Georgia Bulletin

Vatican City

• Cardinal urges religious to join local preparation for Synod of Bishops

  

  By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
  Published August 18, 2021

  Pope Francis is scheduled to formally open the Synod of Bishops process at the Vatican Oct. 9-10. And the bishop of every diocese should open the process in his diocese Oct. 17. Local Catholics will have the opportunity for input during the diocesan phase. Communion, participation and mission will be the synod themes.

• Pope prays for peace in Afghanistan as Taliban takes control

  

  By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES, Catholic News Service
  Published August 16, 2021

  Hours before the Taliban took control of Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, Pope Francis expressed his hope for the peace and safety of the country’s citizens.

• Only Jesus reveals true Gospel, pope says at first audience after surgery

  

  By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
  Published August 5, 2021

  The true Gospel has been revealed by Jesus Christ, not by individuals or founders of movements, Pope Francis said during his Aug. 4 weekly general audience–his first since undergoing surgery in July.

• Appealing to need for unity, pope restores limits on pre-Vatican II Mass

  

  By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
  Published July 18, 2021

  Saying he was acting for the good of the unity of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has restored limits on the celebration of the Mass according to the Roman Missal in use before the Second Vatican Council.

• Pope, bishops call for calm, dialogue after Haitian president killed

  

  By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
  Published July 8, 2021

  Condemning the “heinous assassination” of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, Pope Francis urged the people of Haiti to shun violence and make a commitment to dialogue and solidarity as the path to a better future.

• After fever subsides, pope undergoes scans that rule out infection

  

  By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
  Published July 6, 2021

  Recovering from colon surgery, Pope Francis briefly ran a fever late July 7, leading his doctors to perform a CT scan of his abdomen and chest the next morning to check for signs of infection. The results of the scan were negative, the Vatican press office said July 8.

• Pope at pallium Mass: Freedom comes from welcoming Christ

  

  By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES, Catholic News Service
  Published June 29, 2021

  Sts. Peter and Paul were great not just because of their zeal for the Gospel, but because they allowed Christ to enter their hearts and change their lives, Pope Francis said. The pope reflected upon these ‘two giants of faith’ June 29 at the pallium Mass, celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica.

• Darkness does not mean devil has won, pope says at audience

  

  By CAROL GLATZ, Catholic News Service
  Published May 27, 2021

  Prayer is a humble dialogue with God to grow spiritually and discover his will for the world, the pope said May 26 during his weekly general audience.

• Say ‘yes’ to the Holy Spirit, ‘no’ to divisive ideologies, pope says

  

  By JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES, Catholic News Service
  Published May 23, 2021

  The Holy Spirit’s gift of comfort and solace is meant to unite all men and women and not take sides with any ideology, Pope Francis said on Pentecost.

• 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.