Rafael Llanes, Author at ZENIT - English

Articles By Rafael Llanes

Asia’s Oldest Seminary Turns 360 Years: Where Is It?

The General Regional Seminary College, today known as Tinggi Katolik Seminary, was founded by the visionary Bishops Pierre Lambert de la Motte and François Pallu of the Paris Foreign Missions Society (MEP), initially with the humble name of St. Joseph Seminary.

Oct 19, 2025 06:41

Rafael Llanes

Good News•Local Church

80,000 People Attend Mass Every Sunday… in the Same Church. Of Which Country Are We Talking About?

Thirty Masses are celebrated on weekends in English, Arabic, French, Urdu, and Filipino.

Oct 09, 2025 17:25

Rafael Llanes

Ecumenism

First Divisions Appear in the Anglican Church After Appointment of First Woman as Leader

The appointment of Sarah Mullally has sparked great debate and division. Aged 63, married with two children, her election culminates a ten-year process that introduced female ordination into the Anglican Church, first with the priesthood (1992) and then with the episcopate (2014).

Oct 08, 2025 11:47

Rafael Llanes

Testimonies

Italian Priest Receives Bullet Wrapped in Handkerchief for Speaking Against the Mafia

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi spoke by phone with the priest, expressed solidarity, and confirmed increased protection measures for him.

Oct 02, 2025 06:37

Rafael Llanes

Local Church

The Towers of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris Reopen to the Public

The exemplary cooperation between institutions, architects, and artisans gives the restoration all the majesty of the Cathedral’s western massif and recalls the historical page of art and faith that bears witness to the French devotion to the Virgin, Mother of Jesus Christ.

Sep 29, 2025 06:39

Rafael Llanes

Homosexuality•Vatican City

LGBT Activist to Run Vatican’s New Laudato Si’ Restaurant

He will work with Phil Stefani of the Stefani Restaurant Group of Chicago. According to statements reported by LifeSiteNews, the chefs even underwent a culinary «audition» for Vatican officials before being confirmed for their positions.

Sep 24, 2025 18:44

Rafael Llanes

Testimonies

This Is the Catholic Priest Who Won the «Asian Nobel» Prize and Here’s the Reason for the Award

Father Flavio Villanueva’s Award was announced on August 31. The nomination underscores his ability to promote social change. Before him, the Dalai Lama received it in 1959 and Mother Teresa of Calcutta in 1962.

Sep 24, 2025 17:43

Rafael Llanes

Justice and Peace•Pope Francis

Pope Francis Denounced It, but the World Ignored Him: Global Spending on Nuclear Weapons Is Growing

Nine countries account for this spending: from historic powers like the United States, Russia, and the United Kingdom, to others that do not hide their nuclear ambitions, such as India, Pakistan, and North Korea.

Aug 10, 2025 23:34

Rafael Llanes

Holy Land•Religious Freedom

US Embassy in Israel Takes a Stand Against Israeli Measure Hindering Visas for Christian Groups

On July 21, the US Embassy in Israel said, in a post on X, that the case had been resolved, thanking the Minister of the Interior and Attorney Calev Myers, representing some 15 Christian groups in Israel, whose intervention «was decisive.»

Aug 04, 2025 18:03

Rafael Llanes

Holy Land•Justice and Peace

Ten Years After the Vatican’s Recognition of Palestine as a State, the UN Visits Catholic Parish in Gaza

On July 1, a United Nations delegation (specifically the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) visited the Holy Family parish, a Latin Rite Catholic church in Gaza, where hundreds of Catholic, Orthodox, and Muslim people are sheltered, displaced by the war.

Jul 23, 2025 20:19

Rafael Llanes

Analysis Opinion

Vatican Gives New Guidelines for Implementing Synodality: Now Under Pope Leo XIV

What will happen now with the arrival of Pope Leo? Sister Nathalie Becquart commented: «The plan approved by Pope Francis and confirmed by Pope Leo includes local, national, and continental assemblies, up to the Ecclesial Assembly in Rome.»

Jul 20, 2025 08:14

Rafael Llanes

Jubilee 2025•Rome•Vatican City

A Truly Inclusive Jubilee: Vatican Presents Inclusive Itinerary for the Holy Door

The inclusive signage routes for access to St. Peter’s Basilica begin in Piazza Risorgimento, Piazza Pia, and Piazza Sant’Uffizio, which are points near St. Peter’s Square where crowds of people gather on their way to the Vatican Basilica.

Jul 13, 2025 12:09

Rafael Llanes

Two movements of love explained by the Pope to religious: God who comes to save and man who awaits his coming

Homily of the Holy Father on the occasion of the 30th World Day of Consecrated Life

Taiwan’s president writes to Pope Leo XIV: ‘Taipei wants peace, human rights, and democracy’

The president of Taiwan wrote to the pontiff in response to the latter’s call for a «disarmed and disarming peace” in his message of 1 January. A century ago, Chiang Wei-shui promoted nonviolence in Taiwan. The island, the world’s largest semiconductor producer, shares the pontiff’s concern for growing use of artificial intelligence in armed conflicts.