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(Vatican Radio) Official figures show that a record 55,000 migrants, many of them fleeing poverty and wars, have left Germany voluntarily this year - more than twice the number deported. It comes mounting tensions in Europe over the influx of refugees. Listen to the report by Stefan Bos: Data over the period January through November from the Germany's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees shows that tens of thousands of migrants have left the country voluntarily. Most of them went back to the Balkans. Albanians formed the largest group of some 15,000 people followed by about an equal number of people returning to nearby Kosovo, Serbia and Macedonia.Germany saw large numbers of people from Balkan nations, who had slim chances of being granted asylum, arrive in early 2015.Yet there are also at least 5,000 migrants who have returned to Iraq and more than 3,000 to Afghanistan, despite reports of ongoing attacks by Islamic militants in those nations, including against...
(Vatican Radio) Only time will tell, if a law passed by Cuba`s National Assembly, banning the naming of streets, stadiums and statues after Fidel Castro, will stick.James Blears reports that in his lifetime, Fidel was adamant - but legacies can sometimes take on a life of their own...Listen: Perhaps mindful of the proliferation of a similar cult to that of Che Guevarra and his iconic image by pop art, Fidel Castro always said a firm no to any memorial, name game or idolatry. Cuba`s National Assembly has just solidified, his wishes, with prohibiting legislation. 85 year old President Raul Castro, who's the last of the trio of Castro brothers says: "the best way to remember 'el Comandante' is to adhere to his concept of the Revolution."Rhe real test of the overall Castro legacy is if it`ll survive the passing of the third brother. If it does, then a law might one day be amended. if it doesn't, then hostile successors coul...
IMAGE: CNS photo/L'Osservatore RomanoBy Dennis SadowskiCLEVELAND (CNS) -- Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Richard G. Lennon of Cleveland. He has headed the diocese since 2006.Bishop Lennon, who turns 70 in March, said during a news conference at diocesan offices Dec. 28 that he had developed vascular dementia, leading to his decision to submit his resignation for health reasons to the pope in November."Recently it has come to my awareness that my health has declined to such an extent that I should resign as diocesan bishop," he said."Given the progressive nature of this illness," he added. "Pope Francis has accepted my request for an early retirement."Normally, bishops do not turn in their resignation to the pope until they turn 75, as required by canon law. The pope named Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, Ohio, as the apostolic administrator of the diocese until the installation of a new bishop.The changes were first announced in Washington early Dec. 28 by Ar...
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- A colonel who once headed the U.S. Army's strategic war gaming division sobbed and apologized Wednesday before being sentenced to 12 years for receipt and distribution of child pornography....
BERLIN (AP) -- German prosecutors said Wednesday that they have detained a Tunisian man they think may have been involved in last week's truck attack on a Christmas market in Berlin....
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Fans seeking to pay tribute to Carrie Fisher have created an impromptu star for the actress on Hollywood's Walk of Fame....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Secretary of State John Kerry tore into Israel on Wednesday for settlement-building, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of dragging Israel away from democracy and forcefully rejecting the notion that America had abandoned Israel with a controversial U.N. vote. Netanyahu accused the Obama administration of a biased bid to blame Israel for failure to reach a peace deal....
On Christmas day, some 45,000 Hindus paid tribute to the Child Jesus in Bhubaneshwar, capital of the State of Odisha, India.The event is historic, the more so since the Indian State was the scene in 2008 of the most vicious persecution of Christians ever perpetuated in India.According to Fr Prasanna Pradhan, pastor at St Vincent Cathedral in the state capital, the people of Odisha "have a deep sense of respect and honour for Jesus, who dispels darkness of discord and division and strengthens ties between people."The clergyman believes that as a result of the sectarian violence unleashed by Hindus in Odisha in the summer of 2008, which killed about 100 people and led to the destruction of 300 churches and places of worship, "Christianity is much better known among people of different faiths".Mgr John Barwa, archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar, thanked the state government for providing "protection to Christians, especially those persecuted in Kandhamal...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has named Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, President emeritus of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, as Archpriest and Administrator of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. He succeeds Cardinal Santos Abril y Castelló, whose resignation from the position was accepted by the Holy Father.Pope Francis also made a number of other personnel changes on Tuesday.The Holy Father accepted the resignation of Bishop Richard G Lennon from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Cleveland, USA.On Monday, Pope Francis named Father Joseph Marie Ndi-Okalla as Bishop of the Diocese of Mbalmayo, Cameroon. Father Ndi-Okalla is a priest of the Diocese. He will succeed Bishop Adalbert Ndzana.For the diocese of Crato, Brazil, Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Gilberto Pastana de Oliveira, who has been serving as Coadjutor Bishop for the Diocese, to succeed Bishop Fernando Panico, M.S.C. following the acceptance of Bishop Panico’s resignation.And also in Brazil, ...
IMAGE: CNS photo/Giorgio Onorati, EPABy Junno Arocho EstevesVATICANCITY (CNS) -- To complain to God in moments of doubt and fear like Abraham did is not something bad butrather is a form ofprayer that requires the courage to hope beyond all hope, Pope Francis said. Whilein life there may be times of frustration and darkness, "hope is stillthere and it moves us forward," the pope said Dec. 28 during his weekly generalaudience. "Iwon't say that Abraham loses patience, but he complains to the Lord. This iswhat we learn from our father Abraham: complaining to the Lord is a form ofprayer. Sometimes I hear confessions where people say, 'I complained to theLord.' But no. (Continue)to complain; he is a father and this is a form of prayer. Complain to the Lord,this is good," he said. Enteringthe Paul VI audience hall,the pope greeted thousands of pilgrims from all over the world. Among thosepresent was a groupof performers from Italy's Golden Circus, who performed several acrobatic featsand...
