CNA—As communist Chinese President Xi Jinping travels to Rome this week, there has been much speculation as to whether his trip will also include an unofficial visit with Pope Francis. Ahead of China’s president’s arrival in Italy on March 21, the Associated Press (AP) reported that Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said, “Our…
Crisis Magazine—Last March, an Islamist terrorist stormed a supermarket in Trèbes, France, shot two people dead and took others hostage. In negotiations with police, the terrorist agreed to accept a police lieutenant’s offer to swap places with the last hostage, a female cashier. The police officer, Arnaud Beltrame, was subsequently killed. In honor of his…
Bamenda, Cameroon, Nov 6, 2018 / 11:49 am (CNA/EWTN News).– Armed separatists kidnapped 79 students from a Christian boarding school in Cameroon Monday. The principal, a teacher, and one other staff member were taken hostage Nov. 5 with the students aged 10 to 14 from the Presbyterian Secondary School in Bamenda, the capital of Cameroon’s…
Beijing, China, Oct 26, 2018-(CNA)—As part of an ongoing crackdown on religious practice in the country, Chinese authorities demolished two Catholic Marian shrines this week. The move comes just one month after the Chinese government signed an agreement with the Vatican regarding the appointment of bishops. (short video slideshow here) According to reports from AsiaNews,…
Beijing, China, Oct 30, 2018 —CNA– The first time Wenxuan Yuan visited a Catholic church in Beijing as a child, she was struck by its beauty. In the courtyard of the church there was a blackboard with a verse from the Book of Revelation in Chinese, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and…
Vatican News—30-year-old Anastasia Indrawan comes from Indonesia and is a member of the Youth Commission of Indonesian Bishops’ Conference. She brings a unique perspective to the Synod of Bishops because she is among the Catholic minority in her country. Anastasia spoke with Devin Watkins about this experience. No need to be afraid of young people…
Earlier this year, but not an isolated incident, the ongoing persecution of Catholic and other Christians who try to alleviate the suffering of others, in Indonesia, regardless of religion, demands our ongoing prayers. The following news story captures the reality of the situation well. Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Groups of hard-line Muslims have been protesting the…
CNA—Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe of Naples usually does not faint at the sight of blood. He has celebrated the miracle of the liquefaction of the blood of St. Januarius, an early martyr, many times over the years. But this year, something caused Sepe to “blanch” and sit down during the Sept. 19 celebration of the miracle,…
