Pope Francis

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Pope Francis' trip to Iraq -- March 5-8, 2021

Photo gallery and video at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-03/pope-francis-apostolic-journey-departs-conclusion.html
Pope bids farewell to Iraq after a historic visit
08 March 2021, 08:00

Pope Francis concludes his Apostolic Journey to Iraq that took him to 6 cities and sites in the north and south of the country. He comforted the people, especially Catholics and Christians, harshly tried by sectarian violence and terrorism, and appealed for tolerance, fraternity, hope and peace.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis on Monday left Iraq, bringing the curtain down on the 33rd apostolic journey of his pontificate, and the first visit of a pontiff to the Middle Eastern country.  After celebrating Mass in private at the Apostolic Nunciature, he left for Baghdad’s international airport after bidding farewell to the staff and friends at the nunciature.

Awaiting him at the airport were President Barham Salih and his wife.  After a brief private meeting with Salih at the VIP lounge, the Holy Father was accompanied by him over the red carpet to the steps of the aircraft where he greeted Iraqi and Vatican delegations before boarding the plane. An Alitalia aircraft carrying him, his entourage and reporters flew out of the Iraqi capital at 9:54 am local time.  He is expected to land in Rome at 12:45 pm, after a flight of a little over 5 hours.
 

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Pope Francis' trip to Iraq -- March 5-8, 2021

Press conference aboard the papal flight from Iraq

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-03/pope-francis-inflight-presser-iraq-journalists0.html
Pope: "Charity, love and fraternity are the way forward"
08 March 2021, 18:42

Speaking to journalists on the flight to Rome, Pope Francis retraces the stages of his historic visit to Iraq: the meeting with "the wise and man of God" Al Sistani, his feelings before the destroyed churches in Mosul, his emotion at the words of the Christian mother who lost her son and forgave his killers, the promise of a trip to Lebanon
VATICAN NEWS

Charity, love and fraternity are the way forward. This was said by the Pope in conversation with journalists on the flight from Baghdad back to Rome, after the historic four-day trip to Iraq. Francis recounted his impressions of his meeting with Al Sistani, his emotion before the destroyed churches in Mosul and told of his promise to Patriarch Bechara Rai to undertake a trip to Lebanon. At the beginning of the meeting at high altitude, the Pontiff greeted Monsignor Dieunonné Datonou, the new coordinator of papal travels, whom he called "the new sheriff". Then he addressed the journalists as follows: "First of all, thank you for your work, your company, and your tiredness. Today is Women's Day, congratulations to women! In the meeting with the wife of the President of Iraq they were talking about why there is no men's day. I said: because we men are always celebrating! The President's wife talked to me about women, she said beautiful things today, about the strength that women have in carrying forward life, history, family, so many things. And thirdly: yesterday was the birthday of the Cope journalist: best wishes, we must celebrate, we'll see how, here we can."

Your Holiness, two years ago in Abu Dhabi you had a meeting with Imam Al Tayyeb of Al Azhar with the signing of the Declaration on Human Fraternity. Three days ago you met with Al Sistani: is it possible to think of something similar with the Shiite side of Islam? And then a second question about Lebanon: Saint John Paul II said more than a country it is a message. Today, unfortunately, as a Lebanese, I can tell you that this message is disappearing. Is your visit to Lebanon imminent?
 
(non official working transcript and translation)

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-returns-historic-prayer-book-saved-from-islamic-state-to-the-nineveh-plains-39353

Pope Francis returns historic prayer book saved from Islamic State to the Nineveh Plains
By Courtney Mares

Rome Newsroom, Mar 8, 2021 / 06:05 am MT (CNA).- During his trip to Iraq, Pope Francis returned a historic Aramaic prayer manuscript which was restored after the Islamic State desecrated the Catholic church where it was once held.

Dating back to sometime between the 14th and 15th century, the book contains liturgical prayers in Aramaic for the season of Easter in the Syriac tradition.

The manuscript was formerly kept in the Great Al-Tahira Immaculate Conception Church (pictured below), in Bakhdida, also known as Qaraqosh. The Syriac Catholic church was plundered and set alight when the Islamic State had control of the town from 2014 to 2016.

Pope Francis visited the church on March 7 and prayed the Angelus with the local Christians from towns and villages across the Nineveh Plains. The church was completely restored by Aid to the Church in Need.

While visiting the Immaculate Conception Church, the pope presented the manuscript to Syrian Catholic Archbishop Yohanna Boutros Mouche of Mosul.
 

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Pope Francis' trip to Iraq -- March 5-8, 2021

"...CNA’s full transcript of Pope Francis’ in-flight press conference from Baghdad, Iraq, to Rome, Italy on March 8, 2021"

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/full-text-pope-francis-in-flight-press-conference-from-iraq-21836
Full text: Pope Francis’ in-flight press conference from Iraq

Aboard the papal plane, Mar 8, 2021 / 03:00 pm MT (CNA).- Please read below for CNA’s full transcript of Pope Francis’ in-flight press conference from Baghdad, Iraq, to Rome, Italy on March 8, 2021.

Pope Francis: First of all, thank you for your work, your company, your fatigue. Then, today is Women’s Day. Congratulations to the women. Women’s Day. But they were saying why is there no Men’s Day? Even when [I was] in the meeting with the wife of the president. I said it was because us men are always celebrated and we want to celebrate women. And the wife of the president spoke well about women, she told me lovely things today, about that strength that women have to carry forward life, history, the family, many things. Congratulations to everyone. And third, today is the birthday of the COPE journalist. Or the other day. Where are you?

Matteo Bruni, Holy See press office director: It was yesterday.

Pope Francis: Best wishes and we should celebrate it, right? We will see how we can [do it] here. Very well. Now, the word is yours.

Bruni: The first question comes from the Arabic world: Imad Atrach of Sky News Arabia.
 

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-03/pope-francis-general-audience-apostolic-journey-iraq.html
Pope at Audience: Fraternity is challenge for Iraq and whole world
10 March 2021, 10:00

Pope Francis reflects on his recent Apostolic Journey to Iraq during the weekly General Audience, and highlights a penitential sense he felt during his visit, as well as the joy of the Iraqi people at welcoming Christ's message.
By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ

“In the past few days, the Lord allowed me to visit Iraq, carrying out a project of Saint John Paul II,” Pope Francis said. “Never before has a Pope been in the land of Abraham. Providence willed that this should happen now, as a sign of hope, after years of war and terrorism, and during a severe pandemic.”

Pope Francis focused his catechesis during Wednesday’s General Audience - the first after returning from his Apostolic Journey to Iraq – on his reflections on his four-day visit to the Middle Eastern nation from 5 - 8 March.
 

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English translation of the interview at the link

https://www.ncregister.com/interview/cardinal-sarah-the-only-thing-that-counts-is-to-seek-god-ever-more-deeply

Cardinal Sarah: ‘The Only Thing That Counts Is to Seek God Ever More Deeply’
Edward Pentin  Vatican  March 10, 2021

In his first interview since Pope Francis accepted his resignation as prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments last month, Cardinal Robert Sarah has revealed how ideological struggles over worship were a source of “great suffering” for him.

In comments to Matteo Matzuzzi of the Italian daily Il Foglio published on Wednesday (see below for an English translation provided exclusively to the Register), Cardinal Sarah says that in the Church today “too often we act as if everything is a question of politics, power, influence and the unjustified imposition of a hermeneutic of Vatican II that totally breaks and is irreversibly at odds with Tradition.”

The solution, he argues, is for the Church to return to placing God at the center of the liturgy, beginning by celebrating Mass ad orientem. “If God is not at the center of the Church’s life, then she is in danger of death,” he says, suggesting that the Church is “currently experiencing a Good Friday,” but adding that “Christ's victory always comes through the Cross.”

Cardinal Sarah stresses that it’s unsound to view such matters as being ideological issues. “I don’t believe that the struggle between progressives and conservatives has any meaning in the Church,” he said, adding, “These categories are political and ideological. The Church is not a field of political struggle.”

He also discusses his positive relationships with Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, his time as prefect, his plans for the future, and how he sees the Church in the coming years.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-03/amoris-laetitia-5-anniversary-rome-online-event-family-year.html

Online event to mark 5 years of "Amoris laetitia" and start of Family Year
10 March 2021, 18:00

An online event is taking place on 19 March in Rome, to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the publication of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation "Amoris laetitia", a document on the beauty and joy of love in the family.
By Robin Gomes

The 19 March virtual event entitled, “Our Daily Love”, is being organized by the Vatican Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life, the Diocese of Rome and the Pontifical John Paul II Theological Institute, all based in Rome.

The same day, Pope Francis will launch the “Amoris Laetitia Family Year”, which will conclude on June 26, 2022, on the occasion of the 10th World Meeting of Families in Rome with the Holy Father.

Amoris Laetitia, Latin for “The Joy of Love”, is the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis, which was the result of the two-part Synod on the Family held in the Vatican in October 2014 and 2015.  Dated 19 March 2016 and released on 8 April 2016, it addresses issues regarding the pastoral care of families. 
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2021-03/cardinal-appeals-for-generous-response-to-holy-land-collection.html

Cardinal appeals for generous response to Holy Land Collection
11 March 2021, 13:10

Each year, the Church takes up a collection on Good Friday to assist Christians in the Holy Land and help protect the Holy Places. In a letter addressed to the Bishops of the world, the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches calls on all Christians to offer their generous support to this year’s initiative.
By Vatican News staff reporter

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, the Prefect for the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, is once again appealing to Christians throughout the world to support the annual Holy Land Collection, which takes place each year on Good Friday.

The Holy Land collection “was born from the desire of the Popes to maintain a strong link between all the faithful and the Holy Places,” according to the Congregation. “It is the main source of material support for Christian life in the Holy Land and the privileged instrument that the Church provides her children in other parts of the world to express solidarity with the ecclesial communities of the Middle East.”
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-to-give-knock-shrine-new-international-status-on-st-josephs-feast

Pope Francis to give Knock Shrine new international status on St. Joseph’s feast
By Courtney Mares

Rome Newsroom, Mar 11, 2021 / 01:00 pm MT (CNA).- Pope Francis will officially designate Knock Shrine in Ireland as an international Marian and Eucharistic shrine on the feast of St. Joseph next week.

The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference announced March 11 that the pope will give Knock Shrine official recognition and send a video message to the shrine on the night of March 19.

“This feast of St. Joseph is very appropriate to establish Knock as an international Marian and Eucharistic shrine,” Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam said as he welcomed the announcement.

The Irish archbishop explained that St. Joseph appeared along with the Virgin Mary in the apparition at Knock in 1879.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-03/pope-francis-love-at-the-heart-of-a-good-confession.html

Pope Francis: Love at the heart of a good confession
12 March 2021, 12:18

Pope Francis meets with participants in an annual course on the internal forum, organized by the Apostolic Penitentiary
By Vatican News staff reporter

Pope Francis told confessors on Friday that love was at the heart of a good confession.

He was speaking to participants in an annual course on the internal forum, organized by the Apostolic Penitentiary.

This year’s course was held online due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Abandonment

During the audience, which was held in the Paul VI Hall, the Pope dwelt on three expressions that explain the meaning of the Sacrament of Reconciliation: the first, "abandoning oneself to Love"; the second, "letting oneself be transformed by Love"; and the third: "corresponding to Love".

Addressing those gathered, the Pope remarked that "going to confession is not going to the dry cleaners to get a stain removed. No. It's something else."

The first step for a good Confession, he said, “is precisely the act of faith, of abandonment, with which the penitent approaches Mercy.”

The Pope continued by saying that “every confessor, therefore, must always be capable of being amazed at the brothers who, by faith, ask for God's forgiveness…The pain for one's sins is the sign of such trusting abandonment to Love.”
 

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Photo gallery at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-03/pope-francis-audience-genoa-water-polo-team.html

Pope extols teamwork, amateur spirit in remarks to Genoa water polo team
12 March 2021, 13:32

Pope Francis met with a water polo team from Genoa on Friday, encouraging them to work as a team and maintain an amateur spirit
By Vatican News staff reporter

Pope Francis with Genoa’s Sporting Club Quinto water polo team on Friday in the Sala Clementina at the Vatican.

In brief remarks to the athletes, the Holy Father highlighted two important attitudes in sport: the spirit of the team, and the amateur spirit.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-03/pope-francis-portugal-president-audience-rebelo-de-sousa.html

Pope Francis meets with Portugal’s president
12 March 2021, 15:30

Pope Francis holds a private audience with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the President of Portugal, and discusses various topics related to the pandemic and the European Union.
By Vatican News staff writer

The Holy See Press Office announced Friday that Pope Francis has met with the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, in a private audience in the Vatican.

“During the visit, the President’s first foreign trip since his re-election, satisfaction was expressed at the good relations between the Holy See and Portugal, as well as the contribution made by the Church to the life of the country, with special reference to the management of the current health crisis, the defence of life, and peaceful social co-existence.”

According to the Press Office, the two leaders also spoke about Portugal’s presidency of the European Union.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-03/cantalamessa-focuses-on-divinity-of-christ-in-third-lent-sermon.html

Cantalamessa focuses on divinity of Christ in third Lent sermon
12 March 2021, 15:07

The Preacher to the Pontifical Household, Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, reflects on the divinity of Jesus in his third sermon for Lent 2021.
By Vatican News staff reporter

After reflecting on the humanity of Christ in last week’s sermon, Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa focused on Jesus’ divinity in his third sermon for Lent 2021.

This year’s series of sermons to the Roman Curia have been reacting to a tendency to speak about the Church “as if Christ did not exist,” the Cardinal explained. However, he said, “we have been meaning to react to that in an unusual way: not by trying to convince the world and the media of their mistake, but by renewing and intensifying our faith in Christ.”
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/vatican-peters-pence-donations-keeping-projected-deficit-to-60-million-in-2021-18772

Vatican: Peter's Pence, donations, keeping projected deficit to $60 million in 2021
By Hannah Brockhaus

Vatican City, Mar 12, 2021 / 12:01 pm MT (CNA).- The Vatican said Friday it plans to lower operational expenses by 8% in 2021, while it relies on donations and funds from Peter’s Pence to contain a growing deficit amid the coronavirus crisis.

The Secretariat for the Economy released a 2021 budget for the Holy See March 12, showing a projected deficit of nearly $60 million.

Peter’s Pence will provide the Holy See with $57 million in income, with $37 million being used for operational costs and $20 million for charitable grants.

Peter’s Pence is the Holy See’s annual collection to finance the pope’s charitable works and other priorities, including the Roman Curia.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2021-03/pope-francis-eight-gospel-joy-church-pontificate.html

Eight years with Pope Francis: The joy of the Gospel for the whole world
13 March 2021, 08:00

On March 13, 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected to the Chair of St. Peter. He is the first Jesuit, the first Latin-American Pope, and the first with the name Francis. These eight years of his Pontificate have been marked by initiatives and reforms to engage all Christians in a new missionary impetus with the goal of bringing the love of Jesus to all humanity.
By Isabella Piro

Closeness, synodality and missionary impetus: these are the cornerstones of the Pontificate of Pope Francis, who was elected eight years ago to the Chair of St. Peter. The perspective of his Pontificate starts from below, from the attention paid to those existential and geographical “peripheries” that act as a counterpoint to his being and acting. Inviting all to recover “the original freshness of the Gospel,” he urges the faithful to take up a new fervor and dynamism so that the love of Jesus can truly reach everyone. The Church desired by Pope Francis is an “outgoing” Church, with “open doors,” a “field hospital” that is not afraid of the “revolution of tenderness” or “the miracle of kindness.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2021-03/philippines-fifth-centenary-christianity-pope-mass-valles.html

Gift of faith - 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines
13 March 2021, 11:20

Archbishop Romulo Valles highlights the 5th centenary celebration of the Christian faith in the Philippines, which will be officially inaugurated on Easter Sunday. Pope Francis is anticipating the occasion with a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on Sunday, 14 March.
By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis will mark 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines with a Holy Mass on Sunday in St. Peter’s Basilica. Due to the pandemic, only a limited number of faithful will be allowed at the 10 am (Rome time) Mass on 14 March.

The Christian faith that arrived in the Philippines 500 years ago, is very much alive today in the joyful witness to evangelical charity by Catholics, even in hard times, says Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).  The Philippine Church has been preparing for this great jubilee celebration for 9 years, with each year having a specific theme.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-03/pope-francis-india-appointment-apostoloic-nuncio-girelli.html

Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli new Apostolic Nuncio to India
13 March 2021, 16:41

Archbishop Girelli takes over as the Apostolic Nuncio to India from Archbishop Giambattista Diquattro, whom Pope Francis transferred to Brazil on 21 August 2020.
By Vatican News staff writer

Pope Francis on Saturday appointed Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli as the new Apostolic Nuncio to India. Until now, the 67-year-old Italian has been Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Cyprus, and Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine.

The new responsibility of Archbishop Girelli, who has served in several Holy See’s diplomatic missions in Asia, comes on his 68th birthday.

Born on 13 March 1953 in Predore, Bergamo in northern Italy’s Lombardy region, he was ordained priest on 17 June 1978 for the Diocese of Bergamo. He holds a doctorate in theology and a master’s degree in canon law.

He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 13 July 1987, and worked in the Papal Diplomatic missions in Cameroon, New Zealand and at the Section for General Affairs of the Vatican Secretariat of State, and finally in the Apostolic Nunciature to the United States, where he held the rank of Counsellor.
 

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Hmmm...

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/private-masses-no-longer-permitted-in-st-peters-basilica
St. Peter's Basilica to end private Masses, restrict Masses in extraordinary form
By Andrea Gagliarducci

Vatican City, Mar 12, 2021 / 06:01 pm MT (CNA).- A new letter from the Vatican Secretariat of State has banned the private celebration of Masses at side altars in St. Peter’s Basilica, effective March 22.

The regulation might seem tailored to meet COVID restrictions, as Italy prepares to tighten its pandemic measures once again. However, the new rule appears to be permanent.

The letter stresses that Lent is a time to focus on the Word of God and celebration of the Eucharist. It says the changes are intended to ensure “the Holy Masses in St. Peter's Basilica take place in a climate of recollection and liturgical decency.”

Until now, the 45 altars and 11 chapels in St. Peter's Basilica have been used every morning by priests to celebrate their daily Mass. Many of them are Vatican officials who begin their day with the celebration.
 
https://www.ncregister.com/blog/cardinal-burke-says-rescind-instruction
Cardinal Burke Says Vatican’s Instruction on Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica Should Be Rescinded
The former prefect of the Apostolic Signatura calls it ‘a direct violation of universal Church law.’
Edward Pentin  March 13, 2021

Full Text of Cardinal Burke’s Statement...
https://www.cardinalburke.com/presentations/statement-on-the-offering-of-the-holy-mass-in-the-papal-basilica-of-saint-peter
Statement on the Offering of the Holy Mass in the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter
Raymond Leo Cardinal BURKE
Rome, 13 March 2021

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Two videos at the link--the second video with English commentary

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-03/pope-francis-mass-500-anniversary-christianity-philippines.html
Pope Francis celebrates Mass for 500 years of Christianity in Philippines
14 March 2021, 10:39

Pope Francis celebrates Mass to mark the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines, and urges Filipinos to renew their commitment to Christ as missionary disciples.
By Devin Watkins

Pope Francis on Sunday joined the Church in the Philippines in commemorating 500 years of Christianity in the Southeast Asian nation.

He celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica with several representatives of the Filipino Church, including Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, formerly the Archbishop of Manila.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-03/cardinal-tagle-gratitude-pope-francis-mass-philippines-500.html
Cardinal Tagle expresses gratitude for Pope’s Philippines Mass
14 March 2021, 11:22

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Video, with English commentary, at the link

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-03/pope-francis-angelus-jesus-light-god-love-laetare-sunday.html
Pope at Angelus: Jesus is light that opens us to God’s love
14 March 2021, 12:15

At the Angelus prayer on Sunday, Pope Francis reflects on Jesus’ identity, and urges Christians to welcome His light to open our hearts to the love of God.
By Devin Watkins

As the Church celebrates Laetare Sunday, Pope Francis invited Christians to draw near to the light of Christ and ask for His forgiveness.

Speaking ahead of the noon-day Marian prayer of the Angelus, the Pope considered why the fourth Sunday of Lent has such a joyous focus.

The reason, he said, is given in the Gospel: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life (Jn 3:16).”

“This joyful message is the heart of the Christian faith,” said the Pope, “God’s love found its summit in the gift of his Son to a weak and sinful humanity.”
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-03/pope-francis-appeal-angelus-syria-10-years-civil-war.html
Pope Francis laments decade of Syria’s destructive civil war
14 March 2021, 12:33