Pope Francis: Daily Roundup

News

• Pope Francis: Passover telegram to Jewish Community Vatican Radio 03/25/13.
• Presentation of first two books in Italian by Pope Francis Vatican Information Service 03/25/13.
• Francis even wins over leader of Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, by Giorgio Bernardelli. La Stampa "The Vatican Insider":

  She has always been one of his most fervent opponents. Even the day after Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s election to the papacy, she responded with a sarcastic “Amen!” But now, even Hebe de Bonafini, the militant leader of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo has had a change of heart. To the point of actually putting pen to paper and writing a letter to the Pope calling him simply “Fr. Francis” and candidly expressing how struck she was by all the testimonies of the people from the villas – Buenos Aires’ poorest neighbourhoods – about their friendship with Cardinal Bergoglio.

• Francis echoes Benedict XVI in his warning against “filth” and his hope in young people La Stampa "The Vatican Insider" 03/24/13.
• Pope asks Jesuits to, with completely committed life, be leaven to world Vatican Information Service 03/23/13:

  Three days after beginning his pontificate, Pope Francis sent a letter to the Superior General of the Jesuits, Fr. Adolfo Nicolas Pachon. In it the Holy Father responded to the letter that the Superior General had sent to him on learning of the election of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the first Jesuit in the history of the Society of Jesus to be elected Pope.

  Following is the complete text of the Roman Pontiff Francis' letter, dated 16 March:

  “Dear Fr. Nicolas, It is with great joy that I received the kind letter that you sent on behalf of yourself and of the Society of Jesus on the occasion of my election to the See of St. Peter, informing me of your prayers for me and my apostolic ministry along with your complete willingness to continue your unconditional service to the Church and to the Vicar of Christ, according to the precepts of St. Ignatius of Loyola.”

  “I thank you cordially for this token of appreciation and closeness, which I reciprocate with pleasure, asking the Lord to enlighten and accompany all Jesuits so that—faithful to the charism received and the footsteps of the saints of our beloved Order, by their pastoral activity but above all through the witness of lives entirely devoted to the service of the Church, the Bride of Christ—they may be evangelical leaven to the world, tirelessly seeking the glory of God and the good of souls.”

  “With these sentiments I ask all Jesuits to pray for me and entrust me to the loving protection of Mary, our Mother in Heaven, while, as a pledge of abundant heavenly favours, I impart with special fondness my Apostolic Blessing, which I also extend to all those who work with the Society of Jesus in their activities, benefit from their good works, and partake of their spirituality.”

• Pope Plans Full Easter Schedule With a Twist, by Esefania Aquirre / CNA. 03/25/13:

  Pope Francis will celebrate a full schedule this Holy Week, including washing the feet of youth detainees and leading the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum.

  His six main events are: chrism Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on Holy Thursday morning, followed by Mass at a youth detention center that evening, a Communion service and Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, Easter vigil Mass on Saturday evening and Easter Mass on Sunday morning.

Commentary

• Young Inmates Eager for Holy Thursday Mass With Francis On Holy Thursday, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass in the Casal de Marmo, a juvenile detention center on the outskirts of Rome. Zenit interview with prison chaplain Father Gaetano Geco, of the Franciscan Family of Capuchin Terciaries of the Virgin of Sorrows. (Zenit 03/25/13).
• Rosa Margherita, Francis’ “theologian” grandmother, by Andrea Tornielli. La Stampa "The Vatican Insider" 03/25/13.
• The Devil and Pope Francis, by Robert Royal. The Catholic Thing 03/20/13. [See also: Pope Francis and the Devil, by Michael Sean Winters. 03/25/13].
• Chaput: "Francis is just the medicine the Church needs" "Vatican Insider" interviews the Archbishop of Philadelphia, Charles Joseph Chaput: "European Christianity is becoming tepid. A Latin American Pope is more than welcome." La Stampa 03/23/13.
• Election of Pope Francis raises alarm for some Latin Mass fans , Brian Roewe. National Catholic Reporter 03/25/13.
• Debunking three 'urban legends' about Pope Francis, by John Allen, Jr. National Catholic Reporter 03/24/13.
• Despite close ties, pope skipped family barbecues to minister in slums, by Carol Glatz. Catholic News Service. 03/24/13:

  Even though Pope Francis is very close to his family, he would often skip their barbecues to spend Sundays or holidays in Buenos Aires' slums, the pope's sister said.

  "That's the way he is: totally devoted to the mission of a priest; he is the pastor of the least," said Maria Elena Bergoglio.

• Pope Francis and the Clash of Revelations, by Matt Emerson. First Things "On The Square" 03/25/13:

  Without renouncing our intellectual tradition, we remember that discipleship is not measured in the success of our arguments. The world is not a jury. The measure of our response to the empty tomb is perhaps best indicated by a picture that circulated throughout the internet after Pope Francis’s election. It is a picture of him, then a cardinal, washing the feet of a patient with AIDS. It brought me to silence: that photo alone was a new kind of introduction to Christianity, a reminder that all our reading and writing amount to nothing if we don’t go and do likewise.