Long homilies are ‘a disaster,’ keep it under 10 minutes, pope says January 23, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News, Worship & Sacraments Lengthy, abstract homilies are “a disaster,” so preaching should be limited to 10 minutes, Pope Francis said.
To improve liturgy, involve the people, pope says January 20, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News, Worship & Sacraments Religious celebrations must foster the “fruitful participation of the people of God” and not just of the clergy, Pope Francis said.
Pope expresses concern over tensions on the Baltic Sea January 19, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Crisis in Ukraine, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The Baltic Sea, shared by Russia and northern European countries, is a “source of life threatened by human action,” Pope Francis said.
Interreligious dialogue leads to care for planet, pope tells Buddhists January 19, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Environment, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Interreligious dialogue can combat climate change by tapping into the “profound richness” of faith traditions to promote a sense of “ecological responsibility” and conversion, Pope Francis said.
To be pastoral, look to the Good Shepherd, pope says January 18, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Christians must develop a pastoral heart to care for those who have not heard the Gospel or who have left the fold, Pope Francis said.
U.S. religious liberty expert ‘disappointed’ in Vatican-China deal January 13, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News The United States’ chief advocate for religious freedom expressed his “disappointment” in the Vatican over its provisional agreement with China on the appointment of bishops in the country.
Papal condemnations of nuclear war ‘indispensable,’ says U.N. official January 13, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Crisis in Ukraine, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis’ condemnations of the threat of nuclear war are “indispensable,” said the head of the U.N. nuclear energy agency.
Evangelization is the ‘oxygen’ of Christian life, pope says January 11, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Evangelization, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Beginning a new series of catechesis focused on evangelization and apostolic zeal, the pope said that when Christian life loses its aim of proclaiming the Gospel, it becomes “self-referential” and “atrophied.”
Peace requires a ‘defense of life,’ pope tells ambassadors January 9, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Crisis in Ukraine, Feature, News, Respect Life, Vatican, World News “Peace requires before all else the defense of life,” which is threatened by the “alleged ‘right to abortion,'” Pope Francis told ambassadors accredited to the Holy See.
Pope’s tribute to predecessor ‘refined and profound,’ says Benedict aide January 6, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Pope Benedict XVI, Vatican, World News Father Federico Lombardi said that the pope’s message was a “very refined and profound” tribute to his predecessor that respected the liturgy of a funeral Mass.
Mourners see pope’s funeral as celebration of life and legacy January 5, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Pope Benedict XVI, Vatican, World News The mood in St. Peter’s Square in the hours leading up to the historic funeral for Pope Benedict XVI was much more festive than somber.