Latest news with #TheJoyoftheGospel
Saudi Gazette
10-05-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Pope Leo XIV sets out papal vision, calls AI a defining challenge for humanity
VATICAN CITY — In his first formal address as pope, Leo XIV on Saturday laid out the guiding principles of his papacy, identifying artificial intelligence as one of the greatest challenges facing humanity and affirming his commitment to the reformist priorities of his predecessor, Pope Francis. Speaking before the College of Cardinals at the New Synod Hall, the first American pontiff said the Catholic Church must respond to the ethical dilemmas posed by AI and a new phase of industrial development with renewed dedication to human dignity, justice, and labor protections. "In our own day, the church offers everyone the treasury of its social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges," Leo said, drawing a parallel to Pope Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed labor rights during the rise of industrial capitalism. Leo XIV — born Robert Prevost — was elected Thursday as the 267th pope in one of the swiftest conclaves in modern history. The Chicago-born Augustinian missionary was chosen on the fourth ballot, a result attributed to his quiet influence in smaller conclave sessions and widespread respect from cardinals across linguistic and cultural lines. A vocal supporter of the Second Vatican Council reforms, Leo pledged to build a church that listens more to the faithful, embraces 'popular piety,' and upholds the missionary spirit emphasized in Pope Francis' 2013 apostolic exhortation The Joy of the Gospel, which he cited as a foundational document for his papacy. In a symbolic move, Leo has retained both the motto and coat of arms from his time as bishop of Chiclayo, Peru. The Vatican confirmed the new pope's continued focus on artificial intelligence, a concern also voiced by Francis in his final years. Francis had warned of the dangers of unchecked technological power, calling for an international treaty to ensure AI remains human-centered and does not replace moral judgment with algorithms. The Vatican press office noted that Leo will prioritize ethical regulation of AI and explore the Church's role in shaping technology's impact on society, especially as it relates to labor, privacy, and social inequality. Leo's election follows a period of mourning after Francis' passing, with whom he shared close ties. Francis had brought Prevost to Rome in 2023 to oversee bishop appointments worldwide, a sign of trust that many cardinals saw as a testament to his leadership capacity. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state and a widely regarded papal contender, expressed support for the new pontiff in a published message Saturday, praising Leo's balanced leadership, diplomatic calm, and pastoral sensitivity. — Agencies
Herald Malaysia
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Archbishop Kurtz: US Church saw in Pope Francis the face of God's mercy
In an interview with Vatican News, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, the former President of the US Bishops' Conference who accompanied the late Pope on his Apostolic Visit to the United States in 2015, says Americans "were yearning" for Pope Francis' message of mercy. Apr 25, 2025 Archbishop Kurtz and former President Barack Obama welcome Pope Francis to the United States on September 19, 2015 By Deborah Castellano Lubov"The Church and our nation saw in Pope Francis the face of God's mercy." The former head of the US Bishops, who led the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops during the Holy Father's historic visit to the United States in 2015, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, made that statement in an interview with Vatican News. The Archbishop Emeritus of Louisville, Kentucky, began the interview by acknowledging that "not only the Church, but the world is mourning the death of Pope Francis." 'People yearned for his message of mercy' While expressing disbelief that it's been almost ten years since the late Pope made his Apostolic Journey to the United States in September of 2015, he said, "My mind and heart are filled with memories." "The Church and our nation saw in Pope Francis," he emphasized, "the face of God's mercy, and he was clear in saying that he's not the Messiah, but that Jesus is." 'The Church and our nation saw in Pope Francis the face of God's mercy.' "I think he was received so well," he highlighted, because "we live in such a hurting world that people yearn to hear the message of mercy." Archbishop Kurtz praised the "beautiful pastoral message" throughout Pope Francis' Apostolic Exhortation, ' Evangelii Gaudium, 'The Joy of the Gospel,' noting it is something "that perhaps will tie together the twelve years of his service as our Holy Father." "This exhortation," he said, "really came from his heart and from his priorities." America welcomed Pope's affirmations of human dignity In a special way, the former head of the US Bishops recalled the Pope's visit to Washington, DC, and his widely appreciated remarks to the Joint Meeting of Congress. "I think it was his address at the Joint Meeting of Congress that was the most moving to me, and perhaps it will be the most remembered in many ways, not just in Church records, but in the history of our nation." The reason for this, he noted, is because "Pope Francis spoke of freedom and the need to use freedom well and to treat people with dignity." "But," Archbishop Kurtz marveled, "he especially spoke about American heroes, people, everybody from Doctor Martin Luther King Junior to Thomas Merton, to Dorothy Day. He made his presentation so personal and personable." Having accompanied the Holy Father during the Apostolic Journey through Washington, New York, and Philadelphia, he reflected on the final leg of the visit to Philadelphia. Reeling in beautiful memories "In Philadelphia, he stayed at Saint Charles Seminary, which is my alma mater , where I went to the seminary," he remembered, expressing his joy to be there. "Another memorable visit," he underscored, "was to a prison in Northeast Philadelphia," noting how meaningful it was to be there with Pope Francis, adding, "It certainly struck me that one of the last visits, pastoral visits he made around Easter time, was again to a prison." After this reflection, Archbishop Kurtz reflected with a final thought. "Certainly, our Church mourns," he noted, "but I think many of us will just reel in the beautiful memories of our Holy Father." 'Certainly, our Church mourns, but I think many of us will just reel in the beautiful memories of our Holy Father.'--Vatican News
Herald Malaysia
23-04-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Walking with Francis: The Shepherd, The Prophet, The Pilgrim
I write this with tears in my eyes and a deep ache in my heart. The news of Pope Francis' passing feels like a personal loss, as though a spiritual father, a mentor, a brother on the journey has gone ahead. Apr 23, 2025 By Fabian Dicom, 21 April 2025, Penang, MalaysiaI write this with tears in my eyes and a deep ache in my heart. The news of Pope Francis' passing feels like a personal loss, as though a spiritual father, a mentor, a brother on the journey has gone ahead. It is difficult to put into words what this man - this holy, humble, courageous man - has meant to me, to the Church, and to our broken, beautiful world. Pope Francis was a gift - God's loud whisper in an age of noise, God's gentle mercy in a time of judgment. His very election was a sign of something new: the name Francis , the choice of simplicity, the call to rebuild the Church, not in bricks and stones, but in heart and soul. From the moment he bowed before the people asking for their prayers, I knew something in the Spirit was stirring. What moved me most - and still does - is how Pope Francis embodied the mission of Christ in Luke 4:18-19. He didn't just read the text about bringing good news to the poor, setting captives free, proclaiming the Lord's favour - he lived it. And he called the whole Church to live it too. Under his guidance, the Church rediscovered that its true home is not in grand palaces but in the peripheries. He challenged us to leave behind a 'maintenance Church' and become a Church on mission, a field hospital, a mother with an open heart. Pope Francis was not just a leader of the Church - he was a listener, a storyteller, and a scribe of the Spirit. His teachings were never cold doctrinal proclamations; they were letters of the heart, written in the dust of the road, in the wounds of the poor, in the cries of creation. Each of his documents emerged not from the safety of ivory towers, but from deep listening - to the people, to the earth, to the margins, and to the God who speaks in hidden places. His first encyclical, Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith), completed shortly after his election, reminded us that faith is not blind - it is a light, a relational gift, one that opens our eyes to the world, to others, and to the face of the suffering Christ. He reconnected faith with truth, but not in the abstract - truth that walks with people, that loves, that sees, and that transforms. In Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), he lit a fire in the Church. He called us out of our comfort zones and into the streets. He asked us to become a Church that goes forth - joyful, wounded, merciful. He was clear: an evangelizing Church is one that enters the messiness of people's lives, especially the poor, and proclaims that God's mercy is larger than any sin or structure. This document has become, for many of us, a pastoral manifesto - a vision for missionary discipleship rooted in joy, justice, and the smell of the sheep. Then came Laudato Si' (Praise Be to You) - a revolutionary encyclical that was not just about the environment but about integral ecology: the deep and inseparable link between the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. It shattered the illusion that ecology is a side concern and instead made it central to faith. It spoke with the voice of Saint Francis, but also with the voice of the farmer, the fisherfolk, the mother in the squatter settlement, the child breathing polluted air. It called for a deep ecological conversion - a metanoia that reorders our relationship with creation, with one another, and with God. But to walk this path - to stand with the poor, to hear the earth's lament, to call the Church into humility - meant confronting powers that resist the Gospel. Pope Francis did not flinch. Time and again, he prophetically challenged the dominant ideologies and powers of our age: the seduction of consumerism, the cold logic of neoliberal economics, the false promises of the technocratic paradigm, and the walls of nationalism that divide and dehumanize. He resisted any attempt to make the Church an ally of empire or a defender of status quo systems that trample the poor and exploit creation. And just as boldly, he turned his gaze inward, calling out the idols within the Church: the grip of clericalism, the suffocation of legalism, the intoxication of doctrinal rigidity and the comfort of institutional self-preservation. He saw how easily the Church could become entangled in worldly ambition, clerical privilege, legalism and cultural conservatism dressed up as tradition. And he confronted this - not with anger, but with the clarity and fire of the Gospel. He spoke truth to power, whether in the halls of governments, within ecclesial institutions, or in the spiritual blindness of comfort. And he bore the cost: vilification, betrayal, deep resistance from those closest to him. Yet he pressed on - rooted in the Poor Christ, the Servant Christ, the Crucified Christ. His legacy is a constant reminder and challenge to us: that the Church must not mirror the world's values of control, domination, or exclusion, but must embody the disruptive, liberating love of the Gospel. In Fratelli Tutti (All Brothers & Sisters),he opened up a vision of global fraternity - a world where walls fall, and bridges rise. This was not vague utopianism. It was a concrete call to replace the culture of exclusion and competition with a culture of encounter, tenderness, and solidarity. He reminded us that we are all interconnected - not just socially or economically, but spiritually. That the dignity of the Rohingya, the Palestinian, the migrant worker, the indigenous elder is our responsibility. In this same spirit, Pope Francis emerged as the most resolute and consistent voice for peace in our time. He condemned war as a failure of humanity and denounced the arms trade as 'an industry of death.' For him, peace was not a diplomatic concept but a moral imperative - born from the Gospel and shaped by the dignity of every person. He spoke out against every form of violence - from terrorism to state-sanctioned war, from nuclear weapons to the daily violence of poverty and injustice. He was unafraid to call out the hypocrisies of nations that promote peace while profiting from weapons. Again and again, he insisted that no war is ever just if it ignores the human cost and the path of dialogue. In Fratelli Tutti, he declared clearly: 'War can no longer be considered a solution.' ( FT 258 ) His advocacy was not abstract - it was bold, concrete, urgent. He stood with refugees, pleaded for ceasefires, and invited the Church to become not only a voice for peace but a builder of peace. And in what we now know to be his final Urbi et Orbi Easter message, he issued one last, impassioned plea for peace - naming the suffering in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, and every land where innocent blood cries out to heaven. It was not a political speech, but a lamentation, a prayer, and a Gospel command. In a world driven by conflict, division, and fear, Pope Francis taught us that peace-making is not an option but the very mission of the Church. With Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love), he brought the Gospel into the kitchen and the living room, into the messiness of relationships and family life. He urged pastors to walk with, not ahead of, their people. He emphasized discernment over judgment, process over rigidity. He showed us that God's grace is not limited to the ideal but is most present in the real - in struggling marriages, imperfect love, and broken homes trying to heal. In Gaudete et Exsultate (Rejoice and Be Glad), he made holiness accessible. He shattered the image of saints as unreachable icons and invited every person to embrace holiness in the midst of daily life - in how we treat our neighbour, how we care for the poor, how we listen to the Word, and how we resist the idols of ideology, gossip, and indifference. His vision of holiness was deeply pastoral and deeply radical. With Christus Vivit (Christ is Alive), he spoke with and to the young - not as an old man trying to win relevance, but as a spiritual father who listens and believes in their dreams. He acknowledged their wounds, their energy, their doubts, and their thirst for authenticity. He dared the Church to walk with them - not as instructors, but as fellow pilgrims. He gave us a vision of youth ministry as accompaniment, not indoctrination. In Querida Amazonia (The Beloved Amazon), he gave voice to the voiceless - to the rivers, the rainforests, and above all to the indigenous peoples whose wisdom, land, and lives have long been silenced. He honoured their cultures not as curiosities, but as sources of spiritual depth and communal wisdom. He prophetically challenged both the economic powers and the ecclesial structures that have marginalized these communities. This document was an act of ecclesial repentance, poetic and prophetic. It invited us to imagine a Church with an Amazonian face - a Church rooted in the culture of the people it serves. Laudate Deum , (Praise God) his follow-up to Laudato Si' , was even more urgent. It was not a gentle call - it was a lament, a warning, a cry. He spoke as one who has seen the world burn and melt and suffocate. He did not mince words. He reminded world leaders and Church leaders alike that delay is complicity, and that ecological justice is not optional for Christians. And in C'est la confiance ( It Is Confidence ), issued on the 150th anniversary of the death of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, he invited us to rediscover trust - not as naïveté, but as spiritual boldness. At a time of global anxiety, division, and suspicion, he pointed us back to the simple, powerful surrender to the heart of God. He taught us, once again, that holiness is not found in perfection, but in trusting love. Finally, Dilexit Nos (He Loved Us), his last encyclical, was a love letter to the world. 'He loved us first,' it said - not with conditions, but with infinite tenderness. In it, he connected the heart of the Gospel to the heart of the poor, the broken, and the forgotten. It was as if he was saying one last time: Everything I've taught, everything I've lived - comes down to this. God loves. God loves. God loves. These documents are not merely teachings - they are invitations. Invitations to become Church in a new way: listening, walking, opening, daring. They echo his deepest dream: that the margin becomes the centre. That those who have been pushed aside - the poor, the indigenous, the migrant, the wounded - become the heart of the Church. And that the Church itself becomes a living sacrament of mercy, justice, and joy. This dream, this Gospel-shaped hope, found its clearest path forward in the model of that was the defining gift of Pope Francis to the Church - his tireless call to synodality - a Church that listens, walks, and discerns together. For him, synodality was not a programme or an event - it was the very shape of the Church, rooted in the life of the Trinity and the mystery of communion. It was how the Spirit moves among the People of God, not just through the hierarchy but through every baptized person. He reminded us that 'everyone has something to learn and something to say.' Through the Synod on Synodality, he called the Church to become less of a pyramid and more of a circle - where the margins speak, the centre listens, and the whole Body of Christ moves together. It was a spiritual revolution, one that trusted the voice of the people and the presence of God in conversation. He empowered lay people, especially women and young people, to be protagonists - not just recipients - of the Church's mission. Synodality is Pope Francis' legacy of hope: a Church that breathes with both lungs, that hears the Spirit in the cries of the world, and that walks forward together, not as strangers, but as pilgrims and friends. For me as a priest, his pontificate was a personal affirmation - a light on my path. His insistence on mercy, justice, accompaniment, and humility gave me the courage to continue walking with the people entrusted to me. His deep love for the poor, the refugee, the migrant, the outcast - his insistence that they are the privileged place of encounter with Christ - rekindled my own vocation again and again. And in my role in Caritas Malaysia, I saw how his vision breathed life into our mission. He helped us believe that love- caritas - is not a sentiment but a movement, a mission, a way of being Church. He united social justice and spirituality in ways that inspired and stretched us all. Yes, he was prophetic. And prophets are never comfortable. He unsettled us. He disturbed the status quo. He called us out of a hierarchical, patriarchal mindset and into a servant model, a synodal model, an incarnational way of being. He reminded us that the Church is not an institution to be protected, but a body to be broken and shared. We are now living the Jubilee Year of 2025 - a year Pope Francis himself named as a time for healing, renewal, and journeying together as Pilgrims of Hope . In many ways, his entire pontificate was a preparation for this moment. He taught us how to walk humbly with one another, how to accompany the wounded, how to listen to the Spirit and dream of a Church that breathes with the hope of the Gospel. His life was a pilgrimage of mercy and mission - a path that now calls each of us to continue walking. May this Jubilee Year become the living echo of his voice, his tears, his courage, and his love - a sacred time to rise and walk forward together, bearing light where there is shadow, and hope where there is fear. Today, I grieve. I feel the loss very verydeeply. But I also give thanks with my whole being. I thank God for this Jesuit Pope who smelled of the sheep, who spoke plainly, who knelt to wash feet, who laughed and cried and walked with the people. He made me believe - again and again - that the Spirit is alive in the Church, and that Jesus truly is the centre. And because we are still in the Easter season, I hold on to hope. The tomb is empty. Life has conquered death. Pope Francis believed in a Church that always begins again, that rises with Christ, that walks with the excluded, that listens to the Spirit. And now, as he rests in the arms of the Risen One, I pray that we may rise - to continue his mission, his dream, and the Gospel of Christ he so faithfully lived and proclaimed. May his legacy not be shelved but lived. May his memory be more than words but a fire that propels us forward. May his life echo in the hearts of a new generation of believers, dreamers, and servants. Thank you, dear Pope Francis. For everything. I love you and I will miss you terribly You were Christ for us. You were Christ with us. And now, you are with Christ. Rest in the peace of the poor Man of Nazareth whom you loved so deeply.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pope Francis remembered locally as champion of the downtrodden
Pope Francis will be well remembered for his commitment to the poor and as a champion of the downtrodden, local Catholics said Monday as news of his death spread. "I love him because he did a lot to the church, especially taking the church back to the very original spirit of what Christian spirit is," said Rev. Theophane Antony, pastor of St. Francis Church. "That is, the church must be for the poor and church must be a voice for the voiceless, for the marginalized, the vulnerable." Antony said Francis stood up for oppressed people and through his writings and speeches left a legacy emphasizing a commitment to justice. He cited the book "The Joy of the Gospel" and the letter, "Laudato si" or "On Care for Our Common Home" about protecting the environment as examples of Francis' championing of marginalized people. "I think in the writings of Pope Francis is the true tradition of the church, which is faithful to love, compassion, justice and peace that Jesus talked about," Antony said. Many parishes had given space for Francis' writings, Antony said, which was something Antony noted he intends to do locally. "How I can honor Pope Francis and his legacy is to take up his teachings, his guidance, and discuss with the parishioners and then go into actions already throughout the world." Bishop Joseph Brennan of the Diocese of Fresno said in a statement Francis will be remembered for his compassion. "Pope Francis' unwavering spirit of service has left a profound and lasting impact on the life of our church," Brennan stated. "May his example of compassion and outreach continue to inspire us all. I ask that you join me in prayer: Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him." Speaking with reporters in Bakersfield, diocese spokesman Chandler Marquez said the process to elect a new pope will begin within the next 20 days. How long it ultimately takes is unknown — the longest papal election took years, from 1268 to 1271. Marquez said Cardinals will take their time in selecting a new pontiff. Francis was known to be a progressive pope, championing outreach to the LGBT community. Marquez said all Catholics can respect his leadership. "Pope Francis was known to be a progressive pope," Marquez said. "No matter how you look at that, he was always unwavering in his leadership and his stance, and I think that's something every Catholic can take away from his papacy." Francis will leave behind a legacy of service, Marquez said, and will be remembered for his outreach even to those outside the church. "His legacy and lasting impact on the life of the church really is his unwavering spirit, service to the people, even people outside of the church," Marquez said. "The pope was a very relatable person on a lot of levels. He was the first pope from the Americas, from South America, so I think just to have that relatability, a man of the people, the guy who like to take the bus and the train, just like normal people." According to the Holy See, in his last wishes Francis requested he be interred at the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. "The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, and bearing only the inscription: Franciscus," the letter said.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine reflect on passing & legacy of Pope Francis
As the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis was a leader of many legacies before he passed away Monday morning at the age of 88 years old. For many, Pope Francis was considered a leader of the less fortunate. 'Getting out there and being with the poor and the marginalized, going into prisons, ministering to prisoners, going to an island like Lampedusa to call attention to the plight of migrants,' Reverend Tom Willis with the Catholic Diocese of St Augustine highlighted Monday. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Read: Photos: Pope Francis through the years However, Pope Francis was also considered a leader of action. 'Something else he was just a trumpeter for: to remind us that we can't be indifferent,' added Reverend Willis. 'His call to get rid of indifference and realize that when people are hurting, we have to respond. We can't just say 'oh we'll get to it another day.'' Now, with the pope's passing just one day after providing the easter blessing from the Vatican and meeting with Vice President JD Vance, the catholic church is left to plan the papal funeral before beginning the search for the next pope to lead the catholic church. 'I think with a man like Pope Francis … so much of his legacy, so much of his example, is probably going to shape and color his successor,' Reverend Willis added. Read: Pope Francis dies: World reacts Statement on the pope's passing from the Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine below: 'With sorrow and gratitude, I join the faithful of the Church and the world in mourning the death of our Holy Father Pope Francis. His life was a gift to the Church and a reflection of Christ's love lived with humility and devotion. Learning of the Holy Father's passing gives me pause to reflect on his life and the impact he has had on the Church and the world, and in my own ministry. My years of study at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome shaped my priesthood in the heart of the Church. It was there, in St. Peter's Basilica, that I was ordained a transitional deacon, standing at the very place where so many have carried on the mission of Christ. Years later under the leadership of Pope Francis I was called to serve as a bishop. His faithful leadership and love for the Gospel have been a source of encouragement in my own ministry, and I am deeply grateful for the example he set. I am especially grateful for the gift of his 2013 apostolic exhortation, The Joy of the Gospel (Evangelii Gaudium). This teaching of Pope Francis expresses the joy that marked his life and provides beautiful guidance for all who seek to share the faith with others. I have often reflected on his teaching that our salvation should free us from 'sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness.' These interior struggles speak directly to the needs of our time. His call and witness challenge us to identify with Christ as Savior and live as lights for the world. Pope Francis was a shepherd for all, including those beyond the Catholic Church. His words and witness resonated with people from every background, drawing many to reflect on the presence of God in their own lives. He had a heart for those on the margins, speaking out for the poor, the immigrant seeking safety, the unborn child and the prisoner facing execution. He carried the concerns of those who struggled, including Catholics who felt unseen or alone after divorce. His message was clear: every person is loved by God and worthy of dignity. As the Church mourns his death, we pray in gratitude for the gift of his life and leadership. May his example continue to inspire us to live with faith, serve with love and seek first the kingdom of God. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.' Read: Pope Francis dies: What happens next? [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
