Pope Leo prays for those affected by a typhoon that has struck the Phiippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam and parts of China. He also announces that St John Henry Newman will be declared Doctor of the Church on the 1st November.
By Benedetta Capelli
Towards the end of the Mass for the Jubilee of Catechists, and before reciting the noonday Angelus prayer, Pope Leo addressed the faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square.
His thoughts turned in particular to Asia, where, he said, “a very powerful typhoon” has struck several regions, “in particular the Philippines, the island of Taiwan, the city of Hong Kong, the Guangdong region and Vietnam”
“I assure the affected populations,” the Pope continued, “especially the poorest, of my closeness and my prayers for the victims, the missing, the many displaced families, the countless people who have suffered hardship, as well as the rescue workers and civil authorities.”
“I invite everyone to put their trust in God and to show solidarity with others. May the Lord give strength and courage to overcome every adversity.”
Typhoon Ragasa, which said to be the strongest so far this year, has forced the evacuation of over two million people in Guangdong alone. In addition to extensive damage, flooding, power outages and landslides, it has caused at least 25 deaths in the Philippines and 14 in Taiwan.
John Henry Newman to be Doctor of the Church
The Pope also announced the date of the conferral of the title of Doctor of the Church, already announced on 31 July, on Cardinal John Henry Newman.
The English man of letters was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI on 19 September 2010 and then canonised by Pope Francis on 13 October 2019.
Pope Leo said that Newman “made a decisive contribution to the renewal of theology and the understanding of the development of Christian doctrine”.
Born on 21 February 1801 in London, Newman became an Anglican priest at the age of 24. In 1845, he asked to enter the Catholic Church, and two years later he was ordained a priest. A renowned theologian and philosopher, he was made a cardinal by Pope Leo XIII and chose the motto: ‘Cor ad cor loquitur’, ‘Heart speaks to heart’, a phrase attributed to St Francis de Sales and which Pope Francis referred to in his encyclical Dilexit nos.
Gratitude to catechists
Pope Leo then warmly greeted the individuals who had received the ministry of catechist during the Mass, as well as all those working all throughout the world.
“I extend my good wishes for a fruitful service to all catechists in the Church throughout the world! Thank you for your service to the Church. Let us pray for them, especially for those who work in difficult conditions.”