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?
During his six-day trip to Canada, the Holy Father apologized for the “evil” of church personnel who worked on Canada’s infamous residential schools and the “catastrophic” effect the school system had on indigenous families. The Supreme Pontiff asked the indigenous community to restore its relationship with Catholicism, but without negating the past.
Separated from the rest of creation, we, as humans, would cease to exist. Our spiritual and existential protection and revival can be confirmed only through us acknowledging that our bond with the environment must mirror the bond of the three Persons in one God.
The head of Iran’s Islamic Seminary Ayatollah Alireza Arafi held a meeting with Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, at the Vatican to propound the idea of religious solidarity holding the key to the world’s problems.
Evil cannot be repaid with evil. It becomes a festering wound that staves off any inkling of peace. Peace requires a process of reflection, forgiveness and complete reliance on the Holy Spirit.
The pontiff once again calls for the cessation of violence in Ukraine and peace in the world on Easter Sunday, persisting in his stance against the Russian aggression.
There is a universal agreement that war is inherently evil. But it takes an influential religious leader like the Pope to goad the collective conscience into limiting the cruel outcome of human greed and apathy.
Pope Francis candidly answers questions in the new book ‘Des pauvres au Pape, du Pape au monde’, allowing a glimpse into the complex life he has lived, with the utmost simplicity.
Last year, on the 70th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, the first major step towards post-WWII long-lasting peace, Pope Francis said it had led to “the long period of stability and peace (in Europe) from which we benefit today”.
While popes in the past have performed the consecration stipulated by Our Lady at Fatima to varying degrees, Pope Francis’ forthcoming consecration comes the closest to meeting the specifics of the Blessed Mother’s request and may prove fortuitous.