Seventy two-year-old Archbishop of Guwahati of Salesian Order Thomas Menamparampil has been asked by Pope Benedict XVI to prepare the meditation prayers for Way of the Cross, which the Papal Head himself will lead on Good Friday on April 10 at the Roman Colosseum.
"AIDS cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems," he told media persons on March 17 while on his way to Cameroon.
Sikh leaders in the United States have declined an invitation to attend an inter-faith event during Pope Benedict's first visit to the country next month because they would not be allowed to carry their 'Kirpans' due to security reasons. The US Secret Service insisted that Sikh leaders attending the meeting with Pope Benedict XVI would have to come without the ceremonial daggers as required by their faith, The Washington Post reported.
Nearly 10,000 people, mostly Keralite Christians, are expected to participate in the canonisation of Sister Alphonsa in Vatican on October 12.
An "unbalanced woman" jumped the barriers in St Peter's Basilica and knocked down Pope Benedict XVI as he walked down the main aisle to begin Christmas Eve Mass, a Vatican spokesman said on Thursday.
The Hurriyat faction led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, supported by the Kashmir high court bar association, the Dukhtaran-e-Millat, traders and several other groups, gave the strike call.
His alias on Twitter is @OHHDL, which stands for 'The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama,' sent out a welcome note on Saturday.
In his maiden address to the 192-member General Assembly, the pontiff avoided reference to political issues, but concentrated on the need for inter-faith dialogue and human rights based on ethical values.
The Pope had made remarks while receiving India's envoy.
A Kerala bishop who raised a storm following his decision to adopt a 39-year old woman as his daughter has been suspended.
Sister Alphonsa has been conferred sainthood. Alphonsa from Bharanangnam near Kottayam in Kerala on Sunday became the first woman from India and second from Indian Roman Catholic church to get canonised.
Sister Alphonsa will become the first Indian woman to achieve the high spiritual position in the hall of fame and veneration of the Catholic Church. Hundreds of Keralite Christians from different parts of the world are expected to attend the event at the Vatican and share the jubilation.
'The particular circumstances that we have recently experienced together demonstrate clearly that, however arduous the path of authentic dialogue may be at times, it is more necessary than ever,' Cardinal Paul Poupard said in a message to Muslims.
Pope Benedict XVI said on Wednesday that he has "deep respect" for Islam.
"Muslims take their religion very seriously and non-Muslims must appreciate their religious sentiments, and must also understand that there may be serious consequences if you insult Islam and the Prophet."
The police picked up Masrat Alam, chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Muslim League, a constituent of the hard-line Hurriyat faction, from Srinagar's Shaheedgunj area.
The high profile visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the US is noted for the involvement of several Indian Americans as well as a protest in New York. People belonging to different faiths, excluding the Sikhs, will meet with him in an interfaith dialogue at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington DC, on Thursday evening. Several Indians are also invited to the White House reception to the Pope.
In a rare honour Dr Ravi Gupta, assistant professor of Religion at Center College in Kentucky, has been selected as one of the five young people representing different religions to meet with the Pope and to hand him a present symbolising Hinduism. Gupta will give the Pope an incense burner in the shape of the sacred Hindu symbol, Om.
Three churches in the United States were named after Sister Alphonsa before she would be declared a saint by Pope Benedict XVI on October 12 in Vatican.
This is the Pope's first visit to a predominantly Muslim nation.
Police, however, denied the knife attack on Iqbal had taken place.
The Pope had, in a recent pronouncement at St Peter's square in Vatican, spoken of St Thomas, the Apostle, seemingly taking away from him the traditional title 'Apostle of India'.
The present Pope, in a pronouncement at St Peter's Square in Vatican recently, spoke of St Thomas the apostle, seemingly taking away from him the traditional title 'Apostle of India'.
Pope Benedict would watch the most important matches of the World Cup, Franz Beckenbauer said after meeting the Pontiff
Pope Benedict said Iraq's celebration of its Asian Cup soccer victory was a sign of a people yearning for peace.
Mourners worldwide mark fourth anniversary of September 11 attacks
The Vatican defines matrimony as a divine union between man and woman.
St Mary's Malankara Catholic Church at Chungam has a plaque bearing the name of Joseph Ratzinger, Archbishop of Munich, for donating 20,000 Deutschmarks, which was about Rs 80,000 at that time, for building the church in 1980.
"We join with our fellow citizens and millions around the world who pray for continued strength and wisdom as His Holiness leads the Catholic Church," Pope said.
Hindu and Sikh leaders will share stage with Pope Francis during a prayer service in New York
The mass marked the high point of the first papal visit to the Arabian peninsula.
In his first speech after touching down in the city of Krakow, the pontiff said the way to "overcome fear" was to welcome people fleeing conflict and hardship.
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