The theme this year was “Voices of peace in a world at war,” and several dicasteries of the Roman Curia formulated the prayers and meditations drawing from what Pope Francis has heard from people suffering from a lack of peace during his apostolic journeys and on other occasions.
Abigail Favale, a professor at Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life, stressed the need for “accompaniment” with those struggling with gender issues.
Pope Francis is scheduled to fly first to Congo for a visit Jan. 31-Feb. 3 before meeting up in Juba, South Sudan, with Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury and the Rev. Iain Greenshields, moderator of the Church of Scotland.
Catholics and other Christians in Congo took to the streets Dec. 4 to protest increasing violence, often caused when neighboring countries seek the nation’s valuable minerals.
“When we suffer the death of a beloved person, can we also live in a small way the commandment: ‘Do this in memory of me’? Give all, give your blood, your flesh, in releasing this person you love and long to hold onto, letting only God hold your beloved.”
The parish’s new grief ministry begins with a three-part speaker series in November with the theme is “Suffering, Grief, Grace.”
With “rivers of blood and tears” still flowing in Ukraine and with the increasing threat of the use of nuclear weapons, Pope Francis begged Russian President Vladimir Putin: “Stop this spiral of violence and death.”
The pope said scientific research and discoveries must be placed at the service of peace, development and protection of the planet.
