Tag: Catholic Church

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Cardinal Pietro Parolin to Visit Kuwait for Historic Proclamation of Our Lady of Arabia as Minor Basilica

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and the Holy See’s highest-ranking diplomatic representative, will undertake an official visit to Kuwait from January 14 to 16, 2026, as announced by the Vatican’s embassy. The visit forms part of the celebrations marking a historic moment for the Catholic Church in the Gulf—the proclamation of the Parish Church of Our Lady of Arabia in Ahmadi as a Minor Basilica.

Cardinal Parolin will preside over the proclamation ceremony on Friday, January 16, 2026. The title of Minor Basilica is conferred by the Pope in recognition of a church’s historical, spiritual, and pastoral significance, and the elevation of Our Lady of Arabia holds exceptional importance as it becomes the first Minor Basilica in the Arabian Peninsula.

The Church of Our Lady of Arabia is widely regarded as the mother church of Kuwait. Its roots date back to 1948, when the first chapel was established to serve the growing Catholic community. The present church was constructed in 1957 as a gift from the Kuwait Oil Company and has since stood as a spiritual home for Catholics of diverse nationalities living and working in the region.

Over the decades, the church has played a central role in nurturing faith, fostering unity, and providing pastoral care in the Gulf. Its proclamation as a Minor Basilica marks not only a recognition of its legacy but also a powerful symbol of continuity, coexistence, and religious heritage in the Arabian Peninsula.

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98th Death Anniversary of Ven. Agnelo: Pilgrim of Hope

Tanisha Cardozo

The 98th death anniversary of Ven. Agnelo will be solemnly commemorated at Pilar, Goa, from 11th to 20th November 2025. Ven. Agnelo, a beacon of faith and hope, continues to inspire pilgrims from across India and abroad.

This year’s theme, “Ven. Agnelo inspires us to be pilgrims of Hope,” reflects the spirit of devotion and service that marked his life and ministry.

Daily Masses will be celebrated in the morning at 5:30, 6:45, 8:00, 9:15, and 10:30, and in the evening at 4:00, 5:15, and 6:15. The solemn Mass on 20th November at 9:30 AM will be presided over by His Excellency Dominic Savio Fernandes, Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay.

The novena, held from 11th to 19th November, will be dedicated each day to special intentions such as peace in the world, migrants and refugees, youth, children, priests and religious, families, the environment, the sick, and missionaries.

Highlights of the commemoration include a Night Vigil on 14th November from 9:30 PM to 5:00 AM, multilingual Masses on 16th November in Tamil, Hindi, and Malayalam, and a Mass for the sick on 18th November at 10:30 AM. Spiritual gatherings, confessions, counseling, and a campaign of prayers for Ven. Agnelo’s canonization will also be part of the observances.

Every Mass will be followed by novena prayers and blessings over the sick. The event draws thousands of devotees each year, a testimony to Ven. Agnelo’s enduring influence as a man of deep faith, humility, and service. His legacy continues to guide all who visit Pilar to live as true pilgrims of hope.

Watch the Mass on Allycaral at 9:15 AM.

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Pope Leo XIV Turns 70: Balancing Tradition and Change in the Vatican

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On Sunday, September 14, Pope Leo XIV celebrates his 70th birthday. Though he is a relative newcomer to the papal role, with only 132 days in office, his leadership has already sparked debate across the Catholic world.

Observers note that Leo differs from his predecessor, Pope Francis (2013–2025), in both style and approach. In August, he took extended retreats at Castel Gandolfo — a papal summer residence Francis avoided. His use of the ornate papal stole, a vestment rich with symbolism, has reinforced a more traditional image, drawing comparisons to Benedict XVI.

Leo is also preparing to move into the Apostolic Palace, the Vatican’s historic residence overlooking St. Peter’s Square, vacant since 2013 and extensively renovated for his arrival.

At the same time, Leo projects vitality and relatability. Stories from his former fitness trainer highlight his enthusiasm for sports, tennis, and his passion for the Chicago White Sox. Catholic theologian Benjamin Dahlke describes him as a “highly professional” leader, deliberate in speech and decision-making, much like an experienced executive.

While his appointment of bishops suggests a conservative leaning, Pope Leo has also shown openness to dialogue. He has voiced support for synodal processes that involve lay participation and even welcomed Fr. James Martin, SJ, a prominent LGBTQ+ Catholic pastor, to a private audience.

For many, it remains too early to predict the defining direction of Leo’s papacy. Yet his blend of tradition and openness hints at a leadership style both deeply rooted in heritage and attuned to the challenges of the modern Church.

As Pope Leo XIV turns 70, the Catholic world watches with keen interest to see how he will shape the future of the Church.

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Pope Leo XIV Canonizes Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati Together in Historic Ceremony

Tanisha Cardozo

Pope Leo XIV presided over his first Ordinary Public Consistory on Friday morning, where he formally confirmed the canonizations of eight Blesseds. Among them were Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati, two widely beloved figures whose lives—though lived in different centuries—embodied a vibrant, youthful witness to faith.

Originally, Acutis was scheduled to be canonized during the Jubilee of Teenagers on April 27, while Frassati’s canonization was planned for August 3, the close of the Jubilee for Youth. Both events were postponed following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, which left their canonization dates in question.

That uncertainty ended when Pope Leo XIV announced the decision to canonize both young men together on September 7. The celebration drew widespread global attention, especially from the young faithful who had long looked up to Acutis—the first saint of the twenty-first century—and Frassati, whose early 20th-century life of charity and activism had already earned him the nickname “The Man of the Beatitudes.”

The ceremony reflected the Church’s recognition of the enduring impact of youth saints who lived out their faith in both ordinary and extraordinary ways. Carlo Acutis, known for his devotion to the Eucharist and skill in using technology for evangelization, and Pier Giorgio Frassati, celebrated for his joyful service to the poor and political engagement grounded in Gospel values, now stand together as saints for a new generation.

Pope Leo XIV also announced that seven more Blesseds would be canonized in October. Among them are Archbishop Ignatius Shoukrallah Maloyan, martyred during the Armenian Genocide in 1915, and Peter To Rot, a lay catechist from Papua New Guinea who was executed in 1945 for continuing Christian ministry under Japanese occupation. To Rot will become the first saint from Papua New Guinea.

Other future saints include Vincenza Maria Poloni, founder of the Sisters of Mercy of Verona; Maria del Monte Carmelo Rendiles, founder of the Servants of Jesus in Venezuela; and Maria Troncatti, a missionary with the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians.

Two laymen were also approved for canonization: Bartolo Longo, a former Satanist who became a devout Catholic and established the Marian Shrine at Pompeii, and Dr. José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros, a Venezuelan physician known for his generous service to the poor.

Together, these canonizations reflect Pope Leo XIV’s commitment to honoring a wide range of vocations and testimonies of faith—across eras, cultures, and walks of life.

Human Interest

Pope Leo Signs BMW Motorcycle for Charity Auction Benefiting Children in Madagascar

Tanisha Cardozo

In a rare and symbolic moment outside St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo signed a BMW motorcycle following his weekly General Audience — an act that quickly caught global attention not just for its visual spectacle, but for its purpose. The motorcycle is set to go under the hammer at Sotheby’s in Munich, with all proceeds directed toward funding a school in Madagascar for children who have been forced to work in mica mines.

The initiative is being led by Missio Austria, part of the Pontifical Mission Societies, and highlights the Catholic Church’s growing role in calling attention to child labor and systemic poverty in overlooked parts of the world. According to Missio Austria’s communications team, the funds will directly support education and safety for children in Madagascar — one of the world’s poorest nations and a major source of mica, a mineral often extracted by children in hazardous conditions.

By linking the auction to a high-profile event in Vatican City, and combining it with the universally recognized figure of the Pope, the campaign intends to raise both awareness and meaningful funding. It also exemplifies how symbolic gestures — like signing a motorcycle — can be transformed into real-world action, helping address some of the most urgent humanitarian crises of our time.

This isn’t the first time the Vatican has used high-value auctions as tools for charity, but it is one of the more visually arresting ones, combining sleek design, papal authority, and global philanthropy in one unified gesture.

The Sotheby’s auction is expected to attract collectors and benefactors alike, with hopes that the motorcycle — now carrying the signature of the Pope himself — will bring in significant contributions toward a future where children in Madagascar can trade the mines for classrooms.