Pope Francis SJ

On Feast of St. Andrew: Francis & Bartholomew sign joint declaration

Not leaving the occassion of being in Turkey on the Feast of St. Andrew untapped, Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew signed a resolution affirming that it continues to be a priority to seek answers to the conundrum of Orthodox separation. Radio Vatican reports the following as the text of the declaration. I, for myself, am always…

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Chicago Sun-Times tweet from Sep 20: "Pope Francis’ appointment - 1st major US move - of moderate Blase Cupich shows change in tone." A man in a black clerical outfit sits smiling in an ornate, candlelit church interior."

Blasé Cupich?

When I heard of the announcement of the new Archbishop of Chicago this weekend, I checked my Twitter account. I like Twitter for the fact that I have several news sources that give interesting and up to the minute tweets on newsworthy (and sometimes not so newsworthy) items. So, of course, I wanted to check out the…

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Two antique brass-colored keys with intricate designs and loops, resting side by side on a light background.

Giving Over the Keys

The Edgewater Beach Apartments are an interesting sight on Chicago’s north side lakefront. Built in 1928, it was part of a complex that housed the famed Edgewater Beach Hotel which was built in 1916. The pink exterior of the building may strike some as gauche, but it was meant to complement the original Edgewater Beach…

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Text "From Under the Rubble" over a background of rough, gray and brown stones with some greenery."

From Under the Rubble…Gratitude, Government, and Gall

Voluntary Christian charity results in the natural gratitude of both the benefactor and the beneficiary. “Thank you,” says the man robbed and thrown in the ditch; “No, thank YOU,” says the Good Samaritan — “for giving me the opportunity to serve a brother in Christ.” That’s the way it’s been for centuries in Christendom. But…

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Pope Francis and a religious figure in ceremonial attire, map of Greece with earthquake markers. Text includes dates and magnitudes: M6.9 24/05/14, M6.7 27/03/75, and M6.6 06/08/83.

As Pope Lands: Magnitude 6.4 quake strikes Greece, with tremors felt as far as Jordan

Floods, Earthquakes… something apocryphal? As Pope Francis landed in Jordan and is visiting the Holy Land, news reports that Greece had an earthquake felt all the way in Israel. I’m sure someone will connect this to the meeting between Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Francis, but in the meantime, pray for those injured. The Balkans had…

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Pope Francis in papal attire smiling with flying saucers and text "ALIEN BAPTISM? no worries... 'I GOT THIS!!'" in a humorous context."

Francis: Even Aliens are Subject to Jesus, not the other way around

The Bomb tossed into the room of society This past Monday, Pope Francis captured the imagination of the world with his comments during his homily at Casa Maria. Said the Pope: If tomorrow an expedition of aliens from Mars arrives…and one of the green ones with long nose and big ears, like those which children…

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A religious procession with clergy in white and red robes, including a cardinal holding a palm branch. The scene is part of a Catholic Palm Sunday celebration with several participants in formal liturgical attire.

When the Pope Finds “Selfies” Inappropriate

The intellectually-challenged media loves to report on the Pope posing for “selfies,” but they ignore something more interesting. One of the things that has impressed me about His Holiness Pope Francis from the beginning of his Pontificate is the solemnity with which he celebrates the liturgies of the Church. It is a striking contrast from the previous…

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Pope Francis Through the Lens of St. Ignatius

A continuing theme of the Bellarmine Forum’s coverage of the Pope.

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Text "From Under the Rubble" over a background of rough, gray and brown stones with some green moss."

From Under the Rubble…Il Papa’s Not a Rollin’ Stone

Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office, has called Rolling Stone’s recent cover story on Pope Francis superficial, negative, and crude. That’s a good start. “The Times They Are A-Changin’, the title preens. And all change is “progress,” right? As we all know from the history of the past 100 years or…

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Black and white illustration of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City with a cross-topped obelisk in the foreground. Text reads "The Bellarmine Forum."

Pope Francis Greets Pope Emeritus Benedict for Christmas!

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