Pope Francis meets the Buddhist Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, Ariyavongsagatanana IX

On his first full day in Thailand, Pope Francis meets the Buddhist Supreme Patriarch and confirms the Church’s commitment to open and respectful dialogue in the service of peace.

The meeting took place on Thursday morning at the Wat Ratchabophit Sathit Maha Simaram Temple in Bangkok.

A lasting friendship

In his address to the Pope, the Buddhist Supreme Patriarch Ariyavongsagatanana IX recalled the historic visit of Pope Saint John Paul II to his predecessor 35 years ago, a meeting at which he had been present… Read more »

The first leg of Pope Francis’ 32nd apostolic visit abroad takes him to Thailand. He goes in the footsteps of Pope Saint John Paul II who visited the country in 1984.

Ninety five percent of the Thai population is Buddhist. But Thailand is also a land of interreligious dialogue and respect for diversity. Christians in Thailand have enjoyed freedom of worship ever since the Portuguese arrived in the nation in 1511, planting the first seeds of the Gospel… Read more »

Pope Francis sent a video message to the people of Japan in the lead-up to his visit there at the end of this week, noting that they are a people who knows well the “suffering caused by war.” The pope will visit Japan from November 23 to 26.

“Together with you, I pray that the destructive power of nuclear weapons will never be unleashed again in human history.”

The Holy Father reiterated the Church’s teaching, based on the indiscriminate effects of nuclear weapons, which bring the death of non-combatants as well as military personnel: “The use of nuclear weapons is immoral.”

As the Catechism notes for one of the conditions for a war to be considered “just”:

– the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated… Read more »

Nhar is-Sibt 16 ta’ Novembru l-Arċisqof Charles J. Scicluna amministra s-Sagrament tal-Griżma lil 57 adolexxent (21 tifel u 36 tifla) li jattendu l-iskola ta’ San Anton, fis-Santwarju tal-Ħniena Divina, in-Naxxar.

Nhar il-Ħadd 17 ta’ Novembru l-Arċisqof amministra wkoll is-Sagrament tal-Griżma lil 28 adolexxent (18-il tifel u 10 bniet) fil-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ Kristu Re, Raħal Ġdid.

Aktar ritratti: knisja.mt/ritratti Read more »

L-adolexxenti bniet mill-iskola ta’ San Anton li rċevew is-Sagrament tal-Griżma L-adolexxenti subien mill-iskola ta’ San Anton li rċevew is-Sagrament tal-Griżma L-adolexxenti bniet mill-Parroċċa Kristu Re li rċevew is-Sagrament tal-Griżma L-adolexxenti subien mill-Parroċċa Kristu Re li rċevew is-Sagrament tal-Griżma …

A Palace for the Poor: That’s what Pope Francis blessed on Friday afternoon, just ahead of the World Day of the Poor. Pope Francis inaugurated the new Night and Day Care Center for homeless people near St Peter’s Square, as part of his Friday of Mercy initiative.

The 4-storey Vatican property sits in a prestigious location right off the colonnade of St Peter’s Square… Read more »