Vatican City, Jan 28, 2017 / 09:46 am (CNA/EWTN News).- After Pope Francis asked Knights of Malta Grand Master Matthew Festing to resign earlier this week, the Order has accepted the resignation, named an interim leader and reinstated their former Grand Chancellor, Albrecht Freiherr von Boeselager. According to a Jan. 28 press release from the Order of Malta, their Sovereign Council in an extraordinary meeting held Saturday to vote on Festing’s request to step down from office, “accepted his resignation” and informed Pope Francis of the decision. They also announced the appointment of Grand Commander Fra' Ludwig Hoffmann von Rumerstein as the new “Lieutenant ad interim” until a new Grand Master is elected. Along with Festing’s resignation, the decision to annul the decrees establishing “the disciplinary procedures” recently taken against former Grand Chancellor Albrecht Boeselager as well as “the suspension of his membership in the Order” was announced. With the decision, “Albrecht Boeselager resumes his office as Grand Chancellor immediately,” the statement read. According to media reports, the decision to reinstate Boeselager, who was dismissed in December after a condom scandal, was requested by the Pope himself when he met with Festing earlier this week to ask for his resignation. In their statement, the Order of Malta said Pope Francis had written a Jan. 27 letter to Rumerstein and members of the Sovereign Council reaffirming “the special relationship” between the Order and the Apostolic See. The Pope, it read, also affirmed that Rumerstein will assume the full responsibilities of Grand Master, “in particular regarding relationships with other States,” until a new leader is elected. In his letter, Pope Francis made a point to emphasize that his special delegate, who has yet to be appointed, will be carrying out his role on “the spiritual renewal of the Order, specifically of its professed members.” The Order ensured their “full collaboration” with the papal delegate, “whom the Holy Father intends to appoint” in due time. In addition to announcing the Rumerstein’s nomination and Boeselager’s reinstatement, the Order voiced their gratitude to Pope Francis and to Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin “for their interest in and care for the Order.” “The Order appreciates that the Holy Father’s decisions were all carefully taken with regard to and respect for the Order, with a determination to strengthen its sovereignty,” the statement read. Now that Rumerstein has officially taken charge of the Order, he will soon convoke “the Council Complete of State” to elect a new Grand Master. The announcement comes after a Jan. 24 meeting between Pope Francis and Festing, during which the Pope asked the former Grand Master to tenure his resignation, to which Festing said yes. Festing's agreement to resign follows a conflict between the Order of Malta and the Holy See over Boeselager's dismissal in December 2016. Among the reported reasons for the dismissal was that under Boeselager’s watch, the Order's charity branch had inadvertently been involved in distributing condoms in Burma to prevent the spread of HIV. However, a senior official of the Order has said that while the incident was a contributing factor in Boeselager’s resignation, the reasons – while confidential – are much broader. The Holy See announced Dec. 22, shortly after Boeselager's dismissal, that Pope Francis had formed a group to investigate the matter. Members of the group include Archbishop Silvestro Tomasi, Fr. Gianfranco Ghirlanda S.J., Belgian lawyer Mr. Jacques de Liedekerke, Mr. Marc Odendall and Mr. Marwan Sehnaoui. On Jan. 10 the Knights issued a statement defending their decision, calling Boeselager’s dismissal “an internal act of governance,” making the group established by the Holy See to investigate the decision “legally irrelevant” given the Order’s sovereignty. The Holy See, in turn, reiterated Jan. 17 its confidence in its investigative group and indicated it was awaiting the group's report “in order to adopt, within its area of competence, the most fitting decisions for the good of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and of the Church.” The Order of Malta is a chivalric order which was founded in 1099, originally to provide protection and medical care to Holy Land pilgrims. It now performs humanitarian work throughout the world, and its two principle missions are defense of the faith and care for the poor. It maintains sovereignty, holding diplomatic relations with more than 100 states and United Nations permanent observer status. Festing had been elected Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta March 11, 2008, however, his resignation cuts short the lifetime appointment. Read more

Vatican City, Jan 28, 2017 / 07:23 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Saturday Pope Francis stressed the importance of having a solid guide in the spiritual life since no one – neither laity nor consecrated persons themselves – can stay faithful for l... Read more

Vatican City, Jan 27, 2017 / 11:43 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In a message marking Friday's observance of Holocaust Remembrance Day, a Vatican official has said it is reminder that we need to maintain vigilance against violations of human dignity. “First and foremost, remembrance of the Holocaust, the Shoah – the planned annihilation of the Jewish people, and the planned extermination of Roma and Sinti and other groups of people – brings to mind all the victims of those most heinous crimes against humanity, whose terrible suffering unmasks the complete disregard for the inherent dignity of every person,” Monsignor Janusz Urbanczyk, the Vatican's permanent representative fo the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said at the group's Jan. 27 meeting. Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the anniverary of the liberation of prisoners of Auschwitz concentration camp in 1945. During World War II, more than 6 million Jews and at least 5 million non-Jewish Poles, Slavs, Romani, Soviets, Catholics, homosexuals, disabled persons, and political and religious dissidents were murdered at the hands of Nazis. The Nazi party justified its persecution and treatment of its victims by calling them subhuman and inferior “lives unworthy of life.” Msgr. Urbanczyk commented, “The suffering and ultimate sacrifice, the fear and tears, of the countless victims of blind hatred who suffered deportation, imprisonment and death in those perverted and inhuman places must never be forgotten.” He said the Holocaust summons us “to renew our commitment to ensure greater and unconditional respect for the dignity of every person. Special recognition and honour should also be given to those who, at the risk of their own lives, strove to protect the persecuted, their fellow men and women, resisting the homicidal folly around them.” “The past must serve as a lesson for the present and for the future, so as not to repeat history’s terrible mistakes, and ensure that younger generations will not have to face this evil again. In this regard, the Holy See attaches great importance and actively operates in the field of education, especially in schools, to counter both anti-Semitism in general and Holocaust denial in particular,” the priest stated. “And finally, in the face of the outright barbarism of the Holocaust, in the face of the attempted destruction of an entire people, in the face of a cold, relentless violence and darkness, the international community, States and individuals must strive to live out the principles of peace, justice, solidarity and reconciliation,” he said. Because such cruelty remains in the world we must “open every possible pathway of peace and hope,” he Msgr. Urbanczyk concluded. Pope Francis observed Holocaust Remembrance Day by meeting with a delegation of the European Jewish Congress, during which he said that remembering the even is important so that such a tragedy never happens again. Read more

Vatican City, Jan 27, 2017 / 06:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- With Pope Francis set to visit Ireland in 2018 – making him the first Pope to visit the country in nearly 40 years – Ireland's ambassador to the Holy See said it's an important trip, especially given the shared interest between the Vatican and Irish government on a number of key issues. “It has been almost 40 years since a Papal visit to Ireland, the last visit being that of Pope John Paul II in 1979,” Irish ambassador Emma Madigan told CNA in an interview. So a papal visit in 2018 “would be hugely significant.” Of particular interest to the Irish people is the constant attention Pope Francis gives to issues such as migration and reaching out to the poor and marginalized, she said, adding that this “resonates very much with the Irish people.” “In engaging with Pope Francis directly, his clear commitment to tackling issues such as social exclusion, youth unemployment and the migration crisis is striking,” she said, noting that on a personal level, “I have found Pope Francis to be very warm each time we meet.” These topics were all major talking points between Pope Francis and Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny T.D. during the latter's visit to the Holy See in November, in addition to unemployment and challenges posed by the recent referendum in the U.K. on its membership in the European Union. While the political, social and ecclesial situation in Ireland has changed significantly since John Paul II's visit, there are hopes that Pope Francis will make the step the Polish Pope wasn't able to do, and cross the border into Northern Ireland. Ambassador Madigan said the possibility is still being discussed, but stressed that the Pope's primary reason for visiting Ireland is for the World Meeting of Families (WMOF) in Dublin, an event the Irish government took the opportunity to “warmly welcome” during Kenny's visit. The government, she said, will “provide every appropriate assistance” for both the Pope's visit and the WMOF, which is being organized by “a good Dublin man, Cardinal Kevin Farrell,” who heads the Vatican office for Laity, Family and Life, as well as Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. In addition to the Pope's trip and the WMOF, which were both big points of discussion during the Irish bishops’ recent ad limina visit to Rome, Madigan also offered her reflections on her tenure as ambassador to the Holy See, key points of collaboration, and what the Pope’s presence in Ireland could mean in the aftermath of Brexit. Below is the full text of CNA's interview with Ambassador Madigan:You have been in Rome for two years. How has your experience been so far working with Pope Francis? I have been very privileged to work in this position now for just over two years – it is a fascinating assignment. The Holy See has a huge global network and, I think, a unique insight into societies and developments across the world.  It has views on regional issues in the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, Ukraine, Colombia and Venezuela and situations of tension around the globe as well as on broader questions of migration, human rights, protection of religious minorities and promoting sustainable development. In engaging with Pope Francis directly, his clear commitment to tackling issues such as social exclusion, youth unemployment and the migration crisis is striking. On a personal level, I have found Pope Francis to be very warm each time we meet.  What are the greatest areas of collaboration between the Holy See and Ireland? Are there any specific projects now, or being planned for the future? Ireland and the Holy See are both firm believers in the need for effective multilateral cooperation among nations to face global challenges. We are believers in a peaceful rules-based world and in the power of dialogue. Our long-standing relationship takes in many global issues of mutual interest, including human rights, sustainable development, eradicating hunger, climate change, disarmament, migration and human trafficking, freedom of religion or belief, and peaceful resolution of conflicts. In particular during the recent visit of the Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Mr. Enda Kenny T.D. to the Holy See last November, subjects discussed included recent developments in Europe, in particular the migration and refugee crisis, the task facing the European Union in tackling social exclusion and youth unemployment and political and institutional challenges including those arising from the recent referendum in the UK on its membership of the European Union. During the visit, the Taoiseach took the opportunity to warmly welcome the decision by Pope Francis to hold the 2018 World Meeting of Families in Dublin and expressed the Government’s full support for the invitation issued by the Irish Bishops’ Conference for him to visit Ireland. The Taoiseach assured Pope Francis that the Government would provide every appropriate assistance for such a visit. Planning for the World Meeting of Families is being undertaken by the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life – led of course by a good Dublin man, Cardinal Kevin Farrell – and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin as bishop of the host diocese.Pope Francis has said that he (or his successor) will come to Ireland in 2018 for the World Meeting of Families. What would a papal visit signify for the country? It has been almost 40 years since a Papal visit to Ireland, the last visit being that of Pope John Paul II in 1979 and therefore I think a visit in 2018 would be hugely significant. Pope Francis’ focus on issues such as migration and helping the poor and marginalised resonates very much with the Irish people.  It's rumored that he wants/plans to cross the border into North Ireland. How do you think that gesture would be received on either side? Pope John Paul II was unable to visit Northern Ireland in 1979 but the situation in Northern Ireland has been transformed since then. The principal purpose of the Pope’s visit to Ireland would be to attend the World Meeting of Families and possible plans to widen that schedule would be looked at in due course in conjunction with the Bishops’ Conference. The Pope's visit will fall in the aftermath of Brexit. As someone constantly speaking about unity, could his message perhaps help to ease the situation depending on how the border is handled? Negotiations on the UK’s exit from the EU will begin as soon as possible after the UK triggers Article 50 of the EU Treaties, which is expected by the end of March. There will then be two years for completing the negotiations. The Irish Government has been clear about its priorities as we move ahead and these remain our citizens, our economy, Northern Ireland, our Common Travel Area (with the UK) and the future of the EU itself. A key goal is to work to ensure that the work of the peace process is preserved. To this end, the Irish Government will continue to work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive, as we have done for many years, including through the North South Ministerial Council (a Good Friday Agreement institution). The EU has played a key role in progressing the peace process in Northern Ireland and continues to be a strong supporter. Ireland is a proud member of the EU and our membership, based on the values we share with our European Partners, has been central to Ireland’s economic and social development over the past 40 years. Read more

Vatican City, Jan 27, 2017 / 05:08 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In a speech to Catholic and Orthodox leaders, Pope Francis pointed, as he often does, to the example of Christian martyrs from various Churches, saying that in their death, those killed for their ... Read more