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The best in Catholic news from across the Archdiocese of Perth
Man dies after setting himself on fire in St. Peter’s Square
An unidentified 51-year-old man died Dec. 22, three days after setting himself on fire in St. Peter’s Square. Italian news reports said the man, who had third-degree burns on almost 50 percent of his body, died at Rome’s Sant’Eugenio Hospital.
Archbishop: Rulings to allow same-sex marriage ‘imposed wrong decision’
As 2013 was drawing to a close, same-sex marriage became legal in two more states with rulings in New Mexico and Utah declaring that denying same-sex couples the right to marry denied those couples equal protection under the law.
Church workers help Central Americans search for family missing in Mexico
Santos del Socorro Rojas knew that one day she would find her son, Jorge Alberto Reyes. She just wasn’t sure how.
Amid sadness, refugees in Lebanon hear Christmas message of hope
More than 800 Syrian and Iraqi refugees were bused to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon for a Christmas Mass in an atmosphere of “great sadness.”
Jerusalem church leader says pope will visit in May
Latin-rite Patriarch Faoud Twal of Jerusalem told reporters he expected to host Pope Francis on a visit to the Holy Land in May.
Naples’ Nativity scene nears completion in St. Peter’s Square
The world famous Nativity scenes of Naples never follow just the biblical account of Jesus’ birth; for one thing, the figures usually are dressed in 18th-century costumes, but also it’s not unusual for a modern-day politician or even pope to enter the scene.
Remember those like Holy Family who are homeless, pope says
Seeing a protest sign in St. Peter’s Square that read “The poor cannot wait,” Pope Francis urged individuals and government leaders to recognize the pain, struggles and rights of families — like Jesus, Mary and Joseph — who do not have a home.
Pope pays pre-Christmas visit to Rome’s children’s hospital
With lots of kisses, but very few words, Pope Francis spent more than two-and-a-half hours visiting sick children, their parents and doctors at Rome’s Bambino Gesu children’s hospital Dec. 21.
Conveying pope’s ‘beautiful’ character artist’s goal for Time cover
Chicago artist Jason Seiler, who created the illustration of Pope Francis for Time magazine’s Person of the Year cover, said his goal was to convey his impression of the pontiff as a genuine, compassionate spiritual leader.
Christian leaders say violence in South Sudan is political, not ethnic
South Sudan’s Christian leaders reiterated their statement that the capital’s recent violence was political, not ethnic. For two consecutive days, the leaders of the nation’s Christian churches issued a joint statement urging the government and political leaders to protect the nation’s citizens and to remain calm and not incite violence.
