The head of the Catholic Church and the head of Al-Azhar gave the world yet another powerful witness of their friendship and commitment to work together for peace among the nations.
Aware that a coup appeared to be imminent, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, the archbishop of Yangon, speaking on Jan. 25 issued “an urgent, fraternal appeal for peace and reconciliation.”
Vatican sources suggest that Pope Francis would have been keen to talk with Cardinal Cupich about the situation in the United States following the inauguration of President Joe Biden.
These were the first such suicide bombings since June 2019 and came on the eve of the pope’s planned visit to the country on March 5-8, a visit that now is under serious question.
In a message to the second Catholic president, Pope Francis prayed that Joe Biden would work to heal the divisions in U.S. society and promote human dignity and peace around the globe.
The Australian government’s international financial watchdog, Austrac, said it overestimated bank transfers from Vatican City to Australia over the past six years by more than $1.5 billion dollars.
Both Pope Francis and retired Pope Benedict XVI have received the first dose of the vaccine against COVID-19 after the Vatican started vaccinating its employees and residents Jan. 13.