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...

VATICAN CORNER Historically, the Catholic Church has observed the disciplines of fasting and abstinence at various times each year. Fasting is the reduction in the intake of food, while abstinence is the refraining from a particular food, like meat. The Church teaches...

VATICAN CORNER Sexual abuse survivor Marie Collins of Ireland, resigned March 1, 2017 from her position on Pope Francis’ Commission for the Protection of Minors. The Commission was set up to help improve measures within the Catholic Church to protect children against...

VATICAN CORNER Pope Francis spoke to 140 leaders at the assembly of the Superior Generals of male religious organizations and congregations, on November 25, 2016. The text of that conversation was published Feb. 9, 2017. In an unscripted question and answer session...

VATICAN CORNER Continued…Pope Francis saw first-hand the mafia side of the Order of the Knights of Malta when in 2008 senior Knights made a failed attempt to remove him as Archbishop of Buenos Aires and replace him with a bishop who was the Knight’s chaplain in...