Selfishness and fear keep too many people ignorant of the suffering of others and prevent them from finding creative ways to express solidarity and to promote peace, said a statement from the Vatican’s justice and peace office.
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Continuing his series of talks about the family in anticipation of the September celebration of the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia and the world Synod of Bishops on the family in October, Pope Francis said he would be looking at “the rhythm of family life”, focusing first on celebrations, then on work and on prayer.
Beginning with celebration, the Pope noted that it is God’s own invention, as can be seen in the biblical account of creation when God himself rested from his work on the seventh day.
The peace day theme and a papal message about it – expected to be released in mid-December – aim to help people reflect on how they can “build together a more conscious and merciful and, therefore, more free and fair world”, the council said.
Celebration, he said, “is above all a loving and grateful look at work well done”, and means taking time to pause and be with friends and loved ones.
Pope Francis turned to the workplace, explaining that – without interrupting our work – celebrations can “infiltrate” the environment when we honor events such as a birthday, a marriage, a new baby, a farewell or a welcome. Moments of rest, especially on Sunday, are sacred because in them we find God.
“We know that millions of men and women, even children, are slaves to work”. Putting human warmth, he said, into the economic grind. The Eucharistic celebration, he said, is Jesus’ way of being with us and forming us into a community.
In his weekly audience, the Catholic leader told followers it’s important to take time from work to enjoy life – even in tough times.
Boston. Pope Francis heartened environmentalists around the world in June when he urged immediate action to save the planet from the effects of climate change, declaring that the use of “highly polluting fossil fuels needs to be progressively replaced without delay”.
Excommunication is, in fact, a medicinal penalty, and an excommunicated person can not have a ministerial participation in worship; celebrate or receive the sacraments; or exercise ecclesiastical offices, ministries, or functions.
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“But is that why we work?” he asked.
