"My thoughts turn to all those children today who are killed and ill-treated, be they infants killed in the womb, deprived of that generous love of their parents and then buried in the egoism of a culture that does not love life . . ."For background, read Pope Francis Decries Abortion; Vatican Says Media Distort Him
-- Pope Francis message on Christmas Day
UPDATE 6/19/15: Pope Slams Environmentalists on Abortion
-- From "The 15 ailments of the Vatican Curia, according to Pope Francis" by Abby Ohlheiser, Washington Post 12/22/14
On Monday, Pope Francis addressed the Vatican’s governing leadership — better known as the Roman Curia — for his yearly Christmas greeting with a very noticeably un-festive tone. In his remarks, the Pope listed 15 spiritual “ailments” encountered in the Curia, and urged the bureaucratic leadership to renew its effort to heal itself as Christmas approaches.
“The Curia is always required to better itself and to grow in communion, sanctity and wisdom to fully accomplish its mission,” Pope Francis said. “However, like any body, it is exposed to sickness, malfunction and infirmity. … I would like to mention some of these illnesses that we encounter most frequently in our life in the Curia. They are illnesses and temptations that weaken our service to the Lord.”
The somewhat harsh tone of the remarks captured a lot of international attention, as did some of the Pope’s more memorable names for the Curia diseases he singles out — including “spiritual Alzheimer’s” and “Funereal Face.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Pope condemns Islamic State, decries suffering of children" by Philip Pullella, Reuters 12/25/14
Pope Francis on Thursday condemned the "brutal persecution" of minorities by Islamic State insurgents and said the joy of Christmas was marred by the suffering of children in the Middle East and around the world.
Tens of thousands of people flocked to St. Peter's Square to hear the Argentine pope deliver his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) blessing and message, marking the second Christmas since his election last year.
Later he departed from his text and spoke emotionally of "children displaced due to war and persecution, abused and taken advantage of before our very eyes and our complicit silence."
He also spoke of "infants killed in the womb" condemning abortion as a product of "a culture that does not love life."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Pope Francis: There are so many tears this Christmas" by Anna Brand, MSNBC 12/25/14
The pope condemned ISIS, the abuse of children, hostages in Nigeria, and Ebola, while spreading a message of peace.
Francis folded abortion into his message of wrongful deaths of children . . .
It’s been a big year for the Catholic leader. When he succeeded Pope Benedict XVI last March, he promised to change the cemented ways of the Vatican. He has said the church cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptives. He asked “Who am I to judge?” in response to reports of gay clergy members. And his personal plea contributed to the thawing of more than five decades of tense U.S.-Cuban relations.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Francis, in Christmas Day Message, Focuses on Children in Peril" by Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times 12/25/14
Pope Francis used a traditional Christmas address on Thursday to emphasize the plight of children in areas of conflict, pointing out their “impotent silence” that “cries out under the spade of many Herods,” a reference to the ancient king who slaughtered all the young boys of Bethlehem, according to the New Testament.
Vast numbers of children today are victims of violence, objects of trade and trafficking, or forced to become soldiers, and they need to be saved, he said.
. . . [to the bottom of the article] . . .
The pope also denounced abortion . . .
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
ALL the perils of children listed by Pope Francis pale in comparison to the total number of children killed each year by abortion!
From "Full text: Pope Francis’s Urbi et Orbi message" by Pope Francis posted at Catholic Herald 12/25/14
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Happy Christmas!
Jesus, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, is born for us, born in Bethlehem of a Virgin, fulfilling the ancient prophecies. The Virgin’s name is Mary, the wife of Joseph.
. . .
May Jesus save the vast numbers of children who are victims of violence, made objects of trade and trafficking, or forced to become soldiers; children, so many abused children. May he give comfort to the families of the children killed in Pakistan last week. May he be close to all who suffer from illness, especially the victims of the Ebola epidemic, above all in Liberia, in Sierra Leone and in Guinea. As I thank all who are courageously dedicated to assisting the sick and their family members, I once more make an urgent appeal that the necessary assistance and treatment be provided.
The Child Jesus. My thoughts turn to all those children today who are killed and ill-treated, be they infants killed in the womb, deprived of that generous love of their parents and then buried in the egoism of a culture that does not love life; be they children displaced due to war and persecution, abused and taken advantage of before our very eyes and our complicit silence.
I think also of those infants massacred in bomb attacks, also those where the Son of God was born. Even today, their impotent silence cries out under the sword of so many Herods. On their blood stands the shadow of contemporary Herods.
To read all of the Pope's message above, CLICK HERE.
Click headlines below to read more messages from Pope Francis that the media prefers to ignore:
Pope Blasts Liberal 'christians' as Pagans
Pope Cracks Down on American Liberal Nuns, Priests
Pope Disappoints Liberals by Opposing 'Gay Adoption'
Pope Refutes Homosexualists: Kids Need Mom & Dad
