Pope avoids confrontation with Italy on migration but says lives must be saved November 8, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis avoided a direct confrontation with Italy’s new government over immigration policies, but he still insisted “lives must be saved.”
Ukrainian archbishop tells pope Russia wants to destroy, not negotiate November 7, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News Pope Francis has continued to call on Russian and Ukrainian leaders to negotiate an end to the war, but the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church told him Russia wants only the destruction of Ukraine.
Showing love, mercy are key to entering heaven, pope says on All Souls’ Day November 2, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News As Christians await their death and the final judgment of God, the Gospel tells them what they must do to be welcomed into heaven: love others because God is love, Pope Francis said.
Saints were revolutionaries who lived the beatitudes, pope says November 1, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Saints, Vatican, World News The multitude of men and women honored on the feast of All Saints lived according to the Eight Beatitudes, which made them decidedly out of place in the world, Pope Francis said Nov. 1 before reciting the Angelus prayer.
Pope: Parishes are essential places for growing in faith, community October 31, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The COVID-19 pandemic has weakened many parishes, but that community “in the midst of homes, in the midst of people,” is still an essential place for nourishing and sharing faith, Pope Francis told Italian young adults.
Commission starts planning global report on child protection efforts October 31, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, Feature, News, Vatican, World News With a renewed membership, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors met at the Vatican in late October and laid the groundwork for devising an annual report on child protection efforts by the Catholic Church globally.
Synod reports show enthusiasm for mission, but also identify obstacles October 30, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Synodality, World News Catholics around the globe long to share the Gospel with a world in need, but they see situations and tensions within the church that challenge their ability to do so, said one of the drafters of the document for the continental phase of the Synod of Bishops.
Enlarge the tent: Synod document sees desire for greater inclusion October 29, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Synodality, World News Around the world, listening sessions for the Synod of Bishops gave many participants a sense of finally being listened to, but they also raised questions about how to promote greater inclusion in the Catholic Church while staying true to church teaching.
Vatican announces plans for Christmas tree, Nativity scene, stamps October 28, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Christmas, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The Nativity scene that will sit under a 98-feet-tall silver fir tree in the middle of St. Peter’s Square this year will feature 19 life-sized figures carved in cedar by artisans in the northeastern Italian town of Sutrio.
Pornography weakens the soul, pope tells young priests, seminarians October 26, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News After telling a funny story about receiving a cellphone decades ago that was “as big as a shoe,” Pope Francis went on to encourage young priests and seminarians to use technology and social media, but to avoid pornography at all costs.
Cries for peace can’t be ignored, pope says at interreligious meeting October 25, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, Vatican, World News Standing in front of an ancient symbol of violent battles, Pope Francis and religious leaders from around the world echoed “the cry for peace” of people suffering the impact of conflicts around the world, but especially in Ukraine.
Pope: Church’s concern for the family goes beyond focus on couples October 24, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Marriage & Family Life, News, Vatican, World News The importance of the family for the Catholic Church and for society means that theological reflection on family life and pastoral responses to the joys and problems of families must focus on more than the relationship between a husband and wife, Pope Francis said.
