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The 40th Vatican Message in Ramadan
By Fr. Rif'at Bader
: Marking the advent of the month of Ramadan and the upcoming celebration of ‘Id Al-Fitr, the...More
Patriarch Louis Raphaël I Sako, a prophet to serve Iraq
Anne-Bénédicte Hoffner/ la-croix.com
: Several times during the past few years, Patriarch Louis Raphaël I Sako’s name has been circulated as one of those who may be selected to become cardinal. Then on May 20, Pope Francis finally named Sako, the Baghdad-based Chaldean patriarch of Babylon, to the College of Cardinals, which will be responsible for electing his successor. The 69-year-...More
Caritas Jordan launches Ramadan campaign to help vulnerable families
en.abouna.org
: Caritas Jordan has started its annual campaign for the holy month of Ramadan by visiting several governorates of the Kingdom, to share with families the joy of this blessed month, through the distribution of humanitarian aid. A team of Caritas headed to the Mafraq Governorate/ Khalidiya area, in coordination with the Promise Welfare Society and in...More
Pakistan’s Muslims, Christians welcome news of nation’s new cardinal
By Robin Gomes/ vaticannews.va
: Archbishop Joseph Coutts of Karachi is among 14 new cardinals that Pope Francis announced on May 20. They will be made cardinals at a ceremony on 29 June in Rome. Muslim politicians and activists in Pakistan have joined Christians in welcoming the news about Pope Francis nominating Archbishop Joseph Coutts of Karachi among 14 new cardinals he will...More
Wounded veterans seek healing and peace in the waters of Lourdes
EWTN News/CNA
: American veterans in search of healing attended a recent pilgrimage to Lourdes, through the Archdiocese for Military Services and the Knights of Columbus. Among the pilgrims was Charles Baldinger, a West Point-educated infantry officer who had to retire due to stage 4 brain cancer. “We came for physical healing with my right side and speech. We...More
Feast of Virgin Mary celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes grotto in Naour
Naour-en.abouna.org
: "You are living a historic moment." This is what Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem Bishop Paul Markotso addressed the crowd of believers who were celebrating a new feast decreed by Pope Francis on the Monday the follows Pentecost, namely the Feast of Virgin Mary, the Mother of the Church. He added, “These are historic moments, it is the first...More
Patriarch Louis Raphaël I Sako, a prophet to serve Iraq
Caritas Jordan launches Ramadan campaign to help vulnerable families
Pakistan’s Muslims, Christians welcome news of nation’s new cardinal
Wounded veterans seek healing and peace in the waters of Lourdes
Feast of Virgin Mary celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes grotto in Naour

Reflections

Marian Month/ Mary: Help of Christians (May 23)

Video

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US Embassy in Jerusalem and clashes in Gaza: the church calls for prayers
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The key to improving situation of persecuted Christians

Chosen articles

Harmony bearer Joseph Coutts, new cardinal in Pakistan
By Paolo Affatato/ lastampa.it
Don Corrado, the cardinal friend of the homeless
By Andrea Tornielli/ lastampa.it
“Great sorrow for Gaza, may the Spirit bring peace to the Holy Land”
By Giacomo Galeazzi/ lastampa.it
Pentecost and the Freedom From Babel
Dominican Fr. Brian Mullady/ncregister.com
The sending of the Holy Spirit
By Dan Burke/ spiritualdirection.com
Archbishop Romero, martyr, to be made saint at Vatican ceremony Oct. 14
By Joshua J. McElwee/ lastampa.it
China, the “strange case” of the Henan churches closed to children
By Gianni Valente/ lastmapa.it
“Gossip kills: it dirties and destroys people’s reputation”
By Salvatore Cernuzio/ lastampa.it
Jerusalem, the Pope, “great sorrow for the dead and wounded, may dialogue and peace prevail”
By Iacopo Scaramuzzi/ lastampa.it
“The Council and two encyclicals admit cases of Eucharist to Protestants”
By Andrea Tornielli/ lastampa.it

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World

Chaldean Patriarch Louis Raphaël I Sako named cardinal

Vatican-en.abouna.org
: Pope Francis named fourteen new Catholic cardinals on Sunday May 20, again diversifying representation in the most elite body of church prelates with selections from places as far-flung as Iraq, Pakistan and Japan and solidifying his influence on the group that will one day elect his successor. As the pope began to give the names of those he would make cardinals, the first pronounced was notable Chaldean Patriarch Louis Raphaël I Sako, an Iraqi who often speaks publicly about the suffering his people have encountered after the U.S.-led invasion of their country in 2003. The Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) conveys heartfelt wishes to Cardinal Sako on this nomination. The CCSM also sends good wishes to the Chaldean Church and the Christians of Iraq hoping that this...
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Pope’s message for World Mission Sunday 2018

Pope to canonize Paul VI, Oscar Romero in Rome, October 14

Lourdes this week becomes ‘world capital of prayer for peace’

Pope appeals for peace in the Middle East and Venezuela

The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue issues Ramadan Message

Vatican’s message for Ramadan: “Move from competition to collaboration”

Arab World

Mar Sako: Nomination as cardinal, sign of Pope’s friendship and proximity to all Iraq

asianews.it
: Speaking to AsiaNews the Chaldean primate describes the "dual responsibility" because it indicates the Pope's closeness to Christians and to all the people. A choice that "surprised" him and attests to Pope’s great care for the Church in difficulty. Congratulations from Christian and Muslim personalities. Shiite leader: "Gift of mercy for Iraq". Al-Sadr wins election but does not have the numbers to form a government. ***** A "dual responsibility", confirming Pope Francis’ "support for the Chaldean Church, for its Christians" and, at the same time, for "all Iraq, for ​​its people. That's why I will do all I can to serve these people, in a critical time", says Chaldean Patriarch Mar Louis Raphael Sako. Speaking to AsiaNews, in the wake of the pontiff's decision to raise the primate of the...
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SYRIA: Aid to the Church in Need helps renovate further 97 homes in Homs

'Justice for the abducted bishops of Aleppo and persecuted Christians'

Sako thanks Pope for helping reconstruct Christian villages of Nineveh Plain in Iraq

Egypt: Bodies of Libya martyrs repatriated

Process of canonization of Chaldean priest Ragheed Ganni, deacons begins

Patriarch Sako defends Iraqi Church’s political freedom of speech

Holy Land

Archbishop Pizzaballa: “We want a peace that is warm and sincere"

By Vivien Laguette/ lpj.org
: On Saturday, May 19, 2018, Christians of the Holy Land gathered at the Saint Stephen Church of the École biblique et archéologique française de Jérusalem to pray for peace and justice in Jerusalem and the Holy Land. On May 14 and 15, when Israel and the United States of America inaugurated the new US embassy in Jerusalem and the Palestinians were preparing to commemorate the Nakba, a situation of extreme violence broke out along the border between Israel and Gaza during a peaceful demonstration. A disproportionate violence raged against the Palestinians in Gaza, that resulted in more than 60 dead and 2,500 wounded. In view of these events, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem invited all the faithful of the Diocese of Jerusalem, here or in the rest of the world, to pray on Saturday, May 19...
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Korean delegation discusses cooperation with Bethlehem University

Celebration of Pentecost at the Abbey of the Dormition in Jerusalem

Maronite Patriarch of Antioch to head mass at Umm Al Jimal Cathedral in June

Pentecost in Jerusalem: The celebration took place in the Upper Room

Caritas Jordan launches its annual aid campaign in various Jordanian governorates

New Feast of Virgin Mary to be celebrated in Naour, May 21