Syrian nuncio expresses hope for Christianity in nation after meeting with Muslim leader

The apostolic nuncio to Syria has reiterated his cautiously optimistic stance regarding the future of Catholicism and religious freedom in Syria, following a joint meeting with the leader of the Islamic rebel forces.

Speaking to Vatican News, Cardinal Mario Zenari expanded on the situation for Catholics in Syria, following the overthrowing of the Assad regime in December and the takeover of the country by an Islamist militia.

According to Zenari, December 31 saw a pivotal meeting between the Islamic militia and the Christian leaders. Muhammad Al-Jolani, whose real name is Ahmed Al-Sharaa, hosted Christian leaders in Damascus to discus the future of religious practice going forward.

Al-Sharaa reportedly wished the religious leaders a happy Christmas, and added that the new Syria would be “inclusive.”

In recent days, Zenari also met with the new foreign minister of Syria, at his invitation.

Two days before their groundbreaking meeting, the patriarchs and heads of Churches in Syria issued a joint statement in which they stressed the importance of “a commitment to a culture of dialogue and openness to others” during the current period. They also pointed to the crucial role which Christians should play as the new direction of Syria begins to emerge with its Muslim leaders:

As Christians, we have a vital and pivotal role to play in this phase by cooperating with everyone to advance and rebuild this homeland. We recognize that our spiritual, moral, and national responsibility compels us to always raise the voice of truth, defend human dignity under all circumstances, and strongly strive to support the path of democracy, freedom, independence, and peace, which ensures the rights and dignity of all Syrians.

To this end, the collected religious leaders urged Christians to become active in the public sphere, “moved by the spirit of the Gospel, so they may be partners in building a new Syria.”

Zenari told Vatican News of “a sense of hope” felt by the bishops following their December 31 meeting with Al-Sharaa. “This event would have been unimaginable only three weeks ago and the bishops and priests present at the meeting left with a sense of hope for Syria’s future,” he said.

“At the leadership level, there is an understanding of some fundamental principles and values,” he added.

But Zenari also gave a note of caution, saying that “it remains to be seen if words will translate into actions.”

He had previously expressed similar views in early December, when he commented that “rebels met with the bishops in Aleppo immediately after their victory, assuring them that they would respect the various religious denominations and Christians.”

Such a cautious approach will no doubt be practiced even more strongly by Christians who witnessed the burning of a Christmas tree in December, in what appeared to be an anti-Catholic move, though local clergy said that the perpetrators were not Syrian nationals.

Christians have also reportedly been murdered since the new regime took power, and various other instances of anti-Christian persecution have been documented in recent weeks.

The Italian cardinal, nuncio to Syria since late 2008, expressed the opinion that Christians should remain in the country and not flee amid strong concerns that further persecution would be enforced against Christians by the Muslims.

“This is not the time to leave Syria, but rather the time for Christians outside the country to return,” said Zenari. “Christians have been given the opportunity – at least in words – to take part in rebuilding the new Syria, promoting values such as human rights, freedom, and respect for all. It is vital to be present and active in this reconstruction.”

The number of Christians in Syria was around 1.5 million in 2011, but has since dropped dramatically following the bloody conflict. A 2022 estimate suggested only 300,000 Christians remained and activists have expressed strong concerns in recent weeks that the fall of the Assad regime and rise of a new Islamic government could see further emigration.

In now remains to be seen how Al-Sharaa’s policy of “inclusivity” toward Christianity will be put into practice, particularly given his prior statements extolling the benefits of Sharia law and promoting Islam as the “true” religion.

Vice-Regent of Diocese of Rome ordained Auxiliary Bishop

Monsignor Renato Tarantelli Baccari was ordained bishop on Saturday afternoon, 4 January, in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, Rome's Cathedral.

Appointed by Pope Francis on 21 November as Auxiliary Bishop and Vice-Regent of the Diocese of Rome, his pastoral service will assist Cardinal Vicar Baldassare Reina offering "support in the administration of diocesan life," as stated in the letter sent by Pope Francis to the Bishop on the same day of his appointment.

The episcopal ordination conferred by Cardinal Reina, and the Mass, concelebrated by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna, and the Auxiliary Bishop of Rome, Michele Di Tolve, was attended by the Pope, as he had announced in the letter addressed to Monsignor Tarantelli, encouraging him to carry out his pastoral work in close connection with the Bishop of Rome and his Vicar.

Great significance in Pope's choice of 'Hope' as the title of his book (Contribution)

In our ‘snapshot of a town’ series, based on information from the CSO, it is striking how many people continue to claim allegiance to the Catholic Church.

In Mitchelstown (population 3,744), 77% declare themselves as Catholic. In Killarney (pop 14,412), it is 66%. Bantry (pop 2,929) is 65%, while Kenmare (2,566) also returns 65%.

Just 14% across these four communities claim to have no religion whatsoever.

Many more people, apparently, have faith in a higher power than they do in democracy with our general election turnout falling to 59.7%.

With this potential audience, it seems an appropriate moment for Pope Francis to publish the first memoir from a sitting pontiff when his book, Hope: The Autobiography hits the shelves in 80 countries on Tuesday, January 14. 

It will, say his publicists, cover “crucial moments of his papacy and some of the most controversial questions of our present times”.

It was originally planned to publish after the death of Pope Francis, who is 88. But the 2025 Jubilee, dedicated to forgiveness, spiritual renewal, and celebration of the church, was thought to be a good moment in a year when 30m of the faithful are expected to visit Rome.

In addition, Francis and his co-writer — the Italian publisher Carlo Musso — felt it was relevant to “the needs of our times”.

The work will cover the Italian roots of Pope Francis in his ancestors’ emigration to Latin America, and recount his journey to the present day which he describes as “a long, intense, adventure”.

The Pope’s previous books include Let Us Dream, his reflections written during the pandemic lockdown, and Life, which was a series of interviews about historic events in the 20th century.

The Jubilee year was officially opened on Christmas Eve when Francis was pushed in a wheelchair to an ornate bronze door in St Peter’s Basilica and knocked on it to demand entry.

Over the next 12 months, pilgrims will pass through the door — which is normally bricked up — and receive the traditional benefit of a plenary indulgence, a form of forgiveness for their sins.

Rome is one of those locations where there is a rising anxiety about the impact of overseas visitors on local services and infrastructure. Questions have been raised about how the Eternal City will cope with demand from millions of extra people.

Rome has been given a facelift with monuments such as the Trevi Fountain and the Ponte Sant’Angelo spruced up. Roads have been redesigned. Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, said it had taken a “little civil miracle” to get a new road tunnel finished in time.

Critics and supporters will be waiting to see if his book does address the controversies of the 21st century. 

Last summer, he became the first pontiff to participate in the G7 summit, stressing the threats to humanity implicit in the Ukraine and Gaza wars; the risks to employment posed by AI, and changes in reproductive practices. 

Then in September he called for higher taxes on billionaires and the establishment of a universal basic income.

We will need a plentiful supply of hope in 2025, and the choice of this word as his autobiographical title by Pope Francis is a prescient reminder of that fact. 

Faith and charity are other qualities that will be required for the year ahead.

Pope: ‘Never stand still, never stop moving forward’

Pope Francis met on Friday morning with a group of young people from the Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired.

In a brief address, the Pope reflected with the group of children and teenagers on the meaning of pilgrimage, urging them to "never stop moving forward.”

On the move

The theme for the 2025 Jubilee Year, the Pope said, is ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. 

The concept of pilgrimage, he pointed out, is intrinsically tied to that of walking.

“This is what I would like to wish for you," the Pope said, "that you might always be on the move.”

“Never stand still," the Pope urged. “Never stop moving forward.”

The destination

A pilgrim, however, the Pope stressed, is not only someone who walks but someone who has a destination—and, in the case of pilgrims this Jubilee Year, that destination is the Holy Door.

The Holy Door, the Pope said, is of course a symbol, one that represents Jesus Christ, who is the Mystery of Salvation, "which allows us to enter into new life.”

And so, the Pope stressed, “I would like to wish for you not only to be on the move but also to be pilgrims—that is, eager to meet Jesus, to know Him, and to listen to His Word."

Pilgrims of hope

Pope Francis brought his address to a conclusion by offering the example of various young people—Pier Giorgio Frassati, St. Francis, and St. Clare, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus—who chose to live their lives in this way.

“Dear friends,” the Pope said, “these are ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, young people who encountered the Lord Jesus and walked with Him... Let us take this path, and we too can become little signs of hope for those we meet."

Pope to Knights of Malta: Jesus accompanies you on path of generosity

Pope Francis welcomed a delegation of the Archconfraternity of Saints John the Baptist and Evangelist of the Knights of Malta from Catanzaro, Calabria, on Friday, during their visit to the Vatican. 

He acknowledged that we have just celebrated the Mary Most Holy, Mother of God, noting that "she is the protector of your confraternity, which honours her with the title of Hodegetria, 'she who shows the way,' that is, Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life."

Reflecting on the image of Mary, Pope Francis noted that Mary holds in her arms the Saviour born for us.

"This is the event of love to which you bear witness by adoring the Eucharist, serving others, and walking through the history of your city," said the Pope, before offering a reflection on those three verbs: adore, serve, and walk.

To adore

Reflecting, first of all, on the verb "to adore," Pope Francis noted that the Confraternity gathers before the Blessed Sacrament.

Especially in this Holy Year of Jubilee, the Pope encouraged those present to cultivate prayer, both personal and communal, with great commitment.

"Let this be the strength that constantly renews your ancient association," he stressed.

To serve

Speaking then on the verb "to serve," Pope Francis noted that each time you care for the poor, visit the sick, and accompany those who suffer, "you are serving the Lord."

He highlighted that there is a very close connection between adoration and service, urging those present to always bear it in mind.

"Christ came into the world to serve," said the Pope. "You too, like branches united to the Vine, extend His charity when you draw near to the small and the needy with compassion and tenderness. Then your witness of devotion to God and dedication to your brothers and sisters will shine brightly for everyone along the way."

To walk

Finally, Pope Francis reflected on this verb, "to walk." He noted that this one reminds us that Jesus, the Way, calls us to follow Him with perseverance, keeping the torch of faith alight during the earthly pilgrimage.

In this regard, he continued, "I extend a special thanks to you as Bishop of Rome: your Confraternity, in fact, offers the Easter candle every year to the Lateran Basilica, along with a donation for the Pope’s charity. Thank you!"

"Africa's St Peter's Basilica" – The Basilica of Yamoussoukro remains a stranger

A Catholic church of superlatives is located in the Ivory Coast of all places.  

The Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix in Yamoussoukro, officially the capital of the poverty-stricken West African country, is 158 metres taller than St Peter's Basilica and has 7,400 square metres of stained glass windows. 

It is said that 400,000 trees, hedges, shrubs and flowers have been planted on the huge grounds surrounding the building. The gardens of Versailles were - of course - the model.

Naturally, such a building had to be duly inaugurated. Pope John Paul II himself did this on 10 September 1990. 

But since then, the basilica - the Lebanese architect Pierre Fakhoury modelled it heavily on St. Peter's Basilica - has made headlines mainly because Catholics in Yamoussoukro hardly identify with it, even more than 34 years later.

Its construction was a monument to the first president, Felix Houphouet-Boigny (1905-1993) - the Ivory Coast became independent from France in 1960. He has a place of honour in the basilica. 

Right in the front row in front of the altar, a plaque commemorates the founder of the church. He also ensured that his home town of Yamoussoukro became the capital in 1983. 

However, Abidjan remains the vibrant and expensive economic and cultural centre.

In Yamoussoukro, however, Houphouet-Boigny also wanted to make a personal gift to the Vatican with the magnificent church building. It took just over three years to build the church, which was completed in September 1989. And the president had to wait another year before the Pope came to inaugurate it.

The lavish and extravagant building stands in stark contrast to its surroundings: the Ivory Coast is the largest economy in Francophone West Africa and attracts labour migrants from all over the region. 

Nevertheless, around 40 per cent of the approximately 29 million inhabitants live below the poverty line; the number is only falling slowly; not even one in five Ivorians is Catholic.

Only full on consecration day

For a long time, it was said that the basilica, which has seating for 7,000 and standing room for 11,000, was only full once: 34 years ago, on the day of its consecration. According to Ivorian media reports, however, it attracts pilgrims from all over the region instead.

On regular days, however, the number of visitors is manageable. Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix is not a cathedral, i.e. not an episcopal church. A brochure about the building states that between 700 and 1,000 people visit every day. 

Ivorians pay the equivalent of 1.50 euros to enter, foreigners pay twice as much. This can also be read on the homepage. 

However, there is one thing you won't find there: information about church services.

Guided tours are offered, however. 

Among other things, guests are shown a special room below the altar. 

The air conditioning settings are controlled from there - an absolute exception in a West African church. 

Staff also provide the right sound during the mass with a large mixing desk. 

The music is canned. There is no cheerful and vocalised singing, which is otherwise so typical of African church services.

The showpiece is the huge dome, which can be reached by two lifts. 

Photos at the entrance to the dome document the construction phase. 

A drawing can also be seen there. 

It documents that the basilica is even higher than St Peter's Basilica in Rome - if you include the cross on the dome. 

Higher, bigger, wider: the basilica of Yamoussoukro is designed to impress and inspire awe.

Pointing the finger towards Europe

When President Houphouet-Boigny, who was in power for 33 years, had the church built, it had another function. 

It was intended as a sign to the West: What Europe can do, we can do too. 

Today it looks more like a foreign body.

The construction, which cost an estimated 300 million US dollars, was financed primarily from the state coffers, although the president has repeatedly claimed that he paid for it all from his own personal funds. 

After completion, Houphouet-Boigny was therefore ordered to build a hospital right next door as compensation.

It took almost a quarter of a century before it was finally opened on 14 January 2015 - much longer than the giant church.

Heraldist: Good coats of arms can convey pastoral messages

While coats of arms hardly play a role in society any more, they are still present in the Catholic Church. 

It is common for popes and bishops, as well as other clerics and church institutions, to bear a coat of arms. In doing so, they often want to say something about their vocation or the Christian faith. 

However, heraldry no longer plays a role for all senior pastors and they do without their own coat of arms. The Italian priest Antonio Pompili is a recognised expert in the field of ecclesiastical heraldry. 

The priest of a parish in Rome and biblical scholar has co-edited a heraldic reference book. He has already designed coats of arms for many bishops and parishes. 

In an interview with katholisch.de, Mr Pompili explains the current status of heraldry in the Church.

Question: Mr Pompili, you are an expert in the field of ecclesiastical heraldry and have published a standard work on the subject. What significance does heraldry have in the Catholic Church today?

Pompili: In recent decades, interest in heraldry has grown more strongly than it has for a long time. This is undoubtedly due to the scientific value of heraldic studies during this period. For ecclesiastical heraldry, the work of Archbishop Bruno Bernhard Heim (1911-2003) deserves special mention. 

Heim was an important heraldic artist who designed hundreds of coats of arms for bishops and ecclesiastical bodies. He was rightly regarded as the highest heraldic authority of the Catholic Church. 

After Heim's death, Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo (1925-2017), whose student I had the honour of being, took over this role to a certain extent. Together with him, I wrote a handbook on ecclesiastical heraldry in 2014. The work has been translated into several languages. 

In this book, we endeavoured to present guidelines for understanding heraldry in the Catholic Church and to demonstrate its relevance and potential. This is because the use of coats of arms in the Church is of great value because they are signs of recognition - a system of communication, so to speak, that can be very useful. 

Various theological, spiritual and pastoral messages can be conveyed through a coat of arms that is properly composed and artistically well presented.

Question: What was your personal path to ecclesiastical heraldry?

Pompili: I started studying this specialised field around 30 years ago when I found a heraldry textbook by chance. At the time, I was at the beginning of my training as a priest. 

During my stay in Rome, I had a lot of opportunity to see coats of arms from every era - including and especially ecclesiastical coats of arms. So I began to study heraldry "on the spot", photographed coats of arms, catalogued them, compared them and finally redesigned them. 

And I tried my hand at reading heraldic texts, both general works and specialised studies. I learnt a lot from studying medieval and modern coats of arms. In addition, my attendance at the School of Genealogy and Heraldry of the Italian Genealogical-Heraldic Institute was fundamental for my training in heraldry. 

In the early 2000s, I met Cardinal di Montezemolo, from whom I learnt a lot. His vision of heraldry was strongly rooted in tradition, but at the same time modern and open to innovation. 

At that time, I had also been drawing bishops' coats of arms for some time. Today, I have designed more than 200 ecclesiastical coats of arms for people and institutions.

Question: As pontiff, Pope Francis is rather modest and has broken with certain traditions, such as the red shoes worn by popes. What is the status of ecclesiastical heraldry under this pope?

Pompili: Simplicity is one of Pope Francis ' most beautiful characteristics and he is greatly appreciated for this virtue. Heraldry itself must also be characterised by simplicity. The simplest coats of arms are also the most beautiful and they are easier to read. 

The first coats of arms in the Middle Ages were very simple: they usually showed one or two colours, one or two figures. This was not always the case with ecclesiastical heraldry. 

In 1969, during the pontificate of Pope Paul VI (1963-78), the Instruction on the Clothing, Titles and Coats of Arms of Cardinals, Bishops and Prelates was issued in order to restore clarity to heraldry. This document stipulates the following: "The use of coats of arms by cardinals and bishops is authorised. 

The coat of arms must comply with heraldic rules and be simple and legible." Unfortunately, shields saturated with figures are still being created today, in which many theological and religious statements are to be made. But the clients are usually not to blame. 

Rather, the responsibility lies with the "artists", who are unable to give good advice due to a lack of heraldic knowledge. 

Heraldry must, of course, move with the times - but this should not mean a break with tradition. 

Often the real innovation is the rediscovery of the values and patterns of the origins.

Question: Heraldry is also described as a language of its own that wants to say something important. Is the language of heraldry up to date?

Pompili: The handbook that Cardinal di Montezemolo and I wrote emphasises this point: heraldry is a language. And if you decide to speak this language, you have to speak it correctly, otherwise it's better to stay away from it. 

Like any language, heraldry has a vocabulary, a grammar and a syntax. And like any language, it must evolve and be able to find ever more up-to-date forms of expression, true to its rules. There is a good development here, although "linguistic errors" are unfortunately still widespread. 

Sometimes, due to uncritical attempts at imitation, mistakes are repeated that are better avoided. Some heraldists (or people who are convinced that they are) close their minds to the past in nostalgic regret without opening up to new solutions.

Question: What do the coats of arms in the church say about the church today?

Pompili: As far as I can see, the coats of arms of the Church today are an expression of a Church that wants to enter into dialogue with the people of our time, in line with the teachings of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). 

In coats of arms, religious symbols and figures are often placed side by side, recalling a wide variety of local cultures and customs. This can sometimes be tiring. 

But I also notice a certain creativity that needs to be preserved and channelled.

Question: Bishops don't always stick to traditional or established rules when creating coats of arms. Is that a problem?

Pompili: Yes, it is a problem. 

Unfortunately, some bishops, often on the advice of bad heraldists, do not follow the rules of heraldry and do not refer to a true heraldic spirit when designing their coats of arms. 

Innovation is always necessary, but always on the basis of precise rules and a peculiar style. 

The results are there for all to see: we see ugly coats of arms, either because they are badly composed or because they are incorrectly designed. 

The opportunity to convey a correct message through the language of symbols is unfortunately lost.

Question: Are there too many uncontrolled designs in church coats of arms these days?

Pompili: I wouldn't say there are too many. Of course you see terrible designs everywhere, others are of poor compositional and representational quality, but still acceptable. Still others are good designs, but only a few are of excellent quality. 

It would be desirable to create a heraldic office of the Holy See that could advise on and control the creation of new coats of arms. This existed in the past. If it were reintroduced, excesses could at least be partially avoided.

Question: You also design coats of arms for parishes and clergy yourself. How have the requirements changed here, who commissions you?

Pompili: I have received commissions to create coats of arms from representatives of all levels of the Catholic hierarchy. 

In addition, I am often asked by bishops to create coats of arms for their diocese or cathedral. I am also commissioned by parish priests and rectors of basilicas and shrines to create coats of arms for their churches. 

There is a strong revival of interest in these latter types of coats of arms. Cardinals, bishops and ordinary priests usually want to refer to elements in their heraldic compositions that recall their history and training. 

Sometimes there is a desire for "talking coats of arms", i.e. coats of arms that contain symbols that are the same as a family name or place name. 

In most cases, my clients want to show some kind of summary of their spiritual values or pastoral programme in the coat of arms.

Question: Nowadays, not all bishops have a coat of arms - even some cardinals do without one. Do you regret that?

Pompili: Not all bishops or cardinals use a coat of arms today, even if we are only talking about a small percentage. 

This is a legitimate decision, as a coat of arms is not obligatory according to the Vatican's instruction of 1969. 

Of course, I wouldn't advise any bishop to do without their own coat of arms. 

But it is better not to use a coat of arms than to use a badly designed one.

Question: Could we even see the abolition of coats of arms in the Church in the future?

Pompili: Heraldry is a human phenomenon. 

Like everything human, it has a beginning and will certainly come to an end one day. 

But I think the day of the end of ecclesiastical heraldry is still a long way off. 

Perhaps one day other symbols will prevail instead of the use of coats of arms. 

But it has to be said: Heraldry in the Catholic Church is not in crisis - and I don't think it will be abolished.

Holy Land: New church to open at Baptism Site of Jesus Christ

A new Church, Shrine and monasteries at the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ will be officially inaugurated next Friday, 10 January.

Nestled just nine kilometres north of the Dead Sea, this captivating archaeological site is made up of two key areas: St Elias Hill and the John the Baptist Churches, located near the Jordan River. 

In the heart of the Qafra region, it is revered in Christian tradition as the very spot where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. 

The site offers a fascinating glimpse into the past, with Roman and Byzantine remnants scattered throughout, including ancient churches, small temples, monasteries, caves once inhabited by hermits, and sacred baptismal pools.

The Church of John the Baptist: A Sacred Site of History and Faith

Church of John the Baptist sits east of the Jordan River. Built during the reign of Emperor Anastasius (491-518 AD), this Byzantine church is revered as the site where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. 

Ancient accounts, like those from Theodosius (530 AD), describe the church elevated on large chambers to protect it from the river's flooding. Although the exact pillar marking Jesus' baptism remains undiscovered, archaeological evidence strongly aligns with these early descriptions.

Recently uncovered and preserved, the marble steps, described by Antoninus Martyr (570 AD), descend toward the Jordan River where priests once performed baptisms. These steps face east, matching the historical details of water flow during floods.

The Mantle Chapel and the unique 'Baptismal Pool' highlighted by Arculfus (670 AD), are key features of the site. Supported by four stone piers, the chapel marks the spot where Jesus' garments were placed during His baptism. 

Pilgrims today can descend the marble steps to be baptized in the Jordan river's waters. 

Thousands of cross marks were discovered on the original plaster, probably made by believers who were baptized at this holy site.

Nearby, the Lower Basilica lies to the west of the main basilica's aisles, showcasing intricate marble floors decorated with geometric patterns and vibrant colors. Some remaining walls and architectural elements reflect a different design from the elevated Mantle Chapel and Church of John the Baptist, adding to the rich layering of history at the site.

Built atop earlier structures, the Basilica (Church of the Trinity) features a nave, aisles, a sanctuary with an altar, and beautifully tiled mosaic floors. An eastern hall leads to the cruciform baptismal pool. 

In the 8th century, Epiphanius noted the church's connection to the cave and spring where John the Baptist lived, underscoring its dedication to the Holy Trinity.

A smaller chapel, constructed over the northwest pier of the Mantle Chapel, marks the exact location of Jesus' baptism. Abbot Daniel (1106-1107 AD) recorded its significance, and after recent restoration, the chapel now includes protective shelters to preserve its historical integrity.

UNESCO Recognition

In 2015, UNESCO added Al-Maghtas (also known as Bethany Beyond the Jordan) on the World Heritage List, recognizing its immense historical and religious importance. 

As the site where Jesus was baptized by John, it stands as a pivotal Christian pilgrimage destination and a symbol of shared global religious heritage.

The Hashemite Kingdom Support for Al-Maghtas

In 2003, King Abdullah II of Jordan donated 30 dunams of land for the construction of a Catholic church at Al-Maghtas, providing a welcoming space for pilgrims. 

And on May 10, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI, joined by King Abdullah II and the Hashemite family, laid the foundation stone for the Catholic Church and Monastery of Al-Maghtas, solidifying the royal family's ongoing support of the site.

Papal Visits to this Sacred Site

Pope St John Paul II visited Al-Maghtas in 2000, praying and blessing the crowd with water from the Jordan River.

Pope Benedict XVI visited in 2009, laying the foundation stone for the new church and monastery.

Pope Francis visited in 2014, during the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, where he presided in the Rite of the Renewal of the Baptismal Vows which the renewing of baptismal vows and sprinkling the faithful with the sacred waters of the Jordan River.

A New Church and Monastery

The construction of the Catholic church and monastery was overseen by former Patriarch Fouad Twal and Bishop Salim Sayegh, with significant contributions from Nadim Muasher, a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, who dedicated the project to his son, who tragically passed away in a car accident at the site. Many other donors, including the Hungarian government, played vital roles in bringing this vision to life.

Today, the site features the church (shrine), two monasteries for friars and nuns, gardens, a visitor centre, parking, a walkway, and the Hill of the Cross, which offers breathtaking views of the Jerusalem Mountains. 

Covering 2,200 square meters, the church is set to be one of the largest in the Middle East, joining esteemed places of pilgrimage and prayer like the Church of the Annunciation, the Church of the Nativity, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The friars and nuns of the Incarnate Word will maintain the site, host pilgrims, and lead prayer and Masses.

Constructed from Tafouhi amber coloured stone from Hebron, the church features stained glass windows crafted in Lebanon in the style of Chartres Cathedral, one of the most celebrated Gothic structures in France.

Able to accommodate over 1,000 faithfuls; the church hosts the annual pilgrimage to Al-Maghtas, every January. 

During this time, masses, prayers, and the renewal of baptismal vows take place all in celebration of the Feast of Christ's baptism and its profound significance in the Christian Faith.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, and Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzabella, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, will preside over a special Mass on Friday 10 January 2025, during which the dedication of the Altar and the inauguration of the Church of the Baptism of the Lord at the Jordan River. 

The relics of Pope John Paul II and the Holy Martyrs of Damascus, among others, will be placed inside the Altar. 

This church has been designated as a pilgrimage destination for the faithful to receive plenary indulgence during the Jubilee of Hope 2025.

For Francis, Council of Nicaea anniversary is about Christology, not just Christian unity

Pope Francis’s homily on Wednesday — New Year’s Day, 2025 — was set in a Marian key and turned on the Marian title, “Mother of God,” celebrated on January 1st.

“In praying to Our Lady as the Mother of God,” Francis said, “we proclaim that Christ was begotten of the Father, yet also truly born of a woman.”

“The Apostle Paul sums up this mystery by telling us that ‘God sent forth his Son, born of a woman’ (Gal 4:4),” Pope Francis said. “Those words – ‘born of a woman’ – echo in our hearts today,” he said, “they remind us that Jesus, our Savior, became flesh and is revealed in the frailty of the flesh.”

Usually, one would not think the pope saying that Jesus is God would be terribly headline-worthy, but that’s what happened, and why it happened really is something worth exploring in light of two key concerns for the pope and for the Church, which his homily also brought into sharp focus: The Jubilee and the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, both of which run through the year.

The motto of the Jubilee is “Pilgrims of Hope,” but the year coincides with the anniversary of the Council that gave us the Nicene Creed, and for that reason alone deserves a place on anyone’s short list of most important events in Church history.

Pope Francis hopes to use the anniversary for fostering relations with the Orthodox Church — a leitmotiv of his whole pontificate — but his homily on Wednesday also hinted at a desire to use the Jubilee Year for another purpose: To emphasize the reason the Council of Nicaea originally took place.

The chief reason for the Council of Nicaea in AD 325 was a dispute between a priest-theologian called Arius and Bishop Athanasius of Alexandria, over the nature of Jesus Christ.

Arius taught that since the Son comes from the Father, this means the Son is created, and not fully God. Athanasius countered that Christ was co-eternal and con-substantial with the Father, which is the common Christian belief.

It’s hard for us to imagine today, but the dispute between those two theological heavyweights burgeoned into a worldwide controversy that threatened to tear apart not only the Church but the Roman Empire in the fourth century.

The short version of a long and complex story is that the Council issued the Nicene Creed, which includes the passage saying Jesus is “God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father.”

Despite the declarations of the council, Arianism continued for decades under several guises. In his homily Wednesday, Francis quoted Saint Ambrose, who countered Arianism in Milan during his 374 to 397 reign as bishop.

“Mary is the door through which Christ entered this world,” Ambrose said, which the pope said is why she is the Mother of God.

Although he never used the word, “Arianism,” Francis strongly alluded to its ideas still lingering in the Church.

“There is a temptation, which many people today find attractive, but can also mislead many Christians, to imagine or invent a God ‘in the abstract’, associated with some vague religious feeling or fleeting emotion,” Francis said. “No,” Francis said, “God was ‘born of a woman’; he has a face and a name, and calls us to have a relationship with him.”

Pope Francis is not the only one noticing the phenomenon.

Writing earlier this year, Father Dwight Longenecker referred to this “temptation,” noting on his website that today, Arianism takes the guise of humanism.

“Arianism today is an interpretation of Christianity according to this materialistic, humanistic philosophy. Clearly, Jesus Christ as the Divine Son of God and the co-eternal second person of the Holy Trinity doesn’t really fit,” Longenecker wrote. “Instead Jesus is a good teacher, a wise rabbi, a beautiful example, a martyr for a noble cause,” he also wrote.

“At most,” Longenecker wrote, “[Jesus] is a human being who is ‘so fulfilled and self-actualized that he has ‘become divine’.’ To put it another way, ‘Jesus is so complete a human being that he reveals to us the divine image in which we were all created–and therefore shows us what God is like.’ There is a sense in which this ‘divinization’ happened to Jesus as a result of the graces he received from God, the life he led and the sufferings he endured.”

Nor is this “New Arianism” affecting only “liberal” Christians. These beliefs permeate many Christian denominations, including some of the more “conservative” groups within the broad fold of Christianity.

A 2022 survey of Evangelical Christians in the United States – some of the most “conservative” Christians in the country – found that 73 percent agreed with the statement that “Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God,” and 43 percent agreed with the statement “Jesus was a great teacher, but he was not God.”

In his homily on New Year’s Day, Pope Francis insisted belief in the Divinity of Jesus Christ is central to Christian faith — again, a remarkable thing on which to insist precisely because, on paper at least, it should have been settled seventeen centuries ago.

“In the life of Jesus, we see that this is how God chooses to act: Through littleness and hiddenness. Jesus never yielded to the temptation of performing great signs and imposing himself on others, as the devil had suggested,” the pope said on Wednesday.

“Instead, he revealed God’s love in the beauty of his humanity, dwelling in our midst, sharing our daily life, our efforts and our dreams, being merciful to those suffering in body and spirit, giving sight to the blind and strength to the disheartened. By the frailty of his humanity and his concern for the weak and vulnerable, Jesus shows us the face of God,” Francis said.

It also happens that Jan. 2nd was the memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, fourth century bishops who also opposed Arianism.

“The whole Church is sinking,” St. Basil once wrote to St. Athanasius, “like so many ships on the high seas, wandering about aimlessly, colliding one against the other under the violence of the waves.” St. Basil said the Church of his day was “a great shipwreck caused by the raging sea, and also by the disorder of the ships, one against the other, breaking up.”

“Where can we find a pilot who is up to the task, who is worthy enough in the faith to awaken the Lord, so that He may command the winds and the sea?” Basil asked.

Pope Francis may be preparing to use this year’s Jubilee to put firm hands on the helm and right the ship as she weathers this latest Arian storm.

Vineyard Church facing 9 civil lawsuits after Jackson Gatlin plea deal for abusing minors

The Vineyard Church in Duluth, Minnesota, and its parent organization, Vineyard USA, have been named in nine civil lawsuits alongside Jackson Gatlin, a former young adult and online community pastor at The Vineyard Church who accepted a plea deal in November for criminal sexual conduct with a child.

Gatlin, 36, was charged in 2023 with sexually abusing five teenage girls but pleaded guilty to only one count of sexual assault. 

On four other counts, he entered an Alford plea where he admitted there is sufficient evidence to find him guilty during a trial but maintained his innocence. He will likely spend at least 13 years in prison and have to register as a sex offender when his sentence is complete.

Also named in the civil lawsuits are Gatlin’s parents, Fox 21 reports. His father, Michael Gatlin, was a senior pastor at The Vineyard Church, where his son met most of his victims. 

His mother, Brenda Gatlin, also served in leadership at the church as well as at Vineyard USA. They both resigned from their roles at the church and Vineyard USA without cooperating with an investigation into their son’s abuse.

The civil lawsuits allege that the defendants knew, or should have known, about Gatlin’s abuse but failed to act.

In a statement responding to Gatlin’s acceptance of the plea deal on Nov. 6, The Vineyard Church leaders said they expected the civil lawsuits to be filed. 

Officials said they welcomed the lawsuit as a measure of justice for the victims, who court records show were between 11 and 16 when Gatlin abused them while in his 20s. 

“As we previously shared, we have also recently learned that some of Jackson’s victims are seeking justice in civil court. In addition to naming Jackson, Michael and Brenda Gatlin, the defendants also include the Duluth Vineyard and Vineyard USA. No one ever wants to be sued in civil court. Yet, we welcome this case and pray that it can bring healing and justice for the victims,” the church said.

“Further, a case like this can help determine the relative responsibility of various parties. Although what we can do financially is limited by the size of our resources, insurance coverage and outstanding debt, as a church we want to follow the way of Jesus and take responsibility for the harm we are judged to have caused.”

Gatlin allegedly groomed the victims, who are now adults, with flirtations. He is accused of sending sexual text messages and eventually taking them to his bedroom at his parents’ home, where he touched the victims or had them touch him.

He also allegedly bound them and raped them. He is accused of laughing at one of the victims when she asked him to stop the abuse. 

“Civil litigation is a slow and imperfect process, and it may be a long time before any final judgment is reached. Let’s all pray for the victims, for patience and for God to use this litigation to advance his will here on earth like it is in heaven,” the church said in their statement.

“This continues to be a very painful situation, yet that is where we so often find Jesus. Our hope and prayer is that the Holy Spirit will give us the gift of unity and strength to do God’s will. And, as we together respond like Jesus to this difficult situation, our response will bring both healing to victims and glory to God.”

Bid to remove charitable status from religious groups draws ire of Evangelicals in Canada

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada has raised concerns about recommendations presented to the Canadian government calling for the removal of charitable status to religious charities and anti-abortion organizations.

The potential negative impact not only on the religious sector but the many people it serves would be immense, the group warns.

Details are buried within hundreds of recommendations made in a Finance Committee report tabled in the House of Commons on Dec. 13, 2024, which is part of a consultation process before the next federal budget.

Recommendation 429 calls for the government to “no longer provide charitable status to anti-abortion organizations” and Recommendation 430 wants to amend the Income Tax Act to “provide a definition of a charity which would remove the privileged status of ‘advancement of religion’ as a charitable purpose,” stated the EFC.

Both recommendations are found in the report under Chapter Five, “A Competitive Fiscal Policy, Sustainable Finances and Efficient Government Operations.”

“Federal taxation plays a pivotal role in funding public expenditures and directing economic activity to sustain and enrich the Canadian economy,” states the chapter’s short preamble.

“Personal income tax is the largest source of government revenues in Canada, followed by corporate income tax. Tax policy is also a major mechanism to motivate taxpayers to engage in activities that are deemed beneficial to society or, on the contrary, dissuade taxpayers from engaging in activities that are thought to be harmful to society.” 

The EFC believed the wording of the recommendations echoed the British Columbia Humanist Association’s written submission to the committee. (The consultation heard from many businesses, schools and non-profit organizations offering written submissions with differing interests.)

The finance minister is not obliged to adopt the recommendations for the spring budget, but the EFC remains concerned about the issue, calling the fact that a parliamentary committee involving all major political parties had called for such changes “significant” and indicative that the parties supported the ideas.

“The Conservative Party has a dissenting opinion in the report, and the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois have supplementary opinions, but none mention or oppose these charitable status recommendations in the main report,” stated the EFC. “These recommendations may have been overlooked among the 462 recommendations made, but none of the parties expressed opposition to them.

“This change, if adopted, would have a far-reaching and devastating impact — on religious charities, the people they serve, and Canadian society. Just over 40% of Canada’s registered charities advance religion. This proposal would destabilize the charitable sector in Canada.”

Furthermore, the EFC opined that committee recommendations can serve as a “trial balloon.” 

“If a recommendation seems widely supported, or at least not opposed, it may encourage the government to move ahead with it,” the Evangelical body noted. 

“This is an important time to ensure MPs hear the concerns of Canadians about this proposal, now that the Finance Committee has put it on the table. It’s more effective to prevent these recommendations from being introduced in a bill than to ask for them to be removed once the bill has been introduced.”

Christians in Syria ask whether their rights will be preserved under new Islamic rule

Although Christian leaders in Syria are trying to stay positive about the new Islamist interim government in Damascus, others are pointing to worrying concerns about what lies ahead for the country’s diverse population.

Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, met with Bishop Hanna Jallouf, the apostolic vicar of Aleppo and head of the Latin Church in Syria, along with other senior Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican clerics in Damascus on Dec. 31.

Christians are urging al-Sharaa to guarantee religious and ethnic minority rights after the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, along with a coalition of other Islamist groups, seized power on Dec. 8. HTS was formerly al-Qaida’s branch in Syria.

Earlier, Syria’s Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Youssef I Absi of Antioch, Greek Orthodox Patriarch John X of Antioch and Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II issued a statement on Dec. 29. “At this historic moment, as Syria undergoes a new transition, we address the public with a message of love and hope,” read the remarks made available to OSV News.

The clerics called for peace and unity during this critical political transition time highlighting national reconciliation to be fostered. Syria’s civil war that began in March 2011 quickly morphed into a sectarian conflict pitting communities, which once enjoyed good relations, against each other.

Syria was home to about 1 million Christians before the civil war, according to French analyst Fabrice Balanche, who says their number has dwindled to about 300,000.

Church leaders urged Christians and others in their Dec. 29 statement to play an important role in drafting a new constitution that reflects the aspirations of Syrians as key to building a modern and democratic state. This should involve “all components” of Syrian society where all citizens are equal before the law. They underscored the importance of Syria as a secular state where diversity is respected and where people are free to practice their faith.

“As Christians, we have a vital and pivotal role to play in this phase by cooperating with everyone to advance and rebuild this homeland,” they said.

They also called for “a comprehensive national dialogue” to rebuild social cohesion and to strengthen Syria’s identity as a diverse and inclusive nation.

“We urge our Christian faithful not to retreat into isolation or fear but to engage actively in the public sphere,” the statement said.

Although al-Sharaa has promised that rights for Christians and other Syrians will be honored, many fear his government will embrace strict Islamic law that marginalizes minority communities and excludes women from public life.

Notably, changes to Syria’s school curriculum on Jan. 1 introducing an Islamist slant has elicited outrage and intense backlash. Angry critics questioned the swiftness of the move, competence of the authorship as well as the proposed amendments including: “those who are damned and have gone astray” changed to “Jews and Christians” and “path of goodness” to “Islamic path” among others. Although it’s believed that al-Sharaa may reconsider these changes.

This follows the caretaker government’s appointment of foreign Islamist fighters to senior positions in Syria’s military causing unease among Syrians.

Meanwhile, Syrian women continue protests against remarks by Obaida Arnaout, HTS spokesman, who described women as “incapable biologically” of certain leadership roles.

Christians in the towns of Hawash, Suqaylabiyah and other Christian and minority towns in Syria reportedly have demonstrated demanding the removal of foreign fighters from their communities, especially after a Christmas tree was burned ahead of Christmas in one of Christian towns.

Tensions between Christians and Islamists have also been reported in Maaloula, a historic town where the language of Jesus, Aramaic, is spoken, located some 35 miles northeast of Damascus. Residents are asking for local Christian police to coordinate with HTS to make the Islamists stay out of the town, known for its Christian heritage.

Bassam Said Ishak is president of the Syriac National Council of Syria, a group which aims to defend the rights of Christians and all minorities to build a democratic, secular, and pluralistic Syria. Syriac Christians and Kurds have already achieved this, along with religious freedom, in Syria’s northeast in their governance of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

He and other notable Syrians, urged for inclusion in meetings with the interim government “to build a homeland that accommodates all,” in a statement provided to OSV News.

Ishak, a graduate of The Catholic University of America in Washington, told OSV News that one of the biggest concerns for Christians and others is security and safety. 

“They want to know that no one is going to jeopardize their security, and that it will be ensured. Also, there are concerns about whether they can continue to live their way of life without fear,” he said. “Will they have their rights to worship freely? What opportunities will be available to them? Will their economic rights be preserved?” Ishak said.

The United States, Britain and the European Union have called for an inclusive political transition in Syria that upholds the rights of the country’s diverse communities.

New leader al-Sharaa said Syria’s administration will hold the “National Dialogue Conference” in January to discuss the country’s future with all segments of society, but it’s unclear who is invited to attend.

Controversy stirs over bar’s location in former sanctuary of closed Frederick chapel

The Wye Oak Tavern at Visitation Frederick, the new hotel in Frederick, has made quite a stir since its opening on Dec. 19 and not because it is run by Frederick’s famous chefs, brothers Bryan and Michael Voltaggio.

Located in the former chapel of the long-closed Visitation Academy, the restaurant’s decision to locate the bar in the chapel’s former sanctuary between the altar and the Communion rail has met strong opposition from former students at the school as well as from the community, with a petition for its removal collecting more than 3,000 names.

“They could have put the bar anywhere,” said Elyssa Koren, a 2000 graduate of the former boarding school and leader of the petition. “They chose really the most sacred spot to place the bar. You don’t have to be Catholic to find this offensive. There is something very jarring about the placement they chose.”

The bar, Koren said, “has the look and feel of a functioning Catholic church,” as many of the original components, including the marble altar, the angel statues, the communion rails and the stained-glass windows from Germany, remain in place.

“It is not really respectful of the 150 years of Mass carried out in that space,” Koren said.

The Sisters of Charity founded St. John’s Benevolent Female Free School in 1824. The Sisters of the Visitation replaced the Sisters of Charity in 1846 and added a monastery, which closed in 2005 when the Vatican had the remaining Visitation Sisters transferred to a monastery in Rockville, Va. The school closed in 2016.

“This is very personal. I know firsthand what Visitation meant to the order and to my aunts,” said Virginia Leary-Majda, whose three aunts not only attended Visitation, but took their vows and became Visitations Sisters with one becoming Mother Marguerite Therese Leary, a strong supporter of preserving historic buildings.

“You go to chapel by invitation. My aunts taught us it was a very special place,” said Leary, who lives in Los Angeles. “There are things you just don’t do.”

James P. O’Hare, of O2 Holdings/Lafayette Financial, the developers of the Visitation Hotel, noted that the property was purchased for $2.75 million. The Archdiocese of Baltimore was never involved in the sale.

The chapel was deconsecrated – meaning its sacred character, including the relics in the altar and the tabernacle were removed – allowing the building to be used for other purposes. Many of the chapel’s other religious items, he said, including crucifixes and the Stations of the Cross, were donated to local churches. 

Two statues, one of Mary, the other of Joseph, that were once near the altar are now featured in the hotel’s courtyard garden much to Koren’s dismay, as they have too many “years of history attached to them” to be left out in the elements, she said. A working organ remains in the choir loft.

“Because we wanted to be respectful of the prior use of the chapel, we went well beyond just deconsecration,” O’Hare said in an email.  “And we very purposely have constructed the bar to be separate from the historic altar.”

O’Hare noted that he, himself, is Catholic and attended Catholic schools through high school in the Washington D.C. area.

“It was very important to me personally that our design honors and respects the nuns who have lived and taught, and the girls who studied at Visitation,” O’Hare wrote. ”I believe that we have accomplished that.”

A lawyer, Koren realizes the owners of Wye Oak Tavern can “use the space as they see fit.” She hopes, however, that they take notice of the petition and reach out to her for a meeting.

“There is so much history,” Koren said. “This is one egregious mistake. Correct it.”

“No one is saying get rid of the restaurant,” Leary said. “Relocate the bar.”

In its first 10 days, business at the hotel and restaurant has been “very strong,” O’Hare said.

“Our guests have expressed no concerns about the use of the former chapel. In fact, people love hearing the stories that make up the history of Visitation,” O’Hare said.

Priestly vocations surge in Burkina Faso amid rising attacks by jihadists

Vocations at one of Burkina Faso’s main seminaries increased by more than 10 per cent in the past five years – in spite of frequent attacks by jihadists who have seized control of more than half of the country’s territory.

There are 281 students at Saints Peter and Paul Kossoghen Major Seminary in Ouagadougou Archdiocese in the 2024-2025 academic year, up from 254 in 2019-2020.

Seminary rector Fr Guy Moukassa Sanon said that about 40 per cent of the seminarians are from the so-called “red zone” – parts of the country worst affected by terrorism.

He added that some areas where seminarians come from are so dangerous that many of them did not take the risk of returning to their families for the Christmas break.

This unprecedented number of seminarians meant that some community rooms had to be converted into accommodation, according to Father Sanon.

He told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN): “The conditions are far from ideal for their studies…

“We’ve had to accommodate 22 seminarians outside and send another 11 to a seminary in Mali.”

Fr Sanon explained that extremists abducted a seminarian in 2022 while he attempted to visit relatives. The man’s body was never found, making his family believe he was killed.

The priest said that there have been other cases of terrorists targeting seminarians over the years.

ACN has supported the formation of seminarians in six dioceses in Burkina Faso, as well as providing Mass stipends for priests and emergency aid, food, medicine and psychological help for displaced people.

Father Sanon said: “I want to express my deep gratitude to ACN and all its generous benefactors who give sacrificially so that we can form Burkina Faso’s future priests.”

He added: “Some of our seminarians are in a precarious situation. They don’t receive any help from their families, because these are in a sorry condition – displaced or prevented by the terrorists from bringing in the harvest.

“Thanks to ACN’s support we can finance their formation and that of their teachers.”

Father Sanon underlined: “Often, you can only appreciate things you have lost. Here, if you ask someone what he wants, he replies: peace.”

He concluded: “May the grace of the Infant Jesus reach all our hearts.

“I also pray for peace for all our benefactors: a peace which only the Infant Jesus can bring, a deep peace which the world cannot give.”

San Antonio archbishop rips ‘tyrant’ Trump, links Trump’s words to violent ‘tragedies’

In a series of tweets on January 1 and January 2, the archbishop of San Antonio called for civil discourse and charity, described the terrorist attack in New Orleans as the “result of words and actions” of leaders in “our recent history,” characterized President-elect Donald Trump as a tyrant, and linked the president-elect’s words in recent years to violent “tragedies.”

The prelate then exclaimed, “Thanks be to God that trump [sic] is not God. Thanks be God for ever!”

On the evening of January 1, Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, of San Antonio tweeted, “The killing today is the result of words and actions that leaders have demonstrated in our recent history. We should not blame others. We need to take responsibility. We need civil discourse and lots of humility and charity.”

Earlier that day, a man drove a truck into a crowd in New Orleans, killing 15 and injuring 35. The following day, the deputy assistant director of the FBI’s counterterrorism division said that the driver was “100% inspired by ISIS,” the Islamist terrorist organization.

Two hours after his first tweet, the prelate tweeted, “Let us not blame others for the wrong we have perpetuated from leadership. Check it out! We pray for the gift only God can give. Let us convert, change and serve well!”

On the evening of January 2, Archbishop García-Siller returned to X, tweeting (8:59 PM), “Narcissism should NOT be celebrated. Humility, kindness & respect should be our identity. Forget about greatness, lies and stupidness. We should search for truth, honesty, and what is good and right. We don’t find this in our Government. One person does not represent who we are.”

He then tweeted (9:34 PM), “Do we want peace! Stop all this tyrant words and actions. We want peace! Change your attitude. Attitude does good things if you truly want. Do you want peace? Christ can help you! He is the Prince of Peace! God, God, God.”

After criticizing “one person” and a “tyrant,” the prelate explicitly criticized President-elect Trump and linked him to “these tragedies”—presumably “tragedies” like the terrorist attack in New Orleans.

Archbishop García-Siller tweeted at 9:51 PM, “Why these tragedies? Because elect president’s words in the last few years…If we trigger actions…what do we want? If the leadership speak about hate, we will’ve hate. Hate. If we have actions of love ,we’ll love. Some people does not want to love. They have a problem. Big…“

He then tweeted at 9:52 PM, “Thanks be to God that trump is not God. Thanks be God for ever!”

He concluded his series of tweets at 11:26 PM:

We follow God’s & the US Constitution which follows life values.We’re against those who think & feel that there’re better, controlling the USA Constitution. Beyond the Law? They’re irrational and emotionally sick. It’s sad, people follow them. What a pity! People choose be sick!

[Editor’s note: Archbishop García-Siller’s tweets are quoted verbatim in this article; the misspellings and grammatical errors are his own. The punctuation is also his own: the three dots are not an editor’s ellipsis, but the prelate’s own punctuation.]