By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM SINGAPORE — The 87-year-old Pope Francis not only survived the longest trip of his pontificate, but he drew energy from the crowds who came to see him, and he seemed to enjoy his 12-day visit to Asia and the Pacific. Unity, respect for one’s […]
‘Sow seeds of love’: Pontiff calls on faithful to overcome divisions
Catholic News Service Pope Francis embarked this month on the longest foreign trip of his papacy, a long-planned four-nation apostolic visit to Southeast Asia and Oceania. Among his goals, according to one of the cardinals traveling with the pope, was to “encourage Catholics in all the contexts in which they find themselves.” Filipino Cardinal Luis […]
Pope to tackle wide range of issues on 4-nation trip
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis’ trip to Asia and Oceania in September will be a trip of religious, economic and social contrasts. Visiting four nations Sept. 2-13, the 87-year-old pope will be making the longest trip of his pontificate, both in terms of distance covered and days away from […]
Church workers assist aid after Jakarta flooding leaves 60 dead
By Catholic News Service JAKARTA, Indonesia — Caritas Indonesia (Karina) has joined the Jakarta Archdiocese in distributing aid to people hard hit by floods that have killed dozens of people in and around Indonesia’s capital. Ucanews.org reported the floods are considered among the worst to have hit the Indonesian capital and its suburbs since records […]
Indonesia to deploy 160,000 for church safety at Christmas
By Catholic News Service JAKARTA, Indonesia — Nearly 160,000 security personnel will be deployed to try to make Christmas and New Year celebrations in Indonesia safe, reported ucanews.org. This is an increase from last year, when nearly 90,000 security personnel guarded about 50,000 churches across the country. An official of the National Police Traffic Corps […]
Catholic aid agencies respond after massive quake, tsunami in Indonesia
By Catholic News Service JAKARTA, Indonesia — Catholic aid agencies were among those working to assess the needs and get relief to the island of Sulawesi after an earthquake and tsunami left more than 800 people dead. Indonesia’s disaster agency said Oct. 1 the death toll from the magnitude 7.5 earthquake and tsunami was more […]