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13+ min ago (200+ words) Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrived in Ankara a short while ago, responding to an official invitation from the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdo'an. The Patriarch's visit comes ahead of the formal welcoming ceremony for His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Presidential Complex in Be'tepe. During this brief patriarchal visit to the [] Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrived in Ankara a short while ago, responding to an official invitation from the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdo'an. The Patriarch's visit comes ahead of the formal welcoming ceremony for His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Presidential Complex in Be'tepe. During this brief patriarchal visit to the Turkish capital, the Patriarch was accompanied by Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, who was also invited by the President. Joining the delegation were the Very Reverend Grand Archdeacon Alexander, Nikolaos-Georgios Papachristou,…...

15+ min ago (872+ words) Sister Mary Frances climbed into her office, careful to avoid broken glass. The floor was covered in muck from floodwaters that had raged through after Hurricane Ian hit two weeks earlier. Among the debris, Frances found six small, sacred relics she'd kept in her office. This summer, three years after the storm destroyed the cloistered nuns' home in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, Frances brought the dirty, damaged treasures to their trusted local jeweler " desperately hoping he could save them. Mark Loren had over the years cleaned the sisters' jewelry and repaired their watches. But the cases holding the relics, called reliquaries, presented a new challenge. They were old and excruciatingly intricate, made of a mix of metals and kept closed with a wax seal, obscuring the artifacts inside. Loren was cautious. He told Frances that he and his team would…...

22+ min ago (356+ words) During the first apostolic journey of his pontificate, which will take him to Turkey and Lebanon from November 27 to December 2, 2025, Leo XIV will encounter two very different realities with regard to the local Catholic communities. Here's an overview based on official figures from the Vatican's Central Statistics Office published ahead of the trip. In Turkey, the Catholic community is estimated at 33,000 members. It represents a minority of just 0.04% of the population of 85.8 million. There are about 10 bishops in the country, and 76 priests " diocesan and religious " serve 40 parishes spread across seven ecclesiastical districts. In addition, there are about 10 seminarians. The Catholic Church runs 24 schools with a total of about 7,000 students. In the field of health, it runs about 15 institutions, including hospitals, orphanages, and retirement homes. The Church's modest figures there also include 56 catechists, two deacons, and about 40 nuns. Catholics in Turkey…...

22+ min ago (815+ words) Gary Clayton looks at attempts made over the centuries to ban Christmas Day and how, in spite of these efforts, it remains one of the most important days in the calendar According to an old friend: "Christmas sucks!" Although the festival is celebrated by millions of people worldwide, he points out that the Bible doesn't give the year of Jesus' birth; the date wasn't agreed on in the West until about 350AD, and it's highly unlikely that sheep would have been in the fields at night if Jesus had been born in the "bleak midwinter', i.e. 25th December. So, because of all this, I haven't always been that big a fan, though I guess I've mellowed somewhat. But you'd have to ask my wife if that's true " she loves Christmas! Though I haven't necessarily changed my mind about certain aspects of the festival,…...

26+ min ago (262+ words) When planets change direction in the sky, we often experience an energetic shift in our daily lives; sometimes it is sudden, while at other times it occurs gradually over time. Saturn, the planet of discipline, karma, and long-term growth, has been in retrograde for over 120 days. On 28 November 2025, it finally moves directly into Pisces, bringing a wave of clarity, stability, and progress. At the same time, Jupiter also begins its retrograde journey, creating a powerful mix of cosmic energies. ALSO READ: November 2025 horoscope: 3 zodiac signs with the best financial luck this month According to astrologer Sidhharrth S Kumaar of NumroVani, for some zodiac signs, this combination becomes especially auspicious, opening doors to success, confidence, and long-awaited movement. Here are the four signs most likely to benefit from this transit. As Saturn shifts, the fog finally lifts, and your plans begin…...

31+ min ago (258+ words) Two stories anchor our oldest holiday. Both took place in times of division and deprivation. And both offer a hopeful note about who we can be when we try. One can practically hear today's political media racing each other to call such a message "out of touch." But what Lincoln understood was that the practice of giving thanks could bridge chasms that politics and war had torn open. He offered hope that acknowledging our common blessings might preserve the union when little else could. The peaks and valleys of American history are commonly defined by our wealth and our power. But as these stories remind us, the true character of America is found in our capacity as a pilgrim people to find reasons for hope and gratitude and share those blessings with others. So, what might those moments suggest for…...

31+ min ago (13+ words) Pope Leo XIV arrives in Turkey on first foreign trip of his papacy...

32+ min ago (642+ words) Shirley Anstis provides some guidelines on how carers and those who work in caring professions can put themselves first over Christmas and beyond Caring for others has long been at the heart of faith. Whether you are a carer, foster parent, welfare officer, pastor, therapist or nurse, you will know what it feels like to be responsible for the care of another person. It is a beautiful thing to be able to care for others, but it can also be a strain on the carer. But what toll does caring take on the carer? Carers can be looking after people physically, socially, mentally and emotionally. They can experience exhaustion, compassion fatigue, burnout and illness. Self-careMany carers lose themselves in the caring role and forget to look after themselves. Self-care is when we take time to care for ourselves. It is…...

34+ min ago (490+ words) Ankara [Turkey], November 27 (ANI): Pope Leo XIV kicked off the first foreign trip of his papacy on Thursday, arriving in Muslim-majority Turkey for a visit aimed at showcasing his interest in dialogue with other faiths and cooperation with other Christian denominations, New York Times reported. During his four days in Turkey, Leo is scheduled to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan; local Catholic clergy; and leaders of other Christian groups, including Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, head of the Eastern Orthodox church. Also Read | Saudi Arabia Tightens Corporate Dress Rules, Bars Tight Clothing for Women and Mandates Thobes for Saudi Men, Suits for Expats. On Sunday, Leo is expected to fly to Lebanon, home to the Arab world's largest Catholic community, to meet with church and government officials there, as per New York Times. During the flight from Rome,…...

36+ min ago (515+ words) Happy Thursday'and Happy Thanksgiving, if you celebrate! Today, we are still sitting pretty under the waxing crescent moon, though it's gaining more illumination from the sun and heading toward the first quarter moon. Currently, the moon has around 44% illumination from the sun, nearly appearing half-lit from our view here on Earth. Wondering how today's moon will impact you? Here's everything you should know about the current moon phase, including its symbolism and astrological impact. Today's moon phase is the waxing crescent moon in Aquarius and'by the afternoon'Pisces. The moon currently has around 44% illumination from the sun. According to Moongiant, "On November 27, the moon is 6.82 days old. This refers to how many days it has been since the last new moon. It takes 29.53 days for the moon to orbit the Earth and go through the lunar cycle of all eight moon…...