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Italian police have identified the person who sent a questionable letter to the pope this week. The letter was addressed to Pope Francis, and contained three bullets. Police have not released the name of the individual, but said it is a French citizen, who is already known to Vatican security.
The Archbishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services has said he supports a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for servicemen. The Pentagon is reportedly set to require that all troops receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The archbishop said the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Pope Francis, had recognized the morality of the vaccine. He said that is the best guidance Catholics have. The archbishop said that while a person could object from the mandatory vaccine due to their personal conscience, “even that should be formed by the teaching of the Church.”
A grassroots petition is calling for a temporary suspension of the charitable status of Canada’s Catholic bishop’s conference, and more than 300 Catholic charities. The petition is in response to the Catholic Church’s participation in residential schools in Canada. The petition had about 16,000 signatures as of Monday afternoon. A spokesperson for Canada’s Revenue Agency said a suspension is only possible if an investigation, and hearing, prove an organization violated its charitable status conditions.
Catholic dioceses and parishes in Thailand are converting many church facilities into field hospitals and isolation centers. Thailand is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases. The archbishop of Bangkok said the more humanity suffers, the more we need love, mercy and sharing.
Today is the feast of Saint Lawrence. Lawrence was martyred in the year 258. He is venerated as a patron of Rome, along with Saints Peter and Paul.