Good News•Vatican City

Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican Becomes a Minecraft Game Thanks to Microsoft

“Peter Is Here: AI for Cultural Heritage” gives life to the patrimony of Saint Peter’s Basilica, immersing one in the interactive virtual world of Minecraft through the block game. The adventure begins by introducing the player in the Tomb of St. Peter, with archaeological research carried out in the 20th century.

Mar 25, 2025 06:29

Rafael Llanes

Local Church•Persecuted Christians•Religious Freedom

Chinese Bishop Is Arrested for Celebrating Mass, Marking the Beginning of the Jubilee Year, Without the Permission of the Communist Government

The Authorities fined Monsignor Shao because the Mass he celebrated was illegal, according to article 71 of the Regulations on Religious Affairs, which represented “a serious crime.”

Mar 19, 2025 06:48

Rafael Llanes

Local Church

Which Catholic Church in the World Has the Highest Tower? It’s European and It’s One of the Youngest

The Expiatory Church of the Holy Family is a Basilica designed by Antoni Gaudi, greatest exponent of modernist architecture in Spain.

Mar 14, 2025 19:28

Rafael Llanes

Pro Life

Four Thousand Cases of Euthanasia Per Year in Belgium

Comparing death by euthanasia with other causes, in 2020 2,111 individuals died by suicide and 2,587 from breast cancer of the 126,850 deaths in the whole country: 2,445 cases of euthanasia is a higher figure, which expresses a disproportionate use of the law, because access is available to a procedure that initially was thought to be reserved for extreme cases.

Mar 09, 2025 06:22

Rafael Llanes

Analysis Opinion•Pope Francis•Vatican Diplomacy

World Leaders of the Left and Right Pronounce Themselves on Pope’s Health

Some have reacted with a good disposition regarding the person of the Pontiff. Others have taken advantage of the situation to support their own lines of government. Some have remained silent. To observe the accents of their statements and the omission of reference to faith serves to detect the interested or sincere use of each politician in regard to the Pope’s health.

Mar 06, 2025 20:25

Rafael Llanes

Analysis Opinion•Cardinals and Bishops•Pope Francis

Is There a Pre-Conclave Atmosphere in the Vatican? Cardinals From Around the World Break the Silence Given the Pope’s Health

Individuals closest to Pope Francis give a close look at the situation, offering different focuses given the speculations about a possible Conclave to elect a new Pontiff and about the Holy Father’s renunciation for reasons of health.

Mar 06, 2025 07:20

Rafael Llanes

Causes of Saints•Local Church

Is The Author of “The Lord of the Rings” a Saint? This Is the State of His Process of Canonization

In 2015, Father Daniele Ercoli of Turin, and English Catholic Associations asked Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham to begin the author’s Process of Canonization.

Mar 02, 2025 18:56

Rafael Llanes

Justice and Peace•Local Church

Catholic Parish Priest in Greenland Explains Reaction of Faithful to USA’s Possible Appropriation

Father Tomaž Majcen pointed out that ”Christians were not too bothered by Trump’s statement or, at least, it’s the sensation I had. The people I’ve talked to about the subject are not too worried, but they say that, while the Danish Government is with them, Greenlanders will be happy and peaceful.”

Feb 23, 2025 06:48

Rafael Llanes

Religious Freedom

Iraqi Man Burns The Koran and Is Shot Dead in Sweden

Sweden’s dominant culture puts freedom of expression above the aggression that exists when destroying publicly a sacred book. In many Islamic countries, the action of burning or trampling on the Koran entails the death penalty or life in prison.

Feb 13, 2025 18:17

Rafael Llanes

Good News•Local Church•Virgin Mary

Europe’s Largest Statue of Virgin Mary Will Be in Poland, Financed by One of the Country’s Richest Men

The construction of the statue has already begun and is expected to end in mid 2026.

Feb 08, 2025 22:19

Rafael Llanes

Local Church•Persecuted Christians

France, The Country Where More Churches Are Set On Fire

The causes of the fires vary. Investigations have shown the weight of the antiquity of the infrastructure. But why do fires not happen in other countries that have equally ancient churches, including the same materials? Negligence in the maintenance was noted, although this weakness seems more notorious in France, the country that receives the largest number of tourists worldwide.

Jan 29, 2025 09:41

Rafael Llanes

Local Church•Persecuted Christians

Pro-Russian Regime Sentences Catholic Priest to 11 Years in Prison

An additional ten priests were arrested in Byelorussia during 2023; three of them still remain detained, reported the Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need.

Jan 23, 2025 08:29

Rafael Llanes