Pope Francis honored American actors George Clooney and Richard Gere and actress Salma Hayek on Sunday, awarding them the “Olive Medal” for peace at a Vatican event.
Author: Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.
Egypt: Elderly Christian Woman Stripped Naked, Beaten by Muslim Mob
In southern Egypt a 70-year-old Christian woman was stripped, beaten and marched naked through the streets by an armed mob of some 300 Muslim men, in punishment for being the mother of a Christian man suspected of carrying on a relationship with a Mus…
Pope Francis Asks God to ‘Convert the Hearts’ of Islamic Terrorists
Following on the latest spate of devastating attacks by the Islamic State in Syria, Pope Francis prayed to God Wednesday to “convert the hearts of those who sow death and destruction.” In his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope addressed the tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists in a special appeal for prayer for the Middle East. Referencing terrorist attacks in “beloved Syria” that slaughtered “hundreds of unarmed civilians,” the Pope urged everyone to pray to God, the Father of mercies, to grant “eternal rest to the victims and consolation to their families.” The Pope also asked people to pray so that God might “convert the hearts” of those who would perpetrate such actions, sowing “death and destruction.” Following on this appeal, Francis asked the people gathered in the square to join him in praying the “Hail Mary” out loud to ask the Virgin Mary’s intercession for those affected by the recent jihadist attack. On Monday, Islamic militants attacked a series of civilian targets, setting off seven explosions in bus stations, hospitals and other sites in the seaside cities of Jableh and Tartus, killing more than 150 people, including eight children. Another 300 people were wounded
Austria Ramps Up Border Controls Around Brenner Pass
Austrian authorities have more than doubled the number of police officers monitoring traffic in the immediate vicinity of the Brenner border, to prevent unauthorized migrant entries into Austria.
Nearly 4,000 Migrants Arrive in Southern Italy in Multiple Rescue Operations
On Tuesday morning, some 1,300 shipwrecked migrants were rescued in the Strait of Sicily and brought to Italy, joining the 2,600 migrants that came into Sicily over the weekend. With the arrival of temperate weather, thousands of migrants continue to embark on the perilous crossing from northern Africa into Italy every week, many of whom have been picked up by ships of the Italian coastguard, the Italian Navy, and other vessels from groups such as Doctors without Borders. On Tuesday, the Irish naval patrol vessel “Le Roisin” joined in the rescue efforts by bringing in 395 migrants from the southern Mediterranean, arriving into Sicily just after noon. The 1,300 new arrivals have joined the more than 2,600 migrants that reached Italy between Sunday and Monday in boats that set sail from different points in North Africa. On Sunday, 636 migrants were rescued in Maltese waters as well from two failing vessels. Tuesday’s arrivals brought the total number of migrants by sea into Italy to 31,000 so far this year, a trend expected to continue as Italy has become virtually the sole point of entry into Europe. According to a number of humanitarian organizations, the sea passage between Libya and Italy
Pope Francis: Fear of Terrorism and Migrants Must Not ‘Weaken Our Resolve’
While recognizing the legitimacy of people’s fears of terrorism and mass immigration, Pope Francis is urging world leaders not to allow such concerns to diminish solidarity with “our brothers and sisters in grave need.” On Thursday the Pope received a group of new ambassadors representing six different nations from Africa, Northern Europe and Southeast Asia, noting that the presence of such a diversity of countries is a “poignant reminder” that, although our nationalities, cultures and religious beliefs may be different, “we are united by our common humanity and a shared mission to care for society and creation.” Diplomatic service has taken on a “particular urgency,” Francis said, at a time when “so many in our world are suffering conflicts and war, forced migration and displacement, and the uncertainty born of economic hardship.” As he has done on other occasions, the Pope acknowledged that many people “are afraid of terrorism and of a growing influx of migrants fundamentally changing their culture, economic stability and way of life.” He further recognized that such fears are understandable and cannot be dismissed lightly, but added that “they must be addressed in an intelligent and creative way, so that the rights and needs of all