News

In your tears

A poem by Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap

21/02/2025

Rajtek ħdejn il-bieb biswit il-kappella
F’kuritur mimli b’nies ilkoll għaddejjin,
Fraħna ħafna meta erġajna ltajna
Wara waqfa ta’ tant żmien, it-tnejn sejrin.

Ħelu l-kumment tiegħek li kkummentajtli
Biex nieħu ħsieb dik iż-żaqq li tant tidher,
Kull telespettatur għid li se jaraha
W jien erħili ngħidilhom: “Kemm qed nikber”.

Imbagħad kif id-diskors dar bħaċ-ċirasa
U fettilli nsaqsik dwar l-għeżież tiegħek,
Hemmhekk gelgel minn għajnejk dmugħek ħelu
Kollu mrar, x’toqol kbir qed iġġorr miegħek… Read more »

Pope’s audience catechesis: Let us learn from Magi’s faith and hope in Child Jesus

19/02/2025

Image of the statue of St. John Paul II at the Gemelli hospital  (ANSA)

Dear brothers and sisters,

In the Gospels of the childhood of Jesus there is an episode which is exclusive to Matthew’s narrative: the visit of the Magi. Attracted by the appearance of a star, which in many cultures is the harbinger of the birth of an exceptional person, some wise men set out on a journey from the east, without knowing exactly where they will go… Read more »

Pope’s clinical condition showing slight improvement

21/02/2025

“The Holy Father‘s clinical condition is showing slight improvement. He has no fever, and his hemodynamic parameters remain stable. This morning, he received the Eucharist and then dedicated himself to work activities.“

This is the communiqué released to journalists by the Holy See Press Office on Thursday evening.

Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Hospital on Friday 14 February following a bout of bronchitis… Read more »

Pope has restful night, has breakfast in armchair

20/02/2025

“Pope Francis has had a restful night and this morning, got out of bed and had breakfast in an armchair,” the Holy See Press Office stated in a note to journalists on Thursday morning.

Pope Francis is being treated for double pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.

Wednesday evening, the Holy See Press Office statement noted the Holy Father’s clinical condition “is stable,” and that “the blood tests, evaluated by the medical staff, show a slight improvement, particularly in the inflammatory indices.” 

It noted that after breakfast, the Pope read some newspapers and then went about his work with his closest collaborators, and that before lunch, he received the Eucharist… Read more »

The joyful Jesus

20/02/2025

Kemm hu ferħan! Araha, dejjem daħkana! Dejjem jitbissem! Dawn huma xi ftit mill-kummenti li, int u jien nagħmlu, meta l-Mulej ilaqqagħna ma’ nies li dejjem narahom jidħku u jitbissmu.

Possibbli dawn in-nies problemi m’għandhomx? Jew inkella dawn in-nies, bl-għerf li jagħtihom l-Ispirtu s-Santu, qed jagħrfu li l-ħajja hi misteru u grazzja u mhux problema u diżgrazzja? Għaliex dawn in-nies jibqgħu ferħana, anki meta jgħaddu mill-provi tal-ħajja bħalma ngħaddu int u jien? … Read more »

The Gospel of the day: 20th February

20/02/2025

Readings of the day

First Reading: Genesis 9:1-13
Psalm: 101 (102):16-18,19-21,29 & 22-23

Gospel: Mark 8:27-33

Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, «Who do people say that I am?» They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Messiah.”

Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him… Read more »

COMECE calls for long-term peace in Syria: “Christians are an essential part of the country”

19/02/2025

Christians praying in a church of Aleppo, Syria. (Photo: Shutterstock/Torsten Pursche)

H.E. Mgr. Mariano Crociata, President of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), issued a statement on Wednesday, 19 February 2025, expressing deep concern for the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria, which persists more than a decade after the outbreak of conflict. Mgr. Crociata: “Christians communities are an integral and essential part of the history and culture of the region for centuries”. 

Mgr… Read more »

Pope’s health stable as he continues treatment in hospital

17/02/2025

The Holy See Press Office releases an update on Pope Francis’ health as he is treated for a respiratory infection in hospital, saying that he rested well and treatment is proceeding normally.

“Pope Francis rested well during the night. His clinical condition is stable, and the diagnostic and therapeutic process prescribed by the medical staff continues. This morning, he received the Eucharist and followed the Holy Mass on television… Read more »

Pope during Jubilee of Artists: “Never cease searching, questioning and taking risks”

17/02/2025

At Mass for the Jubilee of Artists and the World of Culture, the Pope called on creatives to be “witnesses to the revolutionary vision of the Beatitudes”.

As the Pope is currently undergoing treatment in hospital for bronchitis, his homily was read aloud by Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education.

Witnessing to the Beatitudes, the Pope said, means not only creating beauty, but also “revealing the truth and goodness …hidden within the folds of history”, and “giving voice to the voiceless”… Read more »

Pope Francis to be admitted to Gemelli Hospital for bronchitis treatment

14/02/2025

A view of the Gemelli Hospital, which features a statue of Pope John Paul II  (ANSA)

The Holy See Press Office announced on Friday that Pope Francis would be admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic hospital following his morning audiences.

The Pope will undergo several diagnostic tests and continue treatment for his ongoing bout of bronchitis.

“This morning, after his audiences, Pope Francis will be admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic for necessary diagnostic tests and to continue hospital treatment for his ongoing bronchitis,” read the statement… Read more »