Re: the March for Life: Here are some photos sent by our own John Kuklinski when the crew was in D.C.

….and later when they traveled to the City by the Bay.

A new papal tweet on Sunday: “What does Sunday, the day of the Lord, mean for us? It is a day for rest and for family, but first of all a day for Him.”

The Vatican newspaper reported today that the Good Friday reflections recited at the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum will this year be written by two Lebanese youth, under the guidance of Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai. Pope Benedict, in remembering his trip last September to Lebanon where he invited the Church to pray for peace in the Middle East, communicated this idea to Patriarch Rai, through Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone. The texts will follow the traditional path of the 14 Stations of the Cross.

SUNDAY, A DAY OF REST, DEDICATED TO GOD AND FAMILY

At the Sunday Angelus, in reflections both before and after the Marian prayer, Pope Benedict touched on a number of topics, including the meaning and importance of Sundays in our lives, the Holocaust Remembrance Day, the 60th World Day for the Fight Against Leprosy, peace in the Holy Land, and the late Polish Cardinal Jozef Glemp.

The Pope began with the customary comment on the Sunday readings, particularly the Gospel where St. Luke speaks of Jesus' presence in the synagogue of Nazareth on a Saturday. He said, “"This Gospel passage also challenges us 'today'. Firstly, it makes us think of our way of living Sunday; it is a day of family and of rest but even more, it is the day that we dedicate to the Lord, participating in the Eucharist in which we are nourished with the Body and Blood of Christ and with His life-giving Word. Secondly, in our times of dispersion and distraction, this Gospel passage invites us to ask ourselves about our ability to listen. Before we can speak of God and with God, we have to listen to Him, and the Church's liturgy is the 'school' of this listening to the Lord who speaks to us."

After the Angelus prayer, the Holy Father spoke of the International Remembrance Day dedicated to the remembrance of the victims of the Holocaust. He said, "The memory of this enormous tragedy that so severely struck mainly the Jewish people should represent for all a constant warning so that the horrors of the past are not repeated, so that every form of hatred and racism is overcome, and so that the respect and dignity of the human person is promoted."

He also noted that Sunday marked the 60th World Day for the Fight Against Leprosy, and expressed his "closeness to those suffering from Hansen’s disease.” encouraging the work of researchers, health care workers, and volunteers in that field. "I ask for the spiritual intercession of St. Damien De Veuster and St. Marianna Cope. who gave their lives for those afflicted by leprosy for all of you."

Benedict then noted that Sunday "also marks a special day of intercession for peace in the Holy Land. I thank all those who are promoting it in the different parts of the world and a special greeting to those present here."

The Pope concluded by addressing the Polish faithful: "Today I join with the Church in Poland in giving thanks for the life and ministry of the late Cardinal Jozef Glemp. May the Lord reward his pastoral dedication and keep him in His glory!" The cardinal died January 24 at the age of 83. He was primate of Poland from 1981 to 2009.

It is customary on the final Sunday of January - a month dedicated to peace - for two young members of Italian Catholic Action to join the Pope at his study window and assist in the release of two doves as the concluding act of the Caravan of Peace.

Uncertainty reigned after the release of the doves as they attempted to return to the Apostolic Palace. An energetic seagull revved up his wings and chased them, looking at one point like he saw them as a potential meal. Here is a photo from L’Osservatore Romano as the doves are being released from the papal study.

CHALDEAN BISHOPS START SYNOD TO ELECT NEW PATRIARCH

The Synod of the Patriarchal Church of Babylon of the Chaldeans opened Monday in Rome at the Passionist Fathers retreat center of Saints John and Paul al Celio in central Rome. The synod had been convoked on December 20 by Pope Benedict to elect the successor to Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, 85, who had resigned a day earlier. He was elected patriarch on December 3, 2003.

According to Fides new agency, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, opened the proceedings with a speech in which he called for the illumination of the Holy Spirit on the choices that the Chaldean bishops are called to carry out. "Each of their Excellencies,” he said, “is equally responsible for the patriarchal election results, especially in the delicate historical moment: the future of the Chaldean Church and its tradition and heritage, the understanding of the times and ecclesial situations, historical and social, development of pastoral guidelines and their applications."

Monday was a retreat day for the bishops who came to Rome not only from Iraq but from the United States, Canada, Europe, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Australia.

The day was marked by a Lectio Divina led by Bishop Enrico dal Covolo, Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University, and a talk given by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization.

Tuesday is reserved for discussions and exchanges of views on the situation of the Chaldean Church. Voting will start Wednesday in accordance with the rules laid down by the Code of Canons for the Eastern Churches.

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