Tag Archives: Vatican

VATICAN SCOLDS CATHOLIC FOUNDATION OVER NEW COMIC BOOK

imageVatican City, Italy (The Adobo Chronicles) – The Vatican has sent a stern reprimand to the Communication Foundation for Asia (CFA) for spreading false information that Pope Francis is merely a comic book superhero.

Based in Manila, CFA is a not-for-profit foundation whose mission is to harness the power of communication in order to promote Christian values and empower people in need towards social transformation.

In preparation for the Philippine visit in January by Pope Francis, the foundation has published a new comic book depicting the leader of the Catholic church as a fictitious character in the likes of Superman, Batman and Spiderman. The comic book’s title is “A Pope Named Francis.”

In its letter, The Vatican said that “Pope Francis is a real person, not a comic book superhero. While he seems too good to be true because of his down-to-earth policies and actions, the Pope is real. Let us not mislead our children – and adults – to believe otherwise.”

In view of the scolding, the foundation is now considering several alternatives on what to do with the millions of copies of the new comic book. One of the options being mulled is to burn the copies in a huge bonfire to be held at Rizal Park (Luneta) in Manila on the eve of Pope Francis’ arrival in the Philippines.

To cover the cost of producing the comic books, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is designating this Sunday’s collections to reimburse the foundation. CBCP appealed to the Filipinos to drop real money — not play money — in the collection basket.

WORLD CUP FINALS: TENSION IN THE VATICAN

Popes Francis, left, and Benedict, right
Popes Francis, left, and Benedict, right

Rome, Italy (The Adobo Chronicles) – It has come down to this: Germany or Argentina. Which team will win the 2014 World Cup?

The answer might boil down to who has greater favor with God — Pope Francis or Pope Benedict. Both Pontiffs have reportedly engaged in some major prayer petitions lately on behalf of their respective football teams.

Pope Francis is from Argentina and Pope Benedict is from Germany.

The outcome of Sunday’s World Cup finals will definitely confirm which of the two living popes is more favored by the Almighty.

Since the final match is scheduled on a Sunday when Catholics go to church to attend mass, will the Catholic faithful pray for their favorite team? Which prayer petition will be answered: pro Germany or pro Argentina?

There is so much tension in the Vatican right now.

 

POPE FRANCIS SCOLDS PRESIDENT OBAMA

President Obama and Pope Francis
President Obama and Pope Francis

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.