Speaking in Hungary, once the heart of Christian Europe which today is leading the charge against Pope Francis’ call for the welcoming and integration of migrants, Pope Francis said that the Cross is, yes, an invitation to uphold Christian roots, but also a call to be open to everyone.
At the crack of dawn on Sunday, Pope Francis will leave for Slovakia — with a planned first stop of seven hours in Budapest, Hungary — for a Sept. 12-15 visit. This will be his first trip since his July colon surgery, and the question in the minds of many is: “Why?”
Pope Francis has called on whatever government will emerge in Afghanistan following the American withdrawal to allow children to receive an education, despite the Taliban policy of not allowing women to attend school after the age of 12.
Pope Francis offered prayers to the victims and families affected by Hurricane Ida, which devastated the southern and northeastern United States.
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn has been exonerated of sexual abuse allegations that date back nearly a half-century.
Pope Francis’ former cathedral in Argentina was vandalized over the weekend, two Latin American cardinals are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 and a bishop in Venezuela has clashed with military forces who blocked humanitarian aid from reaching a severely flooded region.
With increased violence unfolding in Afghanistan, Pope Francis appealed to all Christians to fast and intensify their prayers.
Pope Francis’ upcoming trip to Hungary and Slovakia, while seemingly standard as papal visits go, could prove to be among his most challenging visits at a time when distrust in government authorities and the looming threat of the delta variant are leading the headlines.
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.
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.
