CNS_Catholic News Service, Wash., DC

Pope praises Our Lady of Guadalupe as great missionary of 'our America' By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Preceded by a procession of flags from the nations of the Americas and the recitation of the rosary in Spanish, Pope Francis and thousands of Catholics from across the Atlantic celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Vatican.

The Argentina-born pope celebrated the Dec. 12 Mass to the sounds and rhythms of many of South America's indigenous peoples; the principal sung parts of the Mass were from the "Misa Criolla," composed 50 years ago by the late Ariel Ramirez. His son, Facundo Ramirez, conducted the choir that featured Patricia Sosa, a famous Argentine singer, as well as guitars and traditional instruments from the continent. (full story)

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-- On the last day of a three-day visit to Turkey, Pope Francis attends a Divine Liturgy in the Orthodox patriarchal cathedral where he says full communion between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches would not mean "submission of one to the other or assimilation."

-- Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew sign a joint declaration expressing their hopes for full communion and highlighting the violence against Christians in the Middle East.

-- Pope Francis meets with a group of young refugees from civil wars in Syria and Iraq.

-- Pope Francis, speaking to reporters on the plane returning him to Rome, urges political and religious leaders across the Muslim word to condemn violence done in the name of Islam. He also talks about the recent synod of the family and relations with the Russian Orthodox.

-- Pope Francis issues an apostolic letter outlining the aims, expectations and horizons of the church's observance of a year dedicated to consecrated life. The year began Nov. 30.

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CNS_Catholic News Service, Wash., DC