25,000 children and pilgrim sang the pope “Happy Birthday” today in St. Peter’s Square.
Vatican Dispatch
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis will extend the commission for the protection of children for 3 more years
Pope Francis will renew the mandate of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors for another three years, informed sources told America this week.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis calls on world leaders to “avert a new spiral of violence” in Jerusalem and the Middle East
Sources in the Vatican say they cannot understand how President Trump’s decision to recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel can be in the best interests of the United States.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis calls for abolition of nuclear arms as ICAN formally receives Nobel Peace Prize
The pope was lauded at the presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize for condemning the “false sense of security” of nuclear weapons.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis warns of new ‘tension’ if U.S. embassy is moved to Jerusalem
Without naming President Trump, the pope urged all nations to “respect the status quo” of Jerusalem in accordance with United Nations resolutions.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
In Bangladesh, Pope Francis will encounter ‘natural and man-made’ disasters
The pope’s coming “will be a message of hope,” Cardinal D’Rozario said.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis: Buddhists and Catholics must unite against “intolerance, prejudice and hatred”
Pope Francis called on Catholics and Buddhists in Myanmar “to be united” in order “to heal the wounds of conflict that through the years have divided people of different cultures, ethnicities and religious convictions.” He reminded them that to achieve this unity it is necessary “to surmount all forms of misunderstanding, intolerance, prejudice and hatred.” […]
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis calls for peace in speech to Myanmar leaders, does not say ‘Rohingya’
The pope’s audience included government ministers, civic leaders, military officials, cardinals and bishops, and about 200 lay people and the world’s media.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Myanmar priest: military ‘still in control’—which is why Pope Francis met with them first
“The fact is the military are still in control here even if we have a civilian government,” the priest said.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis meets with Myanmar’s powerful military generals in a break with usual protocol
The pope’s first meetings would usually be with the head of state and head of government.