Positive first meeting takes place in Cairo

UN requests for reports turned down

A Vatican-run paediatric hospital in Rome is gearing up to provide a health mission to Syrian refugee children in Lebanon. In an arrangement with the Pontifical Council Cor Unum and Caritas Internationalis, the Bambino Gesu Hospital will begin a three-month project to help, initially, some 4,000 children in need of care and medicines at the…

The conflict in Syria was at the heart of discussions between Pope Francis and Russiaís President Vladimir Putin, it has been reported. Following the November 25 private audience, the Vatican issued a statement in which it detailed various issues which had engaged the leaders, from bilateral relations and human rights. However, special attention was paid…

Pope Francis delighted a group in protestors in Rome last weekend when he approached them during an official visit to San Cirilloís church in the south of the city. Having learned the Pope would be present at the church, a small group attempting to raise awareness of evictions and homelessness staged a demonstration as the…

“It’s certain that he will be coming, but not when. We have to wait and see. Latin Patrarch of Jerusalem Archbishop Fouad Twal gives hints of a papal visit to Jerusalem in 2014.   “Pay attention to the ‘virus of individualism’ which only serves to make poor people always poorer.” Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of…

A vibrant and growing parish in the Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora has secured a permanent parish church on the site of a former hotel. Following eight years of utilising a local sports hall for weekly Masses, the Good Shepherd parish in the east of Galway City hosted Bishop Martin Drennan last Sunday for…

A Catholic and a Church of Ireland parish in Belfast will mark a ‘Crafty Christmas’ this year thanks to an ecumenical project which challenged them to complete full-size knitted Christmas trees for each other in time for the festive season. The initiative, tapping into the arts and crafts skills of ordinary parishioners from St Oliver…