
On the Christian feast of the Epiphany, the commemoration of the visit of the three “kings,” or “wise men,” to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem, Pope Francis underscored the need to lift one’s gaze above the daily cares of this world to discover God.
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.6 Jan 2016, 2:17 PM PST0

Exactly one year after the notorious Paris jihadist attacks on the offices of the French weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo, the journal has released an anniversary issue depicting a cover drawing of God toting an AK-47 on his back with the
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.6 Jan 2016, 7:46 AM PST0

As Christians around the world prepare for the canonization of Mother of Teresa of Calcutta, Salon Magazine has responded as one might expect: by smearing the Nobel laureate who spent her entire adult life serving the poorest of the poor.
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.5 Jan 2016, 5:16 AM PST0

A completely naked man wearing only a pair of sneakers and a backpack went streaking through Saint Peter’s Basilica Monday afternoon, until he was finally apprehended by members of the Vatican gendarmerie, or police force. The man is reportedly an
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.5 Jan 2016, 1:34 AM PST0

In his weekly Angelus message Sunday, Pope Francis continued his reflections on the meaning of Christmas, reminding his hearers that on coming into the world Jesus was rejected, and that we too must make a choice whether or not to accept him.
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.3 Jan 2016, 6:36 AM PST0

In a meeting with youth this week, Pope Francis was asked what, as a child, he had desired to be when he grew up, to which he offered the surprising response that he had wanted to be a butcher.
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.2 Jan 2016, 1:55 PM PST0

In his New Year’s address Friday, Pope Francis said that despite many negative signs that make us think God is absent in the world, His mercy is the only thing capable of overcoming the misery that threatens our world.
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.2 Jan 2016, 12:27 PM PST0

Not every reviewer walked away feeling impressed with J.J. Abrams’ first Star Wars film. The reviewer for the Vatican’s daily newspaper felt the villains in George Lucas’ earlier films were better.
by Kipp Jones21 Dec 2015, 10:07 PM PST0

In preparation for Christmas, Pope Francis underscored Christ’s option to be born into a poor, humble family, adding that people cannot buy their way into Heaven, but must do things God’s way, which is the way of simplicity.
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.21 Dec 2015, 6:42 AM PST0

In a meeting with pilgrims Friday, Pope Francis told his audience that at the first Christmas, Jesus didn’t just make an appearance only to leave again but came because he wanted to stay with us and share fully in our lives.
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.19 Dec 2015, 11:16 AM PST0

This year the Vatican is reclaiming the traditional Judeo-Christian symbol of the rainbow, decorating the enormous Christmas tree in Saint Peter’s Square in rainbow colors as a presage of the coming of the Messiah rather than a symbol of the LGBT movement.
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.18 Dec 2015, 9:33 AM PST0

Pope Francis has officially recognized the second miracle of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, clearing the way for her canonization, which will reportedly take place on September 4, 2016, as a major event of the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.18 Dec 2015, 5:24 AM PST0

A group of prominent Orthodox rabbis in Israel, the United States and Europe have issued a historic public statement affirming that Christianity is “the willed divine outcome and gift to the nations” and urging Jews and Christians to “work together as partners to address the moral challenges of our era.”
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.17 Dec 2015, 5:30 AM PST0

Local Church officials have opened a new Catholic university in Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, which Erbil Archbishop Bashar Warda has called “a way of fighting back against Islamic State.”
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.15 Dec 2015, 4:47 AM PST0

In its latest video, the Islamic State portrays its vision of the end of the world culminating in an epic battle with the West waged in Rome.
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.14 Dec 2015, 8:51 AM PST0

JERUSALEM – The global Jews for Jesus organization has denounced the Vatican for its recent pronouncement instructing the Catholic Church to refrain from to converting Jews to Christianity, saying that the Vatican is pandering to Jewish leaders. David Brickner, the
by Breitbart Jerusalem14 Dec 2015, 6:12 AM PST0

The Vatican has announced the program for Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to Mexico, which will include a visit to the U.S.-Mexican border with the celebration of a “cross-border” Mass.
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.13 Dec 2015, 7:57 AM PST0

The Vatican Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews released a text Thursday highlighting the unique relationship between Jews and Christians, underscoring the irrevocable character of God’s covenant with the Jewish people, and urging Christians to work together with Jews to combat “all manifestations of racial discrimination against Jews and all forms of anti-Semitism.”
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.11 Dec 2015, 1:07 PM PST0

After officially kicking off the Jubilee Year Tuesday, Pope Francis addressed crowds on Wednesday, telling them that the purpose of a Holy Year is to “live mercy” and that what God likes best is “forgiving his children.”
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.9 Dec 2015, 11:20 AM PST0

In anticipation of the millions of pilgrims expected to come to Rome during the Jubilee Year, Rome authorities have initiated a counterterrorism program designed to instruct taxi drivers in the art of recognizing suspicious activities that could signal terroristic intent.
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.8 Dec 2015, 4:42 AM PST0

Amidst unprecedented security measures, tens of thousands of pilgrims flocked to Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City early Tuesday for Pope Francis’ inauguration of the Jubilee Year of Mercy and the opening of the Holy Door. The crowds started arriving
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.8 Dec 2015, 3:44 AM PST0

Historical souvenir vendors from the oldest Roman Jewish families took to the streets this week in protest of new regulations that forbid street vendors from selling their wares near the Vatican. Though ostensibly a security measure, the vendors—called urtisti—see the
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.6 Dec 2015, 6:36 AM PST0

Italian counterterrorism forces are taking no chances of an incident for the opening of the holy door of Saint Peter’s Basilica on December 8 and have prohibited the transport of fuel and natural gas in the city, as well as ammunition, weapons, and toxic gases.
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.5 Dec 2015, 3:34 PM PST0

Virtually every newspaper in Italy had the California shooting splashed across its front page Thursday, often in tandem with pieces on the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL), as Italians grapple with the possibilities of violent Islamist assault on their own territory.
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.3 Dec 2015, 1:11 PM PST0

In the most recent issue of Nikkei Asian Review, Romanian born political scientist and military analyst Edward N. Luttwak lays out a persuasive theory explaining how Italy has been so successful in thwarting Islamic terror attempts. In a word: Italy is not afraid to deport those it considers to be a threat to national security.
by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.30 Nov 2015, 5:17 AM PST0