Catholic News 2
HAVANA (AP) -- Regional leaders and tens of thousands of Cubans filled Havana's Plaza of the Revolution Tuesday night for a service honoring Fidel Castro on the wide plaza where the Cuban leader delivered fiery speeches to mammoth crowds in the years after he seized power....
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A Somali-born student who carried out a car-and-knife attack at Ohio State University stewed over the treatment of Muslims while apparently staying under the radar of federal law enforcement, underscoring the difficulty authorities face in identifying and stopping lone wolves bent on violence....
CHAPECO, Brazil (AP) -- For the players on the humble Brazilian club from an out-of-the-way city known for its agribusiness plants, these were going to be the games of their lives....
LA UNION, Colombia (AP) -- Colombian authorities searched for answers Tuesday into the crash of a chartered airliner that slammed into the Andes mountains while transporting a Brazilian soccer team whose Cinderella story had won it a spot in the finals of one of South America's most prestigious regional tournaments. All but six of the 77 people on board were killed....
NEW YORK (AP) -- The Latest on President-elect Donald Trump and his administration (all times EST):...
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Steven Mnuchin, President-elect Donald Trump's expected choice to be the nation's 77th treasury secretary, has had a long history as a successful financial executive and a shorter but significant period in a job that ushered him into Trump's inner circle: head of Trump's campaign finance operation....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President-elect Donald Trump is enlisting a trio of nominees with deep ties to Washington and Wall Street to fill out his Cabinet, including former Goldman Sachs executive Steven Mnuchin as secretary of the Treasury Department....
(Vatican Radio) Government leaders, experts and business representatives from more than 100 countries are gathering in Budapest to discuss how to prevent a crisis and a global conflict over water. Delegates attending the three-day Budapest Water Summit have already heard messages from world leaders, including Hungary's president, who described water as "the most endangered natural resource" and urged immediate action to increase water security.Listen to Stefan Bos' report: Some 2,000 delegates from more than 100 countries have heard appeals from church leaders to help ensure water security. Pope Francis and Bartholomew I, the Archbishop of Constantinople, urged those attending to recognize the value of water in sustainable development.United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon agrees. In a video message he said it was crucial to restructure the way the world uses natural resources. "We must transform how we manage our resources. We must invest in wate...
(Vatican Radio) Government leaders, experts and business representatives from more than 100 countries are gathering in Budapest to discuss how to prevent a crisis and a global conflict over water. Delegates attending the three-day Budapest Water Summit have already heard messages from world leaders, including Hungary's president, who described water as "the most endangered natural resource" and urged immediate action to increase water security.
Listen to Stefan Bos' report:
Some 2,000 delegates from more than 100 countries have heard appeals from church leaders to help ensure water security. Pope Francis and Bartholomew I, the Archbishop of Constantinople, urged those attending to recognize the value of water in sustainable development.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon agrees. In a video message he said it was crucial to restructure the way the world uses natural resources. "We must transform how we manage our resources. We must invest in water and sanitation for the benefit of all," he added.
But Hungary's President János Áder suggested there isn't much time to formulate a strategy. He warned that the global population growth and increased demand for food will increase water consumption by 30 percent by 2030. And Áder claimed that the industry will need at least 50 percent more water by 2050, further complicating efforts to combat climate change. “If we lose the battle of water, than certainly we will also be defeated on the climate front," he warned.
Áder also called water "the most endangered natural resource". He said it was crucial "to transform the issue of water into the most important question of political thought and action."
BANGLADESH CONCERNED
That was welcomed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh where most people have no access to clean water. "Our countries are intensely challenged," she said. "There is an urgent need to build resilience to water-related disasters, climate change adaptation efforts should be accorded due priority."
But the United Nations warned that the world will face an uphill battle to secure water supplies and prevent more global conflicts as it already deals with climate change.
Though critics remain skeptical, the UN released figures suggesting an average rise in temperatures of 3 to 4 degrees Celsius this century rather than the 1.5 to 2 Celsius outlined in the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Speakers at the Water Summit agreed that urgent coordinated current actions to needed to guarantee a sustainable future of mankind in this troubled world.
Vatican City, Nov 29, 2016 / 10:47 am (CNA/EWTN News).- While signs of bustling pilgrims who came for the Jubilee of Mercy are mostly gone, new signs of Christmas are springing up around St. Peter’s Basilica, including the construction of the large Nativity scene in the middle of the square, and the placement of a Christmas tree alongside it.On Nov. 24, a massive 82-foot tree from the Dolomites arrived in St. Peter’s Square next to the large Nativity scene currently being built, which was donated to the Vatican by the Archdiocese of Malta and designed by local artists.An artist from the island of Gozo named Manwel Gretch did the sketch chosen for the Nativity, which depicts the Maltese countryside. The 17 characters in the Nativity, animals excluded, will be dressed in typical Maltese clothing and will be holding tools and instruments.The traditional “Cross of Malta” will be included in the scene, as well as a typical Maltese archipelago boat meant to represe...
Vatican City, Nov 29, 2016 / 10:47 am (CNA/EWTN News).- While signs of bustling pilgrims who came for the Jubilee of Mercy are mostly gone, new signs of Christmas are springing up around St. Peter’s Basilica, including the construction of the large Nativity scene in the middle of the square, and the placement of a Christmas tree alongside it.
On Nov. 24, a massive 82-foot tree from the Dolomites arrived in St. Peter’s Square next to the large Nativity scene currently being built, which was donated to the Vatican by the Archdiocese of Malta and designed by local artists.
An artist from the island of Gozo named Manwel Gretch did the sketch chosen for the Nativity, which depicts the Maltese countryside. The 17 characters in the Nativity, animals excluded, will be dressed in typical Maltese clothing and will be holding tools and instruments.
The traditional “Cross of Malta” will be included in the scene, as well as a typical Maltese archipelago boat meant to represent not only the island’s tradition, fishing and life, but also the reality that thousands of migrants face when risking their lives to sail in makeshift boats to Italy.
A delegation of 30 people from Malta will be present for the official presentation and inauguration of the Nativity scene Dec. 9, during which the Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square will be lit for the first time.
Pope Francis himself will have a busy schedule during December and January for Christmas and the New Year.
His liturgical celebrations for December will begin with a special Mass celebrated Dec. 12 for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Special features of the Mass will include ancient hymns composed in indigenous languages, including Nahuatl, Quechua, Mapuche and Guarani.
The Sistine Chapel Choir will be joined by the Latin American Choir in playing at the Mass under the direction of conductor Eduardo Notrica.
On Christmas Eve, the Pope will celebrate Christmas Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at 9:30 p.m., and on Christmas Day will give his traditional Christmans “Urbi et Orbi” blessing to the city and to the world from the main balcony on the façade of St. Peter’s Basilica.
To celebrate the New Year, Francis will preside over evening prayer and the singing of the ancient “Te Deum” hymn Dec. 31 in order to give thanks for 2016, the year that is ending.
On Jan. 1, he will offer Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, marking both the feast of Mary, Mother of God and the World Day of Prayer for Peace.
Just a few days later, he’ll celebrate Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica to mark the feast of the Epiphany, and on Jan. 8, the Pope will celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord as usual by offering Mass in the Sistine Chapel, where he will baptize several babies.
To close January’s liturgical celebrations, Pope Francis will preside over a Jan. 25 evening prayer service for the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, which will also mark the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Vatican City, Nov 29, 2016 / 11:00 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Christians must pursue true humility as they remember the “smallness” of Christmas, Pope Francis said in his Tuesday homily.“Humility is the virtue of the childlike and this is true humility and not a rather theatrical humility: no, not that: the humility of somebody who said: ‘I am humble but proud of being so.’ No, that is not true humility,” the Pope warned.“The humility of the childlike is that of somebody who walks in the presence of the Lord, does not speak badly about others, looks only at serving and feels that he or she is the smallest.”This is the strength of the childlike, the Pope said in his Nov. 11 homily during Mass at the Casa Santa Marta chapel in Vatican City. He noted that the Lord reveals to the little ones the mystery of Salvation and the mystery of his very self.For Pope Francis, true humility is connected to the biblical concept of Fear of the Lord praised i...
Vatican City, Nov 29, 2016 / 11:00 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Christians must pursue true humility as they remember the “smallness” of Christmas, Pope Francis said in his Tuesday homily.
“Humility is the virtue of the childlike and this is true humility and not a rather theatrical humility: no, not that: the humility of somebody who said: ‘I am humble but proud of being so.’ No, that is not true humility,” the Pope warned.
“The humility of the childlike is that of somebody who walks in the presence of the Lord, does not speak badly about others, looks only at serving and feels that he or she is the smallest.”
This is the strength of the childlike, the Pope said in his Nov. 11 homily during Mass at the Casa Santa Marta chapel in Vatican City. He noted that the Lord reveals to the little ones the mystery of Salvation and the mystery of his very self.
For Pope Francis, true humility is connected to the biblical concept of Fear of the Lord praised in Tuesday’s Mass reading from the Prophet Isaiah. He also invoked the example of Abram, whose name God changed to Abraham.
“Fear of the Lord is not terror: no, it is putting into practice God’s commandment that he gave to our father Abram: ‘Live in my presence, be perfect,’ Humble – this is humility, fear of the Lord is humility,” he said.
The Pope reflected on the “smallness” of the Christmas story: it is about a baby, a stable, a mother, a father, and “little ones.” He noted the great humility of the Virgin Mary, and he described humility as a journey in the presence of God that gives happiness and joy.
Humility provides a better path, the Pope explained.
“Looking at Jesus who rejoiced because God reveals his mystery to the humble, we can ask for the grace of humility for all of us, the grace of fear of God, of walking in his presence trying to be perfect. And in this way with this humility, we can be vigilant in prayer, carrying out works of brotherly charity and rejoicing and giving praise,” he said.
