Pope Francis held a private audience with Nadia Murad, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and survivor of the Islamic State-led genocide in Iraq, Aug. 26 at the Vatican.
International News
Efforts Made by Diocese to Get Haiti Donations In Proper Hands
Parishioners who donate to special collections in the Diocese of Brooklyn for Haiti disaster relief can feel confident their donations will reach their intended recipients, despite the turmoil in that nation, officials said.
Vatican Athletes Hope to One Day Compete at Paralympic Games
Just as he did when the Olympic games began last July, Pope Francis on Wednesday referred to the opening of the Paralympic games the day before. The pontiff’s words had a particular significance for a “small yet loud” group of Paralympic athletes who were present in the Paul VI Hall when the Holy Father delivered his remarks.
IMF Emergency COVID Funds Withheld From Afghanistan
The International Monetary Fund on Aug. 23 withheld $455 million in emergency COVID-19 relief funding from Afghanistan after the Taliban’s takeover of the country forced the organization to withhold its recognition of the Afghan government.
Pope Francis Sends Aid to Those Hit by Disasters in Haiti, Bangladesh, Vietnam
Pope Francis will be sending nearly a quarter of a million dollars to help people in Haiti, who are struggling in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake during a global pandemic.
This Fall, Papal Travel Will Change With Closure of Pope Francis’ Favorite Airline
After a 57-year stretch of loyalty to the same company, papal travel is set to change this fall with the closure of Italy’s national airline Alitalia, which has taken four popes to a total of 171 countries on all continents.
Quake Latest Barrier to Vaccine Distribution in Haiti, But ‘Hope on the Horizon’
Of the 500,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine to reach Haiti so far, only about 5%, have been injected into people’s arms. The Aug. 14 earthquake gets a lot of blame for that, but the assassination of Haiti’s president and a hesitancy among people to get their shots have also delayed the distribution, health officials said.
Diocese Has Deep Connections to Haitian-Americans, Immigrants
The Diocese of Brooklyn has the second highest population of Haitian-Americans and immigrants in the U.S. The diocese’s mobilization to help quake-ravaged Haiti stems from the solid bond between the long-suffering nation and the Roman Catholic Church.
Retired Auxiliary Bishop Guy Sansaricq, ‘A Lifeline To The Haitian Community,’ Dies at 86
On Saturday, Aug. 21, Bishop Sansaricq, a retired auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Brooklyn and the first Haitian bishop in the United States, died at age 86.
Papal Foundation Warns of ‘Bleak Future’ for Religious Freedom in Afghanistan
There are an estimated 200 Catholics in Afghanistan — a tiny minority within the minority of around 7,000 Christians — and days after the Taliban took control of the country following the withdrawal of U.S. troops, a papal charity is sounding the alarm over their situation.