Pope of Rome to Step Down

[AGDee]

I have to say, this is one of my favorite prayers.

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.


O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

[sigmagirl10]

I'm headed to Rome this weekend and will actually be attending Pope Francis's investiture mass thanks to my friend's cousin--this Jewish girl is very excited!

[SWTXBelle]

A Franciscan and a Dominican were debating about whose order was the greater. After months of arguing, they decided to ask for an answer from God when they died. Years later, they met in heaven and decided to go to the throne of God to resolve their old disagreement. God seemed a bit puzzled about the question and told them he would reply in writing a few days later. After much deliberation, God sent the following letter:

My beloved children,

Please stop bickering about such trivial matters. Both of your orders are equally great and good in my eyes.

Sincerely yours,

God, S.J.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by sigmagirl10

I'm headed to Rome this weekend and will actually be attending Pope Francis's investiture mass thanks to my friend's cousin--this Jewish girl is very excited!

Very cool. Enjoy!

[IrishLake]

From a service and educational standpoint, I'm very excited to have a Jesuit pope. Francis is still a little too conservative for me (a comment he's made in the past about adopted children of gay couples was a form of child abuse rubbed me wrong), but I doubt we ever see the Catholic church be accepting of gay lifestyles. Just one of the few things I disagree with my church on, I guess. But I think I like him.

[SWTXBelle]

Breaking News:

"Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople has announced that he plans to attend the inaugural Mass of Pope Francis on March 19.

The appearance by the Ecumenical Patriarch--the "first among equals" of all the world's Orthodox leaders--is an unprecedented gesture. The Patriarch of Constantinople has not attended a papal installation since 1054, when Constantinople split from Rome. "

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/For-t...ass-27408.html

[dekeguy]

Fantastic news and a great step forward to unity! Oremus omnes!

[SWTXBelle]

Written by a Jesuit - http://www.slate.com/articles/life/f...suit_name.html


"Besides, the name Francis telegraphs something in a way that our founder’s name does not: poverty, simplicity of life, care for the poor. Of course St. Ignatius was famously poor and Jesuits worldwide take a vow of poverty, but “Francis” is better shorthand for the church of the poor, something the new pope would mention in one of his first public remarks."

[MysticCat]

^^^ Interesting and thoughtful article. Thanks for posting it.

Another interesting article on his description to journalists of how he chose the name:

He recalled how on Wednesday night, as he was receiving more and more votes in the conclave, the cardinal sitting next to him, Claudio Hummes of Brazil, comforted him "as the situation became dangerous".

After the voting reached the two-thirds majority that elected him, applause broke out. Hummes, 78, then hugged and kissed him and told him "Don't forget the poor", the pope recounted, often gesturing with his hands.

"That word entered here," he added, pointing to his head.

While the formal voting continued, the pope recalled: "I thought of wars .... and Francis (of Assisi) is the man of peace, and that is how the name entered my heart, Francis of Assisi, for me he is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects others."

Full article here.

And like you, I think it's wonderful news that the Ecumenical Patriarch will attend the inaugural mass tomorrow. That, coupled with a number of articles I have read on Cardinal Borgoglio's relations with Protestants in Argenitina, gives me hope for the possibility of greater unity among Christians.

[Little Dragon]

Originally Posted by IrishLake

Francis is still a little too conservative for me (a comment he's made in the past about adopted children of gay couples was a form of child abuse rubbed me wrong), but I doubt we ever see the Catholic church be accepting of gay lifestyles.

Back in Argentina, Archbishop Bergoglio supported gay civil unions and told his priests to do so as well. He also asked the government for more comprehensive civil union laws. He just asked for the civil unions not to be called marriage. When the government disregarded civil unions and started to lobby for gay marriage, he did become the strongest voice against it.

As for the adoption quote, he didn't say "abuse," he called it "discrimination against children," since, from the Church's perspective, adoption is a right of the child (every child has the right to be raised by loving parents). No couple, not even heterosexual couples, have the right to adopt. Of course, for the Church, by "loving parents," they mean man and woman. "Every child has to right to have a mother and a father." For him, adoption of gay couples discriminate against this right of the child.

Right or wrong, he is indeed more open to dialogue than other church leaders, at least on this issue.

[Psi U MC Vito]

There is usually am Orthodox Bishop of Patriarchal rank at the Papal Inauguration, but I am surprised that the First Among Equals of the Orthodox Church himself is coming. I wonder if Archbishop Welby will be sending anybody/

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

I wonder if Archbishop Welby will be sending anybody/

There are usually (as in for the last few inaugural masses anyway) Anglican and Protestant representatives there, but since Welby's own enthronement as Archbishop of Canterbury is on Thursday, options of whom to send may be more limited.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

There are usually (as in for the last few inaugural masses anyway) Anglican and Protestant representatives there, but since Welby's own enthronement as Archbishop of Canterbury is on Thursday, options of whom to send may be more limited.

Good Point. The Lord Williams of Oystermouth or the Primate of England (bonus points if you know who I mean) might be options, though the second one might be iffy since I don't how big a role he plays in the enthronement of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

[SWTXBelle]

It might depend on if the Right Honourable Lord Williams of Oystermouth still has his nose out of joint about the Anglican Ordinariate.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

It might depend on if the Right Honourable Lord Williams of Oystermouth still has his nose out of joint about the Anglican Ordinariate.

Right Reverend and Right Honourable Lord Williams of Oystermouth PC if you want to be technical. And if he is requested by the Queen or Archbishop he might be willing to represent the Church of England. The fact that he is the former Primate of two different provinces as well as the Communion would make him very attractive.