The head of the Catholic aid and development agency, Caritas Internationalis, has warned the conflict in the Iraqi city of Mosul will cause heavy civilian casualties and will not be “a clean war” to rid the city of so-called Islamic State militants.

The Secretary General of the global Caritas confederation, Michel Roy also accused world leaders of “double standards” and of pursuing national interests in Syria and Iraq, rather than considering the interests of the civilian populations of those two countries…

Pope Francis said a good shepherd is one who follows Jesus rather than power, money or cliques and even if deserted by everybody may be sad but is never embittered. He was speaking at his morning Mass on Tuesday celebrated in the chapel of the Santa Marta Residence.

Taking his inspiration from the Second Letter to Timothy, the Pope’s homily was a reflection on the difficulties faced by the apostles like Paul in the final stage of their lives when they are left without means, deserted by all and having to ask for things like beggars…

On Saturday, 25 March 2017, Pope Francis will travel to northern Italy to visit the Archdiocese of Milan.

News of the upcoming visit came in a  statement released by the Holy See Press Office.

Cardinal Angelo Scola, Archbishop of Milan described the event as “a sign of closeness and esteem for the Church of Saint Ambrose, for the Metropolitan Church of Milan and for the entire region of Lombardia”…

Pope Francis on Sunday called on all men and women of good will to unite in the fight against poverty by implementing serious political legislation in support of families and employment.

Speaking during the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square after the morning’s Canonization Mass, the Pope recalled the “International Day for the Eradication of  Poverty” which is marked today, Monday 17 October, and said: “Let us join our moral and economic forces to fight together against poverty that degrades, offends and kills so many of our brothers and sisters, by giving life to serious policies in support of families and employment”…

On the morning of Sunday, October 15, Pope Francis presides over Holy Mass for the canonization of seven new Saints.

Two of the new Saints are martyrs:  José Sánchez del Río, a 14-year-old boy who was killed in 1928 in Mexico during the “Cristero” struggle which opposed the government’s anti-Catholic and anticlerical policies. Under torture José refused to disown his faith; a handwritten note addressed to his mother and found on his dead body read: “I promise that in heaven I will prepare a place for all of you…