IN BRIEF
SATURDAY: The Vatican announced on June 3rd that Pope Francis will visit Mongolia from August 31 to September 4. Mongolia has just under 1,500 Catholics but it does have a cardinal, Italian born Giorgio Marengo, apostolic prefect of Ulaanbaatar! Pope Francis to make Apostolic Journey to Mongolia – Vatican News Also: Cardinal Marengo: Pope’s Mongolia visit an encouragement for Catholics – Vatican News
ALSO SATURDAY: At noon, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, performed a penitential rite at the Altar of the Confession as required by canon law when a desecration of an altar takes place. Canon 1211 treats cases of desecration. Such an act happened last Thursday evening, just before the basilica closed, when a Polish man stripped naked and climbed atop the papal altar. The words “Save children of Ukraine” were written on his back in English. He was handed over to Italian police, according to an Italy-Holy See Treaty. Penitential rite held at St. Peter’s for desecration of Altar of Confession – Vatican News
MONDAY: Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, a special papal envoy, today began a two-day trip to Kyiv, Ukraine on a peace-seeking mission to resolve the war between Russia and Ukraine. A Vatican communique announced the trip over the weekend. Zuppi’s appointment as papal envoy had been announced May 20. Cardinal Zuppi in Ukraine, exploring “ways to achieve a just peace” – Vatican News
Joan's Rome 