#Easter2013inrome

Alleluia! Sin did not destroy God’s plan for humanity but only changed the way to carry out this divine plan: through the death and resurrection of the Most Glorious Redeemer:

Happy Easter to everyone! Let us give thanks to our Father the Almighty God in Heaven for the resurrection of his Son Jesus Christ through which all of us are still alive. This Easter, in the liturgical celebrations, I truly felt that I have my life because Jesus Christ died for me. Through his death and resurrection He freed me from my sins and got me eternal life.

Many people in Rome celebrated Easter with so much joy and with zeal for the Lord. The thousands of churches in the city had the Easter rites. I live on one of the seven Roman hills, a small one, which has four Basilicas in a space of less than a mile. I can pass walk in front of each one in ten minutes, that’s how close they are to one another. Well, all four of these Basilicas had liturgical celebrations on Holy Week and most importantly today on Easter Sunday.

Romans today are still finding that the Risen Jesus Christ is the center of the Church, as Pope Francis has repeatedly said from the beginning of his wonderful pontificate. With the gift of faith many are seeing and feeling that the Risen Lord is truly present in the beautiful religious rites in the churches of the Catholic Church, especially the Mass. After many centuries, the Church continues to preach to the city of Rome and to the world that Christ died for love of everyone but three days later, on a Sunday like today, He rose from death.

Today’s message of the Church is that Christ descended into the lowest parts of the underworld after his death and before his resurrection. The Church is proclaiming today that in the same way Christ is willing to go into the darkest parts of our lives to destroy our sins and to heal our sufferings, to fill us all with his everlasting life and his infinite joy. The Church and her members are called to witness until the end of times that the only answer that will give meaning to our lives is that the Risen Christ is the center of the life of each person. So let us live every moment of our lives in a way that allows the Risen Son of God to be the center of all we are.

Last TV interview at the end of Francis' Inauguration

Images of Pope Francis' Inauguration

I share with all of you the pictures that I took during my participation in the Mass in which Pope Francis's papacy was officially inaugurated with the intercession of St. Joseph. This was another historic moment in which God manifested to the world, to those with open eyes and ears, his infinite Love and Mercy. Click the picture above or click here as well to see the images

#salvationhistory

Today's Mass of inauguration of Pope Francis as bishop of Rome was another awesome spiritual event that I know I will never forget. I still get amazed seeing tens of thousands of people, from different parts of the world, from various religious beliefs, getting excited about the Pope. I saw this in all the last papal events, in the last five weeks, which have been historic. I saw it in the last Public Mass of Benedict XVI; I saw it in the last Public Audience of Benedict XVI; I saw it in the official presentation of Pope Francis after the white smoke; I saw in Pope Francis' first Public Audience, which was only for the media;  I saw it today, in Pope Francis' first Public Mass.

The Church of Rome, the Catholic Church, is alive with the life of the Spirit. This Living Organism, that makes up the Body of Christ, is continually renewed by the action of the Holy Spirit so that it fulfills its ecclesial mission of bringing hope to the world by witnessing to the presence among us of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty in the Person of Jesus Christ.

In the last five weeks, I have witnessed the process of switching one Pope for another. The way it happened this time was just historic. Rome saw events that hadn't taken place before. For the faithful here, we just saw Christ's mercy manifested through these human actions. Christ, after all, has set the Church as the city on the mountain. Through her, through our beloved Church, Christ's Light keeps shinning in this world and darkness shall never prevail over it!

#favorabletime

©Ivan Navarro

"The Pope is not the center of the Church. Christ is the center of the Church. Without Christ neither the Church nor the Pope would exist and they would have no meaning". These were the words of the Pope to thousands of journalists and reporters yesterday in the papal audience for the media. Today in the papal angelus prayer, in front of more than 150.000 souls, he proclaimed to the world that the action of Christ when he forgave the adulterous woman revealed that the face of God is the face of a merciful Father.

Christ is our only hope. No one else but Christ will save us. As a Church we are living a moment of grace by being in the Lent, in the fifth Sunday of Lent. This Lenten season invites everyone in the Church to allow Christ to bring us closer and closer to Him who renews our hearts and fills our spirits with his Love. Lent is the time to enter into a more profound relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ by reliving, through his Word, his most Holy Passion with which he saved us forever. Prayer, fasting, and works of mercy are his invitation to walk with him towards the Sunday in which we will celebrate with our whole being his Resurrection.

As we continue to give thanks to God for the wonderful man that He has given us as Pope, let us give more of ourselves to Christ in prayer and faithfulness. We do not know what is going to happen in the papacy of Pope Francis but we can be sure that Christ will continue to steer his Church and will continue to be in control of this community. He is the Head of the body which is the Church and so He will not let anything prevail over the Church. We trust Christ alone who will continue to transform each one of us and will continue to reform his Church for He is God and He is Faithful, Merciful, and Patient.

#1staudience

Pope Francis just keeps making history.  He is making world history by proclaiming Christ's Gospel to persons in every single part of the world. Today our Pope did what no other pope had done. Today our Pope met with thousands of journalists and reporters to send a Spirit-filled message to them and through them to all the nations.

He is so transparent and authentic when he speaks. I was able to attend this miraculous event thanks to the news team of Houston's Channel 13 who took me to the papal audience hall and got me in. Pope Francis was simply speaking from his heart and with so much charity. In his generosity, the Pope answered the question of how he chose the name Francis and he did so recounting the most interesting details of that decision. In one sentence, he chose that name because he wants his papacy to be for the poor, for peace, and for creation just as St. Francis of Assisi was a saint of the poor, of peace, and a friend of nature.

Two sentences that Pope Francis said arrived to my heart as an arrow: first he said that we all are called to give all of our attention to Christ because Christ is the center of the Church, not the pope! Secondly, he expressed that he wishes the Church to be poor and to be for the poor! These two messages, among the others, have made such a strong impression in my interior mainly because they express the essence of Christ's Gospel. These two messages fill us all with God's Hope in this year of Faith! 

Two retired Italian reporters told me this Pope reminds them a lot of John Paul II. To see this event's pictures click here!

#Easteriscoming

The first thing that Pope Francis as bishop of Rome asked all of us to do was to pray. He has made history by requesting the faithful to pray for him, bowing to the people, before imparting his first papal blessing. "The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful" (Jm 5, 16). At the same time, the Pope has invited Argentinians not to come to Rome for his inauguration ceremony but to give the money they would spend on the trip to the poor. His main concern is that everyone lives out the commandment of love, that everyone practices charity with concrete acts. I am also impressed by his choice of a simple pectoral cross which reminds me of our invitation from the Word of God to abstain from worldly things and to fast. 

The Church has traditionally suggested always that the three actions to practice every day as the best preparation to celebrate our Savior’s resurrection is doing prayer, fasting, and works of mercy. With his words and actions, therefore, the Pope is reminding us that we are still in Lent and despite the events we’ve lived these days what's most important is our preparation for Easter, as one Church.

I mentioned earlier that I am seeing ways in which I see the enemy already opposing the papacy of Pope Francis. I do not want to be alarming and so I will only give the example I already gave in Facebook: the humble actions of the Pope, which are rare in the first days of a bishop of Rome as pontiff, are causing here in Italy many aggressive criticisms against the Pope. The critics are both outside and inside the Vatican. For a strong believer, these things should not be a surprise because the devil always tempts good people. My request of prayer, as motivated by this situation, has been confirmed by the words that the Pope pronounced to the cardinals today. To them, Pope Francis said that no one should give in to the temptation of being taken over by pessimism and bitterness, a temptation which the devil offers every day.

#moreprayer

Here in Rome I am beginning to notice more and more the many forms in which Satan is attacking the new Pope. The enemy is actively opposing this new papacy. Please pray a lot for Pope Francis and for his intentions!

About my personal vocation

As Pope Francis is inviting us, according to the Gospels, to edify the Church on Christ, the best way to do so is in our state of life within the Church. My state of life is the consecrated life in the Order of Clerics Regular of Somasca, an order founded a little bit before the Jesuit Order was founded in the 1500's. From the beginning our mission has been to take care of orphans and abandoned youth.

I write this note, therefore, because on this day 85 years ago Pope Pius XI proclaimed the founder of our Order, St. Jerome Emiliani, universal patron saint of orphans and abandoned minors. Today's anniversary is special for my Order and for my life as I have been called to live out this mission. I wouldn't be here in Rome if it wasn't for the intercession of St. Jerome Emiliani and for the support of the Somascan Fathers. Congrats to all the confreres!! St. Jerome E., pray for us and for all the orphans of the world!!

#afirstpapalhomily

Pope Francis just finished his first homily as a Pope ever: He spoke from the pulpit! He did not read a word but said it from his heart! The Message: We are called to walk in this life always in the Lord's presence; we are called to edify the Church on Christ the only Cornerstone; above all, we are called to confess Jesus Christ because if we do not confess Him we confess the devil; so let us invoke the Holy Spirit and pray Mary!

#smilingpresentation #gratefulhearts

Yesterday's papal presentation at St. Peter's was full of smiles despite the rain, despite the huge crowd, despite the suspense and the long waiting moments. I arrived to the Vatican's Square two hours before the white smoke started to come out. I found a wonderful spot near the papal balcony where a classmate and good friend of mine was standing. We had the equivalent of three rows of persons in front of us while behind us we had more than one hundred thousand people. Just being there, having great spot, and talking to my friend were the first reasons why I smiled even though the water was pouring and everyone was pushing.

Before the smoke came out, everyone in the world who was watching the smoke stack was smiling because a seagull was just taking it easy standing on it. For those of us in the Square the bird was a distraction from the uncertainty and anticipation as we were waiting for the smoke. The first possibility for white smoke to raise on the air was at 6pm. At 6pm, though, nothing happened. At around 6:15 the seagull went away. The second possibility was at 7pm. Those forty-five minutes of waiting were long. The rain just kept falling and falling. Five minutes before seven I began to doubt white smoke would come out. And all of the sudden someone yelled at the top of the lungs, "WHITE SMOKE!!" I looked and at first it seemed gray. A few seconds later, however, it was white as snow and I went mad out joy. Everyone had smiles at that moment.

As the bells were ringing and the smoke kept coming out, the second waiting time started, this time we were waiting to meet the new Pope. We were so anxious and curious asking one another who could he be. We began chanting hymns of praise to God and suddenly came another surprise that caused more smiles: The Vatican marching band came into the square playing joyful music and afterwards the Swiss Guard and the Carabinieri Police came marching and playing music as well. The Square became the place of a sacred party.

Finally, the moment we were all waiting for. The archdeacon came out and presented Pope Francis I. It was an enormous surprise of happiness. Once the Pope came out the occasions he gave us to continue to smile for the rest of the night were innumerable. The silence that everyone made to hear his voice was stunning. His greeting was so gentle and fraternal. The second thing he said was a joke that cracked everyone up! Then, he asked us to pray for Ratzinger and that was just awesome, I thought I was dreaming when I was reciting the Our Father for the Bishop Emeritus of Rome. The other two special moments, among everything else, were the moment he bowed down in front of all of us asking us to pray in silence for a him and the moment when he imparted his first Urbi et Orbi blessing. Last night we all went to sleep with smiles and grateful hearts!

If you have questions or comments please e-mail me to icamilon@gmail.com or send a tweet to @navarrocrs and I also invite you to see the PICTURES I took for all of you by clicking here!

Live Interview After First Papal Introduction

#iwasthere #vivafrancis

I just got back from St. Peter's Square. I got there two hours before the white smoke came out! I was able to stand towards the front of the Square, I was actually on third row very close to the papal balcony. 

Pope Francis I is a man of God. Our hearts just melted with his first words. He spoke as an apostle of Christ. His message was beautiful and I shall never forget it.

There was so much joy on the Square. People were so grateful to God for giving the Church a leader that presents himself as a man who will walk together with everyone towards Jesus Christ our only Savior and Lord.

I was on live TV right after for the 4pm newscast of Houston's Channel 13. Right before the interview I had gotten a copy of the Vatican's newspaper with the new front page, printed right away. Tomorrow I will be describing some more what this experience was like. For now let me just say that in my mind and heart I will always remember the white smoke coming out, the bells ringing, the marching band playing music and Pope Francis I's first words.

THANK YOU JESUS FOR THIS BLESSING. OH THANK YOU LORD!

#conclave

Here in Rome we can feel that the white smoke is about to come. The election of the new pope is just getting closer and closer. The eyes of the entire world are watching with attention the papal smoke stack on the Sistine Chapel's roof. This city had never seen so many journalists and reporters from so many parts of the world. Pilgrims and visitors are just crowding into St. Peter's Square despite the heavy rains. Everyone is waiting with so much excitement but above all with so much hope. The white smoke will be the sign that God is present with us, that God is continuing to enter into our history in order to give us the joy and the love that we long for.

Being here in Rome I can testify that this conclave is not just politics, but is mainly a Christ-centered affair. The conclave is not an occasion for power games at all. This meeting is surrounded by prayer and by adoration to Jesus Christ because it seeks God's glory above everything else. The Holy Spirit is certainly present and I can see his presence here in Rome by seeing the unity between so many persons from so many different backgrounds and beliefs. The words of Ratzinger back in 1997 when he was asked about the Conclave are indeed enlightening: "The Holy Spirit leaves us much space, much freedom, without entirely abandoning us".

 

Yesterday I went to Mass with the cardinals and I was close to them as they were processing out. I saw smiles on their faces. They were happy to be there and they are full of trust that the Almighty God will not abandon them because they asked for his guidance during that Mass and in their personal prayers. I do not deny that the cardinals are just men, that there are politics, and that human interests are part of this election. Christ the Good Shepherd, however, is guiding his Church even through these imperfect men and He will write these days the history of our salvation straight with crooked lines!

Follow me on twitter for the latest from Rome!!!

As we get closer and closer to the election of a new pope I invite y'all to follow me here on twitter to get the latest updates from Rome!!!

— Ivan Camilo Navarro (@navarrocrs) March 13, 2013

#SecondSmoke

Second smoke: it's black!

— Ivan Camilo Navarro (@navarrocrs) March 13, 2013

Interview on March 12 (before the first smoke)

#blacksmoke #chat

The live chat on Channel 13's website was very exciting. I am glad I was able to answer people's questions. Thanks to everyone who participated. Right before the chat we had black smoke from the Sistine Chapel. We are glad to see that the cardinals are not rushing the decision. We all need to be very patient until they choose the next people. It should not take more than a week! I will write more posts about today's and tomorrow's conclave sessions early in the morning tomorrow. God bless y'all!

Papal Conclave Live Chat

Tonight, here in Rome, as the Cardinals conclude the first session of the Conclave I will be available for a Papal Conclave Live Chat on KTRK Houston Channel 13's Website. I invite everyone to join the chat, just click here to JOIN!!!

Mass of the Holy Spirit for the New Pope in Pictures

God blessed me today by allowing me to pray during the Eucharist offered at St. Peter's by all the the Cardinals. The Mass was beautiful and as always it was filled with the Lord's presence. Here are the pictures of this last event before the beginning of the Conclave: Click here to see the images!

TV Interview Update

***Channel 13 has done one more story on me today after I went to the Mass of the Holy Spirit for the new pope at St. Peter's. The reporter says they'll put my voice on the 5pm news and they will show my story at 6pm, again, on Houston's Channel 13!!!!***

#theweek

 (written on Monday, March 11th)

A historical week has started. For those of us here in Rome this one will be the second unforgettable week in the last years. The first one, which was also historical, was Benedict XVI's last week as a pope. This time, by the end of this week we will have a new pope. In the Sistine Chapel everything is by now ready for the beginning of the Conclave. Yesterday all the electing cardinals celebrated Mass in their respective Roman Basilicas that are entitled to each one of them. The Basilica where I live, the Basilica of St. Boniface and St. Alexis, is entitled to the Cardinal of Rio de Janeiro and we had his visit yesterday. Today the college of cardinals will have the last pre-conclave meeting.

It's incredible to think that exactly a month ago Benedict XVI gave the official announcement of his resignation. Precisely the way he left the papacy is what makes this conclave so historical and unique. This time is the first time in many centuries that the Church has to do an election of a new pope while the last man who was pope is still alive. Not only is Ratzinger still among us but his teaching before leaving the papacy, particularly in his last messages, is present to all of us. He has left a legacy that was certainly inspired by the Holy Spirit and based only on the Word of God. His actions announce the need to be servants as Jesus who came to serve and not to be served. Ratzinger's words reminded us that the Church is led by Christ alone and that only Christ can save us. On a practical level, Ratzinger left a secret investigation on the Vatican's scandals for the next pope to see and face.

Our hopes, for now, is that the cardinals have open ears and open hearts so that they listen to what God has taught the Church through Benedict XVI. This time the cardinals had more time than usual to think of the right man and they also had clear indications from the last pope on the right kind of leader that the Church needs in this particular moment. Our prayer right now should be that they are humble and that they are docile to the inspirations that they receive from the Holy Spirit as individuals and as the college of cardinals.

Interview on March 9th

TV Interview Update

*** I have been interviewed today at the Vatican. The interview will be shown at 5:30pm on Channel 13. (probably also at 10pm, same channel. ***

#cardinals

We finally have a date for the beginning of the Conclave, as everyone knows. It will be on this Tuesday, March 12^th. I have to say that there was a lot of joy here in central Rome yesterday when the cardinals announced the day on which they will begin to choose the pope. I also notice that here among religious communities and seminarians the prayers have intensified, particularly as we all ask God to prepare the cardinals for this gigantic responsibility.

This weekend will be special for this group of chosen men. They have some breaks and a couple of reunions before locking themselves up in the Vatican and in the Sistine Chapel. These are the days right before the big meeting starts. The interesting part, and what’s so unique about this weekend, is that right now the cardinals have in their minds and in their hearts all the essential information that they received this week in the pre-conclave meetings. This week they have discussed the delicate issues in our Church. They have also become aware of the needs of faithful Catholics from places that they hadn’t heard of. Above all, they exchanged profound ideas about the profile that the next pope should have in order to lead our Church closer to its Celestial Home and its Creator.

This weekend and Monday are the days in which our cardinals will think of a man to pick and will think about the future of the Church. They know that on Tuesday they will begin to have a crucial role in the Body of Christ. As faithful of the Church we are called to spend today, tomorrow, and Monday in constant prayer for the men in red. We are called to pray that no worldly desire or interest distracts them from the right choice. Fasting is totally recommended. As the cardinals spend the next three days with so much in their heads, let us begin to ask God to send his Holy Spirit over each one of them. 

Here are some pictures taken today of the Vatican in Sede Vacante (w/o pope) and getting ready for the Conclave: click here to see pictures. 

#thescandal

These weeks I am seeing at St. Peter's Square so many persons that usually I do not see. I have seen cardinals, reporters and pilgrims from all over the world. Personally, the persons at St. Peter's that get most of my attention are those holding banners or wearing t-shirts that support an issue that they wish the future pope will address and reform. 

Ealier this week I saw supporters of gay rights demonstrating their wish that the Church changes its position on gay marriage. Yesterday a woman wearing liturgical garments reserved for priests was asking for ordination of women. Others hope priests will be allowed to marry. These days we find these persons on the Square unlike other times. They remind me how the world is expecting the Church to address the various situations and problems in our society and our local ecclesial communities. Other issues include reforms to prevent more cases of pedophile priests and reforms in the Roman Curia (the Vatican) to avoid scandals like the "Vatileaks.

Before resigning from the papacy, however, Benedict XVI repeated clearly that the greatest scandal in the Church of Christ is the division among Christians. The separation that exists among churches and denominations is as terrible as the sexual abuse of children. This issue of division is not only one that Church leaders hold in their hearts but is one that Jesus Christ addressed and prayed for before his crucifixion. Our Lord, praying for his disciples, said, “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one"(Gv 17:21-22). Jesus Christ's will and prayer is that all believers may be one. Instead, we the faithfull remember with sadness the year 1056 when Christianity was divided between West and East. We remember with sadness the year 1518 when protestant communities began to separate from the Catholic Church. This is the issue that should sadden us the most.

On the other hand, these days of preparation for the conclave I find relief in seeing the expression of affection for our Catholic Church from Orthodox Churches both in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. This affection reveals a progress towards unity with these Ancient Churches, the first ones that were part of the division of 1056. A Greek Orthodox priest told me that the Greek Patriarch had expressed all of his support to Benedict XVI when the ex-pope first announced his decision to resign. Providentially, the last day of Benedict's papacy, the Ethiopian Church elected successfully a new Patriarch. These news brought joy to many Catholics. Last week, the Patriarch of the Coptic Church of Alexandria, Egypt send a beautiful letter to our last pope thanking him for all his work and particularly for the support when Egyptian Christians were attacked. The Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church expressed this week his wish that Eastern Churches continue to get closer to the Catholic Church. In the Congregations at the Vatican, the Patriarch of the Maronite Church of Antioch has communicated to all the cardinals present the need and the desire of union. The Catholic Church has always been open to all of these forms of dialogue.

Internally in the Catholic Church itself, the reform of the Roman Curia should consist in seeking more communication and community among its members so that the Catholic Church finds unity in its geographical center. Such an internal change will help enormously to continue to advance toward an authentic communion with our Christian brothers in the East and even in protestant communities. And so we pray that the future pope will continue to do the serious ecumenism started at Second Vatican Council.

Interview on March 6th

TV Interview Update

***TV Interview Update: I was interviewed today once again. The interview might be shown at the 4pm, 6pm or 10 pm newscast in Houston's Channel 13.***

#whatsyourtitle

© Taken by Ivan Camilo Navarro, crs

The question about Joseph Ratzinger's current title is still disputed and unresolved. One hot topic this week here in Rome is the controversy of what the Church's last pontiff should be called now. This topic was aroused by the publication of an article that my professor of Canon Law has written. My professor's name is Fr. Gianfranco Ghirlanda, sj and he is one of the most respected canonist in Rome and the Vatican, holding important positions inside the Holy See's tribunal and having been the president of the Gregorian U. His last article on the pope, published in a magazine with Vatican approval, is causing much discussion among seminarians and priests here in Rome. A matter that we thought was something of the past is once again under the spotlight.

On February 28th, the Vatican's spokesman announced that Joseph Ratzinger had said that after his official resignation he should be called "pope emeritus" or "Roman pontiff emeritus". Ratzinger took this decision and the Vatican made the announcement of this title after Fr. Ghirlanda had written his article. Neither Ratzinger nor the spokesman, however, knew about the publication's content. This week, various persons in the media have begun to ask, on this matter who is right Ratzinger or the canonist? During our meals, we are asking the same question.

Fr. Ghirlanda argues in his article that once a pope resigns from being a pope he is definitely no longer a pope in any way whatsoever even if he remains a bishop. Not being a pope at all anymore, the canonist writes that Ratzinger should not be called "pope emeritus" because that might suggest that in some way he is still pope even after the election of the new pope. He therefore thinks that the appropriate title for Ratzinger right now should be "bishop emeritus of Rome".

Discussing this topic in the classrooms of theology with classmates, we are beginning to think that this is not a matter of who is right. Nobody still knows what Ratzinger should be called because this situation is so new that more time is necessary as well as more analysis of the pontifical ministry. Our hopes are that after theologians reflect more on Ratzinger's resignation, our understanding of the papacy will be clearer than what it has been. In the mean time, we think the titles "bishop emeritus" and "former pope" are safe ones. 

(On this particular post, nontheless, I just felt more comfortable calling the last pope Ratzinger. Tomorrow I'll probably have another choice.)

my interview on March 4, 2013

TV Interview Update

***Thanks to everyone for the prayers. Yesterday's interview went so well. I will continue to help Channel 13's coverage of the conclave also contributing to their website. I will continue to let y'all know about other publications or interview.***

TV Interview Update

***I have been interviewed by Houston's Channel 13 today at around 3pm at St. Peter's Square. This interview will appear for sure at the 10pm newscast. There is a big possibility that they will get this interview edited and ready to show also at the 6pm newscast today, on Houston's Channel 13. Thanks for all the prayers!***

#conclave

The Sistine Chapel, taken from the top of St Peter's Dome

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The city of Rome is beginning to prepare for the next conclave, even though the official date when this important meeting will begin is still unknown. This morning, at the Vatican, the cardinals had their first reunion in order to make all the necessary decisions for the preparation of the conclave. In the meantime, more and more journalists and reporters, as well as pilgrims, continue to arrive in the Eternal City. Many persons are anxious and curious to know who will the next pope be.  I can understand how during this time of “sede vacante” and of initial meetings by the college of cardinals arouses the desire in many to find out which cardinal will be chosen as successor of St. Peter.

The discussions on the next pope did not begin this week though, nor last week. Some Vatican experts in the media and on-line blogs began to write about this topic just a few hours, if not minutes, after Benedict XVI publicly announced his resignation back on February 11th. Our last Pope had barely shared his decision and the following days the attention of these influential writers turned to the speculation of possible successors. I do not think that writing on that topic was the best choice at the moment.  I am not saying that having presented to the public the highly “papabile” cardinals is a sin. These experts, however, gave in to the interests of their curious audiences which was to me a distraction from the beautiful events of the last days of the last pontificate. They took advantage of Benedict’s silent retreat two weeks ago to save time on this topic and introduce it. These men with thousands of readers began to write about a possible successor when the pope to be succeeded was still pope. To me, this is similar to the situation in which people talk about inheritance from a person that is still alive.

According to me, the speculations and the discussions on the next pope should’ve begun last Friday when the “sede vacante” was official. Talking about the “papabile” is appropriate now. What no Catholic should forget though is that nobody will know who the next pope will be until the end of the conclave, until we see white smoke coming from the Sistine chapel.  We should never forget that ultimately the choice will come from the Holy Spirit, as we all believe.

 

My TV Interview Update

***Thanks to everyone who is praying for my TV interviews and on-line coverage for Houston's Channel 13. I am convinced that the evil one does not want me to witness through this means. This morning when the news team from Houston that I'll be working with arrived to Rome's airport, they almost get their equipment and their luggage taken away (I won't get into details). Thanks to your prayers, even though they lost a lot of time, they made it to the interview with Cardinal Di Nardo. Although they will not have an interview with me today anymore, we will have it tomorrow. Keep praying please and if you haven't done so I invite you now to read my last post on the Favorable Time.***

#favorabletime

Lent is a favorable time in which the Lord our God gives us the strength and the ability to return to Him according to His Divine Will. As we continue our Lenten preparation for Easter, nothing should distract us from what's important, that is, from living with Jesus Christ and allowing Him to sanctify us with his presence and through the Sacraments. The Church insists, as the Bible teaches, that the best way to open up to God's Grace is through prayer, charitable deeds, and fasting. As faithful, without turning away from Christ, now that our attention is directed towards the coming conclave, we find ourselves with one more reason to pray and to fast: the future Pope.

The conclave has the attention not only of the faithful but also of many non-Catholics and many ex-Catholics, particularly in the media. These days of Lent, therefore, are also a favorable time to evangelize persons that are far from the Church as they might begin to ask us questions regarding our faith and might become interested in the Body of Christ. Such a situation calls for our availability to witness to the Truth and witness to the Love that God offers to everyone in the world through the Church. Let us also pray then that we might receive the courage and the love to introduce Christ to others through our explanations regarding our faith and our discussions regarding the future of the Catholic Church.

On this time, in these days, let us keep in our hearts the words of St. Paul that we read in the First Vespers of this Sunday, read at the beginning of the Lenten Journey. This apostle of Christ writes, "Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We cause no one to stumble in anything, in order that no fault may be found with our ministry; on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves as ministers of God" (2 Cor 6:2-4). We do everything for the glory of God.

The initiative to pray for cardinals is very fitting at this point. I am therefore amazed and happy with the "Adopt a Cardinal" idea. For those of you that are not yet familiar with this idea, this is a website that offers you in prayer one cardinal who will be part of the conclave so that you spend the following weeks praying for him. In this way you can adopt a cardinal to offer prayers so that the Holy Spirit guides him. I have been assigned Cardinal Joao from Brazil. To adopt a cardinal click here.

#trueglory

Our Pope emeritus, Benedict XVI, began his pontificate saying that he was a humble servant in the vineyard of the Lord. Two days ago he finished this papal ministry saying he will now be an obedient pilgrim. Perhaps you have already read about these analogies that Benedict used because the media has been writing a lot about them. Rewriting them here it's worth it for these two images, the one of the worker and the other one of the pilgrim, are beautiful messages that reveal the essence of the petrine ministry and of the Christian discipleship in general. In recognizing his papacy mainly as a service and in seeing himself as both a mortal creature and a follower of Christ, Benedict has been a humble Pope. The clearest sign of his humility, nonetheless, is his resignation from a privileged position. We just had a Pope who was never attached to the power and the honors of the papal seat but who was interested only in serving at any cost, even paying the price of changing a long history. How unusual, but at the same time how meek, will it always remain in history Benedict's promise to be completely obedient to his successor while he continues to be a pilgrim walking in this world.

What our pontiff emeritus has done, however, is absolutely nothing compared to Christ's Incarnation, something Benedict XVI himself would totally agree with. The greatness of Jesus' coming into the world is best described by St. Paul's christological hymn in his letter to the Philippians. In this passage, the Apostle of the gentiles, already in this hymn's first verses, describes the perfect glory of Jesus Christ "Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even to death in a cross" (Phil 2:6-8). Christ is our perfect model who out of love has always had the initiative in everything that leads human persons to communion with the Father. We, human persons, may do many admirable things but these great human actions are but a tiny resemblance of the Glory of Christ's saving power and life-giving action. Yes, the pope was obedient to the Father to the point of resigning but Jesus Christ was obedient to the point of dying for us and dying for us on a cross!

I am convinced, in any case, that Christ was the main inspiration for the Pope emeritus' historical resignation. Personally, despite the infinite difference, his decision reminds me of the loving God who became a poor human person out of love for all of us. Now, in his Glory, Jesus Christ helps us to follow him all the time with his loving guidance and warm presence. Through Him and in Him, we continue to grow in the image and likeness of the Son of God, the King of Glory.

#meaningfulsilence

Yesterday was one of the most unusual days in the history of the Church. After centuries of so much uniformity, we saw on TV what hundreds of generations of Catholics never even thought of seeing: a Pope leaving his papal house, his papal office, and his papal ministry. The live streaming presented every instant from the moment the Pope emeritus left his apartment to his arrival to Castel Gandolfo. I heard some persons complaining that showing so much on TV was an exaggeration. I do not agree. I am actually grateful for the images because they are history. The images, however, were not the most shocking aspect of this departure from the Vatican. Watching the video with more than fifty persons, it was a great impact for all of us to have witness the silence as Benedict XVI was greeting everyone in the Vatican. Yes, the helicopter's engine was not silent, but there were not many words said, just the necessary, that's what I mean. Some sources say that his holiness did not pronounce more speeches at the Vatican after lunch and no one held more conversations with him. The Pope that spoke so much to us and to the world left his residence with what seemed to be a meditative silence and certainly a silence that respected beautifully the occasion. This absence of words, even from the TV commentators, was contrasted by the ringing of St. Peter's bells as the helicopter rose from the ground.

The city of Rome, in a nice gesture, decided to stick big public posters in honor of the Pope on the spaces reserved for political propaganda. The posters are all over the city. On the top they hold the symbol and the name of the city. On the bottom, the posters say "You will remain with us always, Thank you". The photo above in this blog shows two of these posters along the road of the Tiber River.

Benedict XVI arrived to Castel Gandolfo still as a Pope. Over there he broke the silence to greet and thank the persons that showed up to express affection. There was at least one group of walking pilgrims from a town 3 miles away from Castel Gandolfo. I found touching the video in the evening newscast that showed all the kids who went on this pilgrimage with beautiful signs that expressed gratitude and who were smiling of joy because they had seen the Pope. Two and half hours after his arrival, Benedict XVI was no longer Pope. Today we do not have a Pope. To be in Rome without a Pope is so awkward. The good example of our Pope emeritus, nonetheless, remains very strongly and will remain in many of us for a long time.

#eightpm #vacantseat

It's 8:00 pm Italian time. As of this exact hour Benedict XVI is no longer pope. On this Hour we thank God for his pontificate and his service! God Bless our Pope Emiritus!

#themoment

In this moment, in this exact moment, I just got out of my last class at the Gregorian University. I am not able to be at St. Peter's. Right after this class I have come straight to one classroom where students and professors are gathered watching on a big screen live footage of Benedict's departure from the Vatican. In the background we hear a helicopter's engine.They're showing everything... this moment is just indescribable.