VATICAN CORNER Under Pope Francis, more than ever before, the Vatican has adopted an open door policy regarding politicians, rock stars and famous people who want to meet with him, regardless of their history or personal religious beliefs. An example is the 2016...

VATICAN CORNER continued … After her meeting with Pope Francis, Melania Trump went on to the Bambino Gesú children’s hospital in Rome, a Vaticanaffiliated hospital where she met with children patients, prayed in the hospital chapel and laid flowers at the feet of a...

VATICAN CORNER On his first foreign trip as president, Donald Trump met with Pope Francis at a private audience at the Vatican on May 24, 2017. Trump’s stop at the Vatican was one of many on his trip which included Saudi Arabia, Jerusalem and Bethlehem. There were...

VATICAN CORNER On May 12, 2017 Pope Francis traveled to Fátima, Portugal, 90 miles north of Lisbon, to canonize two Portuguese shepherd children during a Mass celebrating 100 years since the children and their cousin saw the Virgin Mary there. The children, Jacinta...

VATICAN CORNER continued …The Swiss have historically been famous for mercenary soldiers. Switzerland was a poor country and its young men often sought their fortunes in other countries. The Swiss soldier had a reputation for discipline and loyalty, and they were...

VATICAN CORNER At the Vatican on May 6, 2017, Pope Francis and the president of Switzerland, Doris Leuthard, held a cordial discussion on such subjects as: the reception of migrants, youth employment, terrorism, environmental protection and the fate of Europe. Their...

  VATICAN CORNER On April 28th & 29th, 2017, the 80 year-old Pope Francis made a brief visit to Egypt. The main theme of the visit was to promote tolerance, peace and dialogue between Christians and Muslims in the Arab world’s largest country. It was nearly...

VATICAN CORNER How many Vatican worker does it take to change a light bulb? Well, in St. Peter’s Cathedral it takes 4, because the chandeliers have to be lowered a distance of 33 floors. Behind the scenes at the Vatican there is a small army of workers performing the...

VATICAN CORNER In Chapter 27 of the Gospel of Matthew, an earthquake is described that shook Jerusalem on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. Matthew 27:50-54 reads: “Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple...

VATICAN CORNER Bell ringing during Mass helps to focus the attention of the faithful on the miracle that is taking place on the altar of sacrifice. It highlights the consecration and presentation of the Eucharist and it creates a joyful noise to the Lord. But ringing...

VATICAN CORNER Continued…Sometimes living things get classified not according to their biology, but instead get classified for convenience or for financial reasons. An example is the tomato, which grows from a flowering plant and contains seeds, which makes it by...

VATICAN CORNER The week of March 26th, 2017 saw some startling news stories come out of the Vatican. According to a Vatican spokesman, the idea of constructing a 600 foot diameter Ferris wheel in St. Peter’s Square is being seriously considered. Its purpose will be to...