VATICAN CITY (CNS): Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was welcomed to the Vatican by Pope Francis for a private meeting on February 5. It was the first visit by a Turkish head of state in 59 years.
 
Erdogan had arrived in Rome amid heavy security measures for a two-day visit that was to include meetings with Italian authorities and business leaders. More than 3,000 police officers had been deployed for the visit, according to Agence France-Presse, and demonstrations had been banned in Rome’s centre for 24 hours.

VATICAN (CNS): Pope Francis marked Italy’s Pro-Life Sunday during his Sunday Angelus on February 4, and also called for a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Africa.
Some 20,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square with many carrying the pro-life movement’s green balloons with the message, Yes to life.
 
Thanking all the “different Church realities that promote and support life in many ways,” Pope Francis said he was surprised there were not more people involved.
 

VATICAN CITY (CNS): “If we want a more secure future, one that encourages the prosperity of all, then it is necessary to keep the compass continually oriented toward ‘true north,’ represented by authentic values,” Pope Francis told people attending the World Economic Forum in Davos,
 

VATICAN (CNS): The study of theology “is fruitful only if it is done with an open mind and on one’s knees,” so it must be based both on sound academic investigation and a deep faith, Pope Francis wrote, In the apostolic constitution, Veritatis Gaudium (The Joy of Truth).
 

VATICAN (Agencies): Fake news grabs people’s attention “by appealing to stereotypes and common social prejudices and exploiting instantaneous emotions like anxiety, contempt, anger and frustration,” Pope Francis writes in his message for World Communications Day 2018 which was released at the Vatican on January 24, the feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of journalists.
 

LIMA (CNS): A weeklong pastoral visit to Chile and Peru saw Pope Francis tackling many a politically charged issue. Addressing large audiences that included political leaders, he denounced human trafficking, decried environmental destruction, corruption and organised crime.
 

SANTIAGO (CNS): The evil of sexual abuse committed by members of the clergy has betrayed the trust of the faithful and caused suffering to those in priesthood and religious life who bear the consequences of their brethren’s sins, Pope Francis said on January 16.