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 Pope Francis issued his first encyclical Friday, a meditation on faith that is unique because it was written with someone else: Benedict XVI.
Benedict's hand is evident throughout much of the first three chapters of "The Light of Faith," with his theological style, concerns and reference points clear.
Francis' priorities come through strongest in the final chapter, where the Argentine Jesuit insists on the role of faith in serving the common good and giving hope to those who suffer.
He cites his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, as well as Mother Teresa, in saying "How many men and women of faith have found mediators of light in those who suffer!" And he concludes with a prayer to Mary, to whom he is particularly devoted.
The encyclical didn't appear to break any new ground in church teaching, its novelty was entirely in the dual authorship, signed and unsigned.
Francis acknowledges in the introduction that he merely "added a few contributions of my own" to Benedict's "fine" first draft, which the German theologian left unfinished when he retired in February. Together, the two popes crafted the final installment of Benedict's conceived trio of encyclicals on the three Christian theological virtues: charity, hope and faith.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/07/05/2-popes-craft-francis-first-encyclical-on-faith/#ixzz2YQGb2XD7

Jul 5, 2013 / 07:38 am
Pope Francis has approved the cause for canonization of two previous Popes, Blessed John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII.
The announcement was made on July 5, the same day as Pope Francis’ first encyclical, “The Light of Faith,” was released.
The previous steps towards Bl. John Paul II’s canonization had been completed in recent months.
In the case of Bl. John XXIII, however, only one miracle has been formally approved by the Vatican. Normally, two miracles must be approved before a person can be canonized.
Although such a decision is unusual, Vatican press office director Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., explained that it is within the authority of the Pope to waive the second miracle for a canonization cause.
Since there was already one approved miracle that allowed Pope John XXIII to be beatified, the canonization will still be valid, even without a second miracle, he explained.
Stop by Fr Z's blog to hear an audio version of Pope Francis first encyclical:
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2013/07/podcazt-135-encyclical-letter-lumen-fidei-audio-files-of-entire-encyclical/