“Perché la sofferenza dei bambini è certamente la più dura da accettare; e allora il Signore mi chiama a stare, anche se brevemente, vicino a questi bambini e ragazzi e ai loro familiari. Tante volte mi faccio e mi rifaccio la domanda: perché soffrono i bambini? E non trovo spiegazione. Solo guardo il Crocifisso e mi fermo lì.”
(the quoted Italian begins at 49 min & ends at 49 min 43 sec)
— English translation —
“Because the suffering of children is certainly the most difficult to accept; and then the Lord calls me to stay, albeit briefly, nearby with these children and their families. So many times I make, and I refer the question: why children suffer? And I find no explanation. I only look at the Crucifix and I stop there.”
Recall during his visit January 2015 visit to the Philippines when Francis was asked by a tearful 12 year old former street child, Glyzelle Palomar, “Many children are abandoned by their parents. Many children get involved in drugs and prostitution. Why does God allow these things to happen to us? The children are not guilty of anything.” And Francis answered, “She is the only one who has put a question for which there is no answer and she wasn’t even able to express it in words but in tears. The nucleus of your question … almost doesn’t have a reply.” That time Francis used a poor child for a photo-op to make himself appear compassionate when he was anything but. His answer was an empty naturalistic attempt devoid of any Christianity. In our previous post on this topic, Francis' compassion or indifference to a little girl in the Philippines?, we recommended Francis to read the Baltimore Catechism which has the answer as well as the Gospel According to Matthew.
As Francis demonstrates in his speech at the pediatric hospital in Genoa, his religion has no answers. This even though he is gazing directly at the reason. As Jesus the Christ says in, the greatest sermon of all time, The Sermon on the Mount,
“Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thy own eye, and then shalt thou see to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.”(St. Matthew 7:5)
May God through His infinite Mercy and Grace cast the beam out of Francis’ eyes, open his heart and mind, in order to convert him to the Catholic Faith, where he will find the answers to his questions.
60. What are the chief punishments of Adam which we inherit through original sin?
The
chief punishments of Adam which we inherit through original sin are:
death, suffering, ignorance, and a strong inclination to sin.
All things are delivered to me by my Father. And no one knoweth the Son, but the Father: neither doth any one know the Father, but the Son, and he to whom it shall please the Son to reveal him. Come to me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is sweet and my burden light.
“Jesus has never stood still, and as everyone who is walking, he exposed himself to tensions. What we should fear the most is to live a static life. That of a priest who has everything sorted out, everything in order, well structured and at its place.... Jesus has always been a man on the road, walking, open to the surprises of God, instead a priest who has all planned, everything structured and sorted out, is generally closed to the surprises of God, and the joyful surprise of the encounter is lost.”
“These peripheries are the reflection of the places where the primal charism was born.”
“A good archbishop, Cardinal Canestri, said that “the Church is like a river, the important thing is to be in that river”, whether it is on the right or left side of the river, it is a legitimate option.”
“The charism is to be incarnate, it was born in a concrete place and then it grows. But we must always look for where it was born. This teaches us to love people in concrete places. Concretely. The concreteness of the Church gives the diocesan nature. This does not mean killing the charism, no, this helps the charism become more real, visible and near. When the universality of an institution forgets to enter concrete places, in concrete dioceses, then this order eventually forgets where it was born. To universalize, but without that concreteness of the diocese. Flying religious institutes do not exist, and if someone claims that, they will end badly. Thinking of universality without concreteness will lead to self-referentiality.”
The delusions of the Talmud - Mishnah Tractate Parah
Nine red heifers were offered from the time that they were commanded to fulfill this mitzvah until the time when the Temple was destroyed a second time. The first was brought by Moses, our teacher. The second was brought by Ezra. Seven others were offered until the destruction of the Second Temple. And the tenth will be brought by the King Moshiach; may he speedily be revealed. Amen, so may it be G‑d’s will.
It's not just that the law of the Red Heifer cannot be logically explained; indeed, there exists an entire category of mitzvot, called chukim ("decrees"), whose defining criteria is that they transcend human understanding. What's unique about the Red Heifer is that while the other chukim at least follow an internal logic of their own, the laws of the Red Heifer are fraught with paradox and inconsistency. To cite but several of numerous examples:
a) The ashes of the Red Heifer remove the most severe of all impurities; yet those involved in its preparation become ritually impure themselves.
b) The Red Heifer must be completely red (as few as two hairs of a different color disqualify it)a color which has connotations of sin and deficiency in Torah and Torah law; yet it must also be "perfect, without blemish."
c) The Torah commands that it be slaughtered outside the holy city of Jerusalem (in contrast with other korbanot, which must be slaughtered in the courtyard of the Holy Temple). On the other hand, it must be slaughtered within the sight of the Holy Temple and its blood is sprinkled "toward the Holy of Holies"; according to one opinion, it must be slaughtered by the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) himself, wearing the "white garments" reserved for the Yom Kippur service in the Holy of Holies.
d) The two components of the purifying mixture--ashes and spring water--represent two contradictory forces: fire, which represents the power of ascent, and water, which embodies the quality of "settling down" and saturation.
Thus the laws of the Red Heifer are introduced by the Torah with the words "This is the chok of the Torah", as if to say: this is the Torah's ultimate chok, the mitzvah that most vividly demonstrates to supra-rationality of its divine commandments.
“The evil one always starts from the pocket. When the Church is lukewarm, quiet, organized, when there are no problems, look to where business is to be made.” “This is the path of our daily conversion: to pass from a mundane state of life, tranquil, without risks; Catholic, yes, yes, but lukewarm, to instead a state of life of the true announcement of Christ, to the joy of Christ's announcement. To move from a religiosity that looks too much on earnings, to faith and to the proclamation of 'Jesus is the Lord.'” “A Church without martyrs breeds distrust; a Church that doesn’t take risks breeds distrust; a Church that is afraid of proclaiming Jesus Christ and of chasing out demons, idols and the lord of money is not Christ’s Church. Let us ask the Lord for the grace for renewed vigor in faith and conversion from a lukewarm way of life so we are able to make the joyful proclamation that Jesus is the Lord.”
Do you mean like that time you went to Rome’s Great Synagogue and preached about Jesus the Christ?
“The inseparable bond that unites Christians and Jews is
theologically clear. Christians, in order to understand themselves,
cannot fail to refer to their Jewish roots, and the Church, while
professing salvation through faith in Christ, recognizes the
irrevocability of the Old Covenant and God’s unfailing, steadfast love
for Israel.”
St. Vincent Ferrer was never afraid to preach the Gospel of Jesus the Christ whether he was in a synagogue or in a mosque. As a result countless numbers of Talmudic Jews and Moslems converted to the Catholic Faith.
Francis gave The Donald copies of his Peace Day Message, Evangelii gaudium, Laudato Si', and Amoris Laetitia as well as a medallion showing an olive tree uniting divided lands in peace. In return Trump gave Francis the five works of the communist misogynist plagiarizer, Michael King, Jr. (Martin Luther King, Jr.) and a bronze sculpture named “Rising Above”. The White House said the sculpture, “represents hope for a peaceful tomorrow.” We at Call Me Jorge... are guessing that Francis will treasure the books as not only does Francis admire King, Jr. but they share the same intellectual father, rabbi Abraham Heschel. We also wonder if Trump and Francis discussed their roles as representatives of the Left & Right pillars of the Kabbalistic Sephiroth in their approaches towards Islam. Everyone knows Francis is the Left and represents Chesed or compassion by wanting to embrace Moslems and welcome them into Christian countries, while Trump is the Right and stands for Gevurah or severity as he wants to expand the ‘War on Terror’.
a ‘bridge-builder’ & a ‘property developer’ (full video)
Trump decides to fight Israel’s ‘The War on Terror’
or
MIG — Making Israel Great!
Donald Trump traveled to Saudi Barbaria, Israel, and Italy. Also scheduled for this trip are travels to Belgium, the European Union headquarters, and a return to Italy. His first stop was in Saudi Barbaria where he signed a $110 billion weapons deal with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. This deal was negotiated by Trump’s Chabadnik son-in-law, Jared Kushner. We at Call Me Jorge... wonder if the cash-strapped: Trump, Kushner, and King Salman, discussed cash-flow and bribes?
And then they did this...
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, King Salman of Saudi Arabia, Melania Trump and President Trump inaugurate ‘The Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology’ in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We bet that Saudi Barbaria will continue to fund the Isareli controlled ISIS.
Building the ‘reality television’ set
Show business
Next up was Israel. Before becoming the first standing President of the Federal government of the United States of America to visit the following sites, Trump was greeted with billboards such as this around the country.
And on to the trash dump(according to Rabbi Isaac ben Solomon Luria Ashkenazi) which was formerly a retaining wall of the Roman Fort Antonia but is now known as alternatively as the ‘Kotel’, the ‘Western Wall’, or as the ‘Wailing Wall’.
The rabbi shows Trump the history of the former trash dump.
No that’s not the wall which the apartheid state of Israel has
put up to fence away the Palestinians — Christian and Moslem.
That’s definitely not the wall Trump promised to build to keep Mexicans in Mexico.
Trump checking out the Shekinah emanating from the wall.
Rabbi Rabinowitz reads and then gives Trump his talisman.
The Donald received this gift, A Book of Psalms, from Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz Shlita, in the black hat. Inside it is inscribed, “This ancient book will safeguard you so you can safeguard the entire world. With appreciation and admiration for being the first United States president to visit the Western Wall.”
Looks like the USA is going to be continuing the ‘War on Terror’ according to Trump’s
note that he placed in the mystical stones — he believes was read by God.
Trump signed the guest book at the former trash dump too!
Is this a White House staff meeting?
How many of these men are followers of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson?
Unfortunately, Jared didn’t zivug with the Shekinah which is strange because he is a Chabadnik.
Don’t worry the ladies got to practice their kabbalistic magic too. It was just in the woman’s section as progressivism is only for gentiles.
Jewish equality.
Melania Trump getting in touch with the Shekinah!
Yael Kushner is into this ritual magic...she even cried and said
it was, “meaningful to visit the holiest site of my faith.”
Donald Trump changed his twitter account before going to bed.
Screenshot of Donald Trump's twitter account — says everything
you need to know about the man and his beliefs.
Then this happened...
On cue... boom! Kabbalists love the #22!
And of course ISIS claimed responsibility!
We know this because the press agent, for the late Osama bin-Laden and current press representative for al-Qaeda and ISIS, Rita Gabbay-Katz al Baghdadi and her SITE group told us so. Her father might have been hung in Iraq for being an Israeli spy but she certainly isn’t one!
Trump at Yad Vashem where he pledges to Holocaustianity...
Trump places a wreath on top of ashes of Jews gassed and cremated by the National Socialists in World War II.
Trump was given another gift, a replica of a ‘Holocaust Era’ personal album of Ester Goldstein.
Trump signs the Yad Vashem guest book.
The primacy of Counterfeit Israel’s ‘Holocaust’
Outside Trump gave a speech where he said, “it is our solemn duty to remember, to mourn, to grieve and to honor every single life that was so cruelly and viciously taken.”
“Terrorism is aimed at the people watching, not at the actual victims. Terrorism is theater… The normal objective of state or official terrorism is to enforce obedience and cooperation... Success demands the creation of an atmosphere of fear and the seeming omnipresence of the internal security apparatus.”
source: Brian Michael Jenkins, International Terrorism: A New Kind of Warfare, Rand Corporation, June 1974
The occult processing of the public’s mind through kabbalistic alchemy continues...
“From there, I'll head to the Vatican, where I will have the great honor of an audience with Pope Francis. I look forward to speaking with the Pope about how Christian teachings can help put the world on a path to justice, freedom, and peace.”
Trump’s full of it...
Saudi Barbaria finances the terrorists and Israel created them in the prison camps of the Federal government of the United States’ military in Iraq.
Transcript
My fellow Americans,
This weekend I begin my first trip overseas as president – a trip with historic significance for the American people.
I will be visiting with the leaders in many different countries to strengthen our old friendships, build new partnerships, and unite the civilized world in a fight against terrorism.
In that spirit of unity, I will travel to lands associated with three of the world's great religions.
My first stop will be Saudi Arabia – the heart of the Muslim World. There, I will address a historic gathering of the leaders of more than 50 Muslim nations. I will represent the views of the American people frankly and clearly.
Many of these leaders have expressed growing concern about terrorism, the spread of radicalization, and Iran's role in funding both. Now it appears Muslim leaders are ready to take more responsibility and a much bigger role in fighting terrorism in their region. It’s about time we do it, we’ll do it together, but it has to be done.
America cannot solve all of the world's problems, but we can – and we must – help any nation willing to join in the common cause of eradicating terrorism from the face of the earth.
Next, I'll travel to the ancient city of Jerusalem to talk with my good friend, Prime Minister Netanyahu, about bringing peace and prosperity to both our nations. Israel is an important American ally, but in recent years we haven't always treated them that way. It's time to renew our friendship.
While I'm there, I'll also meet with President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority in Bethlehem to discuss ways to advance peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
From there, I'll head to the Vatican, where I will have the great honor of an audience with Pope Francis. I look forward to speaking with the Pope about how Christian teachings can help put the world on a path to justice, freedom, and peace.
I will also meet with friends and allies in Europe at a gathering of NATO in Brussels and at the G-7 Summit in Italy. Finally, I will close my trip by saying thank you to some of the courageous men and women of the United State Military serving their nation overseas.
In my Inaugural Address, I pledged to strengthen America's oldest friendships, to seek new partners in pursuit of peace, and above all – to always put American people first.
I also pledged that our partners must show that they’re partners, they must show that they’re friends, and they must contribute financially to the tremendous cost – the money that we’re spending – is so big; it’s so much; and it’s not fair for our nation. They have to help and I’m sure they will. The fact is that I'm excited about new possibilities for peace and prosperity – and I hope you are too.
The Pope pointed to the “liberty of the Spirit” that leads to agreement: so, he said, the gentiles were allowed to enter the Church without having to undergo circumcision. It was at the heart of the “first Council” of the Church: the Holy Spirit and they, the Pope with the Bishops, all together,” gathered together in order “to clarify the doctrine;” and later, through the centuries – as at Ephesus or at Vatican II – because “it is a duty of the Church to clarify the doctrine,” so that “what Jesus said in the Gospels, what is the Spirit of the Gospels, would be understood well”:
“But there were always people who without any commission go out to disturb the Christian community with speeches that upset souls: ‘Eh, no, someone who says that is a heretic, you can’t say this, or that; this is the doctrine of the Church.’ And they are fanatics of things that are not clear, like those fanatics who go there sowing weeds in order to divide the Christian community. And this is the problem: when the doctrine of the Church, that which comes from the Gospel, that which the Holy Spirit inspires – because Jesus said, “He will teach us and remind you of all that I have taught’ – [when] that doctrine becomes an ideology. And this is the great error of those people.”
Francis the humble first Moslem sweeping St. Peter’s Square after a Wednesday general audience.
“Some are devotees of the saint, others of ecology, and I am devotee of the broom he used.”
Martin de Porres Velázquez, O.P. (1579 AD -1639 AD) was a lay brother in the Dominican Order. He is often portrayed with a broom. This is a representation of his humility and the way he dedicated himself with love to even the most menial of tasks — something which Francis is entirely deficient of. As we see in the video Francis is the joker when it come to the Catholic Faith but is pious and respectful when it comes to Islam and Talmudic Judaism.
After finishing sweeping, Francis’ inner-Jew came out and put a kabbalistic spell
on the broom. Which he proceeded to ride back to Casa Santa Marta.
“The exhibition "La Menorà. Culto, storia e mito" (The Menorah: worship, history and myth) is the name of the exhibition that from 16 May to 23 July will be on simultaneous display in the Braccio di Carlo Magno of the Vatican Museums, and in the Jewish Museum of Rome.
The exhibition represents the first joint project between the two institutions, and is a high profile cultural and symbolic initiative, a "sign of successful collaboration between Jews and Christians in the city where they have lived side by side for over twenty centuries".
The exhibition, curated by Alessandra Di Castro, Arnold Nesselrath and Francesco Leone, narrates the history of the Menorah – the seven-branched lamp and symbol of the identity of the Jewish people – through a complex and rich itinerary featuring 150 works of art, comprising sculptures, paintings, architectural elements, manuscripts and book illustrations.”
The reason given by the Vatican for ‘La Menorà Culto, storia e mito’ exhibit is, “to make an actual conrtibution to dialogue and cooperation between the Jewish and the Christian world”. Dialogue is a one-way racket or one-way street with the Novus Ordo goose-stepping to the dictates of the Talmudic Jews. Four years in the making, this “project is based on the most ancient and important identity symbol of Judaism.” The impetus behind the idea was Zion Evrony, the then Israeli ambassador to the Holy See, who was inspired in October 2013 when at the Jewish Museum of Rome examining a hodgepodge of menorah images and fables. It was decided to base the new exhibit on the 2008 exhibit ‘Da Gerusalemme a Roma, e ritorno: il viaggio della menora fra storia e mito’ shown at the Jewish Museum of Rome. Zion Evrony is buddies with Francis. Not only did he help organize Francis’ trip to Israel in 2014, he accompanied him there! Enrony was the Israeli ambassador to the Vatican from 2012 to 2016 and currently teaches at the Catholic University of America (i.e. the pope’s university).
Barbara Jatta, the Director of the Vatican Museums, writes, “This is the first time our two communities have cooperated with such commitment and the significance and value of such a relationship is evinced by its inherent symbolic meaning.” Jatta continues later explaining one dimension of this symbolism, “The Braccio di Carlo Magno at the Vatican is an
imposing and prestigious venue. [...] It is a prominent exhibition space because it is located
in the heart of the Vatican, in the symbolic center of
the State of the Vatican City, and also because it is part
of the ideal embrace of the faithful and of all peoples
created by Pope Alexander Chigi and Bernini through
the design of the colonnade in St. Peter’s Square.”
The exhibits includes, “astonishing and dazzling
rarities as a large 1st century stone engraved with a bas-relief from the site of the ancient synagogue of Magdala
in Galilee, discovered only a few years ago, some extremely rare Roman glass decorated in gold, sarcophagi
and tombstones from the Jewish catacombs in Rome, the Carolingian Bible of St. Paul, the imposing 14th and
15th century Christian seven-branch candelabra, Roman Baroque silverware and paintings by such masters as
Giulio Romano, Andrea Sacchi, Nicolas Poussin and Marc Chagall.
And finally, an important role will be played by educational panels in a concrete effort to encourage
children to set off down the path of knowledge, dialogue and mutual understanding.”
What does the Vatican have to say about “the emblem of Judaism par excellence”? In their official press release one reads that the menorah is also, “a tangible evocation of divine light, of the
cosmic order of creation and of the ancient covenant, a symbol of the Burning Bush and the Tree of Life, a
testimonial to the biblical Shabbat”. The press release even states that Christianity appropriated the menorah from the Talmudic Jews! What a bunch of malarkey.
According to the Talmudic Jews, the menorah symbolizes the wisdom of the Talmud and the light it shines on the world of darkness. The blasphemous Talmud, “illuminates the path to a spiritual, meaningful and fulfilling life.” Not only does it symbolize that but also the “indestructibility” of the Talmudic Jews who “are the constant light that never went out!”
source: The Encyclopedia of Jewish Myth, Magic & Mysticism, 2nd Edition, by Rabbi
Geoffrey W. Dennis, page 356 of the epub edition, see entry Menorah
Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni, the chief rabbi of Rome, writing in the exhibit catalogue said, “The Jewish link with the menorah is ancient, strong and full of symbolic significance, and the link has never been broken.” The ‘miracle of Hannukah’, according to the rabbis, in which a menorah was lit for eight days even though there was not enough oil for eight days, happened because of God’s “delight in the Jewish people” themselves, and their vainglorious celebrations. With the material covered above it is obvious that the formerly occult is now blatantly on public display for the world to see. The heart of the Vatican is the emblem of Judaism par excellence. Francis and his rabbinical brethren are continuing to alchemically process the pew sitters into their noahide golem creatures. The only thing left is for the Chabad-Lubavitchers to erect one of their giant Maimonides’ menorahs in St. Peter’s Square. As we have previously written,
“soon St. Peter’s will resemble a synagogue and the Vatican a shtetl.”
The delightful vainglorious celebrations of the indestructible Talmudic Jews, the light that never went out!
If America had a free press this is the type of investigative reporting that would be done. Hillary Clinton has her Clinton Foundation, in order to collect bribes, but Donald Trump has a different angle in the same corrupt game. Clinton and Obama were run by the Chicago mob while Trump is run by the New York mob. These two mobs are parts of the larger Orthodox crime family which together controls: Las Vegas, Hollywood, and the mainstream news among other things.
When he was young, Trump was mentored by organized crime figure and homosexual Roy Cohn and his father, Fred Trump. The Donald expanded his father’s corrupt empire from making money off of the government and insider deals to washing money and providing a ‘clean name’ for the New York mob’s investments. This two part video series, by the Dutch television program ZEMBLA and produced by VARA and NPS, covers how Trump now does this internationally and for Russian oligarchs.
This series only scratches the surface of Trump’s oligarch business partners and their crimes. We hope that there is a follow up series dealing with Trump’s friendship with Israeli intelligence asset Jeffrey Epstein and his infamous Lolita Express as well as Trump’s and his father’s connection to Orthodox Talmudic Judaism, especially the various Haredi sects including the notorious criminal Chabad-Lubavitchers. Why is it that Chabad is always in the corridors of power whether it be Washington, D. C., Moscow, the Holy See, or Tel Aviv / Jerusalem?
Another item that needs to be investigated is who are the foreign creditors to whom Jared Kushner owes $4 billion? This is very important as Jared has $1.1 billion loan coming due in 2019. The Donald himself according to our research is in debt to the tune of $1.9 billion at the least.
Why is The Donald handing out key government positions to dual-citizens such as Steve Roth who is overseeing $4 trillion of infrastructure spending? This is a problem because to whom do they owe their loyalty to? The country they commit their crimes in or the whole-in-the-wall they flee to which seldom extradites them? What is the role of the Talmud and the Kabbalah in all of this? Is it any wonder Trump has declared his loyalty to Israel, endorsed ‘Holocaustianity’ as the unofficial religion of the nation, looked the other way when ‘anti-semitism’ is committed by Talmudic Jews themselves, bombed Syria at the behest of his daughter Yael Kushner and rabbis, and cited the Lurianic Kabbalah concept of “tikkun olam” in his proclamation declaring May as Jewish American Heritage Month. We could go on and on but this should suffice.
Despite his pledge to stop immigration from war torn Moslem countries, Trump has increased refugees from Moslem countries by 300% as compared to Obama and it’s only May! Trump has waffled on the majority of his campaign promises. When Trump and Francis meet in late May the two should get along swimmingly as they share similar goals and have mutual Haredi friends. Returning to the subject of ZEMBLA’s two part investigation we would add that Trump is a whore who is complicit in the crimes committed by his backers.
What Francis said the evening before he canonized Jacinta de Jesus Marto a saint...
Pilgrims with Mary… But which Mary? A teacher of the spiritual life, the first to follow Jesus on the
“narrow way” of the cross by giving us an example, or a Lady “unapproachable” and impossible to
imitate? A woman “blessed because she believed” always and everywhere in God’s words (cf. Lk
1:42.45), or a “plaster statue” from whom we beg favours at little cost? The Virgin Mary of the
Gospel, venerated by the Church at prayer, or a Mary of our own making: one who restrains the
arm of a vengeful God; one sweeter than Jesus the ruthless judge; one more merciful than the
Lamb slain for us?
Great injustice is done to God’s grace whenever we say that sins are punished by his judgment,
without first saying – as the Gospel clearly does – that they are forgiven by his mercy! Mercy has
to be put before judgment and, in any case, God’s judgment will always be rendered in the light of
his mercy. Obviously, God’s mercy does not deny justice, for Jesus took upon himself the
consequences of our sin, together with its due punishment. He did not deny sin, but redeemed it
on the cross. Hence, in the faith that unites us to the cross of Christ, we are freed of our sins; we
put aside all fear and dread, as unbefitting those who are loved (cf. 1 Jn 4:18). “Whenever we look
to Mary, we come to believe once again in the revolutionary nature of love and tenderness. In her,
we see that humility and tenderness are not virtues of the weak but of the strong, who need not
treat others poorly in order to feel important themselves… This interplay of justice and tenderness,
of contemplation and concern for others, is what makes the ecclesial community look to Mary as a
model of evangelization” (Ap. Exhort. Evangelii Gaudium, 288). With Mary, may each of us
become a sign and sacrament of the mercy of God, who pardons always and pardons everything.
Greg Burke:Thank you Holiness, they were 24 very intense hours, as you said, for the Lord, 24 hours for Our Lady. It’s apparent that the Portuguese felt very touched when you said, “We have a Mother,” that they feel this in a special way. 100 years ago Our Lady didn’t appear to three important journalists, she appeared to three shepherds, but we’ve seen how they with their simplicity and sanctity were able to make this message reach the entire world. The journalists make the message arrive - it is seen from the number of nations from which they come - and they’re very curious about this trip of yours. If you’d like to say something first, great…
Francis:First of all, good evening. Thanks. And, I’d like to respond to the first of the possible questions, so we can do things a bit more quickly. I’m sorry when we’re at the halfway point and they come to tell me that it’s snack time… let’s do them all together. Thanks.
Greg Burke:Good, let’s begin with the Portuguese group, with Fatima Ferreira of the Portuguese TV Radio
Anna Elza Ferreira (Redevida de Televisao):I don’t know what I think about sitting in front of the Holy Father. Well, first, many thanks for this trip. Holy Father, you came to Fatima as a pilgrim, to canonize Francisco and Jacinta in the year that the apparitions mark their 100th year. From this historical point of view, what is left now for the Church, for the entire world? Also, Fatima has a message of peace. Holy Father, you are going to receive in the Vatican in the coming days, the 24th of May, the American president Donald Trump. What can the world expect and what does the Holy Father expect from this encounter? Many thanks.
Francis:Thanks. Fatima certainly has a message of peace. It’s brought to humanity by three great communicators that were less than 13 years old, which is interesting. Yes, I came as a pilgrim. The canonization was something that wasn’t planned from the beginning, because the process of the miracles was in progress but the all of a sudden the export reports were all positive, and it was done - that’s how the story was told - for me was a very great joy. What can the world expect? Peace. And what am I talking about from now on with whomever? Peace.
Ferreira:And what remains now of this historic moment for the Church?
Francis:A message of peace. And I’d like to say one thing … before disembarking I received scientists from all religions who were doing studies in the Vatican Observatory at Castel Gandolfo, including agnostics and atheists. And an atheist said to me, “I’m an atheist.” I won’t tell you from what ethnicity or place of origin he was - he spoke in English. And at the end, he asked me, ‘I ask you a favor: tell the Christians that they should love their message of peace more.”
Aura Miguel (Radio Renascença):Your Holiness, in Fatima you presented yourself as the “bishop dressed in white.” Up to now, this expression applied rather to the vision of the third part of the secret, St. John Paul II, the martyrs of the twentieth century. What does it mean now, your identification with this expression?
Francis:The prayer, that, I did not write it... the sanctuary wrote it... but also I have tried because they said this, and there is a connection with the white. The bishop of white, Our Lady of white, the white glow of the innocence of children after Baptism and innocence... there is a connection to the color white in that prayer. I believe - because I did not write it - but I believe that literally they have tried to express with white that desire for innocence, for peace... innocence: to not hurt the other ... to not create conflict, the same.
Miguel:Is it a revision of the interpretation...
Francis:No, but that vision ... I believe that then Cardinal Ratzinger, at that time prefect of the Doctrine of the Faith, explained everything clearly. Thank you.
Claudio Lavanga (NBC News):Thank you. Holy Father, yesterday you asked the faithful to break down all the walls, yet on May 24 you meet a head of State who is threatening to build walls. It is a bit contradictory to your word, but he also has - it seems - opinions and decisions different from you in other topics, such as the need to act to confront global warming or the welcoming of migrants ... Thus, in light of this meeting: what is your opinion of the politics that President Trump has adopted so far on these topics and what do you expect from a meeting with a Head of State who seems to think and act contrary to you?
Francis:The first question ... I can respond to both... I never make a judgment of a person without listening to them. I believe that I should not do this. In our talk things will come out, I will say what I think, he will say what he thinks, but I never, ever, wanted to make a judgment without hearing the person. The second…
Claudio Lavanga:What do you think about the reception of migrants?
Francis:But this you all know well...
Claudio Lavanga:The second instead is what you expect from a meeting with a head of state who thinks contradictory to you?
Francis:Always there are doors that are not closed. Look for the doors that are at least a little bit open, enter and talk about common things and go on. Step by step. Peace is handcrafted. It is made every day. Also friendship among people, mutual knowledge, esteem, is handcrafted. It's made every day. Respect the other, say that which one thinks, but with respect, but walk together ... someone thinks of one way or the other, but say that .... Be very sincere with what everyone thinks, no?
Claudio Lavanga:Do you hope to soften his decisions after the meeting?
Francis:This is a political calculation that I do not permit myself to make.
Greg Burke:Thank you Holiness, now there is a change of places, Elisabetta Piqué is coming.
Elisabetta Piqué (La Nacion):Thanks first of all for this brief and very intense trip. We wanted to ask you, today is the centenary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima, but is is also the important anniversary of a fact of your life that took place 25 years ago, when the Nuncio (Archbishop) Calabresi told you that you would become the Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires, something that meant the end of your exile in Cordoba and a great change in your life. Have you every connected this fact that changed your life with Our Lady of Fatima? And in these days that you’ve prayed before her have you thought about this and what did you think about? Can you tell us about that? Thanks.
Francis:Women know everything, eh! No, I didn’t think about the coincidence, only yesterday while I was praying before Our Lady I realized that one May 13th I received the phone call from the nuncio 25 years ago. I don’t know… I said, well look at that. I spoke with Our Lady a little about this. I asked her forgiveness for all of my mistakes, also of a bit of bad taste for choosing people… but yesterday I realized this.
Greg Burke:Nicolas Seneze of La Croix is coming.
Nicolas Seneze (La Croix):Thanks, Holy Father. We’re returning from Fatima for which the Fraternity of St. Pius X has a great devotion and much is said about an agreement that would give an official statute to the Fraternity in the Church. Some even imagined that there would be an announcement today… Holiness, do you think that this agreement is possible in a short timeframe? And, what are the obstacles still? And what is the sense of this reconciliation for you? And, will it be the triumphant return for faithful who have shown what it means to be truly Catholic or what?
Francis:I would toss out any form of triumphalism. None. Some days ago, the Feria Quarta of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, their meeting - the call it the Feria Quarta, because it’s the fourth Wednesday - studied a document and the document still hasn’t reached me, the study of the document. This is the first. Secondly, the current relations are fraternal. Last year, I gave a license for confession to all of them, also a form of jurisdiction for marriages, but even before the problems, the cases they had, for example, had to be resolved by the Doctrine of the Faith. The Doctrine of the Faith carries them forward. For example, abuses. The cases of abuse, they brought them to us, also to the Penitentiary. Also the reduction to the lay state of a priest, they bring to us. The relations are fraternal. With Msgr. Fellay I have a good rapport. I’ve spoken many times… I don’t like to hurry things. Walk. Walk. Walk. And then we’ll see. For me, it’s not an issue of winners and losers, it’s an issue of brothers who must walk together, looking for a formula to make steps forward.
Tassilo Forcheimer (ARD):Holy Father, on the occasion of the anniversary of the Reformation, Evangelical Christians and Catholics are able to walk another stretch of road together. Will there be the possibility to participate in the same Eucharistic Mass? Some months ago, Cardinal Kasper said: A step forward could take place already this year.
Francis:There have been great steps forward, eh ... we think of the first statement on justification, from that moment the journey has not stopped... the trip to Sweden was very significant because it was just the beginning and also a commemoration with Sweden... also there is significance for the ecumenism of the journey... that is, to walk together, with prayer, with martyrdom, with works of charity, with works of mercy. And there, Lutheran Caritas and Catholic Caritas have made an agreement to work together. This is a great step. But steps are always awaited. You know that God is the God of surprises. But we must never stop. Always go on. To pray together, to give testimony together and to do works of mercy together, that announce the charity of Jesus Christ, to announce that Jesus Christ is Lord, is the only Savior, and that grace only comes from Him. And on this path the theologians they will continue to study, but the path must proceed. And (with) hearts opened to surprises.
Mimmo Muolo (Avvenire):Good evening Holiness. I’m asking you a question in the name of the Italian group. Yesterday and today at Fatima, we saw a great witness of popular faith together with you. The same that is found, for example, also in other Marian shrines like Medjugorje. What do you think of those apparitions, if they were apparition, and of the religious fervor they have aroused seeing that you have decided to appoint a bishop delegate for the pastoral aspects? And if I can permit myself a second question I know is very close to your heart besides that of us italians… I would like to know, the NGOs were accused of collusion with the boat traffickers of men. What do you think of this? Thanks.
Francis:I’ll start with the first. I read in the papers that I peruse in the morning that there was this problem, but I still don’t know how the details are and because of this I can’t give an opinion. I know there is an issue and the investigations are moving ahead. I hope that they continue ahead and that the whole truth comes out. Medjugorje, all the apparitions, or the presumed apparitions, belong to the private sphere, they aren’t part of the public, ordinary magisterium of the Church. Medjugorje. Medjugorje. A commission was formed, headed by Cardinal Ruini. Benedict XVI made it. I, at the end of 2013 the beginning of 2014, I received the result from Cardinal Ruini. It was commission good theologians, bishops, cardinals, but good. Very good. And the commission. The Ruini report was very, very good. Then there were some doubts in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and the Congregation judged it opportune to send each one of the members of this Feria quarta(Editor’s note: “Feria Quarta” is a once-a-month meeting in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith during which current cases are examined)all the documentation, even those that seemed to be against the Ruini report. I received a notification - I remember it was a Saturday evening, late evening… and it didn’t seem right. It was like putting up for auction - excuse me the word - the Ruini report which was very well done. And Sunday morning the prefect received a letter from me that said that instead of sending them to the Feria Quarta, they they would send the opinions to me personally.
These opinions were studied and all of them underscore the density of the Ruini report. Principally, three things must be distinguished: the first apparitions, that they were kids. The report more or less says that it must continue being studied. The apparitions, the presumed current apparitions: the report has its doubts. I personally am more nasty, I prefer the Madonna as Mother, our Mother, and not a woman who’s the head of a telegraphic office, who everyday sends a message at such hour. This is not the Mother of Jesus. And these presumed apparitions don’t have a lot of value. This I say as a personal opinion. But, it’s clear. Who thinks that the Madonna says, ‘come tomorrow at this time, and at such time I will say a message to that seer?’ No. The two apparitions are distinguished. The third, the core of the Ruini report, the spiritual fact, the pastoral fact. People go there and convert. People who encounter God, change their lives…but this…there is no magic wand there. And this spiritual and pastoral fact can’t be ignored. Now, to see things with all this information, with the answers that the theologians sent me, this good, good bishop was appointed because he has experience, to see the pastoral part, how it’s going. And at the end he’ll say some words.
Muolo:Holiness, thank you, also for the blessing of my fellow citizens who thank you, they saw it and are very happy…
Greg Burke:Holiness, now if I can be the nasty one, we have done all of the language groups and…
Francis:Time is up already?
Greg Burke:There’s a question, they tell me.
Francis:One or two more.
Joshua McElwee (National Catholic Reporter):Thank you, Holy Father. The last member of the Commission for the Protection of Minors, who was abused by a priest, resigned in March. She, Ms. Marie Collins, said that she had to resign because the officials in the Vatican did not implement the recommendations of the commission that you, the Holy Father, approved. I have two questions: who is responsible, and what are you doing, Holy Father, to ensure that the priests and bishops in the Vatican implement the recommendations suggested by your commission?
Francis:Marie Collins explained the matter to me well, I spoke with her, she is a good woman, but she continues to work in the formation of priests on this point... she is a good woman who wants to work ... but she made this accusation, and she has a bit of reason... why? Because there are so many late cases, then in this period of lateness, because they accumulate there, you have to make legislation for this... what should the diocesan bishops do? Today in almost all the dioceses there is the protocol to follow in these cases: it is a great improvement. This way the dossiers are done well. Then there are the accusations...this is a step. Another step: there are few people, there needs to be more people capable in this area, and the Secretary of State is looking for, even Monsignor Mueller(Editor’s Note: Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Mueller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith), to present new people. The other day two or three more were approved... the director of the disciplinary office changed, who was good, eh, he was very good but he was a bit tired... he returned to his home country to do the same with his episcopate. And the new one is an Irishman, Msgr. (John) Kennedy, he is a very good person, very efficient, prompt, and this helps a lot.
Then there is another thing: Sometimes the bishops send - if the protocol is okay, it goes right away to the Feria Quarta and the Feria Quarta studies and decides. If the protocol is not okay, it must go back to be redone. That's why you think of continental help or in a continent or two ... in Latin America, one in Colombia, another in Brazil, as pre-tribunals or continental tribunals... this is in the planning... but then it's fine, they study it at feria quarta and they take away his clerical status. This goes back to the diocese, and the priest makes recourse. First, the application was studied by the same Feria Quarta that had given the sentence, and this is unfair. I created another tribunal and I put an indisputable person as the head, the Archbishop of Malta, Msgr. (Charles Jude) Scicluna, who is one of the strongest against abuses, and this second - because we must be just - the one who makes recourse is entitled to have a defender. If he (the defender) approves the first sentence, the case is over.His only option is a letter asking the Pope for pardon. I have never signed a pardon. I believe, I do not know, another question. This is how things are. We're going forward. If Marie Collins was right on that point, we were also on the way. But there are 2000 cases piled up.
Portuguese journalist:I’m going to ask a question about the case Portugal, but I think that it can be applied to many of the Western societies. In Portugal, almost all of the Portuguese say they identify themselves as Catholics. But the way the society is organized, the decisions that we make, often are contrary to the indications of the Church. I refer to marriage between homosexuals, the legalization of abortion, now we’re going to begin discussing euthanasia. How do you see this?
Francis:I think it’s a political problem. And that also the Catholic conscience isn’t a catholic one of total belonging to the Church and that behind that there isn’t a nuanced catechesis, a human catechesis. That is, the Catechism of the Catholic Church is an example of what is a serious and nuanced thing. I think that there is a lack of formation and also of culture. Because it’s curious, in some other regions, I think of the south of Italy, some in Latin America, they are very Catholic but they are anti-clerical and ‘priest-eaters’, that … there is a phenomenon that exists. It concerns me. That’s why I tell priests, you will have read it, to flee from clericalism because clericalism distances people. May they flee from clericalism and I add: it’s a plague in the Church. But here there is a work also of catechesis, of raising awareness, of dialogue, also of human values.
