At a 40 minute personal meeting between Cuban president Raul Castro and Pope Benedict, the Holy Father asked for Cuba to recognise Good Friday as a holiday. Noting that John Paul II asked a similar request of Fidel Castro about Christmas and it was restored as a national holiday, Vatican Spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi SJ said, Read more
Pope Benedict admitted to asking himself why so many children had to suffer in natural disasters such as the Japanese earthquake. The admission came on a television programme the pontiff participated in. Pope Benedict went on to say “We don’t have the answers, but we know that Jesus suffered as innocent children suffer.” The pope’s comments on Read more
Once again, Good Friday sees Filipinos nailed to crosses, re-enacting Jesus’ suffering and death. Yesterday tourists flocked to see at least 24 Filipinos take part in the annual ritual which Church leaders reject as extreme devotion and a distortion of the Easter message. “The Church asks you to deny yourself through mortification, prayer and sacrifice. Read more