The Pope has Spoken, but Will World Leaders Act?
As the head of the Christian church and the leader of the largest ongoing historical institution today — with 1.6 billion people — it is indisputable that Pope Francis is in a position of tremendous power and influence. And influential
The Upcoming Amazon Synod: Why We Should All Cheer
updated 7 October 2019 Sunday, 6 October, the Amazon Special Synod will begin in Vatican City. It promises to be something destined to remain in History, not only in that of the church. More than 180 clergy members among bishops and cardinals
Pope Francis under Attack: Accused of Sexual Abuse Cover-up
Allegations of sexual abuse cover-up have lately become the weapon of choice to attack the Catholic Church and Pope Francis. The problem with this weapon is that it too often relies on largely unfounded assumptions, of the “he says, she
Migration, Conflicts and Climate Change: A New Turn?
World Food Day held yesterday at UN-FAO headquarters in Rome was full of surprises. An event organized since 1979 by FAO every year on October 16 to celebrate the founding of the organization in 1945, World Food Day is the occasion
The Trump Effect: The Truth About the Pope and the Order of Malta
The media has recently reported some eye-popping news about the Pope and the Order of Malta allegedly engaged in a power struggle, with the Grand Master of the Order losing the battle and “forced” to resign. What we have here is
Zika Virus Highlights Flaws in Public Health Approaches in the Americas – Part 2
How has the International community responded, what are possible solutions, and how does this affect reproductive and women's rights in Brazil? In part 1, we covered the basic tenets of Zika, its history, modes of transmission, and the forms of testing and treatment
Like the Pope, Climate Change Will Not Be Ignored
Though Pope Francis had speaking engagements and meetings in the United States commercial capital of New York City and its political capital, Washington, DC, in September, the pontiff chose to hold his only outdoor mass in the nation’s first capital,
Coming Together on Climate Change
The upcoming Climate Change Conference in Paris may surprise us yet. Chances are suddenly better that it could achieve the kind of global consensus that has eluded the international community over the past several decades, ever since scientists first drew attention