Article Archive
Please click below to view any of the articles in our archive.
(VATICAN RADIO) Clinical fees are leaving Nigerian mothers and newborns trapped in hospitals – relying on food that family and friends bring to them and oftentimes sleeping on the floor."Some babies have stayed here until they started crawling," one nurse said, adding that some mothers had managed to escape the hospital with their babies while no one was watching.Few Nigerians have health insurance, so many patients, not just those giving birth, are forced to remain in hospitals, usually under poor conditions, clinging to the hope that their bills will be waived by hospital directors or covered by generous visitors.Katie Ascough spoke with Fr. Evaristus Bassey, National Director of Caritas Nigeria, to find out more about these “Awaiting Bill Settlement” patients.Listen: Fr. Bassey explained: “There was a law that came into effect last year called the ‘National Health Act’ which…[said] that no one under emergency car...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has arrived in Poland at the start of his 15th pastoral visit abroad. During his 5-day visit the Pope will attend the World Youth Day celebrations taking place in the southern city of Krakow and also visit the former Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau. The Alitalia Airbus A321 on which he is travelling touched down at Krakow airport just before 16 hours local time on Wednesday.He was accompanied on board the plane by a Pontifical Delegation and some 70 members of the press.Before setting off for the airport in Rome, a group of young refugees of different nationalities, nine boys and six girls, gathered at his residence in the Vatican to say goodbye and wish him a good journey.Other highlights of the Pope's visit to Poland include the celebration of Holy Mass at the nation's holiest shrine at Jasna Gora, a prayer at the Shrine of Divine Mercy and the celebration of Mass together with the young people from across the world w...
The oldest church in Japan has been nominated to be a UNESCO World Heritage site for 2018.Oura Catholic Church in Nagasaki and several other Christian sites in southwestern Japan were selected as candidates for the world heritage list by a government panel on July 25, reported Japan Today.Following a long period of persecution against Christians, French priests, Fathers Louis Furet and Bernard Petitjean, initially built the church in 1863, which was rebuilt 16 years later into the Gothic structure that remains today.“Churches and Christian Sites in Nagasaki” comprises 12 cultural assets in eight cities and towns, and show how Christianity took off in Japan from the 16th century before being banned with Christians being persecuted.The church honors 26 missionaries and converts who were crucified in 1597 on the orders of a warlord. (UCAN)
(Vatican Radio) During the first official event of his five day visit to Poland, Pope Francis urged the country’s political leaders to welcome migrants fleeing from wars and hunger, while at the same time protecting human life from conception until natural death.The Pope’s words came as he met with the nation’s president, prime minister and other political leaders in the courtyard of Krakow’s historic Wawel Castle complex.Noting that this visit marks his first to central-eastern Europe, the Pope spoke about the importance of history in establishing a national identity, based on human and spiritual resources. Recalling the recent 1.050th anniversary of the Baptism of Poland, he said the event marked a powerful moment of national unity, reaffirming harmony, “even amid a diversity of opinions”.Pope Francis said that while negative historical memories keep the heart and mind fixed on evil, goodPope memories can help a country move forward and forge ...
(Vatican Radio) Referring to recent acts of violence including the killing of a priest in France, Pope Francis said on Wednesday that the world is at war but stressed “it is not a war of religions but for power."There is one word I wish to say to clarify." "When I speak about "war" I'm speaking about a war for real, not a "war of religions." It is," he continued, “a war about (economic) interests, money, natural resources and the domination of peoples." All religions, he said, "desire peace. Other people want war." Right!" The Pope was speaking to journalists accompanying him on the plane from Rome to Krakow in Poland. Pope Francis began his remarks by noting that the word which is being repeated very often now is “insecurity” but, he said, the real word is “war.” The world is at war, a piecemeal war. There was the 1914 war with its methods, then the 1939-45 one an...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis sent telegrams to the leaders of Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia, on Wednesday, as his flight from Rome to Krakow traveled through each country’s airspace. All but one of the telegrams – that sent to Italian President Sergio Mattarella – were in English. We bring you the telegrams below, with Vatican Radio’s translation of the Italian message***************************************** ITALIAA SUA ECCELLENZAON. SERGIO MATTARELLAPRESIDENTE DELLA REPUBBLICA ITALIANAPALAZZO DEL QUIRINALE 00187 ROMANEL MOMENTO IN CUI MI ACCINGO A PARTIRE PER LA POLONIA IN OCCASIONE DELLA GIORNATA MONDIALE DELLA GIOVENTU’, ANIMATO DAL VIVO DESIDERIO DI INCONTRARE I GIOVANI PROVENIENTI DA TUTTO IL MONDO PER UN SIGNIFICATIVO RADUNO NEL SEGNO DELLA FEDE E DELLA FRATERNITA’, MI E’ GRADITO RIVOLGERE A LEI, SIGNOR PRESIDENTE, E A TUTTI GLI ITALIANI IL MIO AFFETTUO...
Vatican City, Jul 27, 2016 / 09:05 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On the flight to Poland for World Youth Day, Pope Francis on Wednesday responded to recent violence across the globe by saying that the world is at war.“When I speak of war, I talk about it seriously, but it’s not a war of religion. It’s a war for money, for resources, for nature, for dominion. This is the war,” Pope Francis told journalists on his July 27 flight from Rome to Krakow.“Could one think of a religious war? No. All religions want peace. Others want war,” he said. “Is that clear?”Francis addressed the 70 journalists on board the papal plane when, as usual, he came to the back to greet them each individually and thank them for their work.However, before going down the rows of eager writers and photographers on board, Fr. Federico Lombardi SJ, who will retire as Vatican spokesman after the trip, asked the Pope to offer some words on the “emotional days” at han...
IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob RollerBy Dennis SadowskiKRAKOW, Poland (CNS) -- Jesus did not stop talking about mercy even though he was nearly thrown from a cliff after his first public talk in a Nazareth synagogue, and the rest of his life can serve as an example for people of faith to follow, Boston Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley told an energized World Youth Day audience.Emphasizing the World Youth Day theme focused on mercy and the Year of Mercy declared by Pope Francis, Cardinal O'Malley called on the young people in Tauron Arena July 27 to bring God's mercy to life as Jesus did.The Jubilee Year is a chance to reboot or start over again, said Cardinal O'Malley, who serves on the pope's Council of Cardinals. "We need to find a new route to take us where we need to go."The cardinal said he considers his first homily -- to a group of inmates after he was assigned as a prison chaplain -- a failure as well. He said he decided to focus on the freeing power of God after reading in a book that a ho...
By Junno Arocho EstevesABOARDTHE PAPAL FLIGHT TO KRAKOW, POLAND (CNS) -- The world, not religion, is waginga war in pieces, Pope Francis said. Whileit "is not at as organic" as past world wars, "it is organizedand it is war," the pope told journalists July 27 on his flight to Krakow."Someonemay think that I am speaking about a war of religions. No, all religions wantpeace. Others want war," the pope said.Hespoke one day after the murder of a priest during Mass in a Catholic church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray,France. Two men, armed with knives, entered the church during Mass. Theattackers murdered 84-year-old Father Jacques Hamel, slitting his throat."Thisholy priest who died precisely at the moment he was offering prayers for thewhole church," he said. While lamenting the priest's death, the pope addedthat was one of countless innocents butchered by a war fought in pieces. "Howmany Christians, how many children, how many innocents?" he said. "Weare not afraid of saying this truth: ...
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The ALS Association is crediting money raised through the Ice Bucket Challenge for the discovery of a gene's connection to the progressive disease....
