Good Shepherd Catholic Church - Miami, FL

The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, travels to Norway for the episcopal ordination of new Coadjutor Bishop Frederik Hansen, and expresses the Holy See's hopes for peace in conflict-ridden regions, including Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Myanmar, and Sudan.

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An editorial in L’Osservatore Romano reflects on the most urgent challenges awaiting the new U.S. president just hours before the inauguration ceremony. For the occupant of the White House, it will be crucial to work on overcoming the polarizations that have marked American political life for years. The “disunited” States of America would indeed pose a grave threat to an already fractured and fragmented world.

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The Israeli cabinet has given final approval to the ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas, which is set to begin on Sunday.

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Meeting with a delegation from the Catholic Foundation of Verona, Pope Francis reaffirms the moral obligation based on the Church's social doctrine to use financial resources to serve the common good and condemns investments in the arms industry.

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Pope Francis meets with members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard Foundation, and expresses appreciation for their faithful service to the Pope and the millions of pilgrims who visit the Vatican each year.

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In this week's news from the Eastern Churches, produced in collaboration with L'Œuvre d'Orient: A ceasefire is announced in Gaza, Lebanon gets a new President and Prime Minister, and the Church of the Lord's Baptism in Jordan is consecrated.

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The Catholic and Protestant Churches of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), present a "Social Pact for Peace and Living Together in the DRC and the Great Lakes" to end the vicious cycle of violence and humanitarian crisis in the troubled region.

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- While many people around the world seek a blessing for their animals around the Oct. 4 feast of St. Francis of Assisi, in Italy the traditional date to pray for the protection of one's pets and livestock is Jan. 17 -- the feast of St. Anthony the Abbot.

Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica and a member of the Franciscan order, celebrated Mass for farmers on the feast day and then went outside to bless their livestock.

The Italian association of livestock raisers brought donkeys, cows, horses, rabbits, chickens, geese and goats, who munched on feed in wooden pens set up just outside St. Peter's Square.

But before they could be blessed, the calvary came. To the delight of pilgrims, tourists and residents, 80 horses and riders, representing a variety of Italian mounted units -- including a mounted band -- road up the long boulevard leading to St. Peter's.

Dozens of Rome residents also brought their dogs, all of whom received the cardinal's blessing, even if not all of them were doused by the holy water he sprinkled.

 

The Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA) in Port Harcourt, this week, held a graduation ceremony for women religious from various English-speaking African countries.

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Where hunger runs rampant, Mary's Meals is providing food to children in schools, involving communities in the process and providing sustainable change to children and their futures—one nourishing meal at a time.

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