The Archbishop of Dublin, Diarumid Martin is playing down last year’s rumours the Pope will visit Ireland in 2012. Speaking on RTE radio, Martin said that Pope Benedict is still considering an invitation to travel to Ireland, but added that the Holy Father thinks “his coming would have to fit into the overall timetable of Read more
Egypt’s Coptic Christians are worried by increased attacks on them and their churches by muslims and the military and would rather not draw too much attention to themselves by accepting too much foreign aid. A minority group in a Muslim country, they fear a backlash and so at this time when all Egyptians are suffering Read more
Cuba is preparing to greet Benedict XVI “with affection and respect”, and President Raul Castro has welcomed “with satisfaction” the official announcement of the Pope’s visit to the country, according to an official note released on Cuban media today. The visit is due to take place at the end of March 2012.
Read the article...“Humanity today must strive towards the goal of integral human development” said Pope Benedict XVI Thursday as he welcomed 12 new ambassadors to the Holy See. Among those presenting their letters of credence were representatives from Trinidad and Tobago, the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, the Swiss Confederation, Burundi, Thailand, Pakistan, Mozambique, Kyrgyzstan, the Principality of Andorra, Sri Lanka and Burkina Faso.
Breaking with a tradition first established by Paul VI, the Holy Father delivered one general discourse to all ambassadors present, which focused on themes close to the Pope’s heart; our growing interdependence in the era of globalization and in parallel our increased shared responsibility for mankind and creation.
He said today we must all be aware that “we are all responsible for everything” and that we must pursue the common good by promoting solidarity among generations, protecting the dignity of every human being and protecting nature. And without the fear that this common responsibility clashes with religious and cultural differences.
Read the article...
In a surprise statement, Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Ministry and Deputy Prime Minister, Eamon Gilmore, said Ireland would respond positively if Pope Benedict made a state visit. Gilmore was addressing the Foreign Affairs Committee on the closure of embassies in the Vatican, Timor and Iran. He took the opportunity to re-state that the reason for closing Read more
A religious studies teacher suspended after her lesson on ‘good and evil’ left a classroom of children in tears has won the backing of Pope Benedict XVI.
Cristina Vai, 55, a teacher for 30 years, was disciplined after several parents complained that children had come home sobbing and frightened.
They said they were scared of her graphic description of battles between good angels and the Devil from the Book of the Apocalypse.
Read the article...
New Zealand’s Catholic bishops have arrived in Rome for their ad limina visit, which begins Monday 12 December. They will be joined by Archbishop Charles Balvo, Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand. The last ad limina visit for New Zealand bishops was in 2004. Archbishop John Dew, Wellington; Bishop Patrick Dunn, Auckland; Bishop Denis Browne, Hamilton; Read more
The agreement, earlier in the year by Commonwealth countries, to allow a monarch to marry a Catholic creates a potential conflict of interest, the British political and constitutional reform parliamentary committee said. The possibility that a further heir to the British throne were raised a Catholic, means there is an “obvious difficulty” for that person Read more
The Vatican said Pope Benedict XVI greeted with a smile the news that a German citizen had filed a complaint against him for not wearing a seat belt in his popemobile.
The Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, said Nov 30 that the complaint was not being taken seriously at the Vatican.
“It continues to provoke curiosity and smiles of amusements, beginning with the Pope himself,” Father Lombardi said.
Read the article...Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday offered his support to a major international meeting underway this week through the sponsorship of the Sant’Egidio Community aimed at eliminating capital punishment:
“I greet the distinguished delegations from various countries taking part in the meeting promoted by the Community of Sant’Egidio on the theme: No Justice without Life. I express my hope that your deliberations will encourage the political and legislative initiatives being promoted in a growing number of countries to eliminate the death penalty and to continue the substantive progress made in conforming penal law both to the human dignity of prisoners and the effective maintenance of public order.”
Read the article...