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Kenya’s Bishop of Embu Diocese and Vice Chair of the Commission for Youth at the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), Peter Kemani, says young people in the AMECEA region are seeking answers, inclusion, involvement and want to participate as serious collaborators, including in the Church’s leadership structures.
Ten years ago, on 26 July 2016, Father Jacques Hamel, pastor of the parish of Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray in northern France, was murdered while celebrating Mass. Two terrorists who had pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State slit his throat. One member of the congregation who was attending Mass was also seriously injured.
In a telegram marking the Italian President's 85th birthday, Pope Leo XIV assures Italian President, Sergio Mattarella, of his prayers and entrusts him to the protection of the country's patron saints, Francis of Assisi and Catherine of Siena.
Intensifying attacks by the Israeli military have killed and injured dozens of Palestinians in the last week.
One month after devastating earthquakes struck northern and central Venezuela, the country's bishops call for a reconstruction process free from negligence, corruption and political interests, while urging solidarity with survivors and thanking rescuers, volunteers and Pope Leo XIV for their closeness.
At the end of his six-day mission to Ukraine, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher reflects on the resilience of a people "willing to suffer for freedom and peace." Speaking to Vatican Media, the Holy See's Secretary for Relations with States recalls those who have "lost everything," reiterates the Holy See's commitment to humanitarian efforts and peace, and says Pope Leo XIV takes seriously the invitation to visit Ukraine when the time and circumstances can be "as fruitful as possible."
Amnesty International Regional Office for West and Central Africa has urged Ghanaian authorities to sign the Anti-Witchcraft Accusations Bill into law, passed in July 2023. In a statement, Amnesty International Regional Manager Elise Cannuel said the Bill was a significant step towards protecting victims of witchcraft accusations. Six years ago, on 23 July 2020, 90-year-old Akua Denteh, accused of being a witch, was lynched to death in Ghana.
Serving the most vulnerable with compassion, the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood in Mozambique provide food, shelter, and dignity to hundreds of people displaced by devastating floods in southern Mozambique.
A month after the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, humanitarian efforts continue to address urgent needs while supporting long-term recovery in the country. The Missionary Daughters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (MHSFN), in collaboration with CADIS International, are restoring access to education by reopening their school to serve both existing and displaced students.
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) Report, prepared by five UN agencies, reveals that nearly eight percent of the world's population experienced hunger last year and that, despite documented improvements, the phenomenon still affects nearly 650 million people worldwide.
On the sidelines of a book presentation, the Cardinal Secretary of State expresses hope for a return to negotiations and dialogue with Iran, "for the good of the country and of the world," as well as in Gaza. He also reaffirms the importance of the Church's persistent message of peace, and its role to overcome divisions through dialogue, diplomacy and reconciliation.
More than fifty years after the end of the Secret War, millions of un-exploded ordinances (UXO) still threaten daily life across Laos. In interviews with Vatican Media, Yeng-Chang Cheung-Wu of the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and Craig Guwuriro of HALO Trust explain how clearance operations and risk education are helping communities reclaim their land and rebuild their future.