Episode Details

On this weeks podcast we take a spin around the world with various news items that caught our eye in the news over the last few weeks.

We have our regular run through the liturgical odds and ends for the coming week and of course a reflection on the Sunday gospel which this week is from Mark 8:27-35 which is Mark's account of the confession of faith from St Peter but also Jesus setting out what it means to be a follower of him.

News Round-up

• Popes visit to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Singapore (Vatican News)
• Shroud of Turin dates from time of Christ, scientists reveal (Catholic Herald)
• Sr. Wilhelmina’s body ‘lacks any features of decomposition,’ experts conclude (The Pillar)
• St. Teresa of Ávila’s Body Remains Incorrupt After Almost 5 Centuries (NCR)
• Pope Francis Makes Surprise Visit to St. Monica’s Tomb in Rome (NCR)
• Byzantine New Year on 1 September
• Ukraine new law on religious associations 
  • Breaking with Ukraine Catholics, Pope rejects ban on Russian-backed church (Crux)
  • WCC urges caution with new law passed by Ukrainian Rada
  • Pope Francis Sides with Moscow in Ukraine’s Clash of the Patriarchs (NCR - Commentary)
• Nicaragua’s Ortega aims to ‘financially suffocate’ the Church – critics (Irish Catholic)
• Nicaragua forces 1,500 church and civil society groups to close (CNN)
• Nicaraguan dictatorship shuts down more nonprofit Catholic organizations, evangelical churches (CNA)
• Devastating attack on church in France renews concerns over security in places of worship (CNA) 
• Pope writes letter on how literature educates the heart and mind (Vatican News)