Fides News Agency, Palazzo “de Propaganda Fide”, Rome (2026)

10/06/2026

The Las Raíces Center, between migrant reception and preparation for the Pope's visit to Tenerife: Tenerife – The Las Raíces reception center in Tenerife is preparing for the visit of Pope Leo XIV on June 12, when he will meet with migrants as part of his Apostolic Journey. The visit to the Canary Islands highlights the reality of migration and the commitment of the Church and social organizations to welcoming migrants.
The visit to Las Raíces takes place one day after the Pope's visit to Gran Canaria, where a meeting is planned for June 11 at the port of Arguineguín, one of the main arrival points on the Atlantic route . Both locations have become symbols of the migration crisis in the Canary Islands and of the institutional and humanitarian measures in response to migration flows from West Africa.

The Center, run by the organization "Accem," is one of the most important emergency shelters for migrants arriving by boat to the islands. Established in response to the migration flows across the Atlantic, it serves as the first reception center for the state's asylum system. At its peak, it housed over 2,500 people in extremely cramped conditions. Currently, it is home to about 500 people.

The Pope's visit will include a meeting with a group of migrants in an informal setting, during which some will have the opportunity to speak briefly with the Pope in Spanish. Those welcomed, especially the Catholics among them, are experiencing the wait with great emotion. According to the center, the Spanish courses offered as part of the integration programs have attracted particular interest in recent days, as some guests are preparing to greet the Pope in Spanish or briefly share their experiences with him.

Another significant moment will be the meeting at the Plaza del Cristo de La Laguna. There, the Pope will listen to the testimonies of migrants, volunteers, and pastoral workers from Cáritas Tenerife, who will share their experiences of welcome and integration, highlighting the human dimension of migration in a spirit of hope.

Pope Leo XIV's visit to the Canary Islands is considered one of the most significant moments of his trip. The Holy See emphasized the symbolic importance of this stop as a message to Europe to be more open to migrants and to promote legal and safe migration channels. Along these lines, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, in an interview before his departure, described the stay in the Canary Islands as a key moment to reaffirm the Christian response to migration, which is based on welcome and integration, as well as supporting regularization initiatives.

The presence of King Felipe VI at the farewell ceremony at Tenerife North Airport and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's participation in the meeting with migrants, workers, and volunteers scheduled for June 11 at the port of Arguineguín underscore the institutional significance of the visit, which places the archipelago at the center of the European migration debate.
The papal visit concludes with the celebration of Holy Mass at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife before Pope Leo XIV's return to Rome.

Tenerife (Fides News Agency) – The Las Raíces reception center in Tenerife is preparing for the v

10/06/2026

AFRICA/SOUTH AFRICA - Tightening on illegal immigration policies following a wave of xenophobia. Msgr. Sipuka states that "all domestic problems cannot be blamed on foreigners": Johannesburg – On June 7, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation, stating, "Our country is neither xenophobic nor racist, but immigration laws must be respected, and it is solely the State's responsibility, and not anyone else." In his speech, the president proposed a comprehensive immigration management plan, including new restrictions on illegal immigration. The measure was adopted by the Council of Ministers and approved by the Presidential Coordination Council. President Ramaphosa continued, noting the concerns of South Africans regarding illegal immigration. This problem is exacerbated by the difficult economic conditions faced by most local residents. " Many South Africans are asking difficult but legitimate questions. They are asking whether our borders are secure. They are concerned about jobs. South Africans are raising these matters because they are concerned about pressure on public services. They are concerned about safety, security and the rule of law. “These concerns are real. They deserve to be heard. They deserve to be addressed,” Ramaphosa acknowledges. In recent months, South Africa has seen several incidents of violence against immigrants by its own citizens. Previously, bishops had condemned this escalating wave of violence . This situation has also forced many residents from other African countries to leave South Africa . Ramaphosa emphasized that people must “recognize that illegal immigration is not the cause of all our economic difficulties.” He pointed out that the solution to the country's social and economic problems “must be faster economic growth, greater investment, industrial expansion, infrastructure development and the creation of millions of new jobs.” He reiterated that "the responsibility for enforcing immigration laws rests with the state and the state alone." At the same time, the president acknowledged that "there have been weaknesses in the way migration has been managed." These tightened measures targeting illegal immigration include strengthening the identification and repatriation of undocumented foreign citizens, imposing economic and criminal penalties on employers who hire undocumented workers, strengthening border controls, eradicating corruption in the immigration management system, and establishing a biometric registration system for all residents to combat identity theft.
In addition, the government will introduce a foreign worker industry quota system through a new immigration policy and establish an asylum application processing mechanism in border areas. On June 9th, Archbishop Sitterberg Shipka, President of the South African Christian Council and the Catholic Church, issued a pastoral letter entitled "Do Not Turn Away the Stranger." He welcomed the government's acknowledgment of the problem and pledged to take action. The South African Christian Council brings together the country's major Christian denominations, including the Catholic Church. In the pastoral letter, the Archbishop reiterated several points raised by President Ramaphosa, particularly emphasizing that immigration is not the primary cause of South Africa's economic difficulties. Archbishop Sipka pointed out that the over 40% unemployment rate cannot be attributed to immigration, but rather to systemic failures such as corruption, inadequate education, and economic inequality. He said, "Putting the blame on foreigners means allowing those truly responsible to escape control. Crime knows no state, and the response to crime is to punish criminals according to the law, not to inflict violence on innocent people."

Johannesburg (Fides News Agency) – On June 7, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed th

10/06/2026

ASIA/PAKISTAN - Poverty Alleviation: cooperation between the State and the Catholic community: Islamabad – The partnership between the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund and the Catholic Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, recently established in Islamabad, aims to create a foundation for cooperation and explore avenues of collaboration to promote inclusive development, peace, dignity, and prosperity in Pakistani society, which is severely affected by poverty and socioeconomic hardship with all its consequences. The partnership was signed at a meeting of representatives from the Church and civil society, who reaffirmed their shared commitment to combating poverty and its structural causes.

Archbishop Joseph Arshad of Islamabad-Rawalpindi emphasized in this context: “Poverty is never just a matter of numbers or statistics; it concerns real people who deserve to be seen, heard, and valued.” He called on those present to look beyond institutional data and “develop a greater empathy that recognizes the human suffering in vulnerable communities.” He also addressed the issue of housing security, emphasizing that “a safe and stable roof over a family’s head is a fundamental, God-given human right.” The Archbishop spoke of a “more compassionate Pakistan, where true peace means not only the absence of conflict, but also the presence of love and active cooperation so that no one is excluded.”

According to official estimates, Pakistan’s national poverty rate stands at 28.9%. It is rising due to high inflation, increasing energy prices, and declining real incomes. However, the Social Policy and Development Center , an independent body, estimates that around 105 million people are affected by poverty: 44.7% of the population lives below the poverty line, with the rate being higher in rural areas than in urban areas. In this context, Archbishop Arshad emphasized that religious minorities in Pakistan often bear the greatest economic burden and are overrepresented among the poorest segments of the population. According to reports from human rights groups, socioeconomic researchers, and non-governmental organizations, Pakistani Christians are disproportionately affected by poverty and exhibit marked socioeconomic vulnerability. The high poverty rate is structurally linked to workplace discrimination. In urban centers such as Peshawar and Lahore, 76 to 80% of low-wage jobs in sanitation and wastewater management are held by Christians. According to data from the Movement for National Development and Justice, the literacy rate among Christians is estimated at 19%, compared to a national average of 58%. This contributes to trapping entire generations in a vicious cycle of systemic poverty.

The Catholic Church in Pakistan is focusing on structural interventions to address the root causes of poverty, particularly in two areas: education and vocational training, which are considered key to social improvement, and economic development through support for small businesses. Education is considered the most effective way to break the cycle of poverty, especially among Christian minorities.

The Church operates schools at all levels and universities, which are open to everyone. It also supports vocational training programs in fields such as sewing, crafts, IT, and mechanics, primarily aimed at young people and young women. This includes supporting micro-enterprises by promoting small businesses and providing access to microcredit. Particular emphasis is placed on programs for the economic empowerment of women, who are seen as essential for the development of families and local communities.

Islamabad (Fides News Agency) – The partnership between the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPA

10/06/2026

AFRICA/TANZANIA - Cardinal Rugambwa remembers Bishop Osório Citora: “A friend who shared his views. A person endowed with many beautiful qualities”: Dar es Salaam – “I met Bishop Osorio in 2017, when he was called to serve in the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, now the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches, which at that time needed an official in charge of Portuguese-speaking countries.” This is what Cardinal Protase Rugambwa, Archbishop of Tabora , wrote to Fides, referring to the death of his friend and “former colleague” Osorio Citora, IMC, Bishop of Quelimane, who was brutally murdered on June 6.

“It is true that the tragic death of our dear brother bishop has left us speechless,” Cardinal Rugambwa said from Dar es Salaam, where he is participating in a series of annual meetings of the Tanzanian Episcopal Conference. “Father Osorio, a Consolata missionary, was a man of God, an gentle, humble, cultured, and refined priest. A hard worker, always available for the various responsibilities entrusted to him, both within the Congregation and outside of it, in our Propaganda Fide colleges and also in Italian parishes. He was a friend who readily shared his views. A person endowed with many beautiful qualities. Since his appointment as bishop, he frequently shared his pastoral experiences with me. Among them, I wish to share a message he sent me on May 25, a few weeks before his death.”

The following is the note sent by the Bishop of Quelimane, Osorio Citora, to Cardinal Rugambwa:

“Dear Eminence, Blessed Pentecost! I am writing to you in a spirit of brotherhood to share the challenges and joys of our ministry. In addition to guiding our beloved Diocese of Quelimane, as you know, I am also currently serving as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Beira. The work is intense, but it is giving me a beautiful perspective on ecclesial communion. In my diocese, we are moving forward with the plan centered on ‘walking with hope toward a synodal, missionary, and self-sustaining Church,’ and the fruits are beginning to become visible, especially thanks to the enthusiasm of our priests. Meanwhile, in the Archdiocese, I am experiencing a period of ‘transitional pastoral care.’ There, the challenge is to continue the path and nurture vocations.” I have tried to join forces, encouraging the pastoral councils of both Churches to engage in dialogue. While in my diocese I make pastoral visits to each parish as planned, in the Archdiocese I conduct them by pastoral zones, of which there are six. Yesterday I concluded a pastoral visit with a Mass during which I confirmed 340 young people. Today and tomorrow I am participating in two days of ongoing formation for priests between six and fifteen years of priestly ministry. On Wednesday I will begin my second pastoral visit. One of my priests is preparing to go to study Biblical Theology with a scholarship from Propaganda; two seminarians will be leaving for Kinshasa, while I continue to look for other formation destinations for more priests: they truly need formation. We are experiencing a beautiful collaboration: some lay people and catechists from our parishes are helping each other, creating a bridge of faith and sharing resources. I do not deny that the distances and the pace of work are demanding, but seeing the clergy and the communities embrace this spirit of unity is a great consolation to me. I entrust you to my daily prayers and ask you to remember me before the Lord, so that I may be a wise shepherd for both flocks. Hoping to embrace you again soon, I bless you from my heart, certain of receiving your blessing in return. Yours in the Lord.”

This final message, which Bishop Osorio shared with Cardinal Rugambwa, ends with words of kindness, hope, and trust in the Lord. Cardinal Rugambwa, for his part, invites everyone to “pray for this brother of ours, Bishop Osorio, that the merciful Lord may reward him and welcome him into his heavenly home.”

Dar es Salaam (Fides News Agency) – “I met Bishop Osorio in 2017, when he was called to serve in

10/06/2026

Barcelona: Pope Leo XIV follows in the footsteps of missionary architect Gaudí: by Marie-Lucile Kubacki

Barcelona – “The new tower realizes the project of its architect, Gaudí, who was deeply inspired by faith. He was the first to understand art as a form of proclaiming the Gospel and as the preferred language of Christian mission,” said Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin in an interview with Vatican media ahead of Pope Leo VI’s Apostolic Journey to Spain, from June 6 to 12, 2026.

In the Sagrada Família Basilica, the Pope will preside over a Holy Mass on June 10 and participate in the inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ.
By presenting the tower as a “beacon of redemption and hope” and as a “work of evangelization,” the Secretary of State goes beyond the mere artistic and cultural significance of the Sagrada Família: For the Holy See, the church building is “a construction site of living stones, constantly growing throughout history” and is called to direct humanity’s gaze to God.

This approach sheds a unique light on the personality of the architect Antoni Gaudí and his contribution to a missionary architecture that is not only the fruit of his aesthetic genius but also the result of a profound journey of conversion.

Born in 1852 into a Catholic family, the Catalan architect was initially a rather ‘lukewarm’ Christian. But the blows of fate in life—illness, loss—gradually created a space within him in which his relationship with God grew. When he accepted the Sagrada Família project, he was also attracted by the career opportunities it offered. But the young dandy gradually transformed into an “architect-monk,” to use Patrick Sbalchiero’s famous phrase from his biography, “Antoni Gaudí: The Architect of God.” This referred to the poverty and asceticism that would characterize the final years of his life.

The Sagrada Família shapes the human heart as the human being works on its stone structure. The work shapes the artist, to the extent that he entrusts it to God. This “expiatory basilica”—its full name is “Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família,” or “Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family”—was financed entirely by alms, that is, by the donations of the faithful and visitors. Its construction was repeatedly interrupted, particularly due to financial difficulties, and it remains a construction site to this day. Precisely because of this unique history, it is a church of living stones, built from faith and prayer, and in this sense, profoundly “inspired.”

At the consecration of the church and altar in 2010, Benedict XVI recalled that Gaudí, faced with the countless difficulties he had to overcome, one day “exclaimed with complete confidence in divine Providence: ‘Saint Joseph will complete the church.’”

Thus, Pope Leo XIV’s presence comes to honor not only a “great architect” but also a unique understanding of art and the vocation of the missionary artist. “Through his work, Gaudí shows us that God is the true measure of humanity, that the secret of true originality, as he said, lies in returning to the origin, which is God. By opening his own mind to God in this way, he was able to create in this city a space of beauty, faith, and hope that leads people to an encounter with the One who is truth and beauty itself,” Benedict XVI declared in 2010.

A century after the architect’s death, the basilica continues to captivate some 4.8 million visitors annually with its unique beauty.

by Marie-Lucile Kubacki Barcelona (Fides News Agency) – “The new tower realizes the project

09/06/2026

Study day on “Palazzo di Propaganda Fide”: Art, history and mission in the heart of baroque Rome: Rome – It houses the brilliant rivalry between the great artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini and his rival Francesco Borromini. It tells the story of the first seminarians who came to Rome from Asia, Africa, and the Americas in the 17th century to study theology and then return to their homelands to proclaim the Gospel of Christ. It recounts the debts accumulated by families of Cardinals.
Above all, it illustrates the beginnings of the great missionary adventure of Catholicism in the modern era, which spread throughout the world in the years following the founding of the Sacred Congregation "De Propaganda Fide" . All this and much more can be found in the history of Palazzo Ferratini, whose façade faces Piazza di Spagna in the heart of Rome. The building commonly known as the "Palazzo di Propaganda Fide" is not a museum, but still houses the staff of a section of the Dicastery for Evangelization, dedicated to the First Evangelization and the new particular churches. A vibrant network of activities connects the staff of this building daily with the urgent needs, news, and challenges of ecclesial communities worldwide.
The building was "donated" to the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith exactly 400 years ago, on June 5, 1626. Four centuries later, on Thursday, June 11, 2026, an international study day on "Palazzo di Propaganda Fide" will be held in the Aula Magna of the Pontifical Urban College, on the Janiculum Hill, in the area of the Pontifical Urbaniana University. This event offered an opportunity to explore the beginnings of the building's eventful history and to rediscover the artistic treasures it contains.
The day begins at 9:00 a.m. with brief introductions by Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Missionary Dicastery; Professor Vincenzo Buonomo, Rector of the Pontifical Urbaniana University; Father Armando Nugnes, Rector of the Pontifical Urban College; and José María Giaima Brosel Gavila, Rector of the Church of Santa Maria in Monserrato, the Spanish National Church in Rome. This will be followed by two study sessions: the first will focus on the history of the palace, and the second on its significant artistic and architectural aspects.

The study day's program

400 years ago, the Valencian priest Juan Bautista Vives donated the "Palazzo di Propaganda Fide" as the headquarters of the Congregation responsible for missions throughout the world. The building had previously been the subject of a long dispute between the Spanish prelate and the financially troubled heirs of Cardinal Ferratini, who had commissioned its construction near Piazza di Spagna as a private residence. In the first session—chaired by Professor Pierantonio Piatti, Vice President of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences—Monsignor Flavio Belluomini, Archivist of the Historical Archive of Propaganda Fide, will present the complex events and reasons for the donation of the palace. Following this, the second lecture, by Luca Balducci of the Library of the Pontifical Urbaniana University, will focus on the relocation of the Urban College – which since its founding in 1627, the college had housed its students in the Palazzo di Propaganda and moved to its new location on the Janiculum Hill, completed in 1926. Balducci's lecture will focus on the purchase of the building, the various phases of the move, and the early years of the new building adjacent to the Pontifical Urbaniana University.
This highlights the continuity between the first non-European students, who were housed in the building overlooking Piazza di Spagna from the 17th century onward, and the current student community hosted in the Urban College, with over 160 students from nearly 40 different nations.

Bernini, Borromini, and the Chapel of the Three Kings

Historians attribute the main façade of Palazzo di Propaganda, which faces Piazza di Spagna and features the Column of the Immaculate Conception, to Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Francesco Borromini, on the other hand, shaped the entire architectural identity of the palace with his experimental style, beginning with the façade on Via di Propaganda, which was completed around 1662. Inside, Borromini also replaced Bernini's small elliptical chapel with the chapel now known as the Chapel of the Three Kings, completed in 1666. Completed in this way, it features a complex floor plan rich in curves, niches, and continuous surfaces: a liturgical space dedicated to the Epiphany, within a palace where everything has always been geared towards accompanying and supporting the Church's apostolic work throughout the world.
The Portuguese Jesuit Nuno da Silva Gonçalves, director of the journal "La Civiltà Cattolica" and professor at the Faculty of History and Cultural Heritage of the Church at the Pontifical Gregorian University, begins with a lecture by Professor Marisa Tabarrini from the Institute of History, Design, and Restoration of Architecture at the University of Rome "La Sapienza" on "The Palazzo di Propaganda Fide and its Architects." Following this, Professor Joseph Connors from the University of Notre Dame will deliver his lecture on "From Bernini's Small Chapel to Borromini's Large Chapel." At 6:00 p.m., the study day concludes with a prayer and thanksgiving service in the Chapel of the Three Kings in Palazzo di Propaganda Fide, where Vespers will be celebrated. This event on Thursday, June 11, marks the beginning of a series of studies initiated and coordinated by the Dicastery for Evangelization, which will culminate in 2027 with an international conference commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Urban College. Journalists and media professionals can apply for accreditation to attend the study day at the Holy See Press Office.

Link correlati :Program

Rome (Fides News Agency) – It houses the brilliant rivalry between the great artist Gian Lorenzo B

09/06/2026

EUROPE/SPAIN - El Hierro, prayer for migrants who died in the Atlantic on the eve of the Pope's visit: La Restinga - A memorial service was recently held on the island of El Hierro, one of the main arrival points on the Atlantic migration route to the Canary Islands, for the migrants who drowned at sea and those who reached the shore after the crossing.
The commemoration took place in the port of La Restinga, a town on the southern tip of the island, which belongs to the Diocese of Nivariense . The so-called Canary route, which starts mainly from the west coast of Africa, exposes numerous precarious boats adrift in the Atlantic Ocean, which explains the frequent arrivals in the archipelago, particularly on the island of El Hierro.
According to the Canary Islands government, the island, with its population of just 11,700, received almost half of all the irregular boats that arrived in the archipelago last year. In 2024 alone, 23,994 migrants landed on the shores of the Canary Islands, more than half of the 46,843 who arrived on the islands that same year.

Under the motto "El Hierro raises Its gaze," the local Catholic community viewed this initiative as preparation for the upcoming papal visit. The Eucharist was celebrated at the parish of Nuestra Señora de los Reyes. Bishop Eloy Alberto Santiago of San Cristóbal de La Laguna presided over the Mass and concelebrated with the Archbishop Emeritus of Caracas, Cardinal Baltazar Porras, and the island's priests. Also present was Darwin Rivas, parish priest of La Restinga and delegate of the Caritas in El Hierro. He is one of the initiators of the migrant reception program in the region and will report on the pastoral care provided to migrants in the archipelago at the meeting with the Holy Father on June 12 in the Plaza del Cristo de La Laguna.

The celebration was characterized by pastoral care in light of the migration situation in the archipelago. Bishop Eloy Alberto Santiago repeatedly emphasized the importance of not remaining silent about the suffering of those who risk the crossing to the Canary Islands and, in light of what he called a "humanitarian tragedy in which many people lose their lives," called for greater institutional awareness. After the Eucharist, the participants processed with torches in silent prayer to the port of La Restinga. There, the bishop offered a prayer for the island and the migrants who had reached its shores and concluded with a symbolic gesture of remembrance by throwing flowers into the sea to commemorate those who lost their lives during the crossing.

La Restinga (Fides News Agency) - A memorial service was recently held on the island of El Hierro, o

09/06/2026

AFRICA/NIGERIA - Bishop of Ondo after the conviction of four jihadists for the Pentecost massacre: “There is a law in this country”: Abuja – Four people have been sentenced to death for the massacre that took place four years ago, on June 5, 2022, at St. Francis Xavier Church in Owo, Ondo State .
Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, 25, Al Qasim Idris, 20, Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26, and Abdulhaleem Idris, 25, were sentenced to death by hanging by the Federal Court in Abuja on nine charges, including hostage-taking, kidnapping, financing terrorism, detonating explosives resulting in death and injury.
A fifth suspect, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, was acquitted for lack of evidence, despite being found in possession of a large sum of money whose origin he could not explain. The investigation was conducted by the Nigerian Department of State Security . Eleven people testified at the trial. The four convicted men, who initially maintained their innocence, later voluntarily confessed to carrying out the attack after their leader, who remains at large, told them that the Catholic Church was committing blasphemy by insulting the Prophet Muhammad. They stated that they had received explicit orders to kill the priest who survived the attack. According to facts revealed at the trial, the defendants joined the Somali jihadist group Al-Shabaab in 2021. Al-Shabaab, however, has not claimed responsibility for the June 2022 attack, and its operational presence in Nigeria remains unclear.
The Islamic State of West Africa , a splinter group of the Nigerian group Boko Haram, has also never claimed responsibility for the Pentecost Sunday massacre, in which over 40 people were killed and more than 100 injured. Bishop Jude Ayodeji Arogundade of Ondo commented on the verdict, saying, “Some level of justice was done. But at the same time, it doesn’t bring back the lives of 41 people that were brutally murdered on that day. So my reaction is, well, we have a law in this country. The law may have taken its course, but we are left to continue to nurse the wounds of those who are scarred by that attack,” he added. The death penalty is rarely carried out in Nigeria, so it is likely that the four death sentences will be commuted to life imprisonment.

Abuja (Fides News Agency) – Four people have been sentenced to death for the massacre that took pl

Fides News Agency

10/06/2026

10/06/2026

10/06/2026

10/06/2026

10/06/2026

09/06/2026

09/06/2026

09/06/2026

Indirizzo

Telefono

Sito Web

Notifiche

Scelte rapide

Condividi