Vatican

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  Pope appeals for peace in Iraq, Gaza during Sunday angelus

  Aug 11, 2014

  After leading faithful in the Marian prayer, Pope Francis again urged prayers and international help for the current conflict in Iraq and Gaza, revealing that his personal envoy to Iraq will leave Monday.

  
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  Pope Francis appoints personal envoy to Iraq

  Aug 11, 2014

  Responding to the increasingly dramatic situation of Christians in Iraq following the expansion of ISIS forces to the plain of Nineveh, Pope Francis has appointed Cardinal Fernando Filoni as his personal envoy.

  

• Pope Francis ‘is plotting a path to unity’ and could invite Orthodox to help run the Church

  Aug 08, 2014

  Pope Francis wants to reform the papacy to allow greater unity between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, a newly appointed senior adviser has claimed.

  
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  Pope surprises Jesuits for dinner on feast of Saint Ignatius

  Aug 08, 2014

  In honor of the feast commemorating the founder of their order, Pope Francis made a last minute phone call to the head of the Jesuit General Curia expressing his desire to eat dinner with them.

  

• Family of Jesuit abducted issues appeal on anniversary of his disappearance

  Aug 08, 2014

  The family of an Italian Jesuit priest who was kidnapped in Syria has issued an appeal, as the anniversary of his disappearance arrives.

  
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  Pope names new bishop for Ohio-based eparchy

  Aug 08, 2014

  Pope Francis has named seminary rector Father Bohdan J. Danylo as new bishop for the Parma, Ohio-based Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat.

  
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  Vatican announces desire for more restrained sign of peace at Mass

  Aug 07, 2014

  The Congregation for Divine Worship, in a recent circular letter, announced that the placement of the sign of peace within Mass will not change, though it suggested several ways the rite could be performed with greater dignity.

  
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  Pope to beatify 124 Korean martyrs

  Aug 07, 2014

  During his August visit to Korea, Pope Francis is to beatify Paul Yun Ji-chung, the nation’s first martyr, as well as 123 companions who were killed for the faith in the 19th century.

  
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  Dates for Pope's trip to Sri Lanka and Philippines confirmed

  Aug 07, 2014

  The Holy See Press Office confirmed today that Pope Francis will be traveling to Sri Lanka Jan. 12-15 and to Philippines Jan. 15-19.

  
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  Pope thanks Knights of Columbus for their service, charity

  Aug 07, 2014

  In a message delivered to the Knights of Columbus' international convention, Pope Francis thanked the Catholic fraternal organization for their charitable activity, as well as for their defense of religious freedom.