Denver Catholic

3 DENVER CATHOLIC | FEBRUARY 14-20, 2015 Vatican Notes Let us refinance your existing auto loan from another lender, and you will pocket an extra $100. * (Mention code Refi15) Call: 303.424.5037 Click: www.nufcu.com or Come by one of our convenient locations today! Rates as low as 2.89% APR * Make no payments for 100 days. * Bringing Catholic Values to Financial Services *APR = Annual Percentage Yield. For more information, visit www.nufcu.com Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government National Credit Union Administration, a U.S. Government Agency NCUA from another lender, and you Limited Time Offer for DCR Readers HOLY LAND June 7 - 15, 2015 $3,658 HOLY LAND & JORDAN May 24 - June 4, 2015 $3,960 July 15 - 25, 2015 $3,960 ITALY April 20 - 30, 2015 $3,979 HOLY LAND & TURKEY May 7 - 17, 2015 $3,660 FATIMA & LOURDES June 23 - July 5, 2015 $3,770 GREECE June 24 - July 4, 2015 $4,439 September 12 - 23, 2015 $3,870 POLAND August 17 - 25, 2015 $3,599 HOLY LAND FRANCISCAN PILGRIMAGES 1-800-566-7499 www.HolyLandPilgrimages.org • info@HolyLandPilgrimages.org Pope Francis goes to Washington VATICAN CITY CNA- » President Barack Obama said he is anticipating Pope Francis' address to a joint session of Congress during his U.S. visit in September. Obama men- tioned the papal visit in his Feb. 5 remarks to the National Prayer Break- fast, saying, "like millions of Americans, I am very much looking forward to welcoming Pope Francis to the United States later this year." The pope will address Congress Sept. 24. "We're humbled that the Holy Father has accepted our invitation and cer- tainly look forward to receiving his message on behalf of the American people," Speaker of the House John Boehner told reporters. If you care, protect nature, pope says VATICAN CITY CNA- » Set to fi nish his encyclical on the environment next month, Pope Francis said that Christians who fail to safeguard nature do not care about God's handi- work. "A Christian who does not protect creation, who does not allow it to grow, is a Christian who does not care about God's labors" which are borne out of God's love for us, the pope said Feb. 9. His remarks were based in part on the day's fi rst read- ing from Genesis 1:1-19. Pope Francis announced to journalists on his way to the Philippines last month that plans to have his much-anticipated encyc- lical on man's relationship with creation fi nished in March. Pope urges end to Ukrainian violence VATICAN CITY CNA- » As the number of deaths in Ukraine continue to rise amid escalating violence, Pope Francis has called the war "a scandal," and urged the international community to "make every e– ort" for peace. He o– ered prayers for the victims of the increasing violence and prayed that "this horrible fratricidal violence will cease as soon as possible." Casualties have continued to increase as violence has escalated. Up to 16 new civilian lives were claimed following shelling in Donetsk on Feb. 3. U.N. fi gures show the death toll in Ukraine now exceeds 5,350 people, plus more than 12,000 wounded since fi ghting broke out last year. VATICAN CITY CNA- » Pope Francis virtually joined seven young people with disabilities and special needs in his second Google Hangout as ponti– , sharing jokes, advice and encouragement. "Each one of us has a treasure inside," the pope told the young people during his Feb. 5 Google Hangout, a platform for video chats. He said when "we share our own treasure with others, it multiples along with the treasures that come from the others we meet." He encouraged the youth to continue moving forward, saying that what they are doing "helps all of us to understand that life is a beautiful treasure, but it only makes sense if we give it." The seven young people who partici- pated in the hangout session with Pope Francis hail from all corners of the world, including Spain, India, Brazil and the United States. Each participant had the opportunity to speak spontaneously to the pope, telling him about themselves and how they use technology to help them with their disabilities. Pope Francis, in turn, responded to each one personally, and spoke briefl y about the treasure each one of them possess. The hangout session was organized by the educational foundation Scholas Occurentes during their Feb. 2-5 global congress in Rome. Scholas was founded by Pope Fran- cis while he was still archbishop of Buenos Aires as an initiative to encourage social integration and the culture of encounter through technology, arts and sports. Pope shares laughter, advice on Google Hangouts NEWS IN BRIEF Photo provided

• Cover