March 2021

The first celebration of Holy Mass of Pope Francis’s historic visit to Iraq focused on the need to live a life shaped by the Beatitudes – the eight teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount that fulfil God’s promise to Abraham and his descendants.

Pope Francis met with leaders and representatives of religions at Ur, the ancient Iraqi city believed to be the birthplace of the prophet Abraham.

Cardinal Nichols and Maulana Syed Ali Raza Rizvi explain the importance of the Pope’s meeting with the leader of the Shia community in Najaf, Iraq

Statement by the Director of the Holy See’s Press Office regarding the visit of Pope Francis to Grand Ayatollah Al-Sistani in Najaf

On Saturday morning, 6 March 2021, in Najaf, the Holy Father met Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani.

Pope Francis, speaking in the Syro-Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Salvation in Baghdad where 48 worshippers were killed in a terrorist attack in 2010, acknowledged that daily hardship is a reality for Iraq’s Christians.

Pope Francis has arrived in Baghdad to start an historic four-day visit to Iraq – the first of any Pope to the country.

On Easter Monday, the Catholic Church celebrates what’s called “Monday of the Angel.” In many countries in Europe and South America, this day, also known as “Little Easter,” is a national holiday.

For the second time, the Shroud of Turin will be exposed for veneration on social media and websites on Holy Saturday, the archbishop of Turin has announced.

Cardinal Mario Grech told Irish bishops that embarking on a “synodal process” could lead to an “ecclesial springtime.”

On the eve of his departure for a three-day trip to Iraq, Pope Francis visited a Rome basilica to ask for the Virgin Mary’s intercession and protection on his travels.

The restored Marian statue damaged by Islamic State during its occupation of Karamles, Iraq. Photo credits: Rocchi/SIR. Iraqi Catholics have asked Pope Francis to bless …

A day before he departs for Baghdad, Pope Francis sent a video message to the Iraqi people, saying that he was coming to Iraq as “a pilgrim of peace.”

Archbishop Nizar Semaan Credit: CBCEW Just 24 hours before Pope Francis’ historic visit to Iraq – the first of any pope to the country – …

Statement from the Catholic Diocese of Nottingham on allegations concerning Boohoo’s employment practices in Leicester factories

The Bishop of Nottingham has welcomed reports that an official inquiry is due to be launched into allegations of modern slavery.

Pope Francis will offer Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on 14 March to mark 500 years of Catholic faith in the Philippines.

Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of March is for a renewed experience of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

In his video for the prayer intention, created by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, the pope asked for prayers that the Sacrament of Reconciliation would be experienced “with renewed depth, to taste the forgiveness and infinite mercy of God.”

Pope Francis appealed this morning for an end to “bloody clashes” and the release of political leaders in Burma.

Speaking at the end of his general audience today, the pope lamented the deaths of protesters following a military coup in the Southeast Asian country on 1 February.

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland has set out the case for protecting Britain’s international development commitment, following recent calls from Cardinal Nichols and other church leaders to continue spending 0.7% of Gross National Income on supporting the world’s poorest people.

Pope Francis said in a new book released on Tuesday that the world could face a catastrophe like the Great Flood if human beings fail to address climate change.