Georgia Bulletin

Vatican City

• Pope calls for monthlong global prayer marathon for end of pandemic

  

  By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
  Published April 28, 2021

  Pope Francis has called for a global prayer marathon for the entire month of May, praying for the end to the pandemic. The Archdiocese of Atlanta will paraticipate by offering recorded rosaries each evening.

• Saying he missed people, pope returns to window for Sunday prayer

  

  By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
  Published April 19, 2021

  Greeting visitors in St. Peter’s Square after nearly a month of tight pandemic restrictions, Pope Francis said he was happy to see people allowed to gather and be present for the noonday prayer April 18.

• Christ’s victory over death proclaims a second chance for all, pope says

  

  By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES and CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
  Published April 4, 2021

  The Easter liturgies–with the fire, sharing of light from the paschal candle, the renewal of baptismal promises and the proclamation that Jesus has risen–assure people that it is never too late to start again, Pope Francis said.

• Cardinal, at pope’s Good Friday service, decries divisions within church

  

  By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
  Published April 2, 2021

  As Pope Francis presided over the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion, the preacher of the papal household called on bishops and all Catholics to examine their consciences for ways they may be harming the unity of the church.

• Jesus takes on human suffering to draw even closer to people, pope says

  

  By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
  Published March 29, 2021

  On Palm Sunday, Pope Francis asked that people begin Holy Week with a sense of amazement, by gazing upon Jesus on the cross, and saying to him, “Lord, how much you love me! How precious I am to you!”

• Pope amends canon law so women can be installed as lectors, acolytes

  

  By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
  Published January 11, 2021

  Recognizing “the gifts of each baptized person”–women and men–Pope Francis ordered a change to canon law and liturgical norms so that women could be formally installed as lectors and acolytes.

• Despite year’s hardships, pope says there is much for which to be thankful

  

  By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES, Catholic News Service
  Published December 31, 2020

  The notable absence of Pope Francis at the final liturgical celebration of 2020 in St. Peter’s Basilica capped off a difficult year for the Vatican and for the world.

• Pope on Christmas: Share hope, promote peace, give vaccine to all

  

  By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
  Published December 26, 2020

  On a Christmas like no other, Pope Francis prayed for people who could not be with their families because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but he urged everyone to recognize and help those who are suffering even more.

• Pope plans to visit Iraq in March

  

  By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
  Published December 10, 2020

  Barring any obstacles caused by the global pandemic, Pope Francis is set to begin international travel again in 2021 by visiting Iraq in March, which would make him the first pope to visit this nation.

• Pope proclaims year dedicated to St. Joseph

  

  By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES, Catholic News Service
  Published December 10, 2020

  Marking the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph being declared patron of the universal church, Pope Francis proclaimed a yearlong celebration dedicated to the foster father of Jesus.

• Pope creates 13 new cardinals, including Washington archbishop

  

  By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
  Published November 28, 2020

  One by one 11 senior churchmen, including–Cardinals Wilton D. Gregory of Washingto, and formerly of Atlanta, and Silvano M. Tomasi, a former Vatican diplomat–knelt before Pope Francis to receive their red hats in a Nov. 28 consistory.

• Pope has history of defending marriage, but being open to some civil unions

  

  By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
  Published October 22, 2020

  The pope’s comments in the documentary, “Francesco,” are similar to the position taken while he was an archbishop, and echo remarks in several interviews during his pontificate: “Marriage” is only between a man and a woman, but civil union laws could provide legal protection for couples in long-term relationships.

• Pope to take his post-pandemic pleas to global stage

  

  By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
  Published September 17, 2020

  When he addresses, via video message, the U.N. General Assembly Sept. 21, Pope Francis is expected to speak about using the coronavirus crisis as an opportunity to rethink economic, political and environmental policies in a way that will benefit humanity and the earth.

• Common good, not greed, must motivate search for vaccine, pope says

  

  By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES, Catholic News Service
  Published September 9, 2020

  The common good should be at the heart of the race to find a vaccine for COVID-19, Pope Francis said during his weekly general audience Sept. 9.

• Making the poor a priority isn’t political, it’s the Gospel, pope says

  

  By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
  Published August 19, 2020

  In his Aug. 19 general audience, Pope Francis said the COVID-19 pandemic “has exposed the plight of the poor and the great inequality that reigns in the world.”

• Pope, U.S. bishops ‘saddened’ by Turkish court ruling on Hagia Sophia

  

  By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES, Catholic News Service
  Published July 24, 2020

  Pope Francis said he was saddened after a Turkish court ruled to revert the iconic Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque.

• Pope at pallium Mass: World needs to pray more, complain less

  

  By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
  Published July 2, 2020

  Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer’s pallium was among those blessed by Pope Francis June 29. Unable to attend the Mass due to the pandemic, the archbishop will receive his pallium at a later date in Atlanta.

• Pope prays for U.S., calls racism a pro-life issue

  

  By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
  Published June 3, 2020

  Observing with great concern the social unrest unfolding in the United States, Pope Francis said no one can claim to defend the sanctity of every human life while turning a blind eye to racism and exclusion.

• Pope to lead shrines in rosary prayer May 30

  By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES, Catholic News Service
  Published May 28, 2020

  Pope Francis will lead the major shrines around the world in praying the rosary to implore Mary’s intercession and protection amid the coronavirus pandemic.

• At morning Mass, Pope offers prayers for unemployed

  

  By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES, Catholic News Services
  Published May 14, 2020

  As countries continue to reel from the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis offered prayers for the men and women who have been unable to work.