Download The Full Text of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation “Amoris Laetitia” - on The Joy of Love.

The Vatican on Friday, April 8 2016 published the much-awaited Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis titled “Amoris Laetitia” – On the Joy of Love. The Document on love in the family, signed on 19 March 2016, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, contains the results of the two Synods on the family convoked by Pope Francis in 2014 and 2015. In 2014 the Vatican hosted an Extraordinary Synod which was in preparation for the October 2015 Ordinary Synod. An estimated 190 bishops from around the world participated in each gathering. The 2015 Synod’s theme was “the vocation and mission of the family in the Church and the modern world.”

You can find the text of the official summary of the Apostolic Exhortation here

You can find the full unabridged text of the Apostolic Exhortation here

An Official Summary of the Apostolic Exhortation “Amoris Laetitia” – On the Joy of Love

Introduction (1-7)

The Apostolic Exhortation is striking for its breadth and detail. Its 325 paragraphs are distributed over nine chapters. The seven introductory paragraphs plainly set out the complexity of a topic in urgent need of thorough study. The interventions of the Synod Fathers make up [form] a “multifaceted gem” (AL 4), a precious polyhedron, whose value must be preserved. But the Pope cautions that “not all discussions of doctrinal, moral or pastoral issues need to be settled by interventions of the magisterium”. Indeed, for some questions, “each country or region … can seek solutions better suited to its culture and sensitive to its traditions and local needs. For ‘cultures are in fact quite diverse and every general principle… needs to be inculturated, if it is to be respected and applied’” (AL 3).This principle of inculturation applies to how problems are formulated and addressed and, apart from the dogmatic issues that have been well defined by the Church’s magisterium, none of this approach can be “globalized”.In his address at the end of the 2015 Synod, the Pope said very clearly: “What seems normal for a bishop on one continent, is considered strange and almost scandalous – almost! – for a bishop from another; what is considered a violation of a right in one society is an evident and inviolable rule in another; what for some is freedom of conscience is for others simply confusion.”

Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah’s Sermon on the Occasion of the Thanksgiving of Chief Jim Nwobodo at Holy Ghost Cathedral Enugu on January 10, 2016

When I saw two missed calls from Jim Nwobodo over a week ago, I decided to return the call immediately. He sounded quite excited when he answered the call and then went straight to the point. I have good news for you, he said.

I have decided to join the Catholic Church and I want to specially invite you to be at the Mass in Enugu on January 10th. I congratulated him and said I would check with my Diary to see if I had a window. I used the chance to first call the Bishop of Enugu, His Lordship, Bishop Onaga to intimate him of the invitation. He too sounded quite excited and went on to tell me some of the good things that Chief Nwobodo had done for the Catholic Church during his tenure as Governor of Anambra State. 

He added his voice to the invitation and by the time we had ended, he asked if I could take the Sermon for the day. Two days later, I again saw two missed calls or so from His Eminence, Antony Cardinal Okogie, the emeritus Archbishop of Lagos. I returned his call immediately. After the pleasantries, he confirmed enthusiastically that Chief Nwobodo had also invited him. He said despite his health, he would see if he can make the trip. Two days ago, I again saw two missed calls from him.

“Who am I to Judge”: Pope Francis Explains Himself in His New Book – The Name of God is Mercy

In his new book on God's mercy, Pope Francis explains that his oft-quoted words “who am I to judge”, about a homosexual person who is searching for the Lord with a good will, is simply his reflection on Church teaching found in the catechism.

The Name of God is Mercy, released Jan. 12 2015, is a book-length interview of Pope Francis by Italian journalist Andrea Tornielli. The book is meant to “reveal the heart of Francis and his vision,” according to Tornielli's foreward. He had wanted to ask the Pope about mercy and forgiveness, “to analyze what those words mean to him, as a man and a priest.”

The journalist asked Pope Francis about his experience as a confessor to homosexual persons and about his “who am I to judge” comment, made during his in-flight press conference from Rio de Janeiro to Rome July 28, 2013. 

Catholic Priest Kidnapped in Syria Eventually Released

A Catholic priest, Father Dhiya Azziz who was abducted in Syria on December 23 2015 has been released. The clergyman was seized as he was returning to his parish in Yakubiya after visiting relatives in Turkey and was set free on Monday evening, January 4 2016. In announcing his release, the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land declined to provide any details, citing “confidentiality reasons.” Earlier, Church spokesmen had said that Father Azziz was likely being held by an Islamic rebel group. His parish is situated in an area held by rebels. In fact,  Father Azziz had been kidnapped previously, in July, and held briefly by Islamic militants before he managed to escape.

Vatican Astronomer Reflects on the Magi Story and the Star of Bethlehem

Brother Guy Consolmagno, SJ, the director of the Vatican Observatory discussed the star of Bethlehem and the journey of the Magi in a front-page reflection published by L’Osservatore Romano on January 6, the feast of the Epiphany. “The feast of Epiphany is special to us astronomers,” he said. “Of all the visitors who came to see the newborn Savior, only shepherds and astronomers are specifically mentioned by St. Matthew. Of course, this fame comes with a cost. Epiphany is also the season when we astronomers are besieged with requests to ‘explain’ the Star of Bethlehem.”

After discussing Johannes Kepler’s identification of the star with a conjunction of planets, Brother Consolmagno said that “my experience as a scientist makes me approach the Magi story with a completely different set of unanswerable questions … The story of the Magi inspires us to look at our own journey. What are we looking for? Why do we look? How do we know it when we find it? And are we brave enough to return home with it, once we have found it?”

‘Stop Capital Punishment’ Florida Bishops tell Governor Rick Scott

Following the execution of Oscar Ray Bolin, Jr. slated for January 7 2016, the Catholic Bishops of Florida have urged the state’s Governor, Hon. Rick Scott to abolish capital punishment in the state. 

According to a letter signed by Michael Sheedy, the director of the Florida bishops’ conference, the bishops affirmed that the use of the death penalty has been “inconsistent, arbitrary, and too often applied in error.” Noting that Florida was one of only six US states to execute criminals last year, he urged a stay on the pending execution of Oscar Ray Bolin, Jr.