Vatican news European Union bishops are urging Syria’s new government leaders to reject sectarianism and extremism and protect the rights of minorities. By Linda Bordoni 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.” As…
The Cardinal Secretary of State is in Milan, Italy, for an event at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and the presentation of the Al Issa Research Prize for Arab-Islamic Studies. On the sidelines of the event, the Cardinal comments on the situation in Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, noting the speed with…
Vatican news Vatican News spoke with three representatives of the Syrian Catholic community about the sudden fall of the Assad government and their hopes for the rebirth of a free and democratic Syria. By Joseph Tulloch and Roberto Cetera Over the past few days, the world has been shocked as rebel forces took control of…
Vatican news In this week’s news from the Eastern Churches, produced in collaboration with L’Œuvre d’Orient, Syrian cities fall into the hands of rebels, Ukrainians celebrate Saint Nicholas Day and the Holy Land marks the start of Advent. This week’s Oriental News: War returns to Aleppo The cities of Aleppo and Hama in northern Syria…
The apostolic nuncio to Syria, Cardinal Mario Zenari, shares “the fear, anxiety and uncertainty” of the Christian community of Aleppo, recently captured by jihadist rebels. By Salvatore Cernuzio “Hope is dead” in Syria, and people only want to “flee”, after 14 years of conflict, extreme poverty, international sanctions, earthquake and a new wave of violence,…
Vatican news As Pope Francis reiterates his call for world peace, his thoughts are with all those who are persecuted because of their religion, a tragedy that affects people of all beliefs, everywhere. By Francesca Merlo During Sunday’s Angelus, Pope Francis calls for peace in conflict zones, solidarity with the marginalized and prayerful action against…
Vatican news As Pope Francis canonizes 14 new saints, including the 11 martyrs of Damascus, Bishop Simon Faddoul congratulates the three lay Maronites among them for having testified to their fidelity to Christ. By Devin Watkins “I think we are witnessing a marriage of holiness.” Mgr Simon Faddoul took stock of the canonization which took…
Cardinal Mario Zenari, Apostolic Nuncio in Syria, delivers a homily in which he shares the suffering of the Syrian people. By Massimiliano Menichetti Pope Francis often reminds the world of the plight of Syria, a country that today seems forgotten, forgotten. Cardinal Mario Zenari, a faithful witness to the light of Christ in Damascus and…
Vatican news In this week's news from the Eastern Churches, produced in collaboration with L'Œuvre d'Orient, there are elections in India, the solemnity of Corpus Christi is celebrated in the East and the martyrs of Damascus will soon be saints . This week's Oriental News: Elections in India Tuesday June 4, the BJP, the party…
Vatican news During the Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis expresses his satisfaction for the release of a teacher and four of the six religious kidnapped in Haiti. He calls for the release of those still detained and offers prayers for Ukraine, Palestine and war-torn Israel, South Sudan and Syria. By Vatican News Four Brothers of the…