News in World

Pope Francis may meet Xi Jinping

Pope Francis may meet Xi Jinping

by: ucanews.com reporter, Hong Kong in World Issues,

Vatican hints that Pope Francis may meet Xi Jinping. Any encounter in Rome this week would be the first between a Chinese leader and a pope. Although a visit to the Vatican is not on Xi’s official schedule for his state visit to Italy, Monaco and France from March 21-26, a senior Vatican source claimed that the pope is willing to meet Xi and that the president’s intermediaries had made overtures to the Vatican.

Pope calls for prayer for persecuted Christians

Pope calls for prayer for persecuted Christians

by: Rose Gamble-The Tablet in World Issues,

Pope Francis has called for people to pray for Christians persecuted "because they speak the truth and proclaim Jesus Christ to this society".  The Pope begins the 60-second recording released on Wednesday 6 March by telling listeners that there are more martyrs today than in the first centuries.

Brexit and Catholic Social Teaching

Brexit and Catholic Social Teaching

by: Tina Beattie-The Tablet in World Issues,

The role played by religion has been largely ignored in debates surrounding Brexit – but as a leading Catholic academic points out, religious faith continues to be a decisive factor in shaping the lives and identities of many British people.

Cardinal Zen: Communists destroy foundation of equality

Cardinal Zen: Communists destroy foundation of equality

by: UCAN - Reporters in World Issues,

"I want to remember those heroes suffering in China and Hong Kong for respecting human dignity, freedom and democracy".  Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun received the Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom from the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in United States capital Washington on Jan. 28.

Cafod criticises report calling for massive overseas aid cuts

Cafod criticises report calling for massive overseas aid cuts

by: Ruth Gledhill - The Tablet in World Issues,

The Catholic Church's aid agency Cafod has criticised a report calling for a multi-billion pound cut in the UK's overseas aid budget. The report, "Global Britain: A Blueprint for the 21st Century", with a foreword by former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, argues among other things for the closure of the Department for International Development.

Pope Francis condemns dangers of digital world

Pope Francis condemns dangers of digital world

by: Christopher Lamb - The Tablet in World Issues,

In a message to mark the Church's world communications day, the Pope welcomes possibilities the web and social networks open up but also warns of the dangers. “If the internet represents an extraordinary possibility of access to knowledge, it is also true that it has proven to be one of the areas most exposed to disinformation and to the conscious and targeted distortion of facts and interpersonal relationships, which are often used to discredit,” he writes. 

Mosque attack kills 2 in southern Philippines

Mosque attack kills 2 in southern Philippines

by: Joe Torres, Manila - UCAN in World Issues,

Zamboanga City blast comes 3 days after twin Jolo Cathedral bombings claim 21 lives. Claretian missionary priest Angel Calvo, president of Peace Advocates Zamboanga, appealed for calm and called on people to pray for peace. "These are terroristic and barbaric acts," said the priest who has worked to foster inter-religious dialogue among Christians and Muslims in Mindanao for more than four decades.

Visiting bishops see 'incomprehensible complexity' of Holy Land situation

Visiting bishops see 'incomprehensible complexity' of Holy Land situation

by: Catholic News Service in World Issues,

Bishops participating in the annual Holy Land Coordination see "great need" to promote an understanding between Israelis and Palestinians, said Bishop Noel Treanor of Down and Connor, Ireland. "There is ... a need to devise ways for both people to understand that, ultimately and finally, for the common good of all, a permanent and sustainable solution is needed," said Bishop Treanor.

UK in 'amazing' mess over Brexit, says Catholic bishop

UK in 'amazing' mess over Brexit, says Catholic bishop

by: Simon Caldwell-Catholic News Service in World Issues,

"The problem with the House of Commons is that three-quarters of the members voted to remain," said Rees-Mogg, chair of the pro-Brexit European Research Group, on ITV news Jan. 15. "Therefore, you have got a 'remainer' House of Commons trying to implement a 'leave' that it doesn't want. That is why you have no agreement on the deal.