Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | US President Donald Trump met Pope Francis at the Vatican on Wednesday in a keenly-anticipated face-to-face encounter between two world leaders who have clashed repeatedly. The private audience with the pontiff, which lasted just under half an hour, was preceded by a handshake …
Read More »Gloves off as Trump heads to Vatican
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Billionaire President Donald Trump heads to the Vatican on Wednesday to meet man-of-the-poor Pope Francis, with all eyes on whether they will end their sparring to find common ground. The two leaders have been at odds over issues from migration to climate change, …
Read More »Trump becomes first sitting US president to visit Western Wall
Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP | Donald Trump on Monday became the first sitting US president to visit the Western Wall in the disputed city of Jerusalem, placing his hand on one of the most sacred sites in Judaism. The Western Wall is the holiest site where Jews can pray. Trump, …
Read More »FATIMA: 500,000 attend pope’s canonisation of child shepherds
Fátima, Portugal | AFP | Some 500,000 worshippers gathered in Fatima Saturday to watch Pope Francis declare two child shepherds who had visions of the Virgin Mary 100 years ago saints, the Vatican said. Altogether, about 500,000 people were present, the Vatican said in a statement, quoting local authorities — …
Read More »Pope declares Fatima child shepherds who ‘saw Virgin Mary’ saints
Fátima, Portugal | AFP | Two young shepherds who had visions of the Virgin Mary 100 years ago in Fatima, a Portuguese site now a global draw for pilgrims, were declared saints Saturday by Pope Francis. “We declare the blissful Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto saints, and we register them …
Read More »Pope greeted by thousands on Fatima pilgrimage
Fátima, Portugal | AFP | Pope Francis called for harmony “among all people” Friday after arriving at Portugal’s holy site of Fatima where he was greeted by thousands of pilgrims gathered to mark 100 years since child shepherds had visions of the Virgin Mary. The Argentine pontiff flew into the …
Read More »Praise Allah! Islam goes evangelical in Nigeria’s south
Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Sunday morning is usually the preserve of Christian pastors in the Nigerian megacity of Lagos but a new form of worship is emerging to challenge the monopoly. “Praise Allah!” shouts the imam of the Nasrul-lahi-li Fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) before thousands of his faithful, …
Read More »Lweza seeks sh420 million for new church house
Bishop Joseph Anthony Zziwa of Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese has urged Ugandans to strive to excel in whichever job they do, if the country’s pace of development is to be stepped up. He said, there is no better promotion or advertisement of one’s assignment than simply doing a good job of it. …
Read More »German MPs approve partial burqa ban, security measures
Berlin, Germany | AFP | German lawmakers on Thursday approved a partial ban on the full-face burqa Islamic veil and a package of security measures aimed at preventing extremist attacks. The new laws follow several jihadist attacks, including a truck rampage through a Berlin Christmas market that claimed 12 lives, …
Read More »Christian pilgrims commemorate Good Friday in Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP | Thousands of Christians from around the world marked Good Friday in Jerusalem’s Old City, retracing the steps Jesus Christ is believed to have taken carrying his cross to his crucifixion. It was also marked in various cities across the world. Through the Old City’s …
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