Pope Francis and Chinese Catholics

There are around 8-12 million catholics in China, a decently large amount. Of these catholics, however, they're separated between two entire factions, one which is controlled by the Chinese state and installs its own bishops and another underground faction that rejects state control and remains loyal to Vatican rule.

However this Wednesday, before his usual audience, Pope Francis urged Catholics in China to stay loyal to the Vatican.

Source:
Reuters

Pope Francis and religious acceptance

If one takes a look at history, there are a lot of instances of conflicts due to religion. Some may want to convert these people, others may want their nation to be of only their religion, others may even just not like another religion but cases in which people do not tolerate each other's religion and fight due to this are not that uncommon. What does this have to do with Pope Francis? Easy.

During his homilies at Wednesday Mass, Pope Francis emphasized that doing good was a principle that united all of humanity. According to a report from the Vatican Radio,

“They complain,” the Pope said in his homily, because they say, “If he is not one of us, he cannot do good. If he is not of our party, he cannot do good.” And Jesus corrects them: “Do not hinder him, he says, let him do good.” The disciples, Pope Francis explains, “were a little intolerant,” closed off by the idea of ​​possessing the truth, convinced that “those who do not have the truth, cannot do good.” “This was wrong . . . Jesus broadens the horizon.” Pope Francis said, “The root of this possibility of doing good – that we all have – is in creation”

He stressed that whether or not one was catholic did not matter if one does good. Even atheists should be seen as good people if they do good. Francis' reaching out to Atheists and people of other religions is something that is not often seen and,by my opinion, should be widely encouraged.

Source:
Huffington Post

Pope Francis and exorcism

When you're a very influential person such as Pope Francis, everything you do may be looked at in the wrong way by the media. For example, on Sunday, Pope Francis approached some children with disabilities that had attended his mass. The pope had placed both of his hands on the young man's head which several took as an act of exorcism.

On one hand, exorcists that have seen such images have been said to declare it as an obvious act of exorcism. This speculation is supported with Pope Francis' obsession with the devil, a frequent subject at his homilies. It wouldn't seem to queer to suppose that the Pope was trying to rid the devil's influence from the young man.

Meanwhile, the Vatican, catching up on such rumors, quickly denounced that the action was in fact not an exorcism and that Pope Francis had no intentions of such, simply wanting to pray for a suffering person.

So what do you think? Is it a simple blessing or an actual exorcism?

Source:
Huffington Post

Pope Francis and the Pope Francis Tours

Welcome to the Pope Francis Guided tours! Here, we shall visit the streets and neighborhood that Pope Francis grew up in, the church and cathedral where he prayed and became a man, as well that newspaper stand that he would sometimes go to. If you're lucky, maybe you'll even meet a guy who knows the old priest.

As Pope Francis settles into his Papal seat, his home of Bueno Aires is already underway to take advantage of their holy representative's background. A simple tour bus named the "Papal Circuit" now takes tourists on an adventure through the many places that formed the bespectacled Pope.

"I loved the tour ... It's to live the history of Bergoglio, of his family, and I also visited his neighborhood, which I had never seen," Alicia Perez says, one of the few non-journalists that have been on the bus so far.

Sources:
Huffington Post

MISSIO

“Holy Father, we want to put the gospel in the pocket of every young person in the world,” Father Andrew Small said as he placed his iPad in front of Pope Francis I.

Are you a die-hard fan of Pope Francis? Are you always looking forward to find out what the Pope is doing, whether for your sanctity or because you have to write a blog about him? Look no further, cause I have the app for you!

Missio presents world news to its viewers with a Catholic perspective. From the Pope's homilies to videos, you'll have all the access needed to practically live in the Vatican. Developed by Little I Apps, available in 8 different languages, the fantastic app was personally unlocked by Pope Francis with, quite literally, a press of a button.

“He’s got this mandate to lock and unlock the Pearly Gates,” Small said. “He put those keys to good use.”

So buy now!!!... but it's free!

Source:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/pope-francis-launches-new-mobile-app-article-1.1347861

Pope Francis and the Economy

Just a while ago, Pope Francis, upon greeting the first group of new ambassadors to the Holy See, immediately made a speech upon the global economy, or rather blasted the cult of money.

He argued that many countries should change their economic system due to the tyranny that came from it. Money was meant to serve not to rule, something that poor people everywhere have to deal with daily. It is the first of such speaches and may not be the last.

Sources:
ABC News

A nice short post since Pope Francis hasn't been doing anything today

Of the many things scheduled in the Vatican Calendar, one important event is the Evangelium Vitae that the Vatican is hosting on June 15-16 in celebration for "The Year of Faith".

What I find interesting is that the Vatican's pro life message does not restrict itself to abortion issues but to all those in need, from the elderly to the sickly. They believe that human beings in ever stage of life, from their womb to their retirement home, deserve help and charity.

Sources:
http://www.romereports.com/palio/vatican-to-host-world-pro-life-gathering-in-june-to-mark-year-of-faith-english-10015.html#.UZLjEp0o7VI