Catholic News 2
HIT, Iraq (AP) -- Heavy resistance has slowed Iraqi forces Tuesday as they pushed toward the center of a town held by Islamic State militants in western Anbar province, commanders at the scene said....
VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Pope Francis may visit the Greek island of Lesbos as early as next week to show solidarity with refugees who are being deported back to Turkey under the European Union's controversial program to ease Europe's migrant problem....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- FBI agents investigating a potential data leak at Boeing obtained a secret warrant to search the home computers of a company manager in California for evidence they hoped would connect him to Chinese economic espionage....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Donald Trump would force Mexico to pay for a border wall by threatening to cut off billions of dollars in remittances sent by immigrants living in the U.S., according to a memo released by his campaign Tuesday....
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- Governments around the world tried Tuesday to contain the fallout from the publication of thousands of names of rich and powerful people who conducted offshore financial activity through a Panamanian law firm....
(Vatican Radio) The Papal Basilica’s are coming to a cinema near you. For three days next week they will be the protagonists in a 3D film boasting previously unpublished images and hidden details in their art treasuresListen to Lydia O’Kane's report For the first time, Rome’s four Papal Basilica’s are literally coming to the big screen.For three days only from April 11th to 13th cinema audiences will be guided on a 3D tour of St Peter’s, St John Lateran, St Mary Major and St Paul’s Outside the Walls.During the 90 minute film entitled “St. Peter’s and the Papal Basilicas of Rome” experts will explain how these famous places of prayer have evolved over the centuries, illustrating the works of art they contain and the celebrated artists associated with them including, Giotto, Michelangelo and Bernini.Thanks to the vast arsenal of technology employed, audiences will be able to see and appreciate the hidden details of the art tr...
(Vatican Radio) The Papal Basilica’s are coming to a cinema near you. For three days next week they will be the protagonists in a 3D film boasting previously unpublished images and hidden details in their art treasures
Listen to Lydia O’Kane's report
For the first time, Rome’s four Papal Basilica’s are literally coming to the big screen.
For three days only from April 11th to 13th cinema audiences will be guided on a 3D tour of St Peter’s, St John Lateran, St Mary Major and St Paul’s Outside the Walls.
During the 90 minute film entitled “St. Peter’s and the Papal Basilicas of Rome” experts will explain how these famous places of prayer have evolved over the centuries, illustrating the works of art they contain and the celebrated artists associated with them including, Giotto, Michelangelo and Bernini.
Thanks to the vast arsenal of technology employed, audiences will be able to see and appreciate the hidden details of the art treasures, such as Michelangelo's signature on the Pietà.
In addition, cinema goers will be able to view unpublished images, thanks to the use of helicopters. And to complete this visual feast for the eye the power of 3D will put the viewer in the middle of the scene and in direct contact with the works of art.
One those featured in the film is the Director of the Vatican Museums Antonio Paolucci.
He says, “the production that SKY is doing is precious for people who think they know these monuments but in reality they don’t know them and they don’t see them, so it’s a kind of visual help.”
The film which will be distributed in over fifty countries including Italy, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Canada, UK, Ireland, and Spain, is produced by the Vatican Television Center, and SKY 3D in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of heritage and culture.
(Vatican Radio) Japanese authorities on Monday confirmed the identity of a 17th century Italian Catholic Missionary priest, Fr. Giovanni Battista Sidotti, whose body was found in 2014 during excavations for an apartment building. He is known as the ‘last missionary martyr’ to Japan.Listen to Devin Watkins’ report: Born in Sicily 1668, Fr. Giovanni Battista Sidotti was an Italian diocesan priest. Hearing stories of Christian martyrs, he received permission from Pope Clement XI to become a missionary and traveled to Japan, which had outlawed the Christian religion, closing itself off from the world under its sakoku policy.Fr. Sidotti disguised himself as a samuri upon arrival in 1708 but was discovered soon after and interrogated by Japanese authorities.His interrogator, Arai Hakuseki - a scholar and important Japanese politician - was impressed by Fr. Sidotti’s demeanor and level of scholarship, developing a great deal of respect for the outlawed missi...
(Vatican Radio) Japanese authorities on Monday confirmed the identity of a 17th century Italian Catholic Missionary priest, Fr. Giovanni Battista Sidotti, whose body was found in 2014 during excavations for an apartment building. He is known as the ‘last missionary martyr’ to Japan.
Listen to Devin Watkins’ report:
Born in Sicily 1668, Fr. Giovanni Battista Sidotti was an Italian diocesan priest. Hearing stories of Christian martyrs, he received permission from Pope Clement XI to become a missionary and traveled to Japan, which had outlawed the Christian religion, closing itself off from the world under its sakoku policy.
Fr. Sidotti disguised himself as a samuri upon arrival in 1708 but was discovered soon after and interrogated by Japanese authorities.
His interrogator, Arai Hakuseki - a scholar and important Japanese politician - was impressed by Fr. Sidotti’s demeanor and level of scholarship, developing a great deal of respect for the outlawed missionary.
Besides providing a great deal of information about the geography and history of Europe to an extremely closed Japanese society, one important result of his interrogations was the decision to deport Catholic missionaries, rather than killing them outright.
Yet Fr. Giovanni Sidotti attempted to convert his guards to Catholicism and was thrown in a pit where he died of starvation, passing into legend until 150 years ago when a book about his life was found.
The discovery of the last missionary martyr’s remains in 2014 and now the confirmation of their identity by Japan has renewed interest in his life, shedding a ray of light in this Holy Year of Mercy on a forgotten martyr.
The confirmation comes shortly after Pope Francis approved the beatification of the Japanese Christian samuri, Takayama Ukon.
(Vatican Radio) At 20 years old, Dost Mohamad is sure of a lot of things. He loves books, sports, and tutoring, and knows that one day he will graduate with a degree and get a job afterwards. The only thing he is not sure of, however, is where home is.About four years ago, Mohamad left Afghanistan in a way similar to thousands of adolescent migrants currently struggling in the Middle East: alone and uncertain. Coming to Italy was a difficult and confusing time for him, but he looks back on it now with humility. Despite never having a permanent home, he used his independence to learn and grow, get an education, and make a life for himself in a foreign land.Unlike those travelling with families, unaccompanied minors do not face the burden of working to find food and shelter for more than one person. In the young refugee community, Mohamad’s voice speaks volumes for those leaving everything they know behind to find a better future.To hear more about his story, Sophia Pizzi sits...
(Vatican Radio) At 20 years old, Dost Mohamad is sure of a lot of things. He loves books, sports, and tutoring, and knows that one day he will graduate with a degree and get a job afterwards. The only thing he is not sure of, however, is where home is.
About four years ago, Mohamad left Afghanistan in a way similar to thousands of adolescent migrants currently struggling in the Middle East: alone and uncertain. Coming to Italy was a difficult and confusing time for him, but he looks back on it now with humility. Despite never having a permanent home, he used his independence to learn and grow, get an education, and make a life for himself in a foreign land.
Unlike those travelling with families, unaccompanied minors do not face the burden of working to find food and shelter for more than one person. In the young refugee community, Mohamad’s voice speaks volumes for those leaving everything they know behind to find a better future.
To hear more about his story, Sophia Pizzi sits down with Mohamad for a one on one interview.
Listen:
Mohamad lists the steps of his journey with simplicity. He left Afghanistan around age 15, came to Italy, stayed in a refugee camp until he was 18, and then moved to Rome when he was no longer a minor. In this time, he learned Italian and started high school. He is currently in his last year of high school in Rome, and looks forward to getting his diploma within the next year.
For Mohamad, coming to a new country was no easy task. “Everything was new,” he says. “The language is new, the culture is new, the food is new, you cannot understand the people...I really cannot explain it. It was just very new for me.”
When it comes to life before Italy, Mohamad cannot say much due to how drastically his life has changed since then. “I had a normal life,” he remembers, saying he spent most of his time working instead of being a student. He cannot specifically say what brought him to Italy, but rather “leaves that up to you, to imagine what life is like for Afghans.”
At a young age, Mohamad dreamed of going to school. “It was not so important for my family, but for me, it was very important,” he says. When he first learned his native tongue, Persian, he also started to get books on learning English.
Mohamad’s family lives in Iran with the exception of his brother, who is in Switzerland. “I cannot say they have the best life in Iran,” he says, “because there is so much discrimination.” He contacts his family members frequently, calling them whenever he has the time. He left them six or seven years ago, and has met them only once since then, around two year ago. “In my experience, I think you can find everything. Food, friends…but family we cannot find,” he says, describing his reunion with them as inexplicable.
Along with attending school in Rome, Mohamad works in a paid government volunteer position to tutor other refugees on the Italian language and culture. “When I heard about this project, I chose the position because I know what they need and what they feel,” he says. “For me, I just want to give them hope, and it is a hope for me too. When I see them happy, I feel happy.”
Over the course of his time in Italy, Mohamad notes a distinct change in perception from religious communities. “They are really trying to help immigrants,” he says. “They don’t care where they come from, they just try what they can.”
Outside of this, however, Mohamad says many people “still have prejudices.” He sees many positive changes around himself, but he also acknowledges there are still challenges many face regarding the current “immigration phenomenon, where every day is getting worse and more people are coming here.”
When asked about the biggest challenges he faced, Mohamad said the language barrier was the toughest part of his journey here. He considered this difficult at the time, but looking back he sees that being alone granted him only a small fraction of the challenges that many face when travelling with a family. “Now I have more experience and am more open-minded, so when I see families I suffer a lot for them because it’s not just the language, it is everything.”
Mohamad also considers Pope Francis a model figure in his life. “It takes a lot for me to feel emotion, but one day I watched him on TV, heard him speak, and started to cry,” he remembers. “He really appreciates human value, and to see someone in this power force people to do the right things…I wish I could be more like that, and I try to be every day.”
Dost Mohamad teaches Italian to refugees at the Jesuit run Astalli Center in Rome. To find out more click here.
(Vatican Radio) The Vatican Museums are part of a cooperative effort to raise awareness about the need to keep up the hospital blood supply and to encourage exposure to the great cultural patrimony of Western civilization.The RossoArte initiative is a joint venture by the Vatican Museums, Rome’s Tor Vergata Policlinico (General Hospital) and Hospital Chaplaincy and the volunteer organization In punta di piedi.Click below to hear our report From now until the end of the year, all donors who present themselves at the Tor Vergata transfusion center will receive a personal voucher for a very special ticket rate that comes with “skip the line” privileges.A press release from the Museums explains that the RossoArte initiative seeks to unite the joy of giving to the thrill of experiencing the masterpieces kept in the Pope’s Museums, and offer a concrete sign of gratitude towards all those who, in a profoundly significant act of civic responsibility and s...
(Vatican Radio) The Vatican Museums are part of a cooperative effort to raise awareness about the need to keep up the hospital blood supply and to encourage exposure to the great cultural patrimony of Western civilization.
The RossoArte initiative is a joint venture by the Vatican Museums, Rome’s Tor Vergata Policlinico (General Hospital) and Hospital Chaplaincy and the volunteer organization In punta di piedi.
Click below to hear our report
From now until the end of the year, all donors who present themselves at the Tor Vergata transfusion center will receive a personal voucher for a very special ticket rate that comes with “skip the line” privileges.
A press release from the Museums explains that the RossoArte initiative seeks to unite the joy of giving to the thrill of experiencing the masterpieces kept in the Pope’s Museums, and offer a concrete sign of gratitude towards all those who, in a profoundly significant act of civic responsibility and solidarity periodically, anonymously and responsibly donate blood.
A press conference to present further details of the initiative is scheduled for the 7th of April in the Vatican Museums’ Conference Hall.
(Vatican Radio) A Christian community that lives in "harmony" is fruit of the Holy Spirit and should not be confused with "tranquility" that often is a hypocritical whitewashing of its contrasts and divisions. That’s the message conveyed by Pope Francis during his homily at Tuesday’s morning Mass celebrated in the Casa Santa Marta. A community united in Christ, the Pope said, is also a courageous community.Reflecting on the day’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Pope Francis points to the one word that sums up the sentiments and lifestyle of the very first Christian community: harmony. Theirs is a life in communion, based on shared values and shared wealth for the benefit of all.Harmony vs contrived coexistenceBut, Pope Francis is careful to point out that the harmony which bound together the Church’s first Christians came as a gift of the Holy Spirit. It was not a man-made or contrived form of tranquil coex...
(Vatican Radio) A Christian community that lives in "harmony" is fruit of the Holy Spirit and should not be confused with "tranquility" that often is a hypocritical whitewashing of its contrasts and divisions. That’s the message conveyed by Pope Francis during his homily at Tuesday’s morning Mass celebrated in the Casa Santa Marta. A community united in Christ, the Pope said, is also a courageous community.
Reflecting on the day’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Pope Francis points to the one word that sums up the sentiments and lifestyle of the very first Christian community: harmony. Theirs is a life in communion, based on shared values and shared wealth for the benefit of all.
Harmony vs contrived coexistence
But, Pope Francis is careful to point out that the harmony which bound together the Church’s first Christians came as a gift of the Holy Spirit. It was not a man-made or contrived form of tranquil coexistence.
"We can negotiate some sort of peace ... but harmony is an inner grace that only the Holy Spirit can grant. And these communities lived in harmony. And there are two signs of harmony: there is no one wanting, that is, everything was shared. In what sense? They had one heart, one soul, and no one considered as his own any property that belonged to him, but everything was shared in common amongst them. None of them was ever in need. The true 'harmony' of the Holy Spirit has a very strong relationship with money: money is the enemy of harmony; money is selfish.”
Proof of the first Christian community’s harmony, the Pope says, was shown in the fact that they freely gave of their own goods “so that others would not be in need."
God and money: two “irreconcilable” masters
The Pope draws from the day’s reading the virtuous example of Barnabas who sells his field and gives the proceeds to the Apostles. And in contrast, Francis cites another passage from Acts: that of Ananias and Sapphira, a couple who sell their field and pretend to give the entire proceeds to the Apostles but who in fact, keep part of the money for themselves. That lie costs them dearly; both die on the spot.
God and money are two “irreconcilable” masters, Francis stresses. And, he warns against confusing "harmony" with "tranquility:"
"A community can be very tranquil…things are fine ... But it is not harmonious. I once heard a wise thing from a bishop: 'There is tranquility in the diocese. But if you touch on a certain problem - this problem or that problem - war breaks out.’ This is negotiated harmony, and this is not of the Spirit. Let’s say that it’s a hypocritical harmony like that of Ananias and Saphira and what they did."
The Spirit, generosity and courage
Francis concludes, encouraging a re-reading of the Acts of the Apostles and their portrayal of the first Christians and their life together. "We will do well," he says, to understand the importance of their fraternal generosity and how to bear witness to such a lifestyle in our daily lives.
"The harmony of the Holy Spirit grants us the generosity to possess nothing as our own, while there is someone in need.”
The harmony of the Holy Spirit, he adds, also fortifies us with courage. “‘With great power the Apostles bore witness to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all:’ namely, courage. When there is harmony in the Church, in the community, there is courage, the courage to bear witness to the Risen Lord."
