Vatican Media Watch
Tony Blair Invites Holy Father
to Visit
GUARDIAN UNLIMITED, May 29 —
Blair, an Anglican, met with the
Holy Father at the
Blair’s audience with Pope
Benedict was expected to include discussions about reconciling the Muslim and
Christian faiths in the light of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on
He met Pope John Paul II in
The Pope has already been invited
to
Pope Benedict Calls for End of
Violence in
PRAVDA, May 31 — Pope Benedict XVI appealed for an end to the violence shaking mainly Roman Catholic East Timor, the Russian news service reported.
“My thoughts now go to the dear
nation of
The violence triggered by the
March dismissal of 600 soldiers from the 1,400-member army is the worst East
Timor has seen since its bloody break from
The Pope said, “While I encourage the local Church and the Catholic organizations to continue together with other international organizations in the service of assistance to the homeless, I invite you to pray to the Holy Virgin so that she might, with her maternal protection, support the efforts of those who are contributing to the pacifying of souls and a return to normalcy.”
INDEPENDENT ONLINE, May 23 — Three Italian ministers were publicly reprimanded by Prime Minister Romano Prodi for their positions favoring abortion and same-sex “marriage,” Independent Online reported.
“Ministers cannot express their
opinions. They must speak about decisions, their consequences and their
implementation,” Prodi said in the wake of comments
by Health Minister Livia Turco,
who said she favored nationwide distribution of the abortion pill. Prior to
that, ministers Rosy Bindi
and Emma Bonino made statements favoring homosexual
unions and dismissing
The prime minister said he would call a meeting of his 25 ministers in early June to define “our priorities” in government.
The
Eternal Flame Honors Pope John Paul II
CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY, May 30 — An eternal flame in honor of Pope John Paul II was lit June 2 at the Vatican grottos in a ceremony led by the vicar general of Vatican City, Archbishop Angelo Comastri.
The event was attended by Olympic
cross-country skiing champion Manuela Di Centa, who carried a lighted torch from the Monastery of
St. Vincent in Bassano Romano to the
On its way to the monastery, the
torch was carried throughout
The John Paul II International Foundation has organized the ceremony as one part of series of social and religious events.
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- June 11-17, 2006