Pope Francis

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Full video, with English commentary, at the link...

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-11/pope-francis-mass-world-day-poor-hope-darkness.html
Pope at Mass: ‘Christians must light candles of hope amid gathering darkness’
13 November 2022, 10:37

Pope Francis presides over Mass on the World Day of the Poor, and urges Christians to listen to the stifled cry of pain of the frailest members of society.
By Devin Watkins

As the Church marked the 6th World Day of the Poor on Sunday, Pope Francis presided over Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and reflected on this year’s theme: “For your sakes Christ became poor”.

In his homily, the Pope focused his remarks on Jesus’ twin exhortations in the day’s Gospel (Lk 21:5-19): “beware that you are not led astray and bear witness”.

Jesus was warning His disciples not to be overly concerned even when terrible events come to pass, such as wars, insurrections, earthquakes, and plagues.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252800/pope-francis-light-candles-of-hope-in-the-midst-of-darkness
Pope Francis: ‘Light candles of hope in the midst of darkness’
By Hannah Brockhaus
Vatican City, Nov 13, 2022 / 04:30 am

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2022.index.html
Homilies 2022
Mass for the World Day of the Poor (13 November 2022)

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Video, with English commentary, at the link...

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-11/pope-at-angelus-persevere-in-goodness-prayer-and-service.html
Pope at Angelus: Persevere in goodness, prayer and service
13 November 2022, 12:08

At the Sunday Angelus address, Pope Francis says the perseverance Jesus speaks about in today's Gospel calls us to remain in His goodness through our daily prayer, good works, serving others, and keeping our focus on what really matters in life.
By Thaddeus Jones

Following the morning Mass in St. Peter's Basilica for the World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis greeted pilgrims in the square for the Sunday Angelus.

In his address before leading the recitation of the Marian prayer, the Pope offered his weekly reflections on the Sunday Gospel, which recalls Jesus at the temple in Jerusalem.

Those around the Lord spoke of the magnificence of the grandiose building, but the Lord reminded them of the transitory nature of things on earth that are here today and gone tomorrow, saying “there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down,” adding how in history wars and natural disasters will occur, sweeping away everything.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-11/pope-francis-cop27-laudato-si-action-platform-appeal.html
Pope encourages COP27, recalls Laudato Si’ Action Platform anniversary
13 November 2022, 12:33

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-11/pope-francis-appeal-ukraine-kherson-recapture.html
Pope prays for Ukraine as Kherson residents welcome Ukrainian troops
13 November 2022, 14:25

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2022.index.html
Angelus - Regina Cæli 2022
Angelus, 13 November 2022

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Video at the link...

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-11/pope-offers-lunch-for-the-poor-of-rome.html
Pope Francis has lunch with the poor of Rome
13 November 2022, 13:41

Pope Francis enjoys a lunch with the poor of Rome on the World Day of the Poor, joining around 1,300 guests who dined in the Paul VI Hall inside the Vatican.
By Vatican News staff reporter

Pope Francis welcomed over 1,300 people assisted by Caritas Rome and the St. Egidio Community for a special lunch on Sunday's annual World Day of the Poor.

The annual lunch took place thanks to the organization provided by the Section for Fundamental Questions of Evangelisation in the World, part of the Dicastery for Evangelization. Italy's d'Amico Società di Navigazione company sponsored the meal.

According to the local Catholic charity of Italy, Caritas Italiana, those living in poverty number 5.6 million in Italy, 1.4 million, of whom are children.
 

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Hmmm...

https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/peeking-inside-the-synod-on-synodality-s-boardroom
Peeking Inside the Synod on Synodality’s Boardroom

COMMENTARY: Austen Ivereigh and the other ‘experts’ at the recent synodal summit in Frascati act as if John Paul II’s papacy added nothing constructive on the lay faithful, families, clergy and other topics related to Vatican II.
Father Raymond J. de Souza Vatican November 9, 2022

The latest step in the synodal process on synodality for a synodal Church was unveiled in late October, a document for the “continental” stage. That stage will occupy the meeting agenda until next March, when all of the new papers generated will be returned to Rome for further collating, summarizing, synthesizing and drafting.

The cud at this point having been masticated prayerfully, “leaving space for the Holy Spirit,” an instrumentum laboris (working document) will then be produced for the planetary, or “universal,” stage, which was to conclude with a synod of bishops next October in Rome.

The “universal” stage was recently extended for a year by Pope Francis. The synodal process will now include a second synod of bishops in October 2024, on the first anniversary of the first synod on synodality.

And how is the synodal process on synodality for a synodal Church proceeding? Swimmingly, with “unprecedented” participation, and “exceeding all expectations.” Some of the more fevered enthusiasts consider it the most important ecclesial event since Vatican II, certainly more significant than the Council of Trent (1545-1563), but perhaps not as important as Nicaea (325). At Nicaea, though, the massaging of manuscripts was a bit easier, as the “continental” and “universal” stages were more or less the same thing in the fourth century.

For those who may find the synodal process on synodality for a synodal Church a bit opaque, papal biographer and amanuensis Austen Ivereigh lifted a veil on how the “continental” stage document was woven together over two weeks by a committee of “experts” in Frascati, near Rome. There is cause for concern.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-11/pope-focsiv-work-for-the-poor-helps-build-human-brotherhood.html

Pope: FOCSIV’s work helps build fraternity in conflictual world
14 November 2022, 12:25

Meeting some 150 members of the Federation of Christian Organizations for International Voluntary Service on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, Pope Francis praises the Italian charity for its valuable contribution to development and peace in a world that has grown accustomed to war and hunger.
By Lisa Zengarini

Pope Francis, on Monday, addressed the Federation of Christian Organizations for International Voluntary Service (FOCSIV), celebrating its 50th anniversary of foundation.

The network, which gathers 94 organizations committed to fighting poverty and promoting human dignity through development projects in over 80 countries, was founded in Italy in 1972.
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2022/november.index.html
Speeches 2022 November
To the members of the Federation of Christian Organizations for International Voluntary Service (FOCSIV) (14 November 2022)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-11/pope-francis-italian-pharmacists-apoteca-natura.html

Pope to pharmacists: ‘Combat throwaway culture with culture of care’
14 November 2022, 12:28

Pope Francis meets with members of Apoteca Natura, an Italian network of pharmacies, and calls for a culture of care which promotes harmony between people and nature.
By Devin Watkins

Meeting with the Apoteca Natura network of Italian pharmacies on Monday, Pope Francis spoke about the need to rediscover a “new harmony between we human beings and Creation.”

He told the pharmacists that their efforts to promote holistic care with natural products reminded him of the indigenous peoples of the Amazon Basin in South America.

“Indigenous cultures always have a healthy attitude of living-well with Creation and the environment, which is not the sweet life or taking it easy. Rather, it is the harmony of the person and their family living with Creation.”
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2022/november.index.html
Speeches 2022 November
To the members of the "Apoteca Natura" Pharmacists network (14 November 2022)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-11/pope-sends-condolences-to-victims-of-istanbul-explosion.html

Pope sends condolences to victims of Istanbul explosion
15 November 2022, 14:11

Pope Francis sends his condolences to the families and friends of those killed and injured in Sunday's bomb attack in central Istanbul.
By Vatican News staff reporter

In a telegram signed by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and addressed to the Apostolic Nuncio in Türkiye, Archbishop Marek Solczyński, on Tuesday, Pope Francis expressed his deep sadness upon learning of the deaths and injuries caused by the explosion of a bomb in Istanbul on Sunday.

Pope Francis "sends condolences to the families and friends of those who have died, assuring the injured and those who mourn their loved ones of his spiritual closeness," the message reads.

The Pope said he offers his prayers so "that no act of violence will discourage the efforts of the people of Türkiye to build a society based on the values of fraternity, justice and peace."

The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew, also expressed "firm condemnation" of the attack and, according to local media reports, went to the scene of the bombing to remember the victims.
 

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Video, with English commentary, at the link...

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-11/pope-francis-general-audience-wednesday-catechesis-16-november.html
Pope at Audience: Start a conversation, ask the Lord how He is
16 November 2022, 09:24

Pope Francis continues his catechesis on the theme of discernment and invites the faithful to accept desolation and healthy sadness, indispensable for progression through life.
By Francesca Merlo

Addressing the faithful gathered in St Peter's Square for his weekly General Audience, Pope Francis resumed his catechesis on the theme of discernment, noting how from the reading of the day "we have seen how important it is to read what stirs within us, so as not to make hasty decisions, spurred by the emotion of the moment, only to regret them when it is too late".
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-11/pope-avoid-escalation-ukraine-prays-istanbul-bomb-victims.html
Pope prays escalation might be averted in Ukraine, remembers Istanbul victims
16 November 2022, 10:45

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2022.index.html
Audiences 2022
General Audience of 16 November 2022 - Catechesis on Discernment. 8. "Why are we desolate?"

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252842/german-bishops-meet-with-pope-francis-at-the-vatican-amid-concern-over-synodal-way

German bishops meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican amid concern over Synodal Way
By AC Wimmer
CNA Newsroom, Nov 17, 2022 / 07:52 am

Pope Francis received the German bishops at the Vatican on Thursday.

The audience with Pope Francis lasted about two hours, the German Bishops’ Conference said in a statement published after the encounter, describing the meeting as an “open round of talks” in which “the bishops were able to raise their questions and issues, and the pope answered them individually.”

The statement briefly mentioned that “aspects of the Synodal Way of the Church in Germany, and the worldwide synodal process also came up in the conversation.”

As CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner, reported, the press release also said that the pontiff and the bishops exchanged “reflections on pastoral care in changed times,” “the self-understanding of the priestly and episcopal ministry, the commitment of laypeople in the Church, as well as the challenge of how evangelization can succeed in the context of a secular world.”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2022-11/holy-see-at-cop27-urgency-and-responsibility-should-orient-work.html

Holy See at COP27: Urgency and responsibility should orient work of summit
17 November 2022, 14:44

Speaking at the COP27 summit in Sharm El-Sheik, Archbishop Nicolas Thevenin, Apostolic Nuncio in Egypt, urges a renewed model of development and sustainability based on care, fraternity, and cooperation.
By Amedeo Lomonaco

"The Holy See’s Delegation" to the COP27 summit “would like to underline two values which should orient our work in this remaining week: urgency and responsibility for concrete and far-sighted actions to face the climate crisis, which affect too many people, especially the poorest and the most vulnerable", said Archbishop Nicolas Thevenin, Apostolic Nuncio to Egypt and delegate of the Holy See to the League of Arab States.

In his address to the climate summit, the Archbishop added that “the Holy See Delegation hopes both urgency and responsibility will be clearly reflected in the cover decisions. These concrete actions must strengthen what for the Holy See are the four pillars of the Paris Agreement: mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage, and education".
 

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Interview, with Pope Francis, published on Friday by the Italian newspaper ‘La Stampa’

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-11/pope-peace-between-russia-and-ukraine-is-possible.html
Pope: peace between Russia and Ukraine is possible, don’t forget the poor
18 November 2022, 12:56

In an interview published on Friday by the Italian newspaper ‘La Stampa’, Pope Francis addresses a wide-range of topics, including the ongoing war ravaging Ukraine, his upcoming visit to Asti and his nearly ten-year pontificate.
By Lisa Zengarini

Peace between Russia and Ukraine “is still possible” and the Holy See is willing do everything it can to put an end to the armed conflict. Pope Francis reiterated this hope in a wide-ranging interview granted to Domenico Agasso of the Italian newspaper 'La Stampa' in which he also  speaks about his upcoming visit to Asti, in the Piedmont Region, and reflects on his nearly ten-year pontificate.

The absurdity of war

In the interview published on Friday, Pope Francis insists on the absurdity of war, noting that humanity has not learned the lessons of the previous two World Wars. “Knowing that behind all these tragedies there are hunger for power and arms trafficking raises anger and sadness”, he said.

“Three world wars in one century! And we won’t learn!”
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-11/pope-in-asti-between-memory-and-future.html

The Pope in Asti, a visit between memory and the future
18 November 2022, 14:36

Pope Francis will travel to Asti on Saturday November 19 to meet privately with members of his family and will preside over mass in the city’s cathedral the following day. The visit to his family’s place of origin will be marked by the experience of dialogue between generations, particularly dear to the Pope who so often evoked the “prophecy of Joel” on the young and the elderly.
By Alessandro Gisotti

Pope Francis’ itinerary on Saturday, which will take him to Asti, his family’s place of origin, can be measured not only in kilometres but in years.

The trip will take him not only north of Rome but also back in time.

With his cousin’s 90th birthday as the focus, the visit will be largely private, so as to respect the family dimension.

Nevertheless, we do not perceive this low-profile visit as a distant event.

That community in Piedmont, like the activities of the Bergoglio family — one of many Italian families who emigrated in the last century — in some way belongs to us.

The Pope has talked about this many times. He has “invited” us to be guests in his home, and especially to meet Nonna Rosa, a key figure in his personal formation who first communicated the Christian message to him “in dialect”.
 

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252851/why-catholics-and-orthodox-might-once-again-celebrate-easter-on-the-same-date

Why Catholics and Orthodox might once again celebrate Easter on the same date
By AC Wimmer
CNA Newsroom, Nov 18, 2022 / 07:30 am

In a move that could lead to Catholics and Orthodox celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ at the same time, the spiritual leader of the world’s Eastern Orthodox Christians has confirmed his support for finding a common date to celebrate Easter.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople told media that conversations are underway between Church representatives to come to an agreement, Zenit reported this week.

According to an earlier report by Vatican News, the patriarch supports such a common date to be set for the year 2025, which will mark the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicea.

Previously, Orthodox Archbishop Job Getcha of Telmessos also suggested that 2025 would be a good year to introduce a reform of the calendar.
 

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https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2022/11/vatican-prosecutors-reject-former-auditors-9-6-million-lawsuit

Vatican officials seek to hamstring former auditor’s $9.6 million lawsuit
By Elise Ann Allen
Nov 18, 2022

ROME – Just a week after the Vatican’s first auditor general and his deputy filed a $9.6 million lawsuit for wrongful dismissal, the Vatican’s legal system has seemingly sought to hamstring the claim by refusing to certify the plaintiffs’ chosen lawyer.

Speaking to journalists Nov. 17, Libero Milone, the Vatican’s first auditor general, who appointed in 2015 and fired in 2017 along with his deputy Ferruccio Panicco, said that a week after filing their suit, their lawyer had been rejected by officials in charge of certifying attorneys to appear before Vatican courts.

The request to initiate legal proceedings against the Vatican’s Secretariat of State was filed with the Vatican tribunal last Wednesday, Nov. 9, and made public a day later.

Milone said he met with the Vatican’s chief prosecutor Alessandro Diddi on Monday, Nov. 14, to discuss the case, and two days later he was informed that his lawyer, Romano Vaccarella, had not been authorized. Vaccarella is a veteran Italian jurist and a former judge on the country’s Constitutional Court, who’s also represented former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in numerous civil cases.

By rejecting Milone’s attorney, in effect the Vatican has made it harder for the lawsuit to proceed. Milone provided a copy of the letter of request submitted by Vaccarella to the relevant Vatican official with a handwritten note “not authorized” at the bottom.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-11/pope-appoints-religion-teacher-as-new-secretary-for-dlfl.html

Pope appoints religion teacher as new secretary for Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life
19 November 2022, 11:46

A 38-year-old husband and father of two, Gleison De Paula Souza has been appointed secretary for the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. Originally hailing from Brazil, Souza teaches high school in Puglia.
By Vatican News staff reporter

Originally from the state of Minas Geiras, in south-eastern Brazil, Gelison De Paula Souza’s journey has taken him to Puglia, in the ‘heel’ of Italy, and now to the Vatican: On Thursday, Pope Francis appointed Souza as Secretrary of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. Thirty-eight years old, married and father of two daughters, De Paula Souza teaches religion at a secondary school, the Liceo Scientifico e Linguistico Statale ‘A. Vallone,’ in Galatina in Puglia..
 

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Video, with English commentary, at the link...

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-11/pope-praises-work-of-italian-ngo-ensuring-health-care-in-africa.html
Pope praises work of Italian Catholic NGO ensuring healthcare in Africa
19 November 2022, 12:21

On Saturday Pope Francis meets Doctors with Africa CUAMM, an Italian Catholic non-government organization engaged in promoting healthcare in Africa, on the occasion of their annual meeting in Rome.
By Vatican News staff writer

Formerly known as the University College for Aspiring Missionary Doctors, CUAMM  was founded in 1950 and currently is present in seven African countries – Angola, Ethiopia, Mozambique, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Uganda working in partnership with African hospitals, nursing and midwifery schools and universities. Its projects and research focus on maternal, child and newborn health; infectious diseases; universal health coverage and equity; nutrition and chronic diseases.

Welcoming members of the association to the Vatican on Saturday morning, Pope Francis recalled the history of the group starting 70 years ago in Padua, Italy, when a hostel opened to host young African medical students. From that time, this outreach of sharing and service has expanded to the entire African continent by providing medical care, local training and promoting development.
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2022/november.index.html
Speeches 2022 November
To Participants in the Meeting promoted by Doctors with Africa (CUAMM) (19 November 2022)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-11/pope-urges-catholics-assyrian-christians-to-continue-on-journey.html

Pope urges Catholics, Assyrian Christians to continue on common journey
19 November 2022, 14:15

Pope Francis met Saturday morning with Mar Awa III, the head of the Assyrian Church of the East, urging members of the two Churches “to pray and work diligently in preparation for the much awaited day” when full unity is achieved.
By Christopher Wells

Pope Francis received Mar Awa III at the Vatican on Saturday morning – the first visit of the head of the Assyrian Church of the East since his election as Catholicos-Patriarch in September 2021.

The Assyrian Church of the East is an eastern Christian Church with historic roots in disputes over the Ecumenical Councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon.
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2022/november.index.html
Speeches 2022 November
To His Holiness Mar Awa III Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East (19 November 2022)

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Video and photo gallery at the link...

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-11/the-pope-arrives-in-piedmont-where-his-roots-lie.html
The Pope arrives in Piedmont where his roots lie
19 November 2022, 16:27

Pope Francis begins his two-day visit to the Italian city of Asti, his family hometown in the Piedmont Region, for a private family celebration, and where he is expected to celebrate public Mass on Sunday for the diocesan community.
By Vatican News staff reporter

The Northern Italian Region of Piedmont embraces Pope Francis, who is dedicating the first day of his visit to his parents’ hometown, revisiting his family origins, and meeting up with his relatives. These include his cousins Carla Rabezzana, who lives in Portacomaro, in the province of Asti and just turned ninety,  Delia Gai, living in the hamlet of Tigliole, and Nella Bergoglio, who  shares with him her great-great-grandfather Giuseppe.

Nella had an epistolary contact with then Jorge Bergoglio before his election to the papacy. Then, on Christmas Day 2021, there was a phone call. When she heard a voice saying “It's Pope Francis”, at first she didn’t believe him.  Then, “When I realized it was really him I got emotional, I cried, I was overwhelmed, and I don't remember what we said to each other".
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2022-11/german-bishops-discuss-synodal-path-with-the-curia.html

German bishops discuss Synodal Path with the Curia
19 November 2022, 11:04

German Bishops gathered in Rome for their “ad Limina visit” meet with the heads of the Vatican's dicasteries to discuss the ongoing German Synodal Path.
By Vatican news staff reporter

The German Bishops were in Rome this week for their “ad limina visit” and met with Pope Francis on Thursday.  

As they concluded their visit, on Friday, the bishops attended a meeting with the Heads of some Dicasteries of the Roman Curia at the Augustinianum Institute in Rome to reflect together on the ongoing German Synodal Path.

This process, was convened in 2019, before the worldwide convocation of the 2021-2024 Synod on Synodality, to discuss proposals for change in the Catholic Church in response to sexual abuse crisis in the German Church.
 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252842/german-bishops-meet-with-pope-francis-at-the-vatican-amid-concern-over-synodal-way
German bishops meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican amid concern over Synodal Way
By AC Wimmer
CNA Newsroom, Nov 17, 2022 / 07:52 am

https://www.dbk.de/fileadmin/redaktion/diverse_downloads/presse_2022/2022-186a-engl-Bi.Baetzing-marking-the-end-of-the-German-bishops-ad-Limina-visit.pdf
Statement
of the President of the German Bishops’ Conference,
Bishop Dr Georg Bätzing,
at the press conference
marking the end of the German bishops’ ad Limina visit
Rome, 19 November 2022

---Edited to add article below:

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-europe/2022/11/vatican-urges-moratorium-on-german-church-reform-process
Vatican urges ‘moratorium’ on German church reform process
By Elise Ann Allen
Nov 19, 2022

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252860/verdict-in-cardinal-zen-s-trial-expected-on-friday

Verdict in Cardinal Zen’s trial expected on Friday
By Courtney Mares
Rome Newsroom, Nov 19, 2022 / 05:10 am

Days after Cardinal Joseph Zen’s defense lawyer made his closing arguments in the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court, one of the pro-democracy advocates on trial with Zen was arrested under Hong Kong’s national security law.

Sze Ching-wee, the former secretary of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, was arrested at the Hong Kong airport on Nov. 5.

Police told the Hong Kong Free Press that Sze was suspected of conspiring “to collude with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security.”

Sze has been on trial with the 90-year-old former bishop of Hong Kong and four other trustees of the pro-democracy 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund.

The verdict in the trial is expected to be handed down on Nov. 25.