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Muslims and Jews: the Pope in Najaf and Ur, the basis for an Iraq of peace and pluralism

The meeting between Pope Francis and Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Najaf and the interfaith prayer in Ur of the Chaldeans are laying the foundations for an Iraq based on coexistence, pluralism, peace and a multicultural vision. Analysts and commentators, from Iran to Israel, stress the “historic” significance of this morning’s meeting between the pontiff […]

The Pope and restored ruins of Mosul speak to the whole world of hope

An elderly Pope Francis bowing and asking God’s forgiveness for the violence unleashed in the square of the four churches in Mosul; the choral participation of Muslims, Christians, Yazidis and Sabeans, all in traditional costume, survivors of a violent uprooting; the crumbling walls of the churches under reconstruction, where the monument to the martyrs and […]

Iranians are happy about the Pope-Sistani meeting, not the fundamentalists

Pope Francis’s visit to Iraq on March 5-8 has had several repercussions in Iran, especially the meeting between Francis, the leader of world Catholicism, and Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, one of the most important Shia religious leaders. Some, including Mohammad Masjedjamei, former Iranian ambassador to the Holy See, mentioned Pope John Paul II’s desire to visit […]

Iraq: Pope’s Trip Leaves Collateral Damage

Pope Francis’ Iraq trip has triggered a tidal wave of mockery on social media, with Muslims gleefully announcing that the Pontiff has surrendered to Isla-mic supremacy, an Iraqi Muslim convert has told Church Militant. The Kurdish response to Francis on the final day of his visit has been largely negative, as “many Kurds see the […]

Kerala deep sea fishing row: Latin Church slams govt officials for lapses

The Latin Church in Kerala has lashed out at the state government over the scrapped deal with US-based EMCC International for deep sea fishing and research, stating that the Fisheries and Industries Departments made serious mistakes and that they would have to take responsibility for the issue, instead of blaming bureaucrats. Bishop Joseph Kariyil of […]

Caste-biased clergy ruined Dalit Catholics: Franklin Caesar Thomas

Dalit groups such as the National Council of Dalit Christians have been demanding human dignity and equality within the Church. On March 10, the council urged Pope Francis to create a separate ritual Church for Dalit Catholics to end their centuries-old discrimination. Council coordinator Franklin Caesar Thomas spoke to Matters India about their new demands. […]

Indian state seeks tribal religion code in census

Hemant Soren, chief minister of the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, has urged the prime minister to include a separate Sarna tribal religion code in the forthcoming cen-sus. He reiterated the state government’s demand to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the wake of ongoing protests by tribal groups in Jharkhand. Speaking at a webinar meeting of government think […]

Italian prelate appointed new nuncio to India

Pope Francis on March 13 appointed Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, an Italian prelate, as the new apostolic nuncio to India. Archbishop Girelli was the nuncio to Israel and Cyprus and apostolic delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine until now, according to Archbishop Felix Anthony Machado of Vasai, the secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India. […]