Shadowing Practice: Vatican & World News 16.05.2026 - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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Laudato a Jesus Christus, Vatican and World News.
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Laudato a Jesus Christus, Vatican and World News.
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2027, volunteers in Seoul are creating a special cross of peace
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made up of barbed wire from the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea.
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In the Vatican, I'm Kelsey Gussie.
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The Holy See Press Office announced today
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that Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to make an apostolic journey to France from September 25th to the 28th.
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This will be the first time a pope has traveled to
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France on an official papal state visit since Pope Benedict XVI in 2008.
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when he journeyed to Paris and Lourdes.
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The press office statement shared that Pope Leo's visit comes as a response to the invitations made by the head of state,
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the ecclesiastical authorities of the country,
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and the director general of UNESCO.
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During this apostolic journey, the Pope will also visit the headquarters of UNESCO.
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Pope Leo
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and French President Emmanuel Macron met on April 10th for the first time since the pontiff's election to the See of Peter.
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However, it was not the president's first papal audience.
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Since his election in 2017,
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President Macron has made several visits to the Vatican,
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where he was received in 2018,
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2021, and 2022 by Pope Francis.
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And this morning,
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Pope Leo XIV met with several hundred young people of the
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Italian Archdiocese of Genoa who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
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He encouraged them to keep their enthusiasm and commitment to Christ even after receiving the sacrament.
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Devin Watkins has the story.
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As around a thousand young Catholics from the Archdiocese of Genoa in northern Italy made a pilgrimage to Rome,
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Pope Leo XIV met with them on Saturday to encourage their desire to follow Christ.
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The young people have been preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation,
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which completes the Sacraments of Initiation and seals the baptized person with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
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In his off-the-cuff remarks, Pope Leo said one of the greatest joys of every bishop is the opportunity to celebrate confirmation,
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since it is truly the gift of the Holy Spirit.
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The fullness of the Holy Spirit,
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he said, gives us enthusiasm,
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strength, and ability to follow Jesus Christ,
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to say yes to the Lord always,
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even when the world seeks to lead us far from Jesus.
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Each of the confirmands, said the Pope,
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are called to be participants in the church's mission,
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and are sent to their friends and families to bear witness to the Spirit who lives in us.
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Just as confirmation marks a great joy for bishops,
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it often brings them sadness,
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he said, since many young people never set foot in the church again,
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disappearing from their parishes.
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Pope Leo therefore appealed to young Catholics to pay special attention to the Holy Spirit's gift of perseverance,
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so that they live their faith together.
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Do not forget what you have lived in this time, he said.
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May you continue to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ and persevere in the faith.
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As they returned to their parishes,
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the Pope invited them to participate in activities so that they can live in community.
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We do not live the faith
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Spirit and maintain it throughout their lives.
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I'm Devin Watkins.
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Also this morning, Pope Leo met with employees and representatives of various Italian banks.
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and he highlighted the importance of keeping a human-centered approach in banking and financial systems,
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especially in an era of technological advancement and algorithmic systems.
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Isabel de Carvalho tells us more.
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It is not capital that enters a bank in the first instance,
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but people, and that behind the numbers there are men and women,
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families in need of help.
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Poblio XIV emphasized that we live in a context in
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which the high level of computerization of financial tools imposes increasingly elaborate and artificial forms of mediation in interpersonal relationships.
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He thus called the bankers,
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as heirs of a tradition of human attentiveness,
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to ensure that those who access their services do not feel abandoned to the coldness of algorithmic systems.
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He noted that behind these systems there need to be,
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today as in the past,
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people ready to listen and eager to do good.
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Pope Leo XIV reflected on the origins and development of the various banks and credit unions represented,
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underlining how they all had the common objective of supporting entrepreneurship and public and private finance in different moments of Italian history.
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He explained that the financial institutions present at the audience have fostered in different ways a fair sharing
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and redistribution of wealth among individuals,
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businesses and institutions, making its benefits more accessible to all.
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The Pope emphasized that this is a social function
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that fits well within the mission entrusted by God to humanity to be stewards of creation.
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Poblio also insisted that those involved in the financial market can not only do good by acting uprightly,
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but also by educating and guiding people and environments in
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which they operate in toward a prudent and morally appropriate use of resources.
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Insisting that banks can influence the structural and cultural evolution of a society,
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the Pope warned against retreating into purely material values,
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confusing ends and means in life,
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noting that even in the financial sphere,
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the human person must always remain at the center.
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Lastly, he highlighted the importance of charity.
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Faithful to your origins, never forget charity.
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On the contrary, make it increasingly the guiding principle of your strategic choices.
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I'm Isabella De Carvaglio.
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On Friday, May 16th, bishops from Pakistan met with Pope Leo at the Vatican for their ad-limit visit.
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During this audience, the bishops shared their hopes and the hardships the church faces in their country.
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Afterwards, Bishop Samson Shukardin spoke to Vatican Radio's Deborah Kasselana-Luboff about these challenges,
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which include discrimination, blasphemy, accusations, and forced conversions.
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But he expressed hope for equal rights and a stronger future for Christians in Pakistan.
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This Adalimna is very important for us because spiritually and physically,
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I would say that this has given us a new insight and very new hope in the coming future.
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And I say that Adalimna,
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we have shared our reports in different diacastries,
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and we received very positive responses from different diacastries,
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which is very important for us.
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The challenges which we have in Pakistan is very important,
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is this, that first to how we could evangelize the church and also to other people.
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And also the big challenge is that our people,
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they are still illiterate, but strong in faith.
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They are poor, but very hardworking people, always working hard.
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And many of our people,
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They are not receiving equal rights,
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and we have a big problem regarding the blasphemy cases.
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And also forced conversions are there,
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and also sometimes our church is rejected,
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persecuted, because we are not going what they are expecting.
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So I say that our church is going through difficulties,
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but we are very hopeful.
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We are hopeful that one day we will get our equal rights in Pakistan.
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That was Bishop Samson Shukardin of the Diocese of Hyperbad,
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Pakistan, speaking about the challenges for Christians in the country.
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And the Archdiocese of Seoul,
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Korea, will be hosting the next Global Gathering of Young People,
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World Youth Day 2027.
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And as part of preparations,
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volunteers are creating a special cross of peace made up of barbed wire from the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea.
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Thaddeus Jones tells us more.
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The cross of peace is being created from discarded barbed wire coming from the DMZ,
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the demilitarized zone, the buffer area along the border dividing North and South Korea.
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FIDA's news agency reported that the barbed wire cross,
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acknowledging the divided reality there,
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aims, though, to transform the pain of division into a symbol of peace.
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The cross will be approximately five meters in height
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and will be presented to young people who will gather in Seoul for World Youth Day 2027.
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The pope is scheduled to bless the cross during the events.
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FIDA's News said the Archdiocese hopes that this initiative will invite young people to transform symbols of division into signs of reconciliation,
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prayer and hope, also in their own personal lives.
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In April, the World Youth Day Organizing Committee,
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chaired by Archbishop Peter Song-taik-chung of Seoul,
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held a ceremony to bless the young Korean youth volunteers.
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With them were members of the Walking Together Foundation
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that started the Barbed Wire Cross that involves the handmade transformation of barbed wire and its composition into the large cross.
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The work is taking place in the courtyard of the Myeongdong Cathedral,
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the seat of the Archdiocese of Seoul,
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and it's expected to conclude in April 2027.
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In his address to those present at the ceremony,
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Fides News reported that Archbishop Chung spoke about the barbed wire along the dividing line between North and South Korea,
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noting how it symbolizes the painful division and the fratricidal war on the Korean Peninsula.
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The Archbishop said that just as the cross,
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once an instrument of death,
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became a symbol of peace and reconciliation,
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sacrifice and love through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,
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let us pray that this cross may take root in the hearts as a symbol of reconciliation,
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peace, and love on the Korean Peninsula.
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And like the resurrection after death,
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harmony and peace can also arise from conflict and war.
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R.P.
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Chung blessed the materials being used to make the cross
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and prayed that all taking part in its creation become instruments of peace.
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Adelis Jones.
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Each year in Zanzibar,
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an international kite surfing contest brings together people from all walks of life through their love of the sport.
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Launched by Italian pediatrician Dr. Stefano Conte,
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the event is dedicated to promoting peace and fraternity through sports.
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Speaking to Vatican Radio, the doctor-turned-peace advocate explained how the event helps promote tourism,
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youth sports and international unity across East Africa.
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As Godfrey Kampamba reports, 2026 marks the sixth edition of the Zanzibar Cup.
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For many years, Dr. Conte specialized in pediatric heart surgery
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and dedicated part of his medical career to helping hundreds of people in Zanzibar receive free medical treatment.
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This humanitarian work later inspired him to establish the Zanzibar Cup.
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The Italian doctor shared how the competition was first held three years ago,
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together with the government of Zanzibar and has already completed five successful editions despite the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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He explained how kite surfing is becoming one of the most popular sports among young people around the world.
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With this in mind, Dr. Conte says,
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the goal of the competition is to help Zanzibar in particular
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and East Africa in general in the sport while also promoting international tourism.
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Beyond the competition, Dr. Conte stressed the fact that the Zanzberg Cup has a strong humanitarian and social mission.
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He says the event aims to promote peace,
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fraternity and unity at a time when many parts of the world are facing conflicts and instability.
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Echoing the call for peace made by Pope Leo XIV,
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Dr. Conte said sports can be a bridge between cultures and nations.
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We want to send a message that people can live together as brothers and sisters without war.
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He said everyone who has the opportunity should help spread this message of peace.
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He went on.
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Preparations are now underway for the sixth edition of the competition scheduled for August 23, 2026.
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Ahead of this sporting event,
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Dr. Conte is inviting athletes,
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sponsors
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and supporters from around the world to contribute to the building of what he described as an incredible international competition
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that showcases Zanz Bar's growing position in global sports tourism.
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My name is Kanyan Tagodufri Kampamba.
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And that brings us to the end of this edition of Vatican and World News.
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For more on these and other stories,
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please visit our Vatican News website,
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our Facebook, X, and Instagram accounts,
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where you can follow along with Pope Leo XIV during all his upcoming events as the 266th successor to St. Peter.
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Many thanks today go to the charismatic Daniele Giorgi,
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our sound engineer and studio.
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And of course, a special thanks to all of you for listening.
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And be sure to join us again tomorrow at this same time for more.
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In the Vatican, I'm Kelsey Gussie.
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About This Lesson
In this lesson, you will practice speaking and comprehension skills by shadowing a recent episode of Vatican & World News. By focusing on the narrator's delivery and intonation, you will enhance your English fluency while absorbing important news about significant events in the Catholic Church, including papal visits and the role of youth in the faith community. This practice aligns perfectly with the learn English with YouTube approach, allowing you to engage with real-world content while developing your language abilities.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Apostolic Journey - A trip made by the Pope to carry out his mission.
- Equis ecclesiastical authorities - Officials within the Church governing body.
- Sacrament of Confirmation - A church ceremony that signifies the completion of Christian initiation.
- The Holy Spirit - The third part of the Holy Trinity in Christian belief.
- Perseverance - Steadfastness in doing something despite difficulties or delay in achieving success.
- Disciples - Followers of Jesus Christ, often referred to in a religious context.
- Pilgrimage - A journey, often to a sacred place, undertaken for spiritual reasons.
- Enthusiasm - Intense and eager enjoyment or approval.
Practice Tips
When shadowing this video, pay attention to the narrator's pace and emotional tone to enhance your shadow speech technique. Given the nuances in the delivery, start by listening to segments of the transcript before attempting to repeat them aloud. To practice effectively, try the following tips:
- Break it Down: Divide the video into shorter segments. Focus on a few sentences at a time, ensuring you grasp the meaning and pronunciation.
- Imitate the Tone: Notice how the speaker emphasizes certain phrases. Mimic their tone and rhythm for better retention of natural speech patterns.
- Repeat Several Times: Use the shadowing site approach—repeat each segment multiple times until you feel comfortable and confident.
- Incorporate New Vocabulary: Try to use key terms from the vocabulary list in your own sentences, both in writing and speaking, to reinforce their meanings.
- Record Yourself: Use a recording device to capture your shadowing practice. Compare it with the original audio to identify areas for improvement.
Remember, the goal is not just to mimic the sounds but to understand and connect with the content. This immersive practice will make looking to shadowspeak your language skills more enjoyable and effective!
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.
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