News

11/09/2019

Press conference on the flight back from his Apostolic Journey in Southern Africa: Pope Francis recalls the joy of the children he met and affirms that the State has the duty to take care of families. He says that xenophobia is “a disease” and asks that people’s identities be preserved from ideological colonization. He speaks of the criticisms he receives and replies to a question on schismatic temptations with: “I pray that schisms do not happen, but I am not afraid of them.”
From the flight Antananarivo-Rome

Two and a half hours after the Air Madagascar flight to Rome took off from Antananarivo; Pope Francis met the journalists accompanying him and spoke, answering their questions, for about an hour and a half…

Turkey bishop urges missionary effort by the church

11/09/2019

A Catholic bishop in Turkey has warned his Church lacks enough priests and places of worship to meet the needs of refugees and local residents, many of whom seek to return to Christianity or learn more about it. “We need priests, nuns and laypeople who can help with the formation and daily pastoral care of Christians, which is made more complex by great distances”, said Bishop Paolo Bizzeti, an Italian-born Jesuit heading Turkey’s apostolic vicariate of Anatolia…

10/09/2019

Pope Francis concluded his three-leg Apostolic Visit to Mozambique, Madagascar, and Mauritius on Tuesday morning. He is scheduled to touch down in Rome at about 7pm.

The Air Madagascar Airbus plane that is bringing Pope Francis back to the Vatican at the end of his 31st Apostolic Journey abroad has taken off from Antananarivo International Airport.

As is customary, the Pope’s outbound flight is always by Italy’s national airline Alitalia, while the national airline of the country he is leaving is the one to bring him back home…

09/09/2019

Pope Francis wrapped up his two-day Apostolic Visit to Madagascar on Sunday evening at Antananarivo’s Saint Michel College, an institute founded by French Jesuit missionaries in 1888 and that has become a well-known center for higher education throughout the region.

The Pope’s message to the men and women gathered in Antananarivo to be with their pastor, was one of thanks for their hard work – often carried out in difficult situations – and of encouragement in times of difficulty…

09/09/2019

We are deeply concerned about the ongoing detention of hundreds of asylum-seekers – men, women and children – on medical grounds at the Initial Reception Centre and Safi Barracks. We believe that, in many cases, the detention is completely unlawful.

National law allows the health authorities to restrict an individual’s movement for medical screening for a period not exceeding four weeks, which may be exceptionally extended up to ten weeks for the purpose of finalising any tests that may be necessary…

08/09/2019

Ms Josephine Mercieca, home manager at Dar Sant’Anna in Senglea, has retired after 13 years of service with the Church Homes for the Elderly. In a recent farewell event, Mons. Charles Cordina, the Episcopal Vicar for Diaconia, thanked her for her determination and for leading by example both at Dar Sant’Anna and also at Casa Leone in St Julian’s, a home she managed until 2016…

07/09/2019

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07/09/2019

In a country overcoming decades of conflict, Pope Francis on Friday 6 Sep, told some 40,000 people that they have the right to peace, but that they have to build their country on forgiveness and not “plotting opportunities for retaliation.”

Francis also noted that Mozambique is a land of abundant natural and cultural riches, yet great numbers of its people live below the poverty line…

06/09/2019

Going to Disney World is on the top of many children’s dream lists. So when Jermaine Bell from South Carolina turned down the opportunity to go to the magical destination for his seventh birthday in order to put the money towards helping those who had to flee their homes because of Hurricane Dorian, we couldn’t help but be impressed with his generosity…

05/09/2019

Waqt ċelebrazzjoni reliġjuża fil-Katidral tal-Imdina, li saret nhar it-3 ta’ Settembru 2019, l-Arċisqof Charles J. Scicluna ħeġġeġ lill-kapijiet tal-iskejjel tal-Knisja u l-edukaturi preżenti sabiex fil-ħidma edukattiva taghhom jimxu fuq il-linji gwida mogħtija minn Papa Franġisku fl-eżortazzjoni appostolika Kristu Jgħix.

L-Arċisqof ħeġġeġ lill-edukaturi biex jiffaċilitaw il-laqgħa tal-istudenti tagħhom ma’ Ġesù. Qal li l-edukaturi għandhom jaħdmu flimkien biex jikkomponu melodija u armonija li tkun attraenti u li ssaħħar liż-żgħażagħ lejH…