“Reconciliation, difficult, but indispensable, is a precondition for a future of overall security and peaceful co-existence, and it can only be achieved through renewed, persevering and sincere efforts to resolve the Israeli- Palestinian conflict,” Pope Benedict said today in front of the loggia of

Taking up a symbolic wooden cross for the final stage of the walk, the pope said he prayed for "all those who suffer" in the Abruzzo region, wishing that "even for them the star of hope and the light of the risen Lord will appear."
Thousands of pilgrims holding glowing candles were on hand for the

"I wish to send these holy oils to our dear brother (L'Aquila Archbishop) Giuseppe Molinari, who because of the great damage caused by the earthquake cannot gather his faithful today," the pope said.
"May they accompany the time of rebirth and reconstruction, caring for the sick and sustaining hope

The Pakistan Christian Post has asked this question. I have seen the results on Pakistan Christian Post, 155 said yes, 46 say no and 2 said, “don’t know”. I appreciate the optimism and hopes of Pakistani Christians from the “Reinstated Chief Justice” of Pakistan. Unfortunately in the almost sixty t

Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 21:1-11 15:1-47,
Matthew 26: 14-27:66 (The Passion Gospel
Observe the Cross of Jesus
We begin this morning the most sacred week of the Christian year. Upon hearing of the accounts of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, and the so

From the well of the Turkish parliament, Obama warned "you cannot put out fire with flames," arguing that brute force alone could not thwart extremism as he sent a flurry of coded messages throughout the Middle East.
Obama drew on his own biography as the son of a believer as he sought to forge new

Upon hearing of the disaster, Pope Benedict sent a telegram to the local archbishop offering his prayers for the victims and expressing his solidarity.
Italy's largest earthquake since 1997 hit early on Monday morning leveling whole blocks of the 13th- century town L'Aquila as well as surrounding t

The footage, apparently from a mobile phone, shows two men pinning down a burka-clad woman by her feet and shoulders, while a bearded man in a turban flogs her 34 times with a whip as she screams in agony.
Chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has ordered her to be produced in court at a hearing

Iranian officials allege that Marzieh Amairizadeh Esmaeilabad and Maryam Rustampoor are 'anti-government activists.'
According to the Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN), Iranian security officials searched the apartment shared by the two women and confiscated their personal belongings before they

Jeremiah 31: 31-34, Psalm 51: 1-13, Hebrews 5: 5-10, John 12: 20-33
Glory of the Cross of Christ
Liturgical Note: (Formerly, this fifth Sunday in Lent was known as Passion Sunday. More recent liturgy assigns that name to the day that begins Holy Week. But the Scripture assigned for this day all

who allegedly sold of part of plot of Mission Hospital Peshawar for Commercial Plaza to one Muslim contractor. Bishop Ijaz Inayat was petitioner in said petition.
The properties of Church of Pakistan through out Pakistan are sold by clergy land mafia with support of Muslims which have caused unrest

They are the second and third added persons after Abdul Sattar Edhi of Pakistan given this title.
The title giving authority is “find hero” and international forum that acknowledges peace – makers – role models as HEROES. They are acknowledged for their demonstrated effective alternatives to viole

led by moderate Muslim PPP, ANP and JUI while a success of lawyers, religious political groups and radical Muslim elements from NWFP and Punjab. When Islamist groups opened front against government by hijacking lawyers movement at same time there was an other front launched by Tehreek Nafaz Shariat

Uzbekistan's Religious Affairs Committee claims Shestakov, an evangelical pastor affiliated with the registered Full Gospel Church, is not an authorized leader of any officially-recognized religious organization in Uzbekistan. They describe him as an "imposter" leading an underground group engaged i

and a vigorous and open discussion of a wide variety of candidates, according to a report issued today by The International Council on Security and Development (ICOS). ICOS field research has also revealed a remarkable absence of concern over the President’s ethnic background, and an openness to con