Vatican News

Vatican releases schedule for Pope's trip to Albania

Vatican City, Jul 31, 2014 / 07:46 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis will make a one-day trip to Albania in September, during which he is slated to meet with local authorities, priests and religious as well as children from charitable institutions.

Taking place Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014, the Pope’s visit was announced earlier this summer, and marks the second time a Roman Pontiff will visit the country, the first being Pope Saint John Paul II in 1993.

Christians a fundamental part of Iraq, ambassador observes

Vatican City, Jul 31, 2014 / 05:16 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Iraqi ambassador to the Holy See has lamented the ongoing persecution of Christians by ISIS forces in Iraq, stating that they are an important and historic part of the country’s origins.

“Right now with the entrance of these jihadists, ISIS, they have imposed the sword and want to kill the Christians,” Habbib M.H. Al-Sadr told CNA July 24, 2014.

Pope Francis issues peace plea to all Holy See embassies

Vatican City, Jul 30, 2014 / 08:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Signed by Vatican secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, a “nota verbale” was sent to all embassies accredited to the Holy See on behalf of Pope Francis, who urged ambassadors to work for peace.

According to Vatican Radio, the note, which has not been made public, was issued by Cardinal Parolin in an effort to promote peace, and included texts from recent speeches Pope Francis has given calling for peace, particularly in the Middle East.

Dates for Pope's trip to Sri Lanka and Philippines confirmed

Vatican City, Jul 29, 2014 / 06:07 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Holy See Press Office confirmed today that Pope Francis will be traveling to Sri Lanka Jan. 12-15 and to Philippines Jan. 15-19.

The papal trip – which will be the second to Asia in six months – had been informally announced by the Pope Francis in May, during the press conference he held aboard a plane returning from the Holy Land.

Jesus is the great treasure, Pope teaches

Vatican City, Jul 27, 2014 / 11:07 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis on Sunday stressed the priceless value of encountering Jesus, noting that Jesus’ parables speak of those who are willing to trade everything for the Kingdom of God.

“He who knows Jesus, who encounters him personally, remains fascinated and attracted by so much kindness, so much truth, so much beauty, and everything in great humility and simplicity,” the Pope said July 27.

Give primacy to God, Pope says

Rome, Italy, Jul 26, 2014 / 01:08 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis on Saturday visited the Italian city of Caserta, encouraging the people of the region to place God at the center of their lives.

“Giving primacy to God means having the courage to say no to evil, violence, oppression; to live a life of service to others and in favor of lawfulness and the common good,” Pope Francis said July 26.

Pope Francis to meet with evangelical pastor

Vatican City, Jul 26, 2014 / 06:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis’ upcoming encounter with the evangelical Christian pastor Giovanni Traettino continues the path of dialogue he has walked with evangelical denominations since his time in Buenos Aires.

Pope Francis met Traettino in 2006, while he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires, at the third fraternal meeting of the Renewed Communion of Evangelicals and Catholics in the Spirit.

Meriam Ibrahim lands in Rome, meets with Pope Francis

Vatican City, Jul 24, 2014 / 06:44 am (CNA/EWTN News).- A young Sudanese woman dismissed of a death sentence for refusing to renounce her Christian faith has arrived in Rome with her family, where they met with Pope Francis a few hours after landing.

“Pope Francis was very tender with her, her husband, who was in prison, and thanked her for her courageous witness to perseverance in the Faith,” Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi said of the encounter in a July 24 statement.

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