Within just the last few days, two senior Catholic prelates from Iraq have referred to plans for Pope Francis to visit the country next year as, essentially, a done deal.
Pope Francis
CAR Bishop Holds the Line Against a ‘Philosophy of Vengeance’
Bishop Nestor-Desire Nongo-Aziagbia of the Central African Republic has been kidnapped on one occasion and shot at on another, yet his peaceful and calm disposition hasn’t been rattled.
Pope Writes Syrian President, Urging Him to Protect Civilians, Seek Peace
Pope Francis urged Syrian President Bashar Assad to put an end to his country’s eight-year-long conflict and seek reconciliation for the good of the nation and its vulnerable people.
Pope Appoints New Vatican Press Office Director
Pope Francis appointed Matteo Bruni to serve as director of the Vatican press office, replacing Alessandro Gisotti, who had been serving as interim director since Dec. 31.
United States to Co-Host Vatican Summit on Religious Freedom
U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Callista Gingrich announced on July 17 that the United States and the Vatican will co-host a summit on religious freedom in October of 2019.
Miami Archbishop says Trump ‘Rhetoric’ Causing Fear in Migrant Community
Reflecting on Pope Francis’s recent Mass on the 6thanniversary of his visit to Lampedusa – the small Italian island where he remembered the estimated 20,000 migrants who have died crossing the Mediterranean – Miami’s archbishop says “Lampedusa has been happening off the coast of Florida for the past 50 years.”
Pope Names Women as Full Members of Congregation for Religious
Pope Francis named six superiors of women’s religious orders, a consecrated laywoman and the superior of the De La Salle Christian Brothers to be full members of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
Vatican Lifts Immunity of Papal Diplomat Accused of Assault
The Holy See has waived the diplomatic immunity of a Vatican diplomat who has been under investigation by authorities in Paris for allegedly sexually assaulting a city official.
Pope Meets Putin; Two Leaders Talk About Ukraine, Syria, Venezuela
Pope Francis welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Vatican July 4, and the two discussed the ongoing wars in Eastern Ukraine and in Syria, the Vatican said. Russia plays a major role in both conflicts.
With Miracle Confirmed in Sheen Cause, Plans for Beatification Can Begin
With “overwhelming joy,” Bishop Daniel R. Jenky of Peoria announced July 6 that Pope Francis had approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.