The Holy See Press Office has released an update on Pope Francis’ health as he is being treated for a respiratory infection, noting that his complex clinical condition requires an extended time of treatment in hospital.
As he remains in hospital with double pneumonia, we keep him close in prayer.
In his usual Sunday Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, on the occasion of the feast of the Baptism of the Lord which, according to the liturgical calendar currently in force in the Catholic Church, marks the end of the Christmas season, Pope Francis made the following statement: “the face and voice of God are revealed through the human side of Jesus”.
Pope Francis invites us to celebrate the 2025 Jubilee Year, themed “Spes non confundit”—Hope does not disappoint (Rom 5:5). This Jubilee is a time for spiritual renewal, drawing us closer to God and to one another. Through prayer, mercy, and simplicity, we are called to embrace hope as an anchor for our souls. Let this Jubilee be a pilgrimage of transformation, bringing joy, reconciliation, and a profound commitment to serving those in need.
Pope Francis continues to remind us of the devil’s presence, warning against the dangers of superstition and mediocrity. He stresses that ignoring the devil’s existence or engaging with superstition unknowingly invites evil. In these times of rising spiritual confusion, the Pope calls for vigilance, prayer, and trust in God’s protection.
At 60 years old, Father Justin Solistiadi, assistant parish priest at Saint John Mary Vianney, embodies the vibrant spirit of Indonesia’s Catholic community as they celebrate Pope Francis’ visit to Jakarta. In a city with a predominantly Muslim population, Father Solistiadi has played a pivotal role in fostering inter-religious dialogue and preparing his parish for this historic event. His efforts, including setting up a special committee of journalists and creating a new website, highlight the significance of the visit and its impact on both local and national levels.
Cardinal Bergoglio’s letter urges us to pray with boldness and persistence, echoing biblical figures like Moses, David, and the Canaanite woman who fought with God in prayer. Prayer is not just a ritual; it’s a bold, daring dialogue with God, pressing Him to act in our lives and in the world.
The Declaration on Human Fraternity is an important annual event that celebrates the signing of the declaration by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar. Even as religious extremism increases in some regions of the Indian subcontinent, we reflect on the importance of respecting individual freedom of choice and consent in matters of belief, in order to foster a culture of goodness, peace, and fraternity.
Largely, the Associated Press has been very aggressive against the Catholic Church but a giant of this size has room for many exceptions, as this interview with Pope Francis showed. The conversation with the journalists ventured across many important topics.
Pope Francis asked, and Macau responded enthusiastically. Hundreds of children from local Catholic schools prayed the Rosary on October 18th as part of a global campaign of prayer for peace and unity promoted by the international foundation, Aid to the Church in Need. The local Portuguese-speaking Catholic community joined the “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” campaign for the second year in a row.
The war continues, with millions of refugees and thousands of dead. A war that, as the Holy See stated in a press release a few days ago, “is morally unjust, unacceptable, barbaric, senseless, repugnant, and sacrilegious.” Will the Russian people have the courage to end it?