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Pope Francis is being treated with antibiotics intravenously and has postponed some of his meetings this week as he recovers from a “mild flu,” according to the Vatican. Francis, who turns 87 next month, spent much of the past decade as pope in relatively good health but has dealt with several painful medical conditions over the last few years. To view a timeline charting Pope Francis’ recent health concerns, visit catholic news agency dot com.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251307/pope-francis-health-heres-a-timeline
Father Hans-Joachim Lohre, a member of the Society of the Missionaries of Africa (also known as the White Fathers) who was reportedly kidnapped in Bamako, the capital of Mali, has been set free. According to Agenzia Fides, the information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies, the German priest was released on Sunday, November 26. After being released and handed over to the Malian authorities following a negotiation that was reportedly done directly by the German government, Lohre was said to have been “flown to Germany overnight on a special flight.” Lohre was taken away as he was preparing to celebrate Mass in a church in the capital city of the West African nation. His car was found abandoned and the cross he always carried with him was on the ground near the car.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256111/german-missionary-priest-released-a-year-after-being-abducted-in-mali
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has condemned the vandalism of a pro-life organization’s headquarters in Rome perpetrated during a protest to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Demonstrators threw smoke bombs, smashed windows, and spray-painted pro-abotion graffiti on the “Pro Vita & Famiglia” association’s main office in Rome on Saturday night despite the presence of Italian police at the protest. The vandalism occurred as thousands took to the streets in Italy’s capital for a march protesting violence against women. Pro Vita & Famiglia (“Pro-Life and Family”) is an Italian nonprofit organization that helps organize Italy’s annual March for Life. The association’s headquarters were also vandalized during Rome’s LGBTQ Pride parade in June. The pro-life association said November 26 that an incendiary weapon was also found inside the office near the broken windows, which according to the initial findings of the police could have been an unexploded Molotov cocktail or a similar weapon.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256110/giorgia-meloni-condemns-vandalism-of-pro-life-center-in-rome
Today, the Church celebrates Saint Catherine Labouré, the humble member of the Daughters of Charity to whom Mary appeared, requesting that the Miraculous Medal be stamped so that all who wear it would receive great graces.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-catherine-laboure-401
The Church also celebrates Saint James of the Marches, a Franciscan priest in the 15th century who was known as an eloquent preacher. According to legend, he brought 50,000 heretics into the Church and led 200,000 nonbelievers to baptism.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-james-of-the-marches-67