Pope Francis described consumerism as a poison that threatens true happiness. He said that on the contrary, membership of the Church leads to true happiness.
“The encounter with the living Jesus, in the great family that is the Church, fills the heart with joy, because it fills it with true life, a profound goodness that does not pass away or decay,” he said.
“But this experience must face the daily vanity, the poison of emptiness that insinuates itself into our society based on profit and having (things), that deludes young people with consumerism.”
He added that young people are particularly sensitive to the emptiness of meaning and values that surrounds them, and they “unfortunately, pay the consequences”.
Patriarch Tawadros on ‘hit list’
According to the Fides news service, Coptic Patriarch Tawadros II is on a list of people targeted for assassination. Other names on the list include Interim Egyptian President Adly Mansour and General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The list was found in a mosque in Cairo.
Relations between Islamic extremists and the Copts have been very strained. The latter accuse the former of persecution while the former accuse the latter of conspiring against ousted President Mohamed Mursi.
Syriac Orthodox Church vows to remain in Damascus
In a statement to the Fides news agency, Patriarch Mar Ignatius Zakka II of the Syriac Orthodox Church said the See of the Patriarchate of Antioch will stay in Damascus in spite of the civil war that has been going on in Syria for 28 months. He denied the allegation that the patriarchal would be transferred to Turkey. Moving the See, he said, would mean the danger of “extinction” of the Syriac Orthodox Church.
“We are interested in not only the survival of the See of Antioch in Syria but also the permanence of our people in every part of Syrian territory”, together “with our Muslim brothers and other Christian communities,” the statement read.
Anniversary of dropping of first atomic bomb commemorated
In an event commemorating the anniversary of the dropping of first atomic bomb, Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, said: “The first atom bomb of August 6, 1945, at Hiroshima is a frightful wound inflicted upon the people of Japan and the whole human family.
“Individuals and societies are always tempted by the passions of greed and hate; but they do not have to succumb. …Instead of excluding those who are deprived, let us meet their needs. Instead of avoiding those who suffer, let us accompany them. Instead of cursing what we ourselves suffer, let us offer it up for others.
“Instead of hiding from today’s problems, let us together bravely address the social situations and structures that cause injustice and conflict. …From victims of suffering crushed by war, may I invite each of us, and our faith communities, to honour the memory of Hiroshima, by collaborating in solidarity to build real peace.”
Archbishop defends CRS
Archbishop Odon Razanakolona of the Archdiocese of Antananarivo, Madagascar, has defended Catholic Relief Services (CRS) against allegations that it was providing contraceptives or abortafacient drugs. At the same time he said he has good relations with the agency. The allegations were made in a series of articles published by Population Research International (PRI).
Mgr Razanakolona made his statement during a telephone conversation with Bishop Gerald Kicanas, chairman of the CRS board of directors.
(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)