By VIS – Holy See Press Office The following is the full text of the Holy Father Francis’ message for Lent 2017 on the theme “The Word is a gift. Other persons are a gift”. Dear Brothers and Sisters, Lent is a new beginning, a path leading to the certain goal of Easter, Christ’s victory over death. This season urgently calls us to conversion. Christians are asked to return to God “with all their hearts” (Joel 2:12), to refuse to settle for mediocrity and to grow in friendship with the Lord. Jesus is the faithful friend Who never abandons...

By VISarchive 02 Vatican City, 29 February 2016 (VIS) – This morning, Pope Francis welcomed His Holiness Abune Mathias, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. During the meeting the Bishop of Rome emphasized that the patriarch’s visit strengthens the fraternal bonds that already unite both churches. He mentioned as milestones of the common path towards unity His Holiness Abune Paulos’ encounters with St. John Paul II in 1993 and with Benedict XVI in 2009, who invited him to participate in the Synod of Bishops for Africa as was common practice in the early Church for representatives to be...

By VISarchive 02 Vatican City, 29 February 2016 (VIS) – The Holy Father’s universal prayer intention for February is: “That families in need may receive the necessary support and that children may grow up in healthy and peaceful environments”.His intention for evangelisation is: “That those Christians who, on account of their faith, are discriminated against or are being persecuted, may remain strong and faithful to the Gospel, thanks to the incessant prayer of the Church”. Source:: Vatican Information Service

By VISarchive 02 Vatican City, 29 February 2016 (VIS) – One hundred and fifty members of the Rome-St. Peter’s Carabinieri Squad who work with the competent bodies of the Holy See to regulate events in and around St. Peter’s Square throughout the year were received by Pope Francis in the Clementine Hall of the Vatican this morning. The pontiff thanked them for their work in service of pilgrims and tourists, noting that it is work that “requires professionalism and a sense of responsibility as well as attention to people—many of whom are elderly—continuous patience and availability to all. These...

By VISarchive 02 Vatican City, 28 February 2016 (VIS) – “Every day, unfortunately, bad news is reported: murders, accidents, disasters, … In today’s Gospel passage Jesus refers to two tragic events, which at the time caused quite a stir: the bloody crackdown by Roman soldiers inside the temple and the collapse of the tower of Siloam in Jerusalem, which claimed eighteen victims.” These are the words that Pope Francis started with this afternoon before the Angelus, relating our current lived experience to the Gospel of the day. “Jesus knows the superstitious mentality of his listeners,” he continued, “and knows...

By VISarchive 02 Vatican City, 29 February 2016 (VIS) – The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff has published the following calendar of liturgical celebrations at which the Holy Father will preside in the months of March and April 2016: MARCHFriday 4: At 5 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, penitential celebration.Sunday 6: Fourth Sunday of Lent. In Ariccia, beginning of the spiritual exercises for the Roman Curia.Friday 11: Conclusion of the spiritual exercises for the Roman Curia.Tuesday 15: At 10 a.m. in the Consistory Hall, consistory for causes of canonisation.Sunday 20: Palm Sunday and the Passion of...