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WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times local):...
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump declared Wednesday he believes torture works as his administration readied a sweeping review of how America conducts the war on terror. It includes possible resumption of banned interrogation methods and reopening CIA-run "black site" prisons outside the United States....
(Vatican Radio) The Holy See Press Office has released a statement concerning the resignation of Fra' Matthew Festing from the office of Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta: "Yesterday, 24 January 2017, in audience with the Holy Father, His Highness Fra’ Matthew Festing resigned from the office of Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta."Today, 25 January, the Holy Father accepted his resignation, expressing appreciation and gratitude to Fra’ Festing for his loyalty and devotion to the Successor of Peter, and his willingness to serve humbly the good of the Order and the Church."The governance of the Order will be undertaken ad interim by the Grand Commander pending the appointment of the Papal Delegate."
(Vatican Radio) Among those greeting Pope Francis at the General Audience on Wednesday was Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former governor of the US state of California.Schwarzenegger has been promoting the “R20 - Regions of Climate Action”, an NGO he founded in 2010 which seeks to help sub-national governments around the world to develop and communicate low-carbon and climate resilient economic development projects.The Austrian-born politician first gained fame as a bodybuilder and actor, before becoming governor of California from 2003-2011. While in office, California issued more stringent emission standards for vehicles than existed in the rest of the United States, and has championed the role of sub-national governments in the fight for the environment.Pope Francis briefly greeted Schwarzenegger, who showed the Holy Father some of the R20 organization’s work.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has again expressed his closeness and concern for migrants and refugees by blessing a sculpture to be placed in the port of the Sicilian Island of Lampedusa, the gateway to Europe for hundreds of thousands fleeing poverty and violence.Before stepping into the Paul VI Hall to lead the weekly General Audience on Wednesday, the Pope met Mauro Vaccai, the artist who has created the sculpture and blessed the work of art that celebrates the culture of welcome put into practice by the Lampedusa authorities and population.Due to its geographical position, the tiny island is one of the main points of entry for African migrants. Tens of thousands of desperate men, women and children have landed on its shores in the past years. Tragically, hundreds have perished during the dangerous crossing. Vaccai, who comes from the Tuscan town of Pistoia, explained that the large bas-relief in white marble from Carrara, weighs 800 kilograms. It will be positioned...
Pope Francis on Wednesday greeted a youth orchestra from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, called the “Hombres nuevos,” during his General Audience.The orchestra come from one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city, and the ambassador ofBolivia to the Holy See, Julio Cesar Caballero Montero, said “they have not been conditioned by the poverty in which they live.”The group specializes in sacred music, especially from the Renaissance and Baroque period, and the Ambassador said their artistry is a “great demonstration of faith and hope.”
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has offered his prayers for those killed and otherwise affected by a series of wildfires in central Chile.The Holy Father’s condolences were conveyed in a telegram sent by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.Cardinal Parolin said Pope Francis has offered his prayers for the eternal repose of those who died, while at the same time expressed his “spiritual closeness to those hurt and otherwise suffering the consequences of this catastrophe.”The Pope wished his condolences conveyed to the families of victims, and also expressed his hope that the tragedy “inspire a sense of solidarity,” and that people “collaborate effectively, generously, and with charity, to alleviate the suffering and overcome adversity.”
(Vatican Radio) Authentic reconciliation between Christians will only be achieved when we can acknowledge each other’s gifts and learn from one another with humility. That was Pope Francis’ message to representatives of all the different Christian Churches gathered in the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls on Wednesday afternoon. The Pope was leading Vespers for the solemnity of the Conversion of St Paul and the close of the annual week of prayer for Christian unity.Philippa Hitchen reports: In his homily Pope Francis reflected on the theme for this year’s week of prayer, which is ‘Reconciliation: the love of Christ compels us’. Reconciliation, he said, is a gift from Christ. Prior to any human effort by believers who strive to overcome their divisions, he said, reconciliation is God’s gift given freely to each one of us.“How do we proclaim this Gospel of reconciliation today after centuries of division?”, the Pope asked. St Paul ...
Vatican City, Jan 25, 2017 / 06:28 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Wednesday Pope Francis said having total faith and trust in God means recognizing that he always knows and wants what is best for us, even if it’s hard to accept because it doesn’t align with our own plans.Wednesday, Pope Francis talked about what it means to have total faith and trust in God, acknowledging that he knows what is best, and always wants what is best for us, even if it is often difficult to accept.“Trusting in God means to enter into his designs without demanding anything, even accepting that his salvation and his help should come to us in a different way from our expectations,” he said Jan. 25.The Pope’s catechesis for the general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall centered on the story of Judith in the Old Testament, a woman who was “a great heroine,” he said, and an excellent example of the virtues of faith, hope and trust.In the story, Nebuchadnezzar's army, unde...
Vatican City, Jan 25, 2017 / 07:11 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Wednesday the Vatican announced the appointment of two priests from Milwaukee – Fr. Jeffrey R. Haines and Fr. James T. Schuerman – to serve as auxiliary bishops for the archdiocese.The priests have been appointed titular bishops of Tagamuta and of Girba, according to a Jan. 25 Vatican communique.With their appointment, the bishop-elects will serve under Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki, who oversees the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, and will replace Bishop Emeritus Richard J. Sklba, who retired in 2010 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.In a press release on the appointments, Archbishop Listecki said it is a “proud moment for the Church in southeastern Wisconsin. By choosing two of our own priests as our new auxiliary bishops, the Holy Father has paid a high compliment to all the priests from this archdiocese.”“In these two humble parish priests, Pope Francis has chosen men with a pastor...
