Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Masses of Thanksgiving offered in Rome for new Pope saints

Masses of Thanksgiving offered in Rome for new Pope saints

Last updated on: April 28, 2014 at 10:35 pm by CNA Daily News

Masses of Thanksgiving offered in Rome for new Pope saints 2014-04-28T22:35:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Rome, Italy, Apr 28, 2014 / 04:35 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Following the canonization of Popes John Paul II and John XIII, Church officials presided over two Masses of Thanksgiving, drawing attention to the saints’ enormous contributions to the Church and to society.

Taking place April 28 at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, where the day before huge numbers of pilgrims crowded for the canonization of the ecclesial giants, Cardinal Angelo Comastri led the congregation in giving thanks for the 27-year pontificate of John Paul II.

In his homily, Cardinal Comastri – who is Archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica and Vicar General for the Vatican City State – emphasized the courage John Paul II had in proclaiming the Gospel, especially during a time when the world pretended as if God no longer existed.

Observing how the pontiff’s witness became stronger, even as his body became weaker, the cardinal reflected that his faith was “authentic and free from fear or compromise.”

He then highlighted the saint’s untiring defense of the family and the dignity of human life, also drawing attention to his firm opposition to the Gulf Wars and his efforts in establishing peace among peoples and nations.

Cardinal Comastri concluded his reflections by emphasizing the special attention the pontiff gave for the youth, as well as his devotion to Mary, into whose hands he had entrusted himself and his whole life.

Present for the April 27 canonization of the Polish saint was a young man named Nicholas and his father, who recounted to CNA an encounter they had with the pontiff in Rome when Nicholas was just a toddler.

Explaining how they had come for the beatification of three nuns, Nicholas’ father recalled that “We didn’t have tickets” for the Mass, but were still able to get in.

“Some nuns that were there from Brazil asked us to get on the end of the bench,” he continued, adding that the nuns told him “that John Paul II was going to stop and that he was going to touch” his son’s head.

“And that’s what happened. Nicolas really stopped the Pope who touched his little head and he was one-and-a-half years old.”

Reflecting on what it meant for him to be in the square again for the canonization of the pontiff who had stopped to bless him, Nicholas said that “being here today is very special because all of that.”

“I think it marked my life a lot. And I think he has helped me in all the moments of my life,” the youth noted, emphasizing that he has “never” lost his faith because “he has always been up there. So today it’s going to be interesting.”

At the same time as pilgrims were giving thanks in St. Peter’s Square, others expressed gratitude for the life and witness of Saint John XXIII, gathering at the Church of San Carlo al Corso, which is the same church where the pontiff had received his episcopal ordination.

Bishop Francesco Beschi, who currently oversees the pontiff’s former diocese of Bergamo, presided over the ceremony, during which he responded to Pope Francis’ April 24 letter thanking the diocese for the gift of John XXIII to the Church.

In his letter, Pope Francis referred to the diocese of Bergamo, Italy as “a land of profound faith lived in daily life, of poor families but united in love of the Lord, of a community capable of sharing in simplicity.”

He affirmed to the people there his certainty that “civil society will always be able to find inspiration in the life of the Pope of Bergamo and of the atmosphere he generated, seeking new ways and adapting to the times in order to build a life based on the perennial values of fraternity and solidarity.”

Referring to the Pope’s statements, Bishop Beschi expressed that such encouragement would help all in the Church there to guard the values of generosity, simplicity, and solidarity which characterized so much of the young Angelo Roncalli, as well as his later pontificate.

The letter also assists Bergamo to respond to the current challenges and signs of the times with the same spirit of obedience espoused by “Good Pope John,” the bishop went on to say.

Concluding, he affirmed that Pope Francis’ words to them will help the diocese to faithfully adhere to the path set by the Second Vatican Council, which was opened by John XXIII in 1962, and during which he called for a renewal in the life of the Church, which would revitalize the faith of all Christians.

Mauricio Artieda contributed to this article.

Europe

Previous Post

April 28, 2014

Poor Brazilian parish becomes first to take St. John Paul II's name

Next Post

April 29, 2014 Obama praises influence of Saints John XXIII, John Paul II

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was Paul's native language?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Greek Latin Aramaic Hebrew