In the U.S.-China rivalry that involves a complex mix of diplomacy, trade wars and sanctions, religion has come under increased pressure after the communist regime banned online propagation of religion by foreign nationals, purportedly to make religion more Chinese-oriented.
Although scientists have made great strides in the field of medicine, genuine care and listening to those who suffer must always be at the forefront of any therapy, Pope Francis said.
Iraq’s top Catholic leader hopes the new year will help the citizens of this violence-torn country overcome divisions and tensions, and lead to the much needed reform of the country.
Christian hope grants those who suffer the assurance that God does not abandon his people in their time of need, Pope Francis said.
During his New Year message, Ireland’s primate expressed his “personal sense of sadness and loss” at the partition of Ireland.
To close a year in which he put limits on the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass, Pope Francis warned against the temptations of pride, spiritual worldliness, and attachment to superficial reassurances, including liturgical preferences.
For Coptic Christians, the Christmas season is intensely spiritual, starting weeks before Christmas Day with a 43-day vegetarian fast, during which Christians refrain from consuming all dairy and meat products until Christmas Eve.
Catholic bishops in Northern Ireland said the defeat of a bill that would have prevented late term abortions for non-fatal disabilities in unborn children “will send a message to all citizens that unborn disabled babies, are fundamentally less valued than those who are able-bodied.”
Super Typhoon Rai has claimed more than 200 lives since making landfall in the Visayas and Mindanao region, Philippine authorities said.
Responding to 11 questions it said had been raised about Pope Francis’ document restricting celebrations of the pre-Vatican II Mass, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments offered a few concessions to bishops but insisted the entire Latin-rite Catholic Church must move toward celebrating only one form of the Mass and sacraments.
