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Entries for December 2024
Pope Francis marks the end of 2024 with the Te Deum hymn of thanksgiving at the conclusion of First Vespers for the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God.
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Three companions of Pope Benedict – Cardinal Kurt Koch, Professor Ralph Weimann, and Archbishop Georg Gänswein – reflect on the two-year anniversary of his death.
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The International Committee of the Red Cross has warned that the "obliteration" of the healthcare system in the northern Gaza Strip is placing civilians at grave risk.
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Following a deadly plane crash that claimed nearly 200 lives, the Bishops of South Korea are insisting that better safety measures be implemented as soon as possible.
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At a Mass of suffrage for Benedict XVI marking the second anniversary of his death, Cardinal Kurt Koch highlights the theological legacy of the late Pope Emeritus and his central message of God's eternal love
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Dozens of people die in Southern Ethiopia after a truck carrying wedding guests plunged into a river on Sunday shedding light on the challenges facing the rural area with poor infrastructure and accessibility to rescue crews.
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On Sunday, 29 December, several dioceses of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) joined the Universal Church on the Feast of the Holy Family to inaugurate the Jubilee Year.
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Throughout 2024, Pope Francis unwaveringly took action for peace. In countless appeals and occasions, he asked all men and women of goodwill to promote and nurture fraternity, inviting every one of us to become instruments of peace. As the year transitions into a new one, with the hope that illuminates the path of the Jubilee Year, his message resounds in all of its force: "Jesus is our hope and t...
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The opening of the Jubilee Year was marked worldwide on Sunday with Masses celebrated in cathedrals and co-cathedrals
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An annual Fides study reports the deaths of 13 Catholic missionaries in 2024, highlighting the dangers faced by those working in regions plagued by violence, poverty, and corruption.
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An interview with Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor and co-president of the Japanese foundation Nihon Hidankyo, Toshiyuki Mimaki, recipient of the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. Mimaki reflects on his meeting with Pope Francis in Japan in 2019 and calls on world leaders to commit to eliminating nuclear weapons.
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The Head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warns of severe threats to Gaza's healthcare system noting that hospitals have "once again" turned into battlegrounds.
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Pope Francis recalls Jimmy Carter’s “firm commitment, motivated by deep Christian faith, to the cause of reconciliation and peace between peoples, the defense of human rights and the welfare of the poor and those in need” in a telegram of condolence for the death of the former US President.
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A delegation of the Holy Land Co-ordination is to travel to Jerusalem from 18-23 January for the annual pilgrimage of solidarity to the Christian communities in the Holy Land which didn’t take place this year due to the war in Gaza.
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As freezing weather grips the Mediterranean, health authorities in Gaza report the deaths of at least four newborns from hypothermia.
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Lumen TV-Z, the official Catholic television station in Zambia, has received a significant boost with the installation of an 11 KVA solar power system worth 270,000 Kwacha which is approximately 9,815 USD-
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Bishop Krzysztof Józef Nykiel, Regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary reflects on the time of spiritual renewal, conversion, and reconciliation offered by the Jubilee. He points out that the Holy Doors opened, one by one, are a symbol of the gate of salvation opened by Christ.
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On the Feast of the Holy Family the Cardinal Vicar for the Diocese of Rome invites us to pray especially for those families facing difficulties and suffering. God is the source of love and unshakable hope for us, he emphasizes, no matter how far we may have strayed.
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Pope Francis asks for prayers for the victims and survivors of a plane crash in South Korea and expresses closeness to families worldwide suffering the consequences of war.
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On the Feast of the Holy Family, Pope Francis invites families to spend quality time regularly together, and suggests something as simple as sitting together at the dinner table and conversing openly and meaningfully with one another.
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The UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, issues a new review documenting how 2024 is, by every measure, 'one of the worst years for children' worldwide on record and how their human rights are being violated in the most damaging and brutal of ways.
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Mexico announces that it is stemming the tide of attempted illegal migration into the United States, after detaining almost half a million people during the past two months.
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Azerbaijani government sources and survivors say a Russian surface-to-air missile caused the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, killing 38 of the 67 people on board. The United States also suggested that Russia was behind the crash, raising concerns about air safety in the region amid an ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.
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Palestinian medical officials have accused the Israeli army of setting fire to the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza.
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Professor Venerando Marano has been appointed the new President of the Vatican Tribunal, an appointment which will take effect on 1 January 2025, following the resignation earlier this month of his predecessor Giuseppe Pignatone, who stepped down due to reaching the age limit.
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In an audio message broadcast today by the BBC as the “Thought for the Day,” Pope Francis urges us not to look at the future “with pessimism and resignation,” but to always choose the path of love and view the world with “the gentle gaze of hope”.
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Pope Francis sends a message to the young people taking part in the annual Taizé encounter, and encourages them to always draw closer to the Christ Child as a source of hope and meaning, and stresses that growing in holiness and faith will make their lives always more fulfilling.
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Finnish film director, Aki Kaurismäki's 20th full-length film, "Fallen Leaves", released in 2023, is part of the works chosen by the Dicastery of Evangelization to accompany pilgrims of hope on their jubilee journey. Fr Greg Apparcel reviews the movie and expresses his desire to see more Kaurismäki movies.
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One of northern Gaza's last working hospitals has been forcibly evacuated by the Israeli army.
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A shipwreck this month, off the coast of Morocco this month leaves almost seventy people dead.
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In an Advent message Pope Francis recently sent to University of Bethlehem students, the Holy Father calls on them to entrust everything to Jesus and to always safeguard their "precious gift of faith."
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The Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, concelebrated Christmas Eve Mass with Papal Almoner, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, at the Latin Cathedral in Kharkiv and, despite intense Russian bombings, then participated in the Christmas Day Divine Liturgy at the city's Greek Catholic Cathedral.
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In light of the political and social challenges facing Guinea-Bissau, the Bishop of the Diocese of Bissau, Jose Lampra Cá, has urged Guinean Christians and the broader population to remain hopeful, prioritise peaceful coexistence and fraternity, particularly during this festive season.
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Palestinian sources say at least 22 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Christmas Day.
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The birth of Jesus is the most powerful sign and message of hope in a world darkened by the shadows of fear and uncertainty. For Christmas 2024, at the beginning of the Jubilee of Hope, Vatican Radio has asked Catholic leaders for their reflections on the theme, “The peace of Christ in a war-torn world.” Today’s message comes from Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-Sik, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Cl...
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During his Angelus address on the Feast of St. Stephen, the Holy Father renews Christmas wishes to the faithful, and, at the start of this Jubilee, appeals for remitting debt, disarmament, and to "stop colonizing people with weapons" that further perpetrates the wars plaguing the world.
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During his Angelus address for the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, the Holy Father invites faithful to ask themselves whether they take interest in and pray for those being persecuted for their faith today.
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In the Rebibbia New Complex Prison in Rome, Pope Francis opens a Holy Door and celebrates Mass for prisoners.
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The Community of Sant’Egidio prepares Christmas meals for 80,000 homeless, elderly, families in need, and refugees in Rome and 250,000 others around the world.
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Wishing everyone a "a serene and blessed Christmas," Pope Francis celebrates the joy of this day on which we celebrate the birth of Lord Jesus, "the mystery that never ceases to amaze and move us." He underscores how "the door of God's heart is always open" and may we "be reconciled with God" and with one another for a world marked by peace and harmony.
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Christmas can still be the happiest time of the year if we celebrate it genuinely. If we allow the authentic Christmas to happen, we can all still see the angels of Bethlehem and hear their sweet carol. We can all give glory to God and bring peace to men and women of goodwill on earth if we celebrate, like the shepherds, the happy news that God so loved the world and sent his only son to save all ...
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Pope Francis opens the Holy Door of Saint Peter's Basilica thereby officially inaugurating the 2025 Jubilee of Hope. He reassures during his Christmas evening Mass that the Christ Child of Bethlehem offers the world infinite hope and joy.
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The birth of Jesus is the most powerful sign and message of hope in a world darkened by the shadows of fear and uncertainty. For Christmas 2024, at the beginning of the Jubilee of Hope, Vatican Radio has asked Catholic leaders for their reflections on the theme, “The peace of Christ in a war-torn world.” Today’s message comes from Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, S.V.D., Archbishop of Tokyo and Pre...
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The Papal Almoner celebrates Mass in the city of Fastiv after opening a soup kitchen in the war-torn area of Ukraine.
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Starting from the Holy Year of 1900, we retrace some key moments of the ceremonies for the opening of the Holy Door.
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Representing a unique model of coexistence and diversity in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, students of different faiths at the Catholic University in Erbil join together in an annual tradition of celebrating Christmas together.
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For the first time in the Jubilee tradition, Pope Francis will open a fifth sacred portal in a Roman prison on 26 December, a gesture of hope that shows his ongoing closeness to detainees, which has been consistent throughout his pontificate.
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The birth of Jesus is the most powerful sign and message of hope in a world darkened by the shadows of fear and uncertainty. For Christmas 2024, at the beginning of the Jubilee of Hope, Vatican Radio has asked Catholic leaders for their reflections on the theme, “The peace of Christ in a war-torn world.” Today’s message comes from Dominican Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe.
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A new pedestrian area at the start of Via della Conciliazione, connecting Castel Sant’Angelo to St Peter’s Basilica, has been inaugurated ahead of the Jubilee, blending historic significance with modern design.
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In an interview with Vatican Media, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, welcomes the news of US President Joe Biden commuting the sentences of 37 prisoners on federal death row.
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As Christmas approaches, the Catholic Bishops of Ethiopia urge local leaders and the faithful to work towards peaceful coexistence in the country amid ongoing ethnic unrest and humanitarian crises.
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As the world celebrates Christmas, the Catholic Bishops of Uganda are calling for renewed focus on the family as the bedrock of society.
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US President Joe Biden commutes the sentences of 37 prisoners on federal death row to life imprisonment without parole, expressing his conviction that “we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level.” Pope Francis, who had a telephone conversation with the US leader in recent days, had launched an appeal to pray for the prisoners on America's death row, an appeal supported by the U...
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Cardinal Charles Maung Bo issues farewell message as he concludes his second and final three-year term as President of the Federation of the Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), in which he expresses gratitude for varied successes which 'forged a legacy,' and warmly welcomes his successor Cardinal Felipe Neri Ferrão of India.
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The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa enters the Gaza Strip and presides at Mass with the parish community of Fr. Gabriel Romanelli. The Patriarch: "We are proud of you because you have remained what you are: Christians with Jesus." On Tuesday he will go to Bethlehem for the celebration of Christmas Mass at St Catherine's.
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At the conclusion of the Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis calls for a Christmas ceasefire on all war fronts and repeats his message of peace, hope and reconciliation for lands such as Mozambique, suffering Ukraine and the Holy Land.
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As Christmas approaches, Pope Francis focuses on the gift of motherhood and “the miracle of life” at the Angelus for the Fourth Sunday of Advent.
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In a telegram signed by Cardinal Parolin and sent to German President Steinmeier, Pope Francis expresses sadness for those killed and injured in the attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany. The Pope says he is close to the families of the victims.
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Authorities say at least five people have been killed, including a child, and more than 200 injured after a car drove into a crowd at a Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg. The German chancellor has expressed his shock about the apparent attack.
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Israeli forces continue to launch devastating airstrikes on targets in the central and northern Gaza strip
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With Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and Paolo Ruffini, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication present, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, blesses a new, state-of-the-art broadcasting van donated to the Vatican by the Knights of Columbus.
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Holy See Press Director Matteo Bruni announces that Pope Francis, due cold symptoms and chilly winter weather, will lead the weekly Angelus on 22 December from the chapel of his residence in the Casa Santa Marta.
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In his annual address to the Roman Curia for the exchange of Christmas Greetings, Pope Francis decries the killing of more children in Gaza. and highlights the virtue of humility to foster an harmonious working community.
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Pope Francis meets with employees of the Holy See, the Governorate of Vatican City State, and the Vicariate of Rome for the annual Christmas greetings. He describes their service as precious for spreading the Kingdom of God throughout the world.
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This year, in keeping with tradition, the Vatican Secretary of State pays a visit to the Vatican’s Children’s Hospital, bringing a message of Christmas hope to doctors, nurses, patients, and families.
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In an interview with Argentina’s “Canal Orbe 21” TV, Pope Francis offers his thoughts on the challenges of our times and the Church’s evolving mission amid global tensions, rising inequality,
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Just released reports by the NGOs ‘Human Rights Watch’ and ‘Medecins Sans Frontiers’ accuse Israel of committing “acts of genocide” and “ethnic cleansing” in Gaza. Israel responds accusing the organizations of spreading “lies”.
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Archbishop Julien Kabore, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, has emphasised that both natural and man-made disasters pose significant challenges to communities worldwide, particularly in Africa. He noted that the continent's vulnerabilities are exacerbated by poverty, environmental degradation, and social inequalities.
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Greeting some children of Italy’s Catholic Action lay movement ahead of Christmas, Pope Francis urges them to spread the wonder of Jesus’ love for us every day by being close to the needy and those suffering war, especially other children.
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The Preacher of the Papal Household, Franciscan Father Roberto Pasolini, delivered the third and final Advent meditation on the theme of smallness—not as a limitation, but as humility that creates space for encounter.
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At a Mass in a Florentine prison, the city’s Archbishop reads a letter Pope Francis sent to the inmates to extend his Christmas greetings and blessings.
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The new Vatican mobile post office, where one can "send and receive God's announcements," opens with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in St Peter’s Square.
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Pope Francis and outgoing US president Joe Biden spoke by phone yesterday about various current issues, beginning with peace efforts in view of Christmas. The US leader thanked the Pope for "his work to promote human rights and protect religious freedom." He then accepted an invitation to visit the Vatican in January. A theme close to the Pope's heart is the fate of US death row inmates for whom h...
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The traditional gathering of Roman oratories for the blessing of Baby Jesus figurines in the Vatican on Sunday, 22 December, is enriched this year by an artistic contest inspired by the theme “A Heart of Light.”
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Thanks to audio streams on Vatican Radio and videos provided by Vatican Media, in collaboration with YouTube, the faithful will be able to follow every major moment of Jubilee 2025 thanks to the Vatican News portal, offered in 53 languages including sign language.
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As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes culture, information, and communication, and influences democratic processes, a group of international experts is preparing to release a “Global Policy Brief” to help policymakers use AI responsibly.
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In a meeting with a group of Vietnamese benefactors of the Pontifical Missionary Works from the United States, Pope Francis highlights the "steadfast faith" of many Catholic immigrants from Vietnam living in America.
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As the world marked International Migrants Day, Tunisia’s coastguard recovered the bodies of 20 African migrants in the Mediterranean Sea, a grim reminder of the deadliest year on record for migrants seeking a better life.
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Following catastrophic 7.3-magnitude earthquake in the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, decries the disaster's impact on some 40,000 children.
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As Christmas approaches, Pope Francis sends a gift of a mobile hospital and other medical supplies to Ukraine
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Speaking to pilgrims from the Camino de Santiago in Spain, the Pope encourages the group to reflect on what makes a pilgrimage versus a simple journey.
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Wim Wenders' 2023 film Perfect Days may resonate with many viewers for its intrinsic beauty and amazing soundtrack. Father Greg Apparcel, CSP, film critic, associate pastor of St. Patrick's Catholic American Parish in Rome, and the Paulist Fathers’ Procurator General to the Holy See, shares his reflections on the movie.
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According to UN humanitarians, the new refusal adds to the 38 missions Israel blocked at the start of December.
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Pope Francis has approved the beatification of Archbishop Eduard Profittlich, a German-born Jesuit who served in Estonia and was martyred in the Soviet Union in 1942.
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The Italian daily newspaper Il Messaggero publishes a reflection by Pope Francis on the Jubilee.
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Pope Francis prays for the victims of Cyclone Chido, which is feared to have killed thousands, and asks Polish pilgrims to remember Ukrainian refugees this Christmas.
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As synodality begins to root into the Church, the Maronite Bishop for Central and West Africa explores how the Synod resonates with African culture.
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With the opening of the Holy Door less than 6 days away, Pope Francis holds his weekly General Audience and begins the cycle of catechesis that will mark the entire Jubilee Year, focusing on "Jesus Christ, our hope."
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In response to increasing religious tensions in India, Archdioceses and organizations across the country gather to promote interreligious harmony during Christmas season.
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The head of the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, reports that more than 14,500 young persons have reportedly been killed in Gaza, as the total death toll passes 45,000 according to Gaza authorities. Humanitarian agencies continue to appeal for a ceasefire to care for the victims and distribute desperately needed food aid.
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Speaking to Vatican News, Marc Bulteau of the French Secours Catholique says the situation in cyclone-hit Mayotte is “worse than catastrophic” and that it will take at least a decade for the archipelago to recover.
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Archbishop Joseph Tobjie says Christians must play a role in building an inclusive and democratic society as Syria faces an uncertain transition.
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To mark his 88th birthday, Pope Francis has released several excerpts from his autobiography “Hope,” which will hit bookshelves in January, recounting his childhood in Buenos Aires and the logistical difficulties of his 2021 visit to Iraq.
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Pope Francis sends to a message to young people in Rome, and says that each one of them "brings something new into the world".
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Several Church-run aid groups, including CNEWA-Pontifical Mission and the Little Sisters of Nazareth, have worked for years to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees residing in Lebanon
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After the unimaginable destruction on the French Island of Mayotte, Cyclone Chido, a Category 4 storm, made landfall in Pemba, the capital of Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province. Most of northern Mozambique and southern Malawi were already bracing themselves for the worst.
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The Church’s journey of synodality has reignited the faith and evangelical unity of Catholics in the Nigerian diocese of Maiduguri, according to a local parish priest.
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Cyclone Chido devastates Mayotte, leaving widespread destruction, a rising death toll, and urgent calls for aid.
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Acea Group and Archbishop Rino Fisichella present the new light architecture in Saint Peter’s Square and water facilities for pilgrims to be inaugurated for the Jubilee Year.
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Fr. Vincent de Beaucoudrey, a Jesuit priest and director of Jesuit Refugee Service in Syria, has been working in the country for several years—first in Homs and now in Damascus. He is a direct witness to the upheaval that the population is currently experiencing.
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Pope Francis greets a delegation of the World Methodist Council, and encourages ecumenical efforts ahead of the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.
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Speaking to members of Spain's Filipino community, Pope Francis highlights the life of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, the Philippines’ first saint.
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Pope Francis addresses Italian Banking Institutes and reminds them of the ethical dimension of banking, challenging the financial sector to invest in development, not exploitation and war.
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Due to the tight schedule of his return flight, Pope Francis did not hold his customary press conference with the journalists accompanying him. But he did wish to express his joy in seeing a large number of parents with children in Ajaccio. Journalists on the plane gave him a surprise cake to celebrate his 88th birthday on Tuesday 17 December.
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A private meeting between Pope Francis and the French President concludes the Holy Father’s one-day apostolic visit to Corsica.
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Pope Francis presides over Mass in Corsica as the final public event of his one-day 47th Apostolic Journey abroad. In his homily, the Pope calls for spiritual renewal and joyful expectation of Christ's coming, urging the faithful to prepare with humility, hope, and acts of charity amidst the challenges of the world.
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Renewing his urgent appeal for peace in the world, Pope Francis launches his plea from the French island of Corsica.
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Addressing bishops, priests, religious consecrated men and women and seminarians in Corsica, Pope Francis reminds them that it is important for them to care for themselves and others, which also means forgiving, always.
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As the Church marks the Third Sunday in Advent, Fr. Marion Nguyen, OSB, offers his thoughts on the day’s liturgical readings focusing on Advent as a time of waiting.
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Addressing the "Conference on Popular Piety in the Mediterranean" in Ajaccio, Pope Francis highlights the importance of these expressions of faith as a means of fostering evangelization in our increasingly secularized societies and communities.
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Shortly after his arrival in Corsica, Pope Francis stops at the archaeological site of an Early Christian baptistery that was part of Ajaccio’s first cathedral.
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Pope Francis has boarded the papal plane and left Italy, travelling to the French island of Corsica.
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Pope Francis makes an afternoon visit to the Basilica of St. Mary Major to entrust his 47th Apostolic Journey abroad to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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Pope Francis meets with members of the Italian Association against Leukaemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma, and emphasises the need to dispel the "darkness of pain" generated by infirmity through the gift of self and closeness.
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Michel Constantin, regional director for CNEWA-Pontifical Mission for Lebanon, Syria and Egypt, is in contact with partners in Syria regarding the situation on the ground, and provides an update on the status of the Christian community.
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Pope Francis sends a letter to the Apostolic Nuncio to Russia nearly a month after the war in Ukraine passed the 1,000 day mark, and laments the suffering inflicted on innocent people while calling on his representative to foster diplomatic efforts to seek peace.
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Speaking to Vatican News, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin describes Pope Francis’ 47th Apostolic Journey to Corsica on Sunday as a journey in the footsteps of Christian tradition, testimony, and encounter, during which he will reaffirm that the Mediterranean must not become a cemetery for migrants.
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Following their audience with Pope Francis, members of the judging committee for the 2025 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity share their belief in the importance of recognizing the extraordinary efforts people make to foster peace and fraternity.
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Pope Francis meets with artists and organizers of the 2024 Christmas Concert in the Vatican and encourages them to use their talent and artistry to promote fraternity and reconciliation to build peace and hope in a broken world.
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A series of docufilms entitled "I Giubilei Mediatici" (Media Jubilees) offers an original and previously unseen perspective on the Holy Years of the 20th century.
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The new Preacher of the Papal Household, Fr. Roberto Pasolini, delivers his second Advent Sermon to Pope Francis and the Roman Curia.
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A 20-month civil war has plummeted Sudan into a devastating humanitarian crisis with widespread violence, starvation, and displacement, but its people persist with hope, urging international action for peace and aid.
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The United Nations launches the "2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan" for Myanmar amid heightened aid needs in the conflict-torn nation.
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In this week's news from the Eastern Churches, produced in collaboration with L'Œuvre d'Orient, Syrian Christians looks to the future, Iraqis celebrate martyrs’ feast, and Syro-Malabar Catholics get a new Cardinal.
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Twenty young people meet in Rome to take on their roles as the new cohort of the International Youth Advisory Body for a week which Pope Francis capped off with his personal encouragement for their work.
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The Papal representative in South Africa has lauded the Christian-Muslim interfaith
dialogue organised by the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC)
Department of Ecumenism, Interreligious Dialogue, and Dialogue with the Secular
World.
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The 2016 historical drama directed by Martin Scorses with a star-studded cast is one of the movies chosen by Msgr Dario Viganò for the "Faces and Counterfaces of Hope" Jubilee cultural initiative. Here is a review by Fr Greg Apparcel, CSP, who notes he watched it for the fourth time!
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Thousands of Syrians gather in Damascus‘ largest square, to celebrate after the first Muslim Friday prayers following the downfall of former President Bashar Assad, while the leader of the lightening campaign that toppled the Assad dynasty appears in a video message promising to rebuild the country.
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Sister Simona Brambilla, Secretary of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and María Lía Zervino, a member of the Dicastery for Bishops, are among the appointments made by Pope Francis to the XVI Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat. The four papal appointees are no longer required to be bishops.
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Pope Francis addresses a message to the Archdiocese of Syracuse in Sicily as it begins to celebrate a special year dedicate to St. Lucy, their Patron Saint, and says her martyrdom teaches us the Christian virtues of tenderness and compassion which are essential to build a more just society.
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The Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations is in Azerbaijan from 13 to 16 December to bless the site and lay the foundation stone of a church dedicated to Saint John Paul II.
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Pope Francis recieves Najib Mikati, the President of the Council of Ministers ad interim of the Lebanese Republic, at the Vatican on Friday.
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At a press conference with Aid to the Church in Need, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, highlights his impression “that in the coming weeks or months we will arrive at some compromise.”
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Filipino Bishop Gerardo Alminaza appeals for aid for families displaced after the eruption of Mount Kanlaon on December 9, which forced more than 87,000 residents to evacuate their homes.
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Amid ongoing conflict in the Holy Land, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has shared a message of cautious optimism as Christmas approaches.
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Gayle Benson, an American philanthropist, has received recognition for her contributions to the promotion of human dignity and support for Eastern-rite Catholic Churches.
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On the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pope Francis warns against using the mystery of Guadalupe “for ideologies.”
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At least 38 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza.
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On 15 December, Pope Francis’ 47th Apostolic Journey abroad will take him to Corsica, known as the Île de beauté, where he will take part in the Conference on Popular Religiosity in the Mediterranean before meeting with the clergy and faithful of the French island.
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A briefing at the Holy See Press Office presents Pope Francis' message for the 58th World Day of Peace, celebrated on January 1, 2025.
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Pope Francis greets the Delegation of the Evangelical Baptist Roma Mission in Italy, calling the occasion a renewal of the common conviction to live as credible witnesses of the love of God
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Catholic Mobilizing Network charts a course for the 2025 Jubilee in response to Pope Francis’ call for the global Church to journey as Pilgrims of Hope.
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Pope Francis invites seminarians to approach their journey toward the priesthood as a pilgrimage to become more conformed to the Heart of Christ.
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visits the Vatican, and discusses the need for a ceasefire in Gaza. Speaking to Vatican Media, he says that he asked the Pope to continue to promote recognition of the State of Palestine in the international community.
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Pope Francis sends a message to the people of Rome ahead of the Jubilee Year 2025, asking them to show hospitality to the many pilgrims that will be travelling to the Eternal City throughout the year.
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In his message for the 58th World Day of Peace marked on 1 January, Pope Francis reflects on the central theme of the upcoming Jubilee of Hope and reiterates his pressing appeal for debt forgiveness, reminding us that we are all “debtors” to God and one another.
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The UN has said that humanitarian aid to Gaza has largely been blocked for the past 66 days.
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Sudan’s military has been accused of carrying out an air strike on a marketplace in the country’s western Darfur region in which at least 100 people, most of them civilians, were killed.
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Pope Francis addresses members of the Human Economic Forum, emphasising the need for sustainable development centred on human dignity, global collaboration, and the universal common good.
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Staff of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) and agencies of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) wrapped up their 16-days of activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) on Tuesday, 10 December 2024.
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The Pope meets with the organization, ResQ, which saves and offers support to thousands of migrants traveling across the Mediterranean.
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Pope Francis meets with Giuseppe Pignatone as he prepares to retire from his role as the President of the Tribunal of Vatican City State.
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The Bishops of the European Union are urging Syria’s new government leaders to reject sectarianism and extremism and protect the rights of minorities.
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On the eve of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Pope prays for a solution in Syria that “responsibly promotes the stability and unity of the country.”
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At the weekly General Audience, Pope Francis concludes his cycle of catechesis on the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church, and recalls that the Holy Spirit is the "ever-flowing source of Christian hope."
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Pope Francis sends blessings, prayers, and encouragement to the Rwandan Church for their Eucharistic Congress, emphasising hope and peace through the Eucharist.
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On international Human Rights Day, we explore the work of Sister Joicy, an Indian nun and lawyer working as an advocate for the marginalised through the legal system.
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The Cardinal Secretary of State is in Milan, Italy, for an event at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and the awarding of the Al Issa Research Award for Arab-Islamic Studies. On the sidelines of the event, the Cardinal comments on the situation in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad noting how quickly it happened and the scenarios opening up with hopes for the respect of all, dialog...
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In the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Sister Johncy Nambikairaj and her fellow religious sisters care for women who are victims of abuse. They are committed to prevention and raising awareness. It’s not an easy mission.
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Marking Human Rights Day, Pope Francis urges government leaders to listen to the cry for peace of the millions of people deprived of their most basic rights of life and peace due to war.
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Reports say more than 170 Indonesian villages have been destroyed and at least 10 people killed following a torrential downpour on Java Island.
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The Bishops of the United States have launched an appeal for President Joe Biden to commute the sentences of the men on federal death row before the end of his term.
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Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city, has been under the administration of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham since November 29. Marist brother George Sabé tells Vatican News that calm has returned to the city, and Christian liturgies have resumed.
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Vatican News speaks to three representatives of Syria's Catholic community about the sudden downfall of the Assad government, and their hopes for a free and democratic Syria.
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The “Life is hanging on by a thread” campaign will shine a light on the countless stories of human rights defenders and environmentalists who risk their lives for their causes.
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On the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime, we reflect on the progress made in addressing genocide, while acknowledging the continued challenges in preventing such atrocities worldwide.
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French-born Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco says he wanted to share the gift of being created a cardinal with others.
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Pope Francis highlights the “feminine genius” that inspires the work of “Manos Unidas” in combatting hunger, underdevelopment, and lack of education in developing countries.
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The Catechists were urged to be mentors of prayer, dedication and rootedness in the Word of God.
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Pope Francis meets with participants in an international conference at the Pontifical Lateran University discussing the future of theology and invites theologians to develop a creative and inclusive approach to theology rooted in faith to make it relevant in today’s society marred by ideology and polarization.
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Bishop Jean Khamsé Vithavongthe, Vicar Apostolic Emeritus of Vientiane in Laos and a dedicated OMI missionary, has passed away at the age of 82.
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On Sunday afternoon on the Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis pays homage to the Blessed Mother, praying before the icon Maria Salus Populi Romani at Saint Mary Major, followed by his traditional visit to Rome's Piazza di Spagna to perform the traditional Act of Veneration to the Blessed Virgin Mary before the statue of the Immaculate Conception.
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Islamist rebel forces have entered Syria's capital Damascus and President Al-Assad has fled the country. The Apostolic Nuncio in Damascus speaks of the last hours in the Syrian capital, now in the hands of rebels, and expresses hope for the country's recovery, peaceful coexistence, and above all, respect for religious traditions. He also points to the need to abolish international sanctions.
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Islamist rebel forces have entered Syria's capital Damascus and President Al-Assad has fled the country. The Apostolic Nuncio in Damascus speaks of the last hours in the Syrian capital, now in the hands of rebels, and expresses hope for the country's recovery, peaceful coexistence, and above all, respect for religious traditions. He also points to the need to abolish international sanctions.
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Pope Francis asks for prayers for inmates awaiting execution on federal death row in the United States, appealing that their sentences be commuted.
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Expressing his closeness to the Church and people of Nicaragua, Pope Francis prays to the Virgin Mary to open the hearts of all to enable dialogue leading to peace, fraternity and harmony.
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At the Sunday Angelus Pope Francis encourages us to open our hearts and minds to the Lord Jesus, born of Mary Immaculate, as we ask for her intercession so that the Lord might come and dwell in our lives.
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Pope Francis issues an appeal to state leaders and to the international community to ensure a ceasefire may be reached in countries suffering from war before Christmas.
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On the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis celebrates Mass with the 21 new Cardinals and challenges the faithful to look beyond material wealth and privilege to embrace a life of love, solidarity, and meaningful connection.
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As Notre Dame Cathedral reopens its doors for worship, five years after a fire left it in ruins, Pope Francis has a heartfelt message of solidarity, gratitude, and hope to mark the occasion.
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Pope Francis celebrates a consistory for the creation of new cardinals telling them not to be dazzled by the seduction of power, but to always walk the path of Jesus and cultivate a passion for encounter.
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Addressing this years’ donors of the Nativity Scene and Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis renews his impassioned appeal for peace amid ongoing wars and violence in the Holy Land and across the world.
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As the Church marks the Second Sunday in Advent, Fr. Edmund Power, OSB, offers his thoughts on the day’s liturgical readings under the theme: "Light of hope".
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Vatican News speaks to Canada’s newest Cardinal, Archbishop Frank Leo of Toronto, about the challenges facing the world today. “We need a spiritual awakening”, he says, to “bring the newness of life, of God, into the world”.
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The Pope meets with artists and promoters of the Concert with the Poor, explaining the Church is “striving to live more fully” the synodal harmony that comes from concerts.
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Hans Zimmer urges artists and musicians to use their imagination to "do something that shakes people awake". In an interview with Vatican News he calls on musicians to create without fear and use their art as a force for justice and change.
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Hans Zimmer urges the Church to rekindle its love for music. Through melodies that heal and inspire, he calls on musicians to create without fear and use their art as a force for justice and change.
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Addressing eleven newly accredited ambassadors to the Holy See, Pope Francis encourages them to continue fostering peace and cooperation, describing their efforts as essential in sowing seeds of hope in our war-weary world.
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Israel has released two young Palestinian women who had been held under 'administrative detention' for 8 months, with the Palestinian Ambassador to the Holy See welcoming the news.
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In this week's news from the Eastern Churches, produced in collaboration with L'Œuvre d'Orient, Syrian cities fall to rebels, Ukrainians celebrate St. Nicholas, and the Holy Land marks the start of Advent.
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Addressing the Community of the San Paolo Theological Institute of Catania, Sicily, Pope Francis challenges them to be missionaries of hope in Sicily, amid ongoing social challenges in the region.
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Fr. Roberto Pasolini, the new Preacher of the Papal Household, delivers his first Advent Sermon to Pope Francis and the Roman Curia, focusing on the theme "The Door of Wonder."
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The Papal Foundation celebrates 25 years of providing scholarships to seminarians, religious, and laypeople so they can pursue their studies in Rome as part of the John Paul II Scholarship Fund.
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Pope Francis meets with the Carmelite Sisters Messengers of the Holy Spirit, and invites the religious women to lead a life of prayer and evangelization in line with their tradition.
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The Catholic Bishops of Chad have begun their two-weeks long end-of year plenary assembly as the Episcopal Conference of Chad. The Bishops will share experiences about Chad’s pastoral and socio-political life and how the Church can best serve its faithful and society. This is according to the Archbishop of N’Djamena who is President of the Conference.
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Ahead of the reopening of the Cathedral of Notre Dame of Paris on December 8, a philosopher of religion explores the importance of its religious restoration alongside its physical renovation.
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Addressing the 31st annual Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security in Europe the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and other Organizations urges member states to rise above divisions and work collaboratively to address current global challenges in the" Spirit of Helsinki".
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A report by the Human Rights organization Amnesty International concludes that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, citing over 42,000 deaths, including 13,300 children, and widespread destruction. Israel is denying the accusations.
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Pope Francis commends members of Caritas Toledo for 60 years of charitable service, urging them to continue fostering societal change through charity, justice, and faith.
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"La Chimera" directed by Alice Rohrwacher and released in 2023 is one of the movies selected by Vatican Official and film expert, Msgr Dario Viganò, to be part of the Dicastery of Evangelization's "Jubilee is Culture" initiative. Father Greg Apparcel, CSP, film critic, associate pastor of St. Patrick's Catholic American Parish in Rome, and the Paulist Fathers’ Procurator General to the Holy See b...
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Pope Francis praises the vow of poverty in religious life as a bond that builds communion, as he greets the Canoness Sisters of the Holy Spirit in Saxony.
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Following a recent visit to the Holy Land, Alistair Dutton speaks to Vatican News about the "inhumanity and brutality" of the ongoing conflict and the resilience of Palestinian Christians.
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The Catholic Bishops of South Korea have criticized President Yoon Suk Yeol’s recent declaration of martial law, urging him to take responsibility for what they described as a “procedurally illegitimate” decision.
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The vehicle, given on the occasion of the Jubilee of 2025, is one-of-a-kind, green, and tailored specifically to Pope Francis’ needs.
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Pope Francis urges participants at the Brotherhoods and Popular Piety Congress in Seville, Spain, to embody Christ’s love through devotion, unity, and acts of charity.
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Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán visits the Vatican, and discusses the war in Ukraine, Hungary’s presidency of the EU Council, and support for young people.
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A reflection on Pope Francis' Letter to the Catholics of the Middle East.
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In keeping with their usual end-of-year meeting, the three Bishops of Liberia—Archbishop Gabriel Blamo Jubwe, Archdiocese of Monrovia; Bishop Anthony Fallah Borwah, of Gbarnga Diocese and President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Liberia (CABICOL); and Bishop Andrew Jagaye Karnley, Diocese of Cape Palmas—met recently in Monrovia for the Bishops’ plenary.
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The European Broadcasting Union, of which Vatican Radio is a founding member, is set to hold its General Assembly in Switzerland to vote on the renewal of its Executive Board and to discuss AI and the autonomy of public media in challenging political and economic contexts.
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Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, leads the "recognitio" ceremony to verify the integrity of the Holy Door, which was sealed at the end of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2016.
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Pope Francis renews his appeal for peace in the world, at the first General Audience of the 2024 Advent season.
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Pope Francis invites Catholics to live the 2025 Jubilee of Hope as a special moment to open our hearts to Christ, as he meets with the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
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Pope Francis continues his catechesis cycle on the Holy Spirit and the Bride, focusing this week's General Audience on the role of preaching in the Church, encouraging preachers to rely on the Gospel’s content and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
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At the December session of the Council of Cardinals (C9), held on 2nd and 3rd December at the Casa Santa Marta in the presence of Pope Francis, several current issues concerning the Church and the world were discussed, as also discussed at the recent Synod. The meetings also provided an opportunity to reflect on the situation in the various countries represented by the Cardinals, “to share concern...
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The Daughters of St Paul in West Africa (Nigeria-Ghana) met in Abuja recently r to evaluate their journey together as consecrated women who are called to be St Paul alive today.
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The UN agency for Palestine refugees has paused aid deliveries through the Kerem Shalom crossing, a main entry point for humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
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A report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows that in 2023 the weapons trade increased profits by 4,2 percent compared to the previous year, driven by the wars in Ukraine and Gaza and heightened global tensions, with companies based in Russia and the Middle East leading the increase.
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As charities in Syria warn of spiralling humanitarian consequences following the recent surge in the Syrian conflict, Qatar said it’s working with Turkey to end hostilities in the region.
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Pope Francis releases his prayer intention for the month of December, and invites Christians to pray that each of us may become pilgrims of hope as a result of the 2025 Jubilee.
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Our Editorial Director reflects on the latest report from SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) that details the inexorable rise in arms sales and recalls Pope Francis constant warnings against 'playing at war.'
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Relentless rain causes destructive floods across territories of Malaysia and Thailand, claiming at least 27 lives and resulting in extensive displacement
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Over 200 students from more than 40 schools in Thailand come together at the Sarasas Suvarnabhumi Institute of Technology in Bangkok to present creative solutions for fostering interreligious harmony.
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The Archdiocese of Bangalore in India has launched an initiative to provide a safe shelter for migrants with the “Migrants Reception and Short Stay Centre.”
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The Advent homilies will be given in the Paul VI Hall on the three Fridays leading up to Christmas: 6th, 13th, and 20th December by the new Preacher of the Papal Household, Capuchin Father Roberto Pasolini.
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Pope Francis writes the foreword to a book by Italian journalist Francesco Antonio Grana who covers the Vatican, entitled "Jubilee of Hope." The Pope writes: "I hope this time truly becomes an opportunity for conversion and for looking at one's life in the light of the Gospel."
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Romania’s pro-EU and pro-NATO parties appear to be holding off the far right in a parliamentary election held on Sunday, but the strength of the radical vote suggests that an ultranationalist, pro-Russian candidate could still win the presidency this month.
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At the beginning of Advent the Custos of the Holy Land brings a message of hope to the people of Bethlehem, in the West Bank, amid ongoing hardship and war.
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Pope Francis writes a pastoral letter to the faithful in Nicaragua who are celebrating the Novena of the Immaculate Conception, encouraging them to remain firm in their trust in God despite the challenges they face.
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The Apostolic Nuncio to Syria, Cardinal Mario Zenari, shares the “fear, anxiety, and uncertainty” of the Christian community in Aleppo, which was recently captured by jihadist rebels.
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As conflict reignites in Syria, the Franciscan Holy Land College in Aleppo is damaged in a bombing, and the Custody of the Holy Land reports “a growing tension and fear among the civilian population.”
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From building houses in developing countries to assisting residents of tornado-struck US states, Sr. Luke Boiarski, a Sister of Charity of Nazareth, has spent the last 54 years of her religious life bringing people together to care for others in new and creative ways.
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Only a few days remain until the opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, marking the beginning of the Holy Year 2025.
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The Catholic Church must adopt Synodality as a way of life, according to Sr. Alessandra Smerilli, Secretary of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, speaking at an event in the Indian city of New Delhi.
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A 66-year-old Catholic school in East Nusa Tenggara in Indonesia has been forced to shut down due to the continued eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki.
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Several Buddhist and Catholic leaders in Thailand have gathered at a prominent Bangkok Buddhist temple to celebrate the life and legacy of the late Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.
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The bishops of Central America call for a day of prayer to “fraternally join” with the cry of the Church in Nicaragua, “which respectfully hopes to find an answer.”
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Reflecting on the upcoming Christmas season, Pope Francis warns that if “desensitization and indifference to the horrors of war prevail, all of humanity is defeated.”
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At the midday Angelus on the first Sunday of Advent, Pope Francis encourages us to turn our gaze to heaven and to open our hearts to the Lord who carries our burdens and sustains us on our journey.
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