Synod, soccer, sexuality: Pope gives another wide-ranging interview November 2, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News In an hourlong interview with Italy’s main news program, Pope Francis announced he would travel to Dubai in early December for the U.N. Climate Change Conference, COP28.
No one wins with war; each life lost represents defeat, pope says November 2, 2023By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News As the sun broke through the morning sky after a torrential downpour in Rome, Pope Francis was wheeled past dozens of gravestones that marked the final resting place of members of the military forces who died during and immediately after World War II.
Pope calls for ‘contextual theology’ that responds to modern questions November 2, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Calling for a major push toward developing a “fundamentally contextual theology, capable of reading and interpreting the Gospel in the conditions in which men and women live each day,” Pope Francis has approved new statutes for the Pontifical Theological Academy.
Learn about the lives of saints, be moved by their examples, pope says November 1, 2023By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Saints, Vatican, World News Holiness is a gift everyone receives with baptism, and it is a journey to be made together with the help of the saints in heaven, Pope Francis said on the feast of All Saints.
‘Your prayer gives me strength,’ pope says, asking for prayers in November October 31, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis regularly asks people to pray for him, and in October he jokingly told a group of nuns why: “This job is not easy; in fact, it’s a bit bothersome.”
Synod members asked, ‘What would Jesus do?’ panel says October 31, 2023By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Synodality, Vatican, World News The monthlong experience of synodality with cardinals, bishops, religious and laypeople from all over the world created new and wider “spaces” for everyone to feel welcome, to listen and discern God’s will together, several synod members said at the conclusion of the synod assembly’s first session.
Vatican Nativity scene to honor 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ creche October 30, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Advent, Christmas, Feature, News, Vatican, World News On the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi setting up the first Nativity scene, the creche in St. Peter’s Square in 2023 will come from the Diocese of Rieti, Italy, and pay tribute to the scene set up in the diocese in 1223.
Assembly suggests steps to increase ‘synodality’ October 30, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Synodality, Vatican, World News While some of the issues discussed at the synod on synodality were judged to require further study, members came up with a list of things that can or should happen immediately and others that should be considered.
Synod synthesis shows agreement, divergences, including on ‘synodality’ October 30, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Synodality, Vatican, World News A report summarizing discussions at the assembly of the Synod of Bishops said the church may need more welcoming pastoral approaches, especially to people who feel excluded, but also acknowledged fears of betraying traditional church teachings and practices.
Pope calls for cease-fire in Holy Land; Vatican-Iranian diplomats talk October 30, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Crisis in Israel, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The day after Pope Francis called for a cease-fire in the Holy Land, his foreign minister spoke by phone with the foreign minister of Iran, “reiterating the absolute need to avoid escalating the conflict,” the Vatican press office said.
Wanting to ‘control’ God, confine him to an agenda is idolatry, pope says October 30, 2023By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Synodality, Vatican, World News To reform the church is to put God first and adore him, and to love and serve others, Pope Francis said at Mass marking the conclusion of the first session of the Synod of Bishops on synodality.
Pope Francis asks Mary to ‘convert those who fuel and foment conflict’ October 27, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Crisis in Israel, Crisis in Ukraine, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis asked Mary to look mercifully upon the human family, “which has strayed from the path of peace,” and entrusted to her protection the world’s regions and nations at war.