(ANS – Vatican City) – Pope Francis sends a video message for the inauguration of the “Faith Pavilion” during COP28 in Dubai, and highlights the need for alliances that promote care for Creation and peace. At the heart of Pope Francis’ video message to Dubai for the inauguration of the “COP28 Faith Pavilion” is the idea of creating alliances for the common good.
(ANS – Vatican City) – Addressing a delegation of the national Federation of Catholic Weeklies, of the Italian Periodical Press Union, of the "Corallo" and "Aiart - Cittadini mediali" associations, encourages them to promote an "ecology of communication" in the digital world and to follow the example of Blessed Carlo Acutis.
(ANS - Vatican City) - On Wednesday, 15 November 2023, Pope Francis appointed Salesian Priest Giordano Piccinotti, President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, as President of the Board of Directors and of the Foundation for Catholic Healthcare.
Vatican City – November 2023 – Yesterday, 6 November the Paul VI Hall welcomed about 7,500 children from all five continents who arrived to meet Pope Francis as part of the event sponsored by the Dicastery for Culture and Education entitled “Children meet the Pope”. After the initial greeting by Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, and a performance by singer Mr. Rain, the children welcomed the Holy Father in an atmosphere of great joy. The Pontiff, responding to the children’s questions, addressed delicate issues such as peace and the care of the planet. Pope Francis involved all those present, inviting them to join in praying the Our Father, followed by a minute of silence for the victims of conflict. The event then ended on the notes of the famous song "We are the world" and with a choreography with the globes that were raised to symbolise the land that everyone, starting from the youngest, must take care of.
(Vatican City) - The Synthesis Report at the conclusion of the 16th General Assembly of the Synod on Synodality is published. Looking ahead to the second session in 2024, the text offers reflections and proposals on topics such as the role of women and the laity, the ministry of bishops, priesthood and the diaconate, the importance of the poor and migrants, digital mission, ecumenism, and abuse.
(ANS – Vatican City) – At the closing Mass of the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Pope Francis speaks of the “conversation of the Spirit,” experienced in "the loving presence of the Lord" and discovered in "the beauty of fraternity."
PHOTO GALLERY
INTERVIEWS
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Italy – A Salesian on the front line of the war in Ukraine: "Being close counts, words come later"(ANS - Rome) - As he tells with a gentleness that does not seem to come from horror, he is "resting a little bit" in Rome these days. Fr Oleh Ladnyuk is a Ukrainian Salesian priest who is a military chaplain at the front, among the soldiers who fight in defence of their country and among the civilians who for over two years have seen their lives wiped out. He brings humanitarian aid where the missiles fall and from those places he helps with the evacuation of young people and adults - so far at least 500 people, but there are probably many more. These days the Salesian – who carries out his ministry in Dnipro and teaches History in a state school in the city – is in Rome to take part with two other priests and a dozen lay people from his country in the "Accompanying when Trauma Hits" course hosted by the Pontifical Salesian University in collaboration with the Faculty of Educational Sciences, with the DON BOSCO NEL MONDO Foundation and the Don Bosco Network. A project that aims to provide theoretical and methodological tools to deal with the traumas caused by war.
EDITORIAL
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Myanmar – Tragedy of Innocent Children in the midst of Armed Conflicts(ANS – Naypyidaw) - Myanmar finds itself immersed in profound grief and anguish as innocent lives, particularly those of children, continue to be mercilessly lost in the enduring armed conflicts. Families are left devastated by the tragic loss of their loved ones while the relentless violence shows no signs of abating. This week, a heartfelt plea from Myanmar reached our community, shedding light on the heart-wrenching death of a young girl Juliet in a military airstrike, prompting a unified call for prayers and action.
EVENTS
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Italy – "Education and culture of safeguarding in sport. Towards the establishment of protection and prevention models": PGS conference with UPS(ANS – Rome) – The synergy between the Salesian Youth Sports Centres (PGS) and the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS) in Rome gave rise to the conference on "Education and culture of safeguarding in sport. Towards the establishment of models of protection and prevention", which will take place on 13 April, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., at the UPS facilities in Rome.
SPECIAL REPORTS
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United States – INT’L DAY FOR STREET CHILDREN: Salesian Missions highlights programs that provide shelter and support(ANS – New Rochelle) – Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian and international organizations around the globe in highlighting the plight of homeless children on the International Day for Street Children. The day provides organizations and the millions of street children in countries worldwide with an opportunity to have their voices heard while ensuring that their rights are not ignored.
MESSAGES OF THE RECTOR MAJOR
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I’M A SALESIAN AND I’M A BOROROTHE MESSAGE OF THE RECTOR MAJOR, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, SDB
Diary of a Happy and Blessed Missionary Day
Dear friends , I’m writing to you from Meruri in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. I write this greeting almost as if it were a journalistic report, because it has been only 24 hours since I arrived in the middle of this Brazilian state.