Pope calls for cease-fire in Holy Land; Vatican-Iranian diplomats talk October 30, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The day after Pope Francis called for a cease-fire in the Holy Land, his foreign minister spoke by phone with the foreign minister of Iran, “reiterating the absolute need to avoid escalating the conflict,” the Vatican press office said.
Synodality benefits from and increases ecumenical ties, participants say October 27, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, News, Synodality, Vatican, World News As the Catholic Church’s synod on synodality continues, it is drawing on lessons learned from decades of ecumenical friendships and dialogues and is sharing its experience with ecumenical partners with one goal in mind: helping all Christians take responsibility for the mission of sharing the Gospel, said several synod participants.
Synod prays warring nations will learn to listen, respect each other October 26, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Synodality, War in Ukraine, World News Carrying candles into an empty St. Peter’s Basilica, participants in the synod on synodality prayed the rosary for peace Oct. 25.
USCCB president talks about his synod experience October 25, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Synodality, Vatican, World News Welcoming people into the church and helping them enter a relationship with Jesus always involves a call to conversion, said Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Listen to, trust the lay faithful, pope tells synod members October 25, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Synodality, Vatican, World News Pope Francis told members of the synod on synodality that they should respect and honor the faith of all baptized Catholics, including the women, trusting “the holy, faithful people of God” who continue to believe even when their pastors act like dictators.
As synod winds down, members urged to sow patience October 23, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Synodality, Vatican, World News As members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops return home, share the results of their work and prepare for the final synod assembly in 2024, they must be on guard against people who will want to make them take sides as if the synod were a political debate, said Dominican Father Timothy Radcliffe.
At synod prayer service, pope calls for immigration reform with a heart October 19, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, Synodality, World News Taking to heart the lesson of the parable of the good Samaritan is the key to assisting the millions of migrants and refugees forced to travel far from their homelands and often exploited along the way, Pope Francis said.
Pope calls Gaza parish staff as bombing continues October 17, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Huddled in a stairwell at the Catholic parish and school in Gaza, Rosary Sister Nabila Saleh, another sister and Father Youssef Asaad filmed themselves speaking to Pope Francis on the phone and begging for his continued prayers.
Synod secures texts after outsiders were given access October 16, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Synodality, World News Some confidential documents from the assembly of the Synod of Bishops were accessible online to anyone who had the address before synod officials restored the need for a username and password, said Paolo Ruffini, prefect of the Dicastery for Communication.
St. Thérèse teaches simplicity, love, trust, pope says in document October 16, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Saints, Vatican, World News St. Thérèse of Lisieux, long one of Pope Francis’ favorite saints, teaches Christians “the little way” of love, self-giving, concern for others and complete trust in the mercy of God, the pope said in a new document.
Synod focus on ‘inclusion’ key for people with disabilities, member says October 16, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Synodality, Vatican, World News In many places in the world, including in Rome, people with disabilities cannot enter Catholic churches because of the architectural barriers, but even when they do, “we are not asked anything and we are not asked to participate either,” said Enrique Alarcón García.
Synod looks at Catholics’ shared mission, but also exclusion of women October 13, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Synodality, Vatican, World News The life of women in the Catholic Church “is full of scars” and alternating experiences of being encouraged or rejected, the president of Latin America’s religious superiors told members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops.
