Latest news with #ActsoftheApostles
Herald Malaysia
20-06-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Papal diplomats reflect Church's universal mission of peace
Pope Leo XIV met Apostolic Nuncios and papal representatives from around the world on June 10 for the first time since the start of his pontificate. Jun 20, 2025 The ring bears the inscription 'Sub umbra Petri'. VATICAN: Pope Leo XIV met Apostolic Nuncios and papal representatives from around the world on June 10 for the first time since the start of his pontificate. Upholding tradition, he gave each a ring inscribed with 'sub umbra Petri,' a sign of their bond to the successor of Peter. In his address, Pope Leo urged them to remain closely united to the Pope and in communion with local bishops. 'Only in obedience and effective communion with the Pope can your ministry be effective for the Church,' he praised the Holy See's diplomatic corps as a global witness to the Church's unity and mission, calling them a symbol of human fraternity and peace. Off-the-cuff, he described their work, especially in helping select bishops, as 'irreplaceable.' Pope Leo thanked them for their pastoral spirit and diplomatic insight, quoting Pope St Paul VI, who said papal representatives allow the Pope to 'participate in the very life of his children.' Reflecting on the Acts of the Apostles, Pope Leo likened their mission to St Peter healing the lame man, saying papal envoys must offer not riches but Christ himself —building hope and relationships even in difficult places. He called on them to be 'Peter's gaze' and ambassadors of Christ's love, especially in regions marked by suffering, war, or injustice. Pope Leo concluded by encouraging them to be 'instruments of communion and unity' and witnesses of faith and dignity throughout the world. --Vatican News
Herald Malaysia
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Malacca Johore Diocese News Update #224
Dear friends, The Easter people went about proclaiming the good news. They saw good. They welcomed good. They did good. As the Acts of the Apostles says: 'They put fresh hearts in the troubled, the suffering and the persecuted'. When one is able to see good, goodness, and good people, then we see God. To see good is to see God Local takes: Fatal accidents are never ending. Party strife and in-fighting continues. Broken promises claim doctors. More and more frauds and abuses are uncovered in government agencies. Illegal temples, 'gerai's' and extensions are under scrutiny. Factory workers struggle to make ends meet in Kulim, the heart of Silicon Malaysia. The Malay Muslim NGOs are calling for the 'May24Rally', claiming race and religion are under threat. Interesting statements in our midst: 'The Spirit Is Here' Times: With two weeks under his belt as Pope, Leo XIV has already shown himself to be a mild yet focused bridge-builder, with a soft spot for the underdog and a passion for the poor. At his inaugural Mass, in the homily, he signalled his priorities: A Thought For The Week: Three Bricklayers Three people were laying bricks. A passerby asked them what they were doing. The first one replied, 'Don't you see I am mixing the cement?' The second one said, 'Don't you see I am laying bricks?' The third one said, 'I am building a beautiful monument.' Here were three people doing the same thing who had totally different perspectives on what they were doing. They had three very different attitudes about their work. And would their attitude affect their performance? The answer is clearly yes. Lesson from the bricklayers: Excellence comes when the performer takes pride in doing his best. Every job is a selfportrait of the person who does it, regardless of what the job is, whether washing cars, sweeping the floor or painting a house. 'The quality of the work and the quality of the worker are inseparable.' Something's Happening Near You: Safeguarding of Minors Workshop 2. Two Pillars, One Mission: a stayin camp exclusively for single men and women, aged 18 and above. At the Church of St Philip, Segamat, from June 27 - 29. Contact: Kevin 017-7574490 or Clarence 017-7433817 3. Online programme on Ageing with grace - Living life to the fullest (John 10:10) with gerontologist Dr Cecilia Chan, counsellor-caregiver Justin Victor and psychiatrist Dr Fabian Dass, on July 13, 8.00pm-10.00pm. QnQ! Q asks? 'WHAT IF' points us to another side of reality? 'Trials we go through and the blessings we receive are the same thing. Those trials are lessons you can learn from, and those learnings are blessings.' - Tyler Perry 'God turns you from one feeling to another and teaches by means of opposites so that you will have two wings to fly, not one.' -Rumi The Holy Spirit @work: I would say it simply: No one can give that which he doesn't personally possess, which means we cannot transmit the Holy Spirit in an effective way, rendering the Spirit perceptible, if we ourselves aren't close to the Spirit. Pope Benedict XVI Bishop Bernard Paul
Herald Malaysia
26-05-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Pope: Communion requires prayer, listening, conversion
Leo XIV reaffirmed Pope Francis' dedication to listening, first and foremost to the Holy Spirit May 26, 2025 The Pope greeting crowds outside the Basilica of St. Mary Major. (Photo: Vatican News) By Carol Glatz, Catholic News ServiceCelebrating his first Mass in Rome's diocesan cathedral, Pope Leo XIV said communion is built primarily "on our knees," through prayer and a constant commitment to reaffirmed Pope Francis' dedication to listening, first and foremost to the Holy Spirit, as it then leads to listening to and understanding others "as our brothers and sisters."The pope's remarks came during his homily at Mass at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, where he took possession of the cathedral as the bishop of Rome May pope arrived in the late afternoon to the cheers and applause of those who turned out to welcome the U.S.-born pontiff as he stepped out of the black Volkswagen SUV in front of the basilica. He smiled and waved to those outside before being greeted by Cardinal Baldassare Reina, papal vicar for Rome, and then he walked through the basilica's Holy the start of the liturgy, Cardinal Reina read a profession of obedience to the pope on behalf of the diocese and then the pope sat on the raised marble chair in the basilica's apse, taking formal possession of the "cathedra" (chair) of the bishop of Rome. He then received representatives of his flock, including clergy and pope dedicated his homily to the Mass readings, putting special emphasis on the importance of first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (15:1-2, 22-29) described Paul and Barnabas recognizing the authority of the Jerusalem church and going there to settle the question of whether Gentiles could embrace a form of Christianity that did not include observing every aspect of Mosaic law."This was no easy matter; it called for much patience and mutual listening," and Peter and the apostles in Jerusalem were prepared to listen, Pope Leo dialogue "led to the right decision," he said, because they listened to God's voice."In this way, they remind us that communion is built primarily 'on our knees,' through prayer and constant commitment to conversion. For only in this way can each of us hear within the voice of the Spirit crying out: 'Abba! Father!' and then, as a result, listen to and understand others as our brothers and sisters," he said."Naturally, the more we let ourselves be convinced and transformed by the Gospel -- allowing the power of the Spirit to purify our heart, to make our words straightforward, our desires honest and clear, and our actions generous -- the more capable we are of proclaiming its message," the pope fact, he said, "the Gospel assures us that we are not alone in making our decisions in life. The Spirit sustains us and shows us the way to follow, 'teaching' us and 'reminding' us of all that Jesus said.""Pope Francis frequently encouraged us to reflect on the maternal dimension of the church and her defining qualities of tenderness, self-sacrifice and the capacity to listen," he said."We hope that those qualities will be increasingly present in the people of God everywhere, including here, in our great diocesan family: in the faithful, in pastors and, first of all, in myself," Pope Leo encouraged the Diocese of Rome's "process of listening" to the world and its communities to respond to current challenges and "to propose sage and prophetic initiatives of evangelization and charity.""I would like to express my firm desire to contribute to this great ongoing process by listening to everyone as much as possible, in order to learn, understand and decide things together, as St. Augustine would say, 'as a Christian with you and a bishop for you,'" Pope Leo asked everyone to support him "in prayer and charity, mindful of the words of St. Leo the Great: 'All the good we do in the exercise of our ministry is the work of Christ and not our own, for we can do nothing without him.'"He expressed his love and affection for the faithful of Rome "and my desire to share with you, on our journey together, our joys and sorrows, our struggles and hopes. I too offer you 'the little I have and am.'"Following the Mass, the pope appeared at the balcony of the basilica, where he briefly addressed a large crowd of people, wishing them as he did the afternoon of his election May 8, "Peace be with you."The Holy Year dedicated to hope, he said, encourages the faithful to be living witnesses of Christ's hope to the world, "a world that is suffering a lot" because of war, violence and poverty."Thank you for walking together," he said, "Let us all walk together."The pope then got in an open popemobile and headed to the patriarchal Basilica of St. Mary Major where he venerated the "Salus Populi Romani," ("Salvation of the Roman People"), a Marian icon in a side the prayers and final blessing, he stood and prayed at the tomb of his predecessor, Pope Francis, upon which lay a single white Leo then spoke to the people gathered outside the basilica, thanking them "from my heart" for their presence to be with their new bishop, "united as members of the Diocese of Rome."Before going to St. John Lateran for the Mass, Pope Leo also met with Rome's mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, in a brief ceremony at the bottom of the steps below city Leo said he felt the "serious but enthusiastic responsibility of serving all members" of the Diocese of Rome, "having at heart, above all, the faith of the people of God and, therefore, the common good of society.""We are partners, each in its own institutional setting," he said. And yet, as he was about to take possession of the city's cathedral, "Today I can say for you and with you, I am Roman," which was met with great May 25, the pope led a crowd in St. Peter's Square in praying the "Regina Coeli" at noon. Speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace, the pope said, "Let us resolve to bring (the Lord's) love everywhere, never forgetting that each of our sisters and brothers is a dwelling place of God and that his presence is manifested above all in the little ones, in the poor and the suffering, who ask us to be thoughtful and compassionate Christians."--Vatican News
Herald Malaysia
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Cardinal Re: United in prayer before the Conclave, we ask the Holy Spirit for guidance
On Wednesday morning, 7 May, in Saint Peter's Basilica the Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff took place with the Cardinals and over five thousand faithful in attendance. May 07, 2025 By Thaddeus JonesOn Wednesday morning, 7 May, in Saint Peter's Basilica the Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff took place with the Cardinals and over five thousand faithful in attendance. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, presided over the celebration, saying that in a special way "we feel united with the entire People of God in their sense of faith, love for the Pope and confident expectation." Recalling the reading in the Acts of the Apostles how after Christ's ascension into heaven all were united and persevering in prayer together with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, the Cardinal said in his homily that all gathered here are praying together as well just a few hours before the start of the Conclave, "under the gaze of Our Lady beside the altar, in this Basilica which rises above the tomb of the Apostle Peter." United in faith and prayer Cardinal Re explained that at this celebration we invoke the help of the Holy Spirit, asking for "his light and strength so that the Pope elected may be he whom the Church and humanity need at this difficult, complex, and troubled turning point in history." 'To pray, by invoking the Holy Spirit, is the only right and proper attitude to take as the Cardinal electors prepare to undertake an act of the highest human and ecclesial responsibility and to make a choice of exceptional importance. This is a human act for which every personal consideration must be set aside, keeping in mind and heart only the God of Jesus Christ and the good of the Church and of humanity.' Love that knows no limits As proclaimed in the Gospel reading during the celebration, Cardinal Re recalled how Jesus calls on everyone to love one another as He has loved them, even to the point of laying down one's life, a message of boundless love that the Lord calls a "new" commandment. 'The love that Jesus reveals knows no limits and must characterise the thoughts and actions of all his disciples, who must always show authentic love in their behaviour and commit themselves to building a new civilisation, what Paul VI called the 'civilisation of love.' Love is the only force capable of changing the world.' Call to fraternal love and communionContinuing in his homily, Cardinal Re recalled how the readings proclaimed during the celebration call us to fraternal love, mutual help, ecclesial communion and universal human fraternity. And a key task of every successor of Peter is fostering communion in all forms: "communion of all Christians with Christ; communion of the Bishops with the Pope; communion of the Bishops among directed towards communion among persons, peoples and cultures." Unity in diversity The readings also remind us about the duty "to maintain the unity of the Church on the path traced out by Christ to the Apostles." This unity of the Church "is willed by Christ," he explained, a unity that is strong and marked by "profound communion in diversity, provided that full fidelity to the Gospel is maintained." 'Each Pope continues to embody Peter and his mission and thus represents Christ on earth; he is the rock on which the Church is built (cf. Mt 16:18). The election of a new Pope is not a simple succession of persons. The election of a new Pope is always the Apostle Peter who returns.' United in prayer As the Cardinal electors cast their votes in the Sistine Chapel, Cardinal Re urged everyone to pray that the Holy Spirit, "who in the last hundred years has given us a series of truly holy and great Pontiffs, will give us a new Pope according to God's heart for the good of the Church and of humanity." 'May we pray for "a Pope who knows how best to awaken the consciences of all and awaken the moral and spiritual energies in today's society" that "tends to forget God."' The Cardinal remarked how the world expects much from the Church in safeguarding the "fundamental human and spiritual values" that human coexistence and future generations depend upon. 'May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, intercede with her maternal intercession, so that the Holy Spirit will enlighten the minds of the Cardinal electors and help them agree on the Pope that our time needs.'--Vatican News
Herald Malaysia
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Cardinal: True faith is found in compassion, not just creed
Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, celebrated a memorial Mass for Pope Francis Apr 30, 2025 Cardinals and bishops attending one of the Novemdiales Masses in St. Peter's Basilica.(Photo: Vatican News) By Justin McLellan, Catholic News Service True discipleship is not measured by the creeds Christians recite or the theology they know, but by how deeply they love, a cardinal said at a memorial Mass for Pope Francis. "It is not the profession of faith, the theological knowledge or the sacramental practice that guarantees participation in the joy of God," said Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, "but the qualitative and quantitative involvement in the human experience of the least of our brothers and sisters." Celebrating Mass in the basilica April 29 for the fourth day of the "novendiali" -- nine days of mourning for Pope Francis marked with Masses -- the cardinal said that Christ's final judgment will not be based on knowledge or status, but on acts of mercy toward the hungry, the stranger, the sick and the imprisoned. His message came as cardinals gathered in Rome said they are beginning to reflect on what qualities the next pope must embody. The cardinals are meeting daily in general congregation meetings ahead of the conclave, which is scheduled to begin May 7. Concelebrating the Mass with Cardinal Gambetti were the cardinals who lead the three other papal basilicas in Rome: Cardinal Baldassare Reina, papal vicar of Rome and archpriest of the Basilica of St. John Lateran; Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, coadjutor archpriest of the Basilica of St. Mary Major; and U.S. Cardinal James M. Harvey, archpriest of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Patrick Kelly, supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus, was seated in a front row. Reflecting on the Gospel's imagery of sheep and goats, Cardinal Gambetti explained that those who are welcomed into God's kingdom are not those who sought independence and self-interest, but those who lived with gentleness, solidarity and compassion. "At the personal and institutional level, we must ask ourselves: which of these two styles do we embody?" he said. Pope Francis' humanity, tenderness and commitment to peace touched believers and nonbelievers alike, the cardinal said. Quoting Edith Bruck, a Holocaust survivor, poet and friend of Pope Francis, Cardinal Gambetti said the late pope was "a man who loved, who wept, who invoked peace, who embraced and spread warmth wherever he went." True evangelization, the cardinal said, does not come through grand proclamations but through humble acts of solidarity that reveal God's love in tangible ways. "Who touches humanity touches God; who honors humanity honors God; who scorns humanity scorns God," he said. Recalling Pope Francis' conviction that "all, all, all, are called to live in the church," Cardinal Gambetti reflected the on the episode from the Acts of the Apostles in which St. Peter meets Cornelius. In that account, St. Peter enters the gentile's home despite Jewish custom forbidding him to do so, and, after preaching about Jesus, the Holy Spirit descends upon them both, and the apostle baptizes Cornelius. The Gospel account is "an episode that, in an age that is globalized, secularized and thirsting for truth and love such as ours" reveals the first pope's attitude toward evangelization, the cardinal said: "Openness to the human person without reservation, gratuitous concern for others, sharing and deepening experiences to help every man and woman give credit to life, to the grace of creation."--
