Maria, ster van de evangelisatie

About 600 light-years from Earth, Kepler 22-b is not close to home, it doesn’t have a very romantic name and while scientists are not yet sure if it is made mostly of rock, gas or liquid, it does have similarities to our own – making it the latest best potential for a life sustaining planet.

On Monday NASA said the Kepler space telescope has confirmed its first-ever planet in a habitable zone outside our solar system. Kepler-22b, initially glimpsed in 2009, is the first the US space agency has been able to confirm. 

"That children and young people may be messengers of the Gospel and that they may be respected and preserved from all violence and exploitation"

The Pontifical Council for Culture has teamed up with a U.S. biopharmaceutical company to host a conference in the Vatican November 9-11^th on cutting edge stem cell research. 

Dr. Robin Smith, chief executive officer of the U.S. biopharmaceutical company NeoStem, spoke to Vatican Radio on a recent visit to the Vatican where she came to give details about her company’s new partnership with the Pontifical Council for Culture which has made a big investment in NeoStem’s research into the therapeutic potential of adult stem cells. 

Pope Benedict XVI appealed today for the success of the upcoming G-20 meeting in Cannes. His appeal came at the end of his weekly General Audience. “It is my hope,” said Pope Benedict, “that the meeting might help to overcome the difficulties that, on a global level, are blocking the promotion of an integral and authentically human development.”

Before the appeal, in his catechesis, the Holy Father reflected on the Solemnity of All Souls, which the Church keeps every November 2^nd. 

During his Angelus on Tuesday, Pope Benedict said “the Feast of All Saints is a good time to lift our gaze from the realities of the world… to the enormity of God, who encompasses all eternity and holiness. “ 

He said holiness is the vocation of all the baptized, and all the people of God are called to be saints.

The Pope then turned his thoughts to Wednesday’s commemoration of All Souls.

"That the African continent may find strength in Christ to pursue justice and reconciliation as set fourth by the second Synod of African Bishops"

Book of Revelation 7:2-4.9-14. 
Then I saw another angel come up from the East, holding the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who were given power to damage the land and the sea, 
"Do not damage the land or the sea or the trees until we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." 
I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal, one hundred and forty-four thousand marked from every tribe of the Israelites: 
After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. 
They cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb." 
All the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They prostrated themselves before the throne, worshiped God, 
and exclaimed: "Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen." 
Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me, "Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?" 
I said to him, "My lord, you are the one who knows." He said to me, "These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 

Pope Benedict XVI prayed for the victims of recent flooding in Thailand and Italy. The Holy Father began his remarks to the faithful following the Angelus prayer this Sunday in St Peter’s Square by recalling the devastation in both countries. “Dear brothers and sisters,” he said, “I express my closeness to the people of Thailand hit by serious flooding, as well as in Italy, to those of Liguria and Tuscany, recently damaged by the consequences of heavy rains.”

Pope Benedict XVI received the bishops of Angola and Sao Tomé on Saturday, who are here in Rome for their ad limina visits. In greeting the bishops, the Holy Father recalled his March, 2009 visit to Luanda, during which he said he was able to celebrate Jesus Christ in the midst of a people who never tire of seeking to love and serve with generosity and joy. Pope Benedict also used the occasion to explain that his recent decision to proclaim the Year of Faith from October 2012 to November 2013, was so that the whole Church might demonstrate to all a more beautiful and credible face, that the face of the Lord might show through the Church more clearly.

Jill Bevilacqua brings us reflections for the Thirtyfirst Sunday of the Year in her programme "There's more in the Gospel than meets the eye". Readings by Seàn-Patrick Lovett.

Listen to Vatican Radio : >>  

Gospel Mt 23: 1-12

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
"The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. 
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example. 
For they preach but they do not practice. 
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people's shoulders, 
but they will not lift a finger to move them. 
All their works are performed to be seen. 
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.'
As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.'
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. 
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called 'Master';
you have but one master, the Christ. 
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."