January 6, 2022

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis said on Wednesday that it is a loss to civilization when dogs and cats replace children in society, encouraging couples to “take the risk” to become parents. The Pope said during his Wednesday audience, quote, “Yes, dogs and cats take the place of children. Yes, it’s funny, I understand, but it is the reality, and this denial of fatherhood and motherhood diminishes us, takes away humanity.” The Pope also prayed and asked St. Joseph to intercede for couples who wish to have a child. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250016/pope-francis-general-audience-society-loses-when-dogs-and-cats-take-the-place-of-children For the second year in a row, authorities in the Philippines have canceled the country’s “Black Nazarene” procession, an annual event where millions of Catholics accompany a revered statue of Jesus through the streets of Manila. For centuries, the Black Nazarene, a statue of a dark life-size Jesus carrying his cross, has symbolized passion, struggle, and faith for Filipino Catholics. The faithful usually carry a replica of the statue through Manila on January 9, but the festival was halted for a second year due to COVID-19 concerns. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250026/black-nazarene-philippines-covid Following a fire in a Philadelphia apartment building that killed at least 13 on Wednesday, the city's archbishop offered condolences and prayed for those who died. The fire occurred at a public housing block owned by the Philadelphia Housing Authority. There are believed to have been 26 people in the building when the fire started around 6 am, and seven children are known to be among the dead. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250023/archbishop-offer-condolences-to-those-mourning-after-philadelphia-fire Today is the Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord. The