For Ash Wednesday, Vatican asks priests to ‘sprinkle’ ashes on heads January 13, 2021By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, Lent, News, Vatican, World News The Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments asked priests to take special anti-COVID-19 precautions this year when distributing ashes on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, including sprinkling ashes on the top of people’s heads rather than using them to make a cross on people’s foreheads.
In message for World Sick Day, pope calls for health care for all January 12, 2021By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Praising those who help the sick and praying for those who are sick, Pope Francis called on Christians to practice what they preach, including by guaranteeing equal access to health care for all people.
Pope amends canon law so women can be installed as lectors, acolytes January 11, 2021By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Divine Worship, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Recognizing “the gifts of each baptized person” — women and men — Pope Francis ordered a change to canon law and liturgical norms so that women could be formally installed as lectors and acolytes.
Assault on U.S. Capitol shocks the world January 7, 2021By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: 2020 Election, Feature, News, U.S. Congress, Vatican, World News The breach of the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6 sent shock waves around the world.
Australians call on authorities to solve mystery of funds from Vatican January 6, 2021By Marilyn Rodrigues Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Uncategorized, Vatican, World News People inside and outside the church are calling on authorities to get to the bottom of mystery funds transferred from the Vatican to Australia.
Pope to skip Dec. 31, Jan. 1 liturgies due to sciatica, Vatican says December 31, 2020By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis will not preside over the traditional end-of-the-year prayer service nor the New Year’s Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica due to “painful sciatica,” the Vatican said.
Vatican calls for equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution December 29, 2020By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The Vatican’s coronavirus commission and the Pontifical Academy for Life issued a joint statement calling for a coordinated international effort to ensure the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide.
‘Ad Patris domvm’: Famed Carmelite Latinist dies at 81 December 28, 2020By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Discalced Carmelite Father Reginald Foster — a world-renowned teacher of Latin, former longtime Vatican Latinist and colorful character who intrigued journalists — died in Milwaukee Dec. 25 at the age of 81.
Pope announces yearlong reflection on family, ‘Amoris Laetitia’ December 28, 2020By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Marriage & Family Life, News, Parenting, Vatican, World News As the fifth anniversary of his apostolic exhortation “Amoris Laetitia” approaches, Pope Francis announced that the Catholic Church will dedicate more than a year to focusing on the family and conjugal love.
Pope on Christmas: Share hope, promote peace, give vaccine to all December 25, 2020By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Christmas, Feature, News, Vatican, World News On a Christmas like no other, Pope Francis prayed for people who could not be with their families because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but he urged everyone to recognize and help those who are suffering even more.
Pope at Christmas: Jesus’ birth brings hope in troubling times December 24, 2020By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service Filed Under: Christmas, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The birth of Christ is a gift from God that brings people hope and courage in troubled times, Pope Francis said Christmas Eve.
Christmas ‘hijacked’ by consumerist mentality, pope says December 23, 2020By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News While Christmas has become a universal holiday, even for many nonbelievers, its celebration always should focus on the reality that God sent his son into the world to save humanity, Pope Francis said.