The Pope Saturday addressed a group of bishops from the Episcopal Conference of France who have been coming to Rome for their five-yearly “ad limina” visit in regional groups. He also spoke to participants in a conference being held by the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers on the theme of "The Hospital, setting for evangelization: a human and spiritual mission.

Also this weekend: The Courtyard of the Gentiles, an initiative of the Pontifical Council for culture and its president, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, met in Guimaraes and Braga, Portugal. Benedict XVI addressed a message to the participants in that session as they met on the theme of "The value of life."

Sunday, in reflections at the Angelus, the Pope spoke of Jesus’ words about the end of time in what many see as an oblique reference to those who are preparing for the Mayan calendar prediction that the world will end this coming December 21.

MIDDLE EAST NEWS ALERT: UPDATE FROM BETHLEHEM

I received the following letter Saturday from my friend at Bethlehem University, Bro. Jack Curran. I posted it then but wish to leave it up today, given what is happening in Israel and Gaza and the timeliness of this missive. I am also trying to be in touch with other friends in the area.

I visited this marvelous and vibrant university run by the Christian Brothers in December 2008 when I spent 10 days at Christmas in Bethlehem. I interviewed three of the Brothers when they were in Rome in 2009 and have kept up correspondence with them ever since.

Bethlehem, as you may or may not know, is in the Palestinian Territories and yet is only about five miles from Jerusalem. I know, have visited and have friends in the towns Bro Jack mentions – Beit Sahour (where the birth of Christ was announced to the shepherds) and Beit Jala (the word ‘beit’ means house). The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem has its seminary in Beit Jala and I was privileged to have a pre-Christmas lunch with the staff, seminarians and some of their family members on December 23, 2008.

I intended to write Bro. Jack today about the Israeli-Gaza situation and instead received his email, written late last night. I wanted to share this with you – a very personal story for so many people in Bethlehem, including Christian and Muslim students).

Friday, 16 November 2012 10:25 p.m., Bethlehem, Palestine

Dear Graduates and Friends of Bethlehem University,

Reportedly, as per the news reports and an email warning I just received from the US Consulate in Jerusalem, there was one rocket from Gaza that landed someplace south of Jerusalem or Bethlehem -- or Beit Jala -- or Beit Sahour. I'm not sure where, exactly, but it was reportedly someplace south of Bethlehem University -- and it was reportedly one rocket.

I certainly do not want to down play the seriousness of this situation. It is serious, and unfortunately, it is deadly serious. Too many lives have been lost and too much trauma has been experienced and endured among all people here in this Holy Land. Right now, for sure people are understandably a bit on edge. When mothers and fathers put their children to sleep tonight, their night prayers and kisses for pleasant dreams will for sure be more meaningful.

Here at Bethlehem University today, on campus we held classes, but there was a somber sort of mood. When I asked some faculty and staff "how are you doing" the reply was most of the time something like: "Not so good, really" ... "I hope this doesn't mean a war is upon us" ... "Brother, it's so sad" ... "Kids are being killed, it's terrible" ... things like this.

Tomorrow, Saturday, 2 representatives from USAID were scheduled to come to campus to see the new education building to which they contributed and which we are dedicating on Wednesday, 28 November 2012. They came from the States and have been in Tel Aviv for a few days now. They were scheduled to come to campus here in Bethlehem tomorrow, Saturday, but I just got word this evening (Friday) around 8:20 p.m. that they are not coming tomorrow. It really is not a surprise that they cancelled, given what is going on and the uncertainty of things, etc. I really thought they would have cancelled much earlier in the day.

However, tomorrow, Saturday, here at Bethlehem University we will have a "make-up" day of classes. This has been planned before the Israeli-Gaza violence escalated a few days ago. This is to make up some class time for some class time that was lost earlier in the semester for various reasons. Even though it is Saturday, for academic purposes it will be a "Tuesday class schedule."

This is good that we are having a "make up" day tomorrow, on Saturday. It keeps us focused on what we can do and what we can "control" -- and what we are all about -- not politics, but education and working for a better tomorrow through the education of the minds and hearts of the students entrusted to our care today! Having classes tomorrow, Saturday, will keep the students and faculty away from the TV and the constant barrage of "news" -- and that can be a good thing too.

Let's continue praying for restraint among all involved in the violence. The violence does not lead anyone to a better place today or tomorrow.

Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. Your notes of concern and support are well-received and appreciated. THANKS -- and God bless us all!

Blessings,

Brother Jack Curran, FSC, PhD Vice President for Development

BELIEVE IN JESUS, THE FULLNESS OF TIME, NOT THE END TIMES

At the Angelus Sunday, Pope Benedict commented on the day's Gospel that focused on Jesus' words about the end of time, often considered one of the most difficult texts in the Gospel.

"This difficulty derives from both the content and the language," explained the Pope, "It describes a future that exceeds our own categories of comprehension, and Jesus therefore uses images and words from the Old Testament, but above all, He introduces a new center, Himself, the mystery of His person, His death and His resurrection. … It is Jesus Himself who connects present and future; the ancient words of the prophets finally find a point of reference in the Nazarene Messiah: He is the true foundation which, amid the world's disorder, remains firm and stable."

The Pope went on to say that, “We know that in the Bible the Word of God is the origin of creation. All of creation, starting from the heavenly bodies - the sun, the moon and heavens - obey the Word of God, and exist inasmuch as they are 'called into being' by the Word. This creative power of the Divine Word is concentrated in Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, and passes through His human words, the true 'firmament' that guides man's thoughts and actions on earth.

“Therefore,” he explained, “Jesus does not describe the end of the world, and when He uses apocalyptic images, He does not act as a 'seer'. On the contrary, He wishes to ensure that His disciples in every age remain unmoved by dates and predictions, and gives them instead a more profound understanding, showing them the right path to take, now and in the future, towards eternal life. Everything changes, the Lord reminds us, but the Word of God does not change, and before it each of us is responsible for our own actions. It is on this basis that we will be judged."

BLESSED JOHN PAUL II SHRINE, WASHINGTON, D.C.

As you may remember from a recent column, when I was in Washington I spent part of a day visiting the former John Paul II Cultural Center in Northeast D.C., an area often called “Jesus Junction” by locals” because of the numerous Catholic institutions there, including offices of the USCCB, the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Catholic University of America, The Military Ordinariate, and many others. I was with my friend Lannette Turicchi as we toured the property now owned by the Knights of Columbus who are in the midst of transforming the building into the Blessed John Paul II Shrine.

The shrine chapel.

Jeweled icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa donated by the Jane and Edward Bleka Family Foundation in tribute to Pope Benedict XVI's visit.

Be Not Afraid Exhibit.

Bronze sculpture of John Paul’s parents.

Papal skis.

The creation of this shrine was announced on August 3, 2011 by Supreme Knight Carl Anderson during his annual report at the Knights’ 129th International Convention. At that time, he said, “True to Pope John Paul II’s vision, and using the story of his life as an inspiration, the Shrine will be an opportunity to evangelize and spread the Good News of the Gospel through a New Evangelization. Because of his tireless evangelization efforts, an entire generation of Catholics has become known as the ‘John Paul Generation,’ and certainly we are honored to continue to spread his profound and powerful message of hope for our country, our continent and our world.”

A zucchetto or skull cap given to John Paul II by Gary Krupp and the Pave the Way Foundation on January 18, 2005, just months before the Pope died.

An interior shot of the shrine for which great plans are underway.

In the rotunda area: a stone fron the tomb of Peter:

SYNOD FOR EVANGELIZATION: FINAL PROPOSITIONS 10, 11

Proposition 10 : RIGHT TO PROCLAIM AND TO HEAR THE GOSPEL To proclaim the Good News and the person of Jesus is an obligation for each Christian, founded in the Gospel: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28: 19).

At the same time, it is an inalienable right for each person, whatever one’s religion or lack of religion, to be able to know Jesus Christ and the Gospel. This proclamation, given with integrity, must be offered with a total respect for each person, without any form of proselytizing.

Proposition 11 : NEW EVANGELIZATION AND THE PRAYERFUL READING OF SACRED SCRIPTURE God has communicated himself to us in his Word made flesh. This divine Word, heard and celebrated in the Liturgy of the Church, particularly in the Eucharist, strengthens interiorly the faithful and renders them capable of authentic evangelical witness in daily life. The Synod Fathers desire that the divine word “be ever more fully at the heart of every ecclesial activity” (Verbum Domini, 1).

The gate to Sacred Scripture should be open to all believers. In the context of the New Evangelization every opportunity for the study of Sacred Scripture should be made available. The Scripture should permeate homilies, catechesis and every effort to pass on the faith.

In consideration of the necessity of familiarity with the Word of God for the New Evangelization and for the spiritual growth of the faithful, the Synod encourages dioceses, parishes, small Christian communities to continue serious study of the Bible and Lectio Divina, the — the prayerful reading of the Scriptures (cf. Dei Verbum, 21-22).

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