Below is an excerpt from a report on Rome Reports about the cities that hope to be next in line to host World Youth Day.

“World Youth Day in Rio is still over a year away, but some cities are already putting their name out, hoping to host the World Youth Day after Brazil.

Right now the most popular city is Krakow, Poland. The Polish Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, served as John Paul II’s secretary and is a strong advocate of celebrating World Youth Day 2015 in John Paul II’s native city, to mark 10 years since he passed away. If approved, it would be the second time World Youth Day is celebrated in Poland. The first was in 1991 in the city of Czestochowa.

London is also on the list.  On Facebook there is already a page asking for support from all over the world for Benedict XVI to return to the UK in 2016. He also recently visited the country in September of 2010.

Others would like to see World Youth Day go to Asia, where it has only been held once.”

By Rome Reports

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Below is an excerpt from an article on CiNews about two upcoming ordinations for the Tuam archdiocese later this month.

“A major drive by the Archdiocese of Tuam in 2010 to encourage more priests to join the priesthood and religious life seems to be working in the Archdiocese.

In June 2010, the Archbishop of Tuam Dr Micheal Neary (pictured) launched the One Life, One Call, One Response campaign for vocations saying, “The need for good and committed priests was more urgent than ever.”

The response to the campaign has been excellent for the Archdiocese, which has a number of seminarians in training, and like the Diocese of Killaloe last year, will welcome two new priests to their ranks this summer.

Indeed January 29 will be a big day for the Archdiocese as both a new priest and a new deacon will be ordained.

Shane O’Sullivan (28) who is a native of Minnesota in the United States and studied for three years at Saint Thomas’s seminary before transferring to Ireland to complete his studies at Maynooth, will be ordained a deacon.”

By Sean Ryan

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Below is an excerpt from a report from the Catholic News Agency about Pope Benedict  urging  local politicians to see the current economic crisis as an opportunity to reshape society.

“Pope Benedict said Jan. 12 that the economic crisis hitting much of the West is the result of self-centeredness but that it also presents an opportunity to reshape society.

“The present crisis can, then, be an opportunity for the entire community to verify whether the values upon which social life is founded have generated a society that is just, fair and united,” the Pope said Jan. 12 at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace.

The Pope, as Bishop of Rome, was addressing the political authorities of the City of Rome, the Region of Lazio, and the Province of Rome during their traditional annual exchange of New Years greetings.

Pope Benedict told them that it is necessary at this present time to “undertake a profound rethink in order to rediscover values which are the basis of a true renewal of society.” This means not only promoting economic recovery but also “promoting the integral good of human beings.”

He proposed that the present crisis has its roots in a form of “individualism” which “obscures the relational dimension of man and leads him to close in on himself, in his own little world, to take care of his own needs and desires above all, caring little for others.”

By David Kerr

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Below is an article from the Catholic News Agency about the departing Australian ambassador to the Holy See and the importance he feels, of having a diplomatic presence in Rome.

“The departing Australian ambassador to the Holy See says that countries without a resident diplomatic presence in Rome are losing out diplomatically.

“It is so much easier to do the job if you’re on the ground in Rome,” said Ambassador Tim Fischer (pictured), who is stepping down from his post this month.

He was appointed in 2008 as the first resident ambassador to the Holy See for Australia since the two states established relations in 1973.

“The Vatican is not entirely a closed shop, but you have to know where to look, which conferences to attend, which contacts to pursue. And if you’re only flying in for four times a year from Dublin or from the Hague or from Geneva, then that becomes very difficult to do in a comprehensive and professional way,” he explained.

Ambassador Fischer’s comments come only two months after Ireland chose to close its embassy to the Holy See in Rome, citing budgetary pressures as the deciding factor. The new Irish ambassador to the Holy See will live in Dublin.

The Holy See currently has diplomatic relations with 179 states, with about half of them maintaining a permanent embassy in Rome.

Ambassador Fischer explained that being so close to the Vatican allows governments to tap into an unparalleled diplomatic network. “

By David Kerr

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Below is an excerpt from an article in CiNews about how Holycross Abbey in County Tipperary will receive another relic of the True Cross, following the theft of its previous relic last year.

“Holycross Abbey in County Tipperary got a major boost with news that another relic of the True Cross is being given to the Abbey.

Just three months ago a relic of the True Cross, which had been in the Abbey for over 900 years, was stolen.  However, local parish priest Fr Tom Breen confirmed that the Ursline Convent in Blackrock in Cork City has donated a portion of their relic of the True Cross to Holycross.

Confirming the news a delighted Fr Breen said, “I cannot put into words what this means for the people here and all the people who come to worship here.”

It is believed that when the Abbey was restored in the late 1970s the relic of the True Cross was entrusted to the Ursline Convent in Blackrock for care.  When it was returned to the Abbey after the restoration, the then Archbishop of Cashel & Emly, the late Archbishop Thomas Morris, donated a portion of the True Cross to the convent as a gesture of appreciation for minding it during the restoration process.

Fr Breen confirmed to CiNews that it is a portion of this donation that is been returned to the Abbey. “

By Sean Ryan

To read more visit CiNews

Below is a short excerpt of an article from the Catholic Herald which reports on Pope Benedict XVI’s annual address to diplomats accredited to the Vatican.

“Pope Benedict XVI has condemned “religiously motivated terrorism” and restrictions on religious freedom during his annual address to diplomats accredited to the Vatican.

Looking at signs of promise and areas of concern around the globe, the Pope said human dignity, truth and justice demand that governments safeguard all human life and recognise the importance of the traditional family based on the marriage of a man and a woman.

But his strongest words were reserved for the topic of religious freedom and religiously motivated violence.

The Pope paid tribute to Shahbaz Bhatti, a Catholic and government minister for minorities in Pakistan, “whose untiring battle for the rights of minorities ended in his tragic death” when he was murdered last March.

“Sadly, we are not speaking of an isolated case,” the Pope told the diplomats gathered in a formal, frescoed hall of the Apostolic Palace.

“In many countries, Christians are deprived of fundamental rights and sidelined from public life; in other countries they endure violent attacks against their churches and homes,” he said, mentioning particularly the Christmas Day attacks against churches in Nigeria.”

By Cindy Wooden

To read more visit  Catholic Herald

Below is an excerpt from an article in CiNews about the 22 new cardinals recently created by Pope Benedict XVI.

“Pope Benedict XVI has created 22 new cardinals, including prelates from major dioceses like New York, Hong Kong, and Toronto, but Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, was not among them.

The list includes two Americans, Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York and Archbishop Edwin O’Brien, Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre and the former archbishop of Baltimore.  Archbishop Dolan led the Vatican Visitation team to Irish seminaries early last year.

Other new cardinals hold major positions in the Vatican.  Eighteen of the new cardinals are under 80 and so will be able to vote in the next conclave to elect a pope.  The total number of cardinals who may vote in the next papal conclave is 125.  (Cardinals aged over 80 may not vote in a papal conclave).

Pope Benedict XVI named 16 Europeans as cardinals, including seven Italians, a cardinal from Berlin, Utrecht and Prague.  He also named Joao Braz de Aviz, a Brazilian who heads the Vatican office for religious life; John Tong Hon, bishop of Hong Kong; and George Alencherry, archbishop of the Syro-Malabar church in India.

Other than the Europeans, there are three from North America, one from South America and one from Asia.

The Pope made the announcement, “with great joy” at the end of the Mass for the Feast of the Epiphany, during which the new apostolic nuncio to Ireland, Charles Brown, was ordained archbishop.”

By Susan Gately

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Below is an excerpt from a report from Catholic News Agency about a possibility of an upcoming consistory, the gathering at which new cardinals are installed.

“The Vatican is refusing to deny media speculation that Pope Benedict XVI will announce a list of new cardinals as early as tomorrow.

“You will have to wait for an announcement but there is no announcement to be made at the moment,” Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi told CNA Jan. 5.

Several Italian newspapers are claiming that the Pope will announce he is convoking a consistory in Rome for Saturday, Feb. 18.

If Pope Benedict calls for a consistory – the gathering at which new cardinals are installed – it will be the fourth since his election in 2005.

At present, there are 192 members of the College of Cardinals. By the time a February consistory is convened, there will be only 107 of them under the age of 80, which is the limit for voting in a conclave to elect the next Pope. A conclave can have a maximum of 120 electors.”

By David Kerr

To read more visit CNA

Photo from CNA

Below is an excerpt of an article in the Irish Catholic about how a lay group that was set up to campaign for a reversal of the Government’s decision to close Ireland’s Embassy to the Holy See, has scheduled a high-profile meeting with political leaders later this month.

“A national lay initiative which grew out of the Government’s decision to close Ireland’s embassy to the Holy See is set to grow in 2012 with a high-profile public meeting with political leaders scheduled later this month beside the Dáil.

The group Ireland Stand Up describes itself as ”one of several national lay initiatives respectfully campaigning to reverse this Government’s decision to close Ireland’s Embassy to the Holy See” and to invite the Pope to Ireland for the closing of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in June.

The group has already held a national postcard campaign to lobby the Taoiseach Enda Kenny to reverse his Government’s decision to close the embassy and was inundated with requests for cards and public support.

The Irish Catholic also understands that Government deputies, particularly Fine Gael members, have expressed deep disquiet about the decision of Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore to effectively downgrade Ireland’s historic relationship with the Holy See by closing the embassy.”

By Paul Keenan

To read more visit the Irish Catholic

Below is an excerpt from a report from the Catholic News Agency about Pope Benedict XVI’s upcoming trip to Mexico and Cuba.

“Pope Benedict XVI’s itinerary for his March 2012 visit to Mexico and Cuba was released Jan. 2 through Vatican Radio.

He will leave Rome on March 23 and arrive in the city of Leon, Mexico where President Felipe Calderon, Archbishop José Martín of Leon and representatives of the Mexican Bishops’ Conference will officially receive him.The Pope will stay at the residence of the Sisters of Miraflores College in Leon, according to Vatican Radio’s unofficial translation of press releases from the bishops’ conferences of Mexico and Cuba.

On March 24 the pontiff will have an official meeting with President Calderon and his delegation at the Conde Rul House, the seat of the Guanajuato state government—the state that Leon is located in. He will then greet and bless children and the faithful who are gathered in La Paz square.

On Sunday, March 25, Pope Benedict will celebrate Mass at the municipality of Silao’s Bicentennial Park, at the foot of Cubilete Hill. The monument to Christ the King stands atop the hill. He will then celebrate vespers at Leon’s cathedral and deliver a message to the bishops of Mexico and other representatives of the bishops’ conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean.

On the morning of March 26, high-ranking Mexican civil and religious authorities will say farewell to the Pope at Leon airport, as he leaves for Cuba. Pope Benedict will arrive in Cuba’s city of Santiago, where he will be officially received by President Raul Castro, Archbishop Dionisio Guillermo García Ibáñez of Santiago, and members of Cuba’s Catholic bishops’ conference.

On March 27, Pope Benedict will make a private visit to…….”

From Catholic News Agency

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