This Weeks Headlines
Searches for ‘how to become Catholic’ jump by 373 per cent
Searches for “how to become Catholic” increased by 373 per cent across the world between April 20 to 26, according to analysis of data from Google Trends.
Pope Francis appeared in public in Rome on April 20 to bless the Easter crowd and died on April 21.
The data, compiled by Vatican Tickets & Tours, reveals that searches for how to become Catholic increased by more than threefold, which they say is “unprecedented.”
“Pope Francis was loved and respected throughout the world, and his influence is shown clearly in the increasing number of people researching the Catholic faith at the time of his final public appearance and death,” Magdalena Petrusic said.
The new data follows research published last month by the Bible Society, which shows a rise in Gen Z Catholic attendance, with young adults aged 18-34 among those newly drawn to Christian beliefs after years of declining congregations.
Source: The Tablet.
Popemobile to be turned into mobile health clinic for Gaza
One of Pope Francis’s popemobiles is being transformed into a mobile health clinic for children in the Gaza Strip, fulfilling one of the Pope’s final wishes, the Vatican said.
The vehicle, used by the late pontiff during his 2014 visit to the Holy Land, is being outfitted with diagnostic and emergency medical equipment to help young patients in the Palestinian enclave, where health services have been devastated.
The United Nations children’s agency, UNICEF, says more than 9000 children have been admitted for treatment of acute malnutrition since the beginning of the year.
Pope Francis, who died last month, entrusted the mobile clinic venture to the Catholic aid organisation Caritas Jerusalem in the months before his death, Vatican News said.
Full-time workers hit by ‘worst ever’ housing crisis
Thousands of Australian renters are struggling to afford housing, a new Anglicare Australia study shows. The organisation’s annual Rental Affordability Snapshot shows fewer than one in 100 full-time workers on the minimum wage can afford homes to rent.
It’s even worse for someone out of work, as the survey of more than 51,000 rental listings showed that just three were affordable for someone on JobSeeker.
Anglicare executive director Kasy Chambers said people on the lowest incomes “don’t stand a chance”.
The 16th annual snapshot was the worst so far, Ms Chambers said.
“It’s hard to think what we’ll say here this time next year.”
Source: Canberra Times
Nuclear disarmament is the ‘best way’ to honour Pope Francis
The Holy See’s diplomat to the United Nations has reiterated a call to end nuclear proliferation. Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Holy See’s UN permanent observer, shared his thoughts in two addresses at the UN’s New York headquarters. He said the best way to honour the late Pope Francis is to “rediscover the spirit” that created the UN and collaboratively strive for peace.
At a plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly convened to commemorate Pope Francis, Archbishop Caccia stressed the late pontiff “recognised the fundamental importance of multilateralism, with the UN at its centre.”
Source: Catholic Review.