10+ min ago (302+ words) In a brief press conference on his two-hour flight from Istanbul to Beirut on the afternoon of Nov. 30, Pope Leo emphasized the need for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the possibility of a truce to end the war in Ukraine." Pope Leo responded in English: "Certainly we talked about the two situations. The Holy See for many years has publicly supported the proposal for the solution of two states. We all know that at this moment, Israel does not accept the solution of two states, but we see it as the only [option] that could offer a solution." "We are also friends of Israel and we try with the two sides to be'let's say'a mediating voice that can help them come closer to a solution with justice for all," he continued. "We spoke about this also with…...

3+ hour, 13+ min ago (971+ words) When Pope Leo arrived in Beirut on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 30, on the second stage of his first foreign trip, his main aim was to promote peace and do what he could to prevent a year-long, unstable cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon from collapsing into a new war. It is his first time in "the land of the cedars," as this country of some five million people is called, where the majority-Muslim population has lived side by side with Christians. At the time of its independence in 1943, the mostly Maronite Christian population counted for around 51 percent of the population, but today it is estimated to make up 33 percent of Lebanon. "Blessed are the peacemakers" is the motto of Pope Leo's two-day visit here. These words of Jesus served as the leitmotif of his keynote address to an audience of 400, who included…...

1+ day, 40+ min ago (555+ words) Pope Leo XIV's first foreign trip as pope is nearing an end in Turkey after meetings with the country's minority Christian community, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Islamic leaders in this largely Muslim, secular state. The U.S.-born missionary pope who had visited some 50 countries as head of the Augustinian order for twelve years told me on the flight from Rome that he had "never" visited Turkey or Lebanon before this trip and that he was greatly anticipating it. The pope and the president seemed to get on well, judging by their warm body language and spontaneous exchanges. Their rapport was especially evident during their later meeting with state authorities in the grand Nations Library of the presidential palace, where both leaders spoke about peace, the family and the need to care for creation. President Erdogan also praised both Pope Francis…...

2+ day, 2+ hour ago (693+ words) We are all invited to overcome the scandal of the divisions that unfortunately still exist [among Christians] and to nurture the desire for unity for which the Lord Jesus prayed and gave his life," Pope Leo XIV told the leaders of the Christian churches in his speech at an ecumenical prayer service in Turkey on Nov. 28, commemorating the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea." Leo, who has made peace and unity priorities of his pontificate, emphasized that the more we are reconciled, the more we Christians can bear credible witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is a proclamation of hope for all" and, in the words of Pope Francis, a message of peace and universal fraternity that transcends the boundaries of our communities and nations." Speaking in English, he told the Christian leaders present and his global ecumenical…...

2+ day, 19+ hour ago (176+ words) America Media interprets the church for the world and the world for the church. We are a forum for discussion of religion, society, politics and culture from a Catholic perspective. The Ignatian traditions of "finding God in all things" and the promotion of justice shape our commentary. Founded in 1909 by the Jesuit order and directed today by Jesuits and lay colleagues, America Media is a resource for social analysis and spiritual renewal, guided by the spirit of charity. With his foreign trip to Turkey and Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV will become the first American pope on the road. The journey fulfills a visit Pope Francis had hoped to make before his health declined, and it gives Leo a prominent platform to speak about peace in the Middle East. In a notable shift from the Vatican's traditional use of Italian, he…...

3+ day, 5+ hour ago (668+ words) ANKARA, Turkey (CNS) " Pope Leo XIV began his first papal trip speaking of dialogue, peace and thanksgiving " referring to both the holiday and his own gratitude. On the plane to Turkey Nov. 27, he wished a Happy Thanksgiving to the Americans among the 80 journalists traveling with him and told them, "It's a wonderful day to celebrate." He also received from reporters two pumpkin pies and a pecan pie; he said he would share "part of it." Pope Leo also was given a baseball bat that had belonged to 1950s White Sox player Nellie Fox. After expressing his appreciation, the pope asked, "How did you get that through security?" Landing in Ankara after the flight of almost three hours, Pope Leo fulfilled the dictates of protocol as a visiting head of state, meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Safi Arpagus, the head…...

3+ day, 22+ hour ago (918+ words) America Media interprets the church for the world and the world for the church. We are a forum for discussion of religion, society, politics and culture from a Catholic perspective. The Ignatian traditions of "finding God in all things" and the promotion of justice shape our commentary. Founded in 1909 by the Jesuit order and directed today by Jesuits and lay colleagues, America Media is a resource for social analysis and spiritual renewal, guided by the spirit of charity. Nancy Savoca's "Household Saints" (1993) is all about food, family and faith. That makes it an appropriate watch for Thanksgiving week and the holidays to come. Based on Francine Prose's 1981 novel, "Household Saints" is the story of three generations of women in the Santangelo-Falconetti family, spanning from the 1950s to the 1990s. It is also a story about how culture, and especially faith, evolve through…...

3+ day, 23+ hour ago (632+ words) VATICAN CITY (CNS) " The Vatican reported that it ended 2024 with a 1.6-million-euro surplus ($1.85 million) compared to a deficit of 51.2 million euros ($59.3 million) in 2023. Its operational deficit, while not eliminated, was reduced almost by half from 83.5 million euros ($96.8 million) in 2023 to 44.4 million euros ($51.5 million) in 2024. This improvement "represents significant progress in consolidating the Holy See's economic situation," Maximino Caballero Ledo, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, told Vatican News Nov. 26. "This result was supported by an overall increase in revenues of almost 79 million euros ($91.6 million) compared with the previous year," he said the same day the dicastery published the Holy See's financial statement for 2024. The increase in revenues was due to a 12% growth in donations, a 7% increase in property and commercial management, which included the sale of some legacy assets, and a 4% increase in hospital income, the report said. Despite…...

4+ day, 10+ min ago (323+ words) Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week of Ordinary Time A Reflection for Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time Alleluia, alleluia. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man. Alleluia, alleluia. How do you stand vigilant?" However, what that vigilance means and how that looks for each of us may be different. This chapter of Luke's Gospel, which puts us just before Jesus' entry and crucifixion in Jerusalem, continues with just two more verses (vv. 37-38). In them, Jesus gives us a hint as to what it might mean to "be vigilant" in our times:" During the day, Jesus was teaching in the temple area, but at night he would leave and stay at the place called the Mount of Olives. And all the people would get up early each…...

4+ day, 17+ min ago (526+ words) America Media interprets the church for the world and the world for the church. We are a forum for discussion of religion, society, politics and culture from a Catholic perspective. The Ignatian traditions of "finding God in all things" and the promotion of justice shape our commentary. Founded in 1909 by the Jesuit order and directed today by Jesuits and lay colleagues, America Media is a resource for social analysis and spiritual renewal, guided by the spirit of charity. Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time A Reflection for Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." Find today's readings here. Today's Gospel reminded me that any family member, friend or colleague who will listen to me or humor me by looking at my pictures during the…...