A presentation of the exhibit “To the Heights of History. Matteo Ricci:
Between Rome and Peking” was held recently in the Vatican Press
Office.

The Jesuit Father Jose Funes, director of the Vatican Observatory,
explained that the Vatican is involved in astrobiology because, although it
is "an emerging field and still a developing subject, the question of
life’s origin and of whether life exists elsewhere in the universe are
very interesting and deserve serious consideration.

A blogger who was defending the Church against the state media’s
distortions of Pope Benedict XVI’s June speech to Vietnamese bishops
was arrested recently.

The Pontiff’s poignant message was the latest in his work to raise
awareness of nature, which has led some to name him “the Green
Pope.”

The Pope described the US as “a cohesive yet pluralistic society.” He
recalled that during his visit to America last year he had paid tribute to
“a vibrant democracy, committed to the service of the common good and
shaped by a vision of equality and equal opportunity based on the
God-given dignity and freedom of each human being.”

Born in Lycia in Asia Minor around the late third or fourth century, St. Nicholas of Myra is more than just the inspiration for the modern day Santa.

Benedict XVI is encouraging media professionals to take up the challenge to use the new technologies of the digital age to spread the word of God, while keeping the content unaltered.

The 100-foot tree is a 100 years
old. The tree was to be felled,
to allow the growth of other
nearby trees and plants. The tree
will be decorated in Vatican
colors—gold and white.

Commemorating the 20th anniversary of the fell of the Berlin Wall,
Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, remarked
that the historical event was possible “thanks to Pope John Paul II
and the contributions of many Christians” on the continent.

We are all called to exercise
responsible stewardship of
creation, to use resources in such
a way that every individual and
community can live with dignity,
and to develop “that covenant
between human beings and the
environment, which should mirror
the creative love of God.”