Holy ravioli

Pope Francis Pope Francis Religious leaders reassure faithful over Johnson & Johnson vaccine Biden can build on Pope Francis's visit to Iraq Bishops discourage Catholics from receiving Johnson & Johnson vaccine if alternatives available MORE is set to make history as he embarks on an apostolic journey to Iraq. The focus of his visit, entitled “ You are all brothers and sisters ,” signifies a clear objective of reconciliation between Iraqis. The nation since 2003 has been defined by Sunni-Shia conflict over domestic politics and finds itself struggling to recover after the genocide that ISIS committed against Christians, Yazidis, Shia Turkmen and Shabaks. The situation for these communities is particularly dire. Iraqi Christians numbered more than 1.5 million before the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 and, by 2017, their numbers had fallen to fewer than 250,000 because of sectarianism and genocide. It was a little over five years ago when ISIS targeted … [Read more...] about Biden can build on Pope Francis’s visit to Iraq

Some religious leaders are speaking out in favor of Catholics receiving the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops discouraged its use when possible earlier this week . "We should oppose authorizing or funding research rooted in the taking of innocent human life," Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, told NPR . That does not mean, though, "that people must shun medical treatments that can save lives because they were discovered through means of which we would not necessarily approve," he added. ADVERTISEMENT The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has sparked debate among some religious communities because it was developed from stem cells obtained during two abortions decades ago. For these reasons, the bishops encouraged Catholics to receive the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines instead when possible. However, due to limited vaccine supplies that are distributed … [Read more...] about Religious leaders reassure faithful over Johnson & Johnson vaccine

ROME - Pope Francis begins a long-desired trip to Iraq Friday, the first to the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham by any head of the Catholic Church. It is the first trip by Pope Francis to a foreign country since the pandemic, and everyone on the papal plane has been vaccinated against COVID-19. It will be a challenge all the same, though, as cases in the country have surged and there are fears that those hoping to see the pope will forget the social distancing rules. The Vatican’s ambassador to Iraq, Archbishop Mitja Leskovar, recently tested positive for COVID and is currently self-isolating, but the pope has insisted on going ahead with the visit. In a video message to the Iraqi people, Francis told them how he longed to meet them, see their faces and visit a land that is ancient and an extraordinary cradle of civilization. The pope said he was coming to Iraq as a “penitent pilgrim” to implore forgiveness and reconciliation after years of war and terrorism. My dear … [Read more...] about Pope Francis Lands in Baghdad, Marking First-ever Papal Visit to Iraq