The Vatican published yesterday major revisions to Book VI of the Code of Canon Law, which covers penal law in the Church, including sanctions related to clerical sexual abuse.
World Health Organization grants Holy See permanent observer status
The Holy See has been granted permanent observer status to the World Health Organization following resolution adopted by consensus on May 31.
Pope Francis releases video message on the beauty of marriage
Pope Francis greets a married couple at a Wednesday General Audience./ Daniel Ibáñez Pope Francis has asked people to pray throughout June for young people …
Pope Francis turns to Mary, Undoer of Knots, at end of rosary marathon for end to pandemic
Pope Francis asked yesterday for the intercession of Mary, Undoer of Knots, as he ended a month-long global rosary marathon.
Paris archbishop laments attack on Catholics honouring city’s martyrs
The archbishop of Paris on Sunday lamented an attack on Catholics taking part in a procession commemorating the city’s 19th-century martyrs.
Church says ‘all formalities completed’ before twice-divorced UK PM’s wedding at Catholic cathedral
Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds in London, England, May 6, 2021./ Ilyas Tayfun Salci via Shutterstock. Church authorities said that “all necessary steps were taken, …
Pope Francis: The Holy Trinity invites us to grow in unity as Christians
On the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Pope Francis said unity is essential to Christian life because God is a communion of love.
“This mystery of the Trinity was revealed to us by Jesus himself,” Pope Francis said in his Angelus address on May 30.
Swiss Catholic bishop appoints lay people in place of episcopal vicars
A Swiss Catholic bishop has announced that he is appointing lay people in place of episcopal vicars in his diocese.
‘Our only weapon is prayer’: Nigerian bishop seeks release of kidnapped priest
Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah has been working to secure the release of a priest from his Sokoto diocese who was kidnapped six days ago.
Pope appoints English Archbishop as Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship
Archbishop Arthur Roche. Credit: CBCEW Pope Francis appoints Archbishop Arthur Roche as the new Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, and Archbishop Vittorio Francesco …
‘We are delighted to have him back’: Carlo Acutis relics arrive in London
Cardinal Vincent Nichols presents a relic of Bl. Carlo Acutis to Fr. Pat Ryall at Archbishop’s House, Westminster, May 21, 2021./ Mazur/cbcew.org.uk. Two parishes in …
This needs to stop, says Cardinal Bo after church shelling in Myanmar
Image Credit: CBCEW Cardinal Charles Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, has written a letter, translated into English, appealing for an end to the violent conflict in …
Pope Francis launches 7-year Laudato si’ action plan
Pope Francis today launched the Vatican’s seven-year Laudato si’ action plan to implement environmental sustainability in different sectors of the Church from religious orders to Catholic schools and hospitals.
“We need a new ecological approach that can transform our way of dwelling in the world, our styles of life, our relationship with the resources of the Earth and, in general, our way of looking at humanity and of living life,” Pope Francis said in a video message May 24.
Bishop Sherrington issues statement opposing Assisted Dying Bill
Bishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues, has issued a statement outlining the Catholic Church’s opposition to a Bill that could make assisted dying legal in England and Wales.
The Assisted Dying Bill, a Private Member’s Bill introduced by Baroness Meacher, is due to be debated in the House of Lords on Wednesday 26 May 2021.
Pope Francis prays that the Dominicans’ jubilee year will ‘usher in a new springtime of the Gospel’
St. Dominic Guzman/ Public Domain Pope Francis praised the Dominican charisms of preaching and missionary discipleship in a letter marking the 800th anniversary of the …
Only peace can give birth to true democracy in Myanmar, says Cardinal Bo
The Archdiocese of Yangon has released an English-language version of Cardinal Bo’s homily that he preached on the great Feast of Pentecost.
Describing Pentecost as offering a “great message to Myanmar’s people,” the Cardinal focused on the three symbols of hope: unity – in particular the use of a common language to bring people together, wind – a manifestation of the Holy Spirit – to allow the oxygen of peace to flow freely, and fire – the fire of justice.
A cannonball that changed the world: Pope Francis marks 500 years since St. Ignatius’ conversion
A 16th-century painting of St. Ignatius in armor./ Public domain. Pope Francis said Sunday that the cannonball that wounded Ignatius of Loyola 500 years ago …
Pope Francis: Pray for China’s Christians
Pope Francis today appealed for prayers for Christians in China on the eve of the feast of Our Lady of Sheshan.
Speaking after the recitation of the Regina Coeli this afternoon, the pope noted that Chinese Catholics mark Monday’s feast at the national shrine of Our Lady Help of Christians at Sheshan, 25 miles south of Shanghai.
Full text: Pope Francis’ homily on Pentecost Sunday
Here is the full text of Pope Francis’ Pentecost Sunday homily, delivered May 23, 2021, at the Basilica of St. Peter.
Pope Francis: ‘Open your heart to the Holy Spirit’
Pope Francis today urged those who feel trapped by loneliness, despair, and pain to open themselves to the Holy Spirit.
Celebrating Pentecost Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica May 23, the pope said that people could find true consolation by invoking the third Person of the Holy Trinity.