Phase two of Pope Francis’ diplomacy began with his advocacy of an intervention in Iraq. Anticipated by Archbishop Silvano Maria Tomasi, Holy See Permanent Observer at the UN Office in Geneva, Pope Francis launched the request in his flight back from South Korea. It was reiterated by the Secretary of State Pietro [...]
To canonize John XXIII and John Paul II at the same time, Pope Francis has not hesitated to slightly bypass canonization procedures in not waiting for confirmation of a second miracle attributable to John XXIII. And this was most certainly the right course to take. John XXIII and John Paul II are of [...]
There is a need for faith. Benedict XVI says so, repeats it, and underlines it in the Holy Mass which inaugurates the Year of Faith. This year will be dedicated to return man to God. A year which – significantly – marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. [...]
Young Muslims were also among those who attended the Holy Mass that Benedict XVI gave in the waterfront in Beirut, on Sunday, September 16. And young Muslims took part in the Pope’s meeting with the Lebanese Youth in Bkerké, one of the many Marian sanctuaries in the Land of Cedars, which is [...]
There is a hidden Church. It is made up of young people committing for a better world; of believers that live the Gospel; of people who simply try to lend an hand to their neighbour. It is hidden only because big medias focus on gossips, power struggles and (true or false) plots and scandals. [...]
The image of the hand is the perfect summary of the speech that Benedict XVI held with the government members, representative of State Institutions, Diplomatic Corps and Major Religions. Just look at the hands, and you will find out that – as Benedict XVI put it – each finger is «essential and [...]
Purify the faith. Benedict XVI went to Assisi – 25 years after the first meeting of world religious leaders in the town of Saint Francis – for a day of reflection, dialogue and prayer for peace and justice in the world Pilgrims of Justice, Pilgrims of peace. And – during his speech – [...]
Since March 2011, nearly 100,000 Christians have emigrated from Egypt. If the emigration of Christians continues at the present rate, it could reach 250,00 by the end of 2011. The data were delivered from the Egyptian Union of Human Rights Organization (EHRO), and it takes the most recent picture of what is [...]
What is the difference a day can make? Right after September, 11 this single question – issued for the first times during the Seventies in a song by Esther Phillips – had been made hundreds, thousands and millions of times. Was what happened in New York in September, 11 really able to change [...]
«Turn back to God» Benedict XVI’s appeal was not only addressed to the Church of Germany. It is a general appeal to Europe, to the several religious confessions, to the world. This appeal strongly echoed during the visit of Benedict XVI to his homeland, and it has been linked with two other [...]