Celibacy not ‘divine law’ for priests, but promotes holiness, speakers say February 22, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News The requirement that most priests in the Latin rite of the Catholic Church be celibate has theological and spiritual foundations and not only practical motivations, said speakers at an international conference on priesthood.
Pope decries warmongering, prays for Eastern Catholics in danger February 18, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Meeting leaders of the Eastern Catholic churches — many from countries at war, facing the threat of war or dealing with the destruction left by war — Pope Francis said human beings seem to be “attached to wars, and this is tragic.”
Ukraine chaplain sees his mission as helping troops protect their humanity February 15, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, World News For Jesuit Father Andriy Zelinskyy and the soldiers he ministers to in Ukraine, the threat of a war with Russia isn’t news; “the war started eight years ago,” he said.
Forgiveness, friendship, prayer: Pope answers questions on Italian TV February 7, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis told an Italian interviewer that forgiveness is “a human right.”
Pope talks about devotion to saints, prays for man who interrupted prayer February 2, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Uncategorized, Vatican, World News Pope Francis recited a prayer he said he has recited every day for more than 40 years. But while he was reading it, a man in the back of the audience hall began shouting, including about wearing masks. Vatican police escorted him out of the building.
Vatican projects budget deficit for 2022 as pandemic continues January 28, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Presenting a budget projection that foresees a deficit of $37.1 million in 2022, the prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy said he believes the Vatican is on the path to honesty and transparency in financial matters.
Pope sets Jan. 26 as day of prayer for peace in Ukraine January 24, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Saying he was worried about Ukraine and how a possible Russian-Ukrainian conflict could spread, Pope Francis proclaimed Jan. 26 as a day of prayer for peace in Ukraine.
Retired Pope Benedict corrects statement for Munich abuse report January 24, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Amending a written statement made to a panel investigating clerical sexual abuse in his former Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, retired Pope Benedict XVI said he was present at a 1980 meeting to discuss the transfer of a priest accused of misconduct.
Pope confers ministries of lector, catechist on lay women and men January 24, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Highlighting the importance of the Bible in the life of faith and the role of lay women and men in sharing the Gospel, Pope Francis formally installed eight men and women in the ministry of lector and eight others in the ministry of catechist.
Partnering in the pandemic: Churches see possibilities for ecumenism January 21, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, News, Vatican, World News In promoting Christian unity, ecumenical prayer and practical cooperation among divided church communities, the COVID-19 pandemic has not been all bad news.
Seeking God together will bring Christians closer to each other, pope says January 18, 2022By Cindy Wooden Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, Uncategorized, Vatican, World News Pope Francis told Lutheran, Catholic and Orthodox pilgrims that “we need to press forward with humility and patience, and always together, in order to encourage and support one another, for this is what Christ desires.”
Doggone it: When a papal point misses the mark January 11, 2022By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Speaking at his general audience about the importance of parenthood, both literal and spiritual, Pope Francis again brought up his concern about a “demographic winter,” especially in Europe, where birthrates are consistently below death rates.
