Citing bronchitis, pope cuts speech short: ‘I can’t speak well’ January 12, 2024By Justin McLellan OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis declined to read his prepared remarks during an audience with Catholic communicators from France, saying he has bronchitis and “can’t speak well.”
Canopy over main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica to undergo restoration January 11, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Knights of Columbus, News, Vatican, World News The nearly 400-year-old sculpted canopy towering over the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica will be surrounded by scaffolding for most of 2024 as it is washed, repaired and restored.
Pope tells Marxist group good policies cannot be dictated by the market January 10, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Social Justice, Vatican, World News Societies must consider how their people can share challenges and resources, the pope told representatives of a dialogue project bringing together socialists, Marxists and Christians.
Vatican doctrine official says priestly celibacy should be optional January 8, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News The Catholic Church should revise its celibacy requirement for Latin-rite priests, a senior official in the Vatican’s doctrinal office said.
Giving is not enough, people must also ‘touch poverty,’ pope says January 5, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Giving to others in need is not enough; people must look those they help in the eyes and be willing to touch their poverty with their hands and hearts, Pope Francis said.
Pope tells young people to sow peace in the peripheries January 5, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News, Young Adult Ministry A person does not have to travel far from home to find people living on the margins of society and in need hearing the message of the Gospel, Pope Francis said.
Dicastery doubles down: Bishops shouldn’t stop blessings for gay couples January 4, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News While bishops may take a cautious approach to the Vatican’s guidance on blessing same-sex or other unmarried couples, they should not deny their priests the possibility of discerning and imparting blessings on people who ask for them, the Vatican doctrinal office said.
Everyone faces temptation, but Jesus is always close by, pope says January 3, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Temptation — a constant in spiritual life — is an opportunity for Christians to remember that Jesus is close to them, supports them and lifts them up when they fall, Pope Francis said.
Music touches the hearts of young ‘prisoners of anxiety,’ pope says January 2, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Song and music are gifts capable of touching the hearts of young people, drawing them out of spirals of anxiety and bringing them closer to God, Pope Francis said.
Pope: Diversity in the church must be embraced, not feared January 2, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Different ways of living out the Catholic faith, including different liturgical rites, should not be seen as threats to the unity of the Catholic Church but embraced as expressions of the body of Christ, Pope Francis said.
Church and world must ‘respect, defend, esteem’ women, pope says January 2, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News The world and the Catholic Church must respect and defend women and foster a motherly care for others to end dehumanizing cycles of violence, Pope Francis said.
Bring Mary’s gratitude and hope into the new year, pope says January 2, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis encouraged Christians to look to the example of Mary who, after giving birth to Jesus, had a mother’s gratitude in her heart for bearing the child of God.