The most heavily fortified refuge in the history of the popes was originally built as a tomb...
It stands on the bank of the Tiber in Rome, a massive stone cylinder rising above the river, and for centuries it was the safest place in the city. When enemies marched on Rome, the pope did not stay in the Vatican. He fled here, across a secret elevated passage built into the city wall, and shut himself behind walls that had been standing since the age of the Caesars.
But it was not built for any of that.
Around 135 AD, emperor Hadrian commissioned it as a mausoleum for himself and his family. It was completed in 139, a year after his death, and his ashes were placed inside, along with those of the emperors who followed him, until Caracalla in the third century.
For a time it was the tallest building in Rome...
Then the empire fell, and the building began its second life. In the fifth century, its majestic walls and commanding position over the river made it a natural fortress, and it was absorbed into the defences of the city.
Its name changed after the year 590, when, according to legend, Pope Gregory the Great led a procession through a plague-stricken Rome and saw the Archangel Michael appear above the old tomb, sheathing his sword — a sign that the plague was ending. From then on, it was called the Castel Sant'Angelo, the Castle of the Holy Angel.
Over the following centuries it became almost everything a building can be. A fortress. A papal residence with frescoed Renaissance apartments. A treasury. A prison, whose cells held the condemned, and whose execution courtyard became the setting for the final act of Puccini's Tosca. Today it is a museum.
It has watched Rome rise, fall, and rise again for nearly nineteen centuries.
Hadrian built it so that he would not be forgotten after his death. He could not have imagined that the forgetting would never come and that his tomb would outlive his empire, his religion, and his entire world, and still be standing, full of visitors, two thousand years later...
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🚨🚨DURO GOLPE cara a cara del Europarlamentario Belga 🇧🇪 Marc Botenga, a Von der Leyen:
"Tu ganas 30.000 mil EUROS al mes"
"¿Pero tu sabes que hoy en día en Europa el 30% de la gente no tiene dinero para las 3 comidas diarias, y el 40% no enciende la calefacción y pasa frío...?"
"Más de 100 MILLONES de Europeos están en riesgo de pobreza..."
"Mientras garantizas MILES de MILLONES a las Multinacionales Armamentísticas..."
LUCHAREMOS CONTRA TI Y TU COALICIÓN ⚔️👊👏👏👏
Von der Leyen ha DESTRUIDO Europa.
EUROPA NECESITA MÁS PARLAMENTARIOS COMO ESTE 👇⚔️🔥
Thank you, ITALY 🇮🇹
You hit us with emotions every day, real or virtual
For everyone who loves her, lives her, or carries her in their heart 💚🤍❤️
Happy Republic Day! Long live Italy!
@mblaszczak@2025_EwaPolka Szanuję Pana za pracę dla obronności Polski, ale to jak potraktowaliście Polaków w czasie covidu ( tych za granicą też), za brak stanowczości i ukarania bandy Tuska, Kopacz i innych odpowiedzialnych za zniszczenie Polski po 2007 nie wybaczę!!! Mieliście czas, poparcie i nic!!!!
Irish govt spent €300 million Irish taxpayer money on migrants and Ukrainians on the first three months of 2026.
€300 million, folks… €300 MILLION! https://t.co/mix4LtviMQ
Family Man Beat To Death By Migrant Teenagers In Dublin.
On Sunday 17 May 2026, at around 4:15pm on Mill Road in Blanchardstown, 37-year-old Alex Coughlan was attacked by two 16-year-old boys without warning.
The defenceless Irishman was forced to his knees, pleading for mercy as one teenager repeatedly punched and kicked him in the head. The second boy filmed the assault on his mobile phone. Alex screamed for help and begged them to stop. He had already handed over his wallet and bank cards, but hesitated when they demanded his gold ring, a gift from his father.
That moment of hesitation cost him his life.
The beating continued. Alex was left unconscious on the ground. He died three days later on 20 May in Connolly Hospital from catastrophic head injuries. His family made the selfless decision to donate his organs.
Two 16-year-old boys were arrested and charged with assault causing serious harm and robbery. The main attacker is a second-generation migrant born and raised in Ireland. The other, who filmed the attack, is a migrant with dual nationality. Both were described by locals as having non-native features.
Gardai later recovered the stolen ring from one of the boys homes, and Alex’s father identified it in court.
The teenagers appeared in Dublin Children’s Court on 27 May. A judge imposed strict reporting restrictions, warning against naming them or sharing the video of the attack circulating online due to their age. Bail was refused, and both teenagers remain remanded in custody.
On Saturday 30 May, what would have been Alex’s 38th birthday, hundreds gathered in Ballyfermot to farewell him. He was remembered as the glue of his family, a kind, gentle, and selfless man who brought laughter and joy to everyone around him.
A dedicated Bupa worker and passionate rugby fan, Alex is survived by his mother Brigid, father John, sister Zara, and brothers Philip and Jack. Mourners sang Happy Birthday and Ireland’s Call. Tributes described him as a truly beautiful soul and caring human being. A private cremation followed at Glasnevin Cemetery.
While Alex’s funeral took place, the Irish mainstream media gave far more coverage and focused far more outrage on the death of Congolese national Yves Sakila, 35. Sakila, who had dozens of previous convictions and multiple prison terms for repeated shoplifting, died on 15 May after being restrained by security staff during another shoplifting attempt. His death was quickly framed by activists as Ireland’s George Floyd moment, sparking protests, political speeches, and claims of racism.
Alex’s killing, a local Irish family man robbed and beaten to death in broad daylight while pleading for mercy received far less attention. Coverage focused on the attackers age and anonymity, with zero discussion of backgrounds or nationalities.
There were no mass candlelit vigils when Alex died, no major protests demanding justice, no political statements, and no national campaigns declaring that his life mattered.
No Netflix documentaries will ever examine Alex's final moments.
Certain tragedies fit a preferred political narrative and ignite weeks of outrage. Others, like the brutal murder of a gentle Irish family man, are treated as less newsworthy. This selective response from the Irish media and political class is an insult to Alex and every family who has lost someone in similar circumstances.
Alex Coughlan’s life mattered. He deserved better, and the people of Ireland deserve the truth.
RIP Alex Coughlan.
Both teenagers are next due in court on 24 June.
#Ireland #CrimeNews #Dublin
‘What’s wrong with Islamic celebrations in Croke Park? It’s not a Christian venue.’
It’s literally named after a Catholic Bishop, Thomas Croke.
The All Ireland GAA medal is a Celtic cross.
Until the mid 60s, the Archbishop of Cashel would throw the ball in for the all Ireland final.
The GAA club structure is built around Catholic Parishes.
Many of the club teams are named after Catholic Saints.
The GAA is like Ireland until 5 minutes ago - drenched in Christianity.
@JerzyMrozinski@2025_EwaPolka A ja cały czas ostrzegałem nie głosować na te tępe świry!!!
Żyjąc 20 lat poza Polską i obserwując co tu się dzieje na “zachodzie” i widząc jak przebierają złodziejskimi łapami to było oczywiste.
Dla Tuska, Polska to nadal nienormalność i jego cel to totalna demolka kraju i ludzi
This is one of the greatest photos in Catholic history.
Despite his greatness, Fulton Sheen had been ostracized and cast away by the powers that be in the American Church by the time he was an old man. When Pope John Paul II came to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in 1981, Sheen was relegated to a far off side section.
As everyone was applauding and greeting the pope, he kept looking around, and finally asked: “Where’s Fulton?”
The pope embraced Fulton and said: “You have written and spoken well of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are a loyal son of the Church!"
This makes me cry with love.
Soon-to-be Blessed Fulton Sheen…Pray for us. 🙏
@MorawieckiM To jak się zgadzasz to dlaczego nagrywasz telefonem ciapo?
Jesteś młodszy ode mnie a z technologią się gubisz jak stary dziadek. Wyślij list lepiej😂