After the solemn Mass Sunday to close the synod of bishops for the new evangelization, I walked around St. Peter’s Basilica and took the following photos, as well as the video I posted yesterday of the aftermath of the papal liturgy. Perhaps 10 minutes - or so it seemed - separated the parting words of the Holy Father and the appearance of teams of men, armed with mops and whatever else they needed and ready to dismantle chairs, kneelers, etc. My Youtube video on this is still up!BENEDICT TO MARK 5TH CENTENARY OF SISTINE CHAPEL CEILING
Fortunately, after an almost non-stop month of activities, today was fairly quiet on the news front. The main story was a very interesting bit of news about the Sistine Chapel.
Tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. the Holy Father will preside at the celebration of Vespers in the Sistine to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the inauguration of the ceiling painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512.
Pope Julius II, who had entrusted the decoration of the vaulted ceiling area (1100 square meters) to the celebrated Florentine artist, sculptor and architect, Michelangelo Buonarroti, celebrated the completion of the work with the solemn rite of Vespers on All Saints' Day, October 31, 1512.
FINAL LIST OF PROPOSITIONS – SYNOD FOR THE NEW EVANGELIZATION
As I mentioned yesterday, In order to help you understand the work of the Synod Fathers, the issues they discussed, the conclusions they came to and how each one of us will be involved in the new evangelization, today and in coming weeks I will offer you one proposition at a time, placing them at the very end of my daily column.
Today I offer Propositions 2 and 3.
Proposition 2 : SYNOD EXPRESSES GRATITUDE
The Synod Fathers recognize with gratitude the heritage of Papal teaching, often enriching the fruits of earlier Synodal assemblies, that is foundational to the work during these sessions of the Synod for the New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith. The reflections of the Synod draw upon documents such as Evangelii nuntiandi of Pope Paul VI, Catechesi tradendae, Redemptoris missio and Novo millennio ineunte of Blessed John Paul II and Deus caritas est, Sacramentum caritatis and Verbum Domini of Pope Benedict XVI. The most recent example of this guidance is the Year of Faith, proclaimed by our Holy Father at the beginning of this Synod. For this prophetic ministry we are most grateful.
Proposition 3 : ORIENTAL CATHOLIC CHURCHES
The Oriental Catholic Churches sui juris, which are enlightened by the Tradition that has been handed down from the Apostles through the Fathers, are the patrimony of the whole Church of Christ (cf. Orientalium Ecclesiarum, 2, Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium, 39). These Churches are part of the Apostolic heritage through which the Good News was brought to far-off lands (cf. Ecclesia in Medio Oriente, 88).
They are thankful for the possibility offered to them to carry out their pastoral duties towards their migrant faithful in countries with Latin Church traditions. They also hope that their tradition might be more fully known and respected among the faithful and clergy of particular Churches around the world.
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