On Monday U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken enjoyed a private visit to the Sistine Chapel before sitting down to a closed-door meeting with Pope Francis as part of a broader tour of Europe.
International News
Border Bishop to Vice President: ‘We Need to Work Together’
On Vice President Kamala Harris’ first trip to the Southern border, Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso emphasized to her the importance of seeing first-hand the border and the countries migrants are fleeing to properly address the burgeoning immigration crisis.
Vice President Harris to Meet With Catholic Leaders on First Southern Border Trip
Vice President Kamala Harris took off on Air Force 2 Friday morning headed to El Paso, Texas, where she plans to meet with Catholic leaders on the immigration crisis at the southern border.
Situation in Iraq ‘Beyond Urgent’
After the trip was announced, the Iraqi Parliamentary Assembly voted unanimously to declare Christmas an annual national holiday, and Salih ratified a law benefiting Yazidi survivors of the 2014-2017 ISIS genocide. Both of those developments happened months before Pope Francis boarded the Papal plane. However, months removed from the trip, experts say nothing has changed.
Pope Names Cardinal Tobin of Newark to Vatican Supreme Court
Pope Francis has named U.S. Cardinals Joseph W. Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, and James M. Harvey, archpriest of Rome’s Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, to be members of the Vatican’s supreme court.
Pope Francis to Grandparents, All Elderly People: ‘You are Needed’
Writing to his peers, Catholics who have reached a venerable age like he has, Pope Francis told older Catholics that God is close to them and still has plans for their lives.
Vatican’s Top Diplomat Urges Unity, Reconciliation During Trip to Mexico
Cardinal Pietro Parolin took a June 18-21 trip to Mexico to celebrate the episcopal ordination of the new papal representative to Papua New Guinea. He also met with the local leadership of the Catholic Church ahead of a Monday meeting with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
In Talk About Immigration, Bishops Urge Attitude of Welcome
Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas, encouraged prelates meeting via Zoom for the U.S. bishops’ virtual spring assembly to find ways to welcome what may be a growing number of immigrants to their dioceses and to serve them the way they would serve Christ.
People with Disabilities Faced More Barriers During Pandemic, Academy Says
People with disabilities were often overlooked and faced discrimination in various health care policies and practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, said the Pontifical Academy for Life.
Pope, Religious Leaders Call For Better EU Immigration Policies
“The Mediterranean has become Europe’s largest cemetery,” the pope told visitors gathered in St. Peter’s Square June 13 to pray the Angelus with him.