Fr. Rafael Moussa was shot dead today in Al Arish, the same parish where another priest was killed in 2013. The murder has taken place on the anniversary of the demonstration that cleared the way for Al Sisi
“We pray for the victims, for their families, and for the beloved people of Turkey,” the Pope said today. At the Angelus prayer for Sts Peter and Paul, he added: “We are so deeply in need of peace!”
One of the key messages of the summit held in recent days on the Greek island, is that conciliarity should become an organised, decision-making model for Orthodox Churches
On behalf of all Jordanians, we thank His Majesty the King for visiting this Jordan house, which seems to be a dear, patriotic, and sincerely devoutly religious...
We are called upon, alongside His Majesty, to pay great attention to these houses, to visit them and make donations at the individual and institutional levels…
In the interview the Pope gave on board the flight from Armenia to Rome,on Sunday, June 26, he said: "Something isn't working in the EU, it needs creativity." Regarding the genocide, he commented: "I never intended to offend anyone with that word." When asked about the idea of establishing a "shared" papal ministry, he said: "Benedict XVI is an emeritus, but there is only one Pope." The commission that is to study the possibility of ordaining women as deacons is ready but Francis puts the issue into perspective.
The joint declaration signed by the Pope and Karekin II talks about the "immense tragedy" of "countless innocent people" who are "killed, displaced or forced into a painful and uncertain exile by continuing conflicts on ethnic, economic, political and religious grounds"
In his speech to Armenia’s political authorities, the Pope invited national leaders to welcome the persecuted. He mentioned the “Great Evil”, the massacre of a million and a half Armenians at the hands of the Turks and spoke about “hatred, prejudice and the untrammelled desire for dominion”, calling for efforts to be made to resolve international conflicts through dialogue.The term “genocide” was absent in Francis’ prepared text but he added it.
The Latin Church of Jerusalem is to have another Italian as its head, as the former Custodian of the Holy Land has been appointed Apostolic Administrator “until the nomination of a new patriarch”. “I return with the desire to serve the local clergy and the community as a whole and I ask for everyone’s understanding, friendship and collaboration”. The announcement came while the Pope was on his way to Armenia.
The Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) in Jordan has denounced the cowardly terrorist act which took place today, June 21, on the northeastern border, leading to the martyrdom of several personnel of the heroic Jordan Armed Forces and security apparatuses who died while defending their homeland, their leadership, and their people.
A CCSM statement issued today, June 21, and signed by CCSM Director Fr. Rif'at Bader, said that terrorism reveals anew the extent of its barbarism, brutality as well as its disavowal of all humanitarian, religious and moral values.
In the greeting he pronounced at the Apostolic Cathedral of Etchmiadzin, the first stop on his visit to Armenia, the Pope explained that dialogue between Christians shows “society as a whole” “a concrete way to harmonize the conflicts that rend civil life”.
