-   The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem entera the Gaza strip, offering the closeness of the Church to the suffering people -   Pope Francis addresses a climate summit exploring the theme: “From Climate Crisis to Climate Resilience.” -   Participants at a conference on interreligious dialogue in Lisbon describe the importance of real change coming from within

 - Pope Francis appeals to the international community to provide support and aid to flood-stricken Afghanistan  - A conference on Climate Crisis and Climate Resilience opens in the Vatican  - In the preface of a book dedicated to peace and justice, the Pope reflects on how peace is handmade by each of us    

 - Pope Francis says the elderly are the “firm foundation of the future” in a Message for Grandparents’ Day  - A West Sumatran Bishop warns that climate change is exacerbating flooding and other natural calamities  - The Pontifical Urban University is preparing to host an international conference on the Church in China

-   Pope Francis encourages India’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Church to commit to a path of unity -   The Apostolic Penitentiary releases a Decree that explains to the faithful how to obtain an Indulgence during the Jubilee Year -   The head of the Nasa Space Agency reflects on the unique “outer-space” view of a world without divisions

-   Pope Francis encourages participants in the Second World Meeting on Human Fraternity to persevere in their efforts to promote fraternity in a broken world -   Israel orders more evacuations from Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip amid continuing attacks -   Flood-stricken Brazilians in the south of the country find refuge and aid in church buildings and organizations

-   Pope Francis expresses his grief over a deadly attack on two camps for displaced persons in the Democratic Republic of Congo. -   A leading bishop in Ethiopia urges religious leaders to act as mediators to heal the nation’s political and social divisions. -   The President of the Commission of EU Bishops' Conferences calls for greater participation in Europe’s future

 - The Israeli Defense Force says it is in control of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing -   A state of public calamity is declared in Brazil after heavy rains killed at least 85 people and wreaked widespread destruction -   Experts in development and rights gather for a Consultation in the Vatican to demand dignified work in all sectors and for all workers

In the headlines, this Monday, May 6th: -  Pope Francis meets the new recruits to the Swiss Guard -  He thanks them and encourages them in their generous and diligent service -  Panama has a new President

 - At the Regina Coeli, Pope Francis encourages the faithful to grow in friendship with the Lord  - Ukraine celebrates Easter today, despite widespread suffering due to Russia’s war of aggression  - New recruits to the Swiss Guard prepare for their formal swearing-in tomorrow

 - Pope Francis calls on Christians to rediscover the devotion of reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus  - Diplomatic efforts are continuing as negotiators work for a ceasefire in Gaza  - Scores of people have died as Brazil experiences the worst flooding the country has seen in decades

In the headlines, this Friday, May 3rd: -   Pope Francis insists that all young people deserve equal job opportunities -   The Pope affirms that education must form people, not offer impossible ideals -   Türkiye suspends all trade with Israel over Gaza war

In the headlines this Thursday 2 May: -   Hamas says the ceasefire negotiations with Israel will be halted if Israel attacks Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, -   British authorities have started to detain migrants in preparation for them to be sent to Rwanda in the next nine to 11 weeks, And -   Pope Francis tells Primates of the Anglican Communion, that even the very earliest Christians had their disagreements.

 - Hamas is considering an Israeli offer of a 40-day truce in exchange for the release of hostages  - The UN warns that Sudan is in the midst of the world's worst hunger and displacement crisis  - Pope Francis highlights the formation in his prayer intention for the month of May

 - Rescuers in Gaza race to save survivors under rubble as Israeli attacks kill scores of people  - 150 years from his birth, Vatican Radio celebrates Guglielmo Marconi, the man who set up the radio of the Popes in 1931  - We look ahead to the Pope’s half-day visit to Venice on Sunday during which he will meet prison inmates, artists and young people before celebrating Holy Mass  

 - Haiti’s prime minister steps down amid continuing unrest throughout the country  - The UN children’s agency, UNICEF, says the number of children killed in Ukraine has risen dramatically  - Israeli forces are expected to begin evacuations from Rafah ahead of an anticipated ground assault

 - Pope Francis tells Catholic Action Italy that embracing one another can prevent wars  - International NGO Human Rights Watch calls for an investigation into a massacre of civilians in Burkina Faso  - Flooding in Kenya has led to some thirty deaths, while more than 40,000 people have been displaced

- Hezbollah militants in Lebanon launch their deepest attack on Israel since the start of the Gaza war - Humanitarian organizations express disappointment over the approval by the UK of a deportation bill for migrants and refugees - Young South Korean climate change activists bring their case against the government to the nation’s highest court

 - Mediators from Qatar review their role as they attempt to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas  - The bishops of Quebec call on Christian communities in one of the world’s richest nations to respond to the call of the hungry  - Pope Francis tells Discalced Carmelite nuns to bear witness to the love they have received  

 - Pope Francis calls for the release of prisoners of war and condemns the use of torture  - The Holy See calls for solidarity and urgent action to meet the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia  - Myanmar transfers prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, from jail to house arrest

These are the headlines for Tuesday, April 16:  - As the death toll in the Gaza Strip nears 34,000, Israel’s war cabinet meets to discuss how to respond to Iran’s weekend assault - A new report by UNICEF highlights the number of children kidnapped in Nigeria, warning that urgent measures must to be taken - Around 50 people are killed after severe weather conditions strike Pakistan

- Europe joins the United States in urging Israel to exercise restraint following Iran’s weekend attack - Sudan marks a tragic first anniversary of the civil war in which 15,000 people have died and 10.7 million have been displaced - Five years after the fire that destroyed Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris restoration is on track for a grand reopening on 8 December

In the headlines, this Sunday, April 14th: - Pope Francis appeals for stopping any action that could worsen the spiral of violence in the Middle East - The Holy Father renews his prayers for children around the world suffering from war -  He calls on faithful to transmit the beauty of their faith and of their encounter with Christ

In the headlines, this Saturday, April 13th: - Pope Francis expresses his closeness to Australians mourning loved ones after stabbing rampage at a mall in Sydney. - The Pope advances causes for sainthood - The Holy Father calls for defending the dignity of human life

 - Pope Francis says the Bible shows Jesus’ closeness to suffering humanity  - Cardinal Pietro Parolin leads a retreat for Brazil’s Bishops, as part of the Bishops’ General Assembly   - Rights advocates express disappointment with the European Union’s new migration and asylum policy

-  Pope Francis asks for prayers for people affected by widespread flooding in Kazakhstan and Central Asia -  The Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land speaks of the challenges faced by Christian communities in light of the ongoing war in Gaza -  At least 38 migrants drown in a shipwreck off the coast of Djibouti as EU members vote to reform the Asylum and Migration Pact

These are the headlines for Tuesday 9 April, 2024: -   Ahead of a humanitarian conference on war-torn Sudan NGOs warn that the time to act is now -   The European Court of Human Rights issues three rulings on Climate change And -   A participant in a conference on migration in the Mediterranean shares the story of his perilous journey to Europe

 - A new document from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith offers a comprehensive approach to human dignity  - Pope Francis meets with the families of hostages who are being held in Gaza by Hamas  - In Marseille, representatives of Church organizations discuss how to offer care to migrants headed for Europe

-   Pope Francis appeals to leaders of warring countries to pause and find the strength to negotiate -   Israeli citizens rally in Tel Aviv demanding the government prioritize talks with Hamas for the release of hostages -   War-torn Ukraine reels from massive Russian strikes that kill more than a dozen people over the weekend  

-   Starving Palestinians in besieged Gaza await new aid crossings into the enclave -   Children in Haiti’s capital pay the highest price for mayhem unleashed by rival criminal gangs after political collapse -   The Pope praises the irreplaceable service of Red Cross volunteers

In the headlines this Friday, April 5th: - More terror grips Haiti - An international conference demands abolition of surrogacy - The Pope calls on Christians to tend to Christ’s wounds in humanity

-   Pope Francis repeats his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza -   Church officials in Syria decry a recent Israeli drone in Damascus -   Pope Francis prays once more for 'tormented' Ukraine, as President Zelensky meets with Christian leaders in the country

In the headlines, this Easter Monday, April 1st: - Pope Francis gives his Regina Caeli address to the faithful this Monday of the Angel - He insists the Lord's Resurrection gives us immense joy and completely transforms our lives - The Pope prays for Easter peace to fill places torn by war

In the headlines, this Easter Sunday, March 31st: - Pope Francis delivers his Urbi et Orbi message, appealing for peace in the world and for an end to wars. - The Holy Father celebrates Easter Mass and reminds that Christ's Resurrection defeats death and darkness, and starts all anew - The Pope appeals once again for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip

In the headlines this Holy Saturday, March 30th: - A South Sudan Bishop prays Easter inspires peace and fraternity - The parish priest of the Church of the Sacred Family on the Gaza Strip speaks of their Easter amid war - Expert suggests main victims of the war in Syria were the Christian religious communities

In the headlines this Good Friday, March 29th: - Pope Francis releases his meditations, for the Via Crucis at Rome's Colosseum - Easter pilgrims from Botswana die in bus crash in South Africa - Death toll climbing after deadly cyclone makes landfall in Madagascar

- The United Nations Security Council calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza - Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako, the head of Iraq's Chaldean Catholic Church, reflects on the significance of Holy Week  - Pope Francis sends a videomessage to the citizens of Rosario, an Argentinian city sufering from a major crime wave

 - Pope Francis encourages young people to continue to bear witness to the joy of friendship with Christ  - Christians in the Holy Land prepare to celebrate Easter as war between Israel and Hamas continues to rage  - Religious and social organizations condemn the treatment of Haitians in the Dominican Republic

-   Pope Francis encourages reporters to stay true to the truth in journalism -   A terrorist attack on a nightclub in Moscow kills over 130 people -   Catholics in the Pacific continue their reflections on the Synod on synodality

-   The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem says that the situation in Gaza is “objectively intolerable” -   The President of Malta praises Pope Francis’ commitment to tackling climate change  -   As we prepare to enter Holy Week, the Preacher of the Papal Household delivers his fifth and final Lenten sermon to Pope Francis

In the headlines this Thursday, March 21st: - Several killed in Russian missile attack on Kyiv - Pope Francis writes letter to migrants - The parish priest of Gaza insists they have endured ‘relentless Calvary for months'

 - Pope Francis releases his message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations  - Renewed pastoral efforts in the diocese of Columbus, USA, have resulted in greater numbers of seminarians  - The German embassy to the Holy See presents a new book on the role of women in the Church

 - Israeli forces raid Gaza’s largest hospital  - Aid agencies warn against ‘forgetting’ the conflict in Syria  - The Knights of Malta conclude their 30th International Conference of Hospitallers

-   The first seaborne humanitarian aid shipment arrives in the Gaza Strip. -   Pope Francis meets with some 200 sick children at the Vatican-run “Child Jesus” children’s hospital in Rome -   We speak to a parish priest in Pakistan about the ongoing violence against Christians in the country

 - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin explains the Holy See’s position on Ukraine  - Haiti’s prime minister steps down as unrest continues to sweep the country   - Pope Francis speaks out about the need to eradicate situations where abusers are protected

-   Haitian gangs release 5 of 7 religious brothers after two weeks in captivity amid a spiral of violence -   The Holy See involves female inmates in its exhibit for the Venice Art Biennale -   The Cardinal Bishop of Hong Kong welcomes a Vatican delegation to a meeting between Christians and Taoists

-   Pope Francis encourages the Vatican’s child protection commission to continue its vital mission, as it enters its tenth year -   As International Women’s Day approaches, the Pope calls for greater recognition of women’s contributions to the Church -   On the 750th anniversary of the death of the great philosopher and theologian St Thomas Aquinas, Pope Francis says that his work remains more relevant than ever

- Pope Francis reflects on the vice of pride at the weekly General Audience  - Three more nuns have been kidnapped in Haiti  - A conference in Rome focuses on the need for women leaders in the Church and the world

 - The UN children’s agency UNICEF appeals for aid for the children of Gaza  - Violent gangs storm a prison in Haiti and release thousands of prisoners  - Pope Francis will preside at the opening of the “24 Hours for the Lord” devotion on Friday

-   Holy Land Church leaders condemn an Israeli attack that killed dozens of Palestinians waiting in line to receive aid and reiterate their call for a ceasefire for Gaza -   Kenya offers a peacekeeping force to beleaguered Haiti -   Pope Francis’ Message for the upcoming World Children’s Day reminds new generations to never forget their peers who are suffering war

-   Pope Francis warns against the dangers of gender ideology -   The Pope calls for showing closeness to the vulnerable -   International pressure grows for investigation into Gaza incident that killed dozens of Palestinians seeking aid  

These are the headlines for Thursday, February 29th: -   Chad’s opposition leader is killed in a violent exchange of fire with security forces -   More than 100 people are killed after Israeli troops open fire on a crowd of Palestinians waiting for aid in Gaza City And -   The Holy See calls for renewed international efforts to address the ongoing violations of human rights in the world

In the headlines this Wednesday, February 28th: -   Pope Francis invites the faithful to pray for Burkina Faso and for Haiti, both suffering from - The Holy Father also denounces the use of landimes, which, he says, "continue to target civilians and children"  and -   Geopolotics, peace and the need to stay close to their flock were topics addressed in a meeting with the Bishops of the Armenian Catholic Church

-   US President Joe Biden says he hopes to see a truce in the Israel-Gaza war by next week -   Bishops in the Phillipines call for special protection of the "Verde Island Passage", the site of a massive oil spill last year -   Pope Francis releases his prayer intention for March, dedicated to the Christians persecuted for their faith today

 - At least 15 Catholic faithful die in Burkina Faso during a terrorist attack on a church during Sunday Mass  - The Israeli government presents a plan for the evacuation of Palestinian civilians from combat zones in Gaza  - On the anniversary of the Cutro migrant tragedy in southern Italy we shine the light on the difficulties migrants and refugees continue to face in their quest for safety and welcome

 - Ukraine faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis as the war with Russia enters its third year  - The United Nations warns of grave threats to the health of children in Gaza  - At the Angelus, Pope Francis invites the faithful to open themselves to the light of Jesus

 - Ukraine marks the second anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion  - Six religious brothers and and priest have been kidnapped in Haiti  - The UN warns of human rights abuses by all parties in Sudan’s ongoing civil strife

-   Amidst increasing bombardments, the Christians taking refuge in Gaza’s Catholic parish say they are staying put -   The Holy See Press Office offers an update on the ongoing investigation into abuse allegations against Fr. Marko Rupnik. -   The Vatican Athletics team meets with Sara Minkara, the US Department of State’s Special Advisor on disability and inclusion

 - The United States calls for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza at the UN Security Council  - An upsurge of violence in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado’s province targets Christian communities and forces missionaries to flee  - The Bambino Gesù – the Pope’s Children’s Hospital – marks an important anniversary

 - An outbreak of ethnic violence in Papua New Guinea has led to dozens of deaths  - Anti-government protests in Israel ramped up over the weekend  - The Bishops of the Democratic Republic of Congo call for prayers for peace

-   Pope Francis prays for people suffering due to conflict in Sudan and northern Mozambique, where armed assailants have destroyed a Catholic church -   Church leaders from Europe visit Ukraine in a sign of solidarity as the war nears its second anniversary -   The Pope invites Christians to enter into the silence of the desert in our Lenten journey

-   Fears mount of an Israeli offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah  -  A side event at Munich’s Security Conference highlights the need for respect for Humanitarian Law that is increasingly under threat  -  Pope Francis releases the dates for the second Session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of bishops

 - Pointing to the start of the Lenten Season as an opportunity for conversion Pope Francis expresses his wish for conversion of those involved in war  - A senior United Nations official warns the consequences of an Israeli invasion of Rafah would be catastrophic  - The Pope pays tribute to a Cardinal who was imprisoned in communist-ruled Albania for twenty-eight years

 - The director of the CIA is in Egypt for discussion on a ceasefire plan for Gaza  - Haiti’s bishops denounce the ongoing violence that is wracking the Caribbean nation  - And the Vatican announces that Pope Francis will be visiting Venice in April

 - The UN aid agency for Palestine warns of famine and hunger in parts of the northern Gaza Strip  - Rohingya refugees in one of the world’s largest refugee camps face dangers of human trafficking  - Pope Francis tells Italian craftsmen that the world needs artisans of peace and fraternity  

-  Pope Francis releases his message for the 10th World Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking -  Israeli forces prepare to enter the Rafah, the only area of the Gaza strip that they have so far left unoccupied - We speak to a United Nations representative based in East Africa about the Pope’s appeals for peace there

 - The UN’s Palestinian relief agency could run out of funds by the end of February    - Turkey and Syria continue to suffer a humanitarian crisis one year on from a devastating earthquake that killed more than 65,000 people  - About a thousand priests from around the world are in Rome for a conference on ongoing priestly formation

-   Pope Francis phones a Haitian nun who cares for children in the slums to convey his support -   German Church leaders share growing concerns for the rise of the far-right anti-semitic movement in their country -   The Archbishop of Dakar expresses preoccupation for the political situation in Senegal as riots erupt following the decision to postpone presidential elections

-   Pope Francis asks for prayers for those suffering from war in various parts of the world and says peace is the responsibility of the entire human family -   US and UK strikes against Yemen’s Houthis in the Red Sea heighten tensions in the explosive Middle Eastern situation -   In a message to participants in events marking the 5th anniversary of the Document on Human Fraternity the Pope points to education, dialogue and flexibility to achieve peace

In the headlines this Friday the 2nd of February, -   Pope Francis releases his message for World Mission Day 2024 -   A new book about martyred men and women in Argentina during the 1970s is published, featuring a preface by Pope Francis And -   The first World Children’s Day, to be celebrated in May, is presented at the Holy See Press Office

-   Pope Francis releases his message for Lent 2024, inviting the faithful to pause for prayer and assist their brothers and sisters in need -   Eight are killed in an attack on a Pentecostalist Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo -   European leaders agree to a 50 billion euro aid package for war-torn Ukraine

-   Pope Francis invites Christians to pray for people who are terminally ill and says they deserve our utmost care -   Several children from Gaza arrive in Italy to receive medical treatment in hospitals around the country -   The Dicastery for Communication hosts the first-ever Vatican workshop on mental health and pastoral care

 - Pope Francis renews calls for a global ceasefire in an interview with an Italian newspaper  - Iran denies involvement in a deadly drone strike on a U.S. military base in Jordan  - The UN expresses concern as various countries halt funding to its Palestinian aid agency

In the headlines, this Sunday, January 28th:  - Pope Francis decries attack on a Catholic church in Istanbul  - He appeals for humanitarian aid to arrive to those suffering in Myanmar  - At Angelus, he insists that wars destroy peoples and are a defeat for humanity  

In the headlines this Saturday, January the 27th -   The world marks Holocaust Remembrance Day, 79 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau   -   The Holy Father recalls the 1994 Rwandan genocide urging the world to never forget and -   We hear from the UN’s High Commissioner from Human Rights, who sheds light on International Law and fight for global peace and justice

-   The International Court of Justice imposes emergency measures on Israel over the situation in Gaza-  -   A new report says that Christians are being targeted in the ongoing conflict in Myanmar -   Pope Francis tells a delegation from the Oriental Orthodox Churches that “Full communion between our Churches is not only possible but urgent and necessary”  

 - Six nuns kidnapped in Haiti last week have been released  - Twelve people were killed in an attack on a UN facility in Gaza  - Pope Francis will celebrate 2nd Vespers for the feast of the conversion of St Paul

 - Pope Francis dedicates his message for the World Day of Social Communications to artificial intelligence  - The Holy Father renews his prayers for peace in Ukraine and the Holy Land  - European and African bishops gather in Kenya to foster deeper communion between the churches of the two continents

 - Pope Francis celebrates Mass in St Peter’s Basilica to mark the Sunday of the Word of God  - The Holy Father announces a Year of Prayer in preparation for the upcoming Jubilee of 2025  - Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects the idea of a future Palestinian state

 - Pope Francis urges a charismatic group to move forward in adoration, evangelization, and communion  - Armed criminals have kidnapped at least six nuns in Haiti  - Iran blames Israel for an air strike in Syria that killed four Iranian military advisors

These are the headlines for Wednesday, 17 January: -   Pope Francis condemns a recent Iranian missile strike on the city of Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan, -   The heads of leading humanitarian organisations appeal for greater access to Gaza to bring desperately needed food and medicine to the people there, and -   The Holy Father also urges world leaders to ensure that economic development benefits everyone.

 - Pope Francis sends prayers and condolences to victims of a landslide in Colombia  - Nicaragua’s government has released several bishops, priests and seminarians from prison  - The United Nations launches a new appeal for humanitarian aid for Ukraine

-   Pope Francis highlights the fraternity-building power of sports -   The war between Israel and Gaza near its 100th day, as the conflict risks spreading to the Red Sea -   The Pope calls for a ‘therapeutic covenant’ in his message for the 2024 World Day of the Sick

-   Ecuador’s bishops call for unity and fraternity in response to a surge of violence in the country -   A group promoting dialogue between socialists and Christians meets with Pope Francis in the Vatican -   The Pope gives his approval to the election of the new head of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in India

In the headlines this Tuesday, January 9th: -   Vatican publishes Pope Francis’ upcoming liturgical celebrations. -   Another earthquake hits Japan as we speak to the Head of Caritas Japan -   Germany mourns Catholic football great Franz Beckenbauer

 - Pope Francis delivers his “state of the world” address to diplomats accredited to the Holy See  - A fire in the world’s largest refugee camp has left nearly 7000 Rohingya refugees without shelter  - Pope Francis calls for greater efforts for a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan

-   Pope Francis prays for victims of a bombing in Iran -   Maronite Catholic Bishops express concern the war between Israel and Hamas could spill over into Lebanon -   Sudan’s warring leaders continue their deadly civil war despite calls for a ceasefire

- Israeli strikes in Gaza bring the total death toll of Palestinians to over 22,000 as the war against Hamas nears the three-month mark - Regional tensions rise in the Middle East as an attack in Iraq follows strikes this week in Iran and Lebanon - Pope Francis thanks Catholic communicators for providing truthful information and not fuelling conflict – even in the Church

In the headlines, this Wednesday, January 3rd: - Pope Francis appeals for Palestine, Israel, Ukraine, and Rohingyas, and prays for Japan - The UN urges restraint after Hamas deputy leader killed in Lebanon - More than 100 killed and hundreds injured in twin blasts near Iran General Qasem Soleimani’s tomb

 - Pope Francis mourns the loss of life due to a powerful earthquake in Japan  - Sudan’s bishops call on the international community to intensify efforts to end violence in the country  - Israel continues its push into Gaza with ongoing attacks in the southern region of Khan Younis

-   Pope Francis reflects on a year blighted by wars and violence and appeals to those who have stakes in conflicts to heed their consciences -   Israel’s Prime Minister warns the war in Gaza will last many months -   The war in Ukraine grinds into the New Year with a series of major attacks by both sides

 - Pope Francis speaks by phone with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky  - The people of Sudan continue to suffer the ravages of war far from the eyes of the world  - Christians in war-torn Myanmar celebrate a subdued Christmas as fighting continues

 - At least 210 people are killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza in the last 24 hours  - The Pope’s almoner returns from a mission to the Holy Land with stories of great suffering  - Pope Francis tells young people gathered for the 46th Meeting of the Taizé Community to be bold and build a world of listening, dialogue and openness

 - At Wednesday’s General Audience, Pope Francis begins a new catechetical series on virtues and vices  - Christians in southern Lebanon have left their homes due to daily rocket fire along the border with Israel  - More than 140 people were killed in a series of attacks in Nigeria on Christmas Eve

-   Pope Francis prays for peace in all areas torn by war, and urges Christians to always show charity when faced with discrimination -   Ukraine’s military damages a Russian warship in the Black Sea

 - At the Christmas Urbi et orbi blessingPope Francis renews his prayers for world peace and solidarity with those who suffer   - The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem reflects on the tragedy in the Holy Land at a subdued Midnight Mass in Bethlehem  - Monsignor Robert Vitillo invites us to reflect on the plight of migrants and refugees during the Christmas season

 - Pope Francis expresses his closeness to our brothers and sisters who are suffering due to war  - Israel vows to continue its military campaign in Gaza while admitting fighting is difficult  - Almost two years on from Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine faces a turbulent Christmas

-   Scores of Palestinians die in intense Israeli strikes on Gaza as humanitarian organizations warn of imminent famine in the Strip -   European bishops express concern for the EU’s new Asylum and Migration Agreement that could result in more suffering for people on the move -   The Vatican Secretary of State visits the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital with a message of peace and gifts for the little patients

-   Pope Francis sends his papal almoner to the Holy Land to accompany the Church during Christmas amid the Israel-Hamas war -   Nicaraguan authorities arrest a second bishop in the latest crackdown on the local Church -   The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors unveils an allocation of funds to support safeguarding initiatives in the Global South

 - Pope Francis expresses closeness to victims of an earthquake in China and asks for prayers for Ukraine, Palestine and Israel - The possibility of a new pause in fighting in Gaza is supported by talks taking place in Cairo  - Caritas Europa expresses disappointment with the just agreed new EU Pact on Asylum and Migration

-   The Church in the Holy Land grieves the two Christian women shot inside a church compound in Gaza by Israeli snipers -   China suffers its worst earthquake in nine years, leaving over a hundred dead -   Cardinal Cupich of Chicago welcomes the Vatican’s recent declaration on blessings for couples in irregular relationships

- Pope Francis encourages members of the 2nd Global Refugee Forum to persevere in their efforts to help migrants  - Ahead of elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, superiors of religious orders remind consecrated men and women to avoid divisive speech  - Voters in Chile have rejected an amended constitution for the second time in a year

-   At least 2 people are killed as the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza comes under Israeli attack -   An investigation is opened by the Israeli military into how it mistakenly killed three hostages during its Gaza offensive -   Pope Francis invites Christians to think about the suffering wreaked by war in the Holy Land this Christmas

-   Pope Francis appeals to leaders to stop wars, to stop enabling the killing of children -   As the death toll continues to rise in Gaza the White House says it wants the war between Israel and Hamas over as soon as possible -   The Preacher of the Papal Household delivers his first Advent meditation focused on the figure of John the Baptist

-   Pope Francis releases his World Peace Day Message warning of the risks of Artificial Intelligence to peace -   Fighting continues throughout Gaza with the leader of Hamas saying he is ready to discuss any initiative that would lead to a ceasefire -   The President of the Pontifical Academy for the Sciences reacts to the final agreement reached at the UN Climate Summit

-   Pope Francis utters yet another plea for a ceasefire for Gaza -   Extreme suffering in the Gaza Strip - under a barrage of Israeli attacks - is compounded by cold winter weather -   Pope Francis chats with a Mexican journalist about possible upcoming journeys, his desired burial place and his continuing good health

-   A suicide bombing on a police station in Pakistan kills more than 20 soldiers -   As Israel continues its military operations in Gaza, the UN warns that the humanitarian situation in the strip has reached breaking point - The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith responds to questions concerning cremation and the preservation of ashes

 - Pope Francis urges Vatican watchdogs to “fight the insidiousness of corruption” in the Holy See and Vatican City  - Christians in Jordan are planning lowkey Christmas celebrations as a gesture of solidarity with Palestinians  - UN officials at the COP28 gathering in Dubai highlight the link between human rights and climate change

 - Pope Francis says the commitment to human rights is never finished as he recalls the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights  - The head of the World Health Organization warns of the “catastrophic impact” of the war in Gaza on healthcare  - Venezuela and Guyana’s presidents are set to meet later this week to discuss the growing crisis over a disputed oil-rich region

- Pope Francis says the creche invites us to turn our thoughts to the tragedy unfolding in the Holy Land - Fierce Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip continue to kill and displace the terrified population - Indigenous women at the UN Climate Summit in Dubai struggle to make their voices heard

 - Pope Francis leads the Angelus in St Peter’s Square for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception - A new Christmas song produced by a British band and a Palestinian Christian aims at conveying a message of hope  - The United States calls on Israel to do more to protect civilians in Gaza

-   Pope Francis calls on the faithful of a Syro-Malabar Archeparchy in India to stay united with Rome  - Israeli tanks shell Jabalia camp as heavy fighting continues in north Gaza -   Peru’s former president Fujimori is released from prison

-   Pope Francis appeals for peace in the Holy Land and Ukraine -   A new report says that one in five children in the world’s wealthiest countries are living below the poverty line -   In his weekly catechesis, Pope Francis stresses that the help of the Holy Spirit is indispensable in proclaiming the Gospel  

-   Israeli forces launch a massive attack on Khan Younis, the main city in the southern Gaza Strip as the number of Palestinian victims continues to rise  - Environmental activists in Dubai ramp up pressure on COP28 participants to cut fossil fuels -   Peruvian bishops demand an investigation into an attack in the northeast of the country in which 10 gold miners were killed

 - Israeli forces are expanding their ground operations in Gaza after last week’s cease-fire ended  - Tensions between Venezuela and Guyana are rising in a dispute over the oil-rich region of Guyana Essequibo  - Pope Francis meets with his Council of Cardinal Advisors, with discussions focusing on the feminine dimension of the Church

-   Pope Francis calls on world leaders gathered for the COP 28 climate conference to eliminate fossil fuels -   Israel continues to launch rocket attacks on targets in the Gaza strip -   At a meeting at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Holy See calls for collaboration to bring about nuclear disarmament

-   Over a hundred die in Gaza after the Israel-Hamas truce breaks down -   The Vatican confirms that Cardinal Parolin will represent the Holy See at the COP28 climate conference -   We speak to Prof. Vanderlei Bagnato, the organizer of a Vatican conference on quantum technologies

-   The truce between Israel and Gaza continues into its seventh day with the release of more hostages on both sides -   The Rome-based Sant’Egidio Community launches an appeal to save the life of a death row inmate in Alabama on the Day of "Cities for Life against the death penalty" -   The UN COP28 Summit kicks off in Dubai with the adoption of a new fund to support victims of climate disasters

-   Pope Francis calls for an extension to the ceasefire in Gaza -   Scotland’s Celtic Football Club pays a visit to the Vatican -   In his weekly catechesis, Pope Francis says that Christians are called to fill pessimistic societies with the joy of the Gospel

-   The temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is extended by 48 hours -   More details are released about the Pope’s upcoming journey to Dubai for the COP28 Climate Conference -   Pope Francis releases his December prayer intention, asking that disabled people might be placed at the centre of society

 - Pope Francis thanks God for the truce between Israel and Hamas, and calls for continued prayer and dialogue  - Recalling the Holodomor, the Pope calls for “untiring” prayers for all peoples torn apart by conflict  - On diocesan World Youth Day, the Holy Father encourages young people to be protagonists in the life of the Church

- Pope Francis undergoes a CT scan to avoid any complications with an onset of flu-like symptoms - The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem says the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners marks a first step toward peace - The Pope renews his condemnation of violence against women

 - Israel and Hamas have begun releasing hostages, while a shaky ceasefire appears to be holding  - Pope Francis meets local authorities from parts of Italy that were devastated by the earthquakes in 2016 and 17  - The Church marks the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Evangelii gaudium

-   The Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, welcomes the news of a temporary ceasefire in Gaza -   The man who has been called the Dutch Donald Trump sails to victory in elections in Holland -   Speaking to Italian journalists, Pope Francis stresses the importance of an “ecology of communication” in the digital world

-   Pope Francis meets with delegations of Israelis and Palestinians who share their suffering -   The Holy Father calls for an end to the war that is ravaging the Holy Land -   Israel and Hamas confirm a deal that foresees the release of hostages and a four-day pause in fighting in Gaza beginning at 10 am on Thursday

 - International Children’s Day highlights the fact that children pay the highest price in ongoing wars  - Hopes are increasing that a deal may soon be reached to release hostages held by Hamas in Gaza  - A Cameroonian migrant describes the tragic journey that brought him to Italy and his recent meeting with Pope Francis

-   Pope Francis urges Child Protection operators to safeguard, to listen to and to care for victims of sexual abuse -   Christians in Myanmar ask for prayers as violence in their country worsens -   We look ahead to the World Day of the Poor celebrated annually on the third Sunday in November

-   Pope Francis meets with pilgrims from the Philippines, urging them to remain faithful to their baptismal promises -   The Syrian Archbishop Jacques Mourad decries the political agendas of international powers in the Middle East -   A play on child sexual abuse debuts in Rome, supported by the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors

-   Israeli forces search for weapons and Hamas infrastructure inside Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital -   As food systems collapse in Gaza barely 10 percent of the amount needed reaches Gaza's 2.2 million inhabitants -   Pope Francis reflects on holiness and its place in everyday life

-   Pope Francis asks the world to pray for Ukraine, the Holy Land, and Sudan -   Israeli soldiers raid the largest hospital in the Gaza strip -   In his weekly catechesis, Pope Francis reminds Christians that Jesus is their joy, and remains with them even in times of trial

-   US and British leaders push for greater protection for Gaza hospitals and civilians as the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza worsens by the hour -   We hear the perspectives on the war of an Israeli and a Palestinian professor -   Pope Francis invites young people to share Christian hope in dark times

In the headlines, this Saturday, November 11th: -   Israel intensifies offensive on Gaza -   Pope Francis prays for baby Indi Gregory and her family -   The Pope reaffirms the right of parents to educate their children in freedom

In the headlines, this Tuesday, November 7th: - The Holy See calls for 'just peace' in Israel and Palestine - The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights insists bloodshed in Gaza must stop - Cardinal Parolin underlines Holy See's commitment to climate action  

-   The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says that 10,000 people have died in the enclave since the outbreak of war -   Discussions between faith leaders on the subject of climate change go into their second day in Abu Dhabi -   Pope Francis meets with seven thousand children in Rome

-   The Holy See announces that Pope Francis will travel to Dubai in December for the COP28 Climate summit -   The head of Caritas Lebanon warns about the impact that an escalation of the Gaza conflict would have on the wider region -   Pope Francis offers Mass for the soul of the late Pope Benedict XVI

 - Pope Francis calls on us to continue to pray for peoples who are suffering from ongoing wars  - Wounded Palestinians and some foreign nationals have been permitted to leave Gaza  - Russian drone and missile strikes hit critical military and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine

 - The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is growing more urgent by the day, as Israel expands its ground offensive  - The Holy See denounces racial discrimination, as well as the rise in religious intolerance and persecution  - Pope Francis asks the faithful to pray for him and his ministry in his November prayer intention

-   Pope Francis praises the courage of women who have cut family ties with organized crime -   The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem consecrates the Holy Land to the Virgin Mary, as calls for humanitarian aid and a ceasefire intensify -   As Synod participants return home, a Canadian Bishop offers his take on the month-long synodal journey and the steps to be taken in future

-   Gaza goes dark as Israel cuts of electricity and mobile networks -   The United Nations educational agency decries Israeli attacks on schools and hospitals in the Gaza strip -   Pope Francis prays for the victims of the latest mass shooting in the United States

-   Pope Francis renews his appeal for the release of Israeli hostages, and for humanitarian aid to be allowed to reach Gaza -   A resident of a kibbutz attacked earlier this month by Hamas militants tells his story to Vatican News -   The Pope meets with a group from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

-   Pope Francis renews his appeals for peace in the Holy Land and Ukraine -   Church leaders across the Holy Land pray for peace and condemn violence against innocent civilians -   Religious women meet in Rome to network and promote the efforts of sisters working in areas ranging from the grassroots to the UN

-   Hundreds of civilians die in Gaza in a barrage of Israeli strikes targeting Hamas infrastructure in the Strip -   The UN Agency for Palestinian refugees appeals for fuel and clean water to allow doctors and medics to assist the wounded -   the Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Synodality enters its final week

In the headlines this Sunday, October 22nd: -   The Holy Father renews appeal for humanitarian aid, release of hostages in Gaza -   Pope Francis insists at Angelus that faith and daily life are crucially connected -   The Church observes World Mission Sunday  

 - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urges “rapid, unimpeded humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip  - US and European leaders seek to present a united front with regard to conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine  - Ahead of World Mission Sunday, the Fides news agency releases the latest statistics on the Catholic Church

-   Fighting continues unabated in the Holy Land where the death toll is on the rise and the humanitarian situation is increasingly desperate -   Bishops' conferences and aid agencies across the world join Pope Francis’ appeal to halt the war between Israel and Hamas -   As winter encroaches in Afghanistan thousands are in need of aid following a series of deadly earthquakes that flattened villages 

-   Pope Francis makes a phone call to the parishioners of the Holy Family Catholic Parish in Gaza -   Christians across the world observe a Day of Prayer and Fasting for peace in the Holy Land. -   In a new interview, the Pope says he would like to visit Papua New Guineau

 - Aid groups warn that an Israeli ground offensive in Gaza could hasten the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe  - The International Union of Superiors General joins the call for a day of prayer and fasting on Tuesday for peace in the Holy Land  - Daniel Noboa is set to become Ecuador’s youngest leader ever after winning the second round of presidential elections

-   Pope Francis appeals for respect for Humanitarian Law as Gaza is pounded by Israeli military attacks and for humanitarian corridors as the death toll continues to rise -   The Pope also prays for those displaced from Nagorno Karabakh and asks Azerbaijan to preserve monasteries and places of worship as signs of fraternity and living together despite differences -   During the Angelus prayer, the Holy Father invites everyone to make room for God in their lives

-   Women and children are amongst those killed fleeing Gaza on what had been assured was a “safe route” -   Australia rejects a historic referendum that proposed to elevate First Nation voices -   Pope Francis praises Scalabrinians for their unwavering commitment to migrants

-   Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako, the head of Iraq’s Chaldean Catholic Church, leads prayers in the Vatican for peace in the Middle East -   Thousands are dead and many more have been left injured following two powerful earthquakes in western Afghanistan -   Pope Francis meets with American actress and star of “Sister Act” Whoopi Goldberg.

-   Pope Francis prays for the victims of violence between Israel and Hamas -   The situation of Armenian refugees from Nagorno Karabakh continues to deteriorate, following Azerbaijan’s recent military takeover -   We speak to the organizer of “Cupid’s Spoon”, the first European Gastronomy Competition for people with disabilities

 - Israel’s prime minister says the nation is at war following Palestinian attacks on Israel.  - European leaders are discussing how the EU can respond to migrants entering the EU irregularly  - Pope Francis says that honouring Mary means celebrating the tenderness of God

-   Pope Francis invites everyone to live holy lives and not as worldly people -   The Synod General Assembly continues its small group reflections on the synodal journey thus far -   The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to an imprisoned Iranian women’s rights activist

-   The Sixteenth General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops gets underway in the Vatican -   Pope Francis releases a new Apostolic Exhortation – with the name Laudate Deum – on climate change and care for our common home -   We speak to members of Caritas Poland who are helping to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Yemen

In the headlines this Tuesday, October 3rd: -   Bishops anticipate Pope’s upcoming Apostolic Exhortation of the Environment to be released tomorrow -   Synod participants continue their spiritual retreat ahead of the Synod’s opening in the Vatican -   Catholic sisters reaffirm the international community’s responsibility for every migrant

-   Ten people are crushed to death in Mexico when a Church roof collapses during a Baptism service -   The new Director of the International Jesuit Refugee Service says hope for an inclusive and just society is at the heart of his mission -   Pope Francis praises the silent work of a Congregation of contemplative religious sisters and their humble testimony to the Gospel for those in need

-   Pope Francis appeals to the international community to promote dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh -   A dramatic humanitarian crisis follows the exodus of almost the entire Armenian population from Nagorno-Karabakh  -   Participants in the upcoming Synod of Bishops on Synodality gather for a three-day retreat before the start of the month-long assembly

-   Pope Francis tells 21 new Cardinals to work for an ever more symphonic and synodal Church -   Young Christians gather in St. Peter’s Square as a prelude to the Ecumenical Prayer Vigil that highlights the centrality of prayer in the Synod process -   We hear from some of the Christian leaders participating in that Vigil that ushers in the month-long Synod on Synodality

 - Pope Francis praises Vietnamese Catholics for their charity and calls them to be courageous in following Jesus  - Leaders of various Christian denominations have come to Rome to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement  - Religious sisters are joyfully responding to the invitation to the ecclesial journey of the Synod

 - Pope Francis prays for victims of a tragic fire in Benin  - Canadian Bishops are meeting for their annual Plenary Assembly  - Abuse experts highlight the need for prudence as the Church commits itself to greater transparency

 - Pope Francis prays for victims of a tragic fire in Benin  - Canadian Bishops are meeting for their annual Plenary Assembly  - Abuse experts highlight the need for prudence as the Church commits itself to greater transparency

-   Pope Francis says that child sexual abuse is a scourge which affects all of societ -   Ethnic Armenians begin their exodus from Nagorno Karabakh following last week’s takeover by the Azerbaijani military -   Australia’s Catholic bishops weigh in on their country’s upcoming referendum on an indigenous voice to parliament

In the headlines this Friday, September 22nd: -   Pope Francis embarks upon his Apostolic Journey to Marseille -   The Holy Father meets poor women in the Vatican before departing -   Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher tells the UN that healthcare is not a luxury, but for all

-   The Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States urges UN member states to join efforts for peace in Ukraine -   Poland announces it will no longer supply weapons to Ukraine for its counteroffensive against Russia -   The General Secretariat of the Synod briefs journalists as momentum increases in the run-up to the opening of the Synod on Synodality

In the headlines this Monday, September 18th: -   Pope Francis encourages pharmacists to continue their “mission” on behalf of the sick and most vulnerable -   The Holy Father encourages consecrated religious to spend time daily in dialogue with the Lord -   He participates in initiative to help sick children

In the headlines this Sunday, September 17th: -   Pope Francis says at his Angelus that God forgives us incalculably -   The Holy Father prays for the 'martyred people' of Ukraine and all war-torn lands -   He looks ahead to his upcoming two-day visit to Marseille

In the headlines, this Saturday, September 16th: -   Pope Francis tells Church in Korea that the Gospel overcomes divisions and barriers -   The Holy Father urges Italy’s Carabinieri officers to be inspired by their late Deputy Brigadier, a Servant of God, who offered his life during World War II -   Relief efforts scaled up in the aftermath of Libya's deadly floods

-   Pope Francis urges men and women religious to have hearts expanded by God’s love -   Cardinal Mario Grech invites everyone to pray for the upcoming Synod General Assembly -   Cartias in Croatia seeks to respond to the cost of living crisis by offering parents professional guidance to break the chains of poverty

In the headlines this Thursday, September 14th: -   Pope Francis praises courageous and prophetic work of ecumenical scholars -   Major Archbishop Shevchuk speaks to Vatican Radio at conclusion of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church's Holy Synod -   Cardinal Parolin is preparing for a short travel to Slovakia to commemorate four anniversaries  

 - Pope Francis expresses his closeness to victims of devastating flooding in Libya  - Cardinal Matteo Zuppi is headed to China as the Pope’s peace envoy  - North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un is in Russia to meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin

 - Pope Francis welcomes the head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church to the Vatican  - The Holy See’s representative to the UN in Geneva calls for nations to renounce the use of cluster munitions  - Rescue efforts continue following an earthquake in Morocco, as the death toll rises

-   Pope Francis highlights the importance of literacy in contributing to peaceful societies -   The Vatican offers a glimpse of the prayer vigil that will precede the Synod General Assembly -   Poland prepares for the first-ever beatification of an entire family, with the Pope praising their heroicism

 - Pope Francis meets with the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian-Greek Catholic Church  - At the General Audience, the Holy Father prays for victims of a tragic fire in South Africa  - The Pope reflects with joy and gratitude on his Apostolic Journey to Mongolia

 - Pope Francis makes a surprise visit to the Dicastery for Doctrine of the Faith to thank Cardinal Ladaria for years of service as prefect  - The President of Central Asia’s Bishops’ Conference praises the Pope’s visit to Mongolia as highlighting unity despite differences   - Mongolia’s Cardinal Giorgio Marengo shares a favorite moment from the Pope’s historic visit to the country

In the headlines, this Monday September 4th: - Pope Francis concludes his Apostolic Journey to Mongolia - The Holy Father  inaugurates the 'House of Mercy' in Ulaanbaatar, emphasising selfless love - Mongolia’s Cardinal Giorgio Marengo speaks to us about the significance of the Pope’s historic Visit

In the headlines, this Saturday, September 2nd, - In Mongolia, the Pope tells Catholic ministers the Church must constantly proclaim Jesus - The Holy Father reminds them that God loves and believes in them - The Pope praises Mongolia’s active role in promoting world peace    

 - Mongolia’s small Catholic community is eagerly awaiting the arrival of Pope Francis, who begins his journey to the central Asian country on Thursday  - Tomorrow, September 1st, is the Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, marking the opening of the annual season of creation

In the headlines, this Tuesday, August 29th:  - Pope Francis prays for the marginalized this September  - The Vatican provides an overview of the Pope’s imminent Journey to Mongolia  - Vatican Radio speaks to the Mongolian Ambassador to the Holy See

 - Pope Francis asks us to reach out to those who have fallen into the “slavery” of drug addiction  - Libya’s foreign minister has been suspended after an informal meeting with her Israeli counterpart  - The Taliban have banned Afghan women from attending university outside the country

- Pope Francis warns against what he calls a “technocratic tyranny” dehumanizing our societies - As the threat of war looms following a military coup in Niger, Nigerian Cardinal Onaiyekan warns of dire consequences for the region and issues a plea for peace - Looking ahead to the Pope’s upcoming apostolic visit to Mongolia, Cardinal Marengo describes it as "an honour and a grace"

 - More than 540 children have been killed in Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion  - Voting in Zimbabwe continues for a second day due to delays at dozens of polling stations  - Nicaragua declares the Society of Jesus – the Jesuits – illegal, and confiscates their property

In the headlines this Wednesday, August 23rd: -   Pope Francis praises mothers and grandmothers who hand on the faith to their children and grandchildren -   The Pope decries the cruel war in Ukraine, and remembers all those lost -   Bodies of migrants found dead from Greece wildfires

 - Bishops in India are appealing to the United Nations to intervene to stop recurring anti-christian violence  - A human rights group is denouncing mass killings of African refugees by Saudi Arabian border guards  - Countries around the Pacific have expressed alarm over a Japanese plan to release radioactive water into the ocean

In the headlines this Monday, August 21st: -   Pope Francis tells European lawyers to be at service of truth and justice, and some news about his encyclical Laudato si on the environment -   The Pope remembers Dorothy Day finding love in the poor -   He calls on Christians to witness the Gospel together

In the headlines this Sunday, August 20th: -   Pope Francis says the Lord cannot resist us when we pray to Him -   The Pope appeals for Niger and Ukraine -   As today marks a special Day of Prayer in Pakistan, we speak to the head of Pakistan’s Bishops Conference

In the headlines this Saturday, August 19th: -   Pope Francis calls and comforts mother of young man who passed away after World Youth Day -   The Holy Father remembers World Humanitarian Aid Day -   Canada’s wildfires continue to rage, and wreak destruction

-   Pope Francis upholds the value of social friendship as an antidote to conflict and war -   The Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan praises Cardinal Parolin’s recent visit to show the Church’s solidarity with refugees and IDPs -   Wildfires rage in Canada forcing the evacuation of entire towns

 - Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin is in South Sudan, where he’s urging all to work for peace  - Humanitarian aid agencies are working to supply Ukrainian hospitals with much-needed medical supplies  - Peru’s Bishops are speaking out against a medical board’s decision to permit an abortion for a young girl

In the headlines this Monday, August 14th:  - Pope Francis insists that the Church accompany workers in midst of job insecurity  - Cardinal Parolin arrives in South Sudan to encourage peace process -  Ukraine’s main pediatric hospital determined to keep families together

In the headlines this Saturday, August 12th:  - Pope Francis condemns "unjustifiable violence" in Ecuador  - The Pope urges young people to be ‘champions of fraternity’  - The Church in Italy helps Ukrainian children arrive safe in Italian Dioceses

 - Pope Francis prays for victims of catastrophic wildfires in Hawaii that have killed at least 55 people and displaced thousands more  - Bishops of Niger, Nigeria and Burkina Faso express dissent for a proposed military intervention to oust coup-leaders in Niger  - The bishops of Slovenia join the local Caritas office to bring aid and support to those affected by devastating floods  

 - Pope Francis prays for victims of yet another migrant tragedy in the Mediterranean  - West African nations meet to discuss the Niger crisis as coup leaders attempt to consolidate power  - A presidential candidate in Ecuador is assassinated in the capital just weeks ahead of the election

-   Pope Francis prays for people affected by natural disasters in Slovenia and Georgia where floods and mudslides have caused death and destruction -   More than 40 migrants die in a shipwreck off the Italian coast -   Ethiopian bishops appeal for a peaceful solution in a new conflict looming in the country’s northern Amhara region

-   The theme of Pope Francis' next World Day of Peace message is dedicated to Artificial Intelligence and Peace -   Diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Vietnam continue to flourish and consolidate -   Extreme weather temperatures in Europe cause death and destruction  

-   Pope Francis announces World Youth Day 2027 will be held in Seoul, South Korea -   On the last day of his pilgrimage to celebrate World Youth Day in Lisbon, the Holy Father celebrates Mass for over 1 and a half million people and says the Church needs young people like the earth needs rain

In the headlines this Saturday, August 5th: -   Pope Francis entrusts all the world’s intentions, including peace amid war, to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fatima -   As he nears the end of his time in Portugal, he offers closeness to the ill and disabled -   The Pope reminds young people Jesus journeys at their side.

 - Young people gather in Lisbon’s Edward VII Park for the Way of the Cross led by Pope Francis -  On the third day of his visit to Portugal for World Youth Day, the Pope hears the confessions of three young people  - We shine the light on the Holy Father's visit to a local Caritas center where he thanks charity workers for what he calls their "love in action”  

-   In his first discourse on Portuguese soil where Pope Francis is celebrating World Youth Day 2023, he makes an impassioned plea to Europe to find a path to peace -   During the flight taking him to Lisbon to be with hundreds of thousands of young people, Pope Francis jokes with journalists and says he expects to return “rejuvenated” -   We hear from our correspondent on the ground in Lisbon who looks ahead to upcoming highlights of World Youth Day and describes the myriads of activities going on

In the headlines this Tuesday, August 1st: -   Cardinal Parolin says the Pope has great expectations for World Youth Day -   The day before the Pope departs, Myanmar’s Cardinal Bo insists on investing in young people -   Drone hits tower housing Russian ministries for second time in three days

-   Lisbon warms up for World Youth Day and the Pope’s arrival with a series of events including a conference for the Care of Creation -   Cyclists of the Vatican Athletics team take to the road in Glasgow for the Cycling World Championship in Scotland -   African heads of state intimate Niger coup leaders to release President Bazoum or face serious consequences

-   Pope Francis prays for victims of devastating wildfires in Italy and Greece -   A general in Niger declares himself the new leader of a military junta following a coup d’etat -  Cardinal Pietro Parolin expresses his hopes for renewed diplomatic ties between the Holy See and Vietnam

- The Holy See Press Office presents Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to Lisbon for the 2023 World Youth Day - The Secretary-General of Caritas Internationalis visits war-struck Ukraine to bring solidarity to the people and to the Caritas organizations there - Young people are in the Pope’s thoughts as he directs a message to a youth Festival in Medjugorie and dedicates his August Prayer intention to World Youth Day

-  The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem says Christians in the Holy Land do not need special protection, only respect for their rights - We look ahead to the upcoming World Youth Day in Lisbon and efforts to include those who are unable to attend in person -  A year from Pope Francis' apostolic visit to Canada we shine the light on the ongoing path of reconciliation that involves the Indigenous peoples, the government and the Church

In the headlines this Tuesday, July 25th: -   Pope Francis encourages young people ahead of the imminent World Youth Day in a special podcast with Vatican Radio -   We speak to the Vatican official responsible for the Day on the ground in Portugal -   Nearly 30,000 from the US traveling to Lisbon for the event

-   Pope Francis encourages women religious bear witness to Christ in our world with their joyful presence -   The Carmelite superior general visits Ukraine, as Russian missiles destroy the Orthodox cathedral in Odessa -  A small cohort of pilgrims depart Estonia bound for Christian adventures at World Youth Day in Lisbon

-   St. Peter’s Basilica gets a massive audio upgrade ahead of Pope Francis’ Mass on the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly -   Russia accuses Ukraine of attacking an ammunition depot in annexed Crimea -  Doctors Without Borders considers pulling out of war-torn Sudan after an attack on the medical charity’s personnel

-   Amidst continuing fallout from the collapse of the Russia-Ukraine grain deal, five European nations extend their ban on Ukrainian grain imports -   The Bishops of England and Wales reiterate their call for the British Government to facilitate safe access for asylum seekers to the UK -   As young Australian pilgrims prepare to make the journey to Portugal for World Youth Day, we speak to the director of the country’s National Centre for Evangelisation

-   Pope Francis encourages Basic Ecclesial Communities to promote an outgoing Church -   We shine the light on the papal envoy, Cardinal Zuppi’s mission for solidarity and peace in Ukraine and his meeting with the US President -   Young people are invited to participate in the 3rd World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly who will symbolically send them on their way to World Youth Day in Lisbon

-   Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Pope’s envoy for peace in Ukraine, meets with US President Joe Biden -   Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, the Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar, discusses the Church’s mission in the country ahead of Pope Francis’ visit later this year -   Heatwaves continue to intensify across much of Europe, Asia, and the United States

-   The collapse of the so-called grain deal involving Russia and Ukraine highlights the need for the world to rethink food distribution -   A humanitarian corridor offers a group of Afghan refugees safe passage to Rome -   Pope Francis takes time to greet children at a summer camp in the Vatican

-   Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi visits the United States as Pope Francis’ special envoy to seek peace in Ukraine -   European and Latin American Church leaders urge their governments to work toward a ‘people-centered’ green transition -   US Bishops report a decrease in abuse allegations in 2022 and urge continued vigilance to safeguard minors

-   The Syrian government announces it will allow  humanitarian aid into rebel-held territory in the north of the country -   Following the recent burning of the Quran in Sweden, the Holy See firmly condemns the desecration, destruction and disrespect of religious symbols.  -   Over 300 young pilgrims from Hong Kong prepare to attend the upcoming World Youth Day in Portugal

-   Pope Francis praises the theological legacy of St. Thomas Aquinas as the 700th anniversary of his canonization approaches -   Nato military alliance members meet in Lithuania to discuss continued support for Ukraine -   Cardinal-elect Stephen Brislin expresses his hopes for a renewal of his native South Africa as he prepares to receive the ‘red hat’ of the Cardinalate

-   The new cardinal designates react to Pope Francis’ announcement of a consistory on the coming 30 September -   The search for at least 200 migrants whose boat disappeared more than a week ago continues in waters off the Canary Islands -   An annual scholarship for Australian aboriginal students brings two young students to Rome in the footsteps of Saint Francis Xavier Conaci

In the headlines this Sunday, July 9th: -   Pope Francis announces a consistory for the creation of 21 new cardinals -   He appeals for peace and dialogue in the Holy Land, and remembers suffering Ukraine -   The New Prefect of Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, both named by the Pope as new cardinals today, speak to Vatican Radio

In the headlines this Saturday, July 8th: -   Today we mark the tenth anniversary since Pope Francis made his historic visit to the Italian island of Lampedusa to pray for refugees and migrants lost at sea. -   Mongolia’s Cardinal Marengo looks ahead to Pope’s upcoming trip. -   Pope’s New Commission to remember new martyrs who died for the faith impresses Bishops worldwide

-   Following the establishment by Pope Francis of a Commission of the New Martyrs, we shine the light on the legacy of those killed in hatred of the faith in today’s world -   European Bishops join a chorus of voices condemning the recent burning of pages of Islam’s holy book -   Kenya delays the re-opening of its border with Somalia due to a wave of attacks it blames on extremist militants

-   Pope Francis establishes a new commission in the Vatican dedicated to the New Martyrs, Christians killed for their faith in recent years -   The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem condemns a two-day armed Israeli incursion into the Palestinian territories as an “unprecedented aggression” -   The Vatican announces a plenary indulgence for those who take part in the forthcoming 3rd World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly

-   Pope Francis continues his month of rest but will celebrate Mass to mark the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly later in July -   Violent unrest flares up in Israel amid a military operation in the West Bank -   Caritas Internationalis calls on humanitarian agencies to resume food aid delivers in Ethiopia

 - Pope Francis appeals for joint multi-lateral action to eradicate the scourge of hunger  - Looking ahead to Sea Sunday, the Holy See highlights the essential work and needs of seafarers  - Israel launches a large-scale military operation against Palestinian militants  

 - Pope Francis asks for prayers for peace as conflicts – many of them forgotten – continue to bloody many places on earth  - We shine the spotlight on some of those forgotten conflicts that claim a high human cost  - A massive drone attack on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv is one of many attacks in various regions of the nation

 - Pope Francis appoints Argentinian Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández as the new Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith  - The Archbishop of Juba in South Sudan appeals for emergency action to help refugees and returnees fleeing the war in Sudan  - The French President postpones a state visit to deal with escalating unrest in France triggered by the fatal shooting of a teenager by police officers

-   Pope Francis prays for Christian unity as he meets with a delegation from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew -   Riots continue in cities across France after police killed a 17-year-old man during a routine traffic stop -   The Bishops of Nigeria say they are concerned about a bill that would give the government oversight of what is taught in Christian schools and seminaries

 - Pope Francis presides at Mass for the Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul in St Peter’s Basilica  - Cardinal Matteo Zuppi is in Moscow on a peace mission initiated by Pope Francis  - As fighting continues in Sudan, a paramilitary group releases a group of captured Sudanese soldiers

-  Pope Francis upholds the mission and legacy of St. Mary MacKillop - Sculptor Timothy Schmaltz talks about his work dedicated to victims of human trafficking - A new ceasefire deal in Sudan fails to hold

- Cardinal Matteo Zuppi travels to Moscow on behalf of Pope Francis to seek a solution for peace in Ukraine - Russia's president vows to abandon the Wagner mercenary group following Saturday's failed rebellion - A UN human rights mission in Ukraine documents breaches of international law by both warring sides

-   Pope Francis thanks the staff and doctors of Gemelli hospital for their warmth during his recent 9-day hospitalization -   Results flow in from elections in Greece, Guatemala, and Sierra Leone -   The Bishops of the Democratic Republic of Congo urge voters to cast their ballots for competency and moral integrity later this year

 - Pope Francis laments the “terrible violence” of a prison riot in Honduras that left more than 40 women dead  - An armed mutiny in Russia ends with a deal brokered by Belarusian president Aleksander Lukashenko  - At the Angelus, Pope Francis calls on the faithful to be attentive to what really matters in life

 - Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned an armed rebellion in his country as "betrayal" and "treason."  - Guatemala prepares to vote in presidential elections on Sunday  - Pope Francis calls journalists to embrace their vocation to responsibly and ethically educate future generations

-   The Vatican’s child protection body launches a global consultation on its new abuse prevention guidelines -   Writers, musicians, and directors from around the world gather in the Sistine chapel to hear Pope Francis speak about the theological significance of art -   At least 227 migrants are rescued from boats off the coast of Spain's Canary Islands.

 - Pope Francis expresses gratitude for the work of the ROACO  - The Papal Almoner, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, brings humanitarian aid to Ukraine  - World leaders gather in Paris for a summit on a new global financing pact  

 - The Vatican releases the text of the working document that will guide the work of the upcoming General Assembly of the Synod  - Pope Francis tells young astronomers to never lose their sense of wonder  - The UN observes World Refugee Day, focusing on the theme: “Hope away from Home. A world where refugees are always included”

-   Pope Francis joins celebrations for the 400th anniversary of the birth of Blaise Pascal, praising his "brilliant" and "inquisitive mind" -   An investigation into last week’s migrant tragedy in the Mediterranean casts doubt on the Greek coastguard’s account -   At least five Palestinians die and scores are injured as a huge clash breaks out with Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank

 - At least forty-two people, mostly students, were killed in a rebel attack on a school in Uganda  - President Vladimir Putin says Russia has deployed tactical nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus  - Catholic leaders urge greater efforts to assist migrants after yet another tragedy in the Mediterranean

-   Pope Francis expresses deep dismay for yet another migrant tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea -   The Holy See Press Office announces the Pope to be dismissed from hospital on Friday morning following last week’s surgery -   The theme of Human Fraternity takes center stage at the United Nations Security Council

 - In his message for this year's World Day for the Poor, Pope Francis says all Christians must be personally involved in the struggle against poverty  - The head of the United Nations warns against “the rapid spread of lies and hatred” in the digital ecosystem  - Russia launches a “massive” missile attack against civilian targets in the hometown of Ukrainian President Zelensky 

In the headlines this Monday, June 12th: -   All is proceeding well with Pope Francis’ recovery following his abdominal surgery last week -   Italy’s longest serving premier Silvio Berlusconi dies at age 86 after health battles -   More suffering in Ukraine after Russia’s recent destruction of crucial dam

-   Pope Francis continues to recover from his recent surgery, with doctors reporting that he is well on the way to recovery -   Fighting continues in Ukraine amidst an ongoing humanitarian effort in response to flooding caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam  -   Church leaders, businesspeople and academics gather in the Vatican for a conference on corporate ethics

- Pope Francis returns to the Gemelli Hospital for abdominal surgery - Ukraine says tens of thousands of people are at risk after the collapse of a gigantic dam - UN organizations are drawing attention to global food safety concerns for World Food Safety Day

-   The Pope’s special peace envoy to Ukraine concludes his 2-day mission to the war-ravaged nation -   The Vatican Bank releases its annual budget and notes that its Moneyval rating places it among the best-ranked institutions in the world -   Amongst the highlights of Pope Francis’ just released programme for World Youth Day is a visit to the Marian Shrine of Fatima

In the headlines this Monday, June 5th: - Pope Francis has entrusted Cardinal Matteo Zuppi with a mission to Ukraine, which begins today in Kyiv, aimed at "easing tensions in the conflict." - This World Environment Day, the Pope says we are responsible before God for how we react to climate change and protect the planet - Horrendous rains in Haiti bring death, flooding and destruction

In the headlines this Sunday, June 4th: - Pope Francis expresses closeness to those affected by deadly train crash in India, and Ukraine war victims - The Holy Father leads Angelus this Trinity Sunday, reminding the sign of the cross makes us feel God’s embrace  - Pope Francis’ interview on Italian TV show on RAI, from Saxa Rubra television studio, airs this morning

-   Pope Francis encourages indigenous women for their struggle to protect the Amazon rainforest -   Cardinal Tagle tells missionaries that their ministry is about sharing with others the great things God has done -   Nicaraguan authorities escalate their crackdown on the local Church by confiscating a Catholic school

- Pope Francis says Africa is a continent capable of charting future paths - The Vatican Foreign Minister reiterates the Holy See's commitment to promote peace negotiations for Ukraine - Violence erupts in Sudan following the collapse of yet another ceasefire deal    

 - Pope Francis upholds the witness of missionaries in spreading the Gospel message and thanks young people committed to conflict resolution  - The World Council of Churches condemns violent protests by fundamentalist Jewish activists against Christians in Jerusalem  - The climate crisis puts hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people and children at risk in Somalia

-   A Catholic priest in Nicaragua is arrested as the government’s crackdown on the Church continues -   We look ahead to World Hunger Day at a time in which over 800 million people still go hungry every day -   Pope Francis greets poets, artists, writers and film directors encouraging them to pluck the voice of God from the voice of time

 - In his message for this year’s World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Pope Francis calls for a transformation of hearts, lifestyles, and the public policies  - UNICEF warns that children in East Asia and the Pacific are facing increasing environmentally-related hazards  - Pope Francis encourages Italy’s bishops and synodal representatives to promote co-responsibility of clergy and laity

In the headlines, this Tuesday May 23rd: - Pope to attend 'Not Alone' International Meeting on Human Fraternity - Cardinal Parolin praises magisterium and peace efforts of Blessed Pope John Paul I - Sudanese war triggers grave consequences for region and beyond  

In the headlines, this Monday May 22nd, the Feast of Saint Rita of Cascia: - Pope Francis to travel to Lisbon and Fatima, Portugal for World Youth Day in August - The Vatican highlights crucial role of women in eradicating hunger - E-vehicle supply lines leave trail of abuse in Southeast Asia

 - Pope Francis issues an ardent appeal to the international community to promote dialogue in Sudan  - G-7 leaders gathered in Hiroshima, Japan, voice their continued support for Ukraine  - The Church observes World Communications Day, celebrated this year with the theme “Speaking with the Heart”

 - Pope Francis reiterates the Holy See’s firm conviction that the use of nuclear weapons is a crime against humanity  - Ukrainian president Volodomyr Zelensky meets with G-7 leaders gathered in Hiroshima, Japan  - Human rights groups call for an end to attempts to return Rohingya refugees to Myanmar

- Pope Francis reflects on St Francis Xavier, “the greatest missionary of modern times,” as a model of apostolic zeal  - Catholics in India celebrate the inauguration of a new shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima  - A heat wave scorching southeast Asia leads to fears of serious droughts throughout the region

 - Violence continues in Sudan, with air strikes and artillery fire intensifying in the nation’s capital on Tuesday  - Christian leaders in Jerusalem are renewing their call for a just and lasting peace in the Holy Land  - Humanitarian NGO Amnesty International says the number of executions in 2022 was the highest in five years

-   A cyclone brings death and destruction to Myanmar and a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh -   Eleven European states throw their support behind Patriarch Sako amid a dispute about political representation of Christians in Iraq's parliament -   Caritas delegates bring their local concerns to the General Assembly of the Church’s charitable confederation

-   Pope Francis prays for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants to hold, after women and children were killed this week -   Turkish voters head to the polls in a closely-fought general election -   Archbishop Isao Kikuchi says the mission of Caritas Internationalis is to help people to find hope

-   Pope Francis highlights the fundamental role of women in the happiness and life of every society -   The Bishops of Norway travel to Ukraine to encourage the works of Catholics amid the war, as the Pope meets with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky -   A new documentary shines the spotlight on African women in their struggles to overcome violence and abandonment

 - Pope Francis focuses on the freedom to migrate or to stay in his message for the 2023 World Day of Migrants and Refugees  - The UN Relief and Works Agency Commissioner General in Palestine highlights the plight of refugees in the region  - The Holy Father encourages members of Caritas Internationalis to “continue reciprocating God’s love”

 - Pope Francis and Coptic Orthodox Patriarch Tawadros II celebrate 50 years since the signing of the Joint Christological Statement  - A bishop and a labour union leader are calling for a just basic wage in the Philippines  - Curial officials describe preparations for the upcoming Jubilee at a press conference at the Vatican 

-   Pope Francis says the Holy Spirit can overcome immense human difficulties if we only allow Him to work in us -   The Bishop of Dallas laments a mass shooting at a shopping mall in his diocese in Texas -   The Pope will be joined by the Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II at this Wednesday’s General Audience for a unique guest appearance

- Pope Francis encourages the safeguarding efforts of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors - Great Britain gears up for the coronation of King Charles III, a liturgy which bears several notable Catholic elements - Flooding in Rwanda kills over 130 people, with the Pope sending his condolences and prayers

 - In The Hague, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky calls for Russia to be prosecuted for war crimes  - Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin talks about the Holy See’s initiatives for peace in Ukraine  - Pope Francis sends a message to young Catholics preparing to attend the upcoming World Youth Day

 - The UN says more than 100,00 people have left Sudan since fighting began  - At least eight students and a security guard were killed in a school shooting in Serbia  - Pope Francis offers birthday greetings to Holocaust survivor Edith Bruck

-   Pope Francis dedicates his monthly prayer intention to ecclesial movements and groups spreading the Gospel throughout the world -   At least 100,000 people have fled Sudan amid spiralling violence and a critical humanitarian crisis -   Observers say Russian troops in Ukraine have suffered massive casualties  

-   Pope Francis wraps up his three-day apostolic visit to Hungary with a meeting dedicated to the crucial role of culture and knowledge in the pursuit of justice and peace -   Some 50,000 faithful gather in Budapest’s historic Kossuth Lajos Square to celebrate Mass with the Holy Father -   During the Regina Coeli address, the Pope prays for peace in nearby Ukraine

-   Pope Francis arrives in Hungary for his 41st Apostolic Journey abroad -   In his first discourse in the country, the Pope urges Hungarian authorities to build bridges between nations  - A Parliamentarian representing the Ukrainian minority in Hungary says that Pope Francis’ support for the war-torn nation “gives great hope”. 

- In his message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations Pope Francis describes vocation as a gift and a task  - The apostolic nuncio to Hungary looks ahead to the Pope’s upcoming visit to the Central European nation  - In neighbouring Ukraine fighting intensifies with massive casualties on both sides reported

-   Armenians throng the streets of their capital Yerevan to mark Armenian Genocide Memorial Day -   Europe, China and Japan race to extract their citizens from Sudan -   Pope Francis presides over the first meeting of the renewed Council of Cardinals

 - Pope Francis calls for an end to violence and a return to dialogue in Sudan  - Hungary prepares for the arrival of the Holy Father next week in Budapest  - At the Regina Coeli, Pope Francis invites the faithful to make a daily examination of conscience

-   Foreign diplomats and nationals are airlifted to safety out of Sudan where fighting continues unabated -   Hundreds of Ukrainian and Russian soldiers are killed in fighting for the eastern city of Bakhmut -   Pope Francis reflects on the role of laypeople in serving the mission of the Church, warning against self-referentiality

-   Two Vatican departments sign a joint declaration on the protection of minors -   A Catholic missionary in Sudan speaks about the deteriorating situation in the country - Four years on from the deadly Easter bombings in Sri Lanka, Cardinal Ranjith calls for transparency and justice

-  Pope Francis urges the faithful to remember the suffering people of Yemen -  The Archbishop of Colombo in Sri Lanka demands justice for the families of those killed in the deadly 2019 Easter bombings -  The Holy See’s Representative to the UN calls on nations to recognize the cultures and traditions of Indigenous Peoples

- The death toll in Sudan continues to rise as the army and  paramilitaries struggle for power - Catholic sisters take the lead in bringing international players together in a commitment to support and empower communities affected by the climate crisis - Pope Francis looks ahead to the 2024 Olympic Games with a message of hope for a fruitful encounter

- Pope Francis says our search for God must embrace the poor and marginalized of society - Violent clashes continue to claim the lives of civilians in Sudan, with military forces entering the Apostolic Nunciature - The Church in Australia reports an increase in the cultural diversity of Catholics in the country

 - Fighting continues in Sudan as government and rebel forces battle in the streets of Khartoum  - Christians following the ancient Julian calendar celebrate Easter Sunday,  - Pope Francis reflects on the story of “Doubting Thomas” at Sunday’s Regina Coeli

 - Major-Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk says Pope Francis’ appeals have been a precious help for Ukraine and its people  - Fighting between government forces and paramilitary troops has broken out in Sudan    - Pope Francis encourages a Spanish group that assists the developmentally challenged to continue to be missionaries of God’s mercy

In the headlines this Friday, April 14th: - Two nuns expelled from Nicaragua - Ukrainian troops forced to withdraw from vital front positions - Progress reported in Yemen peace talks ­- Pope Francis reassures religious brothers that they bear witness to fraternity in silent self-giving    

- The Vatican’s observer to the United Nations highlights the role of education in fighting poverty - Christian Orthodox Church leaders in Jerusalem express dismay at Israeli measures to limit access to Orthodox Easter celebrations ­- Pope Francis reiterates his appeal that no one should be left to feel alone in illness

-   The US President travels to Belfast to underscore his country’s commitment to help consolidate peace in Northern Ireland 25 years from the Good Friday Agreement  -   A military air strike in Myanmar kills at least 50 people attending an opposition event -   The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples praises the Vatican's recently published document that rejects the 'Doctrine of Discovery

-   Pope Francis leads the recitation of the Regina Coeli prayer and recalls the anniversary of the Belfast or Good Friday agreement -   The Church in Sri Lanka continues its fight for justice 4 years after the tragic Easter Sunday bombings -   Egypt’s Foreign Minister calls for an end to all forms of terrorism in Syria in order to restore stability

- Pope Francis extends his wishes for peace in the world, as he celebrates Easter Mass and delivers his Urbi et Orbi blessing - Dutch flower growers continue the nearly four-decade tradition of filling St. Peter’s with stunning beauty - The Church in Sri Lanka continues to push for a full revelation of the truth behind the Easter Sunday bombings of 2019

-  Catholics across the globe join Pope Francis as they prepare to welcome the Risen Christ during the Easter Vigil -  Tensions are sky-high in Israel and in the Palestinian territories amid escalating violence -  The people of Ukraine celebrate Easter under continuing Russian military strikes  

In the headlines this Friday April 7th: -   Easter Triduum underway in the Vatican -   Tensions high as Israel conducts air strikes on Gaza and Lebanon -   This Good Friday in Aleppo, Syria, suffering and hope

-  Pope Francis inaugurates the Easter Triduum celebrating the Chrism Mass and the Mass of the Lord’s Last Supper   -  Christians in war-torn Ukraine are told not to celebrate Easter in large gatherings in fear of Russian attacks -  Ethiopians of all faiths prepare to celebrate the season of hope and rebirth in peace after two years of conflict  

In the headlines this Wednesday April 5th: -   Pope Francis says to have hope, despite the sadness in world -   Holy Father appeals for prayers for victims of war, and their mothers -   The Pope revises penal law of the Eastern Churches

-  Pilgrims are back in Jerusalem for Easter celebrations notwithstanding a spike of violence in the Holy Land -  The Catholic bishops of Kenya urge for a truce and the suspension of demonstrations amid nearly two weeks of political unrest -  The bishops of Malawi describe the catastrophic effects of Cyclone Freddy as emergency efforts continue in the stricken southern African nation  

-   Pope Francis reminds us than God is always present, even in the darkest of times -   The Holy Father remembers a homeless man who died in St Peter’s Square and prays for the abandoned -   The pope prays for solidarity and peace in Ukraine

-   Pope Francis returns home after a brief stay at Rome’s Gemelli hospital -   The Holy Father denounces economic and ideological colonialism as a crime -   Despite protests from Ukraine, Russia assumes the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council

-   Pope Francis’ health continues to improve as he undergoes treatment at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital   -   The Vatican formally repudiates the Doctrine of Discovery   -   The Jesuit Refugee Service releases a report denouncing the inhumane conditions migrants face in a detention centre in the UK

-   Pope Francis appeals for prayers for the 38 migrants who died yesterday in a fire on the Mexico/US border -   Cardinal Kurt Koch visits Slovakia for the 35th anniversary of the Catholic anti-Communist Candle Demonstration. -   Vatican Radio premieres a brand new contemporary interpretation of Joseph Haydn’s famous “The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross“

 - The Bishop of Nashville is calling for prayers after the latest school shooting in the United States  - Dozens of people have died in a fire at a migrant processing centre in Mexico  - The papal almoner is coordinating the donation of medicine for quake victims in Turkey

-   Pope Francis says Artificial Intelligence must always be used to promote the common good -   Unrest continues to grow in Israel, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sacked his Defence Minister after he called on the government to halt controversial reforms -   The Vatican teams up with the Italian Space Agency to launch Pope Francis’ message of peace and hope into orbit

In the headlines, this Sunday, March 26th:  - At the Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis prays for United States tornado victims, and those suffering from war  - The Holy Father reflects on God’s ability to restore and renew us, even when hope seems lost  - Archbishop Scicluna praises the Pope’s updates to Vos Estis Lux Mundi, now a universal Church law to protect minors and the vulnerable

In the headlines, this Saturday, March 25th:  - Pope Francis confirms Vos Estis Lux Mundi procedures against abuse  - Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago says Vos Estis update seeks to give justice to abuse victims  - Reports of hate crimes in Canada in 2021 have increased by 27 percent from the previous year, with a 260 percent growth against Catholics    

 - The United States launches air strikes against Syria after a drone attack killed an American contractor  - At the United Nations, the Holy See calls for clean and safe water to be available to all people  - Pope Francis meets and prays with families of Polish coal miners who were killed in accidents in 2022

The day's headlines: -   Pope Francis urges the bishops of the European Union to follow in the footsteps of the Founding Fathers and fight for peace and unity -   States and global companies commit to sustainable development at the UN Water Conference -   Pope Francis emphasizes the importance of the Sacrament of Confession

- Pope Francis says that water is a primary necessity and must never be wasted or abused - The Holy See's UN envoy says that racism should be countered by promoting "a culture of encounter, solidarity, and authentic human fraternity" - We speak to Caritas Syria about the humanitarian situation in the country

 - The Vatican announces Pope Francis' theme for this year’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees  - Catholic aid agencies are working with other humanitarian organizations to provide necessities to the people of Ukraine  - The World Council of Churches appeals for the protection of Christians and holy sites in the Holy Land

- Pope Francis expresses his closeness and prays for the people of Ecuador struck by a powerful earthquake - Catholic aid agencies and partners continue to provide essential food and medicine to suffering people in war-torn Ukraine - Israeli citizens take to the streets for the 11th week to protest against the government’s plan to cull Supreme Court powers  

- Pope Francis meets with refugees who arrived in Europe on a Humanitarian Corridors project and points to their welcome as the way forward for the future - Haiti’s Prime Minister deploys the nation’s military to combat the increasing menace of street gangs - The Vatican Foreign Minister reiterates the Holy See’s support for Albania’s accession to the European Union

 - Pope Francis highlights the crucial role of religions in fostering a culture of fraternity  - The Israeli government’s rejection of a compromise plan for a drastic judicial overhaul triggers protests in the country and concern across the globe -   Asian Church leaders welcome the launch of a document of renewal and openness that responds to the Pope’s call for synodality and envisions new pathways for the future  

THIS VATICAN RADIO BROADCAST IS A SPECIAL EDITION TO CELEBRATE THE TEN-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF POPE FRANCIS' ELECTION AS POPE

 - Pope Francis will visit a Roman parish next Friday, celebrating a penitential service as part of the 24 Hours for the Lord prayer initiative  - Russia continues its offensive in Ukraine, as it attempts to take control of the strategic city of Bakhmut  - On the eve of the anniversary of Jorge Bergoglio’s election to the See of Peter, we continue to reflect on ten years of Pope Francis’ papacy