Pope Francis has conferred the title of “minor basilica” on an 18th-century church in Ilocos Sur, Philippines, acknowledging its rich historical and cultural significance.
Pope Francis said on Friday that “the Gospel is the most humanizing message known to history.” He made the remark in a video message marking the 75th anniversary of UNESCO, the United Nations’ educational, scientific and cultural organization.
The United Nations’ (UN) International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is annually observed on August 23 to remind people of the tragedy of the transatlantic slave trade. It gives people a chance to think about the historic causes, the methods, and the consequences of slave trade.