Vatican

The beatitudes which Jesus proclaimed are promises.

In the biblical tradition, the beatitude is a literary genre which always involves some good news, a ‘gospel’, which culminates in a promise.

Therefore, the beatitudes are not only moral exhortations whose observance foresees in due time – ordinarily in the next life – a reward or a situation of future happiness. Read more »

The Vatican’s top Chinese prelate blasted the recent revocation of the appointment of a bishop by government-sanctioned authorities as being “devoid of any legal value” and divisive for the China Church.

Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-fai, secretary of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, issued a statement yesterday condemning the dismissal of Bishop Thaddeus Ma Daqin of Shanghai by the Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China (BCCCC) and CCPA, the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association. Read more »

The Chinese government has suspended a Catholic bishop who resigned from the government-run Catholic association, leading the Vatican’s spokesman to describe the Holy See as deeply concerned.

The controversy comes after the government-run Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church of China – which is not recognized by the Vatican — revoked auxiliary Bishop Thaddeus Ma Daqin’s appointment as coadjutor bishop of Shanghai. Read more »

“I’m elated beyond words.”  “An early Christmas present.” “Deo gratsias!” “It is a welcome and huge move…” “One of the most important papal directives in the last half-century”.

These were some of the reactions of pro-life leaders to Pope Benedict XVI’s directive called ‘On the service of charity’ released Saturday which mandated that charitable activities undertaken by the Catholic Church never offend Catholic teaching. Read more »

Pope Benedict's third and final book on Jesus' life has been launched, and this time he delves into Christ's childhood.

“The Pope's book refers especially to the infancy of Jesus in the context of a family and focuses on family tradition,” said Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi,  president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, at a Nov. 20 press conference.

“His words aren't just informative, they are also participative in the sense that they capture the reader and draw him in,” he added. Read more »

Dear Hindu Friends,

Christians And Hindus Forming The Young Generation Into Peace-Makers

1.  The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue sends its warmest greetings and congratulations on the occasion of this year’s Deepavali celebrations. May fellowship and fraternity shine forth more and more in your families and communities. Read more »

Leo I became pope at a critical juncture in church history.

The Roman Empire in the West was disintegrating under the barbarian invasions; and the Eastern Church was greatly disturbed by controversies and speculations over Church doctrine.

When Leo became Pope in 440, he took upon himself the motto of St Paul the apostle to “become all things to all”, and was a true father to the Church and one of its most eminent teachers. Read more »

The Synod of Bishops has sent a message yesterday to Bishop Lucas Ly Jingeng of Fengxiang in mainland China who was unable to attend the Synod in Rome.

The Chinese prelate had written a letter to Pope Benedict XVI at the opening of the assembly assuring the Holy Father of his prayers for the success of the Synod. Read more »

The XIII Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelisation began its second week of deliberations on the Transmission of the Christian Faith in today’s world.

On Saturday, the synod fathers were treated to another short film from YouTube, a four year old, fear-mongering presentation of statistics attempting to show how Islam is conquering Europe and the rest of the world. Read more »

Pope Benedict XVI said that although riches should pose no barrier to serving the Kingdom of God, Christ's love fulfills humanity's deepest needs in a way that wealth is unable to.

“God can win the heart of a person who has many goods,” the pontiff said during his mid-day Angelus from his window overlooking a sunny St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 14. Read more »