Tag Archives: Religion

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 — …

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 …

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 …

Lagos, Nigeria | AFP |  Sunday morning is usually the preserve of Christian pastors in the Nigerian megacity of Lagos but a new form of worship is emerging to challenge the monopoly. “Praise Allah!” shouts the imam of the Nasrul-lahi-li Fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) before thousands of his faithful, …

Bishop Joseph Anthony Zziwa of Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese has urged Ugandans to strive to excel in whichever job they do, if the country’s pace of development is to be stepped up. He said, there is no better promotion or advertisement of one’s assignment than simply doing a good job of it. …

Berlin, Germany | AFP |  German lawmakers on Thursday approved a partial ban on the full-face burqa Islamic veil and a package of security measures aimed at preventing extremist attacks. The new laws follow several jihadist attacks, including a truck rampage through a Berlin Christmas market that claimed 12 lives, …

  Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP |  Thousands of Christians from around the world marked Good Friday in Jerusalem’s Old City, retracing the steps Jesus Christ is believed to have taken carrying his cross to his crucifixion. It was also marked in various cities across the world. Through the Old City’s …

Pope washes feet of mafia snitches in Easter ritual Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis washed the feet of former mafiosi on Thursday in a prison known for housing inmates who have informed on old mobster allies. The closed-door visit to Paliano prison outside Rome saw the …

Tunis, Tunisia | AFP |  Tunisian authorities have shut down a nightclub and begun an investigation after a DJ played a remix recording of the Muslim call to prayer, an official said Monday. A video, widely shared online since Sunday, shows clubbers dancing at the weekend to music that includes …

Milan, Italy | AFP | Pope Francis arrived in Milan on Saturday to meet families on a working-class housing estate, have lunch in a prison and hold a mass for hundreds of thousands of believers in nearby Monza. Bells in church towers across over 1,000 dioceses rang out as Francis …