Tag: Pope Francis

Pope Francis addresses plight of Christians in Turkish visit

December 1, 2014 Turkey Ankara, Greek Orthodox, Islamic State, Patriarch Bartholomew I, Pope Francis, Syria

Turkey’s tiny Christian population was grateful for Pope Francis’s Nov. 28-30 visit to their country, during which he called for an end to all forms of violent fundamentalism in the war-torn Middle East. In a Nov. 30 joint statement with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual head of the Eastern Orthodox . . . Read More

Pope advised to stay away from China

November 28, 2014 China Beijing, China, Hong Kong, Pope Francis

The former bishop of Hong Kong has said he would advise the Pope against visiting China for fear that a papal trip could end up being manipulated by Beijing. Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun was speaking to the catholic charity, Aid to the Church in Need about persecution of Christians in China, which he . . . Read More

Pope’s Korean visit highlights plight of North’s Christians

August 15, 2014 North Korea Jeffrey Fowle, Kenneth Bae, Kim Jong Wook, Kim Jong-Un, North Korea, Pope Francis, South Korea

Pope Francis has arrived in South Korea and is calling for peace and dialogue between the two Koreas instead of ‘displays of force.’ His five-day visit is the first time a Pope has visited the Korean Peninsula in 25 years. It coincides with the appeals of two detained American Christians, . . . Read More

China crackdown on charities along its North Korea border

August 13, 2014 China China, North Korea, Pope Francis, South Korea

According to Reuters, ‘China is cracking down on Christian charity groups near its border with North Korea … with hundreds of members of the community forced to leave the country and some who remain describing an atmosphere of fear.’ The action is believed to be aimed at closing off support . . . Read More

Algerian Christians should promote friendship with Muslims, says Pope Envoy

May 9, 2014 Algeria Berbers, Pope Francis

On the occasion of the 100th birthday of the church St. Augustine of Hippo in Algeria, Pope Francis is calling for better relations between Christians and Muslims in a country where Islamic extremism is a primary source of pressure on Christian life. Pope Francis encourages the Christians, a minority in . . . Read More

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