The February’s “The Pope Video” draws from the popular “mannequin challenge” to invite the entire world to leave aside the culture of passivity and indifference.
(Vatican, February 2, 2017).- The Pope has released his 14th prayer intention video. Titled “Welcome the Needy,” the video illustrates Francis’ prayer intention for people who are abandoned or in vulnerable situations.
This month, the Pope draws from the popular “mannequin challenge,” which has filled social media with videos of people frozen in all types of activities or humorous and difficult body positions.
But the Pope’s proposal is to go in the exact opposite direction and recognize that passivity —stillness— and indifference toward those who suffer are attitudes that society must urgently reject.
“We live in cities that throw up skyscrapers and shopping centers and strike big real estate deals… but they abandon a part of themselves to marginal settlements on the periphery,” Pope Francis laments, comparing the realities faced by the different segments of modern society.
“This month we want to unite, as Francis says, on behalf of ‘those who are weighed down, especially the poor, refugees and marginalized, that they might find welcome and support in our communities.’ There are so many walls that are built out of fear of others! ‘Walls that enclose some and leave others out,’ as Pope Francis said in the 3rd World Meeting of Popular Movements (November 2016). But he added, ‘All walls collapse.’ Let us pray so that it is not fear that directs our lives, but mercy, opening our hearts and our arms to all those who are excluded, marginalized, weighed down and desperate (Matthew 11:28),” said Jesuit Father Frédéric Fornos, international director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network and its youth branch, the Eucharistic Youth Movement.
The intentions are entrusted each month to the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network and The Pope Video is produced by La Machi Communication for Good Causes with the support of the Society of Jesus, IndigoMusic, GettyImagesLatam and the collaboration of the Vatican Television Center. It also has Aleteia as a media partner. Since its launch in January of 2016, it has had more than 13 million views on its own networks.
The Pope Video is made possible thanks to the support of many people. You can donate at this link.
Where can I see the video?
About The Pope Video
The Pope Video is a global initiative developed by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer) to disseminate the monthly intentions of the Holy Father concerning the challenges facing humanity. The videos seek to unite people in praying with Pope Francis for those challenges. The Project has the support of the Vatican Television Center (CTV), sole owner of the rights. For more information: https://www.thepopevideo.org.
About the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer)
For over a century, the Apostleship of Prayer has been publishing to the world the prayer intentions entrusted to them by popes. Now, in its process of recreation, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network emphasizes its role of communicating the prayer intentions and leveraging new media and tools. Its mission is to unite people in prayer and service in response to the challenges facing humanity which the Holy Father expresses in his monthly intentions. Those who participate in this network are encouraged to become apostles in daily life through a spiritual path called “Way of the Heart,” transforming those who take that path in the service of the mission of Jesus Christ. Founded in 1844 and present in over 98 countries, the Apostleship of Prayer unites more than 35 million people in its network, including its youth branch, the Eucharistic Youth Movement. For more information: http://www.popesprayer.net/.
About La Machi
The Pope Video is an idea of La Machi, a creative boutique specializing in communication to advance good causes founded in 2012, with offices in Barcelona, Buenos Aires, and Rome. Its mission is to help companies, NGOs, and religious institutions communicate their philanthropic purposes. It specializes in strategic communication, creative advertising, digital development, and fundraising. La Machi has been recognized as a “Friend of Project Red” (RIIAL) and won the 2015 & the 2016 Mercury Prize for Best International SME of Marketing, awarded by the Argentinian Association of Marketing. For more information: http://www.lamachi.com/en.
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