WHITE HOUSE, VATICAN STATEMENTS ON BIDEN-CARDINAL ZUPPI MEETING

WHITE HOUSE, VATICAN STATEMENTS ON BIDEN-CARDINAL ZUPPI MEETING

(White House, July 18, 2023) –  “President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met today with Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna and President of the Italian Episcopal Conference.  President Biden shared his wishes for Pope Francis’s continued ministry and global leadership and welcomed the recent nomination of a U.S. archbishop as cardinal.  They also discussed the Holy See’s efforts providing humanitarian aid to address the widespread suffering caused by Russia’s continuing aggression in Ukraine, as well as the Vatican’s advocacy for the return of forcibly deported Ukrainian children.”

(Vatican News, July 19, 2023) – Vatican News added, “they went on to discuss the Vatican’s “advocacy” for the return of the estimated 19,000 Ukrainian children who have been brought to Russia since the renewed invasion on 24 February 2022.

Cardinal Zuppi travelled to Washington on 17 July, along with an official from the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, and his visit is due to conclude on Wednesday.

Vatican file photo Cardinal Zuppi –

Ahead of his meeting with President Biden, the cardinal met on Capitol Hill with several members of the US Congress.

The Holy See Press Office had announced on Monday that Cardinal Zuppi would visit Washington to “promote peace in Ukraine”.

His mission, according to a press statement, “seeks to facilitate the exchange of ideas and opinions regarding the current tragic situation, as well as to provide support for humanitarian initiatives aimed at alleviating the suffering of the most vulnerable people, particularly children.”

Nuncio’s comment on Zuppi’s mission
Speaking on Tuesday to several Italian media outlets, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States said Cardinal Zuppi’s mission is to “open a dialogue: to listen and be listened to.”

Cardinal-elect Christophe Pierre said Pope Francis hopes to “contribute to peace, and more specifically to find inroads on humanitarian grounds, particularly with regard to children.”

“The idea is to consider peace, amid the complicated context,” he said. “The Cardinal is very realistic, and we try to do what we can.”  https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-07/cardinal-matteo-zuppi-us-president-biden-ukraine.html

 

DOMINICAN SISTERS TO SING AT WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING

DOMINICAN SISTERS TO SING AT WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING

As our four founding Sisters stepped out in faith 21 years ago to begin a new community of women religious, they envisioned spreading the witness of religious life across the country. Indeed, God has affirmed their act of faith by providing abundant opportunities to fulfill that vision.

In a spirit of thanksgiving, we are excited to bring “Christ to the Capitol” as our Sisters sing selections from our latest CD, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, at the White House for the 96th Annual National Christmas Tree Lighting on November 28!