Pope celebrates 87th birthday with children of families in need December 18, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News With song, cake and circus performers, Pope Francis celebrated his 87th birthday in festive style at the Vatican.
Pope condemns targeting of unarmed civilians in Gaza December 18, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis condemned the Israeli military’s killing of two Christian women sheltering at a Catholic parish in Gaza and an attack on a convent, noting that in the current fighting “unarmed civilians are targets for bombs and gunfire.”
Having child out of wedlock does not bar access to sacraments, Vatican says December 16, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, Vatican, World News Women who have conceived a child out of wedlock and have the courage to choose life for their baby “should be encouraged to have access to the healing and consoling power of the sacraments,” said the head of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.
At Christmas, God remains with us through war and poverty, pope says December 15, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Christmas, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The Christmas season is a reminder to Christians that despite hardships, God chose to join himself to humanity and still remains by its side, Pope Francis said.
Beyond legal status, refugees need recognition of dignity, pope says December 15, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, Vatican, World News In addition to a legal status that allows them to flee unsafe situations, refugees also need the opportunity to integrate into the societies that host them and build a dignified life, Pope Francis said.
Pope: Pilgrimages are ‘balm on the wounds’ of people with disabilities December 14, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Disabilities Ministry, News, Vatican, World News Sharing the pilgrimage experience with people with disabilities is a testament to the Catholic Church’s ability to accompany all of its members and to proclaim the Gospel by caring for others, Pope Francis said.
Pope says he’ll be buried outside the Vatican, is simplifying funeral December 13, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis said he has decided to be buried in Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major instead of in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican and that he has simplified the rites for a papal funeral.
Message of Guadalupe based in simplicity, not ideology, pope says December 12, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News The iconic image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which has become a cultural and spiritual symbol for Latin America, cannot be used to promote any kind of ideology, but must maintain its message of simple love, Pope Francis said.
Disconnecting from social media ‘essential’ to Christian life, pope says December 11, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News To connect with God, Christians must disconnect from the “pollution of vain words and chatter” that reach them through social media and instead seek silence in the desert, Pope Francis said.
Pope asks Mary to watch over Ukrainians, Palestinians, Israelis December 8, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News Mary’s conception, free from original sin, shows that the destiny of humanity lies in life, brotherhood, harmony and peace rather than death, hate, conflict and war, Pope Francis said on the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
World’s desire for unity persists since World War II, pope says December 7, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Religious movements within the Catholic Church must advocate for peace and unity in the world at large and within their communities, Pope Francis said.
Wearing a rosary can make a Latino a target for police, historian says December 3, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Immigration and Migration, News, Religious Freedom, World News Many law enforcement officers associate Catholic imagery and symbols with criminality in the U.S. Latino community, a historian researching the American Southwest said.
