Nativity scenes are reminder of Lord’s love and tenderness, pope says December 16, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Christmas, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Making his customary visit to the Rome Basilica of St. Mary Major to pray before his trip to the French island of Corsica, Pope Francis also met and prayed with dozens of actors staging a living Nativity scene.
Pope says there’s no religious justification for Russia’s war on Ukraine December 16, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News In a letter to his nuncio in Russia, Pope Francis called out those who would claim Russia’s war on Ukraine had any spiritual justification.
Two women join Vatican council that implements synod, prepares next one December 13, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Synodality, Vatican, World News For the first time, women will serve on the Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod, the committee that oversees implementation of the most recent synod and prepares the next assembly.
Trust in God, humanity makes world shine brighter, papal preacher says December 13, 2024By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Advent, News, Vatican, World News Courageous trust in God, oneself and others is needed to see the good in one’s life and to be able to embrace a difficult and imperfect world, said the preacher of the papal household.
Vatican registers Italian LGBTQ+ group for Holy Year pilgrimage December 13, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Jubilee 2025, News, Vatican, World News An Italian association for LGBTQ+ Christians, their parents and the priests and religious who minister with them is among the many groups registered to make a pilgrimage together through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.
Pope: Mary’s motherhood is the essence of Guadalupe December 12, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Hispanic Ministry, News, Vatican, World News Reducing the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe to anything other than an expression of Mary’s universal motherhood diminishes the true essence of the iconic Marian devotion, Pope Francis said.
Pope calls for end to foreign debt, death penalty ahead of Jubilee Year December 12, 2024By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Jubilee 2025, News, Respect Life, Vatican, World News Pope Francis has called on all nations to eliminate the death penalty, to divert a fixed percentage of arms spending to a global fund to fight hunger and climate change, and to cancel the international debt of developing nations as concrete ways to usher in a new era of hope.
Pope, Palestinian president meet at Vatican December 12, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, World News As the fighting in Gaza drags on, Pope Francis welcomed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to the Vatican.
Hope is an ‘active virtue’ that makes good things happen, pope says December 11, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News The “most beautiful gift” the Catholic Church and its members can give the world is a reason to live with hope, Pope Francis said.
Fight against poverty must be based on Gospel, social doctrine, pope says December 10, 2024By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Advent, News, Social Justice, Vatican, World News Pope Francis prayed that Advent would be a time of spiritual renewal to build up a civilization of love.
Latin American bishops launch campaign to protect human rights activists December 9, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News Three months after the murder of Juan López, a Honduran church worker and environmental activist whose death was publicly mourned by Pope Francis, the bishops of Latin America are raising awareness on attacks against those fighting for social justice in the continent.
Pope, Central American Catholics pray for Nicaragua December 9, 2024By David Agren OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News Pope Francis and the country’s bishops in exile prayed for Nicaragua as the Central American country observed the Immaculate Conception of Mary amid persecution.
