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RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- A Brazilian judge ordered Wednesday that the passports of American swimmers Ryan Lochte and Jimmy Feigen be seized, confining them to the country as authorities investigate their claim they were robbed at gunpoint during the Rio de Janeiro Olympics....
ALBANY, La. (AP) -- The smell of muddy water hung heavy in the air as people began sorting through waterlogged belongings and ripping out carpets Wednesday in flood-wracked southern Louisiana, which now faces a long-term challenge of how to house thousands of displaced people....
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- A prominent Iranian lawmaker confirmed Wednesday that Russia is using an Iranian air base for airstrikes in Syria, as Moscow said another wave of airstrikes launched from the Islamic Republic struck the east of the war-ravaged country....
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis held his weekly General Audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican on Wednesday. In his catechesis, the Holy Father reflected on St Matthew’s account of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes.Below, please find the official English language summary of Pope Francis’ catechesis for the General Audience for 16 August 2016:Dear Brothers and Sisters: In our continuing catechesis for this Holy Year of Mercy, we now consider the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. In Saint Matthew’s account, Jesus wishes to withdraw and pray, but seeing the multitudes, is moved by compassion and chooses to remain with them. By instructing his disciples to feed the crowd, he teaches them to have faith and invites them to share in his concern for those in need. The miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes is a concrete sign of that merciful concern. Matthew, in telling us that Jesus took the bread, look...
(Vatican Radio) Poland's government has approved a new bill that foresees prison terms of up to three years for anyone who uses phrases like "Polish death camps" to refer to Auschwitz and other camps that Nazi Germany operated in occupied Poland during World War II. The bill follows years of debates on the issue.Listen to Stefan Bos’ report:
(Vatican Radio) With a Moto Proprio, Pope Francis announced on Wednesday the establishment of a Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life. The Prefect of the new Dicastery will be the Irish-born Bishop Kevin Joseph Farrell, currently serving as Bishop of Dallas.In his Apostolic Letter the Pope wrote that the new Dicastery will be "governed by special Statues" and all the responsibilities and functions held by the current Pontifical Councils for the Laity and for the Family will be transferred to the new Dicastery from September 1st. After that date the two Councils in question will cease to exist. As a loving Mother, the Pope wrote, the Church has always throughout the centuries shown her concern for the laity, the family and life, by witnessing our Lord’s merciful love for humanity and we want to ensure that “the riches of Jesus Christ are poured out appropriately and with profusion among the faithful.”For this reason, we are taking prompt moves so...
(Vatican Radio) At his General Audience on Wednesday, which was held in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Pope Francis spoke about mercy as the instrument of communion.Listen to Christopher Wells' report: Reflecting on the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, taken from the Gospel of St Matthew, the Holy Father focused on Jesus’ compassion for the people who follow after Him. “His compassion is not a vague sentiment,” the Pope said. Jesus “loves us so much, and wants to be close to us.”Jesus’ concern for the crowd is the impetus for the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Jesus, though, does not act alone, but wishes to involve His disciples in the miracle. “He shows them that the few loaves and fishes they have, with the power of faith and of prayer, can be shared by all the people,” the Pope said. “It is a miracle that He does, but it is the miracle of faith, of prayer with compassion and love.&rdquo...
(Vatican Radio) On Wednesday, the Vatican released a motu proprio by Pope Francis which officially establishes the new dicastery on the Laity, Family, and Life.Listen to Ann Schneible’s report. “For many centuries, the Church, a caring mother, has had care and respect for the laity, the family, and life, manifesting the love of the merciful Savior for humanity,” reads the new document, which was signed August 15.“Our thoughts turn to the laity, the family, and life, to whom we wish to offer support and help, because they are active witness to the Gospel in our time and an expression of the goodness of the Redeemer.”The new Vatican department will take on the duties of the current Pontifical Council for the Laity and the Pontifical Council for the Family.The Laity, Family, and Life dicastery will take effect on Sept. 1. At that point, the Pontifical Councils for the Laity and the Family will cease.Bishop Kevin Joseph Farrell, who until now has served a...
(Vatican Radio) It was announced on Wednesday Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia as the new President of the Pontifical Academy for Life. Archbishop Paglia had previously served as the President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, which has been merged into the new Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life.At the same time, Pope Francis also appointed Archbishop Paglia as Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family.The Holy Father also appointed Msgr. Pierangelo Sequeri as the new President of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family.Msgr. Sequeri was previously Dean of the Theology Faculty of Northern Italy in Milan.
Vatican City, Aug 17, 2016 / 04:13 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas has been appointed the head of Francis’ new 'mega-dicastery' for laity, family, and life – a decision that marks the second major appointment of an American to a Vatican position this summer.The news of Bishop Farrell’s appointment as head of the new dicastery was announced in an Aug. 17 communique from the Vatican, and falls less than a month after another American, Greg Burke, stepped in as the new Vatican spokesman and director of the Holy See Press Office.The appointment was accompanied by the release of the brief motu proprio Sedula Mater, or "sedulous mother", by which Pope Francis established the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life.In a statement announcing Bishop Farrell’s appointment, Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington said, “the appointment by our Holy Father, Pope Francis, of Bishop Kevin Farrell as the head of the newly created dicaste...
