BRAZIL – Pope sends message to Brazil and Cardinal of Rio de Janeiro blesses Olympic torch Cardinal Orani Joao Tempesta,the Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, blessed the Olympic torch as he stood below the emblematic statue of Christ the Redeemer. The torch was carried there by former Olympic Brazilian volleyball player Maria Isabel Barroso Salgado,...
CHINA – Christian church leader jailed in human rights crackdown Hu Shigen, a prominent Christian leader of an underground church, was sentenced to seven years in jail and derived of political rights for five years by a court in Tianjin in a crackdown on human rights activists. Hu was charged with subversion, becoming the second...
“Lebanon cannot cope with this big tragedy alone…. without you we can’t continue” – Interview with Sr. Hanan Youssef Sister Hanan Youssef, who is well known for her humanitarian work in Lebanon and has spoken about the refugee situation in her country at international conferences, visited Malta recently. Sr Hanan currently represents her order...
FRANCE – Muslims attend Mass in solidarity after priest’s murder As shockwaves continue to be felt over the horrific murder of a defenceless 84-year-old priest in a Normandy church last week, the Catholic church in Paris called for peace. All Muslims in the city were invited to embrace a “fraternal” greeting and join Catholics...
UNITED NATIONS -Church is contributing directly to Peace-Building in Africa The Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, addressed the UN Security Council during an open debate on Peacebuilding in Africa in New York. Here is the text of his speech: My delegation wishes to thank Japan’s Presidency...
SOUTH AMERICA ACN helps missionary Sisters working in remote regions All over South America, small groups of brave Sisters are risking everything to reach out to and serve small, isolated and often very poor communities in remote areas. Enduring extreme heat, cold and weather conditions – sometimes putting their lives at risk – these...
SOUTH SUDAN – Pope sends special envoy to pursue peace Pope Francis has sent the Ghanaian president of the Pontifical Council, Cardinal Peter Turkson, as his special envoy to pursue peace in war-torn South Sudan. His mission is to urge for an end to violence in South Sudan and to help establish dialogue and trust between...
RUSSIA – Christians fear new laws will end religious freedom Christians in Russia have just been banned from discussing their faith outside of churches and other designated places under new anti-terror laws that came into effect this week. It is now illegal to preach, teach or even share your faith in private homes, online, on...
Pope sets off to Poland to inaugurate World Youth Day 2016 Before heading off for Poland, Pope Francis went to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to pray for the success of his 15th Apostolic Visit abroad to Poland. He invoked the Virgin Mary’s protection on his travels and upon the people he will visit in Poland and...
World Youth day participants visit Auschwitz Although gatherings of young people are often characterized by excitement, exuberance and the likes, the story is different for pilgrims of the 31st World Youth Day going on in Krakow, Poland. Every day, since the beginning of the WYD activities, up to 30,000 WYD participants visit the former...
