Pope Francis gives a thumbs up as he greets the crowd at the July 2013 World Youth Day welcoming ceremony in Rio de Janeiro. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Marking the First Anniversary of Pope Francis
From the moment Pope Francis, dressed simply in a white cassock, stepped out on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica for the first time on March 12, 2013, he signaled that his pontificate would bring some style differences to the papacy. In his first year the "pope of firsts" has had a profound impact on the Church and has captured the attention of the world's media.
Meeting in Washington on March11, 2014,the USCCB Administrative Committee issued a statement on the occasion of Pope Francis' anniversary expressing thanksgiving.
STATEMENT:
Pope Calls on Catholics To Renew Gospel Values
Wants Church To Be for the Poor, Reach Out to Marginalized
Emphasis on Mercy, Humanity Inspires People Around the Globe
WASHINGTON—The first anniversary of the election of Pope Francis, March 13, is a time to give thanks, said the U.S. bishops’ Administrative Committee, meeting in Washington, March 11-12. The Administrative Committee is the highest ranking body of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops when the bishops are not in plenary session.
“He has encouraged us to be a Church of the poor and for the poor, reaching out to the marginalized and being present to those on the periphery of society,” the bishops said in the statement issued March 11. “He has set an example by choosing a personal simplicity of life, by washing the feet of prisoners, and by taking into his hands and kissing the badly disfigured.”
The entire statement follows.
STATEMENT OF THE USCCB ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE
ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE ELECTION OF POPE FRANCIS
Gathered together in Washington, DC, for their annual March meeting, the members of the Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have noted with thanksgiving the first anniversary of the election of His Holiness Pope Francis as the 266th successor of the Apostle Peter.
In his first year in office, Pope Francis has consistently called upon Catholics to look again at the fundamental values of the Gospel. He has encouraged us to be a Church of the poor and for the poor, reaching out to the marginalized and being present to those on the periphery of society. He has set an example by choosing a personal simplicity of life, by washing the feet of prisoners, and by taking into his hands and kissing the badly disfigured. His Holiness has also set in motion a process that will lead to the reshaping of the Roman Curia in a way that will enhance the effectiveness of his ministry and better serve the needs of the Church in our present day.
In this way the Holy Father has brought to light new dimensions of the Petrine Ministry and added new life to the office he holds. His constant outreach to the alienated, his emphasis on mercy and his sheer humanity have served as an inspiration not only to Catholics but also to other Christians and people of good will around the globe. On this first anniversary of his election, the Administrative Committee invites the prayers of all the faithful that Christ our Lord will bless Pope Francis and grant him many years of fruitful ministry as Bishop of Rome, as the Servant of the Servants of God.
USCCB
Wants Church To Be for the Poor, Reach Out to Marginalized
Emphasis on Mercy, Humanity Inspires People Around the Globe
WASHINGTON—The first anniversary of the election of Pope Francis, March 13, is a time to give thanks, said the U.S. bishops’ Administrative Committee, meeting in Washington, March 11-12. The Administrative Committee is the highest ranking body of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops when the bishops are not in plenary session.
“He has encouraged us to be a Church of the poor and for the poor, reaching out to the marginalized and being present to those on the periphery of society,” the bishops said in the statement issued March 11. “He has set an example by choosing a personal simplicity of life, by washing the feet of prisoners, and by taking into his hands and kissing the badly disfigured.”
The entire statement follows.
STATEMENT OF THE USCCB ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE
ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE ELECTION OF POPE FRANCIS
Gathered together in Washington, DC, for their annual March meeting, the members of the Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have noted with thanksgiving the first anniversary of the election of His Holiness Pope Francis as the 266th successor of the Apostle Peter.
In his first year in office, Pope Francis has consistently called upon Catholics to look again at the fundamental values of the Gospel. He has encouraged us to be a Church of the poor and for the poor, reaching out to the marginalized and being present to those on the periphery of society. He has set an example by choosing a personal simplicity of life, by washing the feet of prisoners, and by taking into his hands and kissing the badly disfigured. His Holiness has also set in motion a process that will lead to the reshaping of the Roman Curia in a way that will enhance the effectiveness of his ministry and better serve the needs of the Church in our present day.
In this way the Holy Father has brought to light new dimensions of the Petrine Ministry and added new life to the office he holds. His constant outreach to the alienated, his emphasis on mercy and his sheer humanity have served as an inspiration not only to Catholics but also to other Christians and people of good will around the globe. On this first anniversary of his election, the Administrative Committee invites the prayers of all the faithful that Christ our Lord will bless Pope Francis and grant him many years of fruitful ministry as Bishop of Rome, as the Servant of the Servants of God.
USCCB
Read what some Church leaders have to say about Pope Francis' first year and stories from Catholic News Service about the impact of his papacy. And most importantly, as he asked of the crowd gathered in St. Peter's square on the night of his election, prayfor Pope Francis.
How Pope Francis Inspires My Ministry
by Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
by Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Sent Out into a Messy World: the Mission of Pope Francis
by Father Larry Snyder, President, Catholic Charities USA
by Father Larry Snyder, President, Catholic Charities USA
Pope Francis' Constant Refrain: 'Go forth,' Evangelize, Help the Poor
by Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service
by Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service
THE TEACHING OF POPE FRANCIS
The Joy of the Gospel (Evangelii Gaudium): Apostolic Exhortation
Read the pope's teaching on the proclamation of the Gospel.
Published December 2013, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) has sold to date over 51,000 copies from the USCCB bookstore and shot to the number one position in the Amazon categories of Christian Leadership, Christian Faith, and Catholicism, where it also received over 50 five-star ratings, making it one of the most popular religious books available early this year on Amazon.
Quotes include "thought provoking," and "I am an evangelical protestant but it is my fervent hope that this 'exhortation' will be widely read across the community of Christ throughout the world."
In Pope Francis' scope for this exhortation, he says: "I am reaping the rich fruits of the Synod's labors." The XIII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops gathered Oct. 7-28, 2012 to discuss the theme: The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith, Francis continues, "I intend to express my own concerns about this particular chapter of the Church's work of evangelization" (EG, nos. 14 and 16).
The Simple Wisdom of Pope Francis 2-volume collection
Pope Francis Releases his First Encyclical Letter
Pope Francis' first encyclical, which he has said is largely the work of retired Pope Benedict XVI, was released on July 5, 2013.
Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith). . . was presented at aJuly 5 Vatican news conference featuring Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation of Bishops; Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; and Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization,
An encyclical on faith was long expected as the last volume in Pope Benedict's trilogy on the three "theological virtues," following his encyclicals "Deus Caritas Est" (2005) on charity, and "Spe Salvi" (2007) on hope.
"It's an encyclical written with four hands, so to speak, because Pope Benedict began writing it and he gave it to me," Pope Francis said. "It's a strong document. I will say in it that I received it and most of the work was done by him and I completed it."
Read Lumen Fidei. . . | Order copies from USCCB | News ReleaseTo Order from CNS' Origins service, call 202-541-3291
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