Carol Glatz

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Pope leads Via Crucis with young people in torch-lit St. Peter’s Square

April 2, 2021
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service Filed Under: Easter, Feature, News, Vatican, World News

For the second year in a row, Pope Francis led the Way of the Cross from St. Peter’s Square rather than Rome’s Colosseum because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Italy sees worst gap between births, deaths since 1918 Spanish flu

March 29, 2021
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, Vatican, World News

With Italy already facing a diminishing population, low birth rates and fewer religious and civil marriages, the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted those numbers for 2020, according to the Italian National Institute of Statistics.

Jesus takes on human suffering to draw even closer to people, pope says

March 28, 2021
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News

A Christian life should be filled with amazement — astonishment at the son of God suffering and dying for humanity and awe at realizing how precious and loved people are in his eyes, Pope Francis said.

Pope says Mary comforts all those who die alone, reiterates she is not a “co-redemptrix”

March 24, 2021
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, Vatican, World News

As he has underlined often, the pope reiterated that Mary is not a “co-redemptrix.” For decades, some Catholics have been petitioning the popes to recognize Mary as co-redemptrix to highlight the essential role she played in redemption.

No one can be excluded from the care, love of the church, cardinal says

March 18, 2021
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Marriage & Family Life, News, Vatican, World News

While the Catholic Church cannot bless unions that are not sacramental marriages, the church will always welcome and accompany everyone, no matter their situation in life, said the prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life.

Pope says he, too, kneels on Myanmar streets, begging for end to violence

March 17, 2021
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News

As security forces in Myanmar have increased their crackdown on civilians, with disappearances, detentions and the killing of peaceful protesters, Pope Francis appealed for an end to violence and the start of dialogue.

Vatican says no blessing gay unions, no negative judgment on gay people

March 15, 2021
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Marriage & Family Life, News, Vatican, World News

While homosexual men and women must be respected, any form of blessing a same-sex union is “illicit,” said the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Vatican says general absolution still permissible during pandemic

March 11, 2021
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Divine Worship, Feature, News, Vatican, World News

Offering general absolution to the faithful without having them personally confess their sins first may still be done in places seeing serious or increasing levels of coronavirus infections, a Vatican official said.

Pope taps Newark cardinal as member of Congregation for Bishops

March 4, 2021
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News

Pope Francis has named Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, a member of the Congregation for Bishops, the office that advises the pope on the nomination of bishops around the world.

Bible reading boosts mental well-being among Christians, U.K. survey says

March 3, 2021
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service Filed Under: Bible, Feature, News, World News

Reading the Bible has had a positive effect on people’s “mental well-being” during the pandemic, according to a Christian Research survey conducted in the United Kingdom.

Heroes of love: New pathway open for future saints

February 25, 2021
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Saints, Vatican, World News

The new pathway to canonization puts the focus on the nature of the candidate’s death — that it was a free and willing offer of one’s Christian life and a heroic acceptance, out of love, of a certain and early death.

Cardinals Sarah, Comastri retire from Vatican posts

February 22, 2021
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News

Pope Francis accepted the resignations of 75-year-old Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, and 77-year-old Cardinal Angelo Comastri, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica and vicar for Vatican City State.