Five hundred years after the death of Leonardo da Vinci (May 2, 1519), there are still many mysteries to be unveiled related to this protagonist of the Italian Renaissance and the history of humanity. He represents the emblem of “universal man,” a formula that echoes the universalis genius of the ancient Romans.
During the Cold War the dominant strategic doctrine was MAD—Mutually Assured Destruction. The irony of the English acronym was grimly acknowledged by proponents and critics alike. You would have to be crazy to initiate a nuclear war that would bring destruction on a global scale.
In today’s modern world overshadowed by extravagant globalization, materialism and consumerism, it is very common for people to forget about people who are less fortunate. These people with relative fortune and comfort might get a jolt if asked what they think about slavery and slaves. In most cases, the answer is likely to be simple: slavery was abolished in the 19th century.
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We all know that Christians are the single most persecuted religious group, no? If we don’t, we should. But for the last two years, the Hungarian government – yep, under the controversial Viktor Orbán – has sought to remedy matters by devoting a specific part of its overseas aid budget – known as Hungary Helps – to help Christians.
But 12 December 2019 might also represent another historical way station of huge import. For it could be the last time MPs from Scotland are returned to the Westminster Parliament. The Scottish question was vividly put in The Guardian last month by Neal Ascherson when he claimed that “Brexit has delivered the United Kingdom to the hospice of history”. I hope it hasn’t – but I fear it has.
Pope Francis has revealed more about his lifelong passion for Japan, telling Emperor Naruhito how much his parents cried when he was nine years old in 1945 when they learned about the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki when more than 100,000 people were instantly killed.
Chernobyl is a television mini-series co-produced by HBO and Sky about the very serious nuclear accident at the V.I. Lenin Nuclear Power Plant, located 18 kilometers northeast of the city of Chernobyl and 16 kilometers from the border between Ukraine and Belarus.
All these proposals are to be found in a broad and mature vision of the Church, alien to clericalism, aware of the fact that the laity already have in fact in many situations the task of teaching and supporting ecclesial communities.
In a joint declaration at the Vatican on Oct. 28, they promoted palliative care with comprehensive physical, emotional, social, religious and spiritual care for dying patients and appropriate support for their families.
At least two people were killed and damage to churches, school buildings and other structures was reported after a 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Oct. 29. The tremor came more than a week after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit the Mindanao region, killing seven people and injuring at least 60 others.