Pope Francis has expressed his “deep concern” at President Donald Trump’s plan to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel arguing the move will create more tensions in the Holy Land and stressing the city is sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims. 

Francis made his comments to a gathering in the Vatican’s Paul VI hall following news that the United States president is planning to move the country’s embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. 

“I cannot remain silent about my deep concern over the situation that has arisen in recent days and, at the same time, a heartfelt appeal so that everyone would be committed to respecting the status quo of the city, in accordance with the relative resolutions to the United Nations,” Francis said at the General Audience today (6 December). 

While Israel regards Jerusalem as its capital, Palestinians see East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state…

Do you ever get to Christmas morning and wonder where, exactly, the last month went? Too often, the holiday season rushes by with a flurry of activity, and sometimes, the busy pace of life in December means we forget all about Advent. While Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus, Advent — the four weeks before Christmas — is a special time in the Church calendar to practice waiting and hoping, to turn our attention toward Christ’s first coming…

Pope Francis on Monday released a video message accompanying his prayer intention for the month of December, which this month is “For the elderly.”

“Let us keep in mind our elders, so that sustained by families and institutions, may with their wisdom and experience collaborate in the education of new generations.”

It has become the custom of Pope Francis to release a video message detailing his new prayer intention each month…