News

Pope: prayers for earthquake victims in Afghanistan

28/10/2015

Pope Francis has expressed his sorrow at “the tragic loss of life in Afghanistan and Pakistan as a result of the earthquake in the region.” The Pope’s remarks were conveyed in a telegram from Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, addressed to Archbishop Ghaleb Moussa Abdalla Bader, the Apostolic Nuncio to Pakistan.

Below, please find the full text of the telegram:

His Holiness Pope Francis was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic loss of life in Afghanistan and Pakistan as a result of the earthquake in the region…

27/10/2015

- On Saturday 31st October 2015, at 10:00 a.m., The Faculty of Theology and the Foundation for Theological Studies are launching a publication ‘The Quest for Authenticity and Human Dignity’, edited by Rev. Professor Emmanuel Agius, Dean of the Faculty of Theology, and Rev. Professor Hector Scerri, Deputy Dean and Foundation Director.
  
  The 500-page volume consists of a collection of 26 essays – on a variety of themes: Scripture, bioethics, moral theology, systematic theology, political history, sacred art, philosophy – in honour of Rev…

27/10/2015

Pope Francis on Monday urged the “abolition of war” while meeting participants in a training course for military chaplains jointly organized by the Congregation for Bishops, the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

The course explored some of the current challenges of international humanitarian law regarding the protection of human dignity during internal armed conflicts and the so-called “new conflicts.”

Pope Francis told the participants the issue is “unfortunately, very topical” due to the increased violence and armed conflicts in different parts of the world, such as Africa, Europe, and the Middle East…

26/10/2015

On Monday 26th October 2015, The Għaqda Studenti tat-Teoloġija (Għ.S.T.) celebrated 70 years and organised a debate about the the local Church and the Second Vatican Council, as part of the Foundation Day celebrations at The Archbishop’s Seminary, ir-Rabat, under the patronage of the Archbishop of Malta.

The panel consisted of Rev. Dr Joe Galea Curmi, the Vicar General who was secretary to the Synod Implementation Commission of the Archdiocese of Malta between 1999 and 2004, and editor of the synod documents; Dr Pauline Dimech, a former member of the central Commission for the Diocesan Synod and of the Secretariat for the Laity, is also a member of the Society of Christian Doctrine; and Rev…

26/10/2015

Nhar it-Tnejn 26 ta’ Ottubru 2015, Mons. Mario Grech, Isqof ta’ Għawdex u President tal-Konferenza Episkopali Maltija, indirizza konferenza tal-aħbarijiet mal-wasla tiegħu Malta minn Ruma, fejn attenda għas-Sinodu tal-Isqfijiet.

L-14-il Assemblea Ġenerali Ordinarja tas-Sinodu tal-Isqfijiet, li bdiet fl-4 ta’ Ottubru 2015, intemmet ilbierah b’Quddiesa Solenni mmexxija mill-Papa Franġisku, fil-Bażilika ta’ San Pietru, il-Vatikan. It-tema ta’ dan is-Sinodu kienet “Il-vokazzjoni u l-missjoni tal-familja fil-Knisja u fid-dinja tal-lum”…

26/10/2015

On Sunday 25th October 2015, lines of faithful spiraled around St. Peter’s Square from early on Sunday awaiting their chance to enter St. Peter’s Basilica for the closing Mass of the Synod on the Family. The Mass, presided over by Pope Francis, marked the end of the second gathering of the Synod of Bishops to discuss “The Mission and Vocation of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World.”

Families from all over the world filled the Basilica…

24/10/2015

Click here to download the final report of the Synod of Bishops (Italian)

Below find the official English translation of Pope Francis’ address at conclusion of the Synod of Bishops:
Dear Beatitudes, Eminences and Excellencies, Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I would like first of all to thank the Lord, who has guided our synodal process in these years by his Holy Spirit, whose support is never lacking to the Church…

23/10/2015

On Friday 30th October 2015, six seminarians and a Conventual Franciscan friar are going to be ordained deacons by Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna, during a celebration of Mass starting at 6:30pm, at St Sebastian’s Parish Church, Ħal Qormi.

The following will be ordained deacons: Allister Marija Aquilina OFM Conv.; Sergio Fenech and Mark Mallia Pawley from St Sebastian’s Parish Church, Ħal Qormi; Claude Mifsud, from the Parish of the Assumption of Our Lady, Mosta; James Saydon, from the Parish of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Naxxar; Andrew Schembri from St George’s Parish, Ħal Qormi; and Gilbert Scicluna from St Joseph’s Parish, Kalkara…

23/10/2015

Today, at the beginning of the afternoon General Congregation of the Synod of Bishops, the Holy Father made the following announcement:

“I have decided to establish a new Dicastery with competency for Laity, Family and Life, that will replace the Pontifical Council for the Laity and the Pontifical Council for the Family. The Pontifical Academy for Life will be joined to the new Dicastery. To this end, I have constituted a special commission that will prepare a text delineating canonically the competencies of the new Dicastery…

22/10/2015

Pope Francis held his weekly General Audience this Wednesday in St. Peter’s Square. In his remarks to the faithful gathered in the Square, Pope Francis returned to the theme of the family, and specifically to the promises a man and a woman make to each other when they form a family in marriage.

The Holy Father began his main catechesis with a reflection on the family as founded on a promise…