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Pope Francis delivers his Christmas "Urbi et Orbi" address on Dec. 25, 2022. | Vatican Media

Full Text: Pope Francis’ Christmas Urbi et Orbi Blessing 2022

Dec 25, 2022

On Christmas Day 2022, Pope Francis delivered his “Urbi et Orbi” address and blessing from the central balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square. The following is the full text of the pope’s Christmas message.

Ishmeal Alfred Charles, the Caritas Freetown Programs Manager and In Country Manager for HealeyIRF Sierra Leone. Credit: Caritas Freetown

Caritas Freetown Partners with Relief Agency in New Health Program in Sierra Leone

Dec 24, 2022

The development arm of the Catholic Archdiocese of Freetown in Sierra Leone has been selected as the implementing partner of a project by the Healey International Relief Foundation (HealeyIRF), a development agency that seeks to improve health access in the West African country.

Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Nigeria's Sokoto Diocese. Credit: Courtesy Photo

Catholic Bishop in Nigeria Disputes Assumption Religious Diversity Dividing Country

Dec 24, 2022

Even without religious diversity, Nigeria will still have problems, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto has said, disputing allegations that the challenges that the west African country is facing stem from the conflicts between Christians and Muslims.

Vocational training for young mothers of Malabo, Equatorial Guinea: a schooling and reintegration project for adolescent mothers. Credit: Salesian Missions

Salesians in Equatorial Guinea Offering “skills for stable employment” to Young Mothers

Dec 24, 2022

Members of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) in Equatorial Guinea are offering formal education and other “skills for stable employment” to young mothers in the Central African nation.

Credit: Issa Anis Kassisieh

This Santa Rides a Camel Around Jerusalem Every Year. Here’s Why

Dec 24, 2022

Every year on the feast of St. Nicholas, Issa Anis Kassisieh dons a red suit, black boots, and a thick white beard. He mounts a camel in the outskirts of Jerusalem and rides into the streets of the Old City.

Credit: Salesian Missions

Salesians Facilitating School Attendance for Vulnerable Children at Ghanaian Centre

Dec 23, 2022

Members of the Religious Institute of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) in Ghana are providing psychological support to at-risk children to help foster their school attendance.

Creit: Courtesy Photo

Stop Public Revenue Leaks to Address Cost of Living: Jesuit Scholars Tell Zambia

Dec 23, 2022

Officials of the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) are calling on the Zambian government to address the challenge of public revenue leaks in the Southern African nation to bring down the cost of living.

Bishop Victor Hlolo Phalana of South Africa's Klerksdorp Diocese/ Credit: Courtesy Photo

South Africa Needs “another Kairos document”, Catholic Bishop Says, Decries Crisis

Dec 23, 2022

The Catholic Bishop of South Africa’s Klerksdorp Diocese together with Theologians and anti-apartheid activists have called for another kairos Document to address the present “crisis” in the country.

Fresco by Giotto of St. Francis of Assisi embracing the Child Jesus at Christmas Mass in Greccio in 1223, located in the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Assisi, Italy. | Public domain

St. Francis and the Story of the First Nativity Scene

Dec 23, 2022

It’s a well-known origin story: how the young and wealthy Francis of Assisi freely abandoned his noble patrimony to serve Christ’s Church as a poor, itinerant preacher.

Rev Yusuf Gani. Credit: Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan (Facebook)

Renewed Attacks in Nigeria “campaign to disrupt” Christmas: Christian Human Rights Entity

Dec 22, 2022

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has expressed concern about renewed attacks in Nigeria’s Kaduna State, saying the violence could be a campaign aimed at disrupting Christmas celebrations.

Credit: Salesian Missions

Salesians in Ghana’s Sunyani Diocese Reaching Out to Needy Boys with Education Supplies

Dec 22, 2022

Members of the Religious Institute of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) in the Diocese of Sunyani in Ghana are providing educational and social support to young boys through a partnership with the International Voluntary Service (VIS).

Members of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) pose with President Lazarus Chakwera. Credit: Courtesy Photo

Government of Malawi “has clearly lost direction”: Bishops’ Justice, Peace Commission

Dec 22, 2022

The government of Malawi is losing direction in managing the affairs of the country, Coordinators of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) in the Southern African nation have said, and warn that the country “is quickly turning into a failed state”.

Bishop Alex Lodiong Sakor Eyobo of South Sudan's Yei Diocese. Credit: Courtesy Photo

Catholic Bishop in South Sudan Urges Youth to “start practicing leadership now”

Dec 22, 2022

There is need for young people in South Sudan to begin putting into practice their leadership traits, a Catholic Bishop in the East-Central African nation has said.

Meet Sister Bernadette, the Most Recently-cured Person at Lourdes

Dec 22, 2022

When she traveled to the small French town of Lourdes 14 years ago, Sister Bernadette Moriau didn’t know that she would be miraculously cured.

Salim October/Shutterstock.

Prayer Appeal for Catholic Priest Kidnapped from Umuahia Diocese in Nigeria

Dec 21, 2022

Prayers are being sought for the safe release of Fr. Christopher Ogide, the Catholic Priest reportedly abducted from Nigeria’s Umuahia Diocese on December 17.

Bishop Matthew Remijio Adam of South Sudan's Wau Diocese/ Credit: Courtesy Photo

“We need to reconcile, forgive” to Celebrate Christmas in Happiness: South Sudanese Bishop

Dec 21, 2022

The Catholic Bishop of South Sudan’s Wau Diocese has called on the people of God in the East-Central African nation to practice reconciliation and forgiveness in order to celebrate Christmas in happiness.

Credit: JCTR

Jesuit Scholars in Zambia Decry Increase in Food Prices, Urge Agricultural Sector Support

Dec 21, 2022

Officials of the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) have decried the increase in food prices in Zambia and are calling on the government of the Southern African nation to consider increasing support to the agricultural sector.

Members of the Episcopal Conference of Chad (CET) during a press conference to present their Christmas 2022 Message. Credit: CET

Catholic Bishops in Chad Urge Youth to “never use violence to solve problems”

Dec 21, 2022

Catholic Bishops in Chad are cautioning young people in the North-Central African nation against violence, urging them to “never use violence to solve problems”. 

Pope Francis looking at images from Ukraine at the general audience, Dec. 21, 2022 | Vatican Media

Pope Francis: Let us Think of the Ukrainian Children Without Heat this Christmas

Dec 21, 2022

Pope Francis has urged Catholics not to forget the many children in Ukraine this Christmas who are suffering without electricity and heating amid the war.

Credit: CEFOBA

Mill Hill Missionaries Providing Training to Restore Teenage Mothers’ Dignity in DR Congo

Dec 20, 2022

Tucked in the poverty-stricken Plateaux de Bateke region in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Bakanja-Anuarite Formation Centre has opened doors to dozens of young mothers whose childhood was stolen when they became pregnant and dropped out of school.