WelCom February 2022
Pope Francis began his regular weekly address at the Vatican recently by talking about the role of St Joseph as an adoptive father. It was a celebration of adoption as ‘among the highest forms of love’. The general audience was part of a series of catechesis on St Joseph.
And then, in offhand comments, the Pope talked about how some people choose to have pets instead of children and warned of the dangers of a dwindling birth-rate in affluent countries.
In the context of the ‘demographic winter’ affecting Europe and other wealthy nations, the Pope encouraged people to ‘take the risk of welcoming children,’ biological or adopted.
‘Today … we see a form of selfishness,’ the Pope said, according to translations in multiple reports. ‘We see that some people do not want to have a child.’ Or, he said, they may have one or two kids – ‘but they have dogs and cats that take the place of children.’
The Pope’s comments, widely reported by the media out of context, drew criticism from pet owners and a number of commentators who argued that falling birth-rates are far more complicated than personal choice.
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 8 December
‘As has been the custom for many years an archdiocesan Mass will be celebrated on our diocesan feast day, 7pm, Thursday 8 December, at St Teresa’s Pro-Cathedral, Karori. The archdiocese will again be entrusted to the care of Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception at this Mass. Parishes are asked to renew that Consecration on the following Sunday, 11 December, at All parish Masses.’ – Cardinal John Dew
Dates and events – what’s on
December 2022
If you would like your event listed on this page, please send an outline to welcom@wn.catholic.org.nz including name of event, date, time, location and contact.
Pope Francis registers for the next World Youth Day in Lisbon
At the conclusion of the Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis registered for the next World Youth Day to be held in Lisbon, Portugal, in August 2023. Assisted and accompanied by Portuguese university students studying in Rome, the Pope tapped his way to becoming the first officially registered pilgrim for World Youth Day.