In a gesture of interfaith reconciliation, Pope Benedict XVI will visit the Rome synagogue and meet with the city’s Jewish community in January, the Vatican announced.

The pope’s visit on Jan. 17, 2010, coincides with the Roman Jewish commemoration of “Lead Mo’ed,” which marks a torrential rain in 1793 that saved Jews from a Roman mob’s attempt to attack them. Pope Benedict’s visit comes at the invitation of Rabbi Riccardo di Segni, the chief rabbi of Rome… Read more »

Benedict XVI will visit the Rome headquarters of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization for the opening day of its World Summit on Food Security.

The Pope will visit the FAO on Nov. 15, the Vatican announced today. The World Summit on Food Security will be held immediately prior to the FAO general conference, Nov. 18-23.

The Vatican announcement comes a day after Jacques Diouf, director-general of the U.N… Read more »

The European bishops gathered representatives from 29 countries to create strategies for building solidarity on the continent in the first ever “Catholic Social Days for Europe.” These days, sponsored by the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community, took place in Gdansk from Thursday to Sunday.

In the closing statement, titled “Solidarity Is the Future of Europe,” the bishops recalled the 70th anniversary of the beginning of World War II, and the resulting quest for reconciliation that gave rise to the European Union… Read more »

The earth has space for everyone, but the whole human family must commit to sharing resources, says Archbishop Agostino Marchetto.

The secretary of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers affirmed this Monday in Vicenza at a meeting organized by the diocesan foundation for migrants. The prelate reflected on immigration in the light of “Caritas in Veritate.”

In the encyclical, the Pope refers to the causes that impel millions of men and women to emigrate, such as lack of food, problems with water, agriculture, the environment, energy and the search for dignified work, noted the archbishop… Read more »

Programm taż-Żjara Pastorali fil-Parroċċa tal-Mellieħa 18 – 27 ta’ Ottubru 2009

Il-Ħadd, 18 ta’ Ottubru

09.00a.m. L-Arċisqof jiċċelebra Quddiesa fil-Knisja ta’ Selmun u wara jiltaqa’ man-nies.

11.0a.m. L-Arċisqof jiltaqa’ mal-membri tas-Soċjeta Ċivili fiċ-Ċentru Parrokkjali.

It-Tlieta, 20 ta’ Ottubru

4.30 p.m. L-Arċisqof jiltaqa’ mat-tfal li jattendu l-Katekiżmu fiċ-Ċentru Parrokkjali.

5.30 p.m. L-Arċisqof iżur il-fergħa tal-MUSEUM tal-bniet… Read more »

The Holy See is outlining several achievements toward the goal of global disarmament, but is urging the United Nations to recognize some issues as well.

Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See at the United Nations, affirmed this today in an address to the first committee of the general assembly’s 64th session. He underlined the expectations of “those suffering and struggling because of armed conflicts and violence” who look to the United Nations for “tangible and convincing results in the hope of seeing a world free of nuclear weapons.”

The prelate affirmed the need for “strict controls over arms trade, which in our day is strongly embedded in illicit markets and causing serious damage to humanity.” He noted that last year, despite the “acute economic crisis,” military expenditures increased by 4% and totalled some $1.46 billion… Read more »