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Herald Malaysia
16-05-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
All the saints and Church Fathers Pope Leo XIV quoted in his first week
In the first week of Pope Leo XIV's pontificate, his preaching and speeches have featured quotations from saints and Church Fathers from St. Ignatius of Antioch to St. Gregory the Great. May 16, 2025 Pope Leo XIV gives a blessing during a meeting with participants in the Jubilee of Eastern Churches on May 14, 2025, in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican. | Credit: Vatican Media By Courtney Mares In the first week of Pope Leo XIV's pontificate, his preaching and speeches have featured quotations from saints and Church Fathers from St. Ignatius of Antioch to St. Gregory the Great. The Catholic Church's first pope from the Augustinian order is already helping to educate the faithful through his deep knowledge of the Church Fathers. Here is who he has been citing in the foundation-setting first week of his pontificate. St. Augustine (354–430) Catholics are virtually guaranteed to be hearing a lot more great quotes from St. Augustine in the upcoming years of this pontificate. In his first appearance on the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica on May 8, Pope Leo said: 'I am an Augustinian, a son of St. Augustine, who once said, 'With you I am a Christian, and for you I am a bishop.'' Leo gifted us with another classic St. Augustine quote again during his speech to journalists on May 12: 'Let us live well and the times will be good. We are the times (Discourse 80.8).' His papal motto under his coat of arms also features a line from St. Augustine, 'In Illo uno unum,' which means 'In the One, we are one.' It comes from a discussion of Psalm 128 (127 in the Latin Vulgate) in Augustine's 'Expositions of the Psalms': 'It is not as though he were one and we many; no, we who are many are one in him, who is one.' St. Ignatius of Antioch (second century) In his first Mass as pope, Leo XIV identified himself as the successor of Peter with St. Ignatius of Antioch, who was famously martyred by being thrown to the lions. In his homily in the Sistine Chapel on May 9 he reflected on a line from St. Ignatius of Antioch's second-century 'Letter to the Romans': 'Then I will truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ, when the world no longer sees my body.' 'I say this first of all to myself, as the successor of Peter, as I begin my mission as bishop of Rome and, according to the well-known expression of St. Ignatius of Antioch, am called to preside in charity over the universal Church (cf. Letter to the Romans, Prologue),' Leo said. 'St. Ignatius, who was led in chains to this city, the place of his impending sacrifice, wrote to the Christians there: 'Then I will truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ, when the world no longer sees my body' (Letter to the Romans, IV, 1). 'Ignatius was speaking about being devoured by wild beasts in the arena — and so it happened — but his words apply more generally to an indispensable commitment for all those in the Church who exercise a ministry of authority. It is to move aside so that Christ may remain, to make oneself small so that he may be known and glorified (cf. Jn 3:30), to spend oneself to the utmost so that all may have the opportunity to know and love him.' St. Gregory the Great (540–604) In Pope Leo's first Regina Caeli address in which he sang the famous Marian prayer in Latin, he also quoted St. Gregory the Great, who he said teaches people to 'respond to the love of those who love them (Homily 14:3-6).' St. Ephrem the Syrian (306–373) In Pope Leo XIV's speech to the Eastern Catholic Churches, he cited the writings of several Eastern Church Fathers, among them St. Ephrem the Syrian, who is a theologian venerated in both the Catholic Church and Orthodox churches, especially in Syriac Christianity. Pope Leo said: 'Together, we can pray with St. Ephrem the Syrian and say to the Lord Jesus: 'Glory to you, who laid your cross as a bridge over death… Glory to you who clothed yourself in the body of mortal man, and made it the source of life for all mortals' (Homily on Our Lord, 9).' St. Isaac of Nineveh (613–700) Notably, Pope Leo also chose to quote St. Isaac of Nineveh, a seventh-century Assyrian bishop venerated across Christian traditions, whom Pope Francis added to the Roman Martyrology last November during a meeting with Mar Awa III, Catholicos-patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East. Pope Leo XIV said: 'We must ask, then, for the grace to see the certainty of Easter in every trial of life and not to lose heart, remembering, as another great Eastern Father wrote, that 'the greatest sin is not to believe in the power of the Resurrection' (St. Isaac Of Nineveh, Sermones ascetici, I, 5).' St. Symeon the New Theologian (949–1022) In his speech to the Eastern Churches, Pope Leo also quoted an Eastern Orthodox monk, St. Symeon the New Theologian, who is also venerated in the Byzantine Catholic Churches. The pope said that St. Symeon used an eloquent image: ''Just as one who throws dust on the flame of a burning furnace extinguishes it, so the cares of this life and every kind of attachment to petty and worthless things destroy the warmth of the heart that was initially kindled' (Practical and Theological Chapters, 63).' St. John Paul II (1920–2005) The new pope has not limited himself only to citing early Church Fathers. Pope Leo also echoed the famous words of St. John Paul II from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica: 'Do not be afraid!' John Paul II first spoke these words during his inaugural Mass on Oct. 22, 1978, saying: 'Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ. To his saving power open the boundaries of states, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows 'what is in man.' He alone knows it.' The Polish pontiff went on to repeat the phrase 'Do not be afraid' many times throughout his pontificate. Pope Leo XIV used the words in his first Regina Caeli address when discussing the need for prayer for more vocations among young people. 'And to young people, I say: Do not be afraid! Accept the invitation of the Church and of Christ the Lord!' Pope Leo XIV said. Pope Leo also quoted John Paul II in his speech to Eastern Catholic Churches, telling them: 'Truly you have 'a unique and privileged role as the original setting where the Church was born.'' St. Paul VI (1897–1978) In his May 10 speech to the cardinals who elected him, Pope Leo said: 'Dear brothers, I would like to conclude the first part of our meeting by making my own — and proposing to you as well — the hope that St. Paul VI expressed at the inauguration of his Petrine ministry in 1963: 'May it pass over the whole world like a great flame of faith and love kindled in all men and women of goodwill. May it shed light on paths of mutual cooperation and bless humanity abundantly, now and always, with the very strength of God, without whose help nothing is valid, nothing is holy' (Message Qui Fausto Die addressed to the entire human family, 22 June 1963).' St. Peter (first century) It has been evident that Pope Leo has been doing a lot of praying and reflecting on the Petrine ministry and looking to past saint-popes for guidance. His first homily at his first Mass as pope focused on the relationship between St. Peter and Jesus, specifically Jesus' question to St. Peter, 'Who do you say that I am?' and Peter's response: 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God' (Mt 16:16). Pope Leo XIV also made the choice to offer one of his first private Masses in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica at the tomb of St. Peter on May 11. Blessed Virgin Mary Pope Leo XIV also highlighted that he was elected on the day of the Prayer of Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. In his very first appearance as pope from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, the new pope asked the crowd to pray a Hail Mary together with him before giving the solemn 'urbi et orbi' blessing in Latin. He said: 'Today is the day of the Prayer of Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. Our Mother Mary always wants to walk at our side, to remain close to us, to help us with her intercession and her love. So I would like to pray together with you. Let us pray together for this new mission, for the whole Church, for peace in the world, and let us ask Mary, our Mother, for this special grace.' One of his first surprises as pope was making a spontaneous pilgrimage to a Marian shrine outside of Rome, the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, Italy. 'I wanted so much to come here in these first days of the new ministry that the Church has entrusted to me, to carry out this mission as the successor of Peter,' Leo told those present. 'As the Mother never abandons her children, you must also be faithful to the Mother,' he said.--CNA
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘My heart goes out to the beloved people of Ukraine' — Pope Leo XIV receives list of Ukrainian POWs at Vatican
Pope Leo XIV has been handed a list of Ukrainian soldiers in Russian captivity during a ceremony at the Vatican, Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said on May 15. A representative of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POW) families "personally" handed him the document during the Jubilee of Eastern Churches held on May 12–14. "My heart goes out to the suffering and beloved people of Ukraine. Let us do everything we can to bring about a true peace, a just and lasting peace, as soon as possible," Pope Leo XIV said, according to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. "Let all the prisoners be released and let the children return to their families," he added. There have been 64 POW swaps since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022, and five during 2025. The Ukrainian delegation present in the Vatican included the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, who congratulated Pope Leo XIV on his election. Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected as head of the Catholic Church in the conclave on May 8 after the death of his predecessor, Pope Francis. In his first Sunday address on May 11, Pope Leo XIV called for an "authentic and lasting peace" in Ukraine, adding that he carries in his heart the "suffering of the beloved people of Ukraine." Previously, while serving as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru, Leo XIV spoke out against Russia's continued war against Ukraine. In a 2022 interview with Peruvian news outlet Semanario Expresion, he condemned Russia's war against Ukraine, characterizing it as "a true invasion, imperialist in nature, where Russia seeks to conquer territory for reasons of power." Read also: Exclusive: Ukraine eyes new sanctions on China, but Kyiv wary of peace talks fallout We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Herald Malaysia
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Jubilee of Eastern Churches: Armenian Patriarch Minassian prays for peace
On the occasion of the Jubilee of Eastern Churches, Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, head of the Armenian Catholic Church, presides over the Divine Liturgy in the Armenian Rite at St. Mary Major, and calls for the elimination of hatred in all its forms. May 14, 2025 Divine Liturgy in the Armenian Rite at St. Mary Major on the occasion of the Jubilee of Eastern Churches (ufficio stampa Patriarcato Armeno) By Robert Attarian'Pilgrims of faith and hope, with hearts filled with joy and emotion, we gather today in this eternal city, a centuries-old witness of prayer and devotion. And it is in this majestic Basilica of Saint Mary Major, under the protective shadow of the Mother of God, that we celebrate together the gift of faith and the spiritual heritage passed on by the late and venerated Pope Francis in the context of the Holy Year dedicated to hope.' With these words, His Beatitude Raphael Bedros XXI Minassian, Patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenians, introduced the homily at the Divine Liturgy in the Armenian rite, which he presided over yesterday, May 12, in the Pauline Chapel of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Eastern Catholic Churches. Thousands of pilgrims from Eastern Churches in Rome The thirteenth of the major Jubilee events, scheduled to continue until Wednesday, has brought thousands of faithful and representatives of the Eastern Catholic Churches to Rome—Patriarchs, Bishops, priests, and pilgrims from various countries around the world, including Lebanon, Syria, and Armenia. At the Divine Liturgy in Saint Mary Major, just steps away from the tomb of Pope Francis and beneath the gaze of the Salus Populi Romani icon, were also present the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, along with the Dicastery's Secretary, Archbishop Michel Jalakh, and other representatives of the Eastern Churches based in the capital. There were also diplomatic representatives, including the Armenian Ambassador to the Holy See, Boris Sahakian, and the Armenian Ambassador to Italy, Vladimir Karapetian. And finally, among those in the assembly was a group of Armenian pilgrims from various Middle Eastern countries, along with their Bishops and parish priests. Patriarch Minassian: May hope bring peace to the world In his homily, the Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church described the current time as a 'grace-filled time of renewal' and an 'opportunity to let go of all forms of hatred.' He recalled the words of Pope Francis and his call to 'recover the authentic meaning of universal fraternity.' 'We, children of the Eastern Armenian Catholic Church, witnesses to centuries of faith and martyrdom, are called today, in this time of ongoing wars in the Middle East and throughout the world, to bear witness with our lives and our blood to our fidelity to Christ, strengthening our faith rooted in charity and Christian love,' stated Patriarch Minassian. He called upon those present to renew their commitment to courageously and faithfully bear witness to the Gospel, following Christ's example, 'so that hope may shine in every heart and in every family, bringing peace and love to the world.' Unreservedly bearing witness to the Gospel The Patriarch then offered words of gratitude to the Lord for the gift of Pope Leo XIV, to whom he offered filial well-wishes for a fruitful ministry rich in blessings. 'Let us live this time as a Paschal event, and under the guidance of our Pontiff, let us walk together, entrusting ourselves to the mercy of God, who is our consolation,' the Patriarch continued. He concluded his homily by highlighting three key words essential for continuing the Jubilee journey with Christ, namely 'humility, which opens us to God's will; simplicity, which helps us live with purity and authenticity; and charity, which urges us to love unreservedly, bearing witness to the Gospel with coherence and generosity.' Cardinal Gugerotti: the Church in Armenia, 'a unique pearl' At the conclusion of the celebration, Cardinal Gugerotti addressed the assembly, first in Armenian and then in Italian. He welcomed them, he said, 'with the embrace of Pope Leo,' also recalling Pope Francis, who had declared Saint Gregory of Narek a Doctor of the Church. The Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches also recalled the date of April 24, calling it a day of painful memory for the Armenian people, urging them to remain united. 'You are so close to the cross of the Lord, with whom you have shared a series of sufferings,' said the Cardinal, as he went on to describe the Armenian Church as 'a unique pearl' within Catholicism, and express hope that the Holy Year pilgrimage would allow this pearl to radiate beauty and light. Finally, Cardinal Gugerotti invited those present to pray for Pope Leo XIV and gave everyone an appointment for the following morning in the Paul VI Audience Hall, where at 10 AM an audience with the Pope is scheduled, together with all the members of the other Eastern Churches.--Vatican News
Herald Malaysia
14-05-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Jubilee of Eastern Churches: Divine Liturgy in the Coptic Rite
His Beatitude Ibrahim Isaac Sedrak, Patriarch of Alexandria of the Catholic Copts and President of the Assembly of Patriarchs and Bishops of Egypt, presides over the Divine Liturgy of the Coptic Rite on the occasion of the Jubilee of Eastern Churches in the Pauline Chapel of St. Mary Major. May 14, 2025 The Divine Liturgy in the Coptic Rite at St. Mary Major on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Eastern Churches By Antonella PalermoA penitential dimension, intercessory prayer, and monastic tradition—these were the hallmarks of the Coptic Divine Liturgy celebrated this afternoon, May 12, in the Pauline Chapel of the Basilica of St. Mary Major, right beside the tomb of Pope Francis. The celebration was presided over by His Beatitude Ibrahim Isaac Sedrak, Patriarch of Alexandria of the Catholic Copts and President of the Assembly of Patriarchs and Bishops of Egypt. Also present were Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches; his personal secretary, Father Emanuel Sabadakh; and Archbishop Filippo Ciampanelli, Undersecretary of the same Dicastery. Important moment for the Jubilee This Divine Liturgy was celebrated on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Eastern Churches, which will culminate with an audience with Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday, May 14. With the arrival of Christianity in Egypt, 'Copt' came to mean 'Egyptian Christian,' referring to those who remained Christian after the Arab conquest of Egypt. It was to these people, who endured great suffering and martyrdom, that the Cardinal turned his attention today, exalting their courage and their profound value. The Cardinal highlighted the martyrdom suffered by the Copts and by other Catholics of Eastern rites. 'You are very experienced in martyrdom,' Cardinal Gugerotti said. 'You've had many martyrs, and even recently, some Copts were killed and became known only because they happened to be recognized. Others remained unknown.' The Cardinal spoke of the 'passionate history' of this Church, which can be seen in its ancient roots and diversity, in its monasticism that spread across the world, in the uniqueness of its liturgy, and also in the many sufferings endured throughout the history of their land. Yet, despite all of this, 'you remained.' Cardinal Gugerotti pointed to certain reasons why these Christians managed to survive and were not uprooted from their homeland. A wisdom born of the blood of martyrdom On behalf of the entire Catholic Church, the Cardinal Prefect thanked them for their steadfast witness: 'My role, from brother to brother,' he stressed, 'is to tell you that this is your home. When you pass through the Holy Door and when you pray—as you did at the start of this celebration—you can be proud of how these prayers resonate in the capital.' He also exhorted them to "pray with intensity, because you too need hope. Everywhere we look, we feel surrounded by the possibility of evil. But we will come to ask you how you managed to survive. These have been terrible years—years of massacres—but you made it. Perhaps it was the blessing of the Holy Family of Egypt, or the great saints and theologians, or a deep identification with the land of Egypt from which your name and your deep faith come—faith that moved mountains. Perhaps it was the tireless work of creating a Coptic Church. The fact is, there is a wisdom in your blood that is precisely the fruit of your blood.' A precious part of the Church Cardinal Gugerotti invoked the Lord's protection 'from new difficulties,' so that the Copts' belonging to the Catholic Church would not only be a source of pride but also reflect a sense of being a precious part of the global Catholic community. He offered reassurance that the Church 'cares' about them. He also encouraged their important mission: 'Be yourselves. Within the Catholic Church, you preserve a unique spiritual experience. God does not count how many people are present—He counts the quality of their presence. This Jubilee,' he emphasized, 'should be an occasion for holiness, so that this holiness, like martyrdom, may be an experience that purifies the Church.' In memory of the late Pope Francis, and praying for our Pope Leo XIV The memory of the late Pope Francis was explicit in both the Cardinal's and the Patriarch's words, as were their hopes for the new Successor of Peter, who will receive members of the Eastern Churches in audience during their Jubilee celebrations from today through Wednesday, May 14. His Beatitude Sedrak, in deep spiritual communion with the faithful in Egypt and those in the diaspora, spoke of Pope Francis as a 'pastor of wisdom who reached wounded hearts in the Church and in humanity, starting from places of fragility. Thanks to his pontificate, many breathed the air of the Gospel.' He then gave thanks for Pope Leo XIV, and offered the prayer that 'the Holy Spirit may guide him as He guided Saint Peter in the early Church.' Hope for a planet freed from the greed of profit The Patriarch strongly emphasized Pope Francis's efforts toward 'reconciliation with our common home'—a direction they intend to continue pursuing with determination. In particular, he echoed the words of the UN Secretary-General in describing the planet as a 'boiling world,' stressing that it does not need illusions but rather authentic hope—hope that does not anesthetize but liberates, 'hope that pushes us to react by overcoming the greed of profit and unchecked globalization.' Hope in world peace 'In the world today, values have become confused. Fear, isolation, and existential anguish dominate—even becoming daily experiences for the faithful,' the Patriarch observed. Yet, he offered reassurance, saying, 'God acts even amid suffering and challenges. Hope drives us to renew our world without surrendering to injustice.' He expressed his hope that we may build societies that are more just and sustainable and embrace 'an economy of life, not of death.' United in the spirit of the Council of Nicaea Finally, he offered a reflection on the upcoming 1700th anniversary of the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea—a milestone in the Church's history, where Saint Athanasius made a crucial contribution in defending the divinity of Christ. 'This calls us to remain firm in our faith with courage and wisdom and to be, in turn, witnesses of Christ.' His Beatitude Sedrak concluded by entrusting to God his prayer that the Church, guided by the new Holy Father, may remain on this 'one,' 'holy,' 'catholic,' and 'apostolic' path.--Vatican News
