Vatican City, 27 March 2015 (VIS) – On 10 March, Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, Holy See Permanent Observer to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, spoke at the 28th meeting of the Council for Human Rights. His speech, the majority of which is presented here below, emphasized the fundamental importance of religious…
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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has expressed his concern for Christian families and other victims of violence who have been expelled from their homes and villages in Iraq. Tracey McClure has more:
listen to Tracey’s report:
A statement issued Friday by the Holy See’s Press Office says the Pope is particularly concerned about those from Mosul and the Nineveh Plains, many of whom have found refuge in Iraqi Kurdistan. The press statement further says the Holy Father is praying for the victims and hopes that they will soon be able to return to their former lives in their homeland where for centuries they have lived in good relations with their neighbours.
In this coming Holy Week these families particularly share in the injustice and sufferings of Christ, and as a sign of unity, Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, will return to Iraq to be with the expelled families and to pray with them during this time of suffering.
Special Easter collection for Iraq’s displaced Christians
The Diocese of Rome will be taking up a special collection in parishes, and in a sign of solidarity, will be sending traditional Italian cakes to the persecuted families of Iraq so that they may be able to share in the joy of Easter.
The statement ends by saying that Holy Father would also like to express his closeness to suffering families in northern Nigeria . The Holy Father has also asked the local Episcopal Conference to join with him in extending a similar sign of solidarity with those families.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has expressed his concern for Christian families and other victims of violence who have been expelled from their homes and villages in Iraq. Tracey McClure has more: listen to Tracey’s report: A statement issued Friday by the Holy See’s Press Office says the Pope is particularly concerned about those from…
Read more
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has expressed his concern for Christian families and other victims of violence who have been expelled from their homes and villages in Iraq. Tracey McClure has more: listen to Tracey’s report: A statement issued Friday by the Holy See’s Press Office says the Pope is particularly concerned about those from…
Read more
(Vatican Radio) The White House issued a statement on Thursday announcing United States President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle will host Pope Francis on September 23, 2015.
The meeting will take place in the White House, and the statement said President Obama and Pope Francis would discuss several issues of mutual interest, including “caring for the marginalized and the poor; advancing economic opportunity for all; serving as good stewards of the environment; protecting religious minorities and promoting religious freedom around the world; and welcoming and integrating immigrants and refugees into our communities.”
The statement said President Obama “looks forward to continuing this conversation with the Holy Father during his first visit to the United States as pope.”
Pope Francis and President Obama met for the first time at the Vatican on March 27, 2014.
It has already been announced Pope Francis will address a joint session of the United States Congress on September 24.
After visiting Washington, Pope Francis’ trip to the United States will take him to New York City, where he will address the United Nations General Assembly on September 25, before he heads to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families from September 26-27.
(from Vatican Radio)…