Gloria TV News on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.

Sentiments of Mutual Trust, Esteem, and Fraternity

Vatican

Yesterday Pope Benedict XVI met with a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The delegation arrived to celebrate today the martyrdom of Saints Peter and Paul. The visit reciprocates one made by the Holy See delegation to Istanbul on the Feast of Saint Andrew. The Pope told the delegates that relations between Rome and Constantinople today are “characterized by sentiments of mutual trust, esteem, and fraternity.” That amicable relationship provides hope for further progress, he said.

Prayer for Reconciliation

Hungary – Slovakia

Amid rising tensions between Hungary and Slovakia, the bishops of the two nations made a pilgrimage to the Marian shrine in Matraverebely-Szentkut in Hungary? on June 26 to pray for reconciliation. Hungary’s government recently granted citizenship to Hungarians living abroad, including 10% of neighboring Slovakia’s population. This has led Slovakia’s prime minister to call Hungary an “extremist country that exports its fascist plague.” 55% of Hungary’s 10.1 million people are Catholic, as are 75% of Slovakia’s 5.5 million people.

A Pontifical Council to Help Weakened Christian Territories

Vatican

Pope Benedict XVI has confirmed his plan to create in the Roman Curia the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization. The Pontif did this yesterday during the first Vespers for the feast of Saint Peter and Paul in the Roman basilica of St. Paul-Outside-the-Walls. The Pope said that he had an obligation to continue the apostolic mission that the apostles began, bringing the faith to every part of the earth—including those parts where Christendom once flourished but has now been weakened. The Pontiff did not reveal any more detailed plans for the office. Vatican insiders predict that the first president of the new pontifical council will be Archbishop Renato Fisichella, currently the president of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

More Prayer Needed

USA

Raleigh seminarian Philip Gerard Johnson has recently reported bad news on his blog. He writes: “Unfortunately, the most recent Magnetic Resonance Imaging has shown that my brain cancer continues to grow”. In October 2008, Philip has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. As there are no standard treatments left for this type of cancer, a medical trial is now the only option in the attempt to slow the cancer's growth. This trial consists of "Carboplatin" chemotherapy once a month, given intravenously. If the tumor continues to grow, the doctors will use an additional trial drug which attempts to stop blood flow to the tumor. Philip writes: “Please keep me in your prayers as I recover from my first treatment on June 16, and be assured of my prayers for all who continue to pray for me.”