Vatican ViewPoint

As a Vatican delegation wraps up an official visit to war-torn Ukraine, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher is joined by the president of Caritas Ukraine to highlight the Church’s work to apply the balm of hope to the wounds of people suffering from Russia’s grinding invasion. Listen to our podcasts here: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/podcast.html

Saint Charles de Foucauld dreamed of founding a Catholic religious community to help in his mission to bring Jesus to the Tuareg people in Algeria. But he was murdered in 1916 before anyone joined him. Sister Claire Nicole explores whether the French saint’s life really was a failure, or if his radical desire to follow Christ left a mark on others. Listen to other Vatican Radio podcasts here: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/podcast.html

Catholic journalism—and journalism in general—is under threat from authoritarian regimes across the globe which try to put out their own version of the facts. St. Titus Brandsma offers a shining example of the duty of reporters to speak truth to power, even when facing the threat of death. Caroline Weijers, the Dutch Ambassador to the Holy See, explores her compatriot’s martyrdom in a Nazi death camp as a model of Catholic journalism, even for our own time. Listen to other Vatican Radio podcasts here: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/podcast.html

The Ukrainian town of Berehove on the border with Hungary is where families say farewell: the mothers and children driving to safety in Europe, the men of conscription age turning back to fight the Russian invasion. Barbara Piazza-Georgi sits down with Linda Bordoni to discuss how the Sovereign Order of Malta Hungary is present in Berehove offering solidarity, help and hope. Listen to other Vatican Radio podcasts here: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/podcast.html

During this past weekend, over 300 Missionaries of Mercy from around the world gathered in Rome to pray and reflect with Pope Francis on their ministry and celebrate together Divine Mercy Sunday in St. Peter's Basilica. The Pope then met with the Missionaries of Mercy the following morning to offer them his support and encouragement, saying their ministry is the one closest to his heart. Pope Francis created the role of the Missionaries of Mercy during the 2016 Jubilee of Mercy, a service that has continued since then and has been institutionalized in the new Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia, "Praedicate evangelium", under the section focusing on evangelization. Three Missionaries of Mercy from the US tell us about their unique ministry and the experience they've had over almost seven years now: Dominican Fr. David Caron, Director of Spiritual Outreach for the charitable organization Cross Catholic Outreach,  together with Msgr. Ted Bertagni and Fr. Bernard Olszewski, who also serve at Cross Catholic Outreach.  Listen to other Vatican Radio podcasts here: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/podcast.html

Most media coverage of war overlooks an important aspect of military service: the spiritual needs of soldiers. Father Andriy Zelinskyy, SJ, the chief military chaplain of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, sits down with Benedict Mayaki to discuss how Catholic priests are ministering to Ukraine’s troops, some of whom seen their lives change from being electricians to facing down bullets and rockets. Listen to other Vatican Radio podcasts here: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/podcast.html

After Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine forced millions from their homes, refugees are seeking shelter in neighboring nations and western Ukrainian regions. Győri-Dani Lajos, the CEO and Executive Vice President for the Sovereign Order of Malta in Hungary, talks to Devin Watkins about why many Ukrainians don’t want to wander too far from home and how humanitarian agencies are helping them. Listen to other Vatican Radio podcasts here: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/podcast.html