Malaysia’s ringgit and Indonesia’s rupiah are the most attractive
emerging-market currencies to Morgan Stanley’s asset management arm
after a selloff drove them to their lowest levels in 17 years.
The currencies are Asia’s
worst performers this year as a slump in commodity prices hurts exports
and the U.S. prepares to raise interest rates. Morgan Stanley Investment
Management predicts the ringgit and rupiah will outperform peers and
says developing economies are unlikely to face a repeat of the so-called
Taper Tantrum of 2013 when $70 billion was pulled from their bond
markets after the Federal Reserve signaled monetary stimulus would be
cut.
“Malaysia is the cheapest from our medium-term foreign-exchange modeling in emerging markets, and Indonesia is second,”
Jens Nystedt, managing director at the New York-based money manager,
said by phone from Jakarta on Wednesday. “Given the selloff that we’ve
seen in both currencies and bonds, you’re rewarded to take exposure at
this point. India looks attractive but not as attractive.”
A Fed
rate increase this year won’t surprise investors and further losses in
emerging-markets exchange rates will be temporary as they’ve been
declining over the past year, according to Nystedt. Narrower
current-account deficits in Indonesia and India put them in a stronger
position to endure outflows than two years ago, and both nations are
candidates to exit Morgan Stanley’s “Fragile Five," he said. The list of
markets most vulnerable to market disruptions includes Brazil, Turkey
and South Africa.
“India and Indonesia have taken steps in the
right direction given the new governments that have come in to being,
and India in particular has been more bold when it comes to reforms
compared to other markets,” Nystedt said. The money manager, which
oversaw $403 billion at the end of June, also favors government bonds of
the two countries along with Malaysian sovereign debt, he said.
The ringgit has lost 18 percent this year as a slump in crude oil
prices hurt exports and allegations of corruption against Prime Minister
Najib Razak spurred outflows. Najib has denied taking money for
personal gain. The rupiah has weakened 14 percent and the rupee has
fallen 5.1 percent in the same period, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
Foreign Ownership
Global
investors hold 32 percent of Malaysian debt and 38 percent of
Indonesia’s, official data show, the largest shares in Southeast Asia.
Malaysia’s local-currency bonds handed investors a 2.6 percent return
this year, compared with a 5.7 percent gain in Indian debt and a loss of
2.9 percent on Indonesian notes, according to indexes compiled by Bloomberg. “In
Malaysia the biggest risk that they have, in addition to political
risk, is really the large ownership of the foreigners in the government
bond market,” Nystedt said. “Given that we don’t expect a Taper Tantrum,
we think we are being rewarded to take that risk at the moment.” Futures
contracts show a 32 percent chance for a rate increase Thursday,
compared with 64.3 percent in December. If the Fed holds off and signals
it may raise in October, that will provide short-term relief to
markets, with Latin America and Eastern Europe benefiting the most as
they tend to be most vulnerable, according to Nystedt. The Fed
will probably take a “dovish” approach amid subdued global growth
and Morgan Stanley Investment Management expects only one increase of 25
basis points this year, he said, with the Fed funds rate rising
gradually in coming years until it reaches 2.50 percent to 3 percent in
2018. An increase this week will result in ‘‘a short-term selloff,
but then we are taking away a major uncertainty and the market can
recover somewhat,’’ he said. “If the Fed makes clear in that this is the
only hike this year, and they’re going to be slow and keep rates low,
that’s a scenario where emerging markets can stabilize after a day or
two of adjustment.”
The rupiah and ringgit plumb depths unseen since the Asian financial crisis
This article was originally published in last week's print
edition. However, since Tuesday, many South-East Asian currencies, as
well as China's, have fallen sharply in value (see chart). Since this
article is so relevant to the events of the past week, we decided to
republish it on the blog: NOT since Bill Clinton was president and Barack Obama was a law
professor with a sideline in local politics have the beaches of Bali and
Langkawi looked so inviting to Americans. Four years ago, a dollar
fetched just over 8,500 Indonesian rupiah, and just under three
Malaysian ringgit. Today a dollar is worth nearly 14,000 rupiah and
almost four ringgit. Both currencies hit 17-year lows this summer, and
kept falling (see chart).
In one sense, Indonesia and Malaysia are far from unique: declining
commodity prices, the slowdown in China and the growing likelihood of an
interest-rate rise in America have combined to make 2015 a miserable
year for emerging-market currencies. Brazil and Russia are in recession,
sending the real and the rouble falling. Turkey, with its slowing
economy, huge current-account deficit and growing political instability,
has seen the lira decline steeply; the Chilean, Colombian and Mexican
pesos have all drooped. But in Asia the rupiah and ringgit lead the race downwards, having
fallen by 8.4% and 9.8% against the dollar this year—much further than
the Thai baht (6.4%) and the Philippine peso (2.2%). Their problems are
exacerbated not just by the Indonesian and Malaysian economies’ heavy
dependence on commodities, but also by political ructions in both
countries. Start with commodities. The halving of oil prices over the past year
has harmed Malaysia, which depends on oil for about 30% of its revenue.
Indonesia is a net importer of oil, but other commodities still comprise
around 60% of its exports—a worry, given that The Economist’s
commodity index, which excludes oil, has declined by almost 20% over
the past year. Thailand and the Philippines, in contrast, both have
sizeable advanced manufacturing sectors: their top exports are computers
and electronic components. China’s slower growth and waning appetite for commodities have also
been a drag on Malaysia and Indonesia. China is the top destination for
exports from the Philippines too, but remittances from the millions of
Filipinos working abroad have helped prop up domestic demand, thus
cushioning the blow of falling income from exports. Indonesia’s current-account deficit and the big share of its
government debt in foreign hands will make it particularly susceptible
to capital outflows in the event of a rate rise in America. (Foreigners
also own a lot of Malaysia’s debt.) Even more worrying, much Indonesian
borrowing, both corporate and sovereign, is dollar-denominated, meaning
that as the rupiah falls the cost of debt service rises. In response to these woes, Indonesia has fallen back on
protectionism, as usual: in July it imposed import tariffs on a range of
consumer goods, including coffee, cars and condoms. Despite much talk
from the president, Joko Widodo, about upgrading his country’s
infrastructure, little has been done. He came into office nearly a year
ago with great promise, but some investors have started to wonder
whether he is up to the job of pushing through the reforms his country
desperately needs. As for Malaysia, its foreign reserves look set to drop below $100
billion, depriving it of a much-needed buffer, and suggesting the
government may have tried to prop up the ringgit. The woes of its prime
minister, Najib Razak, who for months has been trying to dispel
allegations of corruption, may intensify investors’ jitters. The question now, for both countries, is how long the pain will last.
Many predict that commodity prices will rebound; fewer predict when. In
the meantime, depreciation should make their exports more competitive,
but low commodity prices seem to be offsetting that gain. Indonesia is
growing at the slowest pace since 2009. The falling currencies in both
places are also stoking inflation. Whenever the Fed gets around to
raising rates, these ailments will presumably worsen.
Source : the Economist Jakarta. Indonesia's central bank unveiled on
Wednesday a set of measures intended to stabilize the country's
beleaguered currency, which tumbled to its lowest levels since 1998 in
the third quarter.
Key steps include the planned issuance of Bank Indonesia
certificates in foreign currency and central bank intervention in the
forward market for rupiah, in order contain expectations on how much
more it might depreciate.
The focus of the package "is to maintain rupiah stability, manage
foreign exchange liquidity, and manage supply and demand for dollars,"
said Perry Warjiyo, a Bank Indonesia (BI) deputy governor.
Saktiandi
Supaat, head of FX research for Maybank in Singapore, said the moves
could ensure greater dollar supply in the forward market to meet any
increase in demand.
"Such measures could go some ways to ease pressure on the rupiah
in the near term, but in the medium-to longer-terms, more far ranging
reforms in the economic and financial realms are needed instead," he
said.
Josua Pardede, an economist with Bank Permata in Jakarta, said
the BI's measures, together with some announced earlier, are "really
good to limit the rupiah depreciation, although the exchange rate would
still be under pressure from US rate uncertainty."
Second worst performer
The rupiah is the second worst performer in emerging Asia this
year, after the Malaysian ringgit. The rupiah has weakened more than 15
percent against the dollar, which the bulk of the loss coming in the
third quarter.
On Tuesday, the rupiah touched a new 17-year low of 14,730 to the dollar. On Wednesday afternoon, it was trading around 14,650.
Earlier this week, Perry said the fundamental value of the rupiah
for the rest of the year should be between 13,300-13,700 to the dollar.
BI Indonesia will also reissue three-month Bank Indonesia certificates and two-week reverse repurchase agreements.
"We want to drive [liquidity] from short-term instruments towards
longer-term instruments because we're afraid excessive [liquidity] in
short-term will create speculation. So we reopen these instruments,"
said Mirza Adityaswara, BI's senior deputy governor.
On Tuesday, the Indonesian government announced the second
installment of its stimulus package to support economic growth, which
include a deposit tax discount for exporters to keep their foreign
earnings onshore. This policy will be implemented in coordination with
the central bank.
Reuteres
Pope Francis has arrived in Philadelphia to begin a visit that will
include celebrating Mass for what organizers estimate will be more than 1
million people. #
His chartered American Airlines plane touched down Saturday morning
after Francis spent four days in New York City and Washington.
He is being greeted by a Catholic high school band and local dignitaries.
Francis is headed first for the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and
Paul, where he will celebrate Mass for about 1,200 people. He will later
give a speech on religious freedom and immigration in front of
Independence Hall and then join in the final night of the World Meeting
of Families.
He will also visit a prison while in Philadelphia, before celebrating a Sunday Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
___
9:05 a.m.
Pope Francis has left New York City for Philadelphia, the last stop in his three-city visit to the United States.
Before taking off, the pope greeted nuns at Kennedy Airport. With the
wind whipping, he took a small stumble as he ascended the stairs to a
waiting jet. He waved to the crowd as the airplane taxied.
In Philadelphia, his itinerary includes Masses, prayer vigils and a
visit to a prison. On Sunday, he'll celebrate the closing Mass for the
World Meeting of Families, which is expected to draw hundreds of
thousands of people.
In New York City, Francis spoke at the United Nations and celebrated Mass at Madison Square Garden.
His first stop was Washington, where he was met by President Barack
Obama and spoke to Congress. He heads back to Rome on Sunday night.
___
8:30 a.m.
Pope Francis has begun his trip to Philadelphia, the last stop on his U.S. trip.
The pope left Manhattan on Saturday morning for Kennedy Airport in a
helicopter. He will fly to Philadelphia after a brief farewell from
worshippers waiting to see him off.
Groups of Roman Catholic parishioners prayed together as they waited at JFK.
"Our Father..." was heard above the rumble of the American Airlines jet engines warming up for the flight to Philadelphia.
In keeping with Francis' efforts to bring religions closer, New
Yorkers who came to say farewell to Francis included a Sikh in a white
turban as well as representatives of other faiths.
___
7:30 a.m.
Two Marine helicopters have taken off from New York's Kennedy airport
to pick up Pope Francis in Manhattan and take him to the airport.
Francis is scheduled to leave New York for Philadelphia on Saturday morning.
Roman Catholic worshippers and church officials have gathered for a brief farewell on the JFK airport tarmac.
They include seven cloistered nuns from the Precious Blood Seminary
in Brooklyn. Four of them are originally from Francis' native Argentina.
Francis arrived in New York on Thursday evening from Washington, D.C.
His crowded New York itinerary included a speech to the United Nations
General Assembly, a visit to the World Trade Center Memorial and Museum
and a Mass at Madison Square Garden.
It is the pope's first visit to the United States.
___
2:30 a.m.
After speeches to Congress and the United Nations aimed at world
leaders, Pope Francis will embark on the segment of his American journey
expected to be the most centered on ordinary Catholics: a
Vatican-organized rally for the family that will culminate in an outdoor
Mass for a million people.
Francis heads to Philadelphia on Saturday.
He will speak at Independence Hall, where the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence and Constitution.
As he has done in New York and Washington, he will give his attention
to both the elite and the disadvantaged, this time visiting inmates in
Philadelphia's largest jail. On Saturday night, he will be serenaded by
Aretha Franklin and others on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at a
festival celebrating families. He will return there Sunday for the Mass,
his last major event before leaving for Rome.
Philadelphia, Pa., Sep 27, 2015 / 08:16 am (CNA/EWTN News).-
Pope
Francis told bishops Sunday that a widespread consumerism and desire to
follow new fads has rendered youth fearful of commitments, and said
that as pastors they must encourage youth to be brave in going against
the tide.
He began his speech, however, with an impromptu reflection on the clergy
sex abuse crisis, mentioning that he had met earlier with victims and
their families. He said the victims “have become true heralds of hope
and mercy. In humility, we owe each of them and their families an
immense debt of gratitude … they made the light of christ shine on
something so awful: the sexual abuse of minors.”
“I say this now because I just met with some victims of sexual abuse,
and at that time I heard how they're being helped in a special way here
in this archdiocese, by Archbishop Chaput, and I thought it was the
right thing to do, to tell you where I was this morning.”
The Pope then continued with his prepared remarks, noting his joy at
being able to reflect together with fellow bishops: “I am happy to be
able to share these moments of pastoral reflection with you, amid the
joyful celebrations for the World Meeting of Families,” he said Sept. 27
at the chapel of Philadelphia's St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.
“To Congress a couple days ago, I said we are living in a culture that
pushes young people not to form families: some because they don’t have
the material resources to realize a wedding, or a life together. But
others just choose this because they think they're better off this way –
but that's the temptation, to not lay a foundation, to not have a
family. As pastors, we bishops are called to collect our energies and to
rebuild enthusiasm for making families correspond ever more fully to
the blessing of God which they are!”
“We need to invest our energies not so much in rehearsing the problems
of the world around us and the merits of Christianity, but in extending a
sincere invitation to young people to be brave and to opt for marriage
and the family.”
Francis’ comments on his last day in the U.S. were addressed to bishops participating in the World Meeting of Families.
After spending three days in Cuba, the Pope arrived to Washington D.C.
Sept. 23, where he met with president Barack Obama and addressed a
joint-meeting of U.S. Congress. He then moved onto New York, where he
spoke to the United Nations and met with school children in Harlem.
He met with the bishops before celebrating Mass to close the World
Meeting of Families, and will board a plane to Rome later this evening.
In his speech to the bishops, Pope Francis said that despite current
challenges, the family shouldn’t be viewed primarily as a cause for
concern, but rather “the joyous confirmation of God’s blessing upon the
masterpiece of creation.”
A key pastoral concern amid the constant changes of our time is to
recognize the gift of the family, and be aware that both gratitude and
appreciation ought to prevail over worries or complaints.
The family, he said, “is the fundamental locus of the covenant between
the Church and God’s creation. Without the family, not even the Church
would exist. Nor could she be what she is called to be.”
However, the Pope noted that Christians are not immune to the changes of
our time, and because of that “the unprecedented changes taking place
in contemporary society, with their social, cultural – and now juridical
– effects on family bonds” shouldn’t be disregarded.
While until recently the civil institution of marriage and the Christian
sacrament were a shared notion seen as interrelated and mutually
supportive, “this is no longer the case,” Francis observed.
Using the example of neighborhood stores and large supermarkets, the
Pope said that formerly the situation was like the local stores, which
had everything needed for both personal and family life, even if it
wasn’t “cleverly displayed.”
“Business was done on the basis of trust, people knew one another, they
were all neighbors. They trusted one another. They built up trust,” he
said, noting that later the big supermarkets sprang up with large spaces
and an endless selection of merchandise.
“The world seems to have become one of these great supermarkets; our
culture has become more and more competitive. Business is no longer
conducted on the basis of trust; others can no longer be trusted. There
are no longer close personal relationships,” Francis said.
In a culture that seems to encourage people not to trust, the most
important thing now appears to be following the latest trend, even in
terms of religion, he continued.
Consumerism now determines what is important, he said. “Consuming
relationships, consuming friendships, consuming religions, consuming,
consuming… Whatever the cost or consequences. A consumption which does
not favor bonding, a consumption which has little to do with human
relationships,” adding that “joy is not something that can be
'consumed'.”
Social bonds, the Pope observed, have become a mere means for satisfying
one’s own needs, rather than focusing on the other person, their lives,
and their stories.
“This causes great harm,” he said, and diagnosed “a kind of
impoverishment born of a widespread and radical sense of loneliness” as
the root cause of many contemporary problems.
“Running after the latest fad, accumulating ‘friends’ on one of the
social networks, we get caught up in what contemporary society has to
offer. Loneliness with fear of commitment in a limitless effort to feel
recognized.”
However, Pope Francis said that youth shouldn’t be condemned or pegged
with blame for living and growing up in this type of society.
“Should they hear their pastors saying that ‘it was all better back
then,’ ‘the world is falling apart and if things go on this way, who
knows where we will end up?’” he asked.
“No, I do not think that this is the way,” he said, explaining that as
shepherds, it is their responsibility to “seek out, to accompany, to
lift up, to bind up the wounds of our time.”
As bishops, they must look at things “realistically, with the eyes of
one who feels called to action, to pastoral conversion. The world today
demands this conversion on our part.”
Rather than viewing the current situation as a mere indifference or
“pure and simple selfishness” regarding marriage and the family, many
youth have “have yielded to a form of unconscious acquiescence” inside a
culture of discouragement, the Pope observed.
Francis explained that youth “are paralyzed when they encounter the
beautiful, noble and truly necessary challenges which faith sets before
them,” and often put off marriage in order to wait for ideal
conditions, “when everything can be perfect.”
“Meanwhile, life goes on, without really being lived to the full. For
knowledge of life’s true pleasures only comes as the fruit of a
long-term, generous investment of our intelligence, enthusiasm and
passion.”
He added, off-the-cuff, that “In Buenos Aires many of the women were
complaining, saying, 'I have a son who’s 30, 34, and he won't get
married. I don’t know what to do!' I would tell them, 'Well, quit
ironing his shirts!'”
“We need to give to the young people enthusiasm,” he told the bishops,
“so they will take this worthwhile risk. Here too, we bishops need parrhesia!”
After giving a mock conversation between a bishop and a young person
about “Why don’t you get married?” he said that bishops must “accompany
them, and help them to mature, to make this decision to get married.”
Returning to his prepared remarks, the Pope said that “A Christianity
which does little in practice, while incessantly explaining its
teachings, is dangerously unbalanced. I would even say that it is stuck
in a vicious circle.”
Rather, in a culture where concern for oneself is the overriding trend,
it’s the pastor’s job to show that the “the Gospel of the family” is
truly good news.
“We are not speaking about some romantic dream,” he said, adding that
“the perseverance which is called for in having a family and raising it
transforms the world and human history.”
Pastors must watch over the dreams, lives and growth of his flock,
Francis said, explaining that this isn’t done by talking, but guiding.
“Only one capable of standing in the midst of the flock can be watchful,
not someone who is afraid of questions, contact, accompaniment.”
He stressed the importance of prayer in the life of a pastor, and
questioned whether or not they are prepared to “waste time” with
families, uplifting them in time of discouragement.
The Pope gave an extended and impromptu reflection on the office of
bishops: “pray, and announce the Gospel – this always drew my attention
about the beginning of the Church, because the widows and the orphans
were not well taken care of, and the apostles couldn't handle them. And
so they came up with the office of deacons, to deal with them! And the
Holy Spirit inspired them, 'you have to build up deacons', and when
Peter announces this decision, he says, 'now, we have chosen seven of
you to be deacons, to take care of these problems, these situations.'”
From this institution of the diaconate, he said, the bishops are freed
to pray. “From this we can expect two things: prayer, and preaching …
What is the primary job of a bishop? To pray. To pray. The second task
of a bishop, that goes with the first, is preaching. [Preaching] helps
us. Dogmatic definitions help us – if not, you have to deal with
Cardinal Mueller! But this helps us. It gives the definition of a
bishop, and what his role is. He is a shepherd – he needs to shepherd,
and proclaim, and take care of the sheep. To do that, he needs to pray
and to preach. If there's time, he can get to the rest of what he needs
to do.”
Returning to his prepared remarks he said that “By our own humble
Christian apprenticeship in the familial virtues of God’s people, we
will become more and more like fathers and mothers, and less like people
who have simply learned to live without a family.”
“Our ideal is not to live without love!” he said, explaining that a
good pastor renounces the love of a family “in order to focus all his
energies, and the grace of his particular vocation, on the evangelical
blessing of the love of men and women who carry forward God’s plan of
creation, beginning with those who are lost, abandoned, wounded, broken,
downtrodden and deprived of their dignity.”
Jesus is the model for the mission of a pastor, who is called to imitate
the Son’s love for the Father, he said, adding that “only God can
authorize this, not our own presumption!”
Ministry must first of all deepen the bond between the Church and the
family, the Pope said, otherwise “it becomes arid, and the human family
will grow irremediably distant, by our own fault, from God’s joyful good
news.”
Pope Francis closed by praying for a renewed closeness between the family and the Church.
The family, he said, “is our ally, our window to the world, and the
evidence of an irrevocable blessing of God destined for all the children
who in every age are born into this difficult yet beautiful creation
which God has asked us to serve!” Pope Francis speaks at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia to
bishops taking part in the World Meeting of Families, Sept. 27, 2015.
Credit: EWTN
Latest developments in Pope Francis' visit to the United States. All times local:
8:45 p.m.
The hundreds of thousands who journeyed to Philadelphia to see Pope
Francis have thinned to a smattering of people taking pictures, stopping
to get food, or heading home.
Lines for regional commuter trains Sunday were down to a short 10-minute
wait from the hours some spent clearing security to get onto the
parkway, where the pope celebrated a final Mass for the World Meeting of
Families, the worldwide Catholic gathering that brought him to the
city.
Barricades that kept traffic off the streets were coming down and trash
bags were already piling up for pickup. Still, among the silence was the
occasional excited chatter of pilgrims leaving the city after catching a
glimpse — or hoping to — of "the people's pope."
The 78-year-old pontiff spent six days in the U.S. after a four-day visit to Cuba.
———
7:45 p.m.
Pope Francis' plane has taken off from Philadelphia as his 10-day trip to Cuba and the United States comes to a close.
The private American Airlines plane took off Sunday night hours after
Francis celebrated Mass for hundreds of thousands of people in downtown
Philadelphia.
The Mass capped a day that included his speaking with sex abuse
survivors and jail inmates. It was the culmination of a trip that also
featured addresses to Congress and the United Nations.
The 78-year-old spent six days with packed itineraries in Washington, New York and Philadelphia after a four-day visit to Cuba.
Francis announced Sunday night that the next World Meeting of Families
will be in 2018 in Dublin. The event in Philadelphia this week was the
original reason he came on the trip.
———
6:40 p.m.
Pope Francis is expressing his gratitude to about 400 leaders of the
World Meeting of Families, supporters and other volunteers who helped
organize his trip to Philadelphia.
Vice President Joe Biden
and his wife Dr. Jill Biden are among those at the airport sending
Francis off as he prepares to board a plane to depart for Rome.
Francis spoke in English as he thanked church leaders and others in
Washington and New York for their work to organize his trip there.
Francis said his "days with you have been brief but they have been days of great grace for me and, I pray, for you too."
———
6:00 p.m.
Pope Francis is leaving the parkway where he celebrated Mass for
hundreds of thousands of people, on his way to the airport after a
10-day trip to Cuba and the United States.
As he finished Mass, he made a request with a smile: "I ask you to pray for me. Don't forget."
He will meet privately before his flight to Rome with about 400 leaders
of the World Meeting of Families, supporters and other volunteers who
helped organize his trip to Philadelphia.
As people start leaving the Mass, crews are going around with waste
carts emptying filled garbage and recycling cans. Hawkers are selling
water, soda and papal merchandise.
Francis said in his homily at the Mass that everyone should be open to
miracles of love for the sake of families around the world. Pope Francis also asked the audience to take special care with
children and grandchildren, a theme he has riffed on constantly
throughout the tour and his ministry more broadly. He’s always
emphasizing that wisdom must be passed down from generation to
generation. The audience was enraptured by the pope’s speech. He seems to really
dislike being the high-altitude pontiff and has to fight his desire to
go into local pastor mode. The fact that he went off-cuff at an event
where many orthodox Catholics would have hoped for a big statement on
abortion or gay marriage will be a let down for some. After all, many faithful US Catholics have waited a long time for the
pope to give them political support for this cause or that. I doubt
Francis cares; the people who matter to him most will fill the pews, not
the sanctuary, at tomorrow’s mass.
Families have a citizenship which is divine. The identity card they have is given to them by God. So that within the heart of the family, truth, goodness and beauty may truly grow.
Then a few gags:
Some of you might say “Of course, father, you speak like that because you’re not married!” Families have the difficulties – families, we quarrel! And sometimes
plates can fly. Children can bring headaches – and I won’t speak about
mothers in law!
So great was his love. That he began to walk with humanity, with his
people, until the right moment came and he made the highest expression
of love: his own son. And where did he send his son? To a palace? A city? No he sent him to a family. God sent him amid a family, in a family! And he could do this because it was a family that had a truly open
heart. The doors of their heart were open. Think of Mary – she couldn’t
believe it! How can this happen. But when they explained it to her … she
agreed. Think of Joseph – he finds himself in a surprising situation he
doesn’t understand, and he accepts, he obeys.
You know what God loves most? To knock on the door of families and to
find the families who love each other – families who bring up their
children to grow and to move forward. Who create, who develop a society
of truth, goodness and beauty
———
5:55 p.m.
Church officials say the next World Meeting of Families will be held in Dublin, Ireland, in 2018.
Ireland is ground zero for the church's clergy sex abuse crisis outside
of the United States. The overwhelmingly Catholic country recently
legalized gay marriage.
Archbishop Eamon Martin, the Catholic primate for Ireland, says he is delighted to hear the news.
He says Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin was in Philadelphia with a delegation from Ireland to hear from Francis directly.
The World Meeting of Families was held in Philadelphia this week and was
the original reason that Francis decided to come to the United States.
Francis capped a 10-day trip to Cuba and the United States by
celebrating a Mass in front of hundreds of thousands of people filling
the streets of Philadelphia Sunday.
———
5:15 p.m.
Scores of priests, bishops and volunteer Eucharistic ministers are
fanning out to administer communion to the throngs of people attending
the papal Mass in Philadelphia.
Attendants with white and yellow umbrellas are next to those giving
communion so parishioners can see where to navigate in the crowd.
A group of cloistered nuns at the suburban Monastery of St. Clare had
put in extra shifts to help prepare for Pope Francis' visit, baking
100,000 communion hosts for the Mass.
Hundreds of thousands of people crammed into the area around the
Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Sunday. Tens of thousands more who weren't
able to make it through security before the Mass began either gave up
and turned around or made their way to watch the event on one of several
gigantic video screens dotting the city.
———
4:45 p.m.
Pope Francis says everyone should be open to miracles of love for the sake of families around the world.
His remarks came during the homily of a Mass he is celebrating Sunday in
front of hundreds of thousands of people filling the streets of
Philadelphia. The event after a weekend dedicated to families caps a
10-day trip to Cuba and the United States.
He says that happiness and holiness are tied to little gestures, like
those done by mothers and grandmothers, fathers and grandfathers, and
children.
Francis originally came to the United States because of the World Meeting of Families held in Philadelphia this week.
Earlier Sunday, he visited with victims of sexual abuse, spoke to
inmates at the city's largest jail, blessed a statue and kissed one baby
after another from his Jeep Wrangler popemobile.
———
4 p.m.
Pope Francis has begun celebrating Mass in front of hundreds of thousands of people in the final public event of his U.S. tour.
The Mass Sunday caps Francis' 10-day trip to Cuba, Washington, New York and Philadelphia.
Many reported waiting for hours to pass through security checkpoints to
get to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway where the Mass is being held
downtown.
Francis exited his popemobile at the foot of the Philadelphia Museum of
Art as music by the Philadelphia Orchestra reached a crescendo.
Francis will depart Philadelphia around 8 p.m. to return to Rome.
———
3:30 p.m.
Pope Francis has exited his popemobile to visit a "knot grotto" that is
based on one of his favorite paintings and lets visitors acknowledge the
challenges in their daily lives.
The installation built next to Philadelphia's Roman Catholic cathedral
is inspired by a painting called "Mary, Undoer of Knots" that holds
special meaning for the pope.
The artwork shows Mary untangling a long ribbon — a symbol for smoothing life's difficulties.
The painting hangs in a church in Augsburg, Germany, where then-Rev.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio saw it while studying in the mid-1980s.
He brought back copies to Argentina, where it became a major source of devotion.
People were invited to write down their own problems on ribbons tied to
the grotto. They were also encouraged to help others by loosening and
removing a knot already in place.
———
3:15 p.m.
Adoring fans are cheering, clapping and singing as Pope Francis starts
the final public event of his 10-day trip to the United States and Cuba.
Francis is traveling in his white Jeep Wrangler popemobile along
Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Parkway before celebrating a Mass that
is expected to draw up to a million people or more.
Many have reported waiting for several hours to pass through security checkpoints.
An army of about 10,000 volunteers helping out with the Mass includes
ushers, guides, choral singers and Eucharistic ministers who will pass
out communion.
Earlier Sunday, he visited the largest jail in Philadelphia to speak with inmates and their families
———
3 p.m.
Pope Francis has blessed a new statue honoring the relationship between Catholics and Jews.
Francis stopped at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia on his way
back to the city before celebrating Mass in front of a massive crowd
Sunday afternoon.
The sculpture was unveiled Friday and commemorates the 50th anniversary
of a document that urged stronger relations between the two religions.
Francis was joined by his longtime friend, Argentinian Rabbi Abraham
Skorka.
Francis is traveling downtown and will transfer to the popemobile for a
procession along the parkway to the altar in front of the Philadelphia
Museum of Art.
Up to a million people or more are expected to crowd into the area for
the Mass, and many reported waiting for hours to pass through security
checkpoints.
———
2:50 p.m.
Pope Francis is preparing to depart a suburban Philadelphia seminary to
make his way via a closed motorcade to the final act on his historic
first trip to the United States.
Before celebrating an outdoor Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway,
Francis is scheduled to stop at Saint Joseph's University to bless a new
statue honoring the relationship between Catholics and Jews.
He will then travel downtown and transfer to the popemobile for a
procession along the parkway to the altar in front of the Philadelphia
Museum of Art.
Up to a million people or more are expected to crowd into the area for
the Mass, and many reported waiting for hours to pass through security
checkpoints.
Earlier Sunday, he visited the largest jail in Philadelphia to speak with inmates and their families
———
1:50 p.m.
Tens of thousands of people are enduring hourslong waits to pass through
security checkpoints for the papal Mass in downtown Philadelphia.
Lines stretch for several blocks to enter the secure zone on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Most pilgrims took the wait in stride, though some who grew impatient
jumped over concrete barriers to get out of line and try their luck at
other checkpoints.
Organizers expect 1 million people for the 4 p.m. Mass.
Officials have said the parkway itself can hold only about 250,000. But
they say hundreds of thousands more will be able to watch the Mass on
gigantic video screens set up on side streets and in other parts of the
city.
———
1:15 p.m.
Organizers have begun making adjustments to security checkpoints to ease
wait times for people waiting in lines that stretch for several blocks.
One security checkpoint that had been reserved for pilgrims with tickets
to the best seats for the papal Mass in downtown Philadelphia has been
opened to the general public.
But wait times varied greatly, with some attendees reporting long waits
behind thousands of people, while others sailed through different
checkpoints.
A family who took the bus from Baltimore Sunday morning said they
expected to wait as long as 90 minutes. Fifteen-year-old Matthew
Stambaugh shrugged it off, saying, "it's worth it."
The 4 p.m. Mass is expected to draw more than 1 million people.
———
12:50 p.m.
Pope Francis will visit a sculpture dedicated to the 50th anniversary of
a document calling for a strong relationship between Catholics and
Jews.
Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said Francis will see the
sculpture commemorating the Nostra Aetate at Saint Joseph's University
on his way back to the city before celebrating Mass in front of a
massive crowd Sunday afternoon.
The sculpture was unveiled on Friday at a ceremony that included an
address from Rabbi Abraham Skorka. Skorka is a longtime friend of the
pope and Argentina's most famous rabbi.
The "Synagoga and Ecclesia in Our Time" statue was created by Philadelphia-based sculptor Joshua Koffman.
———
Noon
Crowds are forming early on Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Parkway for
another papal parade and an outdoor Mass, hours before they are set to
begin.
Visitors are already packed in as tight in the front of the viewing
section as they were for the start of closing festival Saturday of the
World Meeting of Families.
And long backups are occurring at security checkpoints.
It's an early sign that the 4 p.m. Mass is likely to draw the biggest turnout of the pope's U.S. visit.
Philadelphia's mass transit agency reports increased ridership on
special papal trains heading into the city. More than 500 buses carrying
26,000 people had arrived by 11 a.m., nearly half of the shuttles
organizers expect for the Mass.
Security officials are urging visitors to get to the checkpoints as early as possible to avoid last-minute bottlenecks.
After encouraging a group of prisoners to get their lives back on track,
Pope Francis walked through the gym at Philadelphia's largest jail and
shook the hands of each of the men and women individually.
The 100 inmates in blue uniforms remained in their seats Sunday until
two stood up near the end to hug Francis. He also blessed an inmate in a
wheelchair.
Francis thanked the inmates at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility
for the large wooden chair that they made for him, calling it
beautiful.
He has criticized prison systems that only work to punish and humiliate
prisoners, and he has denounced life prison terms and isolation as a
form of torture.
Francis does not have any other scheduled events before a 4 p.m. Mass that organizers estimate will draw more than 1 million.
———
Pope Francis \ Speeches
Pope Francis concludes visit to USA, and leaves for Rome
Pope Francis: Farewell Speech Philadelphia airport - RV
28/09/2015 01:00
Pope Francis concluded his visit to the
United States of America with words of gratitude to the authorities and
to the organisers of the World Meeting for Families, 2015, and a message
of encouragement to families to strive for holiness.
Please find below the Pope's farewell speech delivered, Sunday September 27th, at Philadelphia International Airport
My days with you have been brief. But they have been days of great
grace for me and, I pray, for you too. Please know that as I prepare to
leave, I do so with a heart full of gratitude and hope. I am grateful to
all of you and to the many others who worked so hard to make my visit
possible and to prepare for the World Meeting of Families. In a
particular way I thank Archbishop Chaput and the Archdiocese of
Philadelphia, the civil authorities, the organizers, and all the many
volunteers and benefactors who assisted in ways large and small.
I also thank the families who shared their witness during the
meeting. It is not so easy to speak openly of one’s life journey! But
their honesty and humility before the Lord and each of us showed the
beauty of family life in all its richness and diversity. I pray that our
days of prayer and reflection on the importance of the family for a
healthy society will inspire families to continue to strive for holiness
and to see the Church as their constant companion, whatever the
challenges they may face. At the end of my visit, I would also like to
thank all those who prepared for my stay in the Archdioceses of
Washington and New York.
It was particularly moving for me to canonize Saint JunÃpero Serra,
who reminds us all of our call to be missionary disciples, and I was
also very moved to stand with my brothers and sisters of other religions
at Ground Zero, that place which speaks so powerfully of the mystery of
evil. Yet we know with certainty that evil never has the last word, and
that, in God’s merciful plan, love and peace triumph over all. Mr.
Vice-President, I ask you to renew my gratitude to President Obama and
to the Members of Congress, together with the assurance of my prayers
for the American people.
This land has been blessed with tremendous gifts and opportunities. I
pray that you may all be good and generous stewards of the human and
material resources entrusted to you. I thank the Lord that I was able to
witness the faith of God’s people in this country, as manifested in our
moments of prayer together and evidenced in so many works of charity.
Jesus says in the Scriptures: “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to
one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me”. Your care for
me and your generous welcome are a sign of your love for Jesus and your
faithfulness to him. So too is your care for the poor, the sick, the
homeless and the immigrant, your defense of life at every stage, and
your concern for family life. In all of this, you recognize that Jesus
is in your midst and that your care for one another is care for Jesus
himself.
As I leave, I ask all of you, especially the volunteers and
benefactors who assisted with the World Meeting of Families: do not let
your enthusiasm for Jesus, his Church, our families, and the broader
family of society run dry. May our days together bear fruit that will
last, generosity and care for others that will endure! Just as we have
received so much from God – gifts freely given us, and not of our own
making – so let us freely give to others in return.
Dear friends, I embrace all of you in the Lord and I entrust you to
the maternal care of Mary Immaculate, Patroness of the United States. I
will pray for you and your families, and I ask you, please, to pray for
me. May God bless you all. God bless America! Please find below the Pope's farewell speech delivered, Sunday September 27th, at Philadelphia International Airport
(CNN)In a sweeping address to the United Nations on Friday, Pope Francis
presented himself as a champion of the poor and dispossessed, urging
world leaders to adopt concrete solutions to combat widespread poverty
and environmental destruction. #UN70
Pope Francisat the UNGeneral Assembly: The future demands action now http://nyti.ms/1LaYvJL
Francis,
who is in New York as part of a week long visit to the United States, is
the fifth pope to address the United Nations, and his speech followed a
familiar papal formula.
First,
the Pope laid out his moral vision for a more just world, arguing for a
series of "sacred rights," including labor, land and lodging.
Adopting
the urgent tone of a disappointed prophet, he then listed the most
pressing problems facing humanity -- from drug trafficking to the
nuclear arms race and the rise of an "all-powerful elite" that hoards
wealth and resources.
"In
effect, a selfish and boundless thirst for power and material prosperity
leads both to the misuse of available natural resources and to the
exclusion of the weak and disadvantaged," Francis said.
Lastly, the Pope offered ideas for world leaders to consider.
Here's exactly what the Pope thinks is wrong with the world, followed by his suggestions for fixing them:
Powerful elites rule the world
Poor
countries don't have a real presence in the United Nations, and poor
people don't have a voice in international aid programs and projects,
the Pope said.
"To enable
these real men and women to escape from extreme poverty," he said, "we
must allow them to be dignified agents of their own destiny."
World
leaders seem not to realize that while they hedge, real people suffer,
Francis said. When they finally do find a solution, it is often imposed
without thought to local realities.
"In
wars and conflicts, there are individual persons, our brothers and
sisters, men and women, young and old, boys and girls who weep, suffer
and die," he said, "human beings who are easily discarded when our only
response is to draw up lists of problems, strategies and disagreements."
While praising the U.N. as an
important instrument for good, the Pope also noted that certain
countries have been able to manipulate the international body to block
urgent action.
Noting the
conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Libya and Sudan, Francis said some
world leaders have used the U.N. not to solve problems, but "as a means
of masking spurious intentions."
"These
realities should serve as a grave summons to an examination of
conscience on the part of those charged with the conduct of
international affairs."
Nuclear
weapons are poor instruments of peace, the Pope said, frankly
dismissing the idea that no one will use bombs if everybody has them.
"An
ethics and a law based on the threat of mutual destruction -- and
possibly the destruction of all mankind," he said, "are
self-contradictory and an affront to the entire framework of the United
Nations, which would end up as nations united by fear and distrust."
World
leaders can draw up all the treaties and programs they want, the Pope
said. But if there are no ways of enforcing decisions, they remain
useless white papers.
"The number and complexity of the problems require that we possess technical instruments of verification," Francis said.
But even those "instruments" can become bureaucratic mazes in which real solutions recede into a hazy horizon, he said.
"We cannot permit ourselves to postpone 'certain agendas' for the future," the Pope said.
"The
future demands of us critical and global decisions in the face of
worldwide conflicts which increase the number of the excluded and those
in need."
Popes
don't often offer concrete solutions global problems. But Francis is no
ordinary pope. On Friday, he proposed three specific paths to a more
"sustainable development of countries."
• An international justice league: In
previous speeches, the Pope has lamented that poor countries are
plundered for their natural resources, with no legal means to fight
back.
On Friday, he proposed the creation of a "juridical system" for regulating claims and limiting power.
• Mother Earth has rights: This
summer, Pope Francis traveled to Bolivia and Ecuador, two of the few
countries that grant "rights of nature" -- protecting the air, trees and
water.
On Friday, he backed the idea of "right of the environment," for two reasons.
1. Any harm to the Earth also harms humanity.
2. Every living creature has intrinsic value, beauty and is interdependent with other forms of life.
• Beyond the dotted lines: As
Francis noted, the U.N. began its summit for sustainable development
Friday, and in December, world leaders will gather for a summit on
climate change.
"Solemn commitments, however, are not enough, even though they are a necessary step toward solutions," he said.
What
the world needs, Francis argued, is a renewed sense of sacrifice for
the common good and solidarity between the rich and poor, races and
religions, the powerful and powerless.
The pope’s five-day tour, his first in the United States, will include
appearances at the White House and Congress, a parade on Constitution
Avenue in Washington, a Mass at Madison Square Garden, a procession
through Central Park in New York, and an open air Mass with up to 1.5
million people in Philadelphia.
His Big Apple visit coincides with the 70th U.N. General Assembly, where
more than 150 foreign delegations are also expected, creating a virtual
lockdown in portions of midtown.
The U.S. Secret Service is in charge of coordinating the massive
intergovernmental operation on counterterrorism operations, crowd
management, crisis response and air and vehicle traffic control. The
FBI, Capitol Police, Coast Guard, Pentagon and Federal Emergency
Management Agency are closely involved in the planning, along with local
police departments.
Thursday 27 March 2014 Flashback Pope Francis gave Obama a restrained smile as they shook hands.
Taking his place across from the pontiff in the study where Francis
receives his guests, Obama said: "It's wonderful meeting you. I'm a
great admirer. Thank you, sir. Thank you." In case the point had been missed, he added: "It's a great honor. I'm a great admirer. Thank you so much for receiving me."
When Pope Francis arrives in the U.S. on Tuesday for a six-day sweep
through Washington, New York and Philadelphia, it will be a transit
challenge. The Secret Service Director said there are no credible
threats against the pontiff.
USA TODAY
When Pope Francis arrives in the United States, he will find nearly half of the population connected in some way to Catholicism, according to the Pew survey.
But just one-fifth currently call themselves Catholics, and 1 in 10 Americans say they have fallen away from the faith.
There are so many former Catholics
in the United States, in fact, that if they formed their own church,
they'd be the country's second-largest religion, after only the Catholic
Church itself.
Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. ETA - Estimated Time of Arrival : 4pm
4 p.m. — President Obama greets Pope Francis as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews.
Washington (CNN)Pope
Francis landed on U.S. soil for the first time just before 4 p.m. ET on
Tuesday, launching a six-day visit that will highlight his love for the
poor and his willingness to tackle the nation's most significant
political, social and economic controversies.
In
an unprecedented welcome for a foreign dignitary, President Barack
Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughters along with Vice
President Joe Biden and his family traveled to Joint Base Andrews
outside Washington to greet the pontiff, who arrived from Cuba.
Pope Francis touched down at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. His ride into Washington, D.C. was a 2016 Fiat 500L. “Francis is showing that he likes to continue the practice of being
driven in something that is smaller than an American SUV,” Bishop
Christopher Coyne, of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in
an interview. “He’s also showing his desire that bishops live a simple life. Pope Francis puts faith in a pint-sized black @FiatUSA 500L http://jalo.ps/87gel70
Photos on social media clearly show the humble pope enjoying himself as
he waved to crowds the onlooking faithful as he was all smiles with his
window rolled down and armed outstretched.
Wednesday, Sept. 23
9:15 a.m. — President Obama welcomes the pope to the White House.
4:15 p.m. — Pope Francis holds a canonization Mass in Spanish for 25,000 ticket holders at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. It is the first-ever canonization Mass on U.S. soil.
Pope Francis made history on Thursday morning as he
became the first-ever pontiff to address a joint meeting of Congress in
Washington.
Follow along below for live updates: 11:04 a.m.: The crowd is chanting for the pope
11:03 a.m.: The pope is walking to the Capitol balcony to wave to the crowd.
11:01 a.m.: Francis has stopped in front of statues. 11 a.m.: The pope is walking through the Capitol alongside Biden and Boehner. Both are Catholics. 10:56 a.m.: The pope has exited the House Chamber. U.S. Representative Patrick Tiberi of Ohio gives instructions to Congress. 10:55 a.m.: "In these remarks I have sought to
present some of the richness of your cultural heritage, of the spirit of
the American people. It is my desire that this spirit continue to
develop and grow, so that as many young people as possible can inherit
and dwell in a land which has inspired so many people to dream.God bless
America!" the pope says, ending his address to Congress. Members stand and applaud Francis. The pope turns around and says
something inaudible to Boehner. The pope starts to walk out of the
chamber. 10:53 a.m.: "In particular, I would like to call
attention to those family members who are the most vulnerable, the
young. For many of them, a future filled with countless possibilities
beckons, yet so many others seem disoriented and aimless, trapped in a
hopeless maze of violence, abuse and despair. Their problems are our
problems. We cannot avoid them. We need to face them together, to talk
about them and to seek effective solutions rather than getting bogged
down in discussions. At the risk of oversimplifying, we might say that
we live in a culture which pressures young people not to start a family,
because they lack possibilities for the future. Yet this same culture
presents others with so many options that they too are dissuaded from
starting a family," he says. 10:51 a.m.: The pope is discussing his attendance at the upcoming World Meeting of Families this weekend in Philadelphia. "It is my wish that throughout my visit the family should be a
recurrent theme. How essential the family has been to the building of
this country! And how worthy it remains of our support and
encouragement! Yet I cannot hide my concern for the family, which is
threatened, perhaps as never before, from within and without.
Fundamental relationships are being called into question, as is the very
basis of marriage and the family. I can only reiterate the importance
and, above all, the richness and the beauty of family life," he says. 10:46 a.m.: "I would like to recognize the efforts
made in recent months to help overcome historic differences linked to
painful episodes of the past. It is my duty to build bridges and to help
all men and women, in any way possible, to do the same. When countries
which have been at odds resume the path of dialogue – a dialogue which
may have been interrupted for the most legitimate of reasons – new
opportunities open up for all. This has required, and requires, courage
and daring, which is not the same as irresponsibility. A good political
leader is one who, with the interests of all in mind, seizes the moment
in a spirit of openness and pragmatism. A good political leader always
opts to initiate processes rather than possessing spaces," he says. 10:40 a.m.: "This common good also includes the
Earth, a central theme of the encyclical which I recently wrote in order
to 'enter into dialogue with all people about our common home.' We need
a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental
challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us
all," he says. The pope calls for "a courageous and responsible effort" to "redirect
our steps and to avert the most serious effects of the environmental
deterioration caused by human activity. I am convinced that we can make a
difference and I have no doubt that the U.S.—and this Congress—have an
important role to play."
10:38 a.m.: "At the same time I would
encourage you to keep in mind all those people around us who are trapped
in a cycle of poverty. They too need to be given hope. The fight
against poverty and hunger must be fought constantly and on many fronts,
especially in its causes. I know that many Americans today, as in the
past, are working to deal with this problem," he adds.
10:36 a.m.: "How much progress has been made in this
area in so many parts of the world! How much has been done in these
first years of the third millennium to raise people out of extreme
poverty! I know that you share my conviction that much more still needs
to be done, and that in times of crisis and economic hardship a spirit
of global solidarity must not be lost," he says. 10:33 a.m.: "The Golden Rule also reminds us of our
responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its
development," the pope says. "This conviction has led me, from the
beginning of my ministry, to advocate at different levels for the global
abolition of the death penalty. I am convinced that this way is the
best, since every life is sacred, every human person is endowed with an
inalienable dignity, and society can only benefit from the
rehabilitation of those convicted of crimes."
11 a.m. — He makes a stop on the Capitol's West Front, which overlooks the National Mall.
11:15 a.m. — St. Patrick's Catholic Church and Catholic Charities
of the Archdiocese host Pope Francis. Only 60 parishioners culled from a
lottery of church volunteers and about 250 clients and volunteers from
Catholic Charities will be allowed in during the visit. Catholic
Charities St. Maria's Meals, which offers three weekly food programs in
the Washington area, plans to have 55 tables set up for the poor and
homeless to be served lunch as the pope blesses the food and walks
through.
4 p.m. — The pope departs from Washington via Joint Base Andrews for New York.
5 p.m. — Arrives in New York through John F. Kennedy International Airport.
6:45 p.m. — The pope holds an evening prayer service at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Friday, Sept. 25
8:30 a.m. — Pope Francis meets with the United Nations General Assembly. It's the 70th anniversary of the U.N.
11:30 a.m. — A multireligious service is held at the 9/11 Memorial Museum.
4 p.m. — The pope visits Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem.
5 p.m. — He will lead a procession through Central Park. About 80,000 tickets were awarded by the city in a lottery pick.
6 p.m. — Mass is held in Madison Square Garden. The chair he will sit on was built by mostly immigrant day laborers. Young men at Lincoln Hall Boys Haven in Lincolndale built the altar.
Saturday, Sept. 26
8:40 a.m. — Pope Francis departs New York for Philadelphia through John F. Kennedy International Airport.
9:30 a.m. — Arrives at Atlantic Aviation.
10:30 a.m. — Mass is held at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.
4:45 p.m. — The pope visits Independence Mall — the birthplace of American democracy. This historic area of Philadelphia is home to the Liberty Bell, and Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed.
7:30 p.m. — Pope Francis stops by the Festival of Families on Benjamin Franklin Parkway and holds a prayer vigil with the World Meeting of Families — the largest meeting of Catholic families held every three years. Singer Arethra Franklin will perform for the Pope as well as Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, Colombian singer/songwriter Juanes, the Philadelphia Orchestra, The Fray, comedian Jim Gaffigan and Mark Wahlberg — who will host the event.
Sunday, Sept. 27
9:15 a.m. — He holds a papal meeting with bishops at St. Martin's Chapel of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, right outside Philadelphia.
11
a.m. — The pope visits Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility. Inmates
at a neighboring prison — Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center —
built the chair that the pope will sit on. Several inmates learned
carpentry through vocational workshops.
7 p.m. — At Atlantic Aviation, he talks with organizers, volunteers and benefactors of the World Meeting of Families. Philadelphia International Airport expects 20%-25% more passengers traveling during the pope's visit — that's similar to a very busy Thanksgiving holiday.
There's less than two months to go before Pope Francis makes his
first-ever visit to the U.S. The September trip kicks off in Washington
with stops at the White House and Capitol Hill, where Francis will be
the first pope to address Congress. In New York, he'll appear before the
U.N. General Assembly and visit Saint Patrick's Cathedral. Mireya
Villarreal spoke to one woman who’s working around the clock to help
coordinate his visit to Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA It's finally here and The World Meeting of Families Executive Director Donna Crilley Farrell couldn't have been more thrilled
10 Ways to Participate in Pope Francis's US Visit
Hundreds
of Thousands are expected to see Pope Francis when he visits the US.
Even if you are not among those who will see the Holy Father in person,
you can still make his visit a time of spiritual renewal and
evangelization by following the suggestions below.
Take part in a "Virtual Pilgrimage" with these prayers as the Holy Father makes his way to more than a dozen different locations in Washington, DC, New York City, and Philadelphia.
Learn more about the places Pope Francis will visit by following his journey on this interactive map.
Become "Pope Francis literate" by reading his two encyclical letters: Lumen Fidei. . . and Laudato Si. . .
Stay up-to-date and read insightful commentary by connecting with the only news source founded and supported by the US Bishops, Catholic News Service. See the latest in the CNS feed below.
Have a Papal Visit Watch Party! All events will be live streamed in English with audio commentary here. Select events will also be available for video on demand here.
Take your faith and the latest papal visit news with you on the go by downloading the Catholic Church app for IOS at the iTunes store . . . or for Android devices on Google Play. . .
Respond
to Pope Francis's call to enounter by reaching out to those in need,
supporting parish or community charitable efforts, acting to promote
life, human dignity, families and religious freedom, and by caring for
creation. Find ideas here.
Invite a non-Catholic or non-practicing Catholic friend to Mass next weekend so they can experience the joy of the Gospel!
Engage in social media: use our hash tags #PopeinUS and #PapaEnUSA. Don't forget to use some Pope emojis!
Support
the many people working to make Pope Francis' historic US visit a
success by praying for them to the Blessed Virgin under her title Mary, Undoer of Knots. . .
(a favorite of Pope Francis). Include in your intentions: Vatican
staff, The US Secret Service, the US Bishops, their staff and
volunteers, the World Meeting of Families committee and volunteers, and
the three host archdioceses and host cities.