Pope's favourites revealed in book of past interviews

Soccer and subways and buses and paintings; these are a few of his favourite things

"The White Crucifixion" by Marc Chagall (1938), Pope Francis' favourite painting.

A book originally published in 2010, while Pope Francis was still Cardinal Bergoglio, has been retitled and republished as "Pope Francis: Conversations with Jorge Bergoglio". The book sheds light on a few of the Pope's favourite pastimes, sports, and hobbies including watching soccer and his favourite team San Lorenzo, reading, listening to music, and even his favourite virtue, person, and movie:

The interviews are in the book, "Pope Francis: Conversations with Jorge Bergoglio" by Sergio Rubin and Francesca Ambrogetti, which was originally published in 2010 under the title "El Jesuita" ("The Jesuit"). It is not yet available in English.

Catholic News Service has the story.

Does Planned Parenthood support post-birth abortion?

American representative advocates choice if a baby is born as a result of a botched abortion.

With almost 350,000 views, a video of an American pro-choice lobbyist blurring the line between abortion and infanticide is making its way around the Internet:

Alisa Lapolt Snow, the lobbyist representing the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, testified before the Florida House this week to oppose a law requiring abortionists to provide care for babies born alive during botched abortions in the most stark terms possible.

...

“If a baby is born on a table as a result of a botched abortion, what would Planned Parenthood want to have happen to that child that is struggling for life?”

“We believe that any decision that’s made should be left up to the woman, her family, and the physician,” Snow replied.

LifeSiteNews has the story. You can watch a recording of the testimony with the YouTube link above.

The Papal Roundup: A New Coat, A Compassionate Embrace, and More

Pontiff's gestures, comments, and a modified coat of arms keep Pope Francis in the spotlight

Pope Francis' modified coat of arms (right) remains simple but emphasises both Mary and Saint Joseph with clearer details. His original coat of arms is pictured to the left for comparison.

Adjustments were made to Pope Francis' coat of arms and the new coat was published on the Vatican website last Wednesday:

The papal coat of arms has undergone a few major adjustments to more clearly reflect the symbolism of Mary and St. Joseph.

The five-pointed star has been replaced with an eight-pointed star, and the spikenard flower looks more like a flower rather than a bunch of grapes, as it did in its original form.

It has been reported that there may be some reform coming to the Vatican Bank at the hands of the new Pontiff although details are not yet clear:

Those close  to Pope Francis, speaking on the condition of anonymity, say that the Holy Father is considering plans to remove the head of the Vatican Bank, Cardinal Tarciscio Bertone, who is the Vatican's second-in-command and is largely blamed for failing to stop infighting and corruption within the Holy See.

The parents of Dominic Gondreau, the boy with cerebral palsy who Pope Francis embraced before his installation mass on March 19, were interviewed about the encounter. The boy's father, Paul Gondreau, a professor of theology at Providence College in Rhode Island, USA, reflected:

Pope Francis’ embrace of my son yesterday turns this logic completely on its head and, in its own small yet powerful way, shows once again how the wisdom of the Cross confounds human wisdom. Why is the whole world so moved by images of this embrace?

The Pope commented on the oft-debated Shroud of Turin before it was televised on March 30:

"How is this possible? How is it that the faithful, like you, pause before this icon of a man scourged and crucified? It is because the Man of the Shroud invites us to contemplate Jesus of Nazareth. This image, impressed upon the cloth, speaks to our heart and moves us to climb the hill of Calvary, to look upon the wood of the Cross, and to immerse ourselves in the eloquent silence of love."

He also had lunch with a few priests who "work with the poor and under-privileged in the suburbs of Rome", saying:

"Open the doors of the Church, and then the people will come in…if you keep the light on in the confessional and are available, then you will see what kind of line there is for confession."

There is no doubt that Pope Francis will continue to fascinate the public. Keep following The Busy Catholic blog for more on the Pope of many firsts.

Pope personally cancels daily newspaper delivery

Pope Francis greeted kiosk owner, asked for his prayers

Pope Francis gives a thumbs-up gesture (Photo by Paul Hanna, Reuters)

In his new role, the Pope will no longer require a morning newspaper delivered to his home in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He surprised the owner of a local kiosk when he called and cancelled his subscription himself:

Around 1:30 p.m. local time on March 18, Daniel Del Regno, the kiosk owner’s son, answered the phone and heard a voice say, “Hi Daniel, it’s Cardinal Jorge.”

He thought that maybe a friend who knew that the former Archbishop of Buenos Aires bought the newspaper from them every day was pulling a prank on him.

“Seriously, it’s Jorge Bergoglio, I’m calling you from Rome,” the Pope insisted.

 Catholic News Agency has the story here.

Pro-abortion politicians receive Communion at installation Mass

Prominent American politicians Catholic but pro-abortion, pro-contraception

Joe Biden (centre with sunglasses) at Pope Francis' installation mass, March 19. (Photo by Riccardo De Luca/AP)

Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi received Communion at Pope Francis' installation mass on March 19. The Washington Times has the story:

Vice President Joseph R. Biden and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi both received Communion during the Mass to celebrate the installation of Pope Francis in spite of their pro-choice position on abortion.

The vice president’s office confirmed Tuesday night that both he and Mrs. Pelosi took Communion during the Mass at St. Peter’s Square in Rome.

Some Catholics argue that politicians whose positions on abortion and contraception conflict with church teachings should not receive communion.

You can read the rest of the story here.

Habemus pictura: Official portrait of Pope Francis released

The Pope's cross portrays Christ as the Good Shepherd.

The Vatican released its official portrait of Pope Francis yesterday morning, Pacific time.You can find the Vatican news release from its official Facebook page here.

Catholic grandma attacked outside American abortion clinic

Camera-phone footage records assault

An elderly Delaware woman was attacked outside an abortion clinic last week while filming the transfer of a woman for an abortion injury:

Earlier in the day Rae Stabosz had been praying outside the Planned Parenthood clinic when a woman and her mother came to the clinic. Rae learned that the woman was suffering complications to an abortion she received on March 8. Rae persuaded them to go to St. Francis hospital where it was discovered that aborted baby body parts, including a leg and foot, had been left behind by the abortionist. The woman required additional surgery and was referred to legal counsel.

You can read the rest of the account here and watch the video, embedded above. (Warning: video contains violence and profanity.)

'The Bible' makes its television debut

Small-screen premiere draws 1.05 million Canadian viewers

A ten hour, five part epic television mini-series based on the Bible called "The Bible" debuted on March 3 to high ratings on the History Channel. The series, produced by Catholics Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, is based on the New International Version and New Revised Standard Version translations of the Bible. Two episodes are aired each Sunday at 8 p.m. with airtime of an hour each; the first five cover the Old Testament and the rest follow the Gospels. The series was developed with consultation from a wide range of multi-denominational advisors including Tom Peterson of Catholics Come Home and a Catholic cardinal.

Reception for the series has been mixed although viewership ratings were high. In Canada, the series premiere drew 1.05 million viewers while in the United States it drew 13.1 million. Viewership in the States has hovered around the ten million mark since then.

You can watch the series trailer above and catch the last four episodes on March 24 and 31 at 8 p.m. on the History Channel, just in time for Palm and Easter Sunday.

Catholics can "adopt a cardinal," support him with prayer

Father Federico Lombardi, SJ: There is a movement of prayer with the help of a website.

A screen capture of the "Adopt a Cardinal" website.

In light of the announcement of the papal conclave, a new initiative provides prayer for cardinals and, quite possibly, the next Pope:

Jugend 2000 (Youth 2000), an international Catholic youth movement that was founded in 1990 after John Paul II visited Santiago de Compostela in 1989, has crafted an innovative way to involve Catholics in praying for the cardinals involved in the process of electing the new Pope.

They have sponsored a web page-http://www.adoptacardinal.org-in which you are assigned a particular cardinal (randomly) to pray for before the conclave, during the conclave, and for three days after the election.

You can read the rest of the story here and adopt your very own cardinal at this link.

Conclave set to begin Tuesday, March 12

B.C. Catholic journalist continues coverage

An artist's depiction of Burns (without beard) at the Vatican. 

Alistair Burns will continue to cover his conclave coverage while he is in Vatican City. If you're not already subscribed to them, you can find his Vatican Dispatches on The B.C. Catholic's website here.

In the meantime, here are some photos of cardinals arriving to meet and vote on when to hold the papal conclave.

(Photo: Alistair Burns / The B.C. Catholic)

(Photo: Alistair Burns / The B.C. Catholic)

(Photo: Alistair Burns / The B.C. Catholic)

(Photo: Alistair Burns / The B.C. Catholic)

As always, you can continue to receive updates by subscribing to this blog, our Facebook page, and our Twitter feed.

Young "cardinals" hold mock conclave

"Pope" Sebastian I will not be pope or even antipope

Catholic elementary students hold a mock conclave complete with mock cardinals and pontifical Swiss guards.

St. Louis Catholic School, an elementary school in Virginia, USA, held a mock conclave on Monday, March 4. The young boys represented cardinals, voted amongst themselves, and chose a successor to Peter's chair--albeit in fun and as a learning experience.

You can see more photos and read the rest of the story at Father John Zuhlsdorf's blog here.

Catholics can share 'A Moment with Mary' in daily prayer

Vatican broadcasts rosary each weekday at 7 a.m. Pacific Time.

Minnesotan seminarians pray the rosary at St. Peter's Basilica (Alan Holdren / CNA)

The Vatican, as a part of promulgating the Year of Faith, is now broadcasting the rosary from St. Peter’s Square. The Vatican Television Centre will broadcast “A Moment with Mary” from Monday to Friday at 4 p.m. in Vatican City (7 a.m. Pacific Time).

Estefania Aguirre at Catholic News Agency (CNA) writes:

The broadcast is meant to be a response to the Pope asking that the Year of Faith be a time of entrusting people to the Blessed Virgin by praying the Rosary every day.

You can read more at CNA here and view live broadcasts from the television centre at this link.

New sign at men’s hostel energy efficient

First major sign repair since the 1980s

The Catholic Charities Hostel for Men, located at the corner of Robson and Cambie Street, put up a new sign last December. The repair to the sign makes it energy efficient, rewiring it to use 40% less power than before and using a photo cell instead of a timer to conserve more energy. The sign features an image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd in reference to the Gospel of John.

The hostel began its mission in October 1958 under Archbishop Martin Michael Johnson and officially opened its doors in November 1959. It is one of four social services that the Archdiocese of Vancouver’s Catholic Charities provides.

Catholic Charities was established in Vancouver in the 1930s under Archbishop William Mark Duke. In addition to the men’s hostel, the Charities provide justice services (prison ministry), a refugee sponsorship program, and a drop-in centre in the Downtown Eastside called The Door is Open. 

More information about the Catholic Charities Hostel for Men, which is open 365 days a year, can be found here.

Thousands take to streets, Twitter at American March for Life

Pro-lifers march in Washington to rally against abortion

The 40th annual March for Life began today in Washington, D.C. at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The march will continue until about 1:30 p.m. and is expected to draw over 400,000 people.

The pro-life presence is also being felt on social media with attendees live-tweeting and documenting their experience. Both laity and clergy alike have utilised Twitter to promote the march. His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI tweeted this morning in solidarity with the event, offering his prayers.

Organised by the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, its goal is to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade court decision which abolished restrictive abortion laws in the United States.

You can follow the March for Life on Twitter throughout the day with the hashtags #MarchForLife and #MFL. Their website can be found here.