The entry into force of the new Norms for discerning alleged supernatural phenomena has allowed a new “green light” from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, this time with regard to spiritual experiences at the Shrine of Maccio in Villa Guardia, near Como in northern Italy. In 2000, Gioacchino Genovese, a music teacher and choir director, married and the father of two daughters, began to perceive through “intellectual visions,” a “living presence of the mystery of the Holy Trinity.” A serious, discreet person who never sought the limelight, five years later he invited more people to b ..read more

Kenya’s President William Ruto has nominated key allies of main opposition leader Raila Odinga to his cabinet, in the latest move to quell growing dissatisfaction with his government. He gave four posts to the opposition – including the powerful finance and energy ministries. This is the first time the opposition will serve in government since Mr Odinga took up the post of prime minister in then-President Mwai Kibaki’s cabinet in 2008. Mr Ruto’s decision comes as he faces the biggest crisis of his presidency, with young people taking to the streets to demand his resignation under the hashtag ..read more

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the Pro-Prefect for the Section of First Evangelization of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization, and Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, are calling for a rekindling of missionary spirit to help those faithful around the world who are really in need. During the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana, on July 20th, at a special reception, the Cardinals presented the materials that will be used this year in most Dioceses of the United States to promote the 98th World Mission Sunday on October 20. Pope Fran ..read more

Dozens of people have been detained in the Ugandan capital Kampala after joining scattered anti-corruption protests in defiance of an official ban. Lawyers said around 60 people, including a prominent TV presenter and three young protest leaders, were hurriedly brought before courts and remanded in custody following a march on the country’s parliament on Tuesday. President Yoweri Museven, who has ruled Uganda for almost four decades, had warned before the event that protesters were “playing with fire”. The march was organised on social media amid anger over long-running allegations of corrupti ..read more

After being under various forms of house arrest since August 2022, the bishop of Matagalpa, Nicaragua, Rolando Álvarez, was sentenced to 26 years in prison on Feb. 10, 2023, charged with being a “traitor to the homeland” by the dictatorship of President Daniel Ortega. In a deal with the Vatican, Álvarez was released from prison almost a year later and exiled to Rome on Jan. 14. Now for the first time since Alvarez was exiled and while he is still the shepherd of his flock, one priest and seven deacons were ordained in his absence by the president of the Nicaraguan Bishops’ Conference and ..read more

The recent wave of the deaths of dozens of people in Kenya, as police cracked down on protests countrywide, began with the shooting of 30-year-old Rex Masai. The killings have further eroded what little trust there was in the police to maintain order. And as a new series of protests is about to begin, there are concerns over how the security forces will respond. 20 June saw the second day of demonstrations against a finance bill that was going to raise new taxes. The previous day of action had been without major incidents, but as sun set on that Thursday something changed in the heart of the c ..read more

Pope Francis on Sunday expressed his hope that the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games provide the opportunity for warring nations to respect an ancient Greek tradition and establish a truce for the duration of the Games. “According to ancient tradition, may the Olympics be an opportunity to establish a truce in wars, demonstrating a sincere will for peace,” he said. “According to ancient tradition, may the Olympics be an opportunity to establish a truce in wars, demonstrating a sincere will for peace.” Pope Francis was speaking after the recitation of the Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square ..read more

Kenya’s embattled president has announced a plan to form a new “broad-based government” following weeks of deadly anti-government protests sparked by an unpopular tax bill. However, six of the 11 ministers President William Ruto proposed in Friday’s address were from the cabinet he sacked just last week. When dismissing that cabinet, Mr Ruto had said the move came after “reflection and listening to Kenyans”. On Friday, he said the “crisis” Kenya was experiencing was lesser than the “opportunity” before the country. The demonstrations, in which more than 40 people died, began as a response to t ..read more

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has warned protesters that they will be “playing with fire” if they press ahead with plans to stage an anti-corruption march to parliament on Tuesday. Young Ugandans have been organising the march on social media to demand an end to corruption in government. They have been partly inspired by their counterparts in neighbouring Kenya, who organised mass demonstrations that forced President William Ruto to drop plans to increase taxes. The protests have since morphed into calls for his resignation. In a televised address, Mr Museveni warned the Ugandan organiser ..read more

A key supply route into Sudan’s Darfur region, deemed at risk of famine by experts, has been cut off due to heavy rains, a World Food Programme official said on Thursday while another U.N. official said refugees had been driven to eating grass. WFP’s Country Director Eddie Rowe told Reuters thousands of tons of aid are stranded at the Tina crossing on the Chad border, prompting the body to reopen talks with the army-aligned government to open an alternative, all-weather crossing further south called Adre. Speaking after indirect humanitarian talks taking place in Geneva this week, a member of ..read more