Citing Lung Inflammation, Pope Curtails Schedule Ahead of Dubai Trip

As a result of what the Vatican described on Monday as an inflammation of his lungs, for which he’s receiving antibiotic treatments, Pope Francis has postponed several commitments in the coming days in order to preserve his strength for a planned Dec. 1-3 trip to Dubai for the COP-28 climate change summit.

Pope Holds Separate Meetings With Israelis, Palestinians at Vatican

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — With hopes growing for a temporary, humanitarian cease-fire, Pope Francis met at the Vatican Nov. 22 with relatives of Israelis held hostage by Hamas and, separately, with relatives of Palestinians suffering under the Israeli siege of Gaza.

Pope to Address U.N. Climate Conference, Inaugurate ‘Faith Pavilion’

Pope Francis will travel to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates Dec. 1-3 to address the U.N. climate conference and to help inaugurate the Faith Pavilion where religious leaders and organizations will meet to share information and strategies for convincing governments to take real steps to protect the environment.

Egypt’s Churches Praying for Holy Land Peace

These words of a Christian hymn filled churches in Egypt last week as a security situation has been boiling in the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas war erupted on Oct. 7, when Hamas, the Islamic movement that rules the Gaza Strip, stormed nearby Israeli towns, killing more than 1,400 and abducting hundreds. 

Pope Skips Speech to Rabbis, but Otherwise Maintains Schedule

Pope Francis Monday, Nov. 6, opted not to give a planned speech to a delegation of European rabbis, saying he was unwell, but maintained the rest of the day’s various audiences and gave all of his other prepared speeches, including some off-the-cuff remarks.

Pope Confirms Trip for UN Climate Summit, Calls Synod of Bishops ‘Positive’

In a wide-ranging new interview, Pope Francis confirmed plans to visit Dubai for a U.N. climate summit in early December, addressed current global conflicts, and weighed in on several hot-button issues touched on during last month’s Synod of Bishops on Synodality, including women’s ordination and priestly celibacy.