Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76 years of age, from Argentina, is the first non-European, and the first Jesuit pontiff to be elected. He has taken the name of Pope Francis I. As Latin America is a major emerging economic region in the world and holds around 40% of the world’s Catholic population, the election of His Holiness is very fitting. Even more fitting is the name that he selected- Francis, for St. Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis I is known for his simplicity, humility in life, as well as his dedication to social justice. This may just be an exciting time for Catholic Social Teaching and how Catholics will become more active in their faith.

Let us pray for Pope Francis I, the Holy Catholic Church, for solidarity and guidance.

To find out some more information, check out these links:

Learn more about Pope Francis I: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21777141

The Guardian’s Key Facts of Pope Francis I: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/13/new-pope-thirteen-key-facts

The Official Vatican News: http://www.news.va/en

The Vatican’s official website: http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm

BBC News article and coverage of the new Papacy: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21777494

Bloomberg’s coverage of the new Papacy: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-13/argentina-s-cardinal-jorge-bergoglio-is-elected-pope-francis-i.html

Check out page 6 of the Universe this week (7-13 January 2013) where Catholic Social Teaching makes a feature.

“First LiveSimply Parish Gets Award”

Sunday 16 September: St. John Bosco Church in Reading, became the first parish to be awarded the Livesimply Parish Award for their commitment to live more simply and sustainably and to stand in solidarity with the world’s poor.

Read the full article from the CAFOD website here.

Photo credit: CAFOD/Eleanor Church

What is the LiveSimply Award?

The LiveSimply Award is a national prize that gives recognition to Catholic parishes that put their faith into action through making differences in their community and in the world.

For more information, check out the CAFOD website’s section on the award here.

“Reflecting on our faith, strengthening the bonds of community, and living in tune with
God’s creation. These are all things we aspire to as Catholics and it is up to us to turn these aspirations into action.”

Find out how your parish can get involved:

Visit this website: livesimplyaward.org.uk or call David Hughes on 0114 263 6421.

[CAFOD, Registered charity number 285776]

‘Within a single generation, we could steer the earth toward our children’s future.’Joint Statement by Pope John Paul II and Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, June 2002

Catholic teaching: The new zeitgeist for Britain’s left

“A new zeitgeist is capturing business people, academics and political players from both the Left and the Right, looking for an ethical alternative for our time. Their inspiration? Catholic teaching.”

To read the full article, click here.

Susy Brouard, Spirituality Coordinator at CAFOD takes us through the theme of Human Dignity in greater depth.

Outlining that the very existence of human beings has an inherent value she explains why it is therefore essential for everyone to consider their neighbour. We must adhere to protecting human rights, as those who cause harm also insult human dignity and poison society, as well as causing damage to themselves.

To read in further depth click here.

Dr Martin Poulsom, lecturer of theology at Heythrop College explains the importance of community and participation, shown by their link to practical realities. Realities that we are not created by God to live alone and that we are created male and female to live in community with one another and God.

A community allows its members to share an identity together building a number of different branches and we must participate as much as we can to allow communities to grow.

To read his writings on community, participation and CST, click here.

The Vatican have addressed many issues concerning our world in a number of documents, reinforcing the idea that the environment is a gift from God so we must protect it.

To read more click here.

Government has a duty to protect the rights of its people and particularly its weaker members, and this is determined by the nature of humanity requiring us to have rules to govern our lives.

As we have seen with the increase of global communications it is now essential that good governments work together for peaceful solutions in conflict.

To read more click here.

To read more click here.

General Secretary of Pax Christi, Pat Gaffney speaks in depth on why Catholic Social Teaching allows people to be informed and to act in conscience when demands are made on them which challenge the gospel of peace. The challenge of peace extends to both interpersonal relationships as well as to communities and states.

Pope Benedict has often spoken out against the arms trade and nuclear war and has challenged Christians to be peace makers. This has been reflected by the Catholic Church calling for support from conscientious objectors to bring non violent solutions in situations of hurt and violence.

To read more click here.

Solidarity is a true human bond which links together all humans and God in the present, past and future generations. This bond allows humans to commit to the common good with solidarity being the virtue and practice underlying the commandment to love ones neighbour as oneself.

By God sending his son Jesus to live on earth we are also bought closer together in our bond to God and therefore to each other – with man being made in the image of God.

To read more click here.