Pope appoints Canon Law expert to Council for Economy

Pope Francis nominated an expert in the Church’s legal system as the new Prelate Secretary for the recently-created Council for the Economy. A press release on March 22 from the Holy See’s press office stated, “the Holy Father has nominated Msgr. Brian Ferme as Prelate Secretary of the Council for the Economy.” The British Monsignor has served as the Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law at Rome’s Pontifical Lateran University and the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., as well as the Head of the St. Pius X Faculty of Canon Law in Venice. Msgr. Ferme is not new to the Roman Curia. He acts as a consultor to the Congregation for the…

Be courageous, go to confession – Pope

During his Wednesday audience, Pope Francis encouraged the pilgrims filling St. Peter’s Square to receive the sacrament of reconciliation. “Everyone say to himself: ‘When was the last time I went to confession?’ And if it has been a long time, don’t lose another day! Go, the priest will be good. And Jesus, (will be) there, and Jesus is better than the priests – Jesus receives you. He will receive you with so much love! Be courageous, and go to confession,” urged the Pope on Feb. 19. Acknowledging a popular objection to the sacrament, Pope Francis noted, “someone can say, ‘I confess my sins only to God.’ Yes, you can say to God, ‘forgive me,’ and…

Corruption: Pope creates office to oversee Vatican finances

Pope Francis has taken his boldest step yet to overhaul the Vatican’s scandal-plagued finances, creating a new department with broad powers to oversee all of its economic and administrative affairs, the Vatican said. The Secretariat for the Economy will answer directly to the Pope and will be headed by Australian Cardinal George Pell, currently the Archbishop of Sydney.  The Pope will also name an auditor with oversight powers, according to a papal document known as a Motu Proprio, Latin for “by his own initiative”, formalizing the changes. The Secretariat will be guided in policy making by a new 15-member Council for the Economy, which will be made up of eight Cardinals and Bishops and seven…

Davos World Economic Forum: Pope challenges business leaders to serve Humanity with Wealth

Pope Francis has challenged business leaders assembled in Davos Switzerland to put their wealth at the service of humanity instead of leaving most of the world’s population in poverty and insecurity. In a message to more than 2,500 participants at the annual World Economic Forum, the pontiff urged industrialists and bankers to promote inclusive prosperity, but stopped short of chiding them for excesses laid bare by the global financial crisis. “I ask you to ensure that humanity is served by wealth and not ruled by it,” Pope Francis said in the message read at the opening ceremony by Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Peace and Justice. The Argentinian pope, who has…

Pope Francis to set up child sex abuse committee

Pope Francis is to set up a special committee to help protect children against sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, the archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley, said on Thursday. The move is Francis’ first major step to address the crisis that has discredited the church, in the face of charges that the Vatican has not done enough to protect children or make amends. “The Holy Father has decided to establish a specific commission for the protection of children,” O’Malley told reporters. “The commission will be able to advise the Holy Father about the protection of children and pastoral care of victims of abuse.” Cases of abuse by clergy have forced the church to…

Scene at St. Peter’s Square, Rome – October 26, 2013

Pope Francis didn’t appear to mind when an adorable little boy refused to leave the stage during a mass audience at St. Peter’s Square, Rome, on October 26.   The Pope was speaking to participants in the Pilgrimage for families to the tomb of St. Peter when the youngster took a shine to him. Ushers tried to shoo the boy off the stage, but he was having none of it.   See the Captions of pictures as labled above 1. This adorable little boy was on top of the world when he made friends with Pope Francis by wandering up onto the stage during the Pontiff’s address to a crowd of families. 2. He hung…

Pope to Nuncios: Be Pastors who carry Christ to the world

Below is a Vatican Radio translation of the Holy Father’s address Dear Brothers, These days, in the Year of Faith, are offered to us by the Lord as an occasion to pray together, to reflect together and to share a fraternal moment. I thank Cardinal Bertone for the words he addressed to me on your behalf, but I would like to thank each of you for your service which aids me in solicitude for all of the Churches, in the ministry of unity that is central to the Successor of Peter. You represent me in Churches spread throughout the world and with the Governments, but seeing so many of you today also gives me the…

Vatican to house two Popes for first time as Benedict returns

The Vatican became home to two Popes on Thursday, May 2 for the first time in the history of the Roman Catholic Church when Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI moved back to the city state in the wake of his resignation. Benedict has been living in Castel Gandolfo, the summer papal residence outside Rome since his shock resignation at the end of February. But it was always a temporary arrangement and on Thursday the German-born former pontiff moved into new retirement home within the Vatican gardens. The 86-year-old ex-Pope was picked up by helicopter from the ground of Castel Gandolfo, which perches on the rim of a volcanic crater lake, and flown to the Vatican, a…