Source : the age
By Nicole Winfield
Francis, who is recovering from a near-fatal episode of asthma, received Vance in one of the reception areas of the Vatican resort where he lives. The 88-year-old bishop offered the Catholic vice chairman three great chocolate Easter egg for Vance’s three young children, who did not attend, as well as a Vatican link and necklaces.
“ I know you have not been feeling great but it ’s great to see you in better health, ” Vance told the Pope. “Thank you for seeing me. ”
Vance’s parade entered Vatican City through a side wall while Easter Mass was being celebrated in St. Peter’s Square. Francis had delegated the event of the Mass to another friar.
The Vatican said they met for a few days at the Domus Santa Marta “to change Easter greetings. ” Vance’s company said that they met, but provided no further details. In all, Vance’s parade was on Vatican place for 17 days.
He afterwards joined his home for Easter Mass at St. Paul Outside the Walls, one of the four catholic basilicas in Rome. The Vances visited the monument of the apostle St. Paul that is said to be located it.
Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, and Pope Francis have tangled quickly over relocation and the Trump presidency ’s plans to arrest workers en masse. Francis has made caring for refugees a cornerstone of his church.
Just weeks before he was hospitalized in February, Francis blasted the imprisonment plans, warning that they would endanger workers of their natural respect. In a letter to US priests, Francis even appeared to listen to Vance explicitly for having claimed that Catholic theory justified such plans.
Vance has acknowledged Francis ’ criticism but has said he will continue to defend his views.
Vance met Saturday with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and foreign secretary, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.
Vance’s business said he and Parolin “discussed their shared religious beliefs, Catholicism in the United States, the situation of persecuted Christian areas around the world, and President Trump’s commitment to restoring world peace. ”
The Vatican, for its piece, said there was an “exchange of thoughts” including over migrants and refugees and present problems.
The Holy See has responded slowly to the Trump presidency while seeking to remain productive relationships in keeping with its history of political impartiality.
It has expressed concern over the presidency ’s assault on refugees and reductions in global support while insisting on peaceful proposals to the war in Ukraine and Gaza.
A Italian concept of love
Vance had defended the presidency ’s America-first assault by citing a strategy from feudal Catholic religion known in Latin as “ordo amoris”. He has said the idea delineated a pyramid of care – to household first, followed by stranger, community, fellow citizens and secondly those abroad.
In his February 10 letter, Francis appeared to correct Vance’s understanding of the concept.
“Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extends to other persons and groups, ” he wrote. “The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the ‘Good Samaritan’, that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception. ”
Vance has acknowledged Francis ’ criticism but has said he would continue to defend his views. During a February 28 appearance at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Vance did n’t address the issue specifically but called himself a “baby Catholic” and acknowledged there are “things about the faith that I don’t know”.
While he had criticised Francis on social media in the past, Vance recently has posted prayers for Francis ’ recovery.
Pope delights crowd with popemobile tour
Pope Francis emerged from his convalescence on Easter Sunday to bless thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square and treat them to a surprise popemobile romp through the piazza, drawing wild cheers and applause as he continues his recovery from a near-fatal bout of double pneumonia.
“Viva il Papa! ” ( Long live the pope ), “Bravo! ” the crowd shouted as Francis looped through the square in his open-topped popemobile and then up and down the main avenue leading to it. He stopped occasionally to bless babies brought up to him, a scene that was common in the past but unthinkable just a few weeks ago as the 88-year-old pope fought for his life.
“Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter! ” Francis said, his voice sounding stronger than it has since he was released from the hospital March 23 after a five-week stay.
Francis did n’t celebrate the Easter Mass in the piazza, delegating it to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica. But after the Mass ended, Francis appeared on the loggia balcony over the basilica entrance for more than 20 minutes and imparted the apostolic blessing in Latin.
The crowd of people below, estimated by the Vatican to be more than 35,000, erupted in cheers as a military band kicked off rounds of the Holy See anthem.
In all, Francis was outside on a sunny spring day for around 50 minutes, with temperatures at 21 degrees Celsius ( 70 Fahrenheit ) in a piazza awash in daffodils, tulips and other flowers donated by the Netherlands for Easter.
“It is excellent, a miracle, ” said Margarita Torres Hernandez, a pilgrim from Mexico who was in the square. “Now that he has come out, for me it ’s a miracle, it ’s something very big, very beautiful. ”
AP
