Below is an excerpt from CiNews about Pope Benedict XVI switching on the lights of the worlds biggest Christmas tree, on the eve of the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

“Yesterday, December 7, Pope Benedict XVI switched on the lights of the biggest Christmas tree in the world, a, “sign of universal peace and brotherhood among peoples,” located in the Italian town of Gubbio.

The “tree,” which is made up of an arrangement of coloured lights on the side of Mount Ingino, has been erected by volunteers every year since 1981. Its base is approximately 450 metres wide and it extends for 750 metres up the hillside from the city’s mediaeval walls to the basilica of St. Ubaldo.

The silhouette of the tree is marked with 300 green lights, and it covers a surface area of some 130,000 square meters illuminated with 400 multi-coloured lights. At the top, is a comet made up of 250 lights covering an area of 1,000 square metres.

The tree is illuminated every year on December 7, the eve of the feast of the Immaculate Conception, during a traditional celebration attended by representatives of the world of culture, show business and politics.”

By Gerard Bennett

To read more visit CiNews

Below is an excerpt from a report on Rome Reports about plans to digitise the manuscripts of the Vatican Library and make them available to view online.

“The Vatican Library is one of the largest in the world. Now it’s also one of the most modern. The library is taking a giant leap to the web. By using NASA technology, it’s planning on scanning 80,000 of its manuscripts.

Msgr. Cesare Pasini
Prefect Apostolic Vatican Library
“We had this idea for years, but now we’ve been able to narrow it down and make it concrete. We have the most advanced technology and also background experience from previous attempts. We have learned to avoid the same mistakes.”

The technology used is called FITS, which stands for Flexible Image Transport System.

Msgr. Cesare Pasini
Prefect Apostolic Vatican Library
“It’s very important to introduce all the information. It’s inaccessible, if one doesn’t include all the precise data. That includes the signature of the manuscript and its placement on the page. One single manuscript and its contents requires an immense amount of work. One has to consider all the information that can be significant and interesting, like the copyist, the time it was written and its conservation.”

So far the process was divided in three stages. The first included scanning 8,000 of the 80,000 manuscripts. The second was the actual digitizing and lastly, the program stored all the information in high resolution.

Among those selected is the Bodmer Papyri. The priceless manuscript is the first known transcription of the Gospel. Since most of the manuscripts are extremely delicate, they can only be partially opened to avoid any damage.”

By Rome Reports

To read more click here

Below is an excerpt from an article in CiNews about a recent statement released from Social Justice Ireland about the rising inequalities between the rich and poor in Ireland

“Ireland is a deeply divided two-tier society and is moving towards greater division according to Social Justice Ireland (SJI), which cited last week’s CSO study finding that showed inequality grew by more than 25% last year.

In a statement released ahead of Budget 2012, SJI director, Fr Sean Healy, SM (pictured), said, “The dramatic increase in inequality reported in the latest CSO study provides a major challenge to Government not just in the upcoming Budget but in all it does subsequently throughout its term of office.”

The CSO study findings show that the average income of those in the top 20% of the population was 5.5 times higher than the average of those in the poorest 20%.  Last year that figure was 4.3 times higher.  According to Fr Healy, the findings are confirmed by the rise in poverty.

“There are more than 700,000 people (15.8%) at risk of poverty of which 220,000 are children (19.5%),” he explained.  The number of children in poverty has risen by more than 37,000 in three years.  The director of SJI added that the figures, “reveal the extent of growing social exclusion.”

“Without focused decisive action these trends will continue and will lead to serious destabilisation in Irish society.”

Calling for public policy to prioritise a reversal of these trends in the coming years, Fr Sean Healy said this could only be effectively achieved if the Government engaged in an honest analysis of the present situation; implemented policy that was just and fair to all; and adopted realistic proposals to move Ireland towards such a future.

Assessing the current recession and the impact of the global financial crisis, the director of SJI warned that Ireland’s poverty and inequality rates are rising.

“There are record levels of unemployment especially long-term unemployment.  Forecasts that see unemployment falling are based on increasing emigration, not on growing employment,” Fr Healy warned, and added that almost 100,000 households on waiting lists for social housing.

Ireland’s current very difficult situation was caused in part by forces in Ireland according to the SJI director, but he underlined that Irish people, especially those on low incomes, are the ones paying a heavy price for this. “

By Sarah MacDonald

To read more visit CiNews

Below is an excerpt from an article in CiNewas about St. Lukes Catholic Church in Westminster following the example of the Vatican in applying to install solar panels on the roof of the church.

“Parishioners at St Luke’s Catholic Church, Pinner, in the Diocese of Westminster have applied to Harrow Council to install 40 solar panels on the roof of their church.  St Luke’s intends to use the south-facing roof to harness the sun’s energy, and parishioners hope it will be approved in time for a much needed cash grant.

“If we do manage to get them installed, we would be one of the first churches in this diocese and one of the first in the country to have solar panels.  We have taken our cue from head office as it were, as the Vatican is installing a huge system.  We are trying to have respect for our natural resources,” said Canon Robert Plourde, the parish priest.

Permission has been granted by the Diocese of Westminster.  The panels will be barely visible from any angle.  The application needs to be approved and the panels installed by December 8 so entry into the feed-in-tariff scheme, which gives a lucrative rate for the church selling the energy back to the national grid, can be applied for before the deadline on December 12.

The ‘head office’ project that Canon Plourde referred to was the Vatican, where workers began installing solar panels on the Paul VI auditorium’s roof in November.  The building is used for the Pope’s weekly audience when it cannot be held outdoors and the hall’s deteriorating tiles are being replaced with 2,700 solar panels that will convert sunlight into electricity, to light and heat, or cool, the 6,000-seater hall.”

by Ann Marie Foley

To read more visit CiNews

Below is an extract from an article in the Catholic Herald about the possibility of Pope Benedict XVI attending next years International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin

“Pope Benedict XVI may still attend the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin next year, an organiser has said.

Fr Julian Green, a national delegate who is working with representatives from each diocese to promote English and Welsh participation at the congress, also said it would be a chance to heal a wounded Church.

Fr Green said that the event would not be like the last one held in Dublin, in 1932, “with the triumphal presence of the Church in society”.

He said: “It will be one where the Eucharist as a source of reconciliation and healing will be expressed.”

Fr Green said that after the abuse crisis “we see a very wounded Church, people wounded by the problems, but nonetheless among the faithful there is an immense faith in the Eucharist”.

“As well as those who have been victimised, they have also been victims of abuse. But they cling to their faith in the Eucharist, which has been part of the Church’s history,” he said.

Fr Green, who helped to organise English and Welsh participation in previous congresses in Mexico in 2004 and Quebec in 2007, also said it was still unclear whether the Pope would attend.”

By Ed West

To read more visit Catholic Herald

Below is an extract from a report in CiNews about childrens charity Barnrdos reaching over 10,000 signatures in it petition to protect children in Budge 2012.

“Barnardos exceeded its goal to get 10,000 signatures on its petition to protect children in Budget 2012.

The petition was handed in to the Department of Finance on Wednesday by two-year old Rachel Reck.  Brian Meehan of the Department received the petition and a print out of the 11,004 signatories.

Like so many others Barnardos will be watching the budget closely next Monday and Tuesday to see how the Government will do in protecting children and families.  The children’s charity has called on the Government not to repeat past mistakes that have plunged tens of thousands of children into poverty.

At the launch of the group’s pre-budget submission Barnardos’ CEO, Fergus Finlay (pictured), said, “Budget 2011 reduced disposable income by between €1,900 and €3,500 for families on low incomes, representing 6% to 9% of their disposable income.  We believe that Budget 2012 must be poverty proofed to ensure it does not push families living on low incomes deeper into poverty and deprivation.

“We know many families who are struggling to pay essential bills such as electricity and gas while still putting food on the table.  The situation is quickly becoming untenable for many.  It is not an exaggeration to say that harsh cuts in the upcoming Budget will push many families already on the breadline into despair.”

By Ann Marie Foley

To read more visit CiNews