Tag Archives: Pope Francis

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SINGING NUN SUOR CRISTINA WINS ‘THE VOICE OF ITALY,’ FINALISTS CRY FOUL

June 6, 2014 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Sister Cristina — The Voice of Italy winner Suor Cristina

Rome, Italy (The Adobo Chronicles) – As expected, Suor Cristina, the 25-year old Sicilian nun, won the finals of the reality show The Voice of Italy.

In a success story that many have seen as fitting for the era of a popular, down-to-earth pope, Cristina Scuccia’s appearance on the reality television show has gripped viewers in Italy since her blind audition where she sang Alicia Keys’ No One. That performance — which left the judges looking incredulous and program directors suddenly seeing a potential blockbuster — went viral and generated more than 51 Million views on YouTube. Thursday’s finals garnered a 21% audience share for the public broadcaster’s Rai 2 Channel.

But as with any competition, there is controversy, and there are protests. The season finalists protested the audience vote, accusing Pope Francis of rigging the process — or at least using the papal influence to shape the outcome.

The Adobo Chronicles reported way back in March that Pope Francis said he would vote for Suor Cristina. Apparently, most of Italy’s 60 Million Catholics followed their spiritual leader.

The unsuccessful finalists said they have hired an attorney to file a formal protest and seek the annulment of the final results on the basis of “unfair advantage” on their part. Italians are skeptical about the merits of the complaint and more so, doubt its successful outcome since even in the Catholic Church, annulment (as in marriage annulment) is a very long and complicated process. Some have said that the finalists were just being sour losers.

Meanwhile, Suor Cristina is reportedly facing the biggest dilemma of her life: whether to quit the religious life and pursue a worldly singing career, or remain within her blessed calling.

International, Religion, Technology, The Media

POPE FRANCIS WILL TWEET ‘THE PASSION OF CHRIST’ ON PALM SUNDAY

April 10, 2014 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

The Vatican – It’s Palm Sunday this weekend, the day Roman Catholic rituals include a procession re-enacting Jesus Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem – complete with waving of palm tree branches – as well the reading of the longest gospel in the liturgical year.

The Palm Sunday gospel narrates ‘The Passion of Christ,’ including his last supper, agony in the garden, arrest, trial and crucifixion. It will be read in church services all over the world and during the Palm Sunday mass at St. Peter’s Square officiated by no less that Pope Francis.

In yet another of the many changes Pope Francis has initiated since he was elected leader of the Catholic Church, The Vatican just announced a different Palm Sunday service that will replace the reading of the pages-long Passion of Christ

In a prepared statement, Pope Francis said that instead of reading the long gospel on Palm Sunday, he will tweet a shortened version of the passion during Sunday’s services. He is encouraging Catholics planning to attend the services at St. Peter’s Square to bring their smartphones, tablets or other mobile devices so that they can call up and read the Pope’s tweet at the appropriate time during the mass.

Catholic faithful in Rome were quick to praise the Pope’s announcement, saying that the tweet will cut down the lengthy Palm Sunday services they are subjected to year after year. Members of the clergy said they are so looking forward to see how the Pope will deliver the Passion of Christ in 140 characters or less.

The Vatican encouraged Catholic churches throughout the world to follow Pope Francis’ example and also tweet the Palm Sunday gospel to their churchgoers.

(iReporter Spandan Chakrabarti, a non-Catholic, contributed to this report)

International, Politics, Religion, Travel

POPE FRANCIS SCOLDS PRESIDENT OBAMA

March 27, 2014 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

Vatican City – President Barack Obama met for the first time with Pope Francis on Thursday, sitting across from the pontiff at a simple desk in the papal library for a discussion that explored their philosophical common ground and their differences. After the meeting, Obama described his discussion with the pope as “wide-ranging” and focused mainly on two issues: how to help the poor and marginalized, and how to confront conflicts.

What the media reports are not saying was the fact that Pope Francis scolded Obama for the latter’s treatment of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. The Pope assailed Obama’s record in as far as the deportation of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. is concerned. The Obama administration has deported 2 Million undocumented immigrants, more than any American president. Immigration advocates have repeatedly called on Obama to stop deportations by executive order, but the President has said it would be difficult to act without Congress.

Pope Francis, wagging his finger at Obama, said that Jesus Christ had nothing but love and compassion towards sinners, the poor, the homeless, prostitutes, tax collectors and even criminals. “I don’t understand why you have allowed the undocumented immigrants to be separated from their families,” Pope Francis told Obama. The pope added: ” You yourself have adopted two dogs and provided them a comfortable and privileged life at your White House. Why can’t you do the same for these unfortunate human beings?”

Sources close to Obama said that the President merely smiled at the Pontiff without saying a word.