On March 24th at 12.30 p.m. on ORF 2
Vienna (OTS) – Sandra Szabo presents “Orientation” on Sunday, March 24, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. on ORF 2 with the following topics:
Francis personally: Autobiography of the Pope published
Pope Francis’ first comprehensive autobiography was published on Tuesday. “Life. “My story within history” is the name of the book that Francis wrote together with a journalist from the Mediaset group. In the form of an interview, the Pope describes personal things such as childhood loves or his career stages, but he also tells how he experienced historical events such as the moon landing, the time of the Argentine military dictatorship, the fall of the Berlin Wall or the Covid pandemic. Nevertheless, the book is not a legacy, but rather a kind of interim report. Because Francis still wants to achieve a lot. Alexander Hecht spoke to Vatican experts about the new publication in Rome.
Ban possible: Ukrainian Orthodox Church under pressure
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOK) could face the ban. There is a bill in parliament in Kiev that would make it possible to ban all religious organizations that are linked to Russia. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, the UOK has put its official relations with Moscow on ice. Nevertheless, the political leadership in Kiev still sees the UOK as an extension of the Russian aggressor. A ban on the UOK would also be problematic because it is still the largest church in Ukraine. Christian Wehrschütz with the details.
Dead hero: Religious worship for Alexei Navalny
More than three weeks ago, the Russian regime opponent Alexei Navalny was buried, having died in a Russian prison camp under unclear circumstances. People are still flocking to Putin’s opponent’s grave and showering it with flowers. In many commentaries he is described as a martyr, even by Orthodox believers, because he consciously put himself in danger for his political ideals. Is that justified? What is hardly known in the West is that Navalny was a devout Christian. Eva Maria Kaiser reports.
Modern Witnesses to the Faith: Roman Museum of Martyrs
In the crypt of the Basilica of San Bartolomeo, a museum commemorates the martyrs of the 20th and 21st centuries. It shows objects that are reminiscent of the witnesses of the faith who were killed today. In addition to letters from the Austrian conscientious objector Franz Jägerstätter, there is a priest’s robe from the murdered Archbishop of San Salvador, Oscar Romero, and a stone with which the Polish priest Jerzy Popiełuszko was sunk into a lake by the secret service. The exhibition is based on a suggestion from Pope John Paul II. New objects are constantly being added, because to this day people still die for their faith. Christian Rathner visited the museum.