The election, a week ago, of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost to the Chair of Saint Peter opened the door to a new era in the history of the Catholic Church. In Macau, the Catholic community welcomes Pope Leo XIV with hope and optimism. The first Augustinian pope and the second from the Americas, the new pontiff is seen as the right choice to guide the Church through adversity and renew humanity’s trust in God’s love.
Nazareno Lanciotti, an Italian Transalpine missionary who for three decades dedicated himself to proclaiming the Gospel in the forests and poorest regions of Brazil, and especially to protecting young people from the most diverse forms of slavery imposed on them by prostitution traffickers and other human traffickers, will be proclaimed blessed.
The Lusophone Scouts Group of Macau (GELMac) organized an Investiture ceremony last Sunday, formally welcoming almost a dozen new members. The ceremonial, which took place in the Casa Ricci facilities, in Cheoc Van, marks the moment when a Scout publicly commits to the Scout Promise and Law. Next Saturday, the group will join a spiritual retreat in Ká-Hó.
After stepping out to the main balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica as Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost identified himself not by nationality, but as being “a son of Saint Augustine, an Augustinian”. That sense of identity, Father Javier González claims, is more than symbolic and unquestionably influences the pope’s spiritual and theological outlook. The former Prior Provincial of the Dominican Province of Our Lady of the Rosary is confident that Pope Leo XIV will continue the legacy of his predecessor, albeit with a much more moderate style. The Spanish missionary – who as a Dominican follows the Rule of Saint Augustine – believes Pope Leo will strive to safeguard the Church’s prophetic value and her loyalty to the Gospel of Christ. Fidelity to the Gospel, Father González says, is the only limit the Holy Father will face.
Some days ago, I was meditating on my journey of life. Four important words came up: forgiveness, the cross, compassion and prayer. It convinced me that these four words are excellent vitamins of another kind for the journey of this life. I decided to share my reflection with my dear readers.