Pope risks joke about Trump’s size Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | It could have caused a diplomatic incident but a culinary quip from Pope Francis seemed to have gone down well with Donald Trump and his wife Melania. In one of the lighter moments of his meeting with …
Read More »All smiles, in public at least, as Trump meets Pope Francis
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | US President Donald Trump met Pope Francis at the Vatican on Wednesday in a keenly-anticipated face-to-face encounter between two world leaders who have clashed repeatedly. The private audience with the pontiff, which lasted just under half an hour, was preceded by a handshake …
Read More »Gloves off as Trump heads to Vatican
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Billionaire President Donald Trump heads to the Vatican on Wednesday to meet man-of-the-poor Pope Francis, with all eyes on whether they will end their sparring to find common ground. The two leaders have been at odds over issues from migration to climate change, …
Read More »Uganda’s Arch. Kasujja assumes position as Apostolic Nuncio in Belgium
Brussels, Belgium | MFA UGANDA | Archbishop Augustine Kassujja from Uganda has assumed his position as Apostolic Nuncio in Belgium. The Apostolic Nuncio in Belgium is automatically the Dean of all Ambassadors in Belgium. The Diplomatic Club of Belgium was created in 1988 with the approval of the then Belgian Foreign Minister, …
Read More »FATIMA: 500,000 attend pope’s canonisation of child shepherds
Fátima, Portugal | AFP | Some 500,000 worshippers gathered in Fatima Saturday to watch Pope Francis declare two child shepherds who had visions of the Virgin Mary 100 years ago saints, the Vatican said. Altogether, about 500,000 people were present, the Vatican said in a statement, quoting local authorities — …
Read More »Pope declares Fatima child shepherds who ‘saw Virgin Mary’ saints
Fátima, Portugal | AFP | Two young shepherds who had visions of the Virgin Mary 100 years ago in Fatima, a Portuguese site now a global draw for pilgrims, were declared saints Saturday by Pope Francis. “We declare the blissful Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto saints, and we register them …
Read More »Pope greeted by thousands on Fatima pilgrimage
Fátima, Portugal | AFP | Pope Francis called for harmony “among all people” Friday after arriving at Portugal’s holy site of Fatima where he was greeted by thousands of pilgrims gathered to mark 100 years since child shepherds had visions of the Virgin Mary. The Argentine pontiff flew into the …
Read More »Pope in Egypt rejects fanaticism, urges charity
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Pope Francis rejected fanaticism and appealed for charity on Saturday as he addressed thousands of faithful during a visit to Egypt to promote reconciliation with Muslims and support its embattled Christians. His visit, coming after the Islamic State group (IS) killed dozens of worshippers in …
Read More »Pope says ‘demagogic’ populism does not help peace
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Pope Francis denounced “demagogic populism” on Friday and insisted that violence profanes God’s name, in a wide-ranging speech as he visited Egypt to push for tolerance. “Peace alone… is holy and no act of violence can be perpetrated in the name of God, for it would …
Read More »Pope and Egypt’s Coptic patriarch pray at IS-bombed church
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | In a Cairo church bombed by the Islamic State group just months ago, Pope Francis and the Coptic Orthodox patriarch sat side by side Friday and prayed near tangible reminders of the horrific attack. The emotional mass came as the Catholic pontiff visits Egypt to …
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