(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)…
(Vatican Radio) As right-wing Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu celebrates his latest election victory, analysts are asking what hopes remain for any peace negotiations with the Palestinians. In the run-up to Tuesday’s vote, the Likud party leader ruled out the creation of a Palestinian state in what he called the current context of rising Islamic extremism and instability in the Middle East.
Jesuit Father David Neuhaus is in charge of the small Hebrew-speaking Catholic community in Israel. He wasn’t surprised by Netanyahu’s win in the polls, but he says this election victory may also provide new impetus for the international community to step up its pressure on the Israeli government and provide an alternative vision for lasting peace in the region….
Listen:
Fr Neuhaus says he thinks a lot of people chose Netanyahu because they felt there was no real opposition. The Likud leader’s main rival, he says, was “not someone who was politically astute” but someone who spent most of his campaign attacking Netanyahu and his wife instead of focusing on a vision for the future of Israeli society…
Asked about the bleak prospects for peace with the Palestinians, Fr Neuhaus says there is a lot of election rhetoric at the moment and Netanyahu is not someone known for his “coherence or consistency”. Secondly, Fr Neuhaus believes that with the Likud leader heading a right-wing government, the international community may be persuaded to step up pressure and support the Israeli opposition in its call for justice and peaceful transformation. The worst scenario, Fr Neuhaus says, would be a national unity government which would leave no valid opposition inside the country.
Fr Neuhaus notes that Israel is very economically dependent on the international community, which must increase all forms of pressure and speak out against “such a situation which is more and more blatantly unjust for a people that has been waiting for decades for recognition of its national rights”….
Fr Neuhaus also believes that Netanyahu is very sensitive to criticism from the United States, though he has recently tried to develop his own base of support by focusing on internal American divisions. Now that the newly re-elected leader has clearly voiced his vision for society, the international community must show that this vision is not shared and that Israel will pay a high price for it…….
Less than a year on from Pope Francis’ visit to the region, Fr Neuhaus says the Pope continues to offer an alternative vision that stands in stark contrast to the views of Netanyahu and his closest allies….
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday received the Cardinal Angelo Amato, SDB, the Prefect for the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, in a private audience. During the audience, the Holy Father authorized the Congregation to promulgate decrees concerning several causes for saints.
Most notably, the Pope has approved a decree recognizing a miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Louis Martin and Blessed Marie-Azélie Guérin, the parents of St Thérèse of Lisieux.
The Congregation also promulgated decrees of heroic virtue for seven individuals who are on the path to canonization. The Servants of God whose heroic virtues were recognized on Tuesday are:
Fr Francesco Gattola, a diocesan Priest, and Founder of the Congregation of the Suore Figlie della Santissima Vergine Immaculata of Lourdes. He was born in Naples in 1822 and died there in 1899.
Pietro Barbarić, a Jesuit Scholastic, from Bosnia Herzegovina, born 1874, died 1897.
Mary Aikenhead, born in Cork, Ireland, in 1787, the Founder of the Institute of the Religious Sisters of Charity in Ireland. She died in Dublin in 1858.
Elisabetta Baldo, a widow, who founded the Pia Casa di San Giuseppe a Gavardo, and was co-Founder of the Congregation of the Umili Serve del Signore. Born in Italy in 1862; died 1926.
Vincenza of the Passion of the Lord (née Edvige Jaroszewska), Founder of the Congregation of the Benedictine Samaritan Sisters of the Cross of Christ. Born 1900 in Poland; died 1937.
Giovanna of the Cross, a professed religious of the Third Order of Saint Francis. She was Abbess of the Convent of Santa Maria della Croce in Cubas di Madrid. Born in Spain in 1481; died 1534.
And Maria Orsola Bussone, a young laywoman associated with the Focolare Movement in Italy. She was born in 1954, and died in 1970.
With the Pope’s decree, these holy men and women are now referred to as Venerable.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has given €500,000 to provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by the Ebola crisis in West Africa, especially Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.
The Fund is being distributed by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
Cardinal Peter Turkson, the President of the Council, said the Fund has many objectives, including improving existing health care structures, offering psychological help for families affected by the Ebola crisis, and to aid local dioceses and parishes to develop sacramental practices which minimize the risk of transmitting the virus.
Listen to the interview by Vatican Radio with Cardinal Peter Turkson:
The Council is currently seeking additional donors to add to the fund, and has doubled the amount of the original papal donation, but Cardinal Turkson said he hopes to have 2 or 3 million euros before distributing funds to Catholic organizations battling the crisis.
“ The applications [for grants] have started coming already, but want to reach a decent level before we start treating applications,” Cardinal Turkson told Vatican Radio.
The Council has limited initial grants to €30,000, and is encouraging larger projects to get matching funds before applying.
(from Vatican Radio)…