Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • December 6, 2024 7 For the good of the people of God in the Diocese of Biloxi, Bishop Louis F. Kihneman, III, has made the following appointment: Father J. Maxwell Quaye has been appointed Parochial Vicar for Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Biloxi, effective November 29, 2024. Given at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Biloxi on November 18, 2024. ? Most Reverend Louis F. Kihneman, III Bishop of Biloxi Official Appointment “God loves you just as you are,” the pope told them. “Before him, the inno- cence of your dreams is worth more than success and fame -- it’s worth more -- and the sincerity of your intentions are worth more than worldly approval.” “Do not settle for being ‘stars for a day’ on social media or in any other context,” he said. “You are called to shine in a wider sky” and to do so through concrete acts of love and caring. “In heaven, the infinite love of the Father is reflected in our countless little lights,” Pope Francis said. “His love is revealed in us through the faithful affec- tion between spouses, the innocent joy of children, the enthusiasm of young people, caring for the elderly, the generosity of consecrated persons, the charity shown toward the poor and the honesty upheld in work environments.” “No approval you receive can save the world or make you happy,” he said. “Only the free gift of love can bring us happiness.” The Gospel reading for the day was St. John’s account of Pilate questioning Jesus about being a king and about His kingdom. Addressing people gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the recitation of the Angelus prayer after Mass, the pope told them that in Pilate’s world “the strong triumph over the weak, the rich over the poor, the violent over the meek -- a world which we know well, unfortunately.” Affirming that Christ is king, Christians recognize that “His kingdom is not of this world. Jesus’ world, indeed, is the new world, the eternal world, which God prepares for all by giving His life for our salvation.” Jesus “redeems creation ruined by evil with the power of love; with the power of divine love Jesus saves creation because Jesus liberates, Jesus for- gives, Jesus brings peace and justice,” the pope said. Pope Christ King WYD From page 6 Pope to become first pope to visit French island of Corsica BY JUSTIN MCLELLAN Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY ( CNS ) -- Pope Francis will become the first pope to visit Corsica, the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, when he makes a daytrip to the French island Dec. 15. The pope will make the roughly one-hour flight from Rome to Ajaccio, Corsica’s capital, to participate in a conference on popular religiosity in the Mediterranean region organized by the Diocese of Ajaccio, which encompasses the entire island. During his nine hours in Corsica, the pope will also meet with the local religious community, celebrate a public Mass and meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, the Vatican said when it announced the trip Nov. 23. The conference, which gathers theological experts and religious leaders from the Mediterranean region, will feature talks on evangelization through popular traditions, popular religiosity and secularism, the role of Catholic con- fraternities and the realities of popular religiosity in various geographic con- texts. Pope Francis has championed popular piety since the start of his pontificate, writing in his 2013 exhortation, “Evangelii Gaudium” ( “The Joy of the Gospel” ) that popular piety is “a true expression of the spontaneous missionary activity of the people of God.” That sentiment, coupled with the pope’s affinity for Cardinal François- Xavier Bustillo of Ajaccio, to whom he gave a red hat in 2023, could explain his reasoning for the visit. In 2022, Pope Francis gave priests copies of then-Bishop Bustillo’s book, “Witnesses, Not Officials,” at chrism Mass on Holy Thursday. The following year, the pope made him a cardinal. The trip will mark the third time Pope Francis travels to France, following visits to Strasbourg in 2014 to address the European Parliament and to Marseille in 2023 for a meeting of Mediterranean bishops. SEE POPE CORSICA SCHEDULE , PAGE 17