Vatican City: Pope Francis and Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi discussed the importance of protecting the Christian presence in the Middle East during a meeting at the Vatican on July 1. According to a Vatican press release, the roughly 30-minute private meeting included conversation about Pope Francis’ visit to IraqContinue Reading
Rome: A Vatican judge has ordered 10 people, including an Italian cardinal, to stand trial for alleged financial crimes. Cardinal Angelo Becciu has become the highest-ranked cleric in the Vatican to be indicted over charges that include embezzlement and abuse of office. The 73-year-old cardinal, who denies wrongdoing, was forcedContinue Reading
Washington D.C.: The COVID-19 pandemic increased the number of people vulnerable to becoming victims of human trafficking, a report released July 1 by the US Department of State found. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters July 1 at the State Department that human trafficking is both “an affront toContinue Reading
By Xuan Giang I am immensely impressed by Cassock Day celebrations. It truly touches me to see seminarians become tearful and delighted, but slightly embarrassed, to put on longed-for cassocks for the first time. The seminary rector tells them that “receiving cassocks marks a new stage in the process toContinue Reading
Washington D.C.,: President Joe Biden’s regular parish in Washington, D.C. issued a statement on June 29 that its priests and ministers will not deny Communion to those approaching to receive. “Holy Trinity Catholic Church will not deny the Eucharist to persons presenting themselves to receive it,” read a statement ofContinue Reading
Warsaw: A bell blessed by Pope Francis is touring Poland to highlight the 42 million lives lost to abortion worldwide each year. On June 29, the “Voice of the Unborn” bell arrived at All Saints church in Kolbuszowa, southeastern Poland after two days of spiritual preparation in the parish. BishopContinue Reading
Rome: Pope Francis has agreed to meet in December with Indigenous survivors of Canada”s notorious residential schools amid calls for a papal apology for the Catholic Church”s role in the abuse and deaths of thousands of native children. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops said Francis had invited the delegationsContinue Reading
When President Barack Obama flew to California to dedicate a national monument to Latino labor leader Cesar Chavez nearly a decade ago, a group of the activist’s relatives were invited to pose for photos with the president. Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Chavez’s granddaughter, hung back. As a member of Obama’s staff,Continue Reading
Dhaka: Tens of thousands of migrant workers fled Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka on June 27 on the eve of a tightened lockdown that will curtail most economic activity and confine people to their homes as coronavirus infections soar. Restrictions on activities and movement have been in place since mid-April as casesContinue Reading
British Columbia: Days after two Catholic churches were destroyed by fire in the British Columbia province of Canada, two more Catholic churches were burned down in the province’s Interior on June 26 morning. Lower Similkameen Indian Band Chief Keith Crow said he received a call at about 4 am PTContinue Reading
