The Weekly Francis – Volume 353 – 24 March 2021

This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 18 March 2021 to 24 March 2021.

The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also post at Jimmy Akin’s blog.

Angelus

• 21 March 2021

Apostolic Letter

• 23 March 2021 – Apostolic Letter in the form of a “Motu Proprio” of Pope Francis regarding the containment of expenditures for employees of the Holy See, the Governorate of Vatican City State, and other connected Entities

General Audiences

• 24 March 2021

Messages

• 19 March 2021 – Video Message of the Holy Father on the occasion of the elevation of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Knock to an International Shrine of Special Eucharistic and Marian Devotion
• 19 March 2021 – Message of the Holy Father to the participants in the online meeting “Our daily Love”, for the opening of the “Amoris Laetitia Family” Year
• 19 March 2021 – Message for the 58th World Day of Prayer for Vocations 2021
• 22 March 2021 – Video Message of the Cardinal Secretary of State, on behalf of the Holy Father, for World Water Day
• 23 March 2021 – Message of the Holy Father to mark the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Alphonsus M. de Liguori Doctor Ecclesiae
• 24 March 2021 – Video Message of His Holiness Pope Francis on the Occasions of the Birth Centenary Celebration of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Fiftieth anniversary of the Independence of Bangladesh

Speeches

• 18 March 2021 – To the community of the Belgian Pontifical College
• 22 March 2021 – To the Community of the Pontifical Filipino College

Papal Tweets

• “To experience #Lent in hope means receiving the hope of Christ, who gave his life on the cross and was raised by God on the third day, and always being prepared to make a defence to anyone who calls us to account for our hope (1 Pt 3,15).” @Pontifex 18 March 2021
• “To experience #Lent in hope means receiving the hope of Christ, who gave his life on the cross and was raised by God on the third day, and always being prepared to make a defence to anyone who calls us to account for our hope (1 Pt 3,15).” @Pontifex 19 March 2021
• “Saint Joseph is an outstanding example of acceptance of God’s plans. May he help everyone, especially young people who are discerning, to make God’s dreams for them come true. #Vocations Message” @Pontifex 19 March 2021
• “To be a good father means to offer everything, holding nothing back; to protect without suffocating; to pardon without asking anything in return; to wait patiently and trustingly. It means following the example of the ”Good Father“ who is in heaven. May God bless all fathers!” @Pontifex 19 March 2021
• “Each day that begins, if welcomed in #prayer, is accompanied by courage, so that the problems we have to face no longer seem to be obstacles to our #happiness, but rather appeals from God, opportunities for our encounter with him. #WorldHappinessDay” @Pontifex 20 March 2021
• “Racism is a virus that quickly mutates and, instead of disappearing, goes into hiding, and lurks in waiting. Instances of racism continue to shame us, for they show that our supposed social progress is not as real or definitive as we think. #FightRacism #FratelliTutti” @Pontifex 21 March 2021
• “Every child who a woman expects in her womb is a gift that changes a family’s history: the life of fathers and mothers, grandparents and of brothers and sisters. That child needs to be welcomed, loved and nurtured. Always! #WorldDownSyndromeDay” @Pontifex 21 March 2021
• ““Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (Jn 12:23–24). Precisely then, in trials and in solitude while the seed is dying, that is the moment in which life blossoms, to bear ripe fruit in due time” @Pontifex 21 March 2021
• “For us believers, “sister water” is not merchandise: it is a universal symbol and is the source of life and health. Many brothers and sisters have access to too little and perhaps polluted water. It is necessary to assure potable water and hygienic services to all. #WorldWaterDay” @Pontifex 22 March 2021
• “How many times have we told the Lord: “Lord, I will come to you later… I can’t come today. Tomorrow I will begin to pray and do something for others”. In this life, we will always have things to do and excuses to offer, but right now is the time to return to God. #Lent” @Pontifex 23 March 2021
• “May we not let this time of grace pass in vain, in the foolish illusion that we can control the times and means of our conversion to the Lord! #Lent” @Pontifex 23 March 2021
• “Today is World #Tuberculosis Day. May this annual event foster a renewed interest in the treatment of this disease and increased solidarity toward those who suffer from it.” @Pontifex 24 March 2021
• “I am near the people and the families affected by the major floods that have caused serious damage in New South Wales in Australia, especially those who saw their houses destroyed. #PrayTogether” @Pontifex 24 March 2021
• “I learned with sorrow the news of the recent terrorist attacks in #Niger, which caused the deaths of 137 people. Let us #PrayTogether for the victims, for their families and for the entire population.” @Pontifex 24 March 2021
• “Mary was and is present in these days of the pandemic, near to the people who, unfortunately, have concluded their earthly journey all alone, without the comfort of or the closeness of their loved ones. Mary is always there next to us, with her maternal tenderness.” @Pontifex 24 March 2021

Papal Instagram

• Franciscus