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(Vatican Radio) The president of the European Union's executive Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, has urged the EU to maintain close ties with Russia despite its annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. However speaking at a top economic conference ahead of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he also warned Moscow that the lifting of sanctions is linked to Russia's full implementation of a peace deal for Ukraine.

Listen to the report by Stefan Bos:

European Commission President Juncker is the highest ranking EU official to visit Russia after Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. That event and Moscow's support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine triggered American and European Union sanctions against Moscow.

But after a two-year break, seen in Russia as a boycott, European leaders and chief executives of top multinational companies are back at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. That's Russia's answer to the more well-known World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. 

Delegates arrived at a time of growing weariness over sanctions both in Russia and within the EU as well as among businesses. And, speaking at the St. Petersburg gathering, Juncker criticized European politicians who said his visit was sending the wrong signal to Russia. "We have those who like the idea that I am here and those who don't like the idea, but I like the idea that I am here," he said, triggering applause. 

He said in the coming weeks the EU would spend "many hours" discussing its relationship with Russia "I take the view that we must talk with Russia, the leadership, its people: for some this may be a radical idea; for me it's common sense," Juncker added.  

But the top EU official also warned Russia that the 28-nation bloc will only lift its sanctions if the Kremlin fully implements a Ukraine peace deal. 

"The illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, and the conflict in and around eastern Ukraine put the relations between the European Union and Russia to a severe test," Juncker stressed.

SHAKEN SECURITY ORDER

"Russia's actions have shaken the very principles of the European security order. Sovereign equality, the non-use of force and territorial integrity matter. They cannot be ignored," Juncker said.

And Juncker used the opportunity to urge Britain to remain in the EU, ahead of an upcoming referendum on the issue next week. 
He said Britain leaving the European Union would in his words "open a period of global uncertainty which should be avoided".

Juncker made the comments before talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin who is also hosting Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. Putin was also to sit down with United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon alongside the world body's envoy on Syria, Staffan de Mistura, as he seeks to recast Moscow as a more stable partner for the West and bolster his country's flagging economy. 

Their talks come just weeks before a decision whether to extend EU sanctions that have helped push Russia's economy into its longest recession since Putin came to power 16 years ago.

Business leaders say they are eager to revive close ties with Russia as it imposed a retaliatory embargo on most agricultural produce from the EU and the United States. In a sign of at least some cooperation, Putin was set to oversee an important contract for the construction in Russia of a major liquefied gas plant with the head of Royal Dutch Shell.

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(Vatican Radio) A co-founder of the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel has been sent back to Mexico after being freed from prison in the United States.  

Listen to the report by James Blears: 

Hector Palma Salazar nicknamed "Guero" which means "Blondy"  was one of the principal founders of the Sinaloa drug cartel and it`s co leader, along with Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.  

Arrested after a plane he was piloting crashed,  He was extradited to the United States in 2007, pleading guilty to cocaine trafficking and was sentenced to 16 years.  

Given credit for his plea, five years jail time he`d already served in Mexico and good behaviour,  he was released from jail in California into the custody of  US Immigration Customs  Enforcement.  They`ve now sent him via Brownsville back to Mexico.  
Currently being held by Mexican Immigration Services, he`s being transferred to the Attorney General`s Offices in Mexico City.  

Mexico`s Attorney General Arely Gomez says an exhaustive review of files is underway, to assess if any charges against Palma are still outstanding. But if not...he`ll be released. 

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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday inaugurated the annual Ecclesial Convention of the Diocese of Rome, dedicated this year to the theme of the family.
 
Present with the Bishop of Rome, at his Basilica - St. John Lateran -  many Catholic families as well as the Cardinal Vicar Agostino Vallini and a high percentage of the over 350 parish priests of Rome.

At the heart of the Pope’s address for the occasion, the Apostolic Exhortation “Amoris Laetitia” – “The Joy of Love”.

The Convention will continue until Friday  with a series of thematic workshops on dedicated to love between adolescents,preparation for marriage,  the love of spouses, fidelity, the joy of giving life, family and brotherhood.

The conclusions of the Convention will be published together with the pastoral guidelines for the year on 17 September.

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Vatican City, Jun 16, 2016 / 10:14 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis told a group of nearly 6,000 traveling performers that while their work is demanding and at times unstable, it gives them the ability to bring light to what is an often dark world.

“You are artisans of celebration, of wonder, of the beautiful: with these qualities you enrich the society of the entire world,” the Pope said June 16.

He told the group that with their work, they help to nourish “hope and confidence” through performances “that have the ability to elevate the soul.”

These performances, he said, provide the opportunity to “show the boldness of exercises that are particularly challenging, to fascinate with the wonder of beauty and to offer opportunities for healthy entertainment.”

Francis met with the audience of circus and street performers,   moonlit park and fair workers, artists, designers, puppeteers, and members of band and folk groups as part of a special two-day Jubilee for the World of Traveling Shows.

The event was organized by the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant Peoples in collaboration with the “Migrantes” Foundation of the Italian Bishops Conference, the “Migrantes” office of the diocese of Rome along with various Italian associations.

Participants came on pilgrimage to Rome July 15-16 from all over Europe, the Americas and even Africa. Among wide list of countries represented were France, Germany, Italy, Holland, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine and Hungary, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Peru, the United States and Kenya.

Complete with live performances and even a baby tiger and panther, the audience took place inside the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall.

After venturing to the front of the stage to pet the tiger himself, Pope Francis jested with the performers that “you can even scare the Pope, making him pet a tiger…you are powerful!”

A photo posted by Catholic News Agency (@catholicnewsagency) on Jun 16, 2016 at 10:10am PDT

He told the performers that since they are constantly on the move, they are able to spread “the love of God, his embrace and his mercy” throughout the world.

“You can be an itinerant Christian community and witnesses of Christ, who is always journeying to meet even those who are farthest away.”

Francis also thanked them for using the Jubilee of Mercy as an opportunity to spread charity, since many have opened their shows to the poor, needy, homeless, prisoners and disadvantaged youth free of charge.

“This is also mercy: to plant beauty and joy in a world at times somber and sad,” he said, and encouraged the performers to “always be welcoming toward the smallest and neediest, to offer words and gestures of consolation to whoever is closed in on themselves.”

Since traveling makes it hard to be a stable part of a parish community, the Pope urged the artists to make their faith a priority, and to take advantage of opportunities to receive the Sacraments and to teach the love of God to those they encounter.

“May you always carry out your work with love and with care, confident that God accompanies you with his providence, generous in works of charity, available to offer the resources and genius of your arts and of your professions,” he said, closing his speech.

Pope Francis has hosted members of the circus and other performers at the Vatican several times since his election as Bishop of Rome, most of whom come to participate in his general audiences.

On Jan. 8, 2014, members of the Golden Circus in Rome gathered in St. Peter’s Square to perform for Francis in his audience, during which he told them that those who put on circus shows “are creators of beauty.”

On Jan. 14 of this year, the Pope offered 2,000 of Rome’s poor, homeless, refugees and prisoners the opportunity to go to a performance at the Rony Roller Circus free of charge.

An initiative of the Office of the Papal Almoner, headed by Bishop Konrad Krajewski, the event was a “gift” offered by circus artists, “who with perseverance, commitment and many sacrifices are able to create and give beauty to themselves and to others,” according to the almoner.

“(It is) an encouragement to overcome the harshness and difficulties of life which many times seem too great and insurmountable,” he said.

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Lahore, Pakistan, Jun 16, 2016 / 12:33 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A teenage Christian girl in Pakistan was reportedly killed by her own brother this week in a so-called “honor killing” over her plans to marry.

The young woman, Anum Ishaq Masih, was in her late teens. She had insisted that she would marry a Christian neighbor, but the family did not agree to the marriage.

Saqib Ishaq Masih, 23, allegedly smashed his sister’s head with a log while she slept early Sunday morning, authorities told Agence France Presse. The killing took place in the city of Sialkot, south-west of Lahore.

The family is Christian. The girl’s father filed a case against her brother, who has been arrested and charged with murder.

Christian activist Shamoon Gill told Agence France Presse such killings are very rare in the Christian community. He said it has nothing to do with religion but is “part of a social issue that is deeply rooted in the eastern societies.”

“Most of the Christians and even Hindus are converts,” he said. “They have converted but there are still some elements of tribal society.”

Each year hundreds of women are killed in Pakistan by their family members in the name of defending family honor.

Photo credit: Namning via shutterstock.com

 

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