Grace should cause awe, like a summer snowfall would, pope says August 5, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Uncategorized Whether or not Mary caused snow to fall in Rome on a summer day more than 1,600 years ago, Christians know that God’s grace is always undeserved, always beautiful and literally awesome, Pope Francis said.
Pope pleads for restraint in Middle East after killing of Hamas leader August 5, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News As fears of a widening war in the Middle East grew again in early August, Pope Francis pleaded with the region’s leaders to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue.
Christians explore possibilities for, problems with papal ministry June 14, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Anglican, Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox believers agree with Catholics that “the unity in truth of the Christian community demands visible expression,” an Anglican archbishop said, but agreeing that the pope should fill that role is another question.
Ecumenism and papal primacy: Vatican releases status report on dialogues June 13, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The reason why the 2024 edition of the Vatican yearbook has re-inserted “Patriarch of the West” as one of the historical titles of the pope appears to be a response to concerns expressed by Orthodox leaders and theologians.
Lawyer for arrested former Vatican employee says manuscript is mystery June 10, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News The lawyer for the former Vatican employee accused of trying to sell St. Peter’s Basilica an allegedly stolen 17th-century manuscript about plans for the massive canopy over the basilica’s main altar said the illustrated manuscript is different from one listed in the archives and later reported missing.
Pope urges diplomats to be signs of hope, promoters of cooperation June 10, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News In a world torn by strife, diplomacy offers hope by promoting dialogue, solidarity and cooperation for the common good, Pope Francis said.
Debt relief: Biblical jubilee concern is focus of Holy Year 2025, too June 8, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News Proclaiming the Jubilee 2025, Pope Francis appealed to the world’s wealthiest nations to “acknowledge the gravity of so many of their past decisions and determine to forgive the debts of countries that will never be able to repay them.”
Amid prayers for peace, Vatican-Israeli tensions were on display June 7, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, World News The Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel and Israel’s massive military response in Gaza have led to strong papal pleas for peace but also to Vatican-Israeli diplomatic tensions.
Italian report: Pope encourages gay man who wants to enter seminary June 5, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis reportedly told a young gay man to “keep going” with his vocational search after he told the pope he felt called to the priesthood but was turned away by an Italian seminary because he told them he was gay.
Sin will not keep Jesus away, pope pens in preface to Father Martin’s book June 4, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Books, News, Vatican, World News Jesus considers all the baptized to be his friends and will always try to restore them to life and health as he did with his friend Lazarus in the Gospel, Pope Francis wrote.
Interreligious friendships are consolation amid wars, pope says June 3, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis began a meeting with participants in a Focolare-sponsored conference by telling the movement’s president, “I pray for your homeland; I pray so much for your homeland, which is suffering at this time.”
Corpus Christi procession is not sign of pride but invitation, pope says June 3, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Eucharist, Feature, News, Vatican, World News When Catholics carry the Eucharist through the streets, “we are not doing this to show off or to flaunt our faith” but to invite others to share in the life that Jesus gives by making himself a gift, Pope Francis said.
