Friday, March 29, 2013

Pope Francis washes women's feet.


Pope Francis washes women's feet 

Associated Press | Updated: March 29, 2013 08:21 IST

Rome: In his most significant break with tradition yet, Pope Francis washed and kissed the feet of two young women at a juvenile detention centre - a surprising departure from church rules that restrict the Holy Thursday ritual to men.

No pope has ever washed the feet of a woman before, and Francis' gesture sparked a debate among some conservatives and liturgical purists, who lamented he had set a "questionable example." Liberals welcomed the move as a sign of greater inclusiveness in the church.

Speaking to the young offenders, including Muslims and Orthodox Christians, Francis said that Jesus washed the feet of his disciples on the eve of his crucifixion in a gesture of love and service.
"This is a symbol, it is a sign. Washing your feet means I am at your service," Francis told the group, aged 14 to 21, at the Casal del Marmo detention facility in Rome.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Avere avere : He comes, ever comes...

"Priest kidnapped in Argentina clears Pope of" "accusations"

"Priest kidnapped in Argentina clears Pope of"
"accusations"

"Fr. Francis Jalics. Credit: File Photo/CAN               |"
"CNA  STAFF, Mar 21, 2013 / 04:08 pm (CNA).- Clarifying previous"
"comments,  a priest who was kidnapped during Argentina’s dictatorship in the 1970s is emphasizing  that Pope Francis was not responsible for his"
"detainment."
"In a statement published on the official website of the Jesuit order in"
"Germany, Father Francisco Jalics said that while he once believed his 1976 kidnapping was due to a denunciation by then-Father Bergoglio, he"
"realized some 20 years ago that this belief was incorrect."
"Following the election of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio to the papacy on"
"March 13, several media reports attempted to connect the new Pontiff to the Argentine dictatorship of Rafael Videla. At the time of the"
"dictatorship, Fr. Bergoglio had been provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina."
"Father Jalics – who is now retired in Germany  – issued a statement"
"sending his best wishes to the new Pope and offering assurances that the two are on good terms."