Every day, Aleteia offers a selection of articles written by the international press about the Church and the major issues that concern Catholics around the world. The opinions and views expressed in these articles are not those of the editors.
1. Justin Welby: many Anglicans see the Pope as the father of the Western Church
2. “The primary responsibility for this "genocide" lies with the Canadian government," says a priest
3. Forgiveness of Assisi: young people and families march towards the “Portiuncula”
1Justin Welby: many Anglicans see the Pope as the father of the Western Church
"Many people in the Church of England, while not seeing the Pope as someone who has legal authority here, do see him as the father of the Western Church," said the Archbishop of Canterbury and Anglican Primate, Justin Welby, to journalists in London on Wednesday, reports Katholisch.de. He was in London for the Lambeth Conference, a gathering of all the world's Anglican bishops. He also said “ecumenism is one of the greatest challenges” and is “very ashamed that we haven't made more progress" on this front. Archbishop Welby said a fresh start is needed to end what is often called an "ecumenical winter." Regarding the trip to South Sudan with Pope Francis, which was supposed to happen in July but was then cancelled, he said that it will be organized as soon as the pontiff’s health permits.
2“The primary responsibility for this "genocide" lies with the Canadian government," says a priest
For Father Stéphane Joulain, a priest of the White Fathers (the Missionaries of Africa), who has lived in Canada for a long time, the criticism of Pope Francis' apology to the indigenous Canadians is not justified and, above all, exonerates the current political authorities of their responsibility towards a part of the population that still faces many difficulties. Applauding Pope Francis’ great humility in apologizing and recognizing the Church’s wrongdoings, Father Joulain emphasizes that “it should not be forgotten that the primary responsibility for this "genocide" lies with the Canadian government and its sovereign, the Queen of England.” “Many would like to hide this sad reality, claiming that the Canadian government has already done its mea culpa and that the page has been turned. However, the situation of the indigenous populations in Canada is far from ideal,” the priest continues, citing racism, discrimination and social problems as some of the issues these groups face. He also explained that the journey “of accompaniment and healing” is not yet over, and it is the Church in Canada that will have to keep working on this matter. “Today I want to give thanks for the courage, the humility of Pope Francis and especially for the message of hope that he has courageously transmitted,” Father Joulain concludes.
3Forgiveness of Assisi: young people and families march towards the “Portiuncula”
Around 1700 pilgrims, coming from all over Italy and Europe, walked through the doors of the “Portiuncula” Church of Assisi on August 2. This small Church is where Saint Francis understood his vocation and where he received from Pope Honorius III the grant of a plenary indulgence of sins called the "Forgiveness of Assisi." Since 1980 around 70,000 pilgrims have come to the city for this annual event, which had been suspended for the last two years due to the pandemic. Two types of marches, one for young people and one for families, were organized by the Franciscans in Italy. Friar Pietro Luca Roccasalva, who accompanied the families, said they were able to "bring back into their days the possibility of forgiveness, as a possibility of endless restarts."
Vatican News, Italian
