Catholic News 44043
Bishop urges prayer, forgiveness on Roe anniversary: ‘No sin is beyond God’s mercy’
CNA Staff, Jan 14, 2025 / 13:00 pm (CNA).
The Catholic bishops’ pro-life chair called for forgiveness of women who have had abortions ahead of the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, reminding the faithful that “no sin is beyond God’s unfathomable mercy.”
Jan. 22 marks the 52nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling that effectively legalized abortion nationwide in the United States. Though Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022 — leaving legal decisions about abortion to the states — its effects can still be felt across the United States.
Bishop Daniel Thomas of Toledo, Ohio, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, called on Catholics to observe Jan. 22 as “a day of prayer and penance.”
“As we prayerfully continue the essential work of restoring full legal protection of all preborn children and supporting parents facing difficult pregnancies, we also recognize our need for asking forgiveness and healing from the Lord for when we have given in to the culture of death,” he said in a USCCB press release.
Thomas also offered a consoling message to the parents of children who died by abortion.
“To the parents of children who have died by abortion, I am deeply sorry for your loss. Know that our Lord loves you as his daughters and sons no matter your actions,” Thomas said. “No sin is beyond his unfathomable mercy.”
“Abortion inflicts deep and lasting wounds on society but more directly on individuals and families,” Thomas continued. “Many mothers and fathers may feel they have no choice except abortion. Some are pressured or coerced.”
“No matter the circumstances of the abortion, we must recognize the often-silent grief of parents for their child and their despair of being worthy of the love and forgiveness of God and others.”
Thomas encouraged the faithful to turn to hope amid the jubilee year, centered on the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.”
“Hope allows those who have been involved in abortion to turn to God and repent, confident that he will forgive and make them whole,” Thomas said.
“This Jan. 22 and beyond, we need to be reassured that Jesus himself, who is the source of our hope, was first wounded for our offenses and suffered for every sin of ours, including abortion.”
Thomas invited families suffering from wounds due to abortion to “seek support” from the Church’s various ministries, such as the healing ministry Project Rachel. Project Rachel offers grief support after losing a child by abortion. Many other resources exist for those facing unplanned pregnancies, including local crisis pregnancy centers and maternity homes for pregnant women and women with young children.
Thomas also invited those who are Catholic to seek out the sacrament of reconciliation.
“Jesus greatly desires our repentant hearts and invites us into an encounter with him. For Catholics, the sacrament of reconciliation is always available for those seeking God’s forgiveness, hope, and peace.”
The bishop called on Catholics everywhere to pray for those suffering from the wounds of abortion.
“Please join me in praying that God will fill the hearts of mothers and fathers suffering the emotional and psychological wounds from abortion with the hope of forgiveness that only he can give,” Thomas said.
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Historic Italian ship designated a 2025 “Jubilee church”
The Archbishop of the Italian Forces designates the historic flagship of the Italian Navy “Amerigo Vespucci” as one of the Jubilee sites of the Military Ordinariate where pilgrims can obtain the Plenary Indulgence during the Holy Year.
By Lisa Zengarini
The flagship of the Italian Navy “Amerigo Vespucci” has been designated a “Jubilee church” for 2025 where pilgrims can obtain the Plenary Indulgence during the Holy Year.
The Archbishop of the Italian Forces Santo Marcianò officially designated the historic vessel named after the 15th-century Italian explorer who gave the name to “America”, during the recent inauguration of the Jubilee Year in the Italian Military Ordinariate, the diocese responsible for military chaplains and the spiritual assistance of members of the Armed Forces.
The Amerigo Vespucci’s world tour
Since July 2023, the “Amerigo Vespucci”, a three-masted sailing ship that dates back to 1931 and is currently used as a training ship of the Italian Armed Forces, has been touring the world as a cultural ambassador for Italy stopping in several cities in the five continents.
According to statement from the ship’s press office, it will continue this tour until December 28,as a Jubilee site “for sacred pilgrimages and for pious visits among its missions at sea.”
A pilgrimage to a church or shrine selected by the local bishop is one of the conditions for the faithful to gain a Plenary Indulgence during the Jubilee Year. Other ways include making a pilgrimage to Rome, praying in certain churches in Rome, performing works of mercy, fasting from social media, and volunteering.
Archbishop Marcianò explained that during the Holy Year “the Church that lives among the military also wants to establish signs that express the hope that the Church and the world await from God, and which God entrusts to the military world.”
“These certainly include the sacred Jubilee sites, through which our military can attain the spiritual benefits deriving from the Jubilee Indulgence,” he said.
The “Amerigo Vespucci” at sea
Accompanying the spiritual life of the military at sea
The archbishop recalled how several Catholic chaplains have always served onboard the Amerigo Vescpucci, “silently but very effectively accompanying the spiritual life of the crew, and they will do so in a special way in this year of the Jubilee of Hope.”
Archbishop Marcianò officially inaugurated the Jubilee in his diocese with a Mass celebrated at the Church of the Military Penitentiary Organization in Santa Maria Capua Vetere , in the province of Caserta, near Naple. During his homily, after explaining the meaning of the jubilee indulgence, Archbishop Marcianò emphasized that “forgiveness is a concrete and fundamental step for those, like us, called to build a culture of peace. Often, forgiving others requires first forgiving oneself.” He also reflected on the dimension of pilgrimage, which “in many ways characterizes the life and mission of the men and women of the Armed Forces and police, marking the journey of faith for each one.”
Growing in communion with God and fraternity
“In its hardships and joys, may the Jubilee be a privileged time for growing in communion with God and fraternity, in shared service to the defense of human life, justice, and peace,” he said.
Among other Jubilee sites designated for the Italian Military Ordinariate are the Church of Santa Caterina da Siena (its main church) , the Church of the Celio Military Hospital in Rome and the chapel of the Penitentiary in Santa Maria Capua Vetere, as well as other locations in international peacekeeping and naval missions.
Preparing for the the Jubilee of the Armed Forces and Police in February
Meanwhile the Ordinariate is preparing for the Jubilee of the Armed Forces and Police, which on February 8-9. will bring together in Rome military personnel from around the world. The first day will feature a welcome event in one of Rome’s central squares including an inter-force band concert. Groups will then undertake a pilgrimage to the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica, before attending the Sunday Mass presided over by Pope Francis. The event will be preceded February 6 and 7 by a meeting of European Military Ordinaries at the headquarters of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences’ in Rome.
Israeli attacks on Gaza surge as ceasefire agreement seems close
Qatari authorities, who are mediating ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, say an agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza is at its “closest point” yet. Mediation continues as intensified Israeli attacks on Gaza kill, wound and displace more Palestinians.
By Linda Bordoni
Israeli attacks on Gaza killed 61 more Palestinians on Tuesday as the death toll, according to the Health Ministry there, passes 46,600 since 7 October 2023. Nearly 70 per cent of them are women and children.
The number of Gazans injured in the Israeli onslaught is more than 110,000 and many people are still trapped under the rubble with rescuers unable to reach them.
Observers note that the more there are leaks about a potential ceasefire agreement, the higher the pace of the attacks.
Four people were killed on Tuesday afternoon in a strike on a busy area in the northwestern part of Deir el-Balah city as displaced people were moving in and out of their tent sites in search of food and drinkable water.
Attacks also continued to be carried out in Gaza City and further north where more drone strikes killed more people and attacked more residential buildings and public facilities.
So there is a very cautious optimism as the spokesman for the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs told a news conference in Doha, that his country, alongside the United States and Egypt, has handed a draft agreement to both Hamas and Israel and that major obstacles on key contentious issues between the two sides have been addressed.
As soon as both parties sign the deal, he explained, the implementation of the ceasefire agreement will occur very shortly after.
Pope Francis’ autobiography ‘Hope’ is out this week
Madrid, Spain, Jan 14, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
“Hope,” the autobiography of Pope Francis, hit the shelves of Italian bookstores Tuesday and will be on sale starting Jan. 16 in more than 100 countries.
The book marks the first time a pope has provided a first-person narration of the episodes that have marked his entire life, in this case from his childhood in Argentina in a family of Italian immigrants to becoming the successor of St. Peter.
Published by Random House in its 320-page English edition, the book is the result of six years of work and was written with the collaboration of journalist Carlo Musso, who helped the Holy Father tell his story.
In addition to his memoirs, in the book the pope takes up issues such as war and peace, immigration, the environmental crisis, social policy, sexuality, and the future of the Catholic Church. All of this under the rubric of hope, a theme that is also being highlighted during the 2025 Jubilee.
In a recent interview, Pope Francis said the book was originally planned to be published following his death. “But since I’m not dying (he laughs), they’re afraid that it will lose relevance and they decided to do it now,” the Holy Father explained last December in a conversation with Argentine journalist Bernarda Llorente.
The pontiff, according to the excerpts released by the publishing house, begins his memoirs with an episode that marked his destiny: the sinking of the transatlantic ship Princesa Mafalda, known as the “Italian Titanic.”
His grandparents, together with his father, Mario, bought tickets to sail on the ship that left Genoa on Oct. 11, 1927, bound for Buenos Aires. However, they ultimately didn’t board the vessel because they were unable to sell their belongings in time. “That’s why I am here now; you can’t imagine how many times I have thanked Divine Providence for it,” the pontiff recounts in his autobiography.
He also brings up memories from his childhood at “531 Membrillar Street” in the Flores neighborhood of Buenos Aires, as well as the friendships he forged there, including with a prostitute known as “La Parota,” who decided to change her life and leave the streets to care for the elderly.
‘Healthy irony’ as a medicine to counter narcissism
The Holy Father devotes a large amount of space in his autobiography to reflecting on the value of a sense of humor to deal with sadness and “healthy irony” as a medicine to counter narcissism.
“Irony is medicine, not only to elevate and enlighten others but also for oneself, because self-irony is a powerful tool to overcome the temptation of narcissism. Narcissists continually look in the mirror, they get all primped up, they observe themselves over and over again, but the best advice in front of a mirror is always to laugh at oneself. It will do us good,” the pope comments in the book.
Throughout its pages, the reader will even find some jokes told by the pope himself. The Italian newspaper Avvenire gave a preview of one of them:
“And they also told me one that concerns me directly, that of Pope Francis in America. It goes more or less like this: As soon as he lands at the New York airport for his apostolic trip to the United States, Pope Francis finds an enormous limousine waiting for him. He is a little embarrassed by all that pomp, but then he thinks that he hasn’t driven in ages, and never a car like that, and in short he says to himself: Well, when will I get another chance? He looks at the limousine and asks the driver: ‘Would you let me try it?’ And the driver: ‘Look, I’m really sorry, Your Holiness, but I just can’t do it, you know the procedures, the protocols…’
“But you know how they say the pope is when he gets something into his head; in short he insists and insists, until the guy gives in. Pope Francis then gets behind the wheel on one of those major streets and … gets a taste for it, starts to press on the accelerator: going 50, 80, 120… Until a siren is heard and a police car pulls up alongside him and stops him.
“A young policeman approaches the tinted window, the slightly intimidated pope rolls it down and the man turns pale. ‘Excuse me a minute,’ he says, and goes back to his car to call the station. ‘Chief… I think I have a problem.’ And the chief says, ‘What problem?’ ‘Well, I stopped a car for speeding… but there’s a really important guy in it.’ ‘How important? Is he the mayor?’ ‘No, chief, more than the mayor…’ ‘And who is more than the mayor? The governor?’ ‘No, more…’ ‘But is he the president?’ ‘More, I think…’ ‘And who could possibly be more important than the president?’ ‘Look, chief, I don’t know exactly who he is, but I’ll just tell you that the pope is his chauffeur!’”
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
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Indonesian archbishop rejects government energy plans in majority Catholic island of Flores
Rome Newsroom, Jan 14, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
Indonesian Archbishop Paulus Budi Kleden, SVD, has spoken out against government-backed geothermal projects in Flores, the country’s most Catholic island located in East Nusa Tenggara.
According to UCA News, Indonesia’s Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry designated Flores a “geothermal spot” in 2017, identifying 16 project sites on the island in spite of strong opposition from local villagers.
“After hearing testimonies from several people, from Sokoria and Mataloko, and discussions with several priests, I have decided to reject geothermal projects in three vicariates,” Kleden said in a Jan. 10 video message.
Kleden, who became archbishop of Ende in August 2024, said residents have complained of the depletion of water springs in Sokoria and hot mud eruptions in Mataloko, UCA News reported.
Kleden is the first Indonesian archbishop to speak out publicly against the government’s energy plans in Flores, insisting that the projects have triggered a life-threatening “ecological disaster” on the island.
In addition to encouraging priests in the Ende Archdiocese to take a stand against the social and environmental harm caused by mining activities, Kleden said local residents should be encouraged to seek appropriate legal advice to protect their land.
The Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Commission (JPIC) of the Franciscans and Divine Word congregations — who are both active and outspoken about mining in Flores — welcomed moves by the Indonesian government to protect environmental activists in September 2024 following violent 2023 protests in Poco Leok that involved Catholic student activists and Indigenous communities calling for the protection of customary land in Flores.
Father Simon Suban Tukan, JPIC coordinator for the Society of the Divine Word in West Flores, told UCA News that the new law is important to protect the rights of environmental activists who feel threatened by a “government agenda that emphasizes investment.”
Besides religious institutions, international organizations have also responded to the mounting local opposition against geothermal plans in Flores. In October 2023, the World Bank canceled its financial support for one project on the island.
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Bangladeshi bishop says government ‘must act’ over rising prices
The Auxiliary Bishop of Dhaka, Subroto Boniface Gomes, discusses rising food prices in Bangladesh. He also speaks about the country’s new government, and about how Bangladeshi Catholics are living the 2025 Holy Year.
By Joseph Tulloch
The Auxiliary Bishop of Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital city, has said that the country’s government “must take action” over the cost-of-living crisis in the country.
Speaking to the Vatican’s Fides news agency, Bishop Subroto Boniface Gomes said that the “sharp increase” in the prices of food and other basic necessities in Bangladesh is “putting a heavy strain on the population”.
“The faithful complain that shopping in the capital’s markets, even for meat, fish, eggs, has become an arduous task,” Bishop Gomes said. “How can families support themselves?”
These increasing prices are “one of the most urgent issues that the new year presents us with”, said Bishop Gomes, calling for “effective measures” to be taken by Bangladesh’s new government.
Relations with Yunus government
Since August 2024, Muhammad Yunus has been head of the country’s interim government, after ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India.
The Catholic Church’s relations with the new Yunus government are “good”, said Bishop Gomes:
Nevertheless, he added, “we’ve asked that some Christians, of any denomination, be included in the government and reform commissions,” a reference to the six commissions set up by the interim government to research reforms of the electoral system, the police, justice, the Anti-Corruption Commission, public administration, and the Constitution.
According to country’s 2022 census, there are around 500,000 Christians in Bangladesh.
“It’s important that our views are taken into account on different aspects of the country’s future,” said Bishop Gomes.
Pope Francis arrives at the Church of the Holy Rosary in Dhaka, during a visit to Bangladesh in 2017
2025 Jubilee Year
Finally, Bishop Gomes reported that the Church in Bangladesh opened the 2025 Holy Year in a ceremony on the 8th January.
“The Bangladeshi faithful dream of a pilgrimage to Rome”, he added, but “it’s very difficult for them to get entry visas to Italy and the European Union.”
Bishop Gomes noted that Jesus Youth–an international Catholic movement that started in India–is attempting to organise a Jubilee pilgrimage for young people.
“We hope it will succeed”, he concluded.
Archbishop Gallagher in Congo-Brazzaville: The Pope loves you
The Vatican Secretary for Relations with States expresses Pope Francis’ solidarity with the Congolese people in light of the ongoing effects of natural disasters.
By Kielce Gussie
For the last few days, the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, has been in the Republic of the Congo.
A special visit
The Secretary is partaking in the beginning of the Joint Commission for the implementation of the Framework Agreement. Signed in 2017 and been in effect since 2019, the agreement recognizes the legal status of the Church in the Congo-Brazzaville and its institutions, and is geared at protecting their independence and autonomy.
Archbishop Gallagher’s itinerary in the Republic of Congo included celebrating a Mass at the Cathedral Square dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the Jubilee of Ecclesial Movements.
The President of the Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Bienvenu Manamika of Brazzaville; the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Javier Herrera Corona; and Congolese bishops also attended.
The archbishop met with the Congolose Bishops’ Conference after the Mass
The Vatican Secretary for Relations with States also took time to meet with the Bishops’ Conference, and on Tuesday he meets with the Minister of International Cooperation and the Promotion of Public-Private Partnerships.
“The Pope loves you”
In his homily, the Archbishop expressed Pope Francis’ greetings and blessings as he “follows with great attention the life of the Congolese people.” He continued that the Pope loves them and is “aware of your hopes and desires for peace and fraternity.”
With heavy rainfall and flooding last year, thousands of people have been directly impacted and in need of humanitarian assistance. Archbishop Gallagher explained Pope Francis remains close to them in light of this challenge.
Witnesses of the faith
The Archbishop also conveyed a special thanks from Pope Francis to the Congolese people for their witness of the Gospel and care for building a more just and fraternal society.
“There have been no shortages of witnesses of the faith,” Archbishop Gallagher emphasized. Specifically, he highlighted the life of Congolese Cardinal and Servant of God, Emile Biayenda, who was martyred in 1977.
Cardinal Emile Biayenda was martyred in 1977 for speaking out against injustice and persecution
Made a cardinal by Pope Paul VI in 1973, his cause for beatification was opened by Pope John Paul II. Cardinal Biayenda’s remains are kept in the Brazzaville Cathedral, which was the first stop on the Archbishop’s visit.
Jubilee – an invitation to all
Archbishop Gallagher stressed the call to action in evangelization, particularly strong in the Jubilee Year.
He extended a challenge to young people, repeating one of Pope Francis’ oft-spoken sayings, “Do not let hope be stolen from you.” He encouraged them to look to the future with hope rather than despair.
‘Faith on the waves’ in Kenya: Stella Maris’ pastoral care for fishers
Inspired by the international Stella Maris Apostolate, the migrants office of the Catholic Diocese of Nakuru in Kenya seeks to offer pastoral care and hope to people who earn their livelihoods from the water. “I am a happy religious woman working at the peripheries,” says Sr. Margaret Mumbua.
By Sr. Michelle Njeri, OSF
Sr. Margret Mumbua is a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Mombasa and works in the Catholic Diocese of Nakuru as the Family Life Coordinator and Migrants Coordinator. In her ministry to migrants, Sr. Mumbua provides pastoral care to various groups, including truck drivers in six stopover areas, victims of human trafficking, women in prostitution, and fishermen.
Sr. Mumbua shared the background of her pastoral care with the fishermen: “I started the ministry to the fishermen and associates in 2014 in Lake Naivasha and Lake Baringo within the Nakuru diocese; it was not an easy task.”
The Diocese of Nakuru covers Nakuru and Baringo counties and has 63 parishes, of which three are maritime parishes. In Naivasha, Sr. Mumbua goes to five beaches that are named after different saints.
“I have a team of volunteers, and together we give pastoral care to the fishermen, their families, sellers and buyers of fish, and those who do manual jobs around the beaches,” she said.
“Karagita beach is one of our unique beaches, because apart from the regular fishermen, we have the deaf fishermen group and the Lake Naivasha Disabled group,” added Sr. Mumbua. She and her team share the Gospel, pray, and provide psychological and pastoral counselling to the fishermen.
Mumbua offers pastoral care to fishermen aboard a moving boat during her visit to Lake Naivasha
Ministry of presence
Jeremiah Mutiso, the chairman of Karagita Beach in Naivasha, shared his encounter with Sr. Mumbua and the Stella Maris group. “I congratulated and thanked the Catholic Church for giving attention to the fishers. They come here and offer Mass and even bless us,” he said.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Zachariah Ngechu, the chairman of the Deaf fishermen group. “We thank the Church through the presence of Sr. Mumbua for supporting us, the fishermen. They love us and bring prayers to our beach.”
Jane Wairigia, a member of the Lake Naivasha disabled group, shared that she is a Catholic and enjoys the encouragement in faith provided by Sr. Mumbua. “We appreciated the Mass offered at the beach and the food donation by the Diocese of Nakuru,” she said. “We no longer have problems in the lake because we believe in sisters and the Catholic Church prayers.”
Challenges as part of the ministry
Sr. Mumbua shared about the challenges in the ministry to the fishers. “I listen with the heart to the fishers, their families, and people who work in the lake; I don’t judge them,” she said.
The religious sister also provides administrative help to the fishermen, including assistance with obtaining their government documents and papers.
She added that some fishermen have lost the awareness of their inherent dignity, noting that some no longer appreciate their family ties, since they spend so much of their lives away from them. “I help them know that they are created by God and have a dignity to protect,” she said.
Sr. Mumbua is also educating the fishermen, as many have very little formal education and fail to support their own children in their studies. “I try to capacity build them and educate them on various life skills.” She added that transportation to thes beaches is normally a challenge for her, but she persists in traveling with volunteers to visit the people who work there.
Sr. Mumbua supports Lake Naivasha Disabled and Deaf fishermen groups with food donations
The synodal church that leaves no one behind
The Catholic Diocese of Nakuru has always offered Mass at the beaches. “Sometimes the bishop and, other times, priests offer Masses at these beaches,” said Sr. Mumbua. “After Mass, we bless the fishermen’s tools of work and the fish selling points.”
Asked about what keeps her going in the apostolate to the fishermen and their families, Sr. Mumbua drew on her faith in God and the joy her ministry gives her religious life.
“I am a happy religious woman working at the peripheries as Pope Francis asks us to do,” she concluded. “My love for God, supported by the volunteers, well-wishers, and the Catholic Diocese of Nakuru keeps me going. I thank God for the vocation within a vocation, for the ministry to the fishermen and their associates; mine is a ministry of presence.”
Cardinal Bo rejoices over new Bishop in Myanmar’s troubled Kachin State
The President of Myanmar’s Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, commends the faith and service of newly-consecrated Bishop John Mung La Sam in northern Myanmar’s Kachin State. He also remembers all those displaced and suffering due to conflicts and tensions in the region.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov
“Rejoice! Rejoice! Today, the heavens and the earth proclaim the glory of God as we gather to witness a moment of immense grace and uncontainable joy—the consecration of our new shepherd for the Diocese of Myitkyina!”
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, the President of the Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar, who had served two terms as the President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, stressed this as he expressed his delight over the consecration of Bishop John Mung La Sam for the Diocese of Myitkyina, the capital of the nation’s Kachin State.
Civilians suffering and displaced in Kachin State
Kachin State, which is in northern Myanmar and borders China, is predominantly inhabited by the Kachin ethnic group, who are mostly Christian. The State is rich in gold, jade, and rare earth mines, resources that are almost entirely exported to China.
The area has faced increasing instability and its people have suffered human rights violations and displacement due to long-lasting armed conflicts between Myanmar’s military junta and armed groups.
God’s timing is perfect
In his sermon, Cardinal Bo focused on the joy that the episcopal consecration provides in this dramatic context, saying, “This is not just another day; this is a day of renewal, a celebration of hope, and a call to action for every one of us to rise and labour together in the abundant fields of the Lord!”
“You waited and waited; you prayed and prayed. How many times did it feel like God was silent, as though our daily cries for a shepherd were unanswered?” Cardinal Bo asked, reassuring, “Yet, my dear brothers and sisters, let me declare this truth boldly: God’s timing is perfect, and when His time comes, no one can stop it!”
He clarified that this moment is not merely the consecration of a Bishop, but rather “the dawning of a new journey for our Diocese.”
“His call is clear,” Cardinal Bo stressed, namely to “lay aside divisions, heal old wounds, and unite as one body in Christ,” especially this Jubilee Year, in which “we are to walk hand in hand,” with “unshakeable trust in the Lord.”
A story that ‘touches the depth of our hearts’
The personal story of the new Bishop, Cardinal Bo suggested, “touches the depths of our hearts” and “stirs our faith,” for he was “born into humble circumstances,” but ultimately would lead a life, with its “rugged simplicity of labour and quiet perseverance,” “mirrored the hidden life of Jesus in Nazareth—a life seemingly ordinary, but filled with divine purpose.”
For years, the Cardinal added, he worked silently, unnoticed by the world, “yet known intimately by God.” “At an age when many might hesitate, weighed down by life’s challenges,” he said, the now Bishop “embraced change with courage.”
“His life,” Cardinal Bo asserted, “proclaims a timeless truth: God does not choose the qualified; He qualifies those whom He chooses. “
Beacon of hope for Kachin people
The Bishop’s “extraordinary journey” of perseverance and grace, the Cardinal insisted, is “a beacon of hope for the Kachin people.”
“It reminds us,” he added, “that no hardship is beyond God’s power to transform, no life too simple for His glory, and no dream too distant for His love.”
The Church in Kachin, Cardinal Bo reflected, is a vibrant church in many ways, especially for its great involvement of the laity and its hundreds of catechists.
Given this, the role of the Bishop in Kachin, the Cardinal of Myanmar reiterated, is one of profound responsibility, “requiring him to teach, sanctify, and govern with deep compassion, courage, and wisdom.”
Conflict, displacement and hardship
In a land marked by conflict, displacement, and hardship, Cardinal Bo insisted, “the Bishop must bring the light of Christ to guide the people through their struggles and empower them to rebuild their lives” and lead them through the challenges they face.
“In Kachin, where conflict and displacement disrupt lives,” he underscored, “the Bishop is called to be a voice of hope and truth,” one which takes to heart St. Paul’s advice to Timothy which said to “preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”
Struggles for the people
The Bishop’s teaching, he countinued, must be rooted in the Gospel. However, he stressed it also must be contextualised to the challenges faced by the Kachin people, that include “struggles like displacement, the moral decay caused by drugs, and the deep wounds caused by conflict.”
In this sense, he reminded, his words must guide the faithful to recognise their God-given dignity and work toward reconciliation and justice, ensuring that the faith is handed down without being diluted or ideologised.
In the vast and diverse Kachin context, where many villages are remote, Cardinal Bo stated, the Bishop must empower local leaders and catechists to care for the spiritual needs of the people, reaching those even in the most difficult-to-reach areas.
Two Nigerian religious women abducted last week have been released unconditionally
Prologue, Tempo Di Marcia, Allegro – Entrée Des Forains, Mouvement De Valse – Exercices, Quasi Adagio – Parade, Tempo Di Marcia, Allegro – La Représentation: a) Petite Fille A La Chaise, Allegro Giusto, b) Visions D’Art, Vif, c) Le Cloune, Vif Et Brusque,
One step closer to sainthood: Thailand honors its blessed martyrs
Prologue, Tempo Di Marcia, Allegro – Entrée Des Forains, Mouvement De Valse – Exercices, Quasi Adagio – Parade, Tempo Di Marcia, Allegro – La Représentation: a) Petite Fille A La Chaise, Allegro Giusto, b) Visions D’Art, Vif, c) Le Cloune, Vif Et Brusque,
Pope Francis’ autobiography ‘Hope’ hits bookshelves in 80 countries
Pope Francis’ widely-anticipated autobiography ‘Hope’ hits bookshelves in 80 countries this Jubilee, and includes narrated memories, anecdotes, photos, and elements offered personally to readers.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov
Pope Francis’ greatly-anticipated autobiography ‘Hope’ has hit bookshelves on Tuesday, 14 January 2025, in 80 countries globally.
The text, written firsthand by the Pope but with the collaboration of Italian writer Carlo Musso, is also made available to English-speaking readers in the United States through the publisher Random House, and in the UK, through the publisher Viking.
A historic first
In a press release ahead of the occasion, Random House revealed that the one-of-a-kind text was originally supposed to be published after the Holy Father’s death.
However, with the occasion of the Jubilee Year of Hope, the decision was taken to release the text at the onset of the Holy Year.
Photos and unpublished material personally made available by Pope Francis
The book is enhanced by remarkable photographs, including private and unpublished material made personally available by Pope Francis himself.
Written over six years, this complete autobiography starts in the early years of the twentieth century, with Pope Francis’ Italian roots and his ancestors’ courageous migration to Latin America.
The text continues through his childhood, the enthusiasms and preoccupations of his youth, his vocation, adult life, and the whole of his papacy up to the present day.
Narration and anecdotes
Narrating his memories, the Holy Father addresses crucial moments of his papacy and various important and controversial questions of our present times, including wars plaguing the world, the future of the Church and religion, social policy, migration, the environmental crisis, women, technological developments, and sexuality.
Moreover, “Hope” includes numerous revelations, anecdotes, and considerations.
Random House describes it as a thrilling and very human memoir, moving and sometimes funny, which represents the “story of a life.”
Moreover, the publisher calls it “a touching moral and spiritual testament that will fascinate readers throughout the world and will be Pope Francis’s legacy of hope for future generations.”
Historic Italian naval ship chosen to be a jubilee church in 2025
CNA Staff, Jan 13, 2025 / 17:15 pm (CNA).
The Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian naval ship named after the 15th-century explorer that inspired the name “America,” has been designated a 2025 Jubilee church.
Archbishop Santo Marcianò of the Military Ordinariate of Italy officially designated the ship as a jubilee church for 2025, according to a Jan. 9 statement from the ship’s press office.
He explained that the ship’s chaplain, Don Mauro Medaglini, “will have the task of accompanying the sailors in this precious time of the jubilee. During its long navigation, the Vespucci has always had the presence of several chaplains who have alternated, silently but very effectively, accompanying the spiritual life of the crew, and they will do so in a particular way in this year of the Jubilee of Hope.”
The ship, which dates back to 1931, has been touring the world as a cultural ambassador for Italy since July 2023. During its journey, the Amerigo Vespucci has stopped in places including Los Angeles; Tokyo; Mumbai, India; Doha, Qatar; and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, among others.
Despite not having a designated chapel onboard, the ship’s chaplain is able to celebrate Mass on the quarterdeck, a structure raised above the deck, when weather permits, or in an atrium inside.
The statement said that the Amerigo Vespucci will be a jubilee site “for sacred pilgrimages and for pious visits among its missions at sea.”
“The church that lives among the military also wants to establish signs during the jubilee year that express that hope that the church and the world await from God, and which God entrusts to the military world,” Marcianò said on the designation. “These certainly include the sacred jubilee sites, through which our military can attain the spiritual benefits originating from the jubilee indulgence.”
One way Catholics can obtain a plenary indulgence during the jubilee year is by making a pilgrimage to their cathedral or to another church or shrine selected by the local bishop. Other ways include making a pilgrimage to Rome, praying in certain churches in Rome, performing works of mercy, fasting from social media, and volunteering.
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Nicaraguan dictatorship shuts down more organizations, including Dominican nuns
ACI Prensa Staff, Jan 13, 2025 / 16:45 pm (CNA).
The new year has seen the Nicaraguan dictatorship cancel the legal personhood of 15 nonprofit organizations, adding to the more than 5,400 nongovernmental organizations shut down since 2018 by the regime of President Daniel Ortega and his wife and “co-president,” Rosario Murillo.
The official government newspaper La Gaceta announced on Jan. 8 the “voluntary dissolution” of 11 of these organizations, including Save the Children and the Dominican Nuns Foundation of Nicaragua.
According to its website, Save the Children has been working in the Central American country since 1986. “Save the Children’s work in Nicaragua centers on four program areas: education, health and nutrition, child rights governance, and child protection in addition to having the ability to respond to potential humanitarian situations,” the organization indicated, adding that it had 46 people working in Managua and Matagalpa.
Also among the 11 organizations that were “voluntarily dissolved” are the Ebenezer Christian Missionary Foundation, the Fundamental Baptist Church Association of Matagalpa, and the Help for Nicaragua Foundation.
Four of the 15 organizations were canceled “for failing to comply with their obligations”: the Nicaraguan House of Spirituality, Culture, History, Anthropology, Archaeology, and Art Foundation; the Comprehensive Services Association for Women; the Christ Is Coming Pentecost Ministry Foundation; and the Río Prinzapolka Foundation.
The decision to cancel the 15 organizations was made known through two ministerial agreements approved by the minister of the interior, María Amelia Coronel Kinloch.
In 2024, the dictatorship canceled approximately 1,700 nonprofit organizations. On Aug. 19 of last year alone, the dictatorship closed a total of 1,500 organizations, of which 678 were Christian, including Catholic and evangelical entities.
In its 2025 global report, the evangelical organization International Christian Concern charged that the dictatorship has used the Ministry of the Interior to persecute “hundreds of churches, aid groups, and other religious organizations” and had closed down 315 religious organizations in 2023.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
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Parolin meets Middle East Nuncios, speaks with Lebanon’s new President
A statement from the Holy See announced that the Cardinal Secretary of State held a meeting in Amman with papal representatives of Middle Eastern nations, in which a call for a ceasefire “on every front” was made, along with a desire for peace in the Middle East.
Vatican News
The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, presided over a meeting on January 13 with the Apostolic Nuncios in the Middle Eastern region in Jordan’s capital of Amman, where he traveled for the consecration of the Church of the Baptism of Jesus along the banks of the Jordan River on Friday.
According to a statement issued by the Holy See Press Office on Monday evening, the meeting was attended by the papal representatives accredited to the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Iraq, the State of Israel, the State of Kuwait, the Republic of Lebanon, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Palestine, the State of Qatar, the Syrian Arab Republic, and the Republic of Yemen.
In an interview with Vatican News in Jordan following the Church’s consecration, the Vatican Secretary of State expressed his hopes for positive developments in Syria and with the election of the new president of Lebanon.
Hope for the Middle East as a “land of peace”
During the meeting, the statement explained, “the ongoing crises in the region, the political and ecclesial situation in each country, signs of hope in some areas, and the severe humanitarian conditions affecting populations most impacted by conflicts were discussed.”
The statement continued, “It is hoped that the ceasefire on every front will come soon and that the Middle East can become a land of peace, where Christians remain an essential component for fraternal coexistence among religions and for the progress of their respective countries.”
Phone call with Lebanon’s newly-elected President
At the same time, the Holy See Press Office announced that Cardinal Parolin spoke this afternoon with the new President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, who was elected on January 9.
“During the cordial phone call,” a statement read, “His Eminence congratulated him on his election to the Presidency of the Republic and extended his best wishes, assuring him of his prayers.”
“Cardinal Parolin also noted with pleasure,” it added, “the prompt appointment of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam earlier today.”
New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith to be honored at National Catholic Prayer Breakfast
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jan 13, 2025 / 15:20 pm (CNA).
Devout Catholic and pro-life advocate Congressman Chris Smith will be honored at this year’s National Catholic Prayer Breakfast held in Washington, D.C.
The New Jersey representative will receive the organization’s annual Christifideles Laici Award at the 20th National Catholic Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 28. Previous recipients of the award include religious freedom advocate Jimmy Lai; legal scholar Helen M. Alvaré; attorney and policy expert Mary Rice Hasson; and former U.S. Attorney General William Barr.
The Christifideles Laici Award was founded in 2019 by the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast to highlight the “good works” of those in service of the Church, according to the organization’s website. The award itself is an original work commissioned by the organization from the classical artist Isaac Dell and is inscribed with the words “In Honor and Gratitude for Fidelity to the Church, Exemplary Selfless and Steadfast Service in the Lord’s Vinyard.”
Smith is currently in his 22nd term in the U.S. House of Representatives for New Jersey’s 4th Congressional District, serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and has been a tireless defender of those suffering from religious persecution and human trafficking.
A staunch advocate of the pro-life cause, Smith is among the confirmed speakers at the March for Life this year along with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Live Action Founder Lila Rose.
Late last year, Smith told CNA in an interview following a Mass celebrated in the U.S. Capitol that he and his wife, Marie, share a particular devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and that his office “places all of our pro-life and human rights work under her mantle.”
“I do a lot on the human rights issue,” he said at the time, “and every bit of it, we turn to her and pray, you know, and ask her for guidance.”
Smith told CNA he has a life-sized replica of the tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe hanging in his office. “I’m amazed at how many people I meet — because I meet with diplomats all the time because of my human rights work and my committee assignments — they always take note of [the tilma].”
“I find there’s such devotion, particularly with the Latin Americans who come in — they look at [the tilma] and it’s instant,” he said. “And so this is, of course, a celebration of her, [and] the whole story of Juan Diego, and the whole story of, you know, 8 to 9 million people converting from human sacrifice and worshipping gods is such an amazing story of conversion and repair of souls.”
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New York bishops support governor’s plan to increase child tax credit
CNA Staff, Jan 13, 2025 / 14:50 pm (CNA).
New York’s Catholic bishops are supporting a proposal from Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul to increase the state’s child tax credit — an effort to address New York’s stubbornly high child poverty rate, which has exceeded the national average for over a decade.
In an announcement last week, Hochul proposed an annual tax credit of up to $1,000 per child under age 4 and up to $500 per child from 4 through 16, roughly doubling the average credit disbursed by the state to families from $472 to $943. The existing state credit provides up to $330 per child.
Kristen Curran, director of government relations for the New York State Catholic Conference, expressed support on behalf of the state’s Catholic bishops for the proposal, saying it would provide “important relief” to an estimated 1.6 million families.
“For more than 20 years, the New York State Catholic Conference has championed the issue of child tax credits. This initiative is a powerful way to walk with moms in need, support working families, and help lift children out of poverty,” Curran said in a Jan. 7 statement.
“Working class families will be better positioned to navigate the cost-of-living crisis and provide for their children. It is critical that the child tax credit apply to babies, starting at birth. We are glad to see that coverage as part of this proposal.”
In 2022, the latest year figures are available, the child poverty rate in New York was nearly 19% — a figure that exceeds the national average and has since 2011. The figure is also at least six percentage points higher than any state it borders and ranks New York in the top 10 nationwide for child poverty, according to the state comptroller.
Curran urged lawmakers to pass the increased child tax credit, framing it as a vital step toward strengthening the community and state.
“Now more than ever, it is imperative that we address the affordability crisis to help parents as they raise their children. We urge all lawmakers to support this initiative,” she concluded.
“When we join together to lift up the most vulnerable, we are strengthened as a community and as a state. The governor can count on the strong support of the New York State Catholic Conference for this pro-family proposal.”
At the federal level, the current child tax credit allows parents and guardians to claim their dependent children on their tax forms, granting a tax break of up to $2,000. Up to $1,600 of that credit may be “refundable,” meaning taxpayers can receive cash payments for the credit.
A bipartisan effort to increase the tax credit from the current refundable amount of $1,600 to $2,000 per child in 2025 failed to pass the Senate in August. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has been a staunch advocate for the bill’s passage, sending a message ahead of the vote encouraging the faithful to urge senators to vote in favor of the measure.
The 2021 American Rescue Plan briefly expanded the credit to $3,600 and made it fully refundable; that law also allowed parents to claim half of the refundable sum in advance monthly payments. Those new rules expired after that year.
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Dominican House of Studies celebrates new bell, a long-awaited addition to DC priory
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jan 13, 2025 / 14:20 pm (CNA).
The Priory of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C., celebrated an exciting new addition this past weekend.
One hundred and 20 years after its founding in 1905, the Dominican House of Studies finally has a bell for its tower.
The friars celebrated the blessing of their new bell on Sunday morning in the Academic Courtyard of the priory. A Mass for the Baptism of the Lord followed the blessing, according to the priory’s website.
The roughly 980-pound bell was cast in 1929 in Watervliet, New York, by the Meneely Bell Foundry, according to Father Gregory Schnakenberg, OP, and is set to be installed in the coming weeks.
“Whether friars thought it unnecessary (we do live across the street from one of the most beautiful bell carillons in America) or we simply lacked the resources, today we dedicated our new bell,” Father Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP, wrote in a post on Instagram.
Briscoe also revealed in the post that the new bell has been named after St. Gabriel and is inscribed with the words “I sing to the honor of St. Gabriel the Archangel, who announced the Word of God to the Immaculate Virgin Mary.”
“During the blessing ceremony, Father Gregory pointed out that we need the bell today more than ever, to call us out of our distractions and summon us to prayer and contemplation,” Briscoe recalled, adding: “I couldn’t agree more! Bells are evangelizers, calling us all to the joy and hope that the Gospel alone brings.”
The Dominican House of Studies’ next major project will be the restoration of its St. Catherine of Siena and St. Rose of Lima altars, which are both located in the main chapel.
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Outgoing Anglican representative reflects on tenure in Rome
Archbishop Ian Ernest, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s outgoing Personal Representative to the Holy See, reflects on his time in Rome, and his task of helping the Catholic and Anglican Churches together become ‘beacons of hope’.
By Marie Duhamel and Joseph Tulloch
Archbishop Ian Ernest, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Personal Representative to the Holy See and the head of Rome’s Anglican Centre, will be stepping down from his position at the end of January.
He spoke to Vatican News’ Marie Duhamel about his time in Rome, and his role of helping the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury to “together become beacons of hope.”
Road to Rome
Ecumenism has been an important part of his identity, Archbishop Ernest said, “since childhood”. He attended a Catholic school, and his father – an Anglican priest – was friends with its chaplain. While in the seminary, he studied philosophy for a year at Mauritius’ Catholic seminary.
Despite this, the Archbishop said, when he was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury to become his Personal Representative in Rome, his first thought was “who am I to do that job?”.
Ultimately, he said, he realised that the task was only possible with God’s help: “Everything I’ve been doing here, enhancing the relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, was only possible through the grace of God”.
Pope Francis and Justin Welby
The spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion for almost all of Archbishop Ernest’s tenure was Justin Welby.
Archbishop Welby was elected in the same year as Pope Francis, and often spoke of his friendship with him.
In 2023, the Pope and the Archbishop, together with the Rt. Rev. Iain Greenshields, the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, made a joint ‘pilgrimage of peace’ to South Sudan
“As the Personal Representative of the Archbishop [of Canterbury]”, Ernest said, “I had to be able to communicate his vision, so that he and Pope Francis could together become beacons of hope.”
The joint journey to South Sudan, Archbishop Ernest said, was a “concrete example of this hope”, and of “visible collaboration” between churches “for the sake of God’s world”.
If he had to give a name to this joint venture, Archbishop Ernest said, quoting the Pope’s 2020 Encyclical, “I would call it ‘Fratelli tutti’”.
Pope Francis with Justin Welby
Archbishop Welby’s legacy
Late last year, Archbishop Welby resigned over his handling of a historic sex abuse case.
Asked about the legacy Welby would leave behind, Archbishop Ernest said that he thought a major component would be his focus on the need for reconciliation, both with God and with others.
“We’ve been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ”, Ernest said, “and reconciled to each other through the blood of Christ. I think it’s important that we retain that from [Archbishop Welby’s] ministry.”
Another major component, Archbishop Ernest said, would be Welby’s emphasis on “the need for the church to be always on mission”.
Welby’s successor as Archbishop of Canterbury, Ernest said, would have to balance “continuity with the early Church”, on the one hand, with the need to adapt the mission to today’s context, “with the exigencies of the social context we live in”, on the other.
Asked whether this is a “heavy task”, Archbishop Ernest stressed that “all of us have responsibilities”.
“A doctor healing people, a teacher teaching a child, a parent – we all have a heavy task. What we need is to let the grace of God flow in us, and He will be the one, as Paul says, to guide us through.”
Ambassador El-Khoury: ‘A stable Syria will benefit Lebanon’
The new Ambassador of Lebanon to the Holy See reflects with Vatican News on the positive impact the recent election of Joseph Aoun as new President of Lebanon and of the fall of Assad in Syria could have on the Lebanese crisis highlighting the importance of regional stability for Lebanon’s recovery.
By Olivier Bonnel and Lisa Zengarini
The recent election of internationally-backed army chief Joseph Aoun as the new President of Lebanon, along with the recent change of regime in neighbouring Syria is a major breakthrough that could lead to further positive developments for Lebanon, says the newly appointed Ambassador of Lebanon to the Holy See, Ghady El-Khoury. Speaking to Vatican News’ Olivier Bonnel, after Pope Francis’ annual State of the World address to the Diplomatic Corps on 9 January, the Lebanese diplomat expressed optimism for Lebanon’s recovery and also gratitude for Pope Francis’ and the Holy See’s ongoing support to the Land of Cedars.
General Aoun, a Christian Maronite as required by the country’s confessional power-sharing system, was elected by the Lebanese Parliament on 9 January, ending 26 months of institutional stalemate and presidential vacuum, amid economic and social downfall and the fragile 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Iran-supported Hezbollah due to expire on January 26.
His election followed intense efforts of Saudi Arabia and the United States which rallied support for Aoun, who is close to Washington and Riyadh.
A new phase for Lebanon
Until last week negotiations over the successor of former President Michel Aoun, were at a standstill, due to ongoing divisions between the country’s factions.
However, the all-out war in Lebanon between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah sparked by the Israel–Hamas war has changed the balance of forces in the country, making the appointment of Aoun possible. Without this war and its consequences, such a breakthrough would not have occurred in its current form.
Central to this development is the swearing speech the 61-year-old President delivered on 9 January, which underscored critical points shaping Lebanon’s upcoming political path marking a “new phase for the country,” and outlined the immense challenges it faces, both internal and external.
Key among these points is consolidating arms under state control, limiting the responsibility of confronting Israel to the Lebanese Army, and imposing control over Palestinian refugee camps where until now Lebanese soldiers have not been allowed entry.
Contacts with new regime in Syria
These key points reflect a profound shift in Lebanese policy, which also include establishing new relations with neighbouring Syria after the toppling of Bashar al-Assad’s regime by a sweeping rebel offensive on December 8, 2024.
One of the first moves of the newly elected president was to send Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati to Damascus to meet with Syria’s new strongman Ahmed al-Sharaa on 11 January in a bid to improve long-fraught ties, with the pair focusing on strengthening their shared border. The trip was the first visit by a Lebanese PM to neighbouring Syria in 15 years.
Feeling of relief in Lebanon
The appointment of General Aoun was greeted with widespread relief by the Lebanese people and the Christian community, including the head of the Maronite Church Patriarch Bechara Boutros Raï, who met Aoun on Friday, 10 January, and praised his inaugural speech as “the roadmap for the salvation of Lebanon.”
Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, who has just concluded a visit to Jordan, also expressed to Vatican News his hope that the election will mark a new phase for Lebanon, where all political forces come together to find common ground and work for the good of the country, particularly for the reforms the country so urgently needs.
The right man at the right moment
Ambassador El-Khoury, who served as chargé d’affaires at his country’s embassy in Paris for eleven years and was director of political and consular affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beirut before his appointment in Rome, shares this positive outlook describing Aoun as the right man at the right place at the right moment.
“He is the most trusted by the Lebanese, inspiring the most confidence for stability” he explained.
According to the Lebanese diplomat, the Vatican diplomacy which tirelessly worked to fill the presidential vacuum, has contributed significantly to solve the institutional stalemate. “We must be grateful for this”, he said, noting the constant concern n of the Holy See and Pope Francis for Lebanon.
Fostering Christian and Muslim peaceful co-existence in Lebanon
Ambassador El Koury stressed that this positive outcome is important for all Christians in the Middle East, but also for Muslims in Lebanon, ecalling that the country’s unique value lies in its religious and cultural diversity and harmonious coexistence.
Stability and peace in Syria is vital for Lebanon’s recovery
Discussing Syria’s recent change of regime, El-Khoury also expressed cautious optimism about the potential for a democratic and stable Syria, emphasizing that such stability is crucial for Lebanon, given the deep historical, political, and economic ties between the two nations.
A peaceful Syria would contribute positively to Lebanon’s recovery, “A stable Syria can only reflect positively on Lebanon,” he argued, enabling both countries to shift their focus from conflict to their grave socio-economic challenges including a severe humanitarian crisis.
Daunting challenges
Turning to Lebanon’s internal challenges, El-Khoury outlined a comprehensive agenda for national recovery. Stability in the southern regions, resolving border disputes with Israel, and initiating reconstruction projects in war-torn areas such as Beirut’s southern suburbs and the Bekaa Valley are among the immediate priorities. At the same time, he stressed the importance of economic reforms, strengthening internal security, and modernizing the Lebanese Armed Forces, as called for by the international community.
The ambassador acknowledged the enormity of these tasks, given the country’s years of stagnation, instability political and financial mismanagement, but emphasized the need of tackling them simultaneously to rebuild Lebanon’s future.
Ceasefire talks in Doha bring a glimmer of hope for Gaza
Ceasefire talks in Doha between Israel and Hamas have reached a critical stage, with Qatar presenting a final draft agreement for a ceasefire. With over 46,000 Palestinians killed, an end to the violence is more urgent than ever.
By Francesca Merlo
Efforts to end the ongoing violence in Gaza have reportedly reached a critical turning point. On Monday, following negotiation talks, Qatar presented a final draft of a ceasefire agreement to Israel and Hamas. The talks, taking place in the Qatari capital, Doha, included representatives from Israel and Hamas, as well as envoys from US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump.
As reported by Reuters, a Palestinian official involved in the discussions shared cautious optimism, calling the developments “very promising” and adding that “gaps are being narrowed, and there is a big push toward an agreement if all goes well to the end”.
The humanitarian catastrophe
The urgency of these talks is indescribable. Since 7 October 2023, more than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza. In the Strip, the infrastructure lies in ruins, the few hospitals that remain standing are struggling to cope, and access to essential supplies such as food, water, and electricity are severely limited. The humanitarian crisis is worsening by the hour, and talks towards a ceasefire are imperative to saving lives.
A step towards peace
Another step that is fundamental to the proposed agreement is a prisoner exchange, discussed over the phone by Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden. The agreement states that in return for 33 hostages held by Hamas for over 15 months, along with injured Israeli soldiers, Israel has agreed to release over 3,000 Palestinian detainees. 200 of these are currently serving life sentences. While most are expected to return to their homes, those facing heavier sentences may face exile to countries such as Qatar, Egypt, or Turkey.
Further recent developments in the area include a ceasefire agreement in southern Lebanon and the planned withdrawal of Israeli forces by 27 January. This is the first time the Israeli Prime Minister has shown openness to such agreements, creating the conditions for dialogue.
As the political landscape in the area opens to change, Pope Francis remains steadfast in his cry for peace. During his most recent appeal, on Sunday, the Pope reiterated that war is always a defeat before asking for prayers for peace in the world and, in particular, for the Middle East.
Nobel Peace Prize Winner deplores Taliban’s treatment of women in Afghanistan
Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Malala Yousafzai, warns against Taliban’s oppressive treatment of women which is depriving them of an education.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov
Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai is decrying repressive policies for girls and women in Afghanistan, and is appealing to Muslim leaders to challenge the Taliban government in Afghanistan, reported BBC.
The Pakistani education activist, whose Prize was awarded for her promotion of children’s rights to education and against suppressing them, did so when speaking on Sunday to an international summit hosted in Islamabad.
Not seen as human beings
Addressing dozens of Ministers and scholars from Muslim-majority countries, who advocate for girls’ education in Islamic countries and who were present at the event, she stated, “Simply put, the Taliban in Afghanistan do not see women as human beings.”
The summit, organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Pakistan government and the Muslim World League, invited the Taliban government leaders, but they did not attend.
The BBC noted that the Taliban government declined to respond to its request for comment on the advocate’s remarks and that they have previously said they respect women’s rights in accordance with their interpretation of Afghan culture and Islamic law.
In 2021, the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. Since then, its government has not been formally recognised by a single foreign government.
Western powers call for change
Western powers insist that their policies restricting women need to change.
Since Afghanistan is the only country in the world where women and girls are prevented from accessing secondary and higher education, some one and a half million have been deliberately deprived of schooling.
“Afghanistan is the only country in the world,” Ms Yousafzai informed, “where girls are completely banned from education beyond grade six.”
Moreover, in December, women were also banned from training as midwives and nurses, effectively closing off their last route to further education in the country.
A recent law even prohibits women from singing or reciting poetry in public under the Taliban government’s ultra-strict application of Islamic law. It also encourages them to “veil” their voices and bodies outside the home. Some local radio and television stations have also stopped broadcasting female voices.
The latest “gender-based” order issued by the Taliban government bans the construction of windows in residential buildings that overlook areas used by women and says that existing ones should be blocked.
‘Gender apartheid’
In her remarks, Ms Yousafzai suggested the Taliban government had again created “a system of gender apartheid,” and warned that girls’ education is at risk in multiple countries. She observed that the war on Gaza has “decimated the entire education system.”
For these reasons, the Nobel Peace Prize Winner urged those present to “call out the worst violations” of girls’ right to education, and pointed out that crises in countries such as Afghanistan, Yemen and Sudan meant “the entire future of girls is stolen.”
(Source: BBC)
15 years after Haiti’s earthquake: Struggling to find hope
Haiti which has just marked the 15th anniversary of an earthquake which killed a quarter of a million of its population, faces a bleak coming year, with hunger, displacement and the ongoing menace of street gangs. The United Nations is currently offering help, but it isn`t enough to tackle a crisis that is rapidly worsening.
By James Blears
On January 12th 2010, a 7-magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti`s fragile housing and infrastructure, killing an estimated two hundred and fifty thousand Haitians. One hundred and two UN Peace Keepers also died as their Headquarters in Port Au Prince imploded and crumbled as the shock waves crushed it.
Now, all of these years later, another peacekeeping contingent, led by 400 Kenyan Police is back in Haiti. Still, although their security presence is welcome, it`s a teardrop in the lawlessness and disorder maelstrom of chaos, which blights the Western Hemisphere`s poorest nation. The infamous street gangs which have formed an insidious alliance, control most of the Capital Port Au Prince and the surrounding hinterland. France and the United States are providing funds and equipment but no police or troops to stem or dam a tidal wave of crime and murder.
Poverty, criminality, violence, displacement
The UN`s Human Rights Office reports that 5,600 people were murdered last year, 2,200 were wounded, 1,500 were kidnapped and thousands have fled the violence. In the last year, the neighbouring Dominican Republic expelled more than 200,000 Haitian migrants and is building a border fence to divide the island of Hispaniola, which the two nations are supposed to share.
The situation descended into chaos and anarchy, following the assassination of Haiti`s 43rd President Jovenal Moise on July 7th 2021 by a group of 28 mercenaries, mostly from Colombia. Haiti`s bleakest epoch was from 1957 to 1971 when it was ruled with the iron fist, of ruthless dictator Francois ”Papa Doc” Duvalier, with his death squad of the Tonton Macoutes. Following his unlamented death, he was succeeded by his son, Jean Claude ”Baby Doc” Duvalier, who continued the misery until he was exiled in 1986.
Few if any nations have suffered so grievously, over such a sustained period of time, numbering decades.
Yet even today in the first month of 2025, the international community is starkly, inexplicably and mostly indifferent, even though Haiti is teetering on a precipice of despair, dying day by day, by agonizing degrees.
Pope makes appointments to the Curia
On Sunday, Pope Francis appoints Monsignor Carlo Maria as Secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, conferring on him the personal title of Archbishop with the titular see of Regiae; and Monsignor Filippo Ciampanelli, Undersecretary of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, as titular bishop of Acque di Mauritania. He also names new Members of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
Vatican News
The Vatican announced two papal appointments on Sunday: Monsignor Carlo Maria Polvani, who has been serving as Under-secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, assumes the role of Secretary of the Dicastery, with the titular see of Regie, with the personal title of archbishop; and Monsignor Filippo Ciampanelli, under-secretary of the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches, was nominated for the episcopate, with the titular see of Acque di Mauritania.
Archbishop-elect Carlo Maria Polvani
Carlo Maria Polvani
Monsignor Carlo Maria Polvani was born in Milan on 28 July 1965. He studied at the Leone XIII Institute (Milan) and at the Collège Stanislas (Montréal), where he graduated in Biochemistry and received his doctorate.
His education includes a Master of Divinity at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology (Cambridge, USA); a Licentiate in Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University, with a specialisation in Jurisprudence and Forensic Psychology; and a doctorate in Canon Law.
He has been Prelate of Honour of His Holiness since 2013.
He was admitted to the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See in July 1999 and sent to the Apostolic Nunciature in Mexico. In 2015, he was appointed a member of the Commission on Vatican Media and the Executive Committee on Information and Communication Technology of the Holy See.
Bishop-elect Filippo Ciampanelli
Filippo Ciampanelli
Monsignor Filippo Ciampanelli was born in Novara on 30 July 1978 and has served in the Nunciatures in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus.
He holds a doctorate in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. Pope Francis often relies on Mons Ciampanelli to read his speeches.
Appointments to the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
On Saturday, the Holy Press Office announced the appointment of Members of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments: Archbishop Diego Giovanni Ravelli, Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations and head of the Pontifical Sistine Chapel Choir; the Reverend Father Abbot Dom Jeremy Driscoll, O.S.B., of Mount Angel Abbey, United States of America; the distinguished Professors Mary Healy, lecturer at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, United States of America; and Donna Lynn Orsuto, lecturer in the Faculty of Theology of the Collegium Maximum of the Pontifical Gregorian University and director of the Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas in Rome, Italy.
