First woman appointed Secretary of Vatican Biblical Commission
On 9 March 2021, Pope Francis appointed Spanish biblical scholar, Sr. Nuria Calduch-Benages, as secretary of the Pontifical Biblical Commission. She expressed her surprise and gratitude in this interview with Vatican News.
By Debora Donnini
Sister Nuria Calduch-Benages has dedicated her life passionately to the study of the Bible. She teaches Old Testament at the Pontifical Gregorian University and is a reknowned expert on Sacred Scripture. Hailing from Barcelona, Spain, Sr Nuria Calduch-Benages is a member of the Congregation of Missionary Daughters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. She also took part in the work of the Study Commission on the Diaconate of Women (2016-2019). On 9 March, Pope Francis appointed her secretary of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, the Vatican office of which she has been a member since 2014. She was recently reappointed for another five-year term, which will last until 2025.
Indonesia s Papuan bishops urge a future of hope for their people
The bishops of the neighbouring provinces of Papua and West Papua recently met to analyze the situation and problems affecting their people. The region is plagued by violence fueled by an armed struggle for independence.
By Robin Gomes
The Catholic bishops of Indonesia’s easternmost Provinces of West Papua and Papua are urging a “better future” from the country’s authorities for their people in a territory torn by decades of struggle between Indonesian forces and separatist groups.
Seek the common good
Representatives of the five dioceses of the two provinces recently came together for a 3-day meeting to discuss several problems affecting the Papuan people and their land, AsiaNews reported. Among the issues they focused on were the territory’s special autonomy law (UU Otsus), new job and