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NEAR THE STANDING ROCK SIOUX RESERVATION, N.D. (AP) -- The Standing Rock Sioux tribe's attempt to halt construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline near its North Dakota reservation failed in federal court Friday, but three federal agencies asked the pipeline company to "voluntarily pause" work on a segment that tribal officials say holds sacred sites and artifacts....
(Vatican Radio) The Pontifical Swiss Guard held their Jubilee on Thursday evening, celebrating in St. Peter’s Basilica after marching down the Path set up for Pilgrims down the Via della Conciliazione which leads to the St. Peter’s Square.The Jubilee celebration was presided over by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who spoke to the Guards about their “secret weapons”: The Eucharist, the rosary, and the Holy Door.Cardinal Parolin said these are “the weapons of God, available and affordable to everyone; seemingly weak, but stronger than all human guile and able to overcome every obstacle.”The prelate commended the Swiss Guard, as well at the Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City State, for their service in ensuring the peace and order of the Vatican, “especially in times such as this, where the utmost vigilance is necessary.”Members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard celebrate the Jubilee of Mercy in St. Peter's Basi...
Vatican Weekend for September 10, 2016 offers a report on Pope Francis’ General Audience for Wednesday September 7, 2016 and a feature segment on 911: fifteen years on from the terror attacks of September 11th 2001: we hear the voices of popes, ambassadors and clergy who recall that terrible day. The programme concludes with "Mother Teresa, the Church’s latest Saint": Vatican Radio’s Director of the English Service shares his special memories of the Saint from Calcutta.Listen to this programme presented and produced by Tracey McClure:
Vatican Weekend for September 11, 2016 features "There’s More in the Sunday Gospel than Meets the Eye" with Jill Bevilacqua who offers a selection of literary and historical reflections on the week’s Gospel reading in the latest in her series. Also on the programme: "Joan Knows:" EWTN’s Rome Bureau Chief, Joan Lewis looks back on the Pope’s activities and the past week’s events in the Vatican.Listen to this programme presented and produced by Tracey McClure:
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis said Mass in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta on Friday morning. In remarks to the faithful following the readings of the day, the Holy Father focused on the nature of the work of Evangelization: it is an art and a discipline – never a vaunt and never a task to be done by rote – and the work of evangelization is never, never, “a walk in the park”.Click below to hear our report Drawing on the Readings of the Day for Friday, the liturgical memorial of the great priest and missionary to African slaves in the New World, St. Peter Claver, SJ, the Holy Father explained that the essence of evangelization is witness to Christ with one’s whole life.Evangelizing is neither a vaunt, nor a rote taskSadly, however, there are some Christians today, who live their lives of service as though they were mere functionaries – priests and lay people who boast of what they do:“This is the boast: I am proud of myself. This re...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Friday told bishops that division, gossip and money are weapons in the hands of the devil.Speaking to a group of recently appointed bishops of mission countries at the end of a formation course organized by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the Pope said each bishop is called to give testimony of God’s love, care and mercy with their own lives and example.Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni: Pointing out that bishops of mission countries come from places that are “different and distant”, each of you – Pope Francis said – has “the great privilege and responsibility of being on the front lines of evangelization”.Inviting them never to forget that one of their foremost duties is to respond immediately to the requests and needs of their priests, the Pope warned them against the evils that can wreak damage and destroy their mission to evangelize.He reminded them that a missionary bishop’...
(Vatican Radio) As the United States marks the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Kenneth Hackett, recalls his own reactions and emotions on that fateful day and discusses whether enough has been done to engage a public debate about the causes of the attacks and how to address them. He was interviewed by Tracey McClure.Listen to the interview with the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, Kenneth Hackett: Ambassador Hackett was working as the head of Catholic Relief Services in the U.S. city of Baltimore when news broke of the first plane crashing into New York's Twin Towers and as he put it, “things kept getting worse throughout the day” with each new attack. Recalling his own emotions, he spoke of how “shocking” it all was, that “sense of helplessness” and just “the enormity of it.” On the practical level, Hackett said his first reaction was to check on the safety of all ...
(Vatican Radio) As Iraqi government forces step up military efforts to take back towns in the north and west of the country held by so-called Islamic State fighters, doctors in the city of Erbil struggle to provide vital support to displaced families fleeing from the conflict.The Humanitarian “Nineveh Relief” Organization is an independent, non-governmental organisation founded in November 2015 to provide medical services to all displaced people in the Kurdistan region, regardless of their religion and ethnicity.Wissam Elias is one of the doctors working for the organisation which Pope Francis has also supported in a personal way by helping provide transport for medical supplies to Iraq.Listen to Philippa HItchen’s interview with Dr Elias….. HNRO runs two primary health care units providing different services, such as pediatric care, dental and ophthalmic services, medical tests and medicines for the internally displaced people. While other NGOs in t...
IMAGE: CNS/Stefano SpazianiBy Cindy WoodenVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As he prays in his house in theVatican Gardens and, especially, as he ages, retired Pope Benedict XVI said hefinds many Scripture passages "more challenging in their greatness andgravity."Retirement has given the 89-year-old Pope Benedict what hedescribes as the gift of silence to enter more deeply into prayer, especiallywith the Psalms and the writings of early church theologians, but theinevitable approach of death also makes his failings and God's judgment a morepressing concern, he said."Despite all the confidence I have that the loving Godcannot forsake me, the closer you come to his face, the more intensely you feelhow much you have done wrong," the retired pope told Peter Seewald, aGerman writer.Pope Benedict's reflections on his life and his discussionof how his prayer life has changed as he ages are included in Seewald's newbook-length interview, "Last Testament," which will be released inEnglish by Bloomsbury...
NEW YORK (AP) -- Geraldo Rivera says he's "filled with regret" for initially discounting the sexual harassment allegations against his former Fox News Channel boss, Roger Ailes, and is apologizing for his skepticism....
