Pope Francis greets an indigenous woman in Puerto Maldonado, Peru

The Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on the Amazon Region has been published. The document traces new paths of evangelization and care for the environment and the poor. Pope Francis hopes for a new missionary thrust, and encourages the role of the laity within the ecclesial community.

“The beloved Amazon region stands before the world in all its splendour, its drama and its mystery.” Thus begins the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Querida Amazonía… Kompli aqra »

Pope Francis at the weekly general audience at the Vatican, 12.01.2020

At the General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis continues his catechesis on the Beatitudes. This week, he reflects on the second Beatitude: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”. Below is the official English-language summary:

Dear Brothers and Sisters: In our continuing catechesis on the Beatitudes, we now turn to the second proclamation: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Mt 5:4).  Such mourning – described by the desert Fathers with the Greek word “penthos” – is more than mere grief: it is an interior sorrow that can open us to an authentic relationship with the Lord and with each other.  The Bible speaks of two types of such sorrow.  The first is the pain we feel when faced with the suffering or death of our brothers and sisters.  The second involves mourning for sin.  Both are grounded in loving concern for others, but above all in love for God.  Sorrow for sin – as seen in Saint Peter’s tears after his betrayal of Jesus – comes as a gift of the Holy Spirit the Comforter.  Let us continually ask for the grace to grieve for our sins and to be open to the healing grace of the Spirit, so that we can comfort others with the same consolation that we ourselves have received… Kompli aqra »

Papa Franġisku waqt l-Angelus tal-Ħadd fi Pjazza San Pietru (Vatican Media)

Għeżież ħuti, il-jum it-tajjeb!

Fl-Evanġelju tal-lum (cfr Mt 5,13-16), Ġesù jgħid lid-dixxipli tiegħu: “Intom il-melħ tal-art. Intom id-dawl tad-dinja” (vv, 13.14).  Hu juża lingwaġġ simboliku biex juri lil kull min irid jimxi warajh xi kriterji biex ħajtu tkun preżenza u xhieda fid-dinja.

L-ewwel tixbiha: il-melħ.  Il-melħ hu l-elementi li jagħti t-togħma u li jippreserva u jżomm l-ikel biex ma jitħassarx… Kompli aqra »