Catholic News Highlights, Monday July 23rd

Catholic News Highlights....

Catholic News Agency:

• Pope Benedict calls for a new Pentecost as World Youth Day approaches: "...Pope Benedict has issued his message to the youth preparing for World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney, Australia. In his discussion of the theme for the gathering, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses,” the Holy Father called for a new Pentecost." Related: His Holiness addresses the youth of the world to prepare for WYD08 - Official website. Also related: Anthony Fisher, chairmain of the WYD organizing commitee, speaks with Vatican Radio here.
• German Jesuit at Vatican Radio “dreams” of women cardinals: "...the director of the German language programming for Vatican Radio, Jesuit Father Eberhard von Gemminger, said he hopes future popes will be elected by a College of Cardinals in which “at least half” of the members are women." (wa-hey?!)
• Christian filmmakers to discuss replacement industry for Hollywood: "... The academy, a project of Vision Forum Ministries, is designed to give Christian filmmakers the nuts-and-bolts skills to succeed in creating films for the glory of God."
• Bishops seek meetings with Republicans and Democrats on Iraq War: "The U.S. bishops have asked to meet with Republican members of the House of Representatives to discuss a responsible transition to end the war in Iraq."

CWNews:

• End all wars, Pope pleads: "...the Holy Father said that the peaceful surroundings of the Alpine region made him feel "even more intensely" the impact of the news that he received on "the bloody confrontations and episodes of violence happening in many parts of the world."
• Cardinal Zen meets with Pope on Chinese reaction: "...Church spokesmen confirmed that although the Pope has held few private audiences during his vacation, he did talk with Cardinal Zen about the Chinese reaction to his message."
• Vatican expert pleased with Turkish election results: "... the strong showing by ... [the]Justice and Development Party (AKP) represented the best chance for a stable secular government in the country."