This week, we return to reflecting on Pope Francis’s 2023 Wednesday audiences on ‘‘The Passion for Evangelization’’. we will look to the first disciples and what they did to understand why, what, and how to proclaim.
Tag: Pope Francis
How we can go forth and evangelize
As we continue our series looking at Pope Francis’ Wednesday audiences on “The Passion for Evangelization,” we consider the next vital step for understanding evangelization and apostolic zeal — “Jesus, teacher of proclamation”.
How we can go forth and evangelize
On January 11, 2023, Pope Francis at his Wednesday audience, announced the beginning of a new series of catechesis.
The idea of a decade and other times
As the sentimental, nostalgic beings that we are, we love our decades. We love to talk about “the 60s,” “the 90s,” and so on.
Pope, bishops to consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Pope Francis has asked bishops around the world to join him on Friday, March 25, in consecrating Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, something bishops in every part of the globe had started announcing the minute they heard what the pope had planned.
Looking ahead to the synod
Since the Second Vatican Council ended, gatherings of the world’s bishops, called synods, have occurred in Rome.
These meetings have always dealt with a particular ecclesial theme, such as Religious Life, youth, evangelization, marriage and family, the vocation, and mission of the laity.
Bishop Hying returns from whirlwind ‘ad limina’ week in Rome, meets pope
Bishop Donald J. Hying has returned from what he described as a “whirlwind” week in Rome for his “ad limina” visit.
Reflections on ‘Dominus Iesus’
The primary aim of the Amazon Synod that is happening right now in Rome is, in the words of Pope Francis, to “identify new ways for the evangelization of that portion of the people of God, and especially the indigenous peoples.”1
This question of how to evangelize is very important, not only for the Amazon Region, but for the whole Church. How do we bring Jesus Christ to those who have never heard of him? And more specifically, how are we called to treat other cultures and other religions with the respect they deserve yet without compromising the saving truth of the Gospel?
Teaching on death penalty has evolved
As we observe October as Respect Life Month, we often think of protecting innocent human life, such as the unborn, the sick, the disabled, and the elderly. But I think it is more challenging to consider protecting the lives of those who have been convicted of crimes. Obviously, they are not innocent.
However, as Catholics we are called to protect ALL human life. In 2018, Pope Francis revised the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s section on the death penalty to teach that the death penalty is “inadmissible” and to say that the Church “works with determination for its abolition worldwide.” In a rescript, or decree, the Holy Father replaced the previous version of n. 2267 of the Catechism to read:
Prayer and dialogue needed for peace
Almost every day we hear about terrorist attacks, escalating violence, and wars throughout the world.
We wonder whether peace is even possible. And if it is, how do we achieve it?
We don’t build peace by weapons, but by prayer and dialogue, Pope Francis said in a message to a religious peace meeting which opened on September 15.