SANT’ EGIDIO, press release and newsletter • From September 10 to 12, Berlin is preparing to host one of the most important international events dedicated to peace: the International Meeting “The Audacity of Peace”, three days of dialogue and prayer for peace of the world religions together with representatives of the world of politics and culture, promoted by the Community of Sant’Egidio. — In a world context marked by the sad resurgence of war in Europe and by dramatic conflicts in many parts of the world, in addition to the
Read More WYD Lisbon 2023, Maria Fischer • It feels like going through withdrawal. The thousands of young people are missing, the hectic pace of press releases and photos offered by the WYD Lisbon 2023 press center, the live transmissions, the work against the clock of the schoenstatt.org team to cover the experiences in Lisbon… What will the youth of this World Youth Day take with them? And what about us? What about the many critics who were not there, but “know” that there was a lack of critical press, that everything
Read More UNIVERSAL CHURCH • Benedict XVI has returned to the Father’s House. “It is with regret that I announce that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI passed away today at 9:34 a.m. at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican,” the Director of the Vatican Press Office, Matteo Bruni, announced this morning. The 95-year-old Pope Emeritus had chosen this monastery as his residence after resigning from the Petrine ministry in 2013.— Pope Francis had wanted to publicly share the news about the worsening health condition of his predecessor at the end of the
Read More ARGENTINA, peregrinaciondelospueblos.com • The 40th edition of the Pilgrimage of Towns and Villages with the Blessed Mother will take place on October 14th and 15th. This year, the motto is “Mother, may Christ give us his peace.” The restrictions demanded by the Argentinean government due to the Covid 19 pandemic forced the program to be suspended for two years. This year, 2022, thousands of pilgrims will once again set out with the Blessed Mother to walk the 90 kilometers of faith that connect the town of Hasenkamp with the Shrine
Read More EUROPE, Shrines of Europe • The association of the most important European Marian shrines supports Ukraine’s EU accession and calls on Putin to withdraw Russian troops immediately. — In a public writing to the European Parliament, the Shrines of Europe support Ukraine’s wish to join the EU. And in an open letter to Vladimir Putin, the association of the most important European Marian shrines appeals to the Russian president to immediately withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine: “We oppose Russia’s assault on Ukraine and utterly condemn the devastating hostilities carried out
Read More POPE FRANCIS – Easter Message 2022 • At 12 noon, from the Central Loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Holy Father Francis addressed the Easter Message to the faithful present in St. Peter’s Square and to those listening to him through radio, television and other media. — Then, after the announcement of the granting of the indulgence given by Cardinal Protodeacon Renato Raffaele Martino, the Pope imparted the “Urbi et Orbi” Blessing. We publish below the Easter Message of the Holy Father: Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter! Jesus, the
Read More Pedro M. Dillinger/Maria Fischer • “He will establish justice between nations and rebuke many peoples. Then they will forge their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning knives. They will not lift up sword, nation against nation, and they will no longer learn war” (Isaiah 2:4). Words of the Holy Scriptures which in the 80s of the last century became the slogan of the peace movement in Eastern Germany and partly also in West Germany – swords into plowshares! Words that are becoming loud again today in the face
Read More POPE FRANCIS – PRAYER FOR PEACE, Editors • At St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, more than 3,000 people watched the ceremony, while another 2,000 gathered in St. Peter’s Square on March 25, the Feast of the Incarnation of the Lord, to support Pope Francis’ initiative. Another gesture by the Pope to end the war. Another strong appeal from Francis to end the conflict “that makes everyone suffer.” All over the world, the faithful gathered in different ways for a global prayer. Also in the Original Shrine in Schoenstatt, as in
Read More Poland/Ukraine, P. Arkadiusz Sosna/mf. • “Starting from today we are welcoming the people of Ukraine in our home. In this moment I am on the train. I see many people, most of whom are women with children. Right now, all is calm here. Up to yesterday, more than seven hundred thousand refugees had arrived. The men have gone off to fight in Ukraine. They are around 70,000”, so wrote father Arkadiusz Sosna from Poland this past March, imploring prayers for peace. — Some have stayed just for a short while, “only passing
Read More Pope Francis – Peace for Ukraine • Donations flow, refugees are welcomed in almost all of Europe, every evening people take to the streets against Russia’s war in Ukraine, also in Russia; many, very many pray. On the world map of the Schoenstatt shrines, all the shrines bear the colors of Ukraine. Many companies suspend their activities in Russia, politicians, scientists and celebrities call for an end to the bloodshed. This Sunday, Pope Francis appeals to the world: “War is madness! Stop it, please! Look at the cruelty!” —
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