First Angelus prayer of Pope Francis

At noon, Sunday, March 17 Holy Father Francis for the very first time appeared in the window of his private apartment as did his predecessors. He showed off right after arrival from the St. Ann church in the Vatican, where he celebrated Sunday Eucharist. Some 200,000 pilgrims filled up the St. Peter’s Square [...]

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Pope Francis meets journalists: “I would like a Church which is poor and for the poor!”

Saturday, March 16, 11 AM local time (6 EDT). Pope Francis meets journalists on special audience in Paul VI Hall. Some 4,000 of them from around the world filled up the Hall. Pope expressed words of thanks for their important service in the period of vacancy and conclave. He emphasized how important delivering [...]

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Pope Francis addresses College of Cardinals

At 6:OO AM EDT, Friday, March 15, Pope Francis met College of Cardinals, including the elderly ones who did not participate in his election, in special audience at Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace. Not only cardinals electors were present but those elders who couldn’t take part in the conclave, too. After being [...]

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Pope Francis gives his first “papal” homily

At noon (EDT) newly elected Pope Francis and 114 cardinals electors celebrated the Missa pro Ecclesiae (Mass for the Church) at Sistine Chapel. During the Mass he delivered his first, yet informal, homily as Pontifex. The seven minute speech in Italian wasn’t prepared earlier. Holy Father used his notes only. Below is the translation [...]

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Pope Benedict XVI bids quiet farewell to Cardinals [full text]

A meeting with College of Cardinals at 11:OO AM (Rome time) was the last official event of Pope Benedict XVI. It took place in beautiful frescoed Clementine Hall attended by 144 cardinals those who will elect new Pope and those over 80. In his farewell address the Pontiff said “May God show you [...]

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Pope’s speech at his Final General Audience, February 27

Under a clear blue sky with temperatures in the low 40s, the pope arrived for his last public audience shortly after 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, February 27, 2013, standing and waving for almost 15 minutes as his white popemobile made a circuit through the square. Some 150,000 pilgrims gathered at St. Peter’s Square [...]

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Homily of Pope Benedict XVI in Ash Wednesday Eucharist

“It is never too late to return to God” and that faith is necessarily ecclesial, was a main message of the homily Pope Benedict XVI has given in a moving Ash Wednesday ceremony. This was last public homily of his pontificate. This year, the Ash Wednesday ceremony was moved from its traditional location [...]

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Lent 2013 – Message of the Pope Benedict XVI

Christians must take care not only of themselves but also for others, knowing that our lives are interdependent, both in good and in evil. Both sin and acts of love have a social dimension – says Pope Benedict XVI in the Message for Lent 2013 – In today’s Church there is a [...]

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