Explainer: What are indulgences? April 10, 2024By David Werning OSV News Filed Under: Eucharist, Feature, News, Vatican, World News, Worship & Sacraments Indulgences, however, are a way that the church “as minister of the Redemption” intervenes on behalf of a penitent by using its God-given authority to dispense all the temporal punishments of sin (a plenary indulgence), or a portion of them (a partial indulgence), by the application of the satisfaction won by Christ and the saints.
Take evil seriously, pope says at general audience April 10, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News While intense feelings or drive — passions — are natural, Christians know they must be tamed and channeled toward what is good, Pope Francis said.
Old truth, new insight: Cardinal says human dignity text is result of growth April 9, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News The 116 footnotes in the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s declaration on human dignity reflect the fact that most of the content of the 12,700-word text is not new Catholic teaching.
Everyone has the same human dignity no matter what, cardinal says April 9, 2024By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, Vatican, World News The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s document on human dignity highlights Pope Francis’ decade-long insistence that every human being — independent of their circumstances, stage of development or state of sin — possesses infinite and inalienable dignity that must be respected and protected, said the dicastery’s prefect.
U.S. Catholic pastoral leaders welcome Vatican document on human dignity April 8, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, Vatican, World News A number of Catholic pastoral leaders in the U.S. are applauding a new Vatican declaration on human dignity for its specific treatment of several key — and contentious — issues.
Pope meets with family members of Hamas hostages April 8, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Eight people united in their anguish carried into the papal library posters bearing the faces of their loved ones who are held in captivity by Hamas.
Vatican calls for proactive defense of human dignity in digital realm April 8, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Respect Life, Vatican, World News The protection and preservation of human dignity must extend into the digital realm, the Vatican said in a new document on human dignity.
Vatican says abortion, surrogacy, war, poverty are attacks on human dignity April 8, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, Vatican, World News Being a Christian means defending human dignity and that includes opposing abortion, the death penalty, gender transition surgery, war, sexual abuse and human trafficking, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith said in a new document.
Pope marks 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi’s stigmata April 5, 2024By Cindy Wooden Filed Under: Feature, News, Saints, Vatican, World News The wounds of Christ’s passion and death and the stigmata given to some Christians over the centuries are reminders of “the pain Jesus suffered in his flesh out of love for us and for our salvation,” Pope Francis said.
Pontifical commission publishes universal safeguarding framework April 5, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, Vatican, World News The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors has reaffirmed the requirement that every diocese, Catholic religious order and institution in the world have clear safeguarding guidelines and procedures and that they are publicly accessible.
Pope tells priests: Be icons of Christ, wipe tears like Veronica April 5, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, Vocations, World News Priests are called to be “a true icon of Jesus,” drawing closer to God the father by devoting their lives to the care of all God’s children, Pope Francis wrote.
Religions must counter war rhetoric with focus on peace, pope says April 4, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, Vatican, World News In a world filled with “bellicose rhetoric,” religious leaders must make extra efforts to speak of peace and to nurture every action and attitude that lessens tensions and increases dialogue, Pope Francis said.
