Tag Archives: Pope Francis

“For love of my brethren and friends, I say: Peace upon you!” (Ps 122:8). The first atomic bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945, on Hiroshima, virtually levelling the city. A second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945.  About 140,000 died in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki. Half the deaths in each city occurred on the day of the ...

On Tuesday 22nd June 2021 Pope Francis released a message for the First World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly ahead of the date of the celebration which is scheduled for 25 July. The theme chosen by the Pope for the inaugural commemoration is “I am with you always” (Mt 28: 30).  The Holy Father addressed the theme from the Gospel ...

Sunday June 20, 2021 is UN World Refugee Day. As the world celebrates the progress made to advance refugee protection polices and acknowledges the contributions that refugees have made in their host countries, it is important to remember that the need to continue to advance humane policies is now more critical than ever. We often think of refugees as those ...

This year’s World Day Against Child Labour is the first World Day since the universal ratification of the UN’s International Labour Organisation’s Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, and takes place at a time when the COVID-19 crisis threatens to reverse years of progress in tackling the problem. This Day falls each year on June 12 ...

June is a special month of particular devotion to the  Sacred Heart of Jesus, culminating on the June 11th the feast Day itself. It is a time when we can pray ‘Heart to Heart’, when ‘heart speaks to heart’. As  Pope Francis said: “It is not us who first loved God,” it’s the other way around: “it is He who ...

Pope Francis has instituted a Church-wide celebration of a World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Starting this year, it will be held on the fourth Sunday of July (Sunday 25th July 2021) close to the liturgical memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus.  The theme chosen by Pope Francis for this inaugural commemoration is “I am ...

The publication of the encyclical letter “Laudato Si’: On Care For Our Common Home” by Pope Francis, on 24th May 2015 was truly a landmark moment –  a vital reference document of theological and spiritual impact, a rich meditation, and  a practical signpost on collaboration, as well as a call to each of us individually, and together, to acknowledge our ...

May 1st is the feast day of St. Joseph the Worker.  The Apostolic Letter Patris Corde (8 December 2020) was written  by Pope Francis, for this year dedicated to St Joseph (from 8 December 2020 to 8 December 2021).  The Letter provides a direct inroad into the heart of this man Joseph, spouse of Mary, who was a beloved, tender, ...

Those women at the tomb of Jesus!  Pope Francis shared the following  powerful reflection (recorded by Vatican Radio) at the Easter Vigil on 4th April 2015. The Easter Vigil is a time for us “to enter into the Mystery which God has accomplished with His vigil of love.” That was the message of Pope Francis as he celebrated the Easter ...

Ash Wednesday is tomorrow February 17th.  As we start our Lenten Journey (from cross to resurrection and from ashes to light) let us do so in appreciation of the opportunity it offers to simply and hopefully reconnect to that deepest knowing of what resurrection actually means, and how it is, and can continue to express itself in every moment of ...