In keeping with tradition, one of the pope’s first meetings of the year was with the ambassadors to the Vatican. During his New Year's greeting, he addressed some issues of international importance, urging them to find appropriate solutions.
POPE FRANCIS
“Another cause for concern is the proliferation of political crises in a growing number of countries of the American continent, accompanied by tensions and unaccustomed forms of violence that sharpen social conflicts and have grave socioeconomic and humanitarian consequences. Here, in this setting, I would like to mention Venezuela in particular, so that efforts to seek solutions will continue.”
Pope Francis began 2020 with an agenda full of meetings with various world leaders. Among them is the new president of his home country, Alberto Fernandez.
During the meeting, the pope joked with the first lady about her work with Scholas, a papal foundation that helps young people.
'We are organizing something...'
'We are making some noise.”
'Making some noise, as you ordered.'
Pope Francis also met with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence in January. The meeting was held at the Vatican.
“Your Holiness...”
“Pleased to meet you.”
“What a great honor. What a great honor. Thank you.”
Mike Pence was visibly pleased to be able to meet with Pope Francis.
'I don't speak English well. I need a translator.”
'Thank you, Your Holiness.”
It was an amiable one-hour private meeting in which they presumably talked about the tensions between the United States and Iran.
2020 also began with the decision of the Court of Appeal in Lyon, France, which acquitted French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of the offense of concealing abuse.
A French court sentenced him to six months in prison for failing to denounce an abusive priest in his diocese. The cardinal always reaffirmed his innocence.
The abuses were committed against eight minors between 1985 and 1991. The cardinal found out about them in 2014 when the limitations of the civil statute had already expired. The cardinal did transfer the complaints to the Vatican so that the offender could be expelled from priesthood.
Finally, to conclude the first month of 2020, the Spanish NGO Mensajeros de la Paz (Messengers of Peace) arranged for a parish in Rome to open 24 hours to serve the people most in need.
There, cot beds were set up so that up to 90 people would not have to sleep on the streets during these cold winter nights.
The renowned Spanish singer Raphael traveled to Rome to sponsor the grand opening of the dormitory and support this humanitarian organization's work.
RAPHAEL
Singer
“This is a good charity and hopefully it will be very successful and multiply, like the loaves and fishes.”
“The important thing is that the people support these projects, regardless of whether they are famous or not. When it comes to important things and before God, it doesn't matter if you are famous or not.”
This project is an example of Pope Francis' desire for Catholic institutions to serve as a field hospital for those who suffer the wounds of this world in their body and soul.
Daniel Díaz Vizzi
Translation: Christian Campos
