From Argentina to Piedmont, Francis’ favourite dishes
Argentina and Piedmont are geographically distant lands, but linked to Bergoglio's life and origins. Both their cuisines are simple and exalt the purity of ingredients. And a book, “At the Table with Pope Francis”, contains some of the Argentine pontiff's favourite recipes, from mate to bagna càuda.
- THE RECIPE: BAGNA CÀUDA
St Joseph, the father to imitate
St Joseph's greatest glory lies in having served “directly the person and mission of Jesus through the exercise of his paternity”, as Redemptoris Custos teaches. Mary's spouse carried out his paternal role with a single purpose: to do the will of the heavenly Father. That is why fathers of all times have in him, the master of the interior life, their greatest model.
Blessing of gay unions: Vatican says "No", but a problem remains
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith says no to the blessing of homosexual unions, but is somewhat ambiguous when it speaks of positive elements in these relationships. The statement it used needs clarification. Here's why....
Britain’s first birth control clinic, 100 years of eugenics and racism
17th of March 1921 Marie Stopes opened Britain’s first eugenic family planning clinic in London. It’s considered one of the greatest humanitarian success of the last century even though the Eugenics Society established the clinic to eliminate the poor and sick. Critics are urging for a debate on the influence eugenics has had on birth control programs currently in use because under the slogans choice and freedom the racial discrimination of women continues today.
Liturgy, an "investigation" into Cardinal Sarah's management gets underway
A raucous decision has been made inside the Vatican. An Apostolic Visitation has just began at the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacrament which, until just three weeks ago, was headed by Cardinal Robert Sarah. This is the first time that a Vatican Congregation has been placed under investigation. This explains why Pope Francis accepted Sarah's resignation without appointing a successor right away. The Apostolic Visitor is Bishop Claudio Maniago, who has both a liberal vision of the liturgy and has faced accusations in the past of moral transgressions. The decision, whose motivation is still unknown, could also be linked to recent revised measures for Masses celebrated inside St. Peter's Basilica, directives which penalise the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.
Covid and lockdown: cocaine epidemic in Europe
Sales of the drug have boomed in Ireland, Spain and the UK, where more than 10% of the population reported having used it in recent months. There are signs of growth in countries where it was previously uncommon. Some said they tripled their consumption during the closures. But the EU is turning a blind eye.
Pius V and Scappi served up illustrated gastronomy book
St Pius V was a remarkable pontiff who did a great deal to defend the faith. Although he ate frugally, he had the finest cook of the Renaissance (inherited from his predecessor): Bartolomeo Scappi. Thanks to Pope Ghislieri, he published ‘Opera dell’arte del cucinare’, the first illustrated book on gastronomy. And in May, a film will be released, ‘Il Cuoco del Papa’ [The Pope’s Cook], based on this historic publication.
Beijing clears the way for global vaccine passport
China is way ahead of the game: it is the first major emerging power to introduce a vaccine passport. Though not the first ever of its kind, China is advocating a system of standard recognition around the world. What is the flip side? It’s yet another means of totalitarian control.
“Irreversible neurological damage with distance learning”
“With lockdowns and distance learning we have forced children into on-line addiction”. This is the word of neurologist Rosanna Chifari Negri, who raises the alarm with the Daily Compass: “It is the phenomenon of the on-line brain that affects the frontal lobe, the seat of decision-making and strategy, which becomes atrophic and loses neurons irreversibly. The thinning of the cortex means neuronal loss. It is not possible to fix the memory. All the children tested show loss of memory and attention and also have social psychopathologies”.
Iraq, praise for the Pope calls for an adequate response
Pope Francis' visit to Iraq, which illustrated that the road to dialogue is a viable one, has no doubt generated hope among the local population. However, it is now up to political and religious leaders to demonstrate their willingness to lay down their arms and fight corruption. For Christians, the desire to return to their homes and lands - previously occupied by Isis and now by Shiite militias - risks remaining a mere hope.
