Vatican & World News 22.09.2026
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Laudato a Jesus Christus, Vatican and World News.
Laudato a Jesus Christus, Vatican and World News.
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In the headlines this Tuesday, September 22nd, UNESCO's Deputy Director General reflects on the significance of Pope Leo XIV's visit to France.
In the headlines this Tuesday, September 22nd, UNESCO's Deputy Director General reflects on the significance of Pope Leo XIV's visit to France.
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A South Sudanese bishop calls on the people of the country to renew their commitment to peace, reconciliation and justice.
A South Sudanese bishop calls on the people of the country to renew their commitment to peace, reconciliation and justice.
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And the United Nations Agency latest alert reveals a difficult situation in Haiti, where more than 250,000 children aged four to six are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition.
And the United Nations Agency latest alert reveals a difficult situation in Haiti, where more than 250,000 children aged four to six are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition.
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In the Vatican, I'm Kelsey Gussie.
In the Vatican, I'm Kelsey Gussie.
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On Friday, September 25th, Pope Leo will embark on his apostolic journey to France.
On Friday, September 25th, Pope Leo will embark on his apostolic journey to France.
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One of his first stops in Paris will be to UNESCO, the United Nations agency that focuses on education, science and culture as a means to build peace and security.
One of his first stops in Paris will be to UNESCO, the United Nations agency that focuses on education, science and culture as a means to build peace and security.
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Vatican Radio spoke to Azza Rednier, UNESCO Deputy Director General, about the significance of the Pope's visit.
Vatican Radio spoke to Azza Rednier, UNESCO Deputy Director General, about the significance of the Pope's visit.
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We're very grateful to His Holiness the Pope that he accepted to come to UNESCO.
We're very grateful to His Holiness the Pope that he accepted to come to UNESCO.
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We think it is a very, very timely visit.
We think it is a very, very timely visit.
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UNESCO was established back in the
UNESCO was established back in the
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day in 1945 to keep the intellectual space,
day in 1945 to keep the intellectual space,
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so to speak, open and to keep freedom
so to speak, open and to keep freedom
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of speech, freedom of thinking, freedom of science,
of speech, freedom of thinking, freedom of science,
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freedom of facts, human rights, all of that
freedom of facts, human rights, all of that
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to create like an intellectual space that
to create like an intellectual space that
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is free from political influence,
is free from political influence,
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let's say, where science and facts can flow freely for individuals, citizens in the member states to make decisions on their own in relation to their lives and their societies.
let's say, where science and facts can flow freely for individuals, citizens in the member states to make decisions on their own in relation to their lives and their societies.
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Now we are in a very different time compared
Now we are in a very different time compared
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to then, but the Pope, apart
to then, but the Pope, apart
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from being a leading world figure in
from being a leading world figure in
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general and somebody who expresses
general and somebody who expresses
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his views on ethics and equality between people and has a strong peace message, which was really at the foundation of UNESCO's mandate and still is,
his views on ethics and equality between people and has a strong peace message, which was really at the foundation of UNESCO's mandate and still is,
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I think that we have a lot of compounding global issues going on at the same time right now.
I think that we have a lot of compounding global issues going on at the same time right now.
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This climate change, we have deep inequalities, we have more armed conflicts going on than ever before.
This climate change, we have deep inequalities, we have more armed conflicts going on than ever before.
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They are also more protracted and in fact more brutal because there is a disrespect for international law that we haven't really seen before.
They are also more protracted and in fact more brutal because there is a disrespect for international law that we haven't really seen before.
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And we have technologies
And we have technologies
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very rapidly evolving and so
very rapidly evolving and so
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quickly so that even those who, in fact,
quickly so that even those who, in fact,
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helped develop these technologies are alerting
helped develop these technologies are alerting
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that the development might be too quick to safeguard human dignity, rights and autonomy over the technology.
that the development might be too quick to safeguard human dignity, rights and autonomy over the technology.
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The Pope has really spoken out
The Pope has really spoken out
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on the dilemmas if human
on the dilemmas if human
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beings are not seen as those
beings are not seen as those
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who have the right to decide over technology
who have the right to decide over technology
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and where human beings also should have a role to safeguard equality, everybody's right to decision making, to dignity, etc.
and where human beings also should have a role to safeguard equality, everybody's right to decision making, to dignity, etc.
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The visit is very strategic in general because of the importance of the Pope and the world, but it is also extremely timely right now because of this context.
The visit is very strategic in general because of the importance of the Pope and the world, but it is also extremely timely right now because of this context.
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That was UNESCO's Deputy Director General speaking about the significance of Poplio's visit to France.
That was UNESCO's Deputy Director General speaking about the significance of Poplio's visit to France.
3:47
And governments across the Middle East are preparing for a possible escalation in regional tensions after Iran claimed it had obtained intelligence,
And governments across the Middle East are preparing for a possible escalation in regional tensions after Iran claimed it had obtained intelligence,
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suggesting the United States is planning a renewed bombing campaign against the Islamic Republic. Nathan Morley reports.
suggesting the United States is planning a renewed bombing campaign against the Islamic Republic. Nathan Morley reports.
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The heightened concerns come as the U.S. President Donald Trump returned early from a weekend visit to the Camp David presidential retreat.
The heightened concerns come as the U.S. President Donald Trump returned early from a weekend visit to the Camp David presidential retreat.
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No official explanation was provided for the change in schedule. At the same time, the U.S.
No official explanation was provided for the change in schedule. At the same time, the U.S.
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State Department issued a new security alert for American citizens across the Middle East.
State Department issued a new security alert for American citizens across the Middle East.
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Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC, warned that any attack on the country would trigger a broad military response.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC, warned that any attack on the country would trigger a broad military response.
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The latest surge in rhetoric and speculation follows attacks on the Saudi capital, Riyadh, by Yemen's Iran-backed Hupti rebels, raising fears of a wider regional confrontation.
The latest surge in rhetoric and speculation follows attacks on the Saudi capital, Riyadh, by Yemen's Iran-backed Hupti rebels, raising fears of a wider regional confrontation.
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Separately, an independent international fact-finding mission on Iran reported that civilians had suffered serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity committed by Iranian authorities.
Separately, an independent international fact-finding mission on Iran reported that civilians had suffered serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity committed by Iranian authorities.
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The mission said security force killings during the government's crackdown on mass protests occurred on a massive scale across all provinces.
The mission said security force killings during the government's crackdown on mass protests occurred on a massive scale across all provinces.
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