Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

The weary world rejoices: Nativity scenes bring joy to hardened hearts

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square is not getting rave reviews: The backdrop does not look like a stable and the characters in need — hungry, naked, dead, imprisoned — don’t exactly evoke a silent night when all was cozy, calm and bright. Franciscan Father […]

Nativity scene, Christmas tree are visible signs of God’s compassion

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By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — A Nativity scene and Christmas tree, like those displayed in St. Peter’s Square, are visible reminders of God’s benevolence and closeness to all men and women, Pope Francis said. The traditional Christmas displays are “the signs of the heavenly Father’s compassion, of his participation and […]

Vatican summit participants vow efforts to stop organ trafficking

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By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — A Vatican summit on organ trafficking called for greater efforts to prevent the exploitation of those vulnerable to corrupt health professionals and criminal networks making the sale of human organs possible. “We, the undersigned participants of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences summit on organ trafficking, resolve […]

China, Vatican reach consensus on appointing bishops

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By Barb Fraze Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — China and the Vatican have reached consensus on the appointment of bishops, which will lead to the resolution of other outstanding problems, said Hong Kong Cardinal John Tong. “From now on, there will be no more the crisis of a division between the open and underground communities […]

Vatican opens homeless shelter for men

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By Nicole Pellicano Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The Vatican opened the “Gift of Mercy,” a shelter for homeless men, just a few hundred yards away from St. Peter’s Square. Housed in a Jesuit-owned building, the shelter was created by and is run with funds from the papal almoner, who has taken a variety […]

Vatican Secret Archives teaches scholars to decipher ancient manuscripts

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The signature of astronomer Galileo Galilei from the records of his trial is seen on a document in the Vatican Secret Archives. Pope Leo XIII founded the Vatican School of Paleography, Diplomatics and Archive Administration in 1884, just a few years after he opened the archives to the world’s scholars. (CNS photo/Vatican Secret Archives)   […]

Ordinary and extraordinary: 2013 goes down in Vatican history

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The helicopter carrying Pope Benedict XVI passes the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica as the retired pope returns to the Vatican May 2, 2013. Pope Benedict’s resignation and the election of Pope Francis are among the events of 2013 summarized in the Vatican’s annual report for that year. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)   VATICAN CITY — […]

Pope tells bishops at family synod to speak fearlessly, listen humbly

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Pope Francis talks with Cardinal Angelo Sodano, retired Vatican secretary of state, before the start of the afternoon session on the first working day of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family at the Vatican Oct. 6. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)   Vatican City — Pope Francis opened the first working session of an extraordinary […]