The Pope in the Church of St Augustine in central Rome John Paul I Foundation names scientific committee
The newly-formed Vatican John Paul I Foundation released a statement on Wednesday which states that on the 42nd anniversary of Pope John Paul I’s pontificate, they are pleased to communicate the members of the Foundation’s Scientific Committee.
These persons were appointed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State and President of the new Foundation, during a meeting of the Administrative Board that took place on July 3.
The people who make up this Scientific Committee will serve for a five-year period.
Dr Stefania Falasca, Vice President of the Foundation, will coordinate the new Scientific Committee which is made up of: Prof. Carlo Ossola, Philology Professor, Collège de France, Paris; Prof. Dario Vitali, Director of the Department of Dogmatic Theology, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome; Msgr Gilfredo Marengo, Vice President of Rome’s Pontifical John Paul II Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences; Prof. Mauro Velati, collaborator of the John XXIII Foundation for Religious Sciences and the cause of canonisation of John Paul I relating to the Venetian years; Fr Diego Sartorelli, Director of the Library and Historical Archive of the Patriarchate of Venice; Dr Loris Serafini, Archivist, Director of the Albino Luciani Museum in Canale d’Agordo.
Vatican confirms World Mission Day will be observed on October 18
The Catholic Church’s World Mission Day 2020 will be observed as usual on October 18, the Vatican said on Friday. “In response to some requests about the celebration of World Mission Day 2020, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples confirms that it will be celebrated this year at the universal level on Sunday, October 18, with no change in the calendar,” the Congregation said in a press release.
Several worldwide observances of the Catholic Church have been postponed and rescheduled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. In many countries and regions, Holy Masses and liturgies are being streamed live or are celebrated in keeping with health protocols.
“In many dioceses,” the Congregation noted, “the preparation for World Mission Day has been underway for some time and the missionary animation of the People of God remains pre-eminent.”
“Faith, in fact, by its very nature, is missionary and the celebration of World Mission Day serves to keep this essential dimension of the Christian faith alive in all the Faithful.”
Pope Francis makes surprise visit to Church of St Augustine in central Rome
Pope Francis has made a special and unexpected visit to the Church of St Augustine in Rome.
The Pontiff did so after having remembered the day before during his Wednesday General Audience “two great saints”, namely holy, patient mother, St Monica, and her son, St Augustine, whose liturgical feasts are August 27 and August 28 respectively.
The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, released the following declaration announcing the visit.
“This afternoon, August 27, the Feast Day of Santa Monica,” he recalled, “Pope Francis visited the Basilica of Sant’Agostino in Campo Marzio.”
The Pontiff, the Vatican spokesman said, “stopped to pray in the Chapel of Santa Monica, mother of the saint to whom the church is dedicated, whose tomb is kept there”.
During the August 26 General Audience, addressing the elderly, the young, the sick and the newlyweds, the Argentine Pope said the mother and son were “united on Earth by family ties and in Heaven by the same destiny of glory”.