NI Development Minister pays tribute to the work of parishes and faith-based organisations
Month: November 2013
Silence on Christian suffering is appalling
Dear Editor, Your front page coverage of Pope Francis’ warning on the plight of Christians in the Middle East (Danger of Christian ‘extinction’ in Mid-East, IC 21/11/13) reveals a sad, not to say disturbing reality in what our current Pope represents to Western observers and the media which has been so keen on the so-called…
Pius XII and the path to sainthood
Dear Editor, After the death of Pope Pius XII in 1959, the Kennedy Directory USA, now the Official Catholic Directory, published the following statistics in relation to his 19 year Pontificate from 1939 until his death in 1958. In 1939 the number of archdioceses in the USA numbered 19, in 1958 they numbered 26 an…
Islamist factions unite in Syria
Paul KeenanA leading prelate in Syria has called on “foreign forces” to end their support for Islamist fighters in Syria who have banded together with the aim of creating an Islamic state there. Gregorios III Laham, Patriarch of Antioch of the Greek Melkite Church issued his call last weekend following the announcement that seven Islamistrebel groups…
‘More help needed in the Philippines’
The Irish Columban missionary, Fr Shay Cullen has praised the resilience of Filipinos in the wake of super-typhoon Haiyan, but has stressed that much more need to be done to help people to recover from the disaster. Following a trip with other members of his Preda Foundation to bring relief supplies into the disaster area,…
Pope closes the Year of Faith
Pope Francis has officially closed the Year of Faith. Before a packed St Peterís Square last Sunday, the Pontiff concluded the last celebration of the Year and reminded the faithful to keep Jesus ìcentralî to their lives. ìJesus is the centre of creation; and so the attitude demanded of us as true believers is that…
Quotes of the Week November 28
"The Bishop of Rome will not be at peace as long as there are men and women ñ of any religion harmed in their dignity, deprived of what is necessary for their survival, robbed of their future or forced to become refugees." Pope Francis’ message for peace in the Middle East, delivered on November 21…
Papal interview ‘inaccurate’ – journalist
Italy – An interview with Pope Francis which caused consternation when it appeared on the Vatican’s website has been withdrawn as it emerged that the interviewer involved made up some content attributed to the Pontiff. Eugenio Scalfari (89) penned his interview only after his meeting with the Pope, during which no notes or recordings were…
Google maps Roman catacombs
Italy – Internet giant Google has added two famed Roman catacombs to its Maps search facility, allowing viewers to see the sites in high definition for the first time. Following a major photographic project, the Catacombs of Priscilla and the Dino Companion can now be ‘visited virtually’, with users of Google Maps enabled to move…
Pope Francis biography launched in Argentina
Argentina – A book drawing on testimonies of Jesuits and Argentinian citizens who have encountered the man who is now Pope Francis has been released in his home country. Francis: Life and Revolution has been penned by journalist Elisabetta Piqué (pictured), who has personally known Pope Francis since 2001. Not only does the book offer…