Lebanese people must be given the opportunity to create a better future for their own country without undue interference, says Pope Francis. The country must remain a “land of tolerance and pluralism” he said as he welcomed Lebanon’s Christian patriarchs to the Vatican last Thursday. Francis prayed the Lord’s Prayer in Arabic before he and Read more
Pope Francis held his weekly general audience in public for the first time in six months on Wednesday, smiling and chatting as he re-emerged from the constraints of the coronavius lockdown. The audience, at which the pope announced a day of prayer and fasting for Lebanon, was held in the San Damaso courtyard of the Read more
A group focusing on young people’s needs says Beirut’s children are traumatised and need help. The trauma is a result of the huge explosion that caused at least 180 deaths and 6,000 injuries. Many of Beirut’s children are in need of psychological support, according to a delegation from the heart of the recovery effort. Speaking Read more
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand announced on Friday that it will provide urgently needed funding for Lebanon amidst apocalyptic scenes from a massive explosion in the port of Beirut yesterday. Caritas is one of at least sixteen Catholic organizations that have responded to the Aug. 4 explosion at Beirut’s port. As victims in Beirut face an Read more
The Lebanese Adyan foundation for interreligious studies and spiritual solidarity has received the 35th Niwano Peace Prize. The prize was established to honor and encourage individuals and organizations that have contributed significantly to interreligious cooperation. The Japan-based Niwano Peace Prize Committee says the Foundation has been “a visible and committed actor for peace in Lebanon Read more
Three young Lebanese Muslims tried in a Tripoli court on contempt of religion charges for insulting a statue of Our Lady have been found guilty. Judge Jocelyn Matta ordered them to memorise verses from the holy Qur’an’s Surat Al-Omran. This chapter glorifies Our Lady and Jesus. One of the verses featured hails the Virgin Mary Read more
A synod of the Melkite Church has been postponed as half the church’s bishops tried to force the resignation of their patriarch. Ten Melkite bishops boycotted the synod meeting, in trying to get Patriarch Gregory III Laham to go. “I shall not resign,” Patriarch Gregory declared, denouncing the boycott. Without the 10 bishops, the synod Read more
Three years ago, the Islamic State (Isis) did not exist; now it controls vast swathes of Syria and Iraq. Showing off its handiwork daily via Twitter and YouTube, Isis has repeatedly demonstrated that it is much more than a transnational terrorist organisation – rather, it is an entity with sophisticated command, control, propaganda and logistical Read more
How can so much pain and suffering be inflicted upon a people and no notice taken by those that are inflicting it? Tell me the ideology or political view that outweighs the right to life? Around 9.3 million of Syria’s 23 million inhabitants need aid. The number of people who have lost their homes or Read more
When Catholics marry someone of a different religion they will face extra challenges — and Church leaders must learn how to help them meet the challenges of these mixed marriages, a Vatican official says. The secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Bishop Jean Laffitte, was commenting on a research project conducted by the Read more