Causes of Saints•Good News

Discovering the true face of St. Nicholas: Brazilian designer reconstructs Santa’s face

The reconstruction process relied on facial approximation techniques that use skeletal remains to infer physical features. This method, widely employed in forensic science, bridges the gap between archaeology and modern visualization.

Dec 19, 2024 11:41

ZENIT Staff

Analysis Opinion•Local Church

From Saddam to Assad, the collapse of regimes and the danger of an ‘Iraqisation’ in Syria

In an exclusive sit down with AsiaNews, Prof. Saad Salloum draws a parallel between the overthrow of the Rais in Iraq and the flight of the Syrian dictator. In both cases it took 13 years for their ouster to ‘drain’ the resources around the leader. Baghdad must ‘take tangible measures to ensure the recovery of the new Syria’ starting with the fight against drugs. Limit the role of Turkey and Iran, set up a reconstruction fund.

Dec 19, 2024 11:36

ZENIT Staff

Local Church•Testimonies

This is the priest (and the story) in which a miracle was worked that will make Pier Giorgio Frassati a saint

But this odd combination of circumstances would eventually prove providential, confounding medical authorities, changing the life of this anonymous seminarian, and forever tying him to another young man who had been dead for almost 100 years: Pier Giorgio Frassati, who in August will be declared a saint of the Catholic Church on account of the miracle of Juan Gutierrez’s ankle.

Dec 17, 2024 18:48

ZENIT Staff

Local Church•Religious Freedom

Cautious Hope Emerges Among Christians in Syria Amid Transition

Although ACN’s research indicates no evidence of systemic persecution against Christians, occasional reports of discrimination and religiously motivated aggression persist. These incidents serve as reminders of the precarious position of Syria’s Christian minority, even as the broader situation improves.

Dec 16, 2024 17:38

ZENIT Staff

Ecumenism•Pope Francis

Pope Francis Emphasizes Unity and Shared Mission During Meeting with Methodists

Pope to World Methodist Council delegation

Dec 16, 2024 17:36

ZENIT Staff

Pope Francis

Pope Francis in Ajaccio: A Meeting Between Spirituality and Dialogue in the Heart of The Mediterranean

The visit ended with a meeting between Pope Francis and French President Emmanuel Macron, marking a gesture of mutual respect between the Church and State. Before his departure, the Holy Father signed the Book of Honour of Ajaccio’s Municipal Council, leaving a message of peace and hope for the Corsican community.

Dec 15, 2024 06:56

ZENIT Staff

Pope Francis•Rome

The Pope’s Global Prayer Network has a new director: this is what the network looks like and does

An important part of the work of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network is the Pope’s Video, an innovative communication project launched in 2016. These videos, which feature the Holy Father himself, highlight a prayer intention every month. It is officially translated into 23 languages and adapted into at least 20 more, with a reach of over 22 million people globally.

Dec 13, 2024 13:54

ZENIT Staff

Good News•Testimonies•Vocations

The Papal Foundation Awards $800,000 in Scholarships to 110 Priests, Brothers, Sisters, and Lay Faithful

Since its founding, the program has provided nearly $14 million in scholarships to more than 1700 individuals, known as Saeman Scholars, to advance their education and prepare them to return home and serve in leadership positions in their own countries.

Dec 13, 2024 13:52

ZENIT Staff

Holy Land•Justice and Peace•Religious Freedom

Israel frees two young Christian women arbitrarily detained by Jewish regime

Administrative detention, a practice widely criticized by human rights organizations, allows imprisonment without trial or charges, often for indefinite periods. Advocates argue it infringes on fundamental rights and disproportionately affects Palestinians.

Dec 13, 2024 13:50

ZENIT Staff

Liturgy and Divine Worship

Questions about liturgy: Combining Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours

Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and sacramental theology and director of the Sacerdos Institute at the Pontifical Regina Apostolorum university.

Dec 12, 2024 17:31

ZENIT Staff

Cardinals and Bishops

New digital resource revolutionizes understanding of Church leadership ahead of eventual Conclave

The initiative responds to the evolving dynamics within the Sacred College under Pope Francis. Many newly appointed cardinals hail from “peripheral” regions and are less familiar to their peers. With fewer regular consistories and limited opportunities for in-person meetings, the cardinals often lack comprehensive insights into each other’s backgrounds and perspectives

Dec 12, 2024 17:20

ZENIT Staff

Holy Land•Pope Francis•Vatican Diplomacy

A Historic Icon and a Call for Peace: Pope Francis Meets Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

According to a statement from the Vatican Press Office, the dialogue emphasized the urgency of a ceasefire and the liberation of hostages in Gaza. Both parties reiterated their condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and stressed the necessity of dialogue and diplomacy to achieve a two-state solution

Dec 12, 2024 17:15

ZENIT Staff