Vatican States Pope to Visit Iraq in March 2021; Will Be the First Pope to Ever Visit the Country

 The Vatican announced today (December 7, 2020) that Pope Francis will travel to Iraq in March 2021, according to the National Catholic Register website. 

He will be the first pope to ever visit the country, which is still recovering from the devastation inflicted by the Islamic State (IS).

The four-day papal trip to Iraq March 5--8 will include stops in Baghdad, Erbil, and Mosul.

The pope will also visit the Christian communities in the Nineveh plain, which were ravaged by the Islamic State from 2014 to 2016, causing a plethora of Christians to flee the region.

Trump Atty. Giuliani Hospitalized for COVID-19; Made Public Appearances Recently with No Mask

Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York City and President Donald Trump's personal attorney, has tested positive for COVID-19, the USA Today website  reports. 

Giuliani, 76, was admitted to Georgetown University Medical Center today (December 6, 2020).

Andrew Giuliani tweeted that his father was "resting, getting great care, and feeling well."

Trump's attorney has made several public appearances within the last week, including one at a Michigan State House panel and another at a Georgia State Senate hearing. Images from both events show Giuliani speaking in close proximity to others without a mask.

ABP:Biden Should Not Receive Holy Communion; Says Biden's Support of Abortion Flaunts Sacrilege

A retired Catholic archbishop yesterday said President-elect Joe Biden "should not receive Holy Communion" because of his support of abortion, the Washington Examiner website reports today (December 5, 2020). 

Archbishop Charles Chaput, writing in the religious journal "First Things," said Biden's vocal support for abortion means that he is not in good standing with the Catholic Church and that priests should not give him Holy Communion until he ceases to advocate for abortion-friendly policies. 

"Public figures who identify as 'Catholic' give scandal to the faithful when receiving Communion by creating the impression that the moral laws of the Church are optional," Chaput wrote. "And bishops give similar scandal by not speaking up publicly about the issue and danger of sacrilege."

Biden:Americans to Wear Masks for 1st 100 Days; Masks to Be Mandatory in Govt. Bldgs., Airplanes

 President-elect Joe Biden has revealed his plan to ask all Americans to wear masks during the first 100 days of his administration, The Daily Beast website reports today (December 4, 2020).

"Just 100 days to mask, not forever,"  Biden said. 

He will make masks mandatory in places like government buildings, airplanes, and interstate transit, a move public health officials are expected to support.

US Has Record 3,157 COVID Deaths in Single Day; Due to Millions of Thanksgiving Visits, Gatherings

The U.S. has reported more than 3,100 coronavirus-related deaths in a single day -- a record for the country -- the Sky News website reports today (December 3, 2020).

The 3,157 deaths far exceed the previous record of 2,603 set in April, and cases are topping more than 200,000 a day.

The figures indicate the U.S. is slipping deeper into trouble and the worst is yet to come, following the Thanksgiving holiday where millions ignored advice of medical experts and governors,  and visited family and friends across the country. 

UK Is First Country to OK Pfizer COVID Vaccine; "A Historic Moment in Fight against COVID-19"

The United Kingdom has become the first country in the world to approve the coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and its German partner, with an initial wave of inoculations scheduled to begin next week, the NY Daily News website reports today (December 2, 2020).

The British regulatory agency, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority, announced today it approved the treatment from the New York based drug-maker and German company BioNTech for emergency use.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla praised the vaccine's emergency authorization, calling it "a historic moment in the fight against COVID-19."

Researcher Sees Episcopal Church Death by 2050; Drop in Membership Numbers May Lead to Doom

The future of the Episcopal Church seems bleak as plummeting membership numbers may lead the denomination to close its doors for good in the next few decades, the Christian Headlines website reports today (December 1, 2020).

Rev. Dwight Zscheile, an Episcopal priest and professor, told ChurchLeaders that the future is "dire" for the denomination and he predicts the denomination will cease to exist "by around 2050."

"The overall picture is dire. Not one of decline as much as demise within the next generation unless trends change significantly," Zscheile said.