Please pray for my friend from seminary Father Michele Kayal, he is a priest in Aleppo, Syria and was kidnapped a few weeks ago by Syrian rebels on the road from Damascus to Lebanon.  Ever since the troubles began in Syria, I have kept him and my other Syrian priest friend in my prayers.  Father Michele is a man with a good and kind heart.  Finding out about this thirty minutes before Mass tonight certainly made the reading of the... Read more

  As one drives or walks in a city, there are so many things to read.  Advertisements, billboards, road signs, warnings, inscriptions, posters, historical markers, graffiti etc.  Most of these do not evoke a deep emotional response, they simply want us to purchase an item, vote for a candidate or stay out of a construction zone. While in Jerusalem I read an inscription while walking down a busy road while participating in the Stations of the Cross.  Not only did... Read more

Buenos Aires has been talked about much in the last week ever since its archbishop became Pope Francis.  The Paris of the South is a magnificent, bustling, cosmopolitan city home to almost three million people.  The Porteños (as people from Buenos Aires are called) are very proud of their city, and rightfully so.  I’ve posted a few pictures of the main sites of this great city. Metropolitan Cathedral at the Plaza de Mayo Interior of the Metropolitan Cathedral Tomb of... Read more

Pope Francis began the homily of his inaugural Mass with a reflection on the role of Saint Joseph as protector of the Virgin Mary, Jesus and the Church.  The Pope asked, “How does Joseph exercise his role as protector?  He does so discreetly, humbly and silently, but with an unfailing presence and utter fidelity, even when he finds it hard to understand.” The Pope continued by posing a second question, “How does Joseph respond to his calling to be the protector of... Read more

Pope Francis began by wishing everyone a good day and ended by wishing everyone a good lunch. Pope Francis smiled and laughed, interacting in a personal way with a crowd of over 150,000 people. Pope Francis made a joke after mentioning a book by Cardinal Walter Kasper that he was not trying to promote the sale of books by his cardinals. Pope Francis mentioned an old lady who deeply moved him when she said to him, “The Lord forgives all... Read more

While addressing the Argentinian Senate on Wednesday, Senator Liliana Negre de Alonso received the news Cardinal Bergoglio had been elected Pope.  “Bergolio was chosen?” she interrupted her speech. She turned to the other senators to confirm what she had just learned.  Requesting permission to interrupt from the President of the Senate, Negre de Alonso became visibly emotional.  “Forgive me I cannot continue speaking, I am too excited.”  After being granted an interruption from the President, she continued: “I am supremely... Read more

This morning the Pope held an audience with the 6,000 reporters from 81 different countries who have been in Rome throughout the conclave.  During the audience he explained how he came about choosing the name Francis. Some people wanted to know why the Bishop of Rome wished to be called Francis. Some thought of Francis Xavier, Francis De Sales, and also Francis of Assisi. I will tell you the story. During the election, I was seated next to the Archbishop... Read more

Which of these is the proper way to describe people from Central and South America?  Having been born in Peru, I am much more comfortable with Latin American (or even better, South American). Depending on how the word “Hispanic” is interpreted, it is either improperly used or artificial.  Let me explain. The ancient Latin name for Spain is Hispania.  Technically and historically speaking something Hispanic or someone Hispanic comes from Hispania, meaning from Spain and not from Central or South... Read more

Líderes latinoamericanos han enviado sus felicitaciones al Papa Francisco desde el día de su elección como sucesor de San Pedro.  Algunos se expresan con gran respeto y afecto, otros brevemente de una manera formal, y para reírse a carcajadas, están las declaraciones del presidente encargado de Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro. Primero las palabras respetuosas de la Presidenta Cristina Fernández de Argentina con quien el Papa como Arzobispo de Buenos Aires ha tenido fuertes desacuerdos: “En mi nombre, en el del gobierno... Read more

En una Misa llevada a cabo en la Capilla Sixtina con todos los cardenales que lo eligieron, el Papa Francisco habló directamente a los cardenales marcando una actitud específica a seguir en su labor pastoral. “Cuando caminamos sin la Cruz, cuando edificamos sin la Cruz y cuando confesamos un Cristo sin Cruz, no somos Discípulos del Señor: somos mundanos, somos obispos, sacerdotes, cardenales, papas, pero no discípulos del Señor.”  Llamando con sus palabras a los cardenales a poner a Cristo... Read more