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(Vatican Radio) A planned evacuation of rebel-held areas of eastern Aleppo has been delayed. Opposition officials said they had expected a first group of wounded people to leave on Tuesday evening.The evacuations which were brokered by Turkey and Russia, had been due to start a 5 am local time.On Tuesday the United Nations said Syrian pro-government forces had been shooting civilians in Aleppo "on the spot", describing the situation there as a "complete meltdown of humanity".Forces loyal to Syria's leader Bashar al Assad, backed by Russia, have recaptured large areas on the besieged city of Aleppo in recent days.It's understood thousands of civilians are trapped inside buildings in the last remaining rebel-held areas .Despite the announcement of a ceasefire witnesses heard explosions ring out on Wednesday morning.Middle East Manager of Catholic relief agency Malteser International, Janine Lietmeyer spoke to Lydia O’Kane about the dire situat...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis continued his catechesis on the theme of 'Christian hope' at his Wednesday General Audience. His reflection centered on the words of the prophet Isaiah: "How beautiful upon the mountains, are the feet of the one bringing good news" (Is 52:7).Here is the full text of the English summary of Pope Francis’ catechesis for the General Audience of 14 December 2016:Dear Brothers and Sisters: The words we have heard this morning from the prophet Isaiah help us prepare for the coming feast of Christmas. The prophet calls God’s people to rejoice, for the Lord is near, bringing freedom from exile and the promise of renewal and redemption for the faithful “remnant” who continued to hope in his word. “How beautiful on the mountains”, he says, “are the feet of the messenger” who brings glad tidings of peace and salvation, proclaiming: “Your God reigns” (Is 52:7). Thi...
The Indonesian Bishops have officially asked the government for a moratorium on the death penalty. As reported to Fides by Fr. Paulus Christian Siswantoko, executive secretary of the Commission for Justice, Peace and Pastoral Care of Migrants of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Indonesia, the letter sent to the executive states that "it is appropriate for the government to carefully assess the implementation of the death penalty in order to know the impact of capital punishment, and to ensure that executions have actually had the deterrent effects, discouraging crime". In an interview with Agenzia Fides, Fr. Siswantoko reiterated that the Catholic Church has repeatedly asked for a moratorium "but so far the government has not listened to the voices who reject capital punishment".At a recent conference on the theme "Right to life and the death penalty in the theology of religions", Fr. Siswantoko said that "the Catholic Church still harbors...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis continued his catechesis on the theme of 'Christian hope' at his Wednesday General Audience, saying the Kingdom brought by Jesus at his birth calls us to be joyful heralds in a world that “yearns for justice, truth, and peace”.Listen to Devin Watkins' report: Pope Francis focused his reflection on the words of the prophet Isaiah: "How beautiful upon the mountains, are the feet of the one bringing good news" (Is 52:7,9-10).He said these words help us prepare for the coming feast of Christmas by opening ourselves to the hope of salvation.The prophet calls God’s people to rejoice, for the Lord is near, bringing freedom from exile and the promise of renewal and redemption for the faithful “remnant” who continued to hope in his word. Pope Francis noted how the prophet speaks “not of the messenger but of the messenger’s feet”.Comparing this to the spouse in the Song of Songs (Sg...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis offered thanks for the many well-wishes he has received ahead of his 80th birthday this coming Saturday.Speaking to Italian pilgrims after the main catechetical portion of the weekly General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis departed from his prepared greetings to say, “I thank you all for your well-wishes for my upcoming birthday,” he said, adding again, “many thanks!” The Holy Father went on to tease the crowd, saying, “Those, who offer birthday congratulations ahead of time, are jinxes!”The Holy Father in his greetings also offered thanks to the pilgrims representing participants in the “Oeration Safe Roads” initiative during the recently concluded Jubilee Year of Mercy, as well as a group of faithful from Petrignano d’Assisi, who brought the Pope a gift of an artistic Christmas crèche.
Yambio, South Sudan, Dec 14, 2016 / 03:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Jubilee Year of Mercy was observed throughout the world but one bishop in South Sudan, suffering from war and famine, said it was especially needed in his country.“That was so timely for us in South Sudan, that a people have to learn to forgive one another,” Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of the Diocese of Tombura-Yambio told CNA of Pope Francis’ proclamation of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, which lasted Dec. 8, 2015 to Nov. 20, 2016.“And we find that forgiveness to be the key to solving much of the problems in our country,” he added. “It’s not easy for serious crimes, for individuals or for families to forgive. This is a process,” and one that the Church is “continually talking to people” about.Bishop Kussala’s diocese is in the West Equatoria State, where he works with the Sudan Relief Fund to bring needed supplies those in his local Church.In December ...
Vatican City, Dec 14, 2016 / 04:54 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis Wednesday spoke about the hope that the Child Jesus brings at Christmastime, saying it is our duty to be the messengers that bring his message to the world – a world that is thirsting for goodness.“The message of the Good News entrusted to us is urgent,” he said Dec. 14. “We must also run like the messenger of the mountains, because the world cannot wait, humanity is hungry and thirsty for justice, for truth and for peace.”The Pope spoke during his general audience for the third week of Advent, continuing the series of catechesis he began last week on Christian hope.Focusing on a passage from Book of Isaiah recounting how the messenger was “announcing peace” and “bringing good news,” the Pope said that we are also urged “to wake up, like Jerusalem.”“We are called to become men and women of hope, collaborating in the coming of this kingdom made ...
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Uber is bringing a small number of self-driving cars to its ride-hailing service in San Francisco - a move likely to excite the city's tech-savvy population and certain to antagonize California regulators....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Reserve is expected to raise its key interest rate for the first time in a year when its policy meeting ends Wednesday....
DIDYMOTEICHO, Greece (AP) -- This time of year, the Evros river runs broad and icy, its banks muddy and remote. It's a formidable sight for migrants reaching Turkey's land border with Greece, but not formidable enough to stop people who have already come so far in their bid to make it to a new life in Europe....
