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Herald Malaysia
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Aleppo Friar in Rome for Jubilee: 'We are living the dream of many Syrians'
Arriving in Rome with some young people—refugees in Europe with their families due to the civil war that broke out in 2011—the Franciscan friar of the Custody of the Holy Land shares with Vatican Media the difficulties faced by the parish of St. Francis of Assisi following recent attacks. However, he also bears witness to the 'daily miracle' of a living Christian community of over 1,200 faithful, who continue to persevere with faith and hope. Aug 02, 2025 Young pilgrims from Syria By Edoardo Giribaldi'I hope to bring much, much hope.' These may be simple words, yet they contain all the strength and faith of Brother George Jallouf, a Franciscan of the Custody of the Holy Land and assistant pastor of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Aleppo. He arrived in Rome with a group of young people—'children of the diaspora,' as he calls them—to take part in the Jubilee. It is with them, he says, that 'we are realizing a dream that many in Syria still cannot live.' Young people in Syria asked him to light a candle for themThe young people, refugees in Europe along with their families due to the civil war that erupted in 2011, now live in Germany, France, Belgium, and Sweden. On a hot Roman afternoon, they find shelter in the shade of Palazzo Pio, home to the Vatican Media offices, proudly waving the flag of their homeland. 'Syrians, at this moment, cannot travel easily due to complications with visas,' explains Brother George. Nevertheless, the friar personally took upon himself all the intentions of the local Christian community, sharing, 'They asked me to light a candle for them and to carry them with me through the Holy Door.' In fact, he did so. He took photos, sent messages, bearing witness that 'they too were there, even if from afar.' The difficulties and 'daily miracles' in Aleppo Regardless, the reality in Syria remains difficult. 'In Aleppo, the situation is relatively calm,' he says, 'but after the recent attacks in Damascus, fear has returned to the hearts of the faithful. We've had to increase security even during Masses: men stand at the church doors to protect those coming in to pray.' Despite everything, the Christian community continues to endure. A numerical minority—about 1,200 faithful—but a living, active presence. 'We have catechism classes from kindergarten all the way through high school," he says, noting, "It's a grace, a daily miracle.' When he returns to Syria, Brother George will bring with him the faces, words, and blessing of Rome, and also a certainty, 'The Lord is with us. Hope does not disappoint. And we are called to be that hope, every day, for those we encounter.' From Syria to pray for peace throughout the Middle East 'Just being here and representing Syria is, in itself, a source of pride,' shares one of the young Syrians in Rome for the Jubilee of Youth, adding, 'It's an indescribable emotion. We are truly happy. And we pray that, one day, there may be peace in all the countries of this world.' Echoing him is a fellow pilgrim, who explains how their presence is meaningful not only for Syria but for the entire Middle East. 'There are so many wonderful young Christians there, with a tremendous faith.' Like Brother George, the young people have become messengers of the prayers and dreams of their peers, reflecting, 'We pray here on their behalf, in their name.' Especially aware of the gift that the opportunity to be in Rome and participate in the Jubilee represents, they tell Vatican News, 'We pray especially that the Lord may one day give them too the chance to come and live this experience.'--Vatican News
Herald Malaysia
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Outgoing custos of the Holy Land proposes a path to peace
Friar Francesco Patton, the outgoing Franciscan custos of the Holy Land, reflected on his nine years in office and proposed a path to achieving peace in the face of war in the region. He also noted that being a Christian in the holy places, as a minority, is a special vocation and mission. Jul 16, 2025 Friar Francesco Patton, outgoing custos of the Holy Land. | Credit: Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land By Walter Sánchez Silva Friar Francesco Patton, the outgoing Franciscan custos of the Holy Land, reflected on his nine years in office and proposed a path to achieving peace in the face of war in the region. He also noted that being a Christian in the holy places, as a minority, is a special vocation and mission. Patton, 61, is leaving the position entrusted to him in 2016. Friar Francesco Ielpo has now been appointed to the position, confirmed as the new custos of the Holy Land by Pope Leo XIV on June 24. In an interview published July 11 on the website of the Custody of the Holy Land, the Italian Franciscan explained that, in the face of the war between Israel and Hamas, 'peace requires mutual acceptance between the two peoples who have been in conflict for decades, and the overcoming of ideological readings of history, geography, and even of the Bible.' 'It would be necessary to teach coexistence in schools instead of an ideology that only generates fear, anger, and resentment. Neither of the two peoples must leave, and both must be able to live together in peace,' he added. 'If both were able to overcome mutual separateness, the next generations could finally grow up in peace, without fear and without anger,' the Franciscan priest emphasized. Being a Christian in the Holy Land Patton shared that 'I have always said, especially to young people, to cultivate their identity as Christians of the Holy Land. They must not focus on ethno-political identities but on a deeper identity: being custodians, with us, of the holy places.' 'The holy places are an essential part of their identity. I have suggested to parish priests to bring the young people there, to tell the Gospel in the places of the Gospel. The holy places belong to them,' the Franciscan continued. The Italian priest emphasized that 'being a Christian in the Holy Land is a vocation and a mission. If God lets you be born here, he is calling you to be light and salt, precisely because you are a minority and the context is difficult. And Jesus reminds us that salt which loses its flavor is useless.' 'I was deeply moved by the faithfulness of the two friars who remained in the Orontes Valley when ISIS and Al-Qaeda were present. They stayed because they knew they were shepherds, and not hired hands, using the words from Chapter 10 of St. John. Their availability to give their lives was not hypothetical but concrete in a very risky context,' he recalled. 'I was also struck by how important the holy places are to Christians who may only be able to visit once in their lives. In Brazil, I saw people who saved a little money each month for 10 or 15 years just to visit Nazareth, Bethlehem, and the Holy Sepulchre. Or a Christian from Syria visiting the Sepulchre and bursting into tears from the emotion,' the friar recounted. After highlighting the great value of schools in the Holy Land, the outgoing custos said he was dismayed by 'the growth of intolerance, extremism, and the ideological manipulation of religion for political purposes. That made, and still makes, me suffer.' The holy places: An antidote to religious rationalism The Italian friar emphasized that holy places, being physical, 'bring faith back into a concrete, existential realm. They are a great help in avoiding a disembodied, intellectualized Christianity. They are an antidote against religious rationalism and intellectualism.' 'They also help us to understand the religiosity of the people,' the friar explained. 'Intellectuals love reasoning, but people love to touch. They love to kiss a stone, smell the perfume of myrrh, see the olive trees in Gethsemane, the grotto of Bethlehem, Calvary, and the empty tomb.' 'Popular religiosity,' he noted, 'is much closer to the mystery of the Incarnation than that of professional theologians.'--CNA
Al Manar
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Manar
On The First Day of Jewish Passover: Widespread Incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque
On Sunday morning, large groups of Israeli settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque under heavy protection from the Israeli occupation police, through the Mughrabi Gate. The Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem reported that hundreds of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in scattered groups, where they received explanations about the alleged 'Temple' and conducted provocative tours of the mosque's courtyards. A number of them performed Talmudic and Torah rituals, particularly on the eastern side near the Dome of the Rock, before leaving through the Chain Gate. This coincided with strict restrictions imposed by the occupation forces at the entrances to the Old City and Al-Aqsa Mosque. They installed dozens of iron barriers and detained Palestinians to check their IDs and belongings, in an attempt to limit their access to the mosque. The occupation authorities also closed all passages and roads leading to the Old City, as well as the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque, amid a heavy deployment of police and special forces, transforming the Holy City into a closed military barracks. These raids come in response to calls by the so-called 'Temple Groups,' which called for widespread raids on the mosque during Easter, in an attempt to bring the so-called 'Passover offerings' into the mosque, a blatant violation of its sanctity and the feelings of Muslims. Amid this tense atmosphere, fears are growing of further tension and violations against Al-Aqsa Mosque, given the escalating frequency of raids and the continued tightening of Israeli restrictions on Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem. The occupation prevents Christians from the West Bank from attending Palm Sunday in Jerusalem In a related context, the Israeli occupation prevented thousands of Christians from the West Bank from reaching occupied Jerusalem on Sunday to participate in Palm Sunday. Eastern and Western Christian churches celebrated the occasion at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem, amid the absence of thousands of Christians from the West Bank due to the strict Israeli restrictions. The occupation forces imposed military measures at the city's entrances, tightened their presence at the checkpoints surrounding the Old City, and continued to require special permits to enter Jerusalem. According to Father Ibrahim Faltas, Deputy Superior General of the Custody of the Holy Land, the occupation has granted only 6,000 permits, out of approximately 50,000 Christians residing in the West Bank. In light of the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip since October 7, churches have canceled all celebrations, limiting their activities to religious rites and prayers, with prayers for peace and justice in the Holy Land. It is worth noting that Easter, or 'Resurrection Sunday,' coincides this year for both Eastern and Western Christian denominations. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week and commemorates the entry of Jesus Christ into the Holy City. West Bank's Christians denied entry to occupied Jerusalem on Palm Sundayhttps:// — WAFA News Agency – English (@WAFANewsEnglish) April 13, 2025 Jerusalem is currently witnessing strict measures and a heavy deployment of occupation forces in the Old City and around the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Checkpoints and barriers have been set up at the city's entrances, obstructing thousands of worshippers and pilgrims from reaching their places of worship. Gaza Orthodox Church Celebrates Palm Sunday Amid War The Orthodox Church in the Gaza Strip celebrated Palm Sunday this morning, Sunday, at St. Porphyrius Church, with the participation of members of the Christian community who carried olive branches and palm fronds to commemorate the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. During the mass, clerics noted that this is the third feast the church has celebrated amid the ongoing war. They emphasized that the continuation of these rituals despite the bombing and suffering reflects the resilience of the Christian community and its determination to cling to faith and hope. The clerics also called for peace and mercy, offering prayers for the souls of the martyrs and missing, and praying for security and justice to prevail in the land of Palestine.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ghoulish Gamblers Are Already Betting on These Cardinals to be Next Pope
The election of a new pope is a complex process involving hundreds of cardinals that can stretch up to weeks on end. But the general public seems to have found its own way to show support for their pontiffs of choice. As Pope Francis, 88, continues to battle health issues, people have flocked to online betting platforms like BetUS and Polymarket to place their wagers on his successor. The pontiff has been out of the public eye for nearly two weeks after he was taken to a Rome hospital to receive treatment for double pneumonia. The Vatican said Thursday that the pope's condition continued to improve, though his prognosis remains guarded. On BetUS and Polymarket—which was earlier slammed for taking bets on the California fires as people lost their homes and lives—the favorites were Pietro Parolin and Pierbattista Pizzaballa from Italy and Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines. Pietro Parolin Parolin, 70, was appointed Vatican Secretary of State by Pope Francis in 2013. Before he assumed the role as the Vatican's number two, he worked in the Holy See's diplomatic service for three decades, with terms in Nigeria, Mexico, and Venezuela. The Vatican describes Parolin as an expert in the Middle East and Asia. It credits him with strengthening relations between the Holy See and Vietnam as well as helping reopen dialogue between Israel and Palestine. In 2020, the pope stripped Parolin's office of its power to independently manage money after Parolin figured in a financial scandal over a 350-million-euro investment in a London luxury building. Pierbattista Pizzaballa Pizzaballa, 59, was named Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem in 2020. He entered the Custody of the Holy Land in 1999, nine years after he moved to Jerusalem. Pizzaballa was appointed leader of the custody in 2004 and held the post for six years. Luis Antonio Tagle Tagle, 67, was appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in 2019, putting him at the helm of global efforts to disseminate Catholicism. He became Bishop of Imus in 2001 and Archbishop of Manila in 2011. Tagle was also named president of Caritas Internationalis, the umbrella organization for Catholic charities worldwide, in 2015. In 2022, Pope Francis fired the top leadership of the organization over low staff morale. Betting on the fate of popes and the outcome of papal conclaves goes back thousands of years. The practice became so popular that Pope Gregory XIV in 1591 forbade all bets related to the election of a new pope, the duration of a pontificate, or the creation of new cardinals, with a penalty of excommunication.
