Pope Francis blesses global rosary relay for priests

June 2, 2020 CNA Daily News News Briefs 0 Print

Vatican City, Jun 2, 2020 / 04:00 am (CNA).- Pope Francis has given his apostolic blessing to a worldwide rosary relay for priests. 

In a message to the Worldpriest Rosary Relay for the Sanctification of Priests 2020, dated April 25, the pope expressed his support for the event which takes place June 19.

Participating shrines pray a mystery of the rosary at a designated half hour in thanksgiving for the priesthood and to seek Mary’s protection for priests. They pray in relay across time zones until the globe has been encircled in prayer.

The message, sent by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin to Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam, said: “His Holiness Pope Francis was pleased to learn of the Annual Global Rosary Relay for Priests to take place on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.”

“He joins all taking part in praying that priests everywhere will be confirmed in their ministry of proclaiming and celebrating the merciful love of Christ the Redeemer, and become ever more fully shepherds after his own Heart.”

“To all he cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing.”

Archbishop Neary is the episcopal adviser to Worldpriest, which was founded in 2003 by Irish entrepreneur Marion Mulhall. She established the organization to “affirm the dignity, beauty and gift of the Priesthood of Jesus Christ to Humanity.”

In 2009, Mulhall oversaw the launch of the Global Rosary Relay, which takes place annually on the feast of the Sacred Heart. 

Due to the coronavirus crisis, organizers are encouraging participants in this year’s rally to livestream their prayers or, if that is not possible, to pray in small numbers in churches, respecting measures to restrict the spread of the disease.  

The Worldpriest website explains that all Catholics can participate in the event from any location.  

“Simply join in prayer with many of the livestreaming presentations, such as the live television broadcasts by Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) — our media partners — or through radio, Facebook Live and YouTube, all broadcast from many prayer locations worldwide,” it says.

The global rosary rally began with 24 locations in 24 countries. Last year it recorded 255 locations in more than 70 countries. 

This year Catholics in more than 85 countries are expected to take part. Locations include Our Lady of Magadan in Russia’s Far East, the Shrine of Our Lady of Kibeho in Rwanda, the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal, and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

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Benedict XVI’s funeral: Only 2 countries will send official delegations

January 2, 2023 Catholic News Agency 3
Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the longtime personal secretary of Benedict XVI, greets Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, on Jan. 2, 2023, at St. Peter’s Basilica, where Benedict is lying in state. / Vatican Media

Rome Newsroom, Jan 2, 2023 / 06:30 am (CNA).

Just two official state delegations — from Italy and Germany — will attend the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the Vatican’s press office has confirmed, answering one of the many novel protocol questions posed by the death of a pope emeritus.

The German-born Benedict, formerly Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, lived in Italy for more than 40 years, beginning in 1981. The Holy See Press Office confirmed on Dec. 31 that the two countries were sending official representatives to the funeral, which will be on Thursday.

Both Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Italian Prime Minister Geogia Meloni paid their respects to the late pontiff Monday morning at St. Peter’s Basilica, where his body will lie in state through Jan. 4. While there, Meloni offered her condolences to Benedict’s longtime personal secretary, Archbishop Georg Gänswein.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella (first row, second from right) and his daughter Laura Mattarella, Italy's First Lady, pay their respects to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, whose body lies in state in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, on Jan. 2, 2023. Vatican Media
Italian President Sergio Mattarella (first row, second from right) and his daughter Laura Mattarella, Italy’s First Lady, pay their respects to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, whose body lies in state in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, on Jan. 2, 2023. Vatican Media

According to the news magazine Der Spiegel, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will attend Benedict’s funeral on Thursday in an official capacity. 

The protocols after the death of a reigning pope have in the past provided a well-known set of rituals, but the death of a pope emeritus presents a unique situation. Speculation about whether he would be buried in papal dress or that of a cardinal has been accompanied by other questions surrounding who will attend the funeral in an official capacity since Benedict XVI is no longer a head of state. 

The answer appears to be a mixture of papal rites. Buried in the papal red, his body was adorned with many features reserved for a pope, but not all: the characteristic red shoes worn by Benedict as pope were replaced by black ones. In the case of official delegations, just two were invited, though any public figure can attend the event in a personal capacity. 

According to official numbers reported by CNA in 2005, 159 delegations attended the funeral of John Paul II, the last reigning pontiff to die. Additionally, 157 cardinals, 700 archbishops, and more than 6,000 journalists, photographers, and other media personnel were in attendance. 

The funeral of a reigning pope is attended by a large number of cardinals, who have to come to Rome to attend the conclave, the election of a new pope. The number of cardinals who will attend Benedict’s funeral has not yet been confirmed, given that no conclave will occur. 

The funeral of Benedict XVI will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 5. You can view it live on EWTN here.

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