Editorial Assistant

Assumption, Pope Francis: Mary is a symbol of how God works with the ‘little ones’, the poor

August 15, 2017

The joy that Mary brings while carrying Jesus is expressed in the Magnificat, Pope Francis told faithful gathered in St. Peter’s square on the feast of the Assumption, which “praises the loyal and merciful God, who carries out his design of salvation with the little ones and the poor, with those who have faith in Him, who trust his Word, like Mary.”

As Italy empties for summer break, Pope Francis opts for ‘staycation’

Vatican

August 15, 2017

While being a big fan of the post-lunch siesta, Pope Francis has never adopted the Italian tradition of ‘Ferragosto’ when people abandon the hot cities and escape to the nearby beaches. The workaholic pope decided instead to spend the summer at his home in the Vatican for what in American argot is called a ‘staycation.’

Canonist warns Church oversight of troubled lay groups has ‘no teeth’
- Global Church
- August 12, 2017
Through the years the Vatican has developed strong rules and regulations to fight sex abuse in the clergy, but two recent sex abuse scandals in Catholic lay associations show that in these cases the Church is still very slow to respond and that often local bishops fail to exercise the necessary monitoring.
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Migrants: Church leaders criticize Italy for tightening its grip on NGOs
- Global Church
- August 10, 2017
Church leaders have spoken up in defense of NGOs operating search and rescue missions for migrants in the Mediterranean, calling for the creation of safe channels for refugees who wish to come to Italy and criticizing some of the provisions within the ‘code of conduct’ that the state asked NGOs to sign in order to continue their work at sea.
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Parolin says “urgency of finding peace” key aim of visit to Russia
- Global Church, Vatican
- August 9, 2017
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, will have to navigate difficult waters with both the Kremlin and the Russian Orthodox Church during his upcoming visit to Moscow. Although the purpose of the visit has nothing to do with planning a trip to Russia by Pope Francis, the cardinal said he hopes “nonetheless, with God’s help, that it may offer some contribution in this direction.”
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