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Herald Malaysia
5 days ago
- 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."--
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pope Francis' funeral: Top 7 moments that made it historic
The world bid adieu to the 'people's pope' on Saturday. Pope Francis , who passed away on April 21, was laid to rest on April 26 after a moving funeral attended by world leaders, including royalty, presidents, and prime ministers. Apart from the turnout of all the important people and heavyweight world leaders, what made Pope Francis' funeral on Saturday 'potentially historic' was the presence of a wholly inclusive crowd. In fact, according to Vatican estimates, 250,000 people flocked to the funeral mass at the Vatican, marked by enchanting choral music and emotive readings. The 88-year-old pontiff's coffin was then transported to its burial place in the Basilica of St Mary Major, as 150,000 more onlookers lined the route through Rome for the first funeral procession for a pope in a century and to bid farewell to the first Latin-American pope. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beyond Text Generation: An AI Tool That Helps You Write Better Grammarly Install Now Undo To sum it up, the streets of the Vatican and Rome witnessed an outpouring turnout of over 400,000 people, who paid their final tribute as the 'people's Pope' was on his last mortal journey. Amongst all those mourners and a service that lasted for a few hours, some key moments made Pope Francis' funeral quite historic and memorable. Take a look. American reporter delivering the first reading American Kielce Gussie, 28, conducted the first reading in English, reciting several verses from the Acts of the Apostles. Gussie, a journalist at Vatican News, holds an undergraduate degree in theology from Mount St. Mary's University and a licentiate degree in church communication from Rome's Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. The appearance of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accompanied by his wife, Olena Zelenska, received applause from the crowd in St. Peter's Square and appeared on screens throughout the area. Zelenskyy has led Ukraine through its war with Russia, which escalated in 2022 following the invasion of the Eastern European country. For the funeral, Zelenskyy made a notable change to his usual military attire, opting for dark clothing that included an elegant black jacket with front pockets and a more casual cut, paired with a dark shirt instead of his typical T-shirt, along with dark boots. Since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Zelenskyy has consistently worn informal military dress to show solidarity with soldiers on the front lines. However, his choice of attire sparked controversy during his last visit to Washington, where a reporter's question about his informal dress briefly shifted the tone of the event. His decision to dress more formally for the funeral marked a significant, albeit subtle, shift for the solemn occasion. Trump and Zelenskyy's impromptu mini-summit One of the most striking moments came from an impromptu meeting at the Vatican. Photos released by Kyiv's presidency depict Zelenskyy, Trump, Macron, and Starmer gathered in a marble hall ahead of the funeral, with Macron resting a supportive hand on Zelenskyy's shoulder. Trump and Zelenskyy engaged in a private, face-to-face 15-minute conversation inside St. Peter's Basilica, seated without any aides or advisors nearby, indicating a direct discussion between the two leaders. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung described the meeting as 'very productive,' with plans for further discussions later in the day. This direct and seemingly cordial interaction stood in sharp contrast to the recent public tensions between the two leaders. In a post on social media platform X, Zelenskyy described the meeting as positive, suggesting it could become historic. Trump and Macron's unexpected 'sign of peace' During the funeral Mass, Trump participated in the Catholic ritual known as the "sign of peace." He exchanged handshakes with his immediate neighbors: Finnish President Alexander Stubb, with whom he recently played golf in Florida, and Estonian President Alar Karis. He also reached out to shake hands with French President Emmanuel Macron, who was seated a short distance away. In Catholic liturgy, the "sign of peace" occurs after the Our Father and before Communion, inviting the congregation to offer gestures of peace to one another, typically handshakes, bows, or embraces, depending on tradition. The handshake with Macron was facilitated by last-minute changes to front-row seating arrangements, as Vatican protocol was set aside for this unprecedented event. Trump, First Lady Melania, and Zelenskyy were given front-row seats alongside other key leaders, underscoring the funeral's international significance. Trump's second encounter with Ursula von der Leyen On the steps of St. Peter's Square, President Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen exchanged a handshake, marking their first encounter since January 21, 2020, when they met at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Although their interaction was brief and limited to formal courtesies, it seemed warm despite recent transatlantic tensions over trade tariffs. In their brief exchange, President von der Leyen and President Trump agreed to meet again. Von der Leyen later posted on social media X, stating that she had good exchanges with several leaders gathered to pay their final tribute to the pope. It remains unclear how many other leaders Trump met during his short stay in Rome; reports suggest he also spoke briefly with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Prince William, the Prince of Wales. An anti-Trump undercurrent in the Homily During his homily, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, celebrated Pope Francis' unwavering advocacy for migrants and the marginalized. Some interpreted these remarks as a subtle rebuke to President Trump, who was present in the audience. Cardinal Re cited Pope Francis's visits to Lesbos and Lampedusa, two islands symbolizing the tragedy of migration, where thousands have drowned at sea. He also referenced the Pope's Mass at the Mexico–U.S. border and echoed the Pope's enduring exhortation: 'Build bridges, not walls,' a phrase long seen as a direct critique of Trump. The crowd erupted in spontaneous applause, particularly during Re's calls for peace and dialogue amid war and destruction—an emotional high point of the ceremony. "Confronted with the raging wars of recent years, which have brought inhuman horrors and countless deaths and devastation, Pope Francis consistently raised his voice, imploring for peace and advocating for reason and honest negotiations to find possible solutions," Re continued. The Book of Gospels and the Bells One of the most poignant and iconic moments in papal funerals is the simple yet profound image of the breeze turning the pages of the Book of the Gospels, which rests atop the pope's coffin in St. Peter's Square. The book was opened to the reading, "In the Passion and Death of the Lord." The coffin carrying Pope Francis was brought through the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica for the last time as bells tolled throughout the Vatican in his honor. The funeral, which lasted over two hours, concluded with the ringing of bells for the pontiff. His coffin was then taken to Rome's Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where he was laid to rest. 'Building bridges': Heralded as the "People's Pope", Pope Francis became popular beyond the vast Catholic community he led for championing the disadvantaged and dispossessed throughout his 12-year papacy. After his death on April 21, the whole world poured their heart into sending condolences and prayers. On April 26, on the day of the late pontiff's funeral service, thousands lined the streets of Rome for the funeral procession. The four-mile route between St. Peter's Basilica and the final resting place of Pope Francis -- the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome -- was lined with tens of thousands of mourners following his funeral on Saturday morning. People could be seen crying and applauding as Francis' coffin drove by. Pope Francis' coffin was placed in the bed of a white pickup truck, where it was visible to the thousands lining the streets. The procession took the pope's body past some of Rome's historical landmarks, such as the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. Pope Francis Laid To Rest At St. Mary Major: World Leaders Gather For Historic Farewell
