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Orlando, Fla., Jun 12, 2016 / 10:19 am (CNA).- Following Saturday night's shooting at a nightclub in Orlando that killed 50 people, Catholic leaders from around the U.S. are offering prayers for the victims and their families.“Waking up to the unspeakable violence in Orlando reminds us of how precious human life is,” said Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, president of the U.S. Catholic bishops conference, in a statement.“Our prayers are with the victims, their families and all those affected by this terrible act.”In the early hours of June 12, a gunman identified as 29-year-old Omar Mateen exchanged fire with a police officer working at Pulse nightclub, which has a predominantly gay clientele.Mateen, who was from Florida and was of Afghan descent, took hostages for as much as three hours, and was shot to death by Swat officers. Though the mass violence is thought to be ideologically motivated, he was not known to have links to any terrorist groups.Another 53 perso...
Vatican City, Jun 12, 2016 / 12:37 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis has offered his prayers and compassion for those affected by Saturday night's shooting at a nightclub in Orlando.In a June 12 statement Fr. Federico Lombardi, the Holy See press officer, said the “terrible massacre,” which has left a “dreadfully high number of innocent victims, has caused in Pope Francis, and in all of us, the deepest feelings of horror and condemnation, of pain and turmoil before this new manifestation of homicidal folly and senseless hatred.”“Pope Francis joins the families of the victims and all of the injured in prayer and in compassion,” the statement reads. “Sharing in their indescribable suffering he entrusts them to the Lord so they may find comfort.”“We all hope that ways may be found, as soon as possible, to effectively identify and contrast the causes of such terrible and absurd violence which so deeply upsets the desire for peace...
IMAGE: CNS/Paul HaringBy Cindy WoodenVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Love and solidarity are what make theworld a better place, not a focus on physical perfection and hiding away thosewho do not fit a commercial ideal, Pope Francis said."The world does not become better because onlyapparently 'perfect' -- not to mention fake -- people live there, but whenhuman solidarity, mutual acceptance and respect increase," the pope saidJune 12 celebrating Mass for the Year of Mercy jubilee of the sick and personswith disabilities.Several altar servers with Down syndrome assisted PopeFrancis at the Mass in St. Peter's Square. Persons with disabilities proclaimed the first two Scripture readings, including by using braille.The Gospel story, about the sinful woman who washed Jesus'feet with her tears, was acted out while a deacon read it in Italian, and signlanguage interpreters were stationed throughout the square."Each of us, sooner or later, is called to face -- attimes painfully -- frailty and illness...
LONDON (AP) -- Britain, the European Union is coming for your bananas. And your kettles. Meanwhile, foreign criminals roam Britain's streets and migrants besiege its borders....
BEIRUT (AP) -- Syria's largest city, Aleppo, used to be the country's economic locomotive but four years of grinding battles have rendered it almost uninhabitable. Pummeled by bombs and rocket fire, residents on both sides of this divided metropolis have experienced severe water and power shortages, soaring living costs, and collapsing public services....
A gunman opened fire at a gay night club in Orlando, Florida, early Sunday, killing 50 people and wounding 53 more before he was killed in a shootout with SWAT team members. Authorities say he may have had a connection with radical Islamic terrorism, and his father said he became angry a couple of months ago when he saw two gay men kissing. Here's what we know about the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history:...
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- The Latest on the shooting at an Orlando nightclub (all times local):...
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- A gunman wielding an assault-type rifle and a handgun opened fire inside a crowded gay nightclub early Sunday, killing at least 50 people before dying in a gunfight with SWAT officers, police said. It was the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history....
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis greeted the participants of the Jubilee of the Sick and Disabled after the recitation of the Sunday Angelus, he turned his attention to those who live “on the edges” of society and to those affected by leprosy.Speaking to those present in the in St Peter’s Square for Sunday’s special Jubilee, Pope Francis thanked them for having wanted to be present for the celebration in their state of “illness or disability” and he expressed heartfelt gratitude to their caregivers. The Pope also had special words of thanks for all the doctors and medical workers who are present on Sunday at special “Health Centers” set up at the four Papal Basilicas in Rome and who are busy offering specialized medical visits to the hundreds of poor people in Rome who live on the margins of society. Pope Francis also recalled those who are affected by leprosy and said that within the context of the Jubilee...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has issued a heartfelt appeal to all men and women of goodwill to join in the effort to remove the causes of modern slavery.Speaking after the recitation of the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope, once again, highlighted some of the priorities of today's world and referred specifically to the World Day Against Child Labour marked on Sunday. "All together let us join in renewing the effort to remove the causes of this modern slavery that deprives millions of children of some fundamental rights and exposes them to serious danger. There are many child slaves in the world today!”Celebrated under the auspices of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the focus of this year’s “World Day Against Child Labour” is on child labour and supply chains. The ILO points out that with 168 million children still in child labour, all supply chains, from agriculture to manufacturing, services to constructi...
