Catholic Fire

The Vatican is currently sponsoring (November 17 - 19) an international and interreligious colloquium on the  complementarity of man and woman, entitled Humanum, which includes leaders and scholars from many religions across the globe, to examine and propose anew the beauty of the relationship between the man and the woman, in order to support and reinvigorate marriage and family life for the flourishing of human society. The organizers have released six extraordinary videos on marriage. Filmed around the world and containing interviews with people like Fr. Robert Barron, Dr. Peter Kreeft, and N.T. Wright, the short films evocatively display timeless truths about men, women, and the family’s role in humanity. The videos can be found on YouTube and are useful tools to those involved in the marriage and family ministry. They are just beautiful! Here is the latest video in the series:

The beauty of marriage between man and woman and its importance transcends divisions and beliefs. That's what several participants of the Humanum conference have seen on its first day. SR. PRUDENCE ALLEN Religious Sisters of Mercy (USA) "There are a few people, many people in this interfaith dynamic at the conference which is incredible where you can see the witness to marriage and the beauty and power of marriage in all the different religious traditions. How it's good, it's true, it's unifying, it's one, it's beautiful.” In his address, Cardinal Müller explained that the complementarity of man and woman is important both in human relationships and in the relationship with God. CARD. GERHARD MÜLLER Prefect, Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith "Their union reveals how each one are a mutual help to walk towards the Creator, God, who is beginning and end of the world and of mankind.” Lord Jonathan Sacks, the former Chief Rabbi of the ...

Now, this is interesting. I would love to be a fly on the wall during this meeting. Vatican Radio) US President Barack Obama’s trip to Rome on March 27 will be his first audience with Pope Francis. It will be the second time that President Barack Obama has been received at the Vatican, after an audience with Pope Benedict XVI on July 10, 2009. Barack Obama is the ninth US President to make ​​an official visit to the Vatican. The first, Woodrow Wilson, received by Pope Benedict XV after the end of the First World War. The next audience for a sitting president came thirty years later, when Blessed Pope John XXIII, received President Dwight Eisenhower 1959. John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the first (and so far only) Catholic president met with Pope Paul VI in 1963. Paul VI later received three other Presidents, meeting twice each with both Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon, and once with Gerald Ford. The visit of Blessed John Paul II to Washington in 1979, when he met Jimmy Carter, ...

"The lack of health, and disability are not good reasons to exclude, or worse, do away with a person.” That is the message the Pope sent members of the Pontifical Academy for Life, which gathered in Rome in February for its 20th anniversary. Dozens of experts talked about aging and disabilities. Pope Francis reminded them that "the tyranny of an economic logic” turns many people into victims, "starting with the elderly.” MONICA LOPEZ BARAHONA Academic Director, Centro de Estudios Biosanitarios (Spain) "The new idea in this case is to take back the culture of love, of love towards the elderly. To reclaim the value that old age has when it comes to experience gained, and experience that can be passed on.” In the more developed countries, populations are aging fast. In an effort to tackle the "throw-away culture,” experts said the key is in engaging, not excluding family members who cannot fend for themselves. ENCARNACION PEREZ BRET Hospital Centro d...

) It's been a year now since Pope Francis was elected. In these past 12 months, no one has been left indifferent. From the unusual circumstances under which he was elected, to the so called 'Francis' effect that's made its way across the globe. 1- HELP As he introduced himself to the world, the first thing Pope Francis did, up from the balcony of St. Peter's, was bow his head and ask for prayers. The thousands of people gathered out in the Square, began to pray for his pontificate. POPE FRANCIS "I would like to bless you...but before I'd like to ask all of you for a favor. Before the bishop blesses his flock, I ask that you pray to the Lord, so that He blesses me. The prayer of the people, asking for the Bishop's blessing.” It was surprising at first, but soon it became a hallmark of his pontificate. "Pray for me.” "Pray for me.” "Pray for me.” "Don't forget, pray for me.” 2- AUSTERITY His personal style a...

During World War II, more than 400,000 Jews were murdered by the Nazi regime in Hungary. Back then, the Vatican's nuncio was Angelo Rotta. He along with his secretary, Gennaro Verolino, helped saved roughly 15,000 Jews during the Holocaust. MATTEO LUIGI Author 'The Righteous of Budapest' "They processed passports and left them blank, so that if someone needed to flee, they could do so. They also rented a series of building in Budapest. I think there were about 25 units. They created  fictitious offices and they displayed the Vatican flag as if it was part of the nunciature. There they allowed Jews to hide.” Back in Rome, the Vatican knew exactly what they were doing, and in fact, those two diplomats weren't the only ones. Back when he was a Vatican diplomat, John XXIII also helped Jews flee from the Nazis when he served as nuncio in Istanbul. MATTEO LUIGI Author 'The Righteous of Budapest' "Verolino's letters clearly state this. He des...

A seven-member team of medical experts convoked by the Vatican reported there is no natural explanation for the survival of a child delivered stillborn and whose heart did not start beating until 61 minutes after his birth. The survival of the child, James Fulton Engstrom of Goodfield, now 3 years old and developing normally, was credited by his parents to a miracle attributable to the intercession of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, a Peoria diocesan priest who gained fame for his 1950s television show "Life Is Worth Living" and his 16 years at the helm of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. The medical experts' report was announced March 6 in Peoria by the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation, of which Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, is president. "Today is a significant step in the cause for the beatification and canonization of our beloved Fulton Sheen, a priest of Peoria and a Son of the Heartland who went on to change the world," Bishop Jenky said in...

By Stefano Gennarini, J.D. NEW YORK, February 5 (C-FAM) The Vatican accused a UN committee of interfering with Church doctrine and violating religious freedom after it was asked to change its teaching on abortion and homosexuality. The Church should change its teaching on abortion, according to a UN committee that monitors the rights of children. The Church should no longer automatically excommunicate those who perform or assist in the performance of an abortion, the UN experts said in observations published Wednesday following a year-long review of the Vatican’s child protection practices. Church teaching on marriage and sexuality should also change according to the observations, because it prevents adolescents from accessing contraception. In addition the experts said Church teaching on homosexuality contributes to “social stigmatization and violence” against homosexual adolescents and children raised by same-sex couples. The Vatican immediately issued a press release say...

On Tuesday the White House announced that President Barack Obama will meet with Pope Francis on March 27th. It won't the the first time the president visits Rome. He came back in July 2009 to meet with Benedict XVI at the Apostolic Palace. The White House says the president is looking forward to discussing issues like poverty and inequality with Pope Francis. Part of the agenda though, will likely include the controversial birth control mandate that's triggered tension and lawsuits  between the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Obama administration. The announcement comes just days after U.S Secretary of State, John Kerry met with his counterpart, Msgr. Pietro Parolin at the Vatican.

Msgr. Pietro Parolin welcomed U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry for a very brief meeting at the Vatican. Now, I'm headed to Kuwait to do a major conference for Syrian refugees. The short visit underscores the pivotal role Pope Francis has gained in international affairs since taking office. John Kerry made the pit stop in Rome to discuss the peace process between Israel and Palestine. In the past months, he pushed for negotiations, but with no success so far. Thank you so much for arranging this, and thank you so much for doing this on s hort notice. With Pope Francis visiting the Holy Land in May, the United States sees the Pope as a key ally in pushing both sides to the negotiating table. The meeting lasted an hour and forty minutes. Both two secretaries also talked about Syria, South Sudan, and the healthcare reform in the U.S., a big sticking point between the government and American bishops. Before saying goodbye, Kerry introduced some of his staff. His assist...

The Vatican press office has decried attempts by some Italian journalists to portray a comment by Pope Francis as an opening to approval of same-sex unions. In a November 29 address to religious superiors, which was made public by the Vatican last week, the Pontiff said that religious involved in the education of children should be aware that children today come from widely diverse households. The Pope said that teachers must be sensitive to the feelings of children whose parents are divorced, unmarried, or homosexual. Some Italian commentators claimed that the Pope’s words were a signal to Italian politicians, who are this week taking up a proposal to approve “civil partnerships.” But Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, rejected that interpretation of the Pope’s talk as a “stretch,” and suggested that some journalists are manipulating the Pope’s words. In his November talk, the Pope was reflecting on contemporary reality, Father Lombardi said. “...

The nearly three-year conflict is pushing the people fleeing Syria to a breaking point. As they challenges grow, Card. Robert Sarah, president for the Pontifical Cor Unum Council, and Secretary Giampiero Dal Toso, witnessed them first hand.

More than 6.6 million people participated in papal events at the Vatican during the first nine months of Francis’s pontificate, including weekly general audiences, group audiences, liturgies and recitations of the Angelus and “Regina Coeli” on Sundays and holy days. The statistics, compiled by the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household and released January 2, do not include figures from Pope Francis’s trip to Brazil for World Youth Day in July 2013, or his visits to Italian locations outside the Vatican. Continue reading.

The Christmas tree lighting ceremony in St Peter' Square officially marks the start of Christmas at the Vatican. In fact, the colors chosen to decorate it this year are those of the Vatican flag, white and yellow. Some inhabitants of Waldmünchen, in Bavaria (Germany) took part in the ceremony. They gifted the huge fir tree that stands in the middle of the Square and the little ones spread throughout the Vatican. During the last week, workers perfected the tree, brought all the way from Bavaria, homeland to Pope emeritus Benedict XVI. It arrived on December 5. That same day it was installed at the Square and workers also started to decorate it. The tree is almost 100 feet high and weighs seven tons.

(Vatican Radio) "Francis 1223 - Francis 2013" is the title of this year’s nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square, marking the first Christmas of the pontificate of Pope Francis. For the first time, a Neapolitan crèche will be used in the exhibit, created by Antonio Cantone of the firm Cantone & Costabile. The nativity scenes of Naples are world famous, and the material was donated by the Archbishop of Naples, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, with the support of the president of the Region of Campania, Stefano Caldoro. The figures will be dressed in the clothing typical of 18th century Naples. The scene will be funded largely by donations from benefactors, limiting the expense of the Governorate of Vatican City State.

The high-profile meeting between Pope Francis and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lasted just 25 minutes. - Good morning. - It's a pleasure and an honor to see you. But it was a major step forward in building relations between these two states, so intricately tied to their religious nature. By-passing the chit chat, the two leaders spoke about re-starting negotiations, for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. Another main topic was the Pope's confirmed visit to Israel in 2014. The Vatican said the dates wouldn't be announced until after a special advance team traveled to the Holy Land to assess the logistics. -Your Holiness, a pleasure to meet you. I heard so many good things about you. After the meeting, Netanyahu introduced his 13-member delegation, including his wife Sara. -My wife's father was a great biblical scholar. He also introduces several government ministers and staff from the Israeli embassy. With Hanukkah endin...

November 11, 2013. (Romereports.com) The death toll is estimated at 10,000, but expected to grow. There are millions affected, and nearly 600,000 people displaced, after Typhoon Haiyan battered the Philippines with 150mph winds and 10-foot tidal waves.   PATRICK NICHOLSON Communications Director, Caritas Internationalis “People who've flown over the area say they haven't seen similar to this since the Asian Tsunami in 2004 or the Haiti earthquake, so we're talking about a massive catastrophe.” Such comparisons are proof of the destruction, and the need for immediate assistance. Catholic groups stepped up right away. Pope Francis, through the Vatican's Cor Unum Council, agreed to send $150,000 to the Catholic Church in the Philippines. The money will be distributed among the dioceses hardest hit by the storm. Meanwhile the Vatican's official aid agency, Caritas Internationalis, created a special fund where people can donate to support aid efforts. They a...

November 4, 2013. (Romereports.com) The Vatican ended the first of two seminars, leading to a four-day conference, on how to do away with human trafficking. The two day event addressed the state of 29 million people worldwide considered to be modern slaves.   PROF. JUAN JOSE LLACH Pontifical Academy for Social Sciences “This was an explicit petition from Pope Francis to the Vatican academies to analyze this topic and come up with solutions. We received 49 proposals from the participants, and we hope to draft a statement on behalf of our academies.” The Vatican will sort the proposals and complete a statement in the coming weeks. However, it probably wont include concrete steps like the creation of a DNA registry, because they said it would only address a small part of the problem. During the workshop, participants discussed challenges in fighting human trafficking. The biggest, is that, since it's an illegal activity, the extent of the problem is not well known, yet. Plu...

(Vatican Radio) A new book was scheduled to be launched in Rome on Wednesday to encourage Catholics to prayerfully read the Bible. Published jointly by the American Bible Society and the Vatican Publishing House (Libreria Editrice Vaticana), “Pray With the Bible, Meditate With the Word” uses the ancient monastic practice of Lectio Divina to help readers draw spiritual help from Scripture. “In the third century monks developed a prayerful practice called Lectio Divina, the reading of God: That meant to read the Bible in a prayerful form.” explained Mario Paredes, the Presidential Liaison of Catholic Ministries for the American Bible Society. “As the centuries went by, prayer…became very rational and very intellectual, and so the act of praying with the World of God became really obsolete until very modern times. After Vatican II, the Church clearly indicated that a Catholic person should be engaged with the Word of God.” He told Vatican Radio that the American Bible Society has co...

Created on Thursday, 20 June 2013 18:46  Written by Stefano Gennarini, J.D. ROME, June 21 ( C-FAM ) The family is the central way of proclaiming the "Gospel of Life," a top Vatican official said this week during a weekend-long celebration of Blessed John Paul II's letter by that name. In the family “children witness the Gospel of life in the relationship of their parents with one another and in the relationship of the parents with them,” Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke said in remarks delivered at a conference held during the commemorative event. Burke, Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, said “A new reading of the Encyclical Letter must be at the core of the observance of the Year of Faith." Dr. Douglas Sylva chaired the conference, which was sponsored by C-FAM, publisher of the Friday Fax, in conjunction with the Pontifical Council on The New Evangelization. Sylva is Chairman of C-FAM's board of directors. Pope Francis celebrated Holy Mass commemorating S...