(Vatican Radio) Archbishop Bernardito Auza, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, focused on the “connection between the feminine genius and solidarity in caring for the vulnerable and in creating a better world” during a conference on “Women Promoting Human Dignity” held in the chambers of the United Nations on Wednesday.…
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(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…
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(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…
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(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.
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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)…