S i g n i s I n d i a

ROME, Italy, Jul 3, 2010--Recently created metropolitan archbishops from around the world descended on Rome for the conferral of the pallium on June 29 at St. Peter's Basilica. Among them was Archbishop Thomas Wenski, whom CNA was able to ask about the ceremony, his archdiocese and the reconciliation process with Cuba.read more »

MANILA, July 10, 2010— The appointment of a new Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary to the Aquino administration hopes to boost the campaign against jueteng, an illegal numbers game.

Anti-gambling crusader Archbishop Oscar Cruz said the new DILG chief is “the right man” for the job because he is “competent and effective” in public service.

Cruz is referring to former Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo whom President Benigno Aquino III yesterday appointed to the head the agency. read more »

KIRKUK, Iraq, July 5, 2010--A car bomb exploded Saturday morning near the residence of the Chaldean archbishop of Kirkuk in northern Iraq, causing damage to the building and the cathedral. According to preliminary reports, the target of the attack was an imam of the Kurdish PUK, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, who was wounded in the attack. AsiaNews sources in Iraq speak of a "difficult July" for the country, gripped by a political stalemate which - after four months from the elections - has failed to lead to the formation of a new government.read more »

BANGKOK, Thailand, July 9, 2010--The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue is organizing a meeting in Thailand next week with its Asian members and consultants.

The meeting is scheduled for July 12-18 at Baan Phu Waan Pastoral Center in Sam Phran, outside Bangkok. Thirty-six Church officials, mainly bishops, are expected to participate, including council president Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran.read more »

MANILA, July 12, 2010—Philippine Catholic bishops called on President Benigno Aquino III to rescind current policies that promotes artificial contraception.

The head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said Aquino must protect the sanctity of life by putting an end to government’s contraceptive mentality.

Bishop Nereo Odchimar, CBCP President, said they expect the new president to take action soon by reversing current policies that promotes the use contraceptives such as condoms and pills. read more »

VATICAN, July 9, 2010 (CNS) -- Commissioning another statue for Vatican City might sound like overkill in a place where thousands of sculpted figures crowd the landscape.

But the Vatican is on a campaign to fill every niche. When Pope Benedict XVI stopped to bless a 16-foot-tall marble statue of St. Annibale Di Francia July 7, it was cause for celebration. Carved out of a single block of milky-white Carrara marble, it was placed in one of a series of recesses that run along the outside of St. Peter's Basilica.read more »

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, July 11, 2010 (CNA/EWTN News).- In his first Angelus prayer from the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, the Holy Father recalled the parable of the Good Samaritan. He said that the story from Luke's Gospel should lead us to change our thinking and living to Christ's logic, that of charity.

Beginning his pre-Angelus words to the faithful, the Pope first thanked God for giving him the possibility to enjoy a time of rest.read more »