Vatican News

Vatican upholds nature, importance of family in U.N. session

Vatican City, Jun 25, 2014 / 07:54 am (CNA/EWTN News).- During the 26th Session of the U.N.’s Human Rights Council, Archbishop Silvano Tomasi affirmed that the family nourished by the marriage of one man and one woman offers a “dynamic energy” to society.

“Most people find unique protection, nurture, and dynamic energy from their membership in a strong and healthy family founded upon marriage between a man and a woman,” the archbishop stated in a June 24 letter to the president of the U.N.’s Human Rights Council.

Being a Christian means belonging to the Church, Pope affirms

Vatican City, Jun 25, 2014 / 04:30 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In his general audience address Pope Francis drew attention to how God formed the Church to unify humanity, stating that no one is saved on their own, but rather through the help of others.

“Our identity is one of belonging. To say 'I am Christian' means to say: 'I belong to the Church.' I belong to this People with whom God established an ancient alliance that is always faithful” the Pope explained in his June 25 general audience address.

Pope: a Christian does not announce himself, but the Lord

Vatican City, Jun 24, 2014 / 09:50 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In his homily for the feast of John the Baptist’s birth, Pope Francis emphasized that a true Christian puts oneself aside in order for God to be seen, as St. John the Baptist did. 

“A Christian does not announce himself, he announces another, prepares the way for another: the Lord,” the Pope observed in his June 24 daily Mass.

Sudanese woman sentenced to death re-arrested

Vatican City, Jun 24, 2014 / 07:36 am (CNA/EWTN News).- After having her death sentence for refusing to renounce her Christian faith revoked by a Sudanese court yesterday, Meriam Ibrahim has been re-arrested along with her husband at an airport.

According to the BBC, close to 40 security officers detained Ibrahim along with her husband, Daniel Wani - who is a U.S. citizen - and their two children Tuesday at an airport in Sudan’s capitol while attempting to leave the country.

Vatican cricket team to play Church of England in first tour

Vatican City, Jun 24, 2014 / 05:19 am (CNA/EWTN News).- St. Peter’s Cricket team begins their “Light of Faith Tour” this fall, which includes a warm-up game against a team from the Royal Household and a final match against the Anglican Church at Canterbury.

“We’re very happy that we were able to organize a cricket match against the Anglican Communion,” Fr. Eamon O’Higgins told CNA during a June 24 press conference announcing the cricket team’s tour.

Defend others before the Father, Pope Francis urges

Vatican City, Jun 23, 2014 / 09:12 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In his daily homily Pope Francis warned that those who judge others are far from God, stating that in order to be close we must defend others rather than hastily accuse them.

“If we want to follow the way of Jesus, more than accusers, we have to be defenders of others before the Father,” the Pope said in his June 23 daily Mass.

“I see a bad thing in someone – do I go defend him? No! But keep quiet! Go pray and defend him before the Father as Jesus does.”

Bosnian Catholics in a 'grave position,' cardinal warns

Vatican City, Jun 23, 2014 / 05:44 am (CNA/EWTN News).- During a recent conference in Bosnia discussing interreligious violence, Cardinal Vinko Puljic said Catholics face great persecution due to a lack of ethnic equality.

“We Catholics are in a grave position. There is no equality and this is a problem. There is no equality in the Serbian Republic, there is no equality in the federation,” the cardinal explained to CNA June 17.

God's immeasurable love transforms lives, emphasizes Pope

Vatican City, Jun 22, 2014 / 07:22 am (CNA).- In his Sunday Angelus today Pope Francis stressed the limitless nature of God’s love that transforms the heart and life of every Christian.

“One cannot measure the love of God: it is without measure. And so we become capable of loving even those who don’t love us: and this is not easy,” the Pope said to the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square on June 22.

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