Preparations begin for opening Holy Doors at Vatican, Rome basilicas December 3, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Jubilee 2025, News, Vatican, World News Hours after the last visitors and pilgrims left St. Peter’s Basilica for the day, a chisel clanged and dust flew as a group of prelates chanted their prayers before a simple wall marked with a cross.
Japan’s ‘hidden Christian’ sites are living witness of faith, pope says December 3, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News Christians in Japan should keep alive the memory of the persecution their ancestors endured for their faith and should also pray for Christians suffering persecution around the world today, Pope Francis said.
Pope declares Spanish mystic ‘blessed,’ advances other sainthood causes November 25, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Saints, Vatican, World News Using what the Vatican called an “equipollent” or equivalent beatification, Pope Francis recognized as “blessed” a 15th-century Spanish abbess, mystic and preacher.
Church tribunals must uphold charity, justice, truth, pope says November 25, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News When Catholics approach a church tribunal or canon lawyer, they “must always meet the face of our mother, the holy church, who loves all her children with tenderness,” Pope Francis said.
Christ the King triumphs over evil with the power of love, pope says November 25, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News, Youth Ministry While world events can seem chaotic, violent and out of control, Christians can be certain that “everything is ultimately subject to the judgment of Christ, the just and merciful king,” Pope Francis said at Mass.
Pope approves simplified rites for papal funeral, burial November 20, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis, who will celebrate his 88th birthday in December, has approved simplified liturgical rites for the death of a pontiff.
Pope meets Ukrainian first lady, decries war as ‘shameful tragedy’ November 20, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News With Ukraine’s first lady seated in the front row, Pope Francis told people at his general audience that it is “a shameful tragedy for all humanity” that Russia’s war on Ukraine has lasted more than 1,000 days.
Top Vatican diplomat says Russia must act first to end Ukraine war November 18, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Uncategorized As the 1,000th day since Russia launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine approached, the Vatican secretary of state said he hoped the milestone would “awaken a sense of responsibility in everyone, especially those who can stop the ongoing carnage.”
Pope picks Chicago priest to oversee ecology center at papal villa November 18, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Environment, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis has appointed a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago to serve as administrative management director of the Laudato Si’ Center for Higher Education, which is based at the papal villa and farms at Castel Gandolfo.
Pope calls for investigation of possible genocide in Gaza November 18, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis said the international community should investigate whether Israel’s military actions in Gaza constitute genocide.
Pursuing common good in economics is part of being pro-life, pope says November 15, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, Vatican, World News Defending the dignity and sacredness of every human life requires working to create economic and social systems that promote the common good of all, Pope Francis said.
Vatican’s World Day of the Poor features medical care, lunch with pope November 15, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Jubilee 2025, News, Vatican, World News Before Pope Francis presides over Mass Nov. 17 for the World Day of the Poor, he will bless 13 keys to represent the 13 new houses he has pledged to pay for in Syria during the Holy Year 2025, the Vatican said.