Category: General Interest

With a moving Christmas message and the traditional Christmas blessing “Urbi et Orbi,” Pope Francis called for global peace on Christmas Day. He expressed concern about numerous trouble spots, including Ukraine and the Middle East wars. 38,000 faithful at Christmas massAfter the Pope opened the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday evening, ushering in the Holy Year 2025, Francis read his traditional Christmas message on Wednesday. From the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the head of around 1.4 billion Catholics blessed Urbi et Orbi (to the city of…

Read More

Pope Francis will read out his traditional Christmas message on Wednesday (12:00 noon) after the Christmas Mass. From the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the head of around 1.4 billion Catholics will give the blessing “Urbi et Orbi,” i.e. to the city and the world. In his address, the pontiff is expected to condemn the wars and conflicts in the world and recall the suffering of humanity.This year, Christmas will be marked by the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. Tens of thousands of believers are expected to gather…

Read More

A Filipino Christmas is unique due to its deep-rooted traditions, vibrant festivities, and a strong sense of community and family. Here are some key aspects that make it distinct: 1. Longest Christmas Season in the World The Filipino Christmas season begins as early as September, known as the “Ber months,” and lasts until January’s Feast of the Santo Niño. Decorations, carols, and festive activities have occurred for nearly four months. 2. Simbang Gabi (Night Masses) A central tradition, Simbang Gabi consists of nine consecutive dawn masses leading up to Christmas.…

Read More

Pope Francis will open the Holy Year of the Catholic Church on Tuesday evening (7 p.m.) in St. Peter’s Basilica. In a solemn ceremony on Christmas Eve, the 88-year-old pontiff will open and pass through the Holy Door, which is otherwise walled up from the inside. A girl from Wels is one of ten children accompanying the Pope. The Catholic Church typically celebrates a Holy Year, also known as a Jubile Year, every 25 years. According to Catholic understanding, believers can obtain an indulgence for their sins during a Holy…

Read More

According to new analyses, the moon is between 80 and 180 million years older than previously assumed. Researchers report that the tidal effect of the Earth heated the Earth’s satellite once again 4.35 billion years ago, and magma from the interior reached the surface. The age of most of the rock samples reflects the magma’s cooling and not the moon’s formation. Shortly after the primordial Earth formed around 4.5 billion years ago, there was another huge collision in the solar system: the Mars-sized celestial body Theia collided with the primordial…

Read More

For many WhatsApp users, receiving voice messages causes eye-rolling. For many, it’s an annoying affair listening to the rambling until they finally get to the point. A few written words would have done the trick. It is often more practical to speak on the cell phone than to laboriously search for the right letters on the keyboard. However, for the recipient of a voice message, this is usually anything but practical. More order in voice messagesBe that as it may. Voice messages are very popular, so WhatsApp regularly expands its…

Read More

Thousands of carol singers will again be out and about shortly after Christmas. According to the Epiphany Campaign (DKA), the donations collected this year will particularly benefit child protection and the education of young people in Nepal, the focus country. DKA’s partner organizations, Yuwalaya and Opportunity Village Nepal (OVN), are fighting poverty, exploitation, and human trafficking with local projects. Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world. Almost half of the population lives in poverty. “A lack of jobs and low wages keep many people trapped in a…

Read More

A completely new type of disease has been spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since October. The previously unknown epidemic “Disease X” with flu-like symptoms is said to have already killed 143 people. Now, a case from Italy has come to light: A man who returned from Africa with symptoms of “disease X” has been admitted to a hospital in Tuscany in recent days. According to Italian media reports, the Italian was treated at the hospital in Lucca from November 22 to December 3. The hospital informed the…

Read More

Buying a Christmas tree is an integral part of the pre-Christmas season for many families. But when is the right time to get the tree? According to the “Natural Christmas Tree” association, more and more people are buying their tree before the third Advent. When is it too early to buy a Christmas tree? Buying a Christmas tree: the right timeOf course, the later the tree is cut, the longer it will stay fresh. A fresh tree can be recognized by the white cut; a grey cut indicates an older…

Read More