• The second working day of the special Synod for the Pan-Amazon Region ended with the fourth General Congregation. The afternoon session was held in the presence of the Pope, with 182 synod fathers in attendance.

  The systematic violation of the rights of the original peoples of the Amazon; and the risk to life throughout the entire region due to the wounding of its habitat, were at the centre of the reflections during the fourth congregation of the Synod of Bishops…

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• During the concluding session of the Plenary Assembly of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, that has taken place in Santiago de Compostela in these last days, the presidents of the European Bishops’ Conferences, members of the CCEE, have addressed a message to the whole of Europe.

  “From the tomb of the Apostle James, the destination of many pilgrims from every part of our continent, we too, the Bishops of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, renew our profession of faith on the foundation of the Apostles…

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• The first press briefing for the Synod for the Amazon took place Monday afternoon at the Holy See Press Office.

  “Listening” and “joy” were two of the keynotes struck at the first press briefing for the Synod on the Amazon.

  The media event was opened by the Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, Paolo Ruffini, who emphasized how his team would provide transparency and openness during the Synod, while ensuring that the gathering itself would remain a “protected space” for dialogue and discernment…

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• Pope Francis celebrates Mass in St Peter’s Basilica for the Opening of the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon Region. In his homily, the Pope urges the Bishops to take to heart the message of Saint Paul in his Letter to Timothy.

  It was at the Angelus of 15 October 2017 that Pope Francis first announced he was convoking a Special Assembly of Bishops in order to “identify new pathways for the Church and for an integral ecology”…

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• Fifty-six feet below the surface of the Mediterranean Sea, near the town of Portofino on the Italian Riviera, stands a life-sized sculpture of Jesus Christ, with arms outstretched toward Heaven in a posture of invocation. 

  A swimmer happening upon the sculpture might assume that its presence was some happy accident — the remains of a shipwreck containing liturgical art or a lost civilization, perhaps. 

  Tourists taking one of the many SCUBA-diving tours to the underwater site know better…

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• EU High Representative Federica Mogherini launched a “Global Exchange on religion in society.” The project is planned to be operational in the first half of 2020 with funds from the EU budget. The initiative aims to create opportunities to connect people, organizations and community actors in the field of social inclusion

  European institutions have decided to support civil society actors committed to improve social cohesion through the contribution of faith…

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• Today Mgr. Antoine Camilleri will be consecrated bishop by Pope Francis, during Mass in St Peter’s Basilica at 5 p.m.

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