VATICAN CORNER
Pope Francis’ visit to Cuba and the United States will be very soon, September 19th through 28th, 2015. According to Mike McCaul, who is the chairman of the House Commi#ee on Homeland Security, the United States has uncovered threats against Pope Francis ahead of his visit and has thwarted at least one. House Representa!ve McCaul said “we are monitoring very closely threats against the Pope as he comes into the United States, and we have disrupted one par!cular case.” The Pope will be in the US for six days, where he will par!cipate in parades, and many other public appearances. McCaul said Pope Francis is “a very passionate man. He likes to get out with the people. and with that comes a large security risk. … but as that date approaches, I think we’re all very vigilant to protect him as he comes into the United States.” On the 26th and 27th Pope Francis will be at the World Mee!ng of Families in Philadelphia. The event organizers and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are offering the usual event keepsakes such as plates, hand painted candles, commemora!ve coins, rosaries, and tote bags. In addi!on organizers felt that more lighthearted items were appropriate to the fun-loving Pope and the joyfulness of the occasion, so a life-size standee, a bobblehead, and a plush doll also made the official souvenir list. The Pope Francis standee is 69 inches high, costs $160, and its maker claims it is “professionally mounted on art-quality gatorfoam and is perfect for schools, parishes, church groups, weddings or any event where you want to offer a special photo opportunity.” The Pope Francis Plush Doll is 10 inches high and priced at $20 (plus tax and shipping). The $25 “Pope Francis Bobblehead”, is the same one available at the Va!can, and it is made of high quality polyresin with styrofoam protec!on and a colorful collector’s box. The Pon!fical Mission Socie!es in the United States that work to spread the Catholic faith overseas, especially in poor and remote areas, has a digital campaign running from Sept. 8 to Oct. 2, 2015 called “Joke with the Pope”. It asks people to “donate” a joke to support one of three causes ahead of Pope Francis’ historic U.S. visit. The campaign has a#racted actor and comedian Bill Murray, who’s been named honorary adviser and one of the judges. Anyone can submit a wri#en joke or short video telling a joke on the website: jokewiththepope.org. They then can choose a cause their joke will support: helping children in need in Argen!na, housing the homeless in Ethiopia or feeding the hungry in Kenya. The organiza!on will announce the funniest joke Oct. 5, bestowing the !tle of “honorary comedic adviser to the pope” on the winner and dona!ng $10,000 to the winners cause.
Sources: foxnew.com, usatoday.com, news.va