![Below is the full text of Pope Francis’ address during the extraordinary Urbi et Orbi (to the City and the World) blessing he delivered on Friday evening while praying for an end of the coronavirus. The plenary indulgence attached to the Urbi et Orbi blessing is subject to the conditions foreseen by the recent Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary. “When evening had come” (Mk 4:35). The Gospel passage we have just heard begins like this. For weeks now it has been evening. Thick darkness […]](https://spotlight.africa/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/PopeFrancisUrbiEtOrbi-VaticanMedia-1400x912.png)
The social isolation of homeless persons: creating communities of care
Isolation is a new experience for many of us. For the homeless it is a constant way of life. Their social isolation places them at the margins of society where they are ignored or even criminalized. Stephan de Beer writes tha... More »
Finding peace during lockdown
South Africa will wake up to a nationwide lockdown on 26 March and many other countries around the world are already facing similar restrictions to the individual freedom of movement. The ever increasing number of COVID-19 in... More »
Querida Amazonia in Five Sentences
Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation, Querida Amazonia, generated a great deal of commentary immediately after its publication in February. Mike Pothier argues that it is necessary to read the text reflectively to find its tre... More »
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Church
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Tribute to Ernesto Cardenal — an inspirational priest, poet, and revolutionary
Fr. Ernesto Cardenal (1925-2020) was a Nicaraguan priest, revolutionary and poet who died on 1 March. In his youth he joined the Sandinista National Liberation Front and participated in an unsuccessful insurrection against the then dictator Anastacio Somoza. L... More »
News
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President declares 21 day lockdown to stop COVID-19 progression
On 23 March, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared nationwide lockdown beginning at midnight on 26 March. This means that South Africans will only be allowed to leave their homes to buy groceries or to seek medical healthcare. Health professionals and those who w... More »
Opinion
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Greed, selfishness and venality increase the power of the virus
We are interdependent. As a global community we are facing the largest health, economic, and social challenge in this millennium. Ranjeni Munusamy reflects on how the Covid-19 pandemic has forced nations to work together for our collective survival and hopes t... More »
Analysis
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The influence of economics on health
Many South Africans had hoped that the 2020 Budget Speech on 20 February would provide greater clarity on plans for the National Health Insurance (NHI) plan. However, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni mentioned the NHI only once, in passing. Shrikant Peters observ... More »
Africa
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The global “over-summiting” of Africa
Africa appears to have captured the interests of the world’s key political and economic powers. Anthony Aduaka SJ observes that a spate of recent summits that bring African leaders together with political heavyweights, seemingly, to foster deeper multilateral ... More »
International
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The uncommon cold – a healthy response to the coronavirus
The recent outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has, understandably, created a lot of anxiety, especially among those whose immune systems may be weak. That, however, says Shrikant Peters, is no excuse for discrimination, human rights violations, or any ot... More »
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