As President Trump and Supreme Leader Kim Jong‐Un face each other off in a global game of deadly brinkmanship, Pope Francis continues to promote Gospel non-violence as the best response for International Day of Peace on 21 September 2017. On 1 January this year, Pope Francis launched his message – Non-violence: a Style of Politics for Peace – written for the 50th Anniversary of the World Day of Peace.

Politicians and religious leaders cannot remain indifferent to the suffering caused by violence and hatred in the world, Pope Francis said on 10 September in a message to participants of the International Meeting of Prayer for Peace in the German cities of Munster and Osnabruck.

A day after appealing for an end the violent persecution of the Rohingya people, a Muslim minority in Myanmar, the Vatican announced Pope Francis will visit the country in late November. After his visit from 27 to 30 November to the cities of Yangon and Naypyitaw in Myanmar, the Pope will travel on to Dhaka, Bangladesh, from 30 November to 2 December, the Vatican said in a statement on 28 August. By Junno Arocho Esteves.

The eRecord this week recounts the life and priestly vocation of an extraordinary man and priest. One who, upon his retirement after 51 years of service, received both an Apostolic Blessing and the Papal Award ‘Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice’ (For Church and Pope) from Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI.

Sincere but less than slick, the low-key, fact-based drama All Saints celebrates Christian faith and family life. Believers, accordingly will likely be inclined to overlook its artistic shortcomings. The story is about the titular Episcopal Parish in Smyrna, Tennessee. With its dwindling congregation down to a mere dozen, the church appears to have no future. By John Mulderig.

Although the Church is built upon a strong foundation, it is always in need of being reformed and repaired, Pope Francis told pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square, before reciting the Angelus prayer on 27 August. “Even with us today, Jesus wants to continue building his church, this house with solid foundations yet where cracks aren’t lacking and which still needs to be repaired.” By Junno Arocho Esteves.

Pope Francis prays at the tomb of Blessed Paul VI in the grotto of St. Peter’s Basilica on 6 August, the 39th anniversary of Pope Paul’s death. Photo: CNS photo/La Osservatore Romano. Summertime can and should be a time for extra prayer, a moment of peace that allows Christians to savour the joy of their relationship with Jesus and find new strength to reach out with love to others, Pope...

Pope Francis has this week urged young Brazilian Catholics to follow the example of Mary by courageously setting out to improve their society with love for the poor and a commitment to make real connections with other people.

Pope Francis has last weekend called on Muslims and Jews in the Holy Land to “moderation and dialogue” as tensions continued around a key site in Jerusalem that is sacred to members of both faiths.

“Jesus doesn’t draw people to him by conquering them but by giving himself, like a sower, spreading with patience and generosity his word, which isn’t a cage or a trap, but a seed that can bear fruit if people welcome it,” the Holy Father said.