The Vatican’s doctrinal congregation has asked the world’s bishops to report on how a landmark papal document acknowledging the right of all priests to say Mass using the Roman Missal of 1962 is being applied in their dioceses. Cardinal Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), wrote to the Read more
World
Saudi Arabia stops death penalty for people who committed crimes as minors
Thursday, April 30th, 2020Saudi Arabia is abolishing the death penalty for people who committed crimes as minors, the state-backed Human Rights Commission (HRC) said in a statement Sunday. The decision was part of a royal decree, the statement said, and came two days after an announcement that public floggings would be banned. Anyone who received a death sentence Read more
Remarkable pictures show Mecca deserted during Ramadan
Thursday, April 30th, 2020The holy city of Mecca has been pictured completely deserted as Muslims celebrate Ramadan in isolation this year. The central courtyard of the Great Mosque of Mecca is open all year round so is often busy, particularly during Hajj, but strict lockdown measures in Saudi Arabia have left it completely empty. The holy month of Read more
Pacific tourism industry wiped out by Covid-19
Thursday, April 30th, 2020The decimation of the Pacific’s tourism industry by Covid-19 could plunge thousands of people into poverty, according to a new assessment by the International Labour Organisation. Thousands of jobs in countries like Fiji, Samoa and Tonga are dependent on visitor numbers, which have fallen to zero. Thousands of jobs have already been lost, with resorts Read more
Church demands end to Bejing pro-democracy arrests
Thursday, April 23rd, 2020
The Catholic Church in Hong Kong is demanding an end to a police harrassment of pro-democracy activists. The Church says the political repression of those demanding democratic rights in the China-administered region is wrong. Hong Kong police arrested 15 pro-democracy activists last weekend, including former legislators because of their roles in Hong Kong’s mass protests Read more
Church has no direct answer for COVID-19 digital tracking apps
Thursday, April 23rd, 2020
A coronavirus surveillance digital tracking app the Italian government wants to introduce to help prevent coronavirus (COVID-19) to spread is generating resistance. The “Immuni,” app, which can record where people go, was to have been introduced when the country’s gradual return to normality begins on 4 May. It relies on Bluetooth, so the user has Read more
Bangladesh poor even poorer
Thursday, April 23rd, 2020
The Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic will make the poor in Bangladesh even poorer, say economists. About 50 million people who live slightly above the poverty line (i.e. those earning more than US$2 a day) may fall below the line because of the pandemic. In the past, natural disasters and climate change effects were the main drivers Read more
Vatican City prepares to ease coronavirus restrictions
Thursday, April 23rd, 2020
Vatican City is making plans to gradually ease the quarantine restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). The Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin has been meeting with the Roman Curia to discuss gradually reopening Holy See offices as Italy prepares to end its national lockdown on 4 May. The heads of Read more
World Youth Day and World Meeting of Families postponed
Thursday, April 23rd, 2020
Pope Francis has postponed the World Youth Day and the World Meeting of Families because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. According to a Vatican website notice, the World Meeting of Families will now take place in Rome in June 2022 instead of June 2021. The notice also says World Youth Day which was to be Read more
Bodies ‘piling up’ at Philippine hospital amid pandemic
Thursday, April 23rd, 2020A leading hospital in Philippine capital Manila is struggling to store unclaimed bodies of patients amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Journalist Arnold Clavio on April 11 posted on social media that bodies have been “piling up” in the hallway of a “certain hospital in Metro Manila.” Clavio did not disclose his source or the name of Read more