Paul Keenan“A Christian without Our Lady is an orphan. Also a Christian without the Church is an orphan. A Christian is in need of these two women, two women mothers, two virgin women: the Church and Our Lady.”
Pope Francis, speaking to Roman youngsters visiting the Vatican’s Marian Grotto
“On the horizon, we do not see any sign that might give hope for a political solution that can ensure greater security. The risk of a general collapse is great and no one can predict what future developments will be…Are we heading towards a civil war? God forbid, but everything seems to be pointing in that direction.”
Chaldean Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako offers his assessment on events in Iraq
"I was only thinking about my children and how I was going to give birth. I was mostly scared of giving birth in prison."
Meriam Ibrahim Ishag speaks of her experiences in a Sudanese prison where she was held for alleged apostasy from Islam.
“We are silently accepting a scarcity of the Eucharist, which is already to a certain extent perilous, because we are not prepared to change admission to the priesthood. In my opinion that is irresponsible. We must open new doors including discussing that of priestly celibacy.”
Retired Austrian Bishop Helmut Krätzl of Austria urges radical approaches to promoting vocations to the priesthood.
"It is not worthy of political and religious leaders to support, feed, foment revenge. Revenge calls for revenge, blood calls for blood. And innocent people who are killed, all the children killed, are victims sacrificed on the diabolical altars of hatred. We pray for the parents and families of all these young people kidnapped and killed".
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, laments the recent kidnapping and killing of young men from Israeli and Palestinian communities.
“With Pope Francis, what you see is what you get…there’s no strategy, but a willingness to make himself available and give himself with transparency to the Gospel which becomes extraordinary strength and apostolic courage.”
Msgr Dario Edoardo Viganò, director of the Vatican Television Centre explains how the image of Pope Framcis coincides with the man.