News from around the Catholic world for the week ending 31 January.
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• Pope Francis on the cover of Rolling Stone
• Week of Prayer for Christian Unity closes in Rome
• Churches attacked in South Sudan
• John Paul II relic stolen from Italian church
• Army Major dismissed for voicing Christian beliefs
• General Peter Cosgrove to be Australia’s new Governor General.
TRANSCRIPT
BOBBIE: Pope Francis is once again in mainstream headlines, this time gracing the February cover of renowned rock magazine Rolling Stone.
In a 7,700 word feature story entitled ‘Pope Francis: The Times they Are a-Changing’ Rolling Stone journalist Mark Binelli praises Pope Francis for his charisma, gentleness and love for the poor, while attempting to draw contrasts with Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI.
The article, which begins and ends with the Angelus in St Peter’s square, features commentary from priests and lay journalists in Rome and an analysis of issues surrounding Pope Francis’ pontificate.
The full article is available on the Rolling Stone website.
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Pope Francis concluded the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with an ecumenical celebration of Vespers on the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul in Rome.
Representatives of various Christian denominations gathered at St Paul’s Outside the the Walls for the event. Among those present were Orthodox Archbishop Gennadios Zervos and the Archbishop of Canterbury’s representative David Moxon, who prayed with Pope Francis at the tomb of St Paul.
Addressing those gathered Pope Francis said, “Unity will not come about as a miracle at the very end. Rather, unity comes about in journeying; the Holy Spirit does this on the journey.”
“If we do not walk together, if we do not pray for one another, if we do not collaborate in the many ways that we can in this world for the People of God, then unity will not come about! But it will happen on this journey, in each step we take. And it is not we who are doing this, but rather the Holy Spirit, who sees our goodwill,” Pope Francis said.
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Bishops have this week called on the South Sudanese Government to offer protection of church premises and personnel following rebel attacks on churches in the South Sudanese diocese of Malakal.
Fr. Ferdinand Lugonzo, secretary general of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa spole to Vatican Radio about the statement released by the bishops.
FR FERDINAND LUGONZO: This statement we delivered to all the members of the Episcopal Conference on the 24th, and we had a team of bishops who visited South Sudan. And what we heard from the Apostolic Administrator of Malakal, which is the area which is most effected, was really disheartening. He was personally attacked in his residence, and he was ordered to leave the residence without much of his property, and he ran to the Cathedral of the Diocese of Malakal, and the whole house was looted. In his narration, a number of priests in the diocese of Malakal had actually been attacked and had run away from their stations. Quoting the Apostolic Administrator, up to 24th, he didn’t know where some of the priests were – so that is what we were addressing. The rebels are now attacking church premises where even some of the victims are running to – and even the church personnel themselves are not safe.
Details on that story via news.va.
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BOBBIE: A reliquary containing the blood of Blessed Pope John Paul II has been stolen from a church in Italy.
Local woman Franca Corrieri said she discovered a broken window early on Sunday morning and called the police, who discovered the relic and a crucifix were missing.
The relic had been given to the small church in the Abruzzo by Blessed John Paul II’s former private secretary as a token of the love the late Holy Father had for the mountain area. It has been reported that Blessed John Paul II, who died in 2005 and was beatified in 2011, used to secretly leave the Vatican to hike or ski there and pray in the local stone church.
Ms Corrieri said the incident felt more like a kidnapping than a theft. “In a sense, a person has been stolen” she said.
Apart from the relic and a crucifix, nothing else was taken.
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Army Reserve Major Bernard Gaynor has this week issued a statement claiming he is being dismissed from the Australian Defence Force for expressing his Christian beliefs.
In April last year Major Gaynor had seven charges brought against him by the Defence Force, including three counts of failure to comply with an order, three counts of prejudicial conduct and one count of disobeying a lawful command.
The charges, which Major Gaynor said were for drawing links between Islam and Terrorism and vocally objecting to the presence of military uniforms in the Sydney Mardi Gras, were later dropped following internal Defence investigations. In spite of this, Major Gaynor is now facing termination.
Major Gaynor said that he found it ironic that the Chief of Defence Force was pursuing termination, while his termination notice praised his military record.
MAJOR GAYNOR: I’ve proudly served in the Australian Army since 1997, and it’s bitterly disappointing to be told by the Chief of Defence Force that public displays of my faith undermine the values of the Australian Army. I’ve served this nation to defend its freedom – I never thought that the Defence Force itself would sack me for practicing my Catholic faith.
BOBBIE: Major Gaynor has been given until 5 February to respond to his termination notice.
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Prime Minister Tony Abbott has this week announced that Catholic and former Defence Force chief General Peter Cosgrove will be the 26th Governor-General of Australia.
General Cosgrove, who takes up his appointment in March, said that he was humbled and honoured to be given this role.
“There is no greater privilege than to serve your country, and no greater country to serve than Australia,” General Cosgrove said.
“My approach to this job will be of course as I’ve approached all those times when I’ve been asked to serve Australia. It will get my total commitment, all the energy I’ve got, good humour, and with an unfailing optimism that this is a great nation which will only get better,” he said.
General Cosgrove has served as Chancellor of Australian Catholic University for the past three years. In congratulating him on the appointment, ACU Vice Chancellor Professor Greg Craven noted General Cosgrove’s dedication to public service.
“General Cosgrove’s sound advice, his commitment to serving the common good, and his immense experience have proven invaluable in helping the University build on its reputation of quality teaching and research, and I thank him for all his work,” Professor Craven said.
General Cosgrove served in the Australian Army from 1965, lead the multinational peacekeeping force in East Timor during the country’s troubled transition to independence from Indonesia, and was Chief of the Australian Defence Force from 2002-2005.
General Cosgrove has previously been recognised as Companion of the Order of Australia in 2000, Australian of the Year in 2001, and Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of St Gregory the Great by Pope Benedict XVI in February last year.
Music Credit: Waking Up Instrumental – Dexter Britain
