Singing elevates the soul, making it “more sensitive to the voice of the Spirit.”

Pope Francis described the musical art in this way, while speaking to 300-odd members of the “Alumni of Heaven” Choir Association on Saturday.

The Association is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its foundation by Fr. Giuseppe Arione SJ. The Alumni seek to evangelize through music and concerts, which they perform throughout Italy and Europe…

“Promise the Lord that you will never do this, and you will not permit it to be done in your school, in your school, in your neighborhood. Is that understood?”

It was not a casual message for the Pope. The bullying problem on social networks worries him to the point that the Vatican will create an International Observatory. 

In April, he hopes to present the conclusions of a triple study that will measure how the children themselves perceive the phenomenon, how the governments face this problem and how he will establish prevention plans…

The war in Yemen has been raging on for over four years. A war involving, whether directly or indirectly, 12 countries. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, and so many more displaced. Dr Jeremy Taylor, an advocacy adviser in charge of Yemen for the Norwegian Refugee Council, helps shed light over the drastic realities of the war in Yemen…

The theme of Pope Francis’ Message for the 52nd World Day of Peace, marked on 1 January 2019, have been revealed in a note and a comment published by the Holy See Press Office.

The Holy See Press Office statement said Pope Francis’ Message for the coming World Day of Peace highlights the need for politics to be at the service of peace: “Political responsibility belongs to every citizen, and in particular to those who have been given the mandate to protect and govern”…

The Holy See is establishing a body that will provide a “new, single, international service for the needs of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Church”. This news was announced by the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life in a Press Release on 31 October.

Details of the new organization

According to the Press Release, December 8 is the day that will see this new structure come to light…