Catholic News You Need To Know Today

Catholic News You Need to Know Today - Friday, September 12, 2014

Pope Francis to visit Istanbul to mark feast of St. Andrew (News.va)

Turkish President Recep Tayyp Erdogan has issued an official invitation to Pope Francis to visit his country. Speaking to journalists on Friday, the head of the Vatican press office, Fr Federico Lombardi said the Holy See had received the invitation and was preparing for a papal visit to Turkey at the end of November. He added that the duration of the trip and the programme for the visit were still to be confirmed.

Church leaders, politicians, laity meet in D.C. on behalf of Mideast Christians (CNS)

Emphasizing that diversity does not preclude unity, nearly a thousand Christian leaders, politicians and laypeople gathered in Washington to launch a massive effort on behalf of the minority communities of the Middle East.

High-ranking church leaders representing Pope Francis and Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II, patriarchs of Eastern churches, members of Congress and Christians in the diaspora came together in Washington for the inaugural In Defense of Christians summit. They set off for Capitol Hill Sept. 10 with a message to U.S. lawmakers and policymakers: Christians and other minorities have an inherent right to live in the Middle East, where they have lived for centuries.

Cardinal O?Malley: This pope brings hope (Crux)

Because Pope Francis ?walks his own talk,? as Crux associate editor John L. Allen Jr. put it Thursday night during a panel at Boston College, he?s won over the hearts of millions of Catholics. But there are many challenges left to confront ? challenges with the potential to shape the church in Francis? vision.

?Pope Francis has brought hope to people?s lives and has compelled many people to take a look at the church again,? according to Cardinal Sean O?Malley, archbishop of Boston and a personal advisor to the pope.

Pope at Santa Marta: Do not take pleasure in others? mistakes (News.va)

True fraternal reprimand is painful because it is done with love, in truth and humility. Moreover it is unchristian to take pleasure when reprimanding someone. This was the focus of Pope Francis homily Friday during Mass in Santa Marta, on the day when the Church celebrates the Feast Day of the Holy Name of Mary.

Vatican Announces Feast Days of Newly Canonized Pontiffs (Zenit)

The Feast Days of Saints John XXIII and John Paul II will be on October 11th and October 22nd respectively, the Vatican has announced.