accompany you. Thank you for your service and thank you to your poeple."--Vatican News
Herald Malaysia
13-07-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Pope Leo XIV: Embrace 'marvelous adventure' of following Christ more closely
Pope Leo XIV invites members of several religious congregations holding their General Chapters to take part in the "marvelous adventure" of following Christ more closely. Jul 13, 2025 Pope Leo XIV receives participants in General Chapters of several religious institutes at Castel Gandolfo (@Vatican Media) By Deborah Castellano Lubov Embrace the marvelous adventure of following Christ more closely. Pope Leo XIV gave this exhortation to religious men and women on Saturday morning in Castel Gandolfo, where he is staying for his summer vacation. While Popes generally hold few encounters during their stay in the lakeside town southeast of Rome, the Holy Father welcomed participants in the General Chapters of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (P.I.M.E.); Religious Teachers Filippini; Religious Teachers Venerini; Daughters of the Church; Salesian Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart; and Franciscan Sisters of St. Angela (Angeline Franciscans). The Holy Father began by thanking them for their work and "faithful presence" in so many parts of the world, noting their Founders and Foundresses, "docile to the action of the Holy Spirit, have left you a variety of charisms for the building up of the Body of Christ." Love of God for humanity The Pope observed that their respective Institutes "embody complementary aspects of the life and mission of the entire people of God," naming in particular "the offering of self in union with Christ's Sacrifice, the ad gentes mission, love for the Church preserved and handed on, and the education and formation of young people." These, he said, are different paths all animated by the one eternal reality, namely, "God's love for humanity." "As is customary," the Pope recognized that each of their Congregations has identified particular perspectives through which to reread the legacy received, in order to renew and make its content relevant for today," and he invited them to do this with deep prayer and mutual listening." Benedict XVI's reminder The Holy Spirit, Pope Leo said, quoting Benedict XVI, recalled that it is the Spirit who, "through the contribution of many under the guidance of the Pastors, 'helps the Christian community to walk in charity toward the full truth.'" In this context, the Pope underscored the importance of renewing an authentic missionary spirit, adopting the sentiments 'that were in Christ Jesus,' rooting their hope in God, keeping alive in their hearts the flame of the Spirit, promoting peace, and fostering pastoral co-responsibility within local Churches. Marvelous adventure of following Christ more closely "To place these side by side and recall them together at this moment," Pope Leo marveled, "helps us to appreciate the richness of our being a community—especially as religious—engaged in the same marvelous adventure of 'following Christ more closely.'' "May this renew and strengthen in all of us the awareness and joy of being Church," the Pope said, expressing his hope that this in particular encourage them, in their Chapter discernment, "to think boldly as unique pieces of a design that transcends and involves you beyond your own expectations." God's plan of salvation That design, Pope Leo XIV noted, is "the plan of salvation" by which God desires to bring all humanity back to Himself, as one great family. Like small lights, he urged them to help the light of Christ, "which never fades," spread throughout the earth. Before imparting his Apostolic Blessing, Pope Leo XIV invited those present to join him "in asking the Lord together to make us docile to the voice of His Spirit, who 'teaches all things,' and without whose help—in our weakness—we do not even know how to pray as we ought.'"--Vatican News
UPI
05-07-2025
- Politics
- UPI
French Bishop to lead Vatican's minors-protection commission
Pope Leo XIV holds a drawing during an audience with children and young people during the 'Estate Ragazzi in Vaticano' summer camp in Vatican City on Thursday. Photo by Vatican Media/EPA July 5 (UPI) -- French Archbishop Thibault Verny is the Vatican's new president of its Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors after opposing child abuse within the Episcopal Conference. Pope Leo XIV appointed Verny to succeed American Capuchin Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley, with whom Verny worked to promote a "culture of protection for vulnerable people," Vatican News reported on Saturday. Verny is the Archbishop of Chambery and the Bishop of Maurienne and Tarentaise in France. As president of the commission to protect minors, Verny said he will continue working to protect minors against sexual abuse and raise awareness within the church. "In France, my mission ... allowed me to listen to the victims and accompany them on their journey," Verny said. "It was a decisive experience." He also worked with law enforcement and other civil authorities to develop protocols for thwarting abuse within the church. "It is a matter of raising awareness among the various sepiscopates, religious orders and congregations in different countries about listening to and accompanying victims in a specific way," Verny said. "We must continue to implement a mindset [and] a culture within the churches to spread the protection of minors and ensure that it becomes natural, both in the church and in family and also in society." His appointment comes as the Catholic Church works to address past wrongs and prevent future occurrences. Pope Francis in September visited Timor-Leste, during which he called for protecting youth amid a clergy abuse scandal in the island nation. He made the visit following the Vatican in 2022 disciplining Bishop Ximenes Belo, who had been accused of sexually abusing young boys during the 1980s and 1990s. The accusation was one of many that have plagued the Catholic Church for many years. In France, the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse published a 2,500-page report in 2021 after a three-year investigation.
Herald Malaysia
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Pope Leo XIV receives President of the Republic of Poland
Pope Leo XVI receives in private audience President Andrzej Duda, of Poland. One topic to which particular attention was given is the ongoing war in Ukraine. Jul 03, 2025 Pope Leo XIV greets President Andrzej Duda of Poland (@Vatican Media) VATICAN: Pope Leo XIV on July 3, Thursday morning received in audience, at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, the outgoing President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda. Duda's presidency officially ends in August 2025. First elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2020, Polish law prohibits serving more than two consecutive presidential terms. The president-elect, Karol Nawrocki, who won the recent election, is scheduled to take the oath of office on August 6. According to a statement by the Holy See Press Office, President Duda subsequently met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, who was accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations. 'During the cordial discussions at the Secretariat of State, both parties expressed their mutual appreciation for the strong bilateral relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Poland. The conversation also offered an opportunity to exchange views on the country's current socio-political situation,' the statement said. The statement added that 'The meeting continued with a focus on international matters, with particular attention given to the ongoing war in Ukraine.'--Vatican News
GMA Network
02-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Pope Leo tells Turkish first lady he might visit Turkey in November, presidency says
Pope Leo XIV meets Emine Erdogan, wife of Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan, at the Vatican, July 2, 2025. Vatican Media/ Mario Tomassetti/ Handout via REUTERS ISTANBUL and VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV told Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan that he aims to visit Turkey at the end of November, according to a readout of their meeting at the Vatican on Wednesday by the Turkish presidency. The pope, who held an official meeting with the wife of President Tayyip Erdogan at the Vatican's apostolic palace, told her that officials from Ankara and Vatican were working on the details of the visit, the presidency said in a statement. The Vatican did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the first lady's statement. Leo, elected on May 8 to replace the late Pope Francis, has not yet announced any foreign trips. Francis had been planning a trip to Turkey before his death to celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of an early Church council with Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Leo has been widely expected to take the trip in Francis' stead. Bartholomew previously told an Italian television station that he and Leo discussed the possibility of the new pope traveling to Turkey in late November. — Reuters
