(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis phoned Benedict XVI to offer best wishes on the feast of St Joseph. It is a tradition for many Catholics to celebrate in a special way the feast day of the saint for whom they are named; the Pope Emeritus was baptized Joseph Ratzinger.
In his turn, Benedict offered congratulations to the Holy Father on the occasion of the second anniversary of the solemn inauguration of Pope Francis’ Petrine Ministry.
Saint Joseph is honoured as the Patron of the Universal Church, and one of the principle Patron Saints of Italy. His feast day is a Solemnity in the Latin liturgical calendar, and is a holiday in the Vatican.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis phoned Benedict XVI to offer best wishes on the feast of St Joseph. It is a tradition for many Catholics to celebrate in a special way the feast day of the saint for whom they are named; the Pope Emeritus was baptized Joseph Ratzinger. In his turn, Benedict offered congratulations to…
Read more
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis sent a telegram offering prayers for the victims of Wednesday’s terror attack in Tunis, in which at least 23 people were killed and more than 40 others wounded, many among them foreign tourists. In the telegram, signed by the Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, and addressed to the Archbishop of…
Read more
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis sent a telegram offering prayers for the victims of Wednesday’s terror attack in Tunis, in which at least 23 people were killed and more than 40 others wounded, many among them foreign tourists. In the telegram, signed by the Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, and addressed to the Archbishop of Tunis, Ilario Antoniazzi, the Holy Father decries the attack as, “[An act] against peace and the sacredness of human life.” He goes on to assure the families of the victims, all those affected by the incident, and the whole Tunisian people, of his continued prayers.
Click below to hear our report
The Pope’s condemnation and condolences came after remarks from Cardinal Parolin, who told Vatican Radio, “[The attack was] something most cruel and inhuman, truly unthinkable: to be condemned in the strongest possible terms.” Cardinal Parolin went on to say, We must hope that, in the name of God, no more violence is committed.”
Tunisia has suffered violence at the hands of Islamic militants in the past, and a disproportionately large number of Tunisians have joined the so-called “Islamic State” in Syria and Iraq. Tunisian security forces are currently battling Islamic militants belonging to several groups, including Ansar al Sharia, which the US lists as a terrorist group, and an al Qaeda affiliate with fighters operating along the Algerian border.
Speaking on national television in the wake of the attack, Tunisia’s President, Beji Caid Essebsi, said his country would not be intimidated. “These monstrous minorities do not frighten us,” he said.
Tour operators have already begun to react to the incident, with Italian cruise company Costa announcing it will be suspending calls to Tunisian ports. Tourism accounts for nearly 10% of the Tunisian economy, which is still struggling to steady itself along with the whole of Tunisian society, in the wake of a democratic reform movement that led to the ouster of the country’s long-time ruler at the start of what came to be known as the Arab Spring.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, has welcomed the visit to UN Headquarters by Pope Francis, scheduled for September 25 th . In a statement issued on Wednesday afternoon, the Secretary-General says, “His Holiness Pope Francis will visit the United Nations Headquarters on the morning of 25 September 2015.”
Listen
The Statement goes on to say, “The Secretary-General welcomes the visit of Pope Francis as an important part of a historic year in which the United Nations marks its 70 th anniversary and in which Member States will take major decisions about sustainable development, climate change and the future peace and well-being of humankind.”
During the visit, Pope Francis will address the United Nations General Assembly, hold meetings with the Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly, as well as participate in a town hall gathering with United Nations staff.
Ban’s statement concludes, saying, “The Secretary-General is confident that His Holiness Pope Francis’ visit will inspire the international community to redouble its efforts to achieve human dignity for all through ensuring greater social justice, tolerance and understanding among all of the world’s peoples.”
(from Vatican Radio)…