An Italian cardinal who remained in Syria for the entire duration of the 10-year civil war has said that he fears “time is running out” to rebuild the country as it descends into deeper poverty.
Polish Catholic family, killed by Nazis for helping Jews, on path to beatification
Wiktoria Ulma with six of her children. / Credit: The Ulma Family Museum of Poles Saving Jews in World War II. Early on March 24, …
‘Being consecrated to God is beautiful,’ says Vatican cardinal
Consecrated life is beautiful and contains a call to witness to what is beautiful and true, Cardinal João Braz de Aviz wrote yesterday in a letter marking the 25th anniversary of St. John Paul II’s apostolic exhortation on consecrated life.
International pro-life group rejects claims about its abortion pill reversal service
Credit: 578foot via www.shutterstock.com. An international pro-life group today rejected claims about its abortion pill reversal service published by a UK-based political website. Heartbeat International …
Pope Francis: The Incarnation is the ‘heart and inspiration’ of Dante’s Divine Comedy
In a letter for the 700th anniversary of the death of Dante Alighieri, Pope Francis said that the mystery of Christ’s Incarnation is the “true heart and inspiration” of Dante’s great poetic work, the Divine Comedy.
‘I’m overjoyed’: Catholic priest wins legal challenge to blanket ban on public worship
Canon Tom White, who is challenging Scotland’s ban on public worship. / Credit: Photo courtesy of ADF International. Scotland’s supreme civil court ruled yesterday that …
Pope Francis trims cardinals’ salaries by 10% to save money
Pope Francis issued a letter yesterday cutting the salaries of some Vatican employees as a way to contain costs after the institution’s budget projected a deficit of $60 million in 2021.
What an upcoming appointment will tell us about Vatican financial reform
The Vatican’s financial watchdog will soon get a new director responsible for its supervision unit. Carmelo Barbagallo, president of the Vatican Supervisory and Financial Information Authority (Autorità di Supervisione e Informazione Finanziaria, or ASIF), broke the news in a 20 March interview with Vatican media.
Cardinal Bo calls on protesters in Burma to remain committed to non-violence
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo committed Wednesday to ongoing support for Burma’s protest movement, provided that it remains “non-violent and peaceful.”
Pope Francis sends message to Bangladesh for 50th anniversary of independence
Pope Francis sent a video message to the people of Bangladesh on Wednesday as they mark the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence and the centenary of the birth of the “Father of the Nation,” Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Pope Francis: Jesus entrusted Mary to us as a Mother, ‘not as co-redeemer
Pope Francis today said that Jesus entrusted the Virgin Mary to us as a Mother, “not as co-redeemer.”
Don’t forget Holy Land and Middle East Christians over Easter, says Bishop Lang
Ahead of Holy Week, Bishop Declan Lang, chair of the Bishops’ International Affairs department, has issued a reminder that the Christians living in the lands of Christ should be held in prayer.
Catholic bishop speaks out after mother loses appeal over life support for 5-year-old girl
A Catholic bishop has lamented an English appeal court ruling that life-sustaining treatment can be withdrawn from a five-year-old girl against her mother’s wishes.
Scouts and parish kids write meditations for this year’s Vatican Way of the Cross
Pope Francis chose a scouting group from central Italy and kids from a Roman parish to prepare the meditations for this year’s Good Friday Stations of the Cross at the Vatican.
German Catholic leader criticizes request to halt public worship in Holy Week
Germany’s leading Catholic bishop on Tuesday criticized a request to halt public worship during a “hard lockdown” from Holy Thursday to Easter Monday.
Vatican should speak up on China, scholar says
A Swedish scholar who studies China has called for the Vatican to speak up about human rights abuses by the Chinese government, noting that “dialogue on equal terms is not what is happening.”
Private Mass restrictions come into force at St. Peter’s Basilica
The restriction of private Masses in the upper side chapels of St. Peter’s Basilica went into force today.
Vatican marks World Water Day with call to end waste and contamination
The Vatican marked World Water Day on Monday with a message urging an end to water waste and contamination.
Police in Ireland fine Catholic priest for offering public Masses
Police have fined a Catholic priest for celebrating public Masses amid a nationwide lockdown.
Gardaí imposed a 500 euro (£430) fine on Fr. P.J. Hughes, pastor of Mullahoran and Loughduff parish in County Cavan, after he offered Masses with a small number of parishioners present.
Cardinal and Imams call for day of prayer on COVID reflection day
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, and four leading imams have called for a day of prayer on Tuesday 23 March, a national day of reflection marking the anniversary of the first national lockdown for the coronavirus pandemic.