Pope Francis may visit United States in September after UN invitation
http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=275395&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Pope Francis speaks to the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, Sept. 25, 2015. / L'Osservatore Romano.Rome Newsroom, Apr 25, 2024 / 07:22 am (CNA).Pope Francis is reportedly considering returning to the United States in September to speak before the United Nations General Assembly.The news was initially reported by the French Catholic newspaper La Croix and has not yet been officially confirmed by the Vatican. A source from the Vatican Secretariat of State, meanwhile, told CNA this week that "a formal invitation has arrived from Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and Pope Francis seems inclined to respond positively."If the New York trip occurs, the pope would visit the United Nations during its "Summit of the Future," which the international body will convene from Sept. 22 to 23.The possible trip to the United States could change the pope's already-busy September travel schedule. The Holy See Press Office has announced that Pope Francis will be in Indonesia...
Pope Francis speaks to the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, Sept. 25, 2015. / L'Osservatore Romano.
Rome Newsroom, Apr 25, 2024 / 07:22 am (CNA).
Pope Francis is reportedly considering returning to the United States in September to speak before the United Nations General Assembly.
The news was initially reported by the French Catholic newspaper La Croix and has not yet been officially confirmed by the Vatican. A source from the Vatican Secretariat of State, meanwhile, told CNA this week that "a formal invitation has arrived from Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and Pope Francis seems inclined to respond positively."
If the New York trip occurs, the pope would visit the United Nations during its "Summit of the Future," which the international body will convene from Sept. 22 to 23.
The possible trip to the United States could change the pope's already-busy September travel schedule. The Holy See Press Office has announced that Pope Francis will be in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and Singapore from Sept. 2-13.
Pope Francis is also expected at the end of September in Belgium, where he is scheduled to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the University of Louvain, which has been divided into two different linguistic entities since the 1960s. The Holy Father told Mexican television network Televisa last December that he intended to travel to Belgium in 2024.
According to a source familiar with the planning of papal trips, Pope Francis' trip to Louvain could be postponed to 2025. The postponement of the journey would leave room at the end of September for the visit to the United Nations.
During his planned stay in Belgium, Pope Francis will also celebrate Mass at the national shrine of Koelkenberg. There are also rumors that the pontiff will stop in Luxembourg, one of the small nations favored by the pope for trips to Europe. Luxembourg officials have denied the visit, but the Vatican Secretariat of State has indicated the trip is possible
The September summit's objective is to strengthen the structures of the United Nations and global "governance" to face more fully the "new and old challenges" of the coming years, the UN has said.
The meeting will lead a "pact for the future" to advance rapidly toward realizing the UN's "Sustainable Development Goals."
In a meeting with students in April, Pope Francis described the summit as "an important event," with the Holy Father urging students to help ensure the plan "becomes concrete and is implemented through processes and actions for change."
Pope Francis, who is 87, has undergone two surgeries in the last four years and is under regular medical screening. A planned trip to Abu Dhabi to participate in the COP28 meeting was canceled last December due to health reasons.
The pope was last in the United States in 2015, during which he also appeared before the United Nations.
Full Article
http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&url=10&view=post&articleid=275766&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Pro-life supporters march in this year's March for Life in Ottawa, Canada, May 9, 2024. / Credit: Peter StocklandOttawa, Canada, May 10, 2024 / 16:00 pm (CNA).Thousands of pro-lifers packed onto Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada, and spilled out onto Wellington Street on May 9 for the 27th annual National March for Life.The diverse crowd gathered on the Hill at noon with its members bearing both homemade and professionally crafted signs pledging them to stand fast for the unborn and vulnerable.The march's theme, "I Will Never Forget You" was taken from the prophet Isaiah's poignant question: "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast?"Participants in the Ottawa, Canada, March for Life on May 9, 2024, sing the national anthem. Credit: Peter StocklandThe rally and march were broadcast live by the U.S. cable network EWTN. (Editor's note: EWTN is the parent company of Catholic News Agency.)This year's speakers included pro-life speaker and author Abby Johnson, President of 40...
http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&url=10&view=post&articleid=275765&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Virgin Mary by Sassoferrato. / Credit: Public domainACI Prensa Staff, May 10, 2024 / 16:45 pm (CNA).Along with other saints, every May 10 the Church honors St. John of Avila, the patron saint of the Spanish clergy. This renowned founder of schools and centers of formation and study recorded in one of his writings what he considered to be the best gift we can give to our heavenly mother, the Virgin Mary.St. John of Avila's recommendation appears today in a section of the website of the Spanish Bishops' Conference. In the text, St. John of Avila asks himself: "What shall I do for the virgin? God has given me many good things through her."The answer to the question, the saint says, is found in the Gospel account of the wedding feast at Cana. There, the Virgin pointed out to her Son that the wine had run out. When Jesus responds, "What concern is that to you and me? My hour is not yet come," it seems that nothing is going to happen. Nonetheless, the Mother of God immediately p...
http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&url=10&view=post&articleid=275764&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois. / Credit: Diocese of Springfield in IllinoisWashington, D.C. Newsroom, May 10, 2024 / 17:30 pm (CNA).Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, is accusing President Joe Biden of "making a mockery of our Catholic faith" after he made the sign of the cross while promoting abortion.Biden, who is the country's second Catholic president, made the sign of the cross at an abortion rally in Tampa, Florida, more than two weeks ago. In his speech, the president criticized Catholic Gov. Ron DeSantis for signing a bill that restricts abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. The governor had previously helped enact legislation limiting abortion to 15 weeks of pregnancy.During the rally, Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried said that when DeSantis decided to run for president, "15 weeks wasn't good enough; we had to go to six weeks," at which point Biden made the sign of the cross in apparent ...