Category: News

The satellite carries ‘nano’ version of his book, ‘Why Are You Afraid? Have You No Faith?’ and will beam his words back to Earth

By Carol Glatz, OSV News
Published: June 14, 2023 04:49 AM GMT

Pope Francis’ message of hope for humanity encased in a small satellite blasted off into space June 12 and soon will beam his words back to Earth.

“The ‘Spei Satelles’ mission successfully launched from the U.S. base in Vandenberg, California, and in the coming days, it plans to deploy the CubeSat into orbit, carrying Pope Francis’ message of hope” contained in a nano version of the book, “Why Are You Afraid? Have You No Faith?” according to a press release June 13 from the Vatican Dicastery for Communication and agencies involved in the project.

Once deployed into orbit, the microsatellite was set to transmit papal messages of hope and peace in English, Italian and Spanish that any amateur radio receiver should be able to pick up. Its radio signals will be transmitted on the frequency of 437.5 MHz “with modulation GMSK at 9600 bit/s and protocol AX.25,” the press release said.

“At sunrise in different parts of the world, individuals will have the opportunity to receive words of comfort and encouragement along the paths of hope,” it said.

In addition to the papal nano book, the “Spei Satelles” mission also carries a chip with the names and commitments of men, women and children on Earth who requested a “boarding pass” to take part in the mission.

Since speisatelles.org was launched March 27, 2023, the press release said, “hundreds of individuals from all over the world have joined the project.”

By registering online, it said Catholics can symbolically “board” the mission by committing to carry out a corporal or spiritual work of mercy, and non-Catholics can perform a gesture or deed that fosters human fraternity.

“Given the success and the educational potential of membership, even though the launch has already taken place, it will still be possible to sign up, and names will be remotely written on the memory in orbit through the ground control station,” it added.

This way, the pope’s words will have symbolic significance “up there” in the heavens and concrete action “down here” on Earth, Father Luca Peyron, head of the Archdiocese of Turin’s apostolate for the digital world, said March 27.

The microsatellite was one of 72 CubeSats that took off from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California June 12 with “microsatellites, hosted payloads and orbital transfer vehicles on the Transporter 8 rideshare mission” for customers from more than 18 countries, according to SpaceFlightNow.com.

The “Spei Satelles” space mission is promoted by the Dicastery for Communication and coordinated by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Turin.

Researchers and students from the university’s department of mechanical and aerospace engineering built the CubeSat, which houses the nano book created by Italy’s National Research Council (CNR). The lab converted the 150-page book — about 86 square feet of printed material — into binary code that fit on a tiny 2 mm-by-2 mm chip, which is about the size of the tip of a crayon.

The project was unveiled at the Vatican March 27, the anniversary of the prayer service which Pope Francis led in an empty St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The pope’s words and images from that evening were shared worldwide first as a global live stream and then in the book.

Msgr. Lucio Adrián Ruiz, secretary of the Dicastery for Communication, said at a news conference unveiling the project, that the next step was to send the book literally around the world in a low Earth orbit satellite as a symbolic gesture of extending the pope’s loving embrace even farther.

The Latin name of the mission, “Spes Satelles,” can be translated as “satellite of hope” and “guardian of hope,” Msgr. Ruiz had said in March, to signify the satellite is also a guardian, keeping the pope’s message of hope alive for all of humanity.

The six-pound CubeSat, which will orbit approximately 326 miles (525 km) above the Earth’s surface, was blessed by Pope Francis during his general audience March 29.

In the June 13 press release, Msgr. Ruiz said that having Pope Francis’ message in space “serves as a sign and representation of tenderness and blessing for the world.” “The vastness of space always sparks our imagination, and now we all need to dream together again, hoping that the much-awaited peace will return to the world by involving all of us,” he said.

Veritas 846
June 13, 2023
licas news philippines

Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga. (Photo by Mark Saludes)

Kinilala ng Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) at Stella Maris Philippines ang mga Migrant Workers at Seafarers bilang pakikiisa sa nalalapit na paggunita ng International Day of Family Remittance sa June 16.

Ayon kay Outgoing Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos, Vice-chairman ng CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People at CBCP Bishop Promoter ng Stella Maris Philippines, katangi-tangi ang gampanin ng mga kabilang sa sektor upang masuportahan ang pamilya na pinapatatag din ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas.

“This International Day of Family Remittance is very praiseworthy celebration and grateful recognition of immense, valuable and essential contributions of migrant workers and seafarers all over the world, with the services and sacrifices of 200 million migrant workers who send money to over 800 million family members, lives are improved, promoted and secured. Economy is sustained and nourished,” ayon sa ipinadalang mensahe ni Bishop Santos sa Radio Veritas.

Hinimok din ng Obispo ang kapwa Pari na mag-alay ng misa para sa mga migrant seafarers at workers sa sa paggunita ng International Day of Family Remittance sa ikabubuti ng kanilang kapakanan at pamilya.

“Let us show our appreciation and gratitude to migrant workers and seafarers by promoting their rights, preserving their dignity and to protect them against injustices and exploitation,” bahagi pa ng mensaheng ipinadala ni Bishop Santos sa Radio Veritas,” Ayon sa United Nations (UN) at International Labor Organization noong 2019, aabot sa higit 200-milyon ang migrante kung saan 169-milyon ditto ay mga migrant workers sa buong mundo.

Naitala rin ng UN na noong 2022 ay umabot sa 630-bilyong dolyar ang kabuoan ng halaga na naipadala ng mga migrante sa kanilang mga pamilya sa bansa.

Sa datos ng Department of Migrant Workers at Philippine Statistics Authority noong 2022, umabot na sa 1.8-milyon ang bilang ng mga Overseas Filipino Workers habang naitala din noong nakalipas na taon na umabot sa 36.1-Billion US Dollars ang naipadalang halaga ng mga OFW para sa kanilang pamilya sa Pilipinas.

Veritas 846
June 8, 2023

Tiniyak ng komisyong pangkalusugan ng simbahan ang patuloy na pagsuporta sa mga adhikain ng bagong talagang kalihim ng Department of Health.

Ayon kay Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Health Care (CBCP-ECHC) executive secretary Fr. Dan Cancino, MI, ang pagtanggap ni Dr. Ted Herbosa sa tungkulin bilang pinuno ng DoH ay patunay lamang ng kanyang dedikasyong mapaglingkuran ang mamamayan.

“The CBCP-ECHC shares a commitment with you to improving the health and well-being of the most vulnerable and marginalized. We will journey beside you and all those working in the attempt to bring health to all, especially the many people, including children, who live on the periphery of society, and who suffer ill health and hunger,” bahagi ng pahayag ni Fr. Cancino sa panayam ng Radio Veritas.

Iginiit ni Fr. Cancino na ang pagkakaroon nang maayos na kalusugan ay karapatan ng bawat mamamayan, at hindi para sa kapakanan lamang ng iilan.

Umaasa ang opisyal ng CBCP na sa pamumuno ni Herbosa sa DOH ay higit nitong maipadama ang pagmamalasakit sa mga mahihirap sa pamamagitan ng pagsusulong at pagpapaigting ng mga programang pangkalusugan sa mga pamayanan.

Sinabi ng pari na mahalaga ito sapagkat karamihan sa mga pamayanan ang hindi ganap na naaabot o nakakatanggap ng mga serbisyong pangkalusugan.

“Let the health system focus on care for people, rather than simply treatment for specific diseases or conditions—factoring in all aspects of people’s individual lives and situations. As we are improving our health systems, never forget that we need to strengthen community systems (for health) as well,” saad ni Fr. Cancino.

Una nang nagpaabot ng pagbati si CBCP-ECHC vice chairman, Military Bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio sa pagkakahirang kay Herbosa bilang bagong kalihim ng DOH at umaasang matutugunan at mabibigyang-pansin ang mga usaping pangkalusugan na mahalaga para sa kapakanan ng bawat mamamayan.

LiCAS News
June 13, 2023

A coalition of civil society organizations on Tuesday criticized the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for promoting a “corporate-led energy transition” and supporting fossil fuel projects.

The groups claimed ADB is focusing on techno-fixes and false solutions – fossil gas, carbon capture and storage (CCUS), waste-to-energy incinerators, and large hydro projects – which “detracts from real solutions to the climate crisis”.

The groups staged a protest rally in front of the ADB headquarters in Pasig City coinciding with the 18th Asia Clean Energy Forum (ACEF).

“Year in and year out, the ACEF has been a platform for discussion for anything but clean energy. Now, in the pipeline are energy projects that would produce dirty, harmful, and costly power,” said Lawyer Aaron Pedrosa of Sanlakas.

He said ADB intends to do business “at the expense of the life, health, livelihood, and environment of host communities in shameless disregard of recent climate science”.

Lawyer Avril De Torres of the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development criticized the ADB’s support for fossil gas and false energy solutions. She said, “By failing to abandon gas, ADB consigns us to more years of polluting, costly power and in no way progress in breaking away from its dirty energy legacy.”

Chuck Baclagon of 350.org Asia emphasized the need to eliminate fossil fuels entirely and transition to clean, decentralized renewable sources.

To truly decarbonize, we need to eliminate fossil fuels entirely. The objective is to transform the financial system to prioritize clean, reliable, and affordable energy systems, ultimately achieving a fossil-free future that benefits both the people and our planet,” he said.

Rovik Obanil of the Freedom from Debt Coalition said the public must oppose ACEF’s fixation, which he described as “dangerous detours”.

The civil society groups highlighted specific concerns regarding the ADB’s energy sector pipeline, including a coal-to-gas switching project in Kazakhstan, and proposed partnerships with the Indian Oil Corporation for carbon capture and storage (CCUS) piloting and green hydrogen utilization.

They argued that these projects do not accelerate the phase-out of coal, oil, and gas dependency and can exacerbate water stress and harm local communities.

Mark Moreno Pascual of Recourse said ADB’s concept of ‘clean energy, involves false solutions “meant to incentivize profitable exit routes for fossil fuel corporations”.

Yobel Novian Putra of GAIA Asia Pacific called for an end to the ADB’s support for Waste-to-Energy (WtE) incinerators, highlighting the reliance on fossil fuels and the harmful impact on communities and waste workers.

The civil society groups also raised concerns about the ADB’s financing for climate adaptation and mitigation, primarily in the form of loans, which could exacerbate debt burdens for borrowing member countries.

Lidy Nacpil of APMDD stressed the need for a rapid, direct, equitable, and just transition to 100% renewable energy systems and non-debt-creating climate finance.

Ian Rivera of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice called for the ADB to break away from its corporate business model, emphasizing its failure to deliver genuine and transformative changes in the region.

By CBCP News
May 31, 2023
Manila, Philippines

The head of Manila’s Roman Catholic Church said that priests, as shepherds, have a duty to speak against violence and injustices.

At a priesthood ordination recently, Cardinal Jose Advincula warned the clergy against the “temptation” of silence to play safe because “the flock will be in danger of getting lost”.

“Do not be afraid to speak, especially in the face of oppression, injustice, violence, and evil,” Advincula said. “A silent shepherd when he is expected to speak is a form of negligence.”

“When the sheep do not hear the voice of their shepherd, they may easily follow false shepherds who will only do them harm,” he said.

Advincula made the statement in his homily during the priestly ordination of Fr. Florencio Unida at the Sagrada Familia Parish in Manila’s Sta. Ana district on May 18.

The cardinal, who is also a member of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy, emphasized that priests must speak up, but that their words must be of God.

“The flock will recognize our voices as their shepherds only if we speak the words of God to them,” he added.

The Manila archbishop also reminded the clergy that their prophetic ministry goes beyond the voice that comes from their mouths.

The more powerful and credible proclamation of Jesus is made, according to him, “through the voice that comes from the witness of our lives”.

“Let your life be a living proclamation of God’s word. May people see you, and by simply looking at you, may they already hear God speaking to them,” he said.

From the triumphalism that marked the Catholic Church’s celebration of the Great Jubilee of 2000 to the upcoming jubilee that will take place in our present “triste epoque”

Once the second assembly of the “Synodal Process” is concluded in October 2024, the next big event the Vatican will be focusing on is the “Jubilee of Hope” in 2025. Preparations are already underway for what looks to be a very Rome-centered Holy Year. It will begin in December 2024 and conclude on Epiphany in January 2026.

This is the first Holy Year since the Great Jubilee of 2000 and it comes nearly a decade after the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy of 2015-2016. The person responsible for preparing it is Archbishop Rino Fisichella, one of the two pro-prefects of the Dicastery for Evangelization, a position he got from Benedict XVI in 2010 as president of the now-defunct Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization. Fisichella, who will be 72 in August, was also a member of the central committee of the Great Jubilee of 2000 and vice-president (under Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) of its theological-historical commission.

Among other positions this former Gregorian University professor held was serving as chaplain to Italy’s Parliament from 1995-2010. This made him one of the country’s most important prelates entrusted with building an entente between the right-wing coalition led by Silvio Berlusconi and the pontificate of Benedict. Now that the Italian government is in the hands of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Berlusconi’s successor on the right, Fisichella appears — at least to some — to be the right man in the right place at the right time.

A big money event between the sacred and profane

Coordinating jubilee preparations between Vatican and Italian authorities is important because building and updating infrastructure in order to accommodate the 30-40 million people who are expected come to Rome means that lot of money will be changing hands. A large part of that will come from Italian taxpayers but funds will also come indirectly from the European Union. The Holy Year is always a typically Catholic mix of the sacred and profane. This has been the case since the very first jubilee in the year 1300, a very Roman Catholic institution that survived the Protestant Reformation and got a boost from 19th-century ultramontanism, which promoted supreme papal authority and the Vatican’s role in matters of spirituality and governance.

This tourist/business aspect of jubilees is nothing new. What is new is that today we live in a world that has changed significantly since even the past two jubilees. Jubilee 2025 will be quite different than the “Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy” that Pope Francis called less than three years into his pontificate, the most energetic phase of his time at the helm of the Church. The sexual abuse crisis had not yet hit the pontificate in a way that it has since 2018.The mood among Catholics at the time of Jubilee 2025 will be even more different from the “Great Jubilee” of 2000, which showcased a triumphant and overconfident Church, led by an already visibly ill John Paul II, the pope who was credited with helping to topple communism and revive Catholicism as a global force. It was a celebration of faith, that had important moments for many Catholics, especially for young people.

And now “la triste époque”

But the Jubilee of 2000 was also an illusory moment for the institutional Church and its influence both in the world and the ecclesial community. Less than a year after it was over, the world witnessed the horror of 9/11 — the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. Then, just a few months later, in January 2002, the Boston Globe’s “Spotlight” reports exploded Catholic Church’s abuse crisis at the global level.

Andrea Riccardi, the Italian historian and founder of the Sant’Egidio Community, said in 2011 that the post-2001 period should be known as “la triste époque” in contrast to the “belle époque” of the early 20th century, as well as to the 1990s illusion of the magnificent and progressive fortunes of globalization.

Catholic News Agency
May 29, 2023

From the Philippines to Portugal, Marian shrines around the world will participate in a special day of prayer this Wednesday for the work of the Synod on Synodality.

In his Regina Caeli address, Pope Francis announced that the day of prayer for the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will take place on May 31, the last day of the month dedicated to Mary.

“Let us ask the Virgin Mary to accompany this important stage of the Synod with her maternal protection,” the pope said.

The shrines of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Poland, the Knock Shrine in Ireland, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels in Costa Rica, Our Lady of Fourvière in France, and many other Marian shrines have confirmed their participation.

In the Philippines, 26 Marian shrines and minor basilicas will simultaneously hold prayers for the synod.

Nicaragua has announced that all parishes will take part in a full day of prayer for the synod. All dioceses in India, Malaysia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina will participate in the day of prayer.

Pope Francis also spoke about the upcoming Synod of Bishops at Pentecost Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica earlier in the day. He said: “Let us place the Holy Spirit at the beginning and at the heart of the work of the synod.”

“We walk together, because the Spirit, as at Pentecost, loves to descend while ‘everyone is together,’” he added. “The People of God, to be filled with the Spirit, must therefore walk together, hold a synod.”

After the Mass for the Solemnity of Pentecost, Pope Francis appeared in the window of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace to deliver the Regina Caeli address to the crowd gathered in a sunny St. Peter’s Square.

The pope prayed for people in Myanmar and Bangladesh affected by Cyclone Mocha. He also marked the 150th anniversary of the death of Italian novelist Alessandro Manzoni, the author of one of the pope’s favorite books “The Betrothed.”

Pope Francis reflected on how the Holy Spirit has the power to free people from “the prisons of fear.”

He said that only once the apostles received the gift of the Holy Spirit, they dared to leave the upper room and go into the world to forgive sins and announce the good news of the Gospel.

“Thanks to [the Holy Spirit], fears are overcome and doors open. Because this is what the Spirit does: he makes us feel God’s closeness and so his love drives away fear, illuminates the path, consoles, supports in adversity,” the pope said.

“In the face of fears and closures, then, let us invoke the Holy Spirit for us, for the Church, and for the whole world: because a new Pentecost can drive away the fears that assail us and rekindle the fire of God’s love.”

“Holy Mary, who was the first to be filled with the Holy Spirit, intercede for us,” Pope Francis said.

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“The birth of children, in fact, is the main indicator for measuring the hope of a people,” Pope Francis said.

Catholic News Agency
May 12, 2023

Pope Francis said on Friday, May 12, a society’s birth rate is a key indicator of the hope people have in the future.

The pope shared the stage on May 12 with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during a two-day conference on “The General State of the Birth Rate,” held at Conciliazione Auditorium close to the Vatican.

“The birth of children, in fact, is the main indicator for measuring the hope of a people,” Pope Francis said. “If few are born it means there is little hope. And this not only has repercussions from an economic and social point of view but also undermines confidence in the future.”

“The General State of the Birth Rate” is a conference for Italian political, business, and organization leaders to reflect on Italy’s demographic crisis, caused by one of the lowest birth rates in Europe: 1.25 births per woman.

The event was organized by the Foundation for Births and the Family Associations Forum and supported by the Italian Ministry for Family, Birth, and Equal Opportunity.

This was the third annual conference and the second time Pope Francis attended. In 2022, he sent a message to be read at the event.

Italy hit a historic low number of births in 2022, with only about 393,000 children born in the country.

The limited edition coffee table book features iconic moments, behind-the-scenes photos, and inside stories from the people’s campaign in 2022

LiCAS News
May 10, 2023

Former vice president Leni Robredo marked the first anniversary of the “people’s campaign” on Tuesday, May 9, with the launch of her coffee table book titled “Tayo ang Liwanag.”

The limited edition coffee table book features iconic moments, behind-the-scenes photos, and inside stories from the people’s campaign in 2022.

“If I have to go through it all over again, I will. Kasi sa tingin ko, marami tayong na-achieve na on the day I announced my candidacy,” said Robredo who ran for president in last year’s national elections.

“I never thought na ma-aachieve natin,” she said, referring to the “spirit of volunteerism” that her supporters claimed was sparked during the people’s campaign in 2022.

As a beneficiary of the proceeds from the book, the non-government Angat Buhay, through its executive director Raffy Magno, expressed gratitude to individuals who continue to express their support.

“Hope and bayanihan create a virtuous cycle,” said Magno.

“It is the hope of our volunteers, partners, and supporters that continue to push Angat Buhay in its work to help alleviate poverty, which in turn inspires even more Filipinos to volunteer what they have and what they can do,” he added.

Janvic Mateo – The Philippine Star
May 12, 2023 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — While still above pre-pandemic figures, fewer Filipinos have experienced involuntary hunger in the first quarter of the year, according to a recent survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS).

Results of the March 26 to 29 survey released on Thursday found that 9.8 percent of Filipino families or an estimated 2.7 million experienced involuntary hunger or being hungry and not having anything to eat at least once in the past three months.

It was down from 11.3 percent (estimated 2.9 million families) and 11.8 percent (estimated three million families) obtained in similar surveys conducted in October and December 2022, respectively.

However, SWS said that it was still higher than the record-low 8.8 percent (estimated 2.1 million families) in December 2019, a few months before the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to SWS, the March 2023 hunger rate is composed of 8.6 percent of respondents who said they experienced moderate hunger (down from 9.5 percent in December) and the 1.2 percent who experienced severe hunger (down from 2.3 percent).

Moderate hunger refers to those who experienced hunger “only once” or “a few times” in the last three months, while severe hunger refers to those who experienced it “often” or “always” in the last three months.

The survey showed that involuntary hunger fell across all areas.

Involuntary hunger was highest among those in Mindanao at 11.7 percent (from 12.7 percent), followed by Metro Manila at 10.7 percent (from 11.7 percent), Visayas at 9.7 percent (from 12 percent) and the rest of Luzon at 8.7 percent (from 11.3 percent).

Based on the survey, some 15.4 percent of those who rated their families as “poor” experienced hunger in the past three months, barely moving from 15.7 percent in December. But it sharply fell among “non-poor,” composed of those who rated themselves as “not poor” and “borderline poor” (from 7.8 percent to 3.9 percent).

Involuntary hunger rose slightly among self-rated “food-poor” (from 17.7 percent to 18.5 percent), while it fell sharply among “non-food-poor,” or those who rated themselves as “not food-poor” and “borderline food-poor” (from 11.8 percent to 4.3 percent).

The recent survey found that 51 percent of the respondents rated their families as “poor,” 30 percent as “borderline poor” and 19 percent as “not poor.”