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08/01/2025

On January 8, 2025, Pope Francis condemned child labor and other abuses against children, asserting that those who harm or exploit them will have to answer to God. He devoted his first catechism lesson of 2025 to this issue, urging the faithful to be aware of the impact of child labor. "Children hold a privileged place in God's heart, and those who harm them will be held accountable," he stated. Pope Francis has consistently criticized child labor, notably during his 2023 visit to Congo, where he lashed out against foreign powers and mining interests for exploiting children to extract the country's precious resources, describing their actions as plunder driven by greed.

#2025

07/01/2025

As the Jubilee 2025 marks two weeks since its opening on December 24, 2024, a significant number of pilgrims are visiting Rome for events related to the Year of Hope. Let’s take a look at the scene in St. Peter’s Basilica.

07/01/2025

On January 6, 2025, Fr. Ihor Makar, a priest of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, director of Caritas Kherson, and chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, was injured by shrapnel from a drone attack in Zelenivka near Kherson, according to the UGCC Information Department. Fr. Makar and seminarians from Drohobych Theological Seminary were en route to the St. Michael the Archangel parish for a solemn Liturgy and water blessing when they spotted a Russian drone. "As we followed a parishioner, Deacon Jarosław, I saw the drone in the sky. The road was very slippery, making it impossible to stop or turn around... I realized the drone was likely returning to attack us," he recounted. The explosion shattered the car's windows and damaged the doors and wheels. Fortunately, the seminarians were unharmed, but Fr. Makar sustained a leg injury from shrapnel. He is currently stable but requires surgery to remove the remaining shrapnel.

07/01/2025

Abortion was the leading cause of death worldwide in 2024, according to new data published by Worldometer, which shows there were 45.1 million abortions globally last year. These surpassed deaths caused by cancer (8.2 million), smoking (5 million), HIV/AIDS (1.7 million), traffic fatalities (1.35 million), and su***de (1.1 million). Worldometer compiles ongoing tallies of major global statistics. It tracks population growth, births, deaths, automobile production, book publications, and CO2 emissions, among other data. Citing numbers released by the World Health Organization, it also registers the number of documented abortions performed worldwide each year. In the United States, abortion accounts for roughly one-third of all annual deaths. The figure among African Americans reportedly exceeds 60% of total deaths in that community. There is a “critical shortage of babies,” said LifeSiteNews, citing coverage from The Guardian, Globe and Mail, Euro news, and Politico. LifeSiteNews compared abortion’s toll of 45.1 million unborn children in 2024 to Canada’s entire population of about 40.1 million, remarking that every year, the equivalent of a whole country is “killed by abortion.”

07/01/2025

On the feast of the Epiphany, traditional Three Kings' Processions were held in 905 cities across Poland, with approximately two million participants, as reported by the Three Kings' Procession Foundation. Pope Francis greeted the participants of the Three Kings' Procession in Poland. Similar events took place in several countries, including Italy, Germany, the UK, France, the USA, Venezuela, Cuba, Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Kazakhstan. This year marked a record number of processions in Poland, organized to commemorate the Magi's journey to the Christ child. Piotr Giertych, the main organizer, noted that Warsaw alone had around 50,000 participants. Since 2008, the Three Kings' Parade has united children and adults in Poland each year. Metropolitan Archbishop of Warsaw Adrian Galbas expressed joy over the large turnout, emphasizing that it reflects the holiday's essence—coming together to honor Christ, an act that is uplifting rather than humbling.

07/01/2025

Christian leaders in Syria, including Franciscan friars and other clergy, recently met with Ahmad al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed Al Jolani, the leader of the transitional administration that ousted the previous regime on December 8, 2024. The meeting took place at the People's Palace in the capital, but reports indicate that no firm commitments have emerged, leaving the community uneasy about its role in the shifting political landscape. Attendees included Fr. Ibrahim Faltas, deputy custodian of the Holy Land, and Father Rami Elias, SJ, who discussed the Syrian Constitution, democracy, and equality. "It is ambiguous — we cannot discern his true intentions," Fr. Elias stated regarding the meeting's outcome. "There are no guarantees, and we remain in limbo." Al-Sharaa recalled his experiences living among Christian communities in Damascus and Daraa, assuring the delegation that their interests would not be overlooked. However, Elias expressed anxiety among the clergy, stating the outcome remained unclear. Three patriarchs of the Antiochian See sent representatives instead of attending, while other Christian denominations, including Orthodox, Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Anglican, and Syriac Orthodox clergy, were present.

07/01/2025

New York Archbishop Cardinal Timothy Dolan will lead the opening prayer during Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States on January 20. Expressing happiness over the president-elect’s invitation to lead the prayer ceremony, the New York Archbishop said in an interview given to the local news channel WPIX, “The president was kind enough to ask me to do the opening prayer.” In 2017 too, Cardinal Dolan had led the opening prayer, following Trump’s victory in the presidential election in 2016. The Cardinal also added that there had been a discussion between him and the president-elect about matters of faith. In an earlier interview, the Cardinal had commented that Donald Trump “takes his Christian faith seriously.” Notably, Donald Trump attended the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in October last year, heeding the invitation of Cardinal Dolan, while his opponent in the election had rejected the invitation. Al Smith Dinner is meant to raise funds for Catholic charities supporting children of various needs in the Archdiocese of New York.

07/01/2025

The new Church of the Baptism of the Lord, which is erected at the historic site of Jesus Christ’s baptism in Jordan, will be inaugurated on 10 January 2025 during a solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Vatican’s Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin at 11 am. The grand inauguration of the new church takes place on the historic occasion of the Silver Jubilee of the Pilgrimage to the Baptism Site - the Jordan River which is also known as ‘Al-Maghtas’. The news was announced by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa on the official website of the Latin Patriarchate. ‘Al-Maghtas’ was added to the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 2015, in recognition of its immense historical and religious importance.

06/01/2025

In a groundbreaking decision, Pope Francis has appointed a woman for the first time as Prefect of a Vatican dicastery. Today, January 6, on the Solemnity of the Epiphany, he appointed the Italian missionary nun Simona Brambilla, M.C., 59, as Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Sister Brambilla is a member of the Consolata Missionaries religious order. In an equally unprecedented move, he has appointed a cardinal as the next in rank in that Dicastery, naming the Spanish cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, S.D.B., 65, the former head of the Salesian order, as the pro-prefect, the number-two role. Previously the Superior General of the Consolata Missionaries, Brambilla has served as Secretary of the Dicastery since October 7, 2023, and is the first woman to hold the position of Prefect in a Dicastery of the Holy See. Before joining the Consolata Missionary Sisters Institute, she was a professional nurse. On July 8, 2019, the Pope appointed seven women as members of the Dicastery for the first time. Brambilla's appointment as Secretary and now as Prefect reflects the increased presence of women in the Vatican since the beginning of Pope Francis's pontificate, with women's representation rising from 19.2% to 23.4% between 2013 and 2023. The Dicastery was founded by Pope Sixtus V in 1586 and has gone through various transformations since then. It oversees almost 700,000 consecrated women and men of the different Catholic religious orders and societies worldwide. Vatican statistics for 2024 show that there are 559,228 women religious in the church today and 128,559 priests belonging to religious orders, all of whom fall under this Dicastery's oversight and jurisdiction, except Diocesan priests who fall under the Dicastery for the Clergy.

06/01/2025

Cardinal Robert W. McElroy of San Diego has been appointed the next archbishop of the Archdiocese of Washington, following Pope Francis' acceptance of the resignation of Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory, the first African American cardinal, as announced by the Vatican on January 6, 2025. The archdiocese is located in the nation's capital, which houses the White House, Congress, the Supreme Court, and numerous embassies, nonprofits, think tanks, and lobbying groups. Cardinal McElroy, 70, a native of San Francisco who earned degrees from Harvard and Stanford, was ordained as a priest in 1980 and became the bishop of the San Diego Diocese in 2015. Pope Francis elevated him to cardinal in 2022. He is also a member of the Vatican's Dicasteries for Laity, Family, and Life, and for Promoting Integral Human Development. The archdiocese covers 2,104 square miles in the District of Columbia and five Maryland counties: Montgomery, Prince George's, St. Mary's, Calvert, and Charles, serving a total population of 3,050,847, including 671,187 Catholics.

03/01/2025

As we enter this Jubilee year, Pope Francis highlights an urgent issue: the right to education for all children and youth. He warns in 'The Pope Video' for January, produced by his Worldwide Prayer Network, that we are facing an educational catastrophe. Approximately 250 million children are denied schooling due to war, migration, and poverty. Education is not just about learning; it is a pathway to hope. It equips migrants and refugees to integrate into new communities, escape exploitation, and create a brighter future for themselves and society, as emphasized by Pope Francis in his video.

03/01/2025

Father Henrykh Akalatovich, pastor of the Catholic parish in Valožyn, was sentenced to 11 years in a Belarusian penal colony on December 30, 2024, a sign of the escalating persecution of Catholics in the Russia-aligned country. Penal colonies, often situated in remote areas, are notorious for their harsh conditions. Fr. Akalatovich was tried in a closed session by the Minsk Regional Court, where he pleaded not guilty to charges of “treason against the state,” as reported by Belsat, an independent Polish news channel. Details of the charges remain undisclosed due to the hearing's secrecy. Detained on November 17, 2023, in Valožyn, approximately 43 miles west of Minsk, he spent over a year in a KGB detention center known for its severe conditions, referred to as ‘Amerika.’ Fr. Akalatovich has a history of health issues, including a heart attack and cancer, and underwent stomach surgery before his detention, and requires special medical care. Nevertheless, there have been no updates on his health since his arrest. The Catholic Church represents about 10% of Belarus's 9.4 million population. A new law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations, signed by President Lukashenko in December 2023, imposes restrictions on church activities and requires all parishes to re-register by July or face liquidation.

02/01/2025

Pope Francis is “deeply saddened” by the terrorist attack that killed at least 15 in New Orleans city on New Year. In his message sent to Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans, the Holy Father expressed his “spiritual closeness” to those who were affected by the attack. A 42-year-old man raced a pickup truck into the crowd on January 1, killing 15 people. The attacker was later identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a Texas native and US Army veteran. As per FBI reports, an Islamic State flag was found in the truck used by the assailant, pointing to the role of the terrorist group in the attack.

02/01/2025

At the threshold of the Holy Year, on Tuesday the last day of 2024, Pope Francis surprised everyone by suddenly turning up to visit the Nativity scene, which is displayed in St Peter's Square. After concluding the TeDeum prayer, the Holy Father went straight to the Nativity scene as the gatherers gaped in wonder and delight. To top it all, many of them were able to wish the Pope a Happy New Year directly!

02/01/2025

Yet again, priestly vocations are thriving in Spain! For this academic year, the total number of seminarians in Spanish dioceses has exceeded the thousand mark and reached 1,036. This is an optimistic leap from the previous year’s 956. All the seminarians are aged between 25 and 31. While 239 new seminarians have enrolled for the 2024-2025 academic year, 69 new deacons and 85 new priests were ordained in 2024. The data was published by the Episcopal Subcommission for Seminaries.

01/01/2025

Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans offered prayers Wednesday morning after a pickup truck driver crashed into a crowd at a New Year’s celebration on Bourbon Street, resulting in at least 10 deaths and numerous injuries. The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism. “Our prayers go out to those killed and injured in this morning’s horrific attack on Bourbon Street. This violent act shows utter disrespect for human life,” Archbishop Aymond stated on the archdiocese’s website and Facebook. After the vehicle halted, the suspect reportedly exchanged gunfire with police and was killed. At least 10 fatalities and 30 injuries were reported, with victims transported to five local hospitals. This incident follows a recent attack in Germany, where a car driven by a Saudi Arabian immigrant struck a crowd at a Christmas market, killing two.

01/01/2025

As every year, the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network announces Pope Francis' 12 prayer intentions for the months of 2025, addressing his deep concerns for humanity and the Church's mission. These monthly intentions serve as a global call to transform prayer into "concrete gestures," guiding a mission of compassion to foster a more humane, fraternal, and supportive world. They result from an extensive discernment process within the Church, incorporating insights from various countries and multiple dicasteries, congregations, and services of the Holy See. The 12 prayer intentions for 2025 are: January - For the right to education; February - For vocations to the priestly and religious life; March - For families in crisis; April - For the proper use of new technologies; May - For working conditions; June - To grow in compassion for the world; July - For formation in discernment; August - For common coexistence; September - For our relationship with all creation; October - For collaboration among religious traditions; November - For su***de prevention; December - For Christians in conflict contexts.
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01/01/2025

On the Solemnity of the Most Holy Mother of God, Pope Francis celebrated Holy Mass, encouraging Christians to “entrust this new year to Mary, the Mother of God,” hoping we might learn from her to protect “the precious gift of life.” On this World Day of Peace, which also falls on January 1, the Pope emphasized our call from Mary’s maternal heart to cherish and care for life, restoring dignity to all “born of woman,” as the foundation for a culture of peace. He reiterated his appeal for a strong commitment to respect human dignity from conception to natural death.

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Here is a skillfully captured beautiful moment of joy and laughter of two Chaldean Sisters of the ‘Daughters of Mary Immaculate’ on January 7, 2025, in Detroit while they were watching the Red Wings play ice hockey. The Chaldean Sisters are part of the Chaldean Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle in Detroit, which belongs to the Chaldean Catholic Church in the Eastern United States and practices the Syro-Oriental Rite in Classical Syriac. Established by Pope John Paul II on January 11, 1982, as the Apostolic Exarchate for Chaldeans in the US, it serves the entire country. The Chaldean Sisters dedicate their lives to serving God and the community, rooted in the traditions of the Chaldean Catholic Church. Through prayer, education, and compassionate outreach, they embody faith and love, providing hope and support to those in need. Committed to their mission, the sisters live in community, sharing both joys and challenges while nurturing spiritual growth and fostering a deeper connection to God in daily life. #shalomworldnews #newsupdates #chaldeansisters #daughtersofmaryimmaculate #PopeJohnPaulII #us #chaldeancatholicchurch #God

Ethiopia's Orthodox Christians celebrated Christmas, or "Gena," with prayers for peace amid ongoing conflict in the Horn of Africa. Following the Julian calendar, 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar used by Catholic and Protestant churches, Ethiopians traditionally mark the occasion by slaughtering animals and enjoying a post-midnight feast with family after breaking the fast. In a Christmas Eve broadcast, Abune Mathias, the patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, urged reconciliation in a nation grappling with ethnic strife. Ethiopia has also faced natural disasters, such as mudslides and recent earthquakes in Afar, Amhara, and Oromia, which have displaced thousands. Although a peace agreement was signed in 2022 to end the conflict in Tigray, persistent violence in Amhara and Oromia has resulted in widespread suffering, forcing 9 million children out of school, according to UNICEF. #Ethiopia #orthodox #shalomworldnews #CatholicChurch #UNICEF

On 7 January 2025, Eastern Orthodox Christians worldwide gathered in Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas. The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, led the Holy Mass at the Church of Nativity. Unlike most Christian denominations, the Orthodox Church observes Christmas on this date due to its adherence to the Julian calendar established by Julius Caesar in 45 BC. With over 200 million followers, primarily in Eastern Europe, including significant communities in Russia and Ukraine, these Christians distinguish themselves from those who celebrate on 25 December under the Gregorian calendar. Ceremonies and processions occurred globally, from Cairo to Moscow, though this year's celebration was subdued, featuring a modest procession with few decorations. The observance took place amid the ongoing Gaza conflict, which has lasted over 12 months without a ceasefire, casting a somber shadow over the festivities. Despite these difficulties, Orthodox Christians remain committed to their ancient traditions, finding strength in their faith and the significance of celebrating in Bethlehem. #EasternOrthodoxChurch #Christians #bethlehem #Jerusalem #juliuscaesar #shalomworldnews

Tsuut’ina Nation hosted the Canadian tour of the First-Class Relics of St. Kateri Tekakwitha and the Jesuit Missionary Martyrs. The event at the Seven Chiefs Sportsplex & Jim Starlight Centre was part of the relics' tour across western Canada for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. This devotional tour aims to bring the relics to areas of Canada where people cannot easily visit the Martyrs' Shrine, fostering encounters with these saints and offering Canadians an opportunity for healing and reconciliation. #canada #relics #YearofHope #Christians #shalomworldnews

On the eve of the Epiphany, the waters of the Rhone River passing through Lyon city in France were blessed by His Eminence Maximos, Greek Orthodox Bishop of Melitene. Several members of the Greek Orthodox community in Lyon had gathered for the ceremony that occurred on a pleasant morning. #Epiphany #rhoneriver #orthodox #shalomworldnews #CatholicNews

On the feast of the Epiphany, Pope Francis emphasized the star of Bethlehem as a symbol of God's love and a call to welcome all, reject discrimination, and create safe spaces for warmth and shelter. Just as the star invited everyone to meet the newborn Jesus, God today urges the faithful to foster inclusive environments. He highlighted that God forgets no one; as a father, His greatest joy is seeing His children return home, build bridges, clear paths, seek the lost, and support those who struggle, ensuring that no one is left behind and all can share in the joy of the father's house. #shalomworldnews #newsupdates #PopeFrancis #bethlehem #jesus #God

The Three Kings procession passed noisily and joyfully through Brzezinski, accompanied by crowds of carolers, marking a unique event in the Masłów Commune of South-Central Poland, organized in collaboration with the Brzezinski Parish and the Three Kings Procession Foundation. Celebrated annually on January 6th, Epiphany holds significant importance in Christianity as it commemorates the Magi's visit to the baby Jesus, symbolizing the revelation of Christ as the Son of God and the Light of the World to the Gentiles. This day marks the end of the Christmas season and is a time for spiritual reflection, renewal, and celebration of Jesus' divine manifestation. The tradition of Epiphany dates back to the 4th century in the Eastern Roman Empire and eventually spread to Western Europe, becoming a key part of the Christian calendar. Today, it is often referred to as "Little Christmas." #shalomworldnews #newsupdates #threekings #Brzezinski #southcentral #poland #SonOfGod

Hundreds of young adults gathered in Calgary for CCO's 2024 Rise Up conference, a dynamic four-day event filled with inspiring talks, worship, and fellowship. With keynotes, workshops, relic veneration, and a solemn New Year’s Mass, the conference empowered young Catholics to embrace their faith boldly and become leaders and missionaries in today’s world. #shalomworldnews #newsupdates #CCO #worship #fellowship #newyear #mass

A first-class relic of Blessed Michael McGivney was displayed at the Knights of Columbus booth during the seek25 conference in Salt Lake City, where many young adults venerated it and left petitions to be taken to his tomb in New Haven, Connecticut. Blessed Michael Joseph McGivney, an American Catholic priest from New Haven, founded the Knights of Columbus to provide mutual aid and insurance, particularly for immigrants and their families. Over the 20th century, it emerged as the world's largest Catholic fraternal organization. His canonization cause began in the Archdiocese of Hartford in 1996, and in March 2008, Pope Benedict XVI recognized his "heroic virtue" by declaring him "Venerable." On May 27, 2020, Pope Francis announced his beatification, which took place on October 31, 2020. #newsupdates #shalomworldnews #BlessedMichaelMcGivney #venerable #20thcentury #PopeBenedictXVI

Despite harsh weather, hundreds of Irish men participated in the first Men’s Rosary of 2025 on the streets of Toomebridge, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on January 5. It was a powerful, peaceful, and prayerful event. Many wives joined in prayer from the sidelines, while passers-by, some moved to tears, participated in Our Lady's Rosary. The men prayed on their knees for Ireland's reparation, repentance, and conversion, asking Our Lady to protect the women in their lives from the evils of abortion. #shalomworldnews #newsupdates #irish #rosary #northernireland #ourladysrosary

American Cardinal James Harvey opened the holy door at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls on Sunday, January 5, 2025, marking the completion of the five holy doors in Rome for the Catholic Church's 2025 Jubilee of Hope. Pilgrims visiting Rome during this holy year can receive a plenary indulgence by passing through these doors. The ceremony began in the basilica’s columned courtyard with the ancient sound of a shofar, which was historically used by the Israelites to announce jubilee years. The Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, built over St. Paul's tomb and consecrated in 324 by Pope Sylvester, is one of Rome's four papal basilicas and a significant pilgrimage site. During the Jubilee, it will be a central location among the five designated by the pope. The holy door at St. Paul’s will remain open until December 28, 2025. #shalomworldnews #newsupdates #americancardinal #jamesharvey #HolyDoor #sunday #rome #PopeSylvester

The Territorial Prelature of Lábrea in the ecclesiastical province of Porto Velho in Brazil opens the ‘Jubilee 2025’ elegantly. Bishop Santiago Sánchez Sebastián presided over the Solemn Mass and the opening of the event on the theme 'Pilgrims of Hope'. #shalomworldnews #jubilee #brazil #hope

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