Catholic News 2
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Presidential battleground states were supposed to be swarming with Republican Party workers by now....
LONDON (AP) -- After all of the flamboyant characters and very public backstabbing in the race to become Britain's next prime minister, the winner turned out to be an understated workhorse who maintained a low profile throughout the campaign....
LONDON (AP) -- A political era ended Monday - unexpectedly and without an election - as Prime Minister David Cameron said he will step down in two days in favor of Theresa May, a senior member of his Cabinet who will become Britain's second female leader....
Deadly force occurs in less than 1 percent of the millions of encounters police have with people each year. A look at the laws and policies governing when police can use deadly force:...
DALLAS (AP) -- The Latest on the aftermath of the shooting of police officers during a protest in Dallas (all times local):...
The Holy Father, Pope Francis Monday appointed Cardinal Pasinya Laurent Monsengwo, the Archbishop of Kinshasa (DRC), as his special envoy to the Third Congress for Africa and Madagascar on Divine Mercy (AMACOM), which will be held in Kigali (Rwanda) from 9 September to 15 September 2016.Speaking about the Apostolic Congress on Mercy, Father Stanislas Filipek, the AMACOM Coordinator says the Congress has a continental scope to offer inner healing and reconciliation rooted in mercy. “We are currently living a Jubilee Year of Mercy. A Congress, which has a continental scope, on Divine Mercy to be held in Rwanda from 9 to 15 September 2016, is to be considered as one of the pastoral events of the Universal Church of the extraordinary Jubilee Year of mercy. The Congress, through its general theme, ‘Divine Mercy source of hope for the New Evangelization in Africa’ would like to meet men and women of Africa in the evil that hurts them, often causing hatred and offe...
The Holy Father, Pope Francis Monday appointed Cardinal Pasinya Laurent Monsengwo, the Archbishop of Kinshasa (DRC), as his special envoy to the Third Congress for Africa and Madagascar on Divine Mercy (AMACOM), which will be held in Kigali (Rwanda) from 9 September to 15 September 2016.
Speaking about the Apostolic Congress on Mercy, Father Stanislas Filipek, the AMACOM Coordinator says the Congress has a continental scope to offer inner healing and reconciliation rooted in mercy.
“We are currently living a Jubilee Year of Mercy. A Congress, which has a continental scope, on Divine Mercy to be held in Rwanda from 9 to 15 September 2016, is to be considered as one of the pastoral events of the Universal Church of the extraordinary Jubilee Year of mercy. The Congress, through its general theme, ‘Divine Mercy source of hope for the New Evangelization in Africa’ would like to meet men and women of Africa in the evil that hurts them, often causing hatred and offer them a process of inner healing and reconciliation rooted in mercy through their own experience of the Divine mercy. We hope that this Congress offers participants a time of prayer and encounter with the merciful Lord; a time of reflection and deepening of faith in God, rich in mercy, but also an opportunity to be in fellowship in their diversity,” Said Fr. Filipek.
Fr. Filipek says that during the Apostolic Congress on Mercy two special events will be key.
“During the Congress, two special events are reserved: The act of consecration of the African continent to the Divine Mercy, on 14 September, at the closing of this Congress. Then second, the pilgrimage of all participants at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sorrows in Kibeho on 15 September,” the AMACOM coordinator announced.
Rwanda says it is ready to welcome pilgrims to the Congress that will be held at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Kabuga in the Archdiocese of Kigali, Rwanda.
A Novena is available on the internet page: http://sanctuary.kabuga.com.
(Fr. Paul Samasumo, RV)
Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va
(Vatican Radio) Greg Burke is thrilled, excited and also a little daunted by the task and responsibilities that lie ahead in his new position as Director of the Holy See Press Office.Burke will take over from Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi on August 1. Before being appointed as vice-director at the Holy See Press Office in January, the 56-year-old Greg Burke was senior communications adviser of the Vatican's Secretariat of State.He was formerly a correspondent for the Fox News Channel, and for Time Magazine, based in Rome. Speaking to Vatican Radio’s Alessandro Gisotti shortly after the announcement on Monday, Burke noted that the choice of an Anglophone heading the Press Office makes perfect sense if you are aiming for a global outreach. And commenting on the appointment of Spanish journalist, Paloma Garcia Ovejero as Press Office Vice-Director, Burke pointed out that half the Catholic world speaks Spanish.Listen to the interview: Reacting wi...
(Vatican Radio) Greg Burke is thrilled, excited and also a little daunted by the task and responsibilities that lie ahead in his new position as Director of the Holy See Press Office.
Burke will take over from Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi on August 1.
Before being appointed as vice-director at the Holy See Press Office in January, the 56-year-old Greg Burke was senior communications adviser of the Vatican's Secretariat of State.
He was formerly a correspondent for the Fox News Channel, and for Time Magazine, based in Rome.
Speaking to Vatican Radio’s Alessandro Gisotti shortly after the announcement on Monday, Burke noted that the choice of an Anglophone heading the Press Office makes perfect sense if you are aiming for a global outreach.
And commenting on the appointment of Spanish journalist, Paloma Garcia Ovejero as Press Office Vice-Director, Burke pointed out that half the Catholic world speaks Spanish.
Listen to the interview:
Reacting with excitement for the recognition he has just received Greg Burke says that the importance of the job at hand is such that it is even “a little bit scary”; but he continues, he is totally honoured by the trust the Pope has shown in him.
Regarding the fact that two laypeople have been chosen to head the Holy See Press Office – one of them a woman – Burke says “the word of the day is international”.
“Obviously Italian is the language of the Curia, it’s the working language and that’s important, but in terms of reaching the Catholic audience - about half of the Catholic world is Spanish-speaking - and if you want to reach the globe: English is key” he says.
So, he concedes, “two laypeople, two foreigners if you will; but foreigners who know their way around here. The fact that Paloma also comes from the working press corps – up until yesterday she was still doing radio reports – is a really good sign.”
Burke concludes speaking of having to step into the shoes of Fr Lombardi, Burke says that too is somewhat daunting.
He explains that he worked with Lombardi for 3 and a half years when he was at the Secretariat of State and Lombardi was at the Press Office, and then even more closely in the last six months.
“I can’t say enough good things about his virtues: patience, total dedication, generosity and kindness and just an absolute fidelity to the Pope and I think that’s a great lesson for me!” he says.
Hundreds of thousands of people in India's most populous state are jostling for space as they attempt to plant 50 million trees over the next 24 hours in hopes of setting a world record. Officials in Uttar Pradesh state have distributed millions of saplings to be planted across the state in a bid to get into Guinness World Records for the most trees planted in a day. India's government is encouraging all 29 states to start tree-planting drives to increase the country's forest cover as part of commitments made at last year's climate change summit in Paris. Last year, Uttar Pradesh entered Guinness World Records for the largest distribution of saplings by donating more than 1 million trees that were planted at 10 locations in the state. (Source: AP)
Hundreds of thousands of people in India's most populous state are jostling for space as they attempt to plant 50 million trees over the next 24 hours in hopes of setting a world record. Officials in Uttar Pradesh state have distributed millions of saplings to be planted across the state in a bid to get into Guinness World Records for the most trees planted in a day. India's government is encouraging all 29 states to start tree-planting drives to increase the country's forest cover as part of commitments made at last year's climate change summit in Paris. Last year, Uttar Pradesh entered Guinness World Records for the largest distribution of saplings by donating more than 1 million trees that were planted at 10 locations in the state. (Source: AP)
(Vatican Radio) The Vatican on Monday published the programme for Pope Francis’ visit to Georgia and Azerbaijan which will take place from September 30th to October 2nd . The pastoral journey follows on from his recent visit to Armenia in June, during which the Pope appealed for peace and full religious freedom throughout the Caucuses region.Listen to the report: The three day journey begins in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, where the Pope arrives at 3pm local time for a welcome ceremony. He then travels to the Presidential palace for a courtesy meeting with President Giorgi Margvelashvili, followed by an encounter with diplomats, government and civil society representatives. Later in the day, the Pope will visit the Patriarchal Palace in Tbilisi to meet with the Catholicos or leader of the Orthodox Church in Georgia, Patriarch Elias II, and then go on to greet the Assyrian Chaldean community in the church of St Simon the Tanner.The following day, Saturday, Octobe...
(Vatican Radio) The Vatican on Monday published the programme for Pope Francis’ visit to Georgia and Azerbaijan which will take place from September 30th to October 2nd . The pastoral journey follows on from his recent visit to Armenia in June, during which the Pope appealed for peace and full religious freedom throughout the Caucuses region.
Listen to the report:
The three day journey begins in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, where the Pope arrives at 3pm local time for a welcome ceremony. He then travels to the Presidential palace for a courtesy meeting with President Giorgi Margvelashvili, followed by an encounter with diplomats, government and civil society representatives. Later in the day, the Pope will visit the Patriarchal Palace in Tbilisi to meet with the Catholicos or leader of the Orthodox Church in Georgia, Patriarch Elias II, and then go on to greet the Assyrian Chaldean community in the church of St Simon the Tanner.
The following day, Saturday, October 1st Pope Francis will celebrate Mass in the multi-purpose Mikheil Meskhi stadium in Tbilisi, named after one of the country’s most famous football players. He will then meet with priests and religious in the Church of the Assumption, followed by an encounter with charity workers and members of the communities they serve outside an aid centre run by the Camillian order. Finally the Pope will visit the Svietyskhoveli Patriarchal Cathedral in the ancient city of Mskheta, the birthplace of Christianity in the country, located about 12 miles north of the capital.
Early on Sunday, October 2nd the Pope will travel to Tbilisi airport for a farewell ceremony and will leave for Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, where he is due to arrive at 9.30 am. Following a brief welcome there, he will celebrate Mass at the Salesian centre in Baku and have lunch with the Salesian community there. In the afternoon, he will attend an official welcome ceremony in the presidential palace and pay a courtesy visit to President Ilham Aliyev, before going on to greet government officials in the Heydar Aliyev Centre. After that the Pope will have a private meeting with the Sheikh of the Muslims of the Caucasus in the Heydar Aliyev Mosque, and also meet the Orthodox bishop of Baku and the president of the Jewish community. At 7.15 p.m., following a farewell ceremony, Pope Francis will leave for Rome's Ciampino airport, where he is expected to arrive at 10 pm.
The leader of the Philippine bishops has called on Church leaders to stand up against what is morally wrong and defend life amid a spate of killings of suspected drug dealers in the country. "We will stand for and defend every person's life and dignity. We will shield the weak from harm. We will protect the confused from error," said Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan. Speaking during a meeting of Philippine bishops over the weekend, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) warned that the time would come "when people will not tolerate sound doctrine." "Following their own desires and insatiable curiosity [people] will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths," he warned. Archbishop Villegas urged his fellow bishops to continue teaching "that right is right and wrong, wrong ... even [if] it seems like a voice in a hostile wilderness."He ...
The leader of the Philippine bishops has called on Church leaders to stand up against what is morally wrong and defend life amid a spate of killings of suspected drug dealers in the country. "We will stand for and defend every person's life and dignity. We will shield the weak from harm. We will protect the confused from error," said Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan. Speaking during a meeting of Philippine bishops over the weekend, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) warned that the time would come "when people will not tolerate sound doctrine." "Following their own desires and insatiable curiosity [people] will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths," he warned. Archbishop Villegas urged his fellow bishops to continue teaching "that right is right and wrong, wrong ... even [if] it seems like a voice in a hostile wilderness."
He recalled that during the 1986 "people power" revolution, the bishops were mostly heeded and respected. Then came the “wilderness" in 2012 when the Philippine Congress passed the Reproductive Health law, allowing for state funding for artificial contraceptives. The bishops’ voices were “unheeded, mocked and ignored." And now that new president Rodrigo Duterte hurls insults at the bishops calling them “shameless hypocrites, children of whores," Arch. Villegas urged his fellow bishops not to withdraw from "the mission of the Lord ... [because the call is] not to be successful but to be faithful." (Source: UCAN)
