Despite being on vacation and holding few public appearances, Pope Francis kept busy in July. The pope began the month by appointing a lay person as the head of a Vatican dicastery for the first time in history.
Italian Paolo Ruffini was named the new prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, a position that oversees the Vatican press office and communication outlets.
One of the Holy Father's public ceremonies in July was a Mass for refugees on the fifth anniversary of his first papal visit to Lampedusa. The pope used the opportunity to send a strong message about mistreatment of the marginalized.
POPE FRANCIS
“This is not a question directed to others; it is a question directed to me, to you, to each of us. How many of the poor are trampled on in our day! How many of the poor are being brought to ruin! All are the victims of that culture of waste that has been denounced time and time again.
Regarding the migration crisis, Pope Francis called for the breaking down of walls and a response of solidarity and mercy.
POPE FRANCIS
“A response less concerned with calculations, than with the need for an equitable distribution of responsibilities, an honest and sincere assessment of the alternatives and a prudent management. A just policy is one at the service of the person, of every person involved.”
The Holy Father later traveled to Bari, in southern Italy, for an ecumenical encounter with 19 patriarchs and leaders from Middle Eastern churches to hold dialogue and pray for peace.
While there, Pope Francis launched a bold statement denouncing the indifference shown toward religious minorities in the region.
POPE FRANCIS
“Indifference kills, and we desire to lift up our voices in opposition to this murderous indifference. We want to give a voice to those who have none, to those who can only wipe away their tears. For the Middle East today is weeping, suffering and silent as others trample upon those lands in search of power or riches.”
Later in the month, the pope presided over his second consistory of the year, this time to announce that a young Italian boy from the mid-19th century, Nunzio Sulprizio, would be canonized during the October Synod on the youth.
After barring Cardinal Theodore McCarrick from any public ministry in June, the pope accepted the former archbishop's resignation near the end of July. It became the first time a cardinal fully renounced his position and title over sexual abuse.
To conclude the month, 60,000 young altar servers from around the world flooded St. Peter's Square. In his encounter with them, Pope Francis made things very clear about everyday holiness.
POPE FRANCIS
“Effort must be made to do good always and become saints... the path to holiness is not for the lazy. Effort must be made.”
The joyous occasion marked the end of the Holy Father's month-long vacation, ahead of an eventful month of August.
