The most important news of the week from Pope Francis and the Vatican

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Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/ewtn/vatican Prayer and self-knowledge enable us to grow in freedom  Pope Francis reflected, once again, on the theme of discernment during his Wednesday General Audience at the Vatican.  Addressing the thousands of faithful in attendance, and the many more watching around the world, the Pope made the point that a person must know themselves first, before being able to properly discern. We said we all have the temptation to wear a mask, in front of others, but even in front of ourselves.   He went on to say, . He encouraged people to “examination of conscience”, but admitted that taking off the mask and finding out who you really are is not easy, as it requires a lot of soul-searching... but is possible.    Vatican adheres to U.N. and Paris agreements  On October 4th, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, who, in addition to his name, inspired the pope's commitment to care for the common good for the earth, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Parolin announced that the Holy See had joined the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.  The Paris Agreement is an international treaty signed by member states of the United Nations which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emission. With the Paris Agreement, countries renewed their commitment to climate action and agreed on new targets to accelerate efforts to limit global warming.       Climate change documentary features Pope Francis  Pope Francis features in a new documentary film on climate change and the environment that premiered at the Vatican on Tuesday the 4th October.   The documentary is called “The Letter,”, and can be streamed for free on YouTube Originals starting Oct. 4. It follows a climate activist, an indigenous leader, a climate refugee, and married marine biologists as they travel from various corners of the world to the Vatican to speak to Pope Francis.  The film includes video from the meeting with Pope Francis as well as never-before-seen footage from Francis’ papal inauguration on March 19, 2013.    The 250th anniversary of the 'University of the Pope'  The Pontifical Lateran University is a prestigious university based in the centre of Rome. It was founded in 1773 by Pope Clement the 14th, after the union of the then Roman Seminary, with the School of Theology of the Roman College. The university became prestigious and ws frequented by saints and popes, and was also known as the ‘University of the Pope’ after a histroic speach there in 1980 by John Paul II. Well now it celebrated 250 years since its founding. It did this with a special Mass that was celebrated on Oct. 5, and presided over by Cardinal Vicar Angelo De Donatis, grand chancellor of the Athenaeum.  A Special Mass in the Vatican    The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis will celebrate Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on October 11 to mark the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council.  The date also marks the feast day of Saint John the 23rd, the pope who opened the Council in 1962, and who Pope Francis declared a saint during the first year of his papacy.  Pope Francis has been a strong advocate for implementing the changes called for in Vatican II, which align with his vision for a Church that is close to the people.