POPE FRANCIS' APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO CHILE AND PERU

Vatican releases details of pope's trip July 5-12 to South America

Dadalaw po si Papa Francisco sa Bolivia, Paraguay at Ecuador ngayong darating na July 5-12. Narito ang balita mula sa CNS

By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis' July 5-12 visit to Latin America will not take him to his native Argentina, but it will put him closely in touch with his Jesuit roots and with one of the main characteristics of his ministry as archbishop of Buenos Aires: direct contact with the poor, the sick and those striving to bring the Gospel to bear on social inequalities.

The pope will begin his three-nation South America tour in Ecuador before moving on to Bolivia and Paraguay, the Vatican announced May 8 when it published a detailed itinerary for the visit.

Although local Jesuit communities have enjoyed Pope Francis' special attention on several of the seven foreign trips he already has made as pope, the South American trip is the first time the Vatican has listed the encounter on the official schedule. He will have lunch July 6 with the Jesuit community at Colegio Javier in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

The next evening, he will pay a "private visit" to Quito's Church of the Society of Jesus, known as "La Compania," a jewel of Spanish Baroque architecture. The first Jesuits reached Ecuador in 1574, just 34 years after the society was founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola. Work on the church in Quito began in 1605.

Pope Francis will spend less than four hours in Bolivia's capital, La Paz. Vatican sources said the city's high elevation made it advisable for him to visit only briefly. The same evening he arrives in Bolivia, July 8, he will fly on to Santa Cruz after the welcoming ceremony, a visit with the president and a meeting with civil authorities.

Pope Francis will have the official welcoming ceremonies and private visits with the presidents of Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay as dictated by protocol; in addition, the pope will meet "civil society" leaders in Ecuador, government officials in Bolivia and members of the diplomatic corps in Paraguay.

But the heart of the visit is expected to be his public Masses and the time he spends with people often on the margins of society. On July 8, he will visit a home for the aged run by the Missionaries of Charity in Quito; in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, he will address participants in the second World Meeting of Popular Movements, a group of grass-roots activists; and in Asuncion, Paraguay, he will visit both a pediatric hospital and the residents of one of the city's poorest neighborhoods, Banado Norte.

Complete agenda of Pope's trip to Cuba and the United States

Darating po ang mahal na Santo Papa Francisco sa Cuba at Estados Unidos sa darating na Setyembre 19-27 at very timely po ito sapagkat kapapasa pa lamang ng "Same-sex Marriage" sa lahat ng estado sa Amerika.  Salamat sa Diyos at sinugo niya ang kahalili ni San Pedro upang mangaral ng tamang aral sa mga nawawala sa tamang landas. 

Artikulo mula sa Rome Report

The Vatican has released the official agenda for Pope Francis' trip to the United States and Cuba. He will visit both countries from September 19th to 27th.

Saturday, September 19

10:15 a.m. Departs from Fiumicino Airport in Rome.

4:00 p.m. Arrives at José Martí Airport in Havana.

4:05 p.m. Welcoming ceremony at José Martí Airport, and a speech from Pope Francis.

Sunday, September 20

9:00 a.m. Holy Mass at Revolution Square in Havana. Homily and Angelus prayer said by Pope Francis.

4:00 p.m. Meeting with the President of the Cuba and the Council of Ministers at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana.

5:15 p.m. Celebration of the Vespers with priests, religious, and seminarians at the Cathedral of Havana. Homily said by Pope Francis.

6:30 p.m. Meeting with young people at the Father Felix Varela Cultural Center in Havana. Speech given by Pope Francis.

Monday, September 21

8:00 a.m. Departs from José Martí Airport in Havana.

9:20 a.m. Arrives at Frank País Airport in Holguin.

10:30 a.m. Holy Mass at Revolution Square in Holguin. Homily said by Pope Francis.

3:45 p.m. Blessing of the city from the Loma de la Cruz.

4:40 p.m. Departs from Frank País Airport in Holguin.

5:30 p.m. Arrives at Antonio Maceo Airport in Santiago.

7:00 p.m. Meeting with bishops in St. Basil's Major Seminary.

7:45 p.m. Prayer to Our Lady of Charity with the bishops and the papal entourage in the minor Basilica of the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity of Cobre, Santiago.

Tuesday, September 22

8:00 a.m. Holy Mass in the minor Basilica of the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity of Cobre, Santiago. Homily said by Pope Francis.

11:00 a.m. Meeting with families in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Asuncion in Santiago. Speech from Pope Francis and a blessing of the city.

12:15 p.m. Farewell ceremony at Antonio Maceo Airport in Santiago.

12:30 p.m. Departs from Antonio Maceo Airport in Santiago.

16:00 p.m. Arrives at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. And receives official welcome.

Wednesday, September 23

9:15 a.m. Welcoming ceremony at the White House South Lawn. Speech from Pope Francis followed by a courtesy visit to the President of the United States.

11:00 a.m. Pope meets with the bishops of the United States in St. Matthew's Cathedral and delivers a speech.

4:15 p.m. Holy Mass for the canonization of Blessed Fr. Junipero Serra at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The Pope says a Homily.

Thursday, September 24

9:20 a.m. Pope Francis visits and addresses the United States Congress

11:15 a.m. Visits the charity center of St. Patrick's parish, where the Pope meets a group of homeless people.

4:00 p.m. Departs from Washington, D.C.

5:00 p.m. Arrives at JFK Airport in New York City.

6.45 p.m. Pope celebrates Vespers with priests and men and women religious in St. Patrick's Cathedral. Homily said by Pope Francis.

Friday, September 25

8:30 a.m. Address by the Holy Father at the seat of the United Nations in New York

11:30 a.m. Pope participates in an interreligious meeting at the Ground Zero Memorial site and delivers a speech.

4:00 p.m. Pope Francis visits "Our Lady, Queen of Angels” school and meet with families of immigrants in Harlem. He delivers another speech.

6:00 p.m. Holy Mass in Madison Square Garden. Homily said by Pope Francis.

Saturday, September 26

8:40 a.m. Departs New York City.

9:30 a.m. Arrives at Philadelphia International Airport.

10:10 a.m. Holy Mass with the bishops, clergy and men and women religious in the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. Homily said by Pope Francis.

4:45 p.m. Meeting for religious freedom with the Hispanic community and other immigrants in the Independence Mall, Philadelphia. Speech from Pope Francis.

7:30 p.m. Address to the World Meeting of Families at the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia.

Sunday, September 27

9:15 a.m. Meeting with the bishops invited to the World Meeting of Families in the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. Speech from Pope Francis.

11:00 a.m. Visit to the detainees in the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, Philadelphia. Speech from Pope Francis.

4:00 p.m. Concluding Holy Mass of the Eighth World Meeting of Families at the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. Homily delivered by Pope Francis.

7:00 p.m. Meeting with organizing committee, the volunteers and benefactors at Philadelphia International Airport.

7:45 p.m. Farewell ceremony.

8:00 p.m. Departs from Philadelphia.

Monday, September 28

10:00 a.m. Papal plane arrives in Rome Ciampino Airport.

Anyone who announces the death of Catholicism needs to come and experience World Youth Day. - ABC News

Ang malaking bilang ng taong sumalubong kay Pope Francis sa kanyang pagbisita sa WYD 2013 Brazil (Larawan mula sa Washington Post)

"Catholicism is paradoxical. When one grasps this, the Catholic Church begins to make much more sense. Anyone who announces the death of Catholicism needs to come and experience World Youth Day. " Ito ang mga katagang sinulat ni Kiara Pirola isang News Reporter ng ABC patungkol sa Relihiyon at Ethics.  Narito sa ibaba ang kabuuan ng kanyang pagsaksi sa buhay na buhay na Iglesia Katolika (na sa pasimula ay siyang Iglesia ni Cristo - Pasugo Abril 1966, p 46).

Attending the opening Mass of WYD 2013 on Copacabana Beach, I was blown away by the vibrancy, the joy and the sheer mass of humanity. Never will you see so many different national flags in one place - though, paradoxically, in that same place, an event takes place that renders nationality irrelevant.

Here, people from all races and nations gather to pray and have Mass. Holy Communion has never been more literal or tangible to me than when I am standing among hundreds of people from twelve different countries lining up to receive the Eucharist. Everything in Rio is in Portuguese, so suffice to say it is a struggle to understand anything that is going on. However, we come to Mass and suddenly everything makes sense again. I know which prayers are being said, I know when to stand, to sit and to kneel as if I was at my regular parish Mass. The power of seeing thousands of flags fall still as everyone kneels at the consecration renders all our differences irrelevant. Here we are, kneeling before the sacrifice of a Jewish carpenter and we are one. We are one body, one Church, one people.

Catholicism is paradoxical. When one grasps this, both World Youth Day and the Catholic Church begin to make much more sense. The fact of the matter is the Catholic Church is not dying. I challenge anyone who announces the death of Catholicism (and religious belief in general) to come and see a World Youth Day.

World Youth Day is a life-changing experience; it is not something you leave behind in the host country. This year's theme clearly emphasises this fact: "Go ... and make disciples of all nations." What does this mean? It means go home and be a paradox! Stand firm on principles in all matters, but always love your neighbour first. Participate actively and joyfully in those inane, backward Catholic practices that can often seem boring and old fashion. But above all, live the paradox that the Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta discovered: "Love until it hurts, then there is no more hurt; only love."

Pope Francis is our model of the living paradox of Catholicism. Here is a Jesuit, taking the name of St. Francis of Assisi. Here is a man with access to the beauty and comfort of the Papal facilities, but refusing them. Here is a man who asks for very little, but gives everything of himself in humble service to every person he meets. Here is a man who is thoroughly well educated and learned, but always seeks to learn from others first.

Pope Francis, the living paradox, will undoubtedly leave a deep impression on all of us. The last two Popes have been calling for a "New Evangelisation" and now, finally, I think I know what that nebulous term means. It means to be a paradox, to love Jesus and to live according to his teachings. It means to love the Church despite the flaws, imperfections and downright evil actions of some of its members. When we live with Jesus at the centre of our lives, people notice. That is the essence of evangelisation - to answer the challenge of St. Francis: "Preach the gospel always and, if necessary, use words."

This is why Pope John Paul II created World Youth Day - to offer a concrete invitation to young people to become witnesses and to evangelise just by gathering together for Mass with the Pope. The impact of that experience has long-lasting effect on the faith of the pilgrims and their life. Husbands have met their wives, priests, nuns, brothers and singles have found their vocations and purpose in life, and deep friendships are formed.

Re-fuelled and on fire with this incredible experience, we return home to the normal, quiet routine. Whether it takes a week or ten years for the full effect of a World Youth Day experience to bear fruit, it always does. It has and is continuing to have a lasting effect on the host nation and on the travelling pilgrims.

Nietzsche announced "God is dead." I, along with a few million other Catholics here in Rio, would like politely to disagree. He is very much alive and is calling new disciples every day. He is calling us, and we have answered because we are the Church - not in the future, but the right here, right now. To those who might be just a little cynical about the whole thing, I extend a simple invitation to you: come and see!

Kiara Pirola is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (Australia) and contributor to Catholic Talk.