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World

Stories from parishes, dioceses, religious orders and community groups all over the world. It also includes stories on specific topics such as the Vatican, the Pope, missionaries, aid projects, aid agencies, health & natural disasters. See our World Parishes Links page for relevant links.


Pope Francis greets crowds before leaving hospital

Screenshot

Jubilant crowds greeted the Holy Father this morning as he made his first public appearance in 38 days - sitting a wheelchair on a balcony of the Gemelli Hospital in Rome. He smiled, waved and gave a brief thumbs up and then said: "I see a lady with yellow flowers. Brava! - before giving his blessing. See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy4ujJcwxu0 Before appearing on the hospital balcony, Pope F... Read More


Gospel in Art: A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard

Port Jackson Fig Tree,   by Lloyd Rees  1934,  © Lloyd Rees Estate/Licensed by Viscopy, Collection of The University of Queensland

Gospel of 23 March 2025 There were some present at that very time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, 'Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower ... Read More


Pope Francis to be discharged from hospital

Medical team treating Pope Francis

Pope Francis is scheduled to be discharged from hospital on Sunday, 23 March. He will return to Casa Santa Marta after the Angelus, during which he will greet and bless the faithful from a window of the Gemelli Hospital at noon. At a press conference this evening, Doctor Sergio Alfieri, head of the medical team treat the Holy Father at the Gemelli Hospital, said: "The good news the world and every... Read More


Pope to bless crowd outside Gemelli hospital tomorrow

Image ICN/JS

This morning, the Holy See Press Office announced the Pope is planning to greet the crowd outside Rome's Gemelli hospital and give his blessing on Sunday, March 23, shortly after 12pm. The statement said the text of the Angelus will be shared as it has been the last few weeks. While the doctors have not yet given any indication as to when the Pope would be discharged from the hospital, this greeti... Read More


Archbishop Gallagher: Pope still serves Church and humanity in his fragility

Ambassadors gathered to pray for Pope Francis  at  Church of the Gesù   Image: Vatican Media

Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, celebrated Mass for Ambassadors to the Holy See at the Jesuit church in Rome, on Thursday evening, to pray for Pope Francis' health. In his homily Archbishop Gallagher underlined the Pope's gratitude "for the closeness and the prayer that rises abundantly to Heaven for him." The Archbishop focused his homily on the divine l... Read More


Bethlehem: Christian counselling centre helping to ease the anguish

Graffiti in Bethlehem © ACN

A Catholic psychotherapy initiative in the West Bank has been instrumental in addressing the mental health crisis in the Holy Land - where at least 60 percent of Palestinian Christians need counselling. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem opened the Bailasan Counselling Centre in Bethlehem in June 2024, with support from Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). It is the only mental heal... Read More


Gaza: Campaigners appeal - don't let UK be an ally to atrocities

The Britain Palestine Project (formerly the Balfour Project) has commended a new initiative by Medical Aid for Palestinians, Christian Aid and Save the Children which spells out actions the UK Government must take to uphold and implement international law in Israel/Palestine. They seek: - the immediate release of all hostages and arbitrarily detained Palestinians; - implementation of phases two ... Read More


Pope's Vocation Day message: Our mission is to be Christ's presence to all

Image: ICN/Screenshot

As he recovers from bilateral pneumonia at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, Pope Francis released his message for the 62nd World Day of Prayer for Vocations, which falls this year on 11 May. Entitled 'Pilgrims of Hope: The Gift of Life,' the Pope's message recalls that every vocation - be it to ordained ministry, consecrated life, or the laity - should offer the world a sign of God's hope for every person... Read More


Myanmar/Burma: Military set fire to Catholic cathedral

Video footage shows St Patrick's Cathedral on fire 16 March. Credit: RVA Kachin/Facebook.

Soldiers from the State Administration Council (SAC), which falls under the authority of Myanmar/Burma's military junta, reportedly set fire to St Patrick's Cathedral in Banmaw, Kachin State, on the evening of 16 March. The cathedral, a significant historic and spiritual landmark for Kachin's Christian community, was targeted during military operations conducted by the junta shortly before the cel... Read More


Holy Land Accompaniers show 'someone from the international community cares'

Ecumenical Accompaniers walking along street in Bethlehem area. File Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC

A new group from the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel have released a report on incidents in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Jordan Valley, and South Hebron Hills. The latest group of ecumenical accompaniers marks the sixth successful implementation underway since the war started on 7 October 2023. The WCC Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palesti... Read More


Mozambique: Charity gives hope to thousands of suffering families

Sr Aparecida visits people in Cabo Delgado © ACN

A Religious Sister in northern Mozambique has described how Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is helping to save lives and preserve the Faith in a region devastated by ongoing Islamist violence. More than 5,000 people have been killed in Cabo Delgado Province and thousands "have lost everything" because of the insurgency - but the Church is working hard to ease the suffering, according to Sister Apa... Read More


India: Pilgrimage to the mazar of Fr Herman Rasschaert SJ

Group at the tomb of Fr Herman Rasschaert, SJ

Together, we can become better instruments of peace On March 15, 2025, the first-year theologians from the Jesuit Formation Centre of Theology in Ranchi embarked on a journey to Kutingia to visit the mazar (tomb) of Fr Herman Rass, SJ, who was martyred for peace during the communal violence that erupted in the area in 1964. This visit was a key component of our course on Christian-Muslim dialogue.... Read More


Gaza - Statement from the Archbishop of York

The Government of Israel's most recent assault on the Gaza Strip is a devastating and reckless blow to the hopes of all who long and pray for a different outcome: for the Palestinians of Gaza whose lives and entire way of life have been destroyed in the last 18 months, and for all who long to see hostages returned to their families. It is so clear that there is no military solution to this situati... Read More


Pope no longer needs mechanical ventilation as condition improves

Candles and get well messages

On Wednesday evening, the Holy See Press Office released the following update on Pope Francis' health: "The Holy Father's clinical condition is confirmed to be improving. The Holy Father has suspended non-invasive mechanical ventilation and also has less need of high-flow oxygen therapy. Motor and respiratory physiotherapy is continuing to make progress." "This morning, on the Solemnity of Saint J... Read More

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