The COVID-19 pandemic calls for an urgent reality check against baseless information and for increased efforts so everyone has access to vaccines, medicines and diagnostic tools, Pope Francis told diplomats from around the world.
Vatican
Pope encourages business leaders who try to put employees first
Competition, the market system and need to answer to stockholders can and do challenge business owners and leaders who want to put the needs of employees and the common good first, Pope Francis said.
Jesus is star guiding people to joy, pope says on Epiphany
Just as the Magi were guided by a shining star, Christians can rest assured that the light of Christ will guide them to a happy and meaningful life, Pope Francis said on the feast of the Epiphany.
Vatican newspaper remembers Jan. 6 siege as attack on U.S. democracy
The attack on the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6, 2021, “represented a direct blow to the heart of American democracy,” the Vatican newspaper said.
Wearing a mask at Mass is a small sacrifice pleasing to God, priest says
Wearing a high-filtering mask over one’s nose and mouth at Mass “is a small sacrifice we can bring to the altar as an offering pleasing to God for the good of all his children,” said Father Roberto Colombo, a geneticist and member of the Pontifical Academy for Life.
On New Year’s, pope says a mature faith is realistic, but hope-filled
As Catholics begin a new year contemplating the motherhood of Mary, they should be inspired not to let problems weaken their faith or prevent them from helping others grow, Pope Francis said.
Though problems abound, God-given hope never fails, pope says
Christian hope grants those who suffer the assurance that God does not abandon his people in their time of need, Pope Francis said.
Vatican pays tribute to 22 church workers murdered in 2021
In situations of extreme poverty, war or civil tensions, 22 Catholic church workers were murdered in 2021, according to Fides, the news agency of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
Vatican adds QR code to sculpture to educate people about migration
A life-sized bronze sculpture of migrants and refugees crowded onto a boat has stood in St. Peter’s Square for more than two years, but just before Christmas a small QR code was placed on the boat’s stern to give onlookers information about the work.
Christians in Bethlehem on Christmas: Tell the world we have joy
The normal crowds of pilgrims and tourists may not have been able to come to Bethlehem for Christmas due to COVID-19 travel restrictions for a second year in a row, but local Palestinian Christians wanted to assure everyone that the Christmas spirit is still alive and well in the city of Jesus’ birth.
Pope asks pontifical council to begin planning Holy Year 2025
Preparations for the Holy Year 2025 have already begun, and Pope Francis has asked the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization to take charge of the efforts.
Even the Holy Family felt stress, pope tells families
The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough on families, but with extra patience and faith, bonds can grow stronger, Pope Francis wrote in a letter released on the feast of the Holy Family.