Pope leads prayer for quake victims in Syria, Turkey

POPE Francis concluded his public audience on Wednesday with a prayer for the intercession of the Virgin Mary for the thousands of victims of a deadly earthquake in Syria and Turkey.

“Let’s pray together so that these brothers and sisters can move forward from this tragedy. And we pray that Our Lady will protect them,” the pope said in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on February 8. He then led pilgrims at the event in praying a Hail Mary for all those affected.

A series of strong earthquakes in parts of Turkey and Syria on February 6 have created massive destruction and killed more than 15,000 people, according to the latest estimates reported by the Associated Press (AP) on Thursday.

“With deep feeling I pray for them and express my closeness to these peoples, to the families of the victims, and to all those who suffer because of this devastating natural disaster,” the pope said.

“I thank all those who are working to bring assistance and encouragement to them,” he added, “and solidarity to those areas, in part already tormented by a long war.”

On Monday, a “deeply saddened” Pope Francis sent “heartfelt condolences to those who mourn their loss” in telegrams addressed to the apostolic nuncios of Turkey and Syria after the earthquake. Rescuers pulled more survivors from beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings in Turkey on Thursday, but hopes were start - ing to fade of finding many more people alive more than three days after the catastrophic earthquake and series of aftershocks, AP said.

Francis’s topic for his February 8 general audience address was his January 31 to February 5 visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, which he called a “long-desired journey.”

The trip fulfilled “two ‘dreams,’” he said: “To visit the Congolese people, custodians of an immense country, the green heart of Africa and second in the world along with Amazonia. A land rich in resources and bloodied by a war that never ends, because there is always someone to feed the fire.”

“And,” he added, “to visit the South Sudanese people, in a pilgrimage of peace together with the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the moderator general of the Church of Scotland, Iain Greenshields: We went together to bear witness that it is possible and a duty to collaborate in diversity, especially if one shares faith in Christ.” Hannah Brockhaus/Catholic News Agency and AP

Pope confers 2 Filipinos among 10 new catechists, lectors

VATICAN—Pope Francis conferred the ministries of lector and catechist upon four men and six women from the Philippines, Mexico, Congo, Italy and the UK at a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Celebrating the Sunday of the Word of God on January 22, the pope presented Bibles to three new lectors and said: “Receive the book of Holy Scripture and faithfully transmit the Word of God, so that it may germinate and bear fruit in the hearts of men.”

The pope then spoke to the future catechists who knelt before him. He handed each one a silver crucifix, saying: “Receive this sign of our faith, seat of the truth and charity of Christ: proclaim him by your life, actions, and word.”

Filipinos in the catechist ministry

THE Filipinos among the new catechists who were conferred by the pope were Leon Asuncion and Norma Ramos from the Catechetical Foundation of the Archdiocese of Manila (CFAM).

Asuncion, 55, is from St. John the Baptist Parish in San Juan City, where he had been serving as Extraordinary Minister of the Holy Communion.

Blessed with four children, he and his wife, Juliefer, are also members of the Couples for Christ since 2008.

Asuncion’s involvement with CFAM started in 1992, where he served as catechist until 2000.

He also served as CFAM’s area coordinator, ministry assistant for research and development, and human resource development officer.

Since 2019, Asuncion has been serving as CFAM’s catechetical coordinator.

Ramos, meanwhile, is a catechist from St. John Bosco Parish in Manila’s Tondo district and volunteer servant of the The Lord’s Flock Catholic Charismatic Community.

At CFAM, she has been its head catechist since 2009.

The 57-year old also anchors Radio Veritas’ “Katekesis Like Ko To” program.

Ministries shaped by the pope

POPE Francis conferred the lay ministries on the Sunday of the Word of God, a day that he declared in 2019 on the 1,600th anniversary of the death of St. Jerome, who famously translated the Bible.