Do not fear the Cross, Pope tells Christians during homily
For Jesus, suffering and glory go hand in hand, Pope Francis said, urging Christians not to fall into the temptation of running from the Cross, but to imitate Christ in bending down to embrace the weak and vulnerable.
In his homily for the June 29 Solemnity of Ss Peter and Paul, the official patrons of Rome, the Pope said that in Jesus “glory and the Cross go together; they are inseparable”.
“Once we turn our back on the Cross, even though we may attain the heights of glory, we will be fooling ourselves, since it will not be God’s glory, but the snare of the enemy.”
He pointed to the day’s Gospel reading from Matthew, in which Peter declares that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God”. Though Jesus applauds Peter for this recognition, telling him he is the rock on which he will build the Church, a few lines later Jesus chastises Peter for swearing that he will not allow the crucifixion to happen.
In contemplating Peter’s life and his confession of Faith in the day’s Gospel, Catholics are also invited to reflect on the daily temptations that every disciple faces, the Pope said.
Swimming strengthens ‘ body and character’ says Pope to athletes
Pope Francis praised some 300 Italian and international swimmers who participated in the 55th international Settecolli Trophy in Rome from June 29 to July 1 last week. Addressing the delegation before the event the Pontiff said: “Like any sporting activity, if practiced with loyalty, swimming becomes an opportunity for formation in human and social values, to strengthen the body together with character and willpower and to learn how to know and accept each other as companions.”
He noted that apart from achieving technical results, swimmers also offer a testimony of discipline, healthy competition and teamwork. “All of this,” the Pope said, “is a lesson in life especially for your peers.”
Describing synchronised swimming as “truly the exaltation of teamwork” the Pope said it is “all harmony in which excellence is achieved” with swimmers moving in a way to form a single movement”.
It’s really fascinating, and for us ordinary spectators it seems almost impossible, but, the Pope said, the secret lies in mutual help in addition to individual skill.
Appointments point to heightened Vatican transparency
Pope Francis appointed Bishop Nunzio Galantino (69) as president of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See, which handles the Vatican’s investment portfolio and real estate holdings, and serves as the Vatican employment office and procurement agency.
The bishop, who had been serving as secretary-general of the Italian bishops’ conference, replaces Cardinal Domenico Calcagno, who submitted his resignation when he turned 75, as required by canon law. The Vatican made the announcement last week.
Pope Francis said in an earlier interview he was going to make significant changes with the administrative office, known by its Italian acronym, APSA, starting with appointing a new president who had “an attitude of renewal”.
While reforms initiated by Pope Benedict XVI and stepped up by Pope Francis have sought to bring more accountability and transparency to the Vatican bank and Vatican offices, Pope Francis said he was still concerned “there is no transparency” in the Vatican’s real estate holdings.