Pope Francis

Mikati: ‘Christian Presence Guarantees Lebanese Unity’

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed to Pope Francis his attachment “to coexistence and to Lebanon’s role as a message in the region, as well as to the Christian presence, which is a guarantee for the unity of Lebanon, land and people.” Mikati and the Pontiff also tackled a number of current topics pertaining to Lebanon and the ...

Pope urges Lebanon to elect a new president immediately

Pope Francis called on Lebanese politicians on Sunday to urgently elect a new president, to get the country's governing institutions functioning again. "I address an urgent invitation to all Lebanese politicians to elect the president of the republic immediately," the pontiff said at Saint Peter's Square at the end of Sunday Angelus ...

Pope Calls for Gaza 'Genocide' Investigation

Pope Francis for the first time tackled claims of Israel's ongoing "genocide" of Palestinians in Gaza in a forthcoming book, urging further investigation into whether Israel's actions meet the definition. Titled "Hope Never Disappoints. Pilgrims Towards a Better World", the book includes his latest and most forthright ...

Caramel, Candy, and Chocolate: The Spectacle of Barbarism

Once again, I find myself watching on television, weary and disheartened, as the rubble of a home targeted by an Israeli strike lies collapsed over its occupants. This time, the scene is in Ain Yaacoub (Akkar) — a modest two-story house, typical of rural areas, its construction unfinished, with parts still bare cement due to a lack of funds. ...

Spanish Royals Pelted with Mud as Flood Death Toll Tops 200

Furious locals pelted Spain's royals and premier on Sunday with mud and cries of "murderers!", forcing officials to cut short their visit to the town worst hit by the floods, which have killed more than 200. The angry crowd in the town of Paiporta focused most of its wrath on Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and the head of the Valencia ...

Pope Expresses Solidarity with Those Affected by Spanish Floods

Pope Francis expressed his solidarity on Friday with the Spanish populations affected by the floods, which have resulted in at least 158 deaths and dozens of missing persons. "Let us pray for the people of the Iberian Peninsula, especially for the community of Valencia, ravaged by storm Dana," the name given in Italy to the severe weather that ...

Canonization of the Massabki Brothers: A Triumph of Blood Ecumenism

Today, October 20, the universal Church has been graced with the addition of 14 new figures of holiness, including eleven martyrs: eight Franciscan religious and three Maronite laymen, the brothers Francis, Abdel Mohti, and Raphael Massabki.  All were brutally killed in Damascus during the night of July 9 to 10, 1860, for their refusal to ...

Patriarch Rai Quoting Pope Francis: 'Violence Never Brings Peace'

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai read out a letter from Pope Francis addressed to the Christians of the Middle East during his Sunday homily. During the mass celebrated at the patriarchal headquarters in Bkerke, Patriarch Rai shared the Pope's words to "comfort" and "encourage" the faithful. "I will not tire of repeating that war is a defeat, that ...

Zelensky in Berlin Hopes War With Russia Will End Next Year

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky voiced hope on Friday that the war with Russia will end next year. He was speaking during a visit to Berlin to ask for sustained military support. As Ukraine faces a grueling third winter at war, Zelensky has been seeking support on a two-day whirlwind tour of European capitals that took him to London, Paris ...

Zelensky on European Tour Ahead of US Election

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to visit Britain, France and Italy on Thursday, as part of a whirlwind tour of European leaders aimed at securing aid ahead of pivotal US elections next month. Kyiv could be facing its toughest winter yet this year, as Russia launches fresh waves of strikes on the country's power grid and advances ...

Pope Says Church Must "Seek Forgiveness" for Sexual Abuse

Pope Francis said on Friday that the Catholic Church must "seek forgiveness" over the "scourge" of child sexual abuse during a visit to Belgium, where the Church's dark past looms large. In a speech before political and civil society leaders that opened his three-day visit to the country, Francis denounced the "tragic instances of child abuse" as ...

Pope Wraps Up 12-Day Tour of Asia-Pacific, Defying Health Concerns

Pope Francis wrapped up an arduous 12-day tour of the Asia-Pacific on Friday, defying health concerns to connect with believers from the jungle of Papua New Guinea to the skyscrapers of Singapore. The 87-year-old pontiff took off for Rome, completing his longest trip in duration and distance since he became head of the world's estimated 1.4 ...