Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev of Austria, a leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, added an ecumenical dimension to Friday's plenary session at the World Congress on Mercy in Rome. He shared a teaching on his church's understanding of God's limitless mercy, mercy that extends even for the redemption of those in hell (Orthodox theology teaches that Purgation occurs in the broader understanding of hell).
Photo by: Felix Carroll
His Excellency William E. Lori, Bishop of Bridgeport, Conn., who serves as an honorary member of the U.S. Congress's national committee, celebrated Holy Mass Friday, following the plenary sessions at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome.
Photo by: Felix Carroll
In a world congress dedicated to mercy, a pilgrim turns to the "Fount of Mercy," the Sacrament of Reconciliation, at Our Lady of the Angels in Rome on Friday.
Photo by: Felix Carroll
Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, Bishop of Austria and general moderator of the world congress, greets people during a break in Friday's morning session at St. John Lateran.
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Francis Cardinal Arinze of Nigeria shares a laugh with a congress participant following his talk on Friday morning at St. John Lateran.
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Sister Elvira Petrozzi, the Italian foundress of the worldwide Cenacolo Community, gave her witness Friday morning of her work with desperate young people, who have turned to drug addiction, alcohol or substance abuse.
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Father Seraphim Michalenko, MIC, left, and Br. Jason Lewis, MIC, discuss the text of the speech of Cardinal Francis Arinze during the morning session on Friday.
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His Excellency Hilarion Alfeyev, Bishop of Vienna and Austria, is a hierarch of the Moscow Patriarchate, theologian, church historian, composer. He spoke Friday morning at the invitation of Cardinal Schonborn.
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Father Joseph Roesch, MIC, the Marians' Second General Councilor, leads the prayer service on Friday afternoon at Our Lady of the Angels.
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Religious from Rome sing during a special "Remembrance of Christ's Passion" prayer service at Our Lady of the Angels.
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Some 7,000 people from around the world — church officials, clergy, religious, delegates, and many thousands of lay people, all of whom share a love for Divine Mercy — are attending the congress. Above, the plenary sessions get underway on Friday at the Basilica of St. John Lateran.
Photo by: Felix Carroll
Taking it to the streets! The congress on Friday afternoon headed out into the streets of Rome. Above, Charles Yezak, of Tampa, Fla., invites passersby to attend Eucharistic Adoration in Our Lady of the Angels. He and Mary Travis, right, of St. Petersburg, Fla, team up.
Photo by: Felix Carroll