Elise Ann Allen In a scene reminiscent of Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 cinematic sensation The Godfather, Italy’s most notorious mob boss was arrested January 16 after 30 years on the run, a development celebrated by civil and ecclesial authorities alike. A fugitive for the past 30 years, infamous Italian mobster Matteo Messina Denaro – tied…
At the World Economic Forum, Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska and Ukrainian Catholic Archbishop Borys Gudziak of Philadelphia discussed the physical, psychological and emotional trauma of war, forgiveness, and their dreams for Ukraine’s future. The panel discussion with Archbishop Gudziak was hosted by Ukraine House Davos in collaboration with the January 17 “Ukraine Is You”…
Buddhists visit Vatican to meet with Pope Interreligious dialogue can combat climate change by tapping into the “profound richness” of faith traditions to promote a sense of “ecological responsibility” and conversion, Pope Francis said. Welcoming a delegation of Cambodian Buddhists to the Vatican January 19, the Pope called for “dialogue at all levels” to seek…
Cindy Wooden Pope Francis’ fifth trip to the African continent will highlight gestures of peace and reconciliation, consoling the victims of violence but also emphasising the importance of each person sowing peace in the family, the neighbourhood and the nation. The Pope is scheduled to travel to Kinshasa, Congo, January 31-February 3 before making an…
Dear Editor, It is clear the narrative around the demand for secular or multidenominational schools is completely overstated by the Government, media and lobby groups. This was highlighted by some schools, in areas earmarked for changes in patronage, finding that a huge majority of parents wanted their school to remain under Catholic patronage. It’s important…
Local Matters: Parish, Local Government and Community in Ireland, by Dr Finola Kennedy (Institute of Public Administration, €25.00) Frank Litton The philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre traced his early commitment to Marxism to his experience growing up in London’s East End where his parents worked as doctors. It was the communists’ contributions to the neighbourhood that drew…
Young people told to ‘Open hearts to other cultures’ Pope Francis told young people to always “look to the horizon” and open their hearts to other peoples and cultures. In a video message to the 400,000 participants registered for World Youth Day 2023, the Pope encouraged young people not to “put up walls” that close…
SVP gives thanks for ‘immense’ 250k donations St Vincent de Paul South-West Region thanked the public for the “immense” support shown as over €248,000 was raised from the annual car draw. The SVP have said they are humbled by the generosity of the public during an extremely difficult and challenging period. Regional President Paddy O’Flynn…
An exhibition in Spain shows a hyper-realistic model of the man who is represented in the Turin Shroud, writes Filipe d’Avillez Few religious items have been more thoroughly analysed than the Shroud of Turin. The burial cloth has been at the centre of intense scientific debate for decades, and with each new discovery and revelation,…
The death of Australian Cardinal George Pell was a shock because just five days earlier he had concelebrated the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI and “seemed in good health,” said Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals. In his homily at Cardinal Pell’s funeral Mass January 14 in St Peter’s Basilica, Cardinal…