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Pope Francis gave a shoutout to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar at the end of his weekly audience on Wednesday. Speaking to a crowd of people from around the world November 23, the pope expressed his hope the international soccer competition would foster fraternity and peace. Pope Francis added to his appeal for peace, asking for prayers for an end to all conflicts, especially the conflict in Ukraine. The choice of Qatar as host country for the men’s soccer tournament has been criticized due to conditions in the country, including the situation of Christians. Non-Islamic religions, including Christianity, which are strongly represented among migrant workers, are granted freedom only to a limited extent in the Middle Eastern nation.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252893/pope-francis-gives-a-shoutout-to-2022-fifa-world-cup
A major Catholic publishing house is pulling a book on Catholic princess saints, days after an illustrator took to social media saying that the company had published the book based on her ideas and illustrations. Ascension, a publisher of Catholic books and digital media, said it would no longer be selling the book “Catholic Princess Saint Stories, Volume I,” which was released earlier this month. Fabiola Garza, the illustrator who is at odds with Ascension, posted on social media that she had spent months talking with the publisher about plans for a book on princess saints. When those talks did not lead to a contract, she took her idea elsewhere, but says Ascension took her idea and produced similar illustrations. Ascension has denied any wrongdoing, but has agreed to pull the book from the shelves.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252890/ascension-catholic-publisher-pulls-book-on-princess-saints-illustrator-dispute
Today, the Church celebrates Saint Miguel Pro Juarez, a priest who witnessed to the faith during a time when the Church was driven underground in Mexico. He was executed by Mexican authorities, and shouted "Viva Cristo Rey!" - "Long live Christ the King!" as he was shot. 30,000 people attended his funeral procession. Father Miguel Pro was beatified on September 25, 1988 by Pope John Paul II.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/blessed-miguel-pro-juarez-397
The Church also celebrates the fourth Pope, Saint Clement I, a disciple of the apostles who inherited the authority of Saint Peter in the first century.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/pope-st-clement-i-689
Finally, an originator of Ireland's unique monastic tradition, who went on to serve as a missionary to continental Europe during the early Middle Ages, the abbot Saint Columbanus – also known as Saint Columban – is also honored by the Catholic Church on November 23.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-columbanus-716