WelCom March 2021 In his annual foreign policy address, Pope Francis exhorted global governments to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic focused on creating a fairer market economy, addressing the rapidly escalating dangers of climate change, and providing basic healthcare to their citizens. In his address, on 8 February 2021 to the 183 ambassadors accredited to […]
WelCom March 2021 The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution declaring 4 February the International Day of Human Fraternity. The day is to be observed each year, beginning in 2021. It comes as the result of Christian-Muslim cooperation to promote peace, harmony and intercultural dialogue in the world. In particular it is the fruit […]
WelCom March 2021 Pope Francis will be the first pope ever to visit Iraq when he arrives in Baghdad on March 5. He will be welcomed at the Presidential Palace, and later meet Christian and religious leaders from all faiths. He will visit Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the influential leader of Iraq’s Shiite Muslims, in […]
WelCom March 2021 The Jubilee Year of Compostela in Spain has been extended to take place through both 2021 and 2022, due to Covid-19 restrictions. 2021 is a Camino de Santiago Holy Year, also referred to as a Holy Year of Compostela. A Holy Year on the Camino is a year when the Feast of […]
WelCom March 2021 Several African countries are grappling with a deadly second wave of the Covid-19 virus being driven by a variant first identified in South Africa. There are fears the continent’s health system, already beleaguered in many countries, could be overwhelmed. Fr Charles Chilufya, the Coordinator of the Africa Task Force of the Vatican’s […]
WelCom March 2021 Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory appeared on CNN, during an evening programme on 22 February, offering a prayer for the 500,000 Americans who have died from Covid-19. In the prayer, Gregory asked God to ‘grant eternal peace to all our sisters and brothers lost to this disease. ‘Let us now open our hearts […]
WelCom March 2021 Pope Francis has spoken of his solidarity with the people of Myanmar and appealed to its leaders to show willingness to serve the common good ‘promoting social justice and national stability’. The military has detained elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi whose National League for Democracy Party won a landslide in a […]
WelCom February 2021 “I believe in the power and work of the Holy Spirit, and this is what the Holy Spirit is asking of me and the church of Wellington. This is the future that I will immerse myself in – my energy and my life.” Coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington Paul Martin SM Pope Francis […]
WelCom February 2021 Kaumatua farewelled Archdiocesan Kaumatua Tuki Takiwa died peacefully on Friday 4 December 2020. He was in the presence of his wife of 61 years, Pauline, family and Fr Michael McCabe, for whom Tuki had called. Tuki had filled a role as leader of prayer and blessing for the Archdiocese for many years, […]
WelCom February 2021 Lisa Beech Every year, Waitangi Day, 6 February, brings us an opportunity to reflect on whether we are moving towards, or away from, reconciliation and justice resulting from our country’s history. Members of Catholic communities can be heard on all sides of the debate. Some may advocate for active resolution of past […]