Vatican representative at UN pleads for end to Syria 'bloodbath' http://t.co/SnkqKGrTlx

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  EGYPT: Coptic Catholic Patriarch Sidrak: the Encounter between Pope Francis and Tawadros II Helps Rediscover Unity in Baptism

  CAIRO, May 15, 2013 (CISA) -”The meeting between the Pope Francis and Pope Tawadros II caused joy especially among the very simple people. Now there is hope that the path on the way of unity can move forward with concrete and challenging steps.” said His Beatitude Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak, Patriarch of Alexandria of the Catholic Copts, outlining the hopes in the Egyptian Catholic community from the recent meeting between the Bishop of Rome and the Coptic Orthodoz Patriarch. According to His Beatitude Sidrak, “the very fact of sharing the same residence in the Domus Sanctae Marthae allowed Francis and Tawadros…

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  VATICAN: Pope Canonizes Hundreds of Italian Martyrs

  VATICAN CITY, May 15, 2013 (CISA) -Pope Francis on Sunday May 12 canonized hundreds of fifteenth century Italian martyrs who died rather than renounce their Christian faith. “The martyrs’ faithfulness even unto death and the proclamation of the Gospel are rooted in the love of God that has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,” said Pope Francis during the May 12 canonization Mass at the Vatican. He saw in their lives an inspiration for victims of persecution today. “Let us ask God to sustain those many Christians who, in these times and in many parts of the…

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  SOMALIA: IOM Helps Stranded Kenyan Seamen Return Home

  BOSASO, May 15, 2013 (CISA) -Six Kenyan seamen abandoned by their employer in Bosaso, Puntland, Somalia in November 2012 will return home to Kenya on Wednesday May15 with help from Onternational Organization for Migration (IOM). The fishermen, who were part of a Kenyan crew of ten aboard a fishing vessel the “F/V Royce I” left the port of Mombasa for what was to be a ten-day fishing expedition in the Indian Ocean and initially docked at the Somali port of Kismayo. The ship then sailed on to the Somali capital Mogadishu, where the captain for unspecified reasons abandoned the ship…

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  NIGERIA: Bishop Faults Government in Rise of Boko Haram

  LONDON, May 15, 2013 (CISA) -A bishop from northern Nigeria says President Goodluck Jonathan’s government is reluctant to fight the Boko Haram terrorist threat for fear of losing crucial votes in the upcoming elections. Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza of Yola accused the government of lacking the will to crackdown on Boko Haram and other militant groups wreaking havoc across the country, Aid to the Church in Need reported. The bishop said Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan’s regime was fearful of upsetting voters sympathetic to extremists. Speaking in an interview with the Catholic charity, Bishop Dami Mamza said that a state of…

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  KENYA: Use Media to Promote Family Values, urges Bishop

  NAIROBI, May 15, 2013 (CISA) -The Rt Rev Martin Kuvuva, the Bishop of Machakos Diocese and current Chairman of the Bishops’ Commission for Social Communications has urged Catholic journalists to assist the Church promote family values through the various media outlets. “More articles in print media and programs on Radio on families should be carried out. Our journalists in both print and electronic media should take upon themselves the question of promoting family values,” said Bishop Kivuva. The Bishop observed that the family was today faced with various threats that he said called for effective intervention by institutions, the Church…

• EGYPT: Coptic Catholic Patriarch Sidrak: the Encounter between Pope Francis and Tawadros II Helps Rediscover Unity in Baptism

• VATICAN: Pope Canonizes Hundreds of Italian Martyrs

• SOMALIA: IOM Helps Stranded Kenyan Seamen Return Home

• NIGERIA: Bishop Faults Government in Rise of Boko Haram

• KENYA: Use Media to Promote Family Values, urges Bishop