All articles tagged with #catholic community
Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago-born pope, delivered his first address to an American audience at Rate Field, celebrating his papacy with a large crowd and emphasizing themes of peace, unity, and community, while also addressing immigration issues and inspiring local Catholics.
The Archdiocese of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City condemned the "scandalous" and "sacrilegious" behavior at the funeral of transgender activist Cecilia Gentili, expressing outrage over the focus on transgender rights and access to gender-affirming health care. The funeral, which drew over 1,000 people, included a video eulogy referring to Gentili as the "Mother of all W-----," sparking outrage from the Catholic community. The Manhattan archdiocese stated that the Cathedral did not know the funeral's details when agreeing to host it and has since initiated a "Mass of Reparation" in response.
On the 78th anniversary of the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, it is revealed that two-thirds of the city's Catholic community, which had a rich history of Christian martyrs, were killed in the conflagration. Nagasaki, an important center of Catholicism in Japan since the 16th century, had a population of about 240,000 at the time of the bombing. The bomb, named "Fat Man," caused devastating destruction and immediately killed around 75,000 people, with a similar number dying from radiation injuries and illnesses in the days that followed. The choice of Nagasaki as the target raises questions about why the city with the most widespread and affirmed Catholicism in Japan was selected for the second atomic attack.
The Vatican and Vietnam have announced an agreement allowing the Vatican to have a permanent resident papal representative in Vietnam, marking an improvement in relations between the two. This move is considered an intermediary step in diplomatic relations and is seen as a bridge to advance relations between Vietnam and the Holy See. The Catholic community in Vietnam, which makes up about 7.5% of the population, has faced limitations and harassment under the communist regime. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has recommended that Vietnam be designated a "country of particular concern" due to worsening religious freedom conditions.