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Gulf Pine CATHOLIC THE DIOCESE OF BIL XI NEWSPAPER Volume 38 > Number 4 www.biloxidiocese.org OCTOBER 16, 2020 Respect Life PAGES 9-16 Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship PAGES 19-22 Pope signs new encyclical in Assisi BY CINDY WOODEN Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Bringing the Vatican offi- cial in charge of translations with him, Pope Francis signed his new encyclical, “ Fratelli Tutti, on Fraternity and Social Friendship,” at the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi, source of the document’s title and inspiration. After celebrating Mass at St. Francis’ tomb Oct. 3, the eve of the saint’s feast day, the pope called up Msgr. Paolo Braida and explained to the small congregation that the monsignor is in charge of “translations and the speeches of the pope” in the Vatican Secretariat of State. “He watches over everything and that’s why I wanted him to be here today,” the pope said. He also brought with him the Spanish official who oversaw the accuracy of the various translations and the official who translated the text from Spanish into Portuguese. Pope Francis set the text on the altar under the tomb of St. Francis and signed it. The encyclical was scheduled to be released to the public Oct. 4 just after midday. Pope Francis arrived late for the Mass in the crypt of the Basilica of St. Francis after making a brief stop in Assisi at the Basilica of St. Clare, which houses the tomb of the close follower of St. Francis and founder of the Poor Clares. The pope did not give a homily during the Mass, simply praying silently for several minutes after the reading of the Gospel. The text was that prescribed for the feast of St. Francis, Matthew 11:25-30, which begins, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.” Because of measures designed to contain the corona- virus pandemic, the Mass was described as “private.” Only about two dozen people were in the small crypt chapel; they sat socially distanced, one person in each pew, and wore masks. Several Franciscan sisters were present, as were the ministers general of the main Franciscan orders of men: Father Michael Perry, minister general of the Franciscans; Father Roberto Genuin, minister general of the Capuchins; and Father Amando Trujillo Cano, minister general of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis. Pope Francis signs his new encyclical, “ Fratelli Tutti, on Fraternity and Social Friendship” after celebrating Mass at the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy, Oct. 3. CNS photo/Vatican Media BY JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis’ social encyclical sees the need for human fraternity as more than just an abstract concept, but as a concrete path toward peaceful coexistence in a world fraught by war, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin. At the Vatican’s Oct. 4 presentation of the encycli- cal, “Fratelli Tutti, on Fraternity and Social Friendship,” Cardinal Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said the document shows that “fraternity is not a trend or a fashion which develops over time or at a particular time, but rather is the result of concrete acts.” “In fact, if weapons -- and with them, wars -- destroy human lives, the environment and hope to the point of extinguishing the future of people and com- munities,” he said, “dialogue destroys the barriers in the heart and mind, opens up spaces for forgiveness, and promotes reconciliation.” Joining Cardinal Parolin to present the encyclical were: Cardinal Miguel Angel Ayuso, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue; Judge Mohamed Mahmoud Abdel Salam, secretary general of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity; Anna Rowlands, professor of Catholic social thought and practice at the University of Durham, England; and Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Community of Sant’Egidio. In his address, Cardinal Parolin said that in today’s international climate, there is “an obvious contradiction between the common good and the ten- dency to give priority to the interests of states, even individual states.” Citing the pope’s encyclical, Cardinal Parolin said the result of this contradiction is that “the multitude of the abandoned remain at the mercy of the possible goodwill of some.” SEE ENCYCLICAL CONFERENCE, PAGE 8 Encyclical highlights need for fraternity to counter war, cardinal says

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