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(Vatican Radio) Did you know the Vatican Apostolic Library uses a system developed for radio astronomy to help preserve its vast collection?The system is called ‘FITS’ [flexible image transport system format], and it was developed by NASA and the European Space Agency [ESA] in the 1970’s.The Vatican Library hosted an event on Friday to announce the continuation of a five year collaboration with the ESA to use the FITS system to preserve, manage, and exploit the archived information.The system not only helps preserve original documents, it also has a special text header with instructions on how to easily decode the data. In the likelihood current technology becomes obsolete in the future, newer computers will still be able to access the information.“Our collaboration is based on the common intention by our two institutions to promote the long-term preservation of images in electronic format,” – said Monsignor Cesare Pasini, Prefect of the Vatican...
The National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Pakistan (CBCP) and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) have been awarded the 2016 Pax Christi International Peace Award. Pax Christi, a non-profit, non-governmental Catholic peace movement headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, said in a statement that both organizations were chosen as representatives of the nonviolent struggle of the human rights community in Pakistan. "In a country where arbitrary detention, torture, deaths occurring while in custody, forced disappearances, institutional injustices against religious minorities, and extrajudicial execution are frequently reported, Pax Christi International honors the clear and courageous stand taken by practitioners of justice and peace against persistent patterns of violence and human rights violations," read the statement. The two organizations will be honoured at a ceremony in Geneva at th...
Boston, Mass., Nov 4, 2016 / 06:12 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Church in Boston is asking voters in Massachusetts to reject the legalization of recreational marijuana in the state next week.Question 4 is a ballot initiative that would allow individuals at least 21 years of age to use, grow, and possess recreational marijuana. Medical marijuana has been legal in Massachusetts since 2012.Last week, the Archdiocese of Boston donated $850,000 to oppose Question 4. According to a report from The Atlantic, the Church’s donation increased the opposition effort’s funding by roughly 40 percent – the other major donor was Sheldon Adelson, a Las Vegas billionaire who gave $1,000,000 to the opposition last month. The Knights of Columbus also gave $150,000 to fight the initiative.Archdiocesan spokesman Terrence Donilon told CNA that the donation “was made from unrestricted Central Ministry funds. It does not come from parish collections or the Catholic Appeal nor funds desig...
Vatican City, Nov 4, 2016 / 06:36 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Reflecting on the faithful work of the bishops and cardinals who have died in the past 12 months, Pope Francis said Friday that death does not separate us, but in fact unites us more closely in the Body of Christ.“In the light of the Paschal Mystery of Christ, their death is, in fact, the entry into the fullness of life. In this light of faith, we feel even closer to our deceased brothers: death has apparently separated us, but the power of Christ and his Spirit unites us in an even deeper manner,” he said.Pope Francis offered Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica Nov. 4 for the souls of the 126 cardinals and bishops who passed away in 2016.In his homily, he spoke about the passage from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans which asks, “What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?”The bishops and cardinals “kn...
Vatican City, Nov 4, 2016 / 08:37 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In his most recent prayer video, Pope Francis focuses on migrants, refugees and countries who assist them, stressing that it's possible for anyone to be placed in a situation forcing them to leave home.The video, released Nov. 4, shows men and women refugees, law enforcement, media and a doctor walking through a revolving door as the Pope asks the question, “can one country alone manage the problems of forced migration?”“We must move away from indifference and the fear of accepting others,” he says in the video. “Because that other could be you. Or me...”“Join me in this prayer request,” Pope Francis says, “that the countries which take in a great number of displaced persons and refugees may find support for their efforts which show solidarity.”An initiative of the Jesuit-run global prayer network Apostleship of Prayer, the Pope’s prayer videos are filmed in c...
By Cindy WoodenVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Praying for cardinals and bishops whodied in the past year, Pope Francis urged people to remember the priestlywitness they gave.Some of the bishops, he said, had been "called towitness to the Gospel in a heroic way, enduring heavy tribulation."The Vatican booklet for the Mass Nov. 4 listed by name the sevencardinals and 136 bishops from around the world who died since Oct.25, 2015. The deceased included five bishops from mainland China, all of whomhad served time in prison or labor camps because of their ministry.The deceased cardinals and bishops, Pope Francis said, were pastorswho dedicated their lives to serving the people entrusted to them. They offeredthe sacraments, preached the Gospel and, with a father's love, "tried tolove everyone, especially the poor, the defenseless and those in need ofhelp.""In the name of the God of mercy and forgiveness, theirhands blessed and absolved," the pope said. "Their words comfortedand dried tears; their ...
Michael Buble says he and his wife are "devastated" after learning their 3-year-old son has been diagnosed with cancer....
CHICAGO (AP) -- Tens of thousands of Chicago Cubs fans poured into the city Friday ahead of a parade and rally honoring the World Series champions, with troves of jersey-clad fans standing shoulder-to-shoulder in downtown's sprawling Grant Park and along miles of city streets....
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Her voice quavered. A nation watched, transfixed, a presidency on the line. Pummeled by a week of unprecedented political crisis, South Korean President Park Geun-hye delivered an apology-loaded address on Friday that hinged on a single, extraordinary moment....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Workers enjoyed their best pay raises in seven years last month as employers added 161,000 jobs, the government said in the last major snapshot of a slow but durable economy before Americans choose a new president next week....
