Here is the detailed schedule of events planned for Pope Francis’ visit to Colombia Sept. 6-10. The schedule was released by the Vatican June 23. All times are local, with Eastern Daylight Time in parentheses: Wednesday, Sept. 6 (Rome, Bogota) — 11 a.m. (5 a.m.) Departure from Rome’s Fiumicino airport. — 4:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m.) Arrival at CATAM military section of the Bogota airport. Welcoming ceremony. Thursday, Sept. 7 (Bogota) — 9 a.m. (10 a.m.) Meeting with government authorities in the courtyard of Casa de Narino presidential palace in Bogota.…
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Pope Francis to visit Chile, Peru in January 2018
Pope Francis will make an Apostolic Journey to Chile and Peru in January 2018, according to a statement released by the Holy See Press Office. The Pope will visit Chile from 15 to 18 January, visiting the cities of Santiago, Temuco and Iquique. He will be in Peru from 18 to 21 January, visiting Lima, Puerto Maldonado, and Trujillo. The communique from Greg Burke, Director of the Holy See Press Office, said the Pope’s trip came at the invitation of the respective Heads of State and Bishops. It said the programme…
Read MorePossible papal visit to Holy Land
Vatican and Israeli officials have begun discussions about a possible visit by Pope Francis to the Holy Land, according to the Times of Israel. According to the report, the primary purpose of a papal visit would be to push for resumption of active peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian officials. The Pope could visit other countries in the region during the same trip, the report notes. The Vatican has not commented on the report.
Read MoreBishop Curlin celebrates 60th jubilee
Bishop William G. Curlin (center) celebrated Mass in honor of his 60th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood on May 20 at St. Vincent de Paul Church. Father Mark Lawlor, pastor (left), Father Paul Gary, pastor of St. Luke Church in Mint Hill (right), and Father Casey Coleman, parochial vicar of St. Vincent de Paul Church (background), concelebrated the Mass attended by the Knights and Dames of Malta. They held a luncheon reception for Bishop Curlin after the Mass and presented him with letters from the Vatican, bishops from around…
Read MoreTrump arrives in Rome for meeting with Pope Francis
President Trump has arrived in Rome for his first audience with Pope Francis, at the Vatican on Wednesday. The visit to the Vatican is the third stop of Trump’s tour of sites representing three major religions. Over the weekend he stopped in Saudi Arabia, where he delivered an address to Muslim leaders, and Monday through Tuesday he visited Israel and the West Bank and met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Trump and Francis will certainly have differences to iron out during their meeting. In February 2016 the pontiff remarked on then-candidate…
Read MorePope Francis Calls Consistory to Create 5 New Cardinals
In a surprise announcement on Sunday May 21, Pope Francis said he will hold a consistory to make five new cardinals on June 28. Two are Europeans—from Spain and Sweden—while the other three come from Africa (Mali), Asia (Laos) and Latin America (El Salvador). The names of the new cardinals-elect are: Jean Zerbo (age 74), archbishop of Bamako, Mali; Juan José Omella (71), archbishop of Barcelona, Spain; Anders Arborelius (68), bishop of Stockholm, Sweden; Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun (73), vicar apostolic of Paksé, Laos; and Gregorio Rosa Chávez (75), auxiliary bishop…
Read MorePope Francis arrives in Portugal for Fatima trip
Pope Francis has arrived in Portugal where he is to visit the shrine at Fatima, one of the world’s most popular Catholic pilgrimage sites. Two Portuguese Air Force F-16 fighter jets escorted the pope’s plane as it came in to land at the Monte Real Portuguese Air Force base, which lies amid pine forests a short distance from the rural town of Fatima. A guard of honor has lined up on the runway next to the plane. The pontiff’s first official event Friday is a brief private meeting with Portuguese…
Read MoreCoptic Pope Tawadros embarks on UK pastoral visit
Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II begins his first pastoral visit to the UK on Friday. He is scheduled to visit Coptic parishes across the country, officiating at liturgical services and performing several consecrations, while also meeting with parishioners. Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, will receive Pope Tawadros on Friday and accompany him throughout his stay. The bishop said: “This is a historic visit, not only of the 118th Pope of Alexandria to the United Kingdom, but more personally for His Holiness Pope Tawadros,…
Read MoreTrump to meet Pope Francis on May 24
The Vatican had announced that President Donald Trump will meet Pope Francis during a visit later this month. “His Holiness Pope Francis will receive the Hon. Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, on Wednesday, 24 May 2017, at 8:30 a.m. in the Apostolic Palace,” the Vatican announced Thursday. “President Trump will then meet with His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.”
Read MoreCatholic and Anglican archbishops to play historic joint role in Ireland’s first beatification
The first beatification ceremony to be held in Ireland will take place in Dublin on May 13. Fr John Sullivan, a Jesuit famed for his devotion to the poor and sick and for the efficacy of his prayers, will be beatified at the Jesuit Gardiner Street church where he is buried. In an unprecedented gesture, the formal request for beatification will be made by Anglican as well as Catholic archbishops. This is because Fr Sullivan was raised Anglican before converting to Catholicism. During the Mass, a large portrait of Fr…
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