The Unesco World Heritage site in Istanbul, founded as a Christian church in the 6th century, transformed into a mosque in the 15th century and then into a museum in 1934, will reopen as a mosque on July 24 with Friday prayers.
Vatican Dispatch
Posted inPolitics & Society, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis keeps the spotlight on the plight of migrants and refugees
Pope Francis drew attention to the dramatic situation of refugees in Libya today, “the detention camps, the abuses and violence that migrants are victims of, journeys of hope, rescue operations and push-backs. ‘Whatever you did, you did it for me.’”
Posted inPolitics & Society, Vatican Dispatch
Head of Asian bishops: Pray for Hong Kong amid China crackdown
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo has appealed to Christians and all people of faith “to pray for Hong Kong” following the imposition by China of a new national security law.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Read: The letter Pope Francis wrote Benedict when his brother died
In the letter, Francis reveals that Benedict was the first to inform him of the sad news.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Vatican Dispatch
Vatican summons U.S. and Israeli ambassadors over plans to annex Palestinian territories
The late-evening statement signaled the Vatican’s wish to let the whole world know that it fundamentally disagrees with any annexation.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Vatican prosecutors investigate administration of St. Peter’s Basilica complex
The Vatican announced that Pope Francis has appointed a special commissioner to modernize and reorganize those same administrative and technical offices, improve transparency, and update their statutes.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Benedict XVI’s last remaining sibling, Georg Ratzinger, has died
Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, the older brother of Benedict XVI, died on July 1 at the age of 96.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Amazon churches create transnational body to implement synod proposals
Vatican officials said the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon aims to be “an effective channel for taking up, from within the territory, many of the proposals that emerged” at the Pan-Amazonian synod.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis emphasizes the need for unity and prophecy in the church
Peter and Paul, Pope Francis noted, provide valuable role models to encourage us toward unity and prophecy.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Pope Francis draws the world’s attention to humanitarian crises in Syria, Lebanon and Yemen
Both prayers and economic assistance, Pope Francis stressed, are needed to ameliorate the ongoing humanitarian catastrophes in Syria, Yemen and Lebanon.