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Herald Malaysia
5 days ago
- General
- Herald Malaysia
How can three French saints spark missionary momentum? Leo's call for spiritual renewal
Pope Leo XIV urged French Catholics to embark on a profound spiritual renewal by following the example of three beloved saints as France commemorated the centenary of their canonization. Jun 02, 2025 Pope Leo XIV speaks in front of the famous icon at the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, Italy, on Saturday, May 10, 2025. | Credit: Vatican Media By AC Wimmer Pope Leo XIV urged French Catholics to embark on a profound spiritual renewal by following the example of three beloved saints as France commemorated the centenary of their canonization. In his first message to the French bishops' conference, released by the Holy See Press Office on Saturday, the Holy Father highlighted St. John Eudes, St. John Mary Vianney, and St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus as powerful models for contemporary evangelization. The pope emphasized their shared spiritual trait: 'they loved Jesus unreservedly in a simple, strong and authentic way' and experienced his goodness in daily closeness. The pontiff presented these saints as Catholics whose lives demonstrate the transformative power of Christ's tender love. Leo noted St. John Eudes as the first to celebrate liturgical worship of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, St. John Mary Vianney as the priest who declared, 'The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus,' and St. Thérèse as the great Doctor of scientia amoris who 'breathed' Jesus' name with spontaneity and freshness. Pope Leo framed this anniversary not as mere nostalgia but as an opportunity for missionary momentum. He expressed hope that God can 'renew the marvels he has accomplished in the past' through these saints' intercession. The pope specifically addressed the shortage of priestly vocations, asking whether these saints might inspire young people to embrace the priesthood's 'beauty, greatness and fruitfulness.' The message concluded with papal gratitude for French priests' 'courageous and persevering commitment' amid contemporary challenges, including 'indifference, materialism and individualism.' Pope Leo invoked the saints' intercession for France and placed the nation under the maternal protection of Our Lady of the Assumption.--CNA
Herald Malaysia
29-05-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
A practical guide to obtaining an apostolic blessing from Pope Leo XIV
Pope Leo XIV is now granting apostolic blessings to the faithful around the world, a spiritual gesture that can be officially requested through the Vatican's Apostolic Almoner's Office. May 29, 2025 Pope Leo XIV speaks in front of the famous icon at the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, Italy, on Saturday, May 10, 2025. | Credit: Vatican Media By Victoria Cardiel Pope Leo XIV is now granting apostolic blessings to the faithful around the world, a spiritual gesture that can be officially requested through the Vatican's Apostolic Almoner's Office. These blessings, printed on parchment, are a well-established tradition in the Catholic Church and are available for significant moments in Christian life such as the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and marriage. As indicated on the website of the Vatican Apostolic Almoner's Office, the procedure for obtaining an apostolic blessing can be completed in two ways: in person at the offices of this department or through an online form. Those who choose the in-person method should go to the offices located within Vatican City, entering through the Porta di Sant'Anna, to the right of the colonnade in St. Peter's Square. Office hours are Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. local time. For those not in Rome, the digital process is equally accessible. Through the official website of the Apostolic Almoner's Office — the only authorized site for this purpose — applicants must follow several steps. The first step is to select the occasion for which the blessing is being requested (such as a baptism, marriage, or anniversary); then, choose the style of parchment; then, enter the information that should appear on the document; and finally, register the applicant, choose the delivery method (local pickup in Rome or shipping via DHL Express), and make a donation by credit card (only Visa and MasterCard are accepted). The requested information includes the full name of the recipient(s) of the blessing, the specific occasion, the date and location of the event (in the case of sacraments or anniversaries), as well as the sender's complete address, email address, and phone number. The system also allows users to open a personal account for future requests. Once the transaction is confirmed, the Apostolic Almoner's Office will send a confirmation email with the estimated delivery or pickup date. The processing time for the request is approximately 25 days if picked up at the Vatican office and 30 days for international deliveries. The cost of the parchment ranges between 20 and 30 euros ($23-$34), depending on the style, plus shipping costs, which vary depending on the destination, from 15 euros ($17) for destinations within Italy to 40 euros ($45) if sent to Africa. It is worth noting that, after deducting the processing and shipping costs, all proceeds go entirely to the charitable works carried out by this office in the name of the pope to help those most in need. Regarding valid occasions for requesting the apostolic blessing, the almoner's office establishes strict criteria. They are granted for sacraments such as baptism, first Communion, confirmation, marriage, ordination to the priesthood or permanent diaconate, and religious profession. They are also available for significant anniversaries of these occasions and for birthdays marking decades or particularly significant ages (such as 18, 30, 75, or even 100 years). In some cases, such as wedding anniversaries or birthdays, the applicant is asked to provide a 'declaration of suitability' attesting that the recipients are practicing Catholics. Applications by regular mail, fax, or email are not accepted, and any requests made outside of authorized channels will be automatically rejected. Obtaining an apostolic blessing is not only a symbolic gesture of communion with the successor of Peter but also direct support for the charitable works the pontiff carries out on behalf of the entire Church.--CNA
Irish Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Thousands cram into St Peter's Square to hear Pope Leo XIV's first Sunday Mass
Tens of thousands of people crammed into St Peter's Square to listen to the new Pope speak this morning. When he stepped on to the balcony he was greeted with a huge roar. As he waved there was a massive round of applause. Police officers, paramedics and firefighters rushed forward to take their own personal photos. The streets around the Vatican City were all blocked by a huge throng. It was a much bigger crowd than when Pope Leo XIV was elected on Thursday. At one stage a teeming mass started to head for one of the entrances and had to be held back by the police. There were hundreds of children with their parents who wanted them to watch a piece of history. During his speech he mentioned several countries and there were cheers when he said "Dallas, Texas" He recited the Regina Caeli prayer, in honour of the Virgin Mary, in his first public address since his election. "Let us take up the invitation that Pope Francis left us in his Message for today: the invitation to welcome and accompany young people," Leo said from the balcony, speaking in fluent Italian. "And let us ask our heavenly Father to assist us in living in service to one another." Pope Leo called for peace in Ukraine, as well as a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages. A woman who said she had flown in from New York was standing next to me had tears in her eyes. There was a joyful atmosphere with hundreds of flags from many countries being waved. There were several Stars and Stripes to mark the country of the Pope's birth - the United States. Others included Cuba, Greece, Poland, Costa Rica, the Philippines and France. There was one Union Jack fluttering near the back. Several bands played around the square. Yesterday the Pope visited the grave of his predecessor Pope Francis and laid a flower. He went on to visit and pray at a Marian shrine outside of Rome, greeting the community there and urging them to "be faithful to the Mother." The Holy Father visited the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano . The sanctuary, located an hour east of Rome, is run by the religious of the Order of St. Augustine and a Vatican spokesman said: "houses an ancient image of the Virgin, dear to the Order and to the memory of Leo XIII". The Pope greeted pilgrims at the shrine before praying at the altar. Pope Leo will be formally inaugurated at a mass in St Peter's Square next week on 18 May. The 69-year-old is the 267th occupant of the throne of St Peter, and the first American to become a pontiff. He will lead members of the Catholic Church's global community of 1.4bn people.
