Pope prays for victims of New Orleans attack January 2, 2025By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis was “deeply saddened” to learn of deaths and injuries caused by the attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day, which killed 15 people.
Mary, not technology, is world’s hope, cardinal says at Holy Door opening January 2, 2025By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Jubilee 2025, News, Vatican, World News Opening the Holy Door of the oldest Marian shrine in the Western world, Cardinal Rolando Makrickas prayed that the world would entrust itself to Mary, “the door to heaven.”
On New Year’s, pope calls for real commitment to respect human life January 1, 2025By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, Vatican, World News Marking the feast of Mary, Mother of God, and the start of the new year, Pope Francis renewed his appeal for a “firm commitment” to respect all human life worldwide.
Pope gives thanks for Jubilee preparations at New Year’s Eve vespers December 31, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News A week after inaugurating the Holy Year 2025, Pope Francis gave thanks for all the work that went into its preparation and prayed that it would be a year of peace, justice and fraternity.
Pope preaches value of hope, kindness on popular BBC program December 31, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News Speaking on one of the United Kingdom’s most popular radio programs, Pope Francis encouraged millions of listeners to reject pessimism, treat others with kindness and look to the future with hope.
Vatican says 13 missionaries were killed in 2024 December 30, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Missions, News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News Thirteen Catholic “missionaries” were killed in 2024, most of them during the commission of a robbery, but several obviously were targeted for the church work they did.
Pope praises Jimmy Carter’s ‘deep Christian faith’ December 30, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Obituaries, Vatican, World News Offering his condolences, Pope Francis praised former U.S. President Jimmy Carter’s Christian faith and his lifelong mission to advance peace.
Holy Door is symbol of God’s arms open to all, cardinal says December 30, 2024By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Jubilee 2025, News, Vatican, World News A Holy Door is an image of God, who awaits the return of his children with open arms, said the archpriest of Rome’s Basilica of St. John Lateran.
Holy Family is a model of dialogue, pope says December 30, 2024By Justin McLellan Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News The Holy Family, though made up of saints and God incarnate, faced real challenges and offers a model for navigating the “dramatic” moments that test all families, Pope Francis said.
Pope Francis prays for families of those who perished in South Korean plane crash December 30, 2024By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News A passenger plane arriving from Bangkok exploded after skidding off the runway at a South Korean airport of Muan Dec. 29, crashing into a concrete fence, claiming the lives of most of the 181 people on board.
As ‘Fiducia Supplicans’ marks 1 year, divisions over Vatican document persist December 28, 2024By Maria Wiering OSV News Filed Under: Marriage & Family Life, News, Vatican, World News A year after “Fiducia Supplicans” whipped up a firestorm of controversy in the days before Christmas, the Vatican declaration remains a point of division in the U.S. church and worldwide. Meanwhile, it is unclear whether it has freshly prompted many Catholics in “irregular situations” to seek the kind of blessings it permits.
Pope Francis’ 2024: Turning 88, praying for peace, presiding over synod December 28, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Francis, who celebrated his 88th birthday Dec. 17, mostly uses a wheelchair instead of walking and presides over rather than concelebrates most public liturgies. Still, he had a 2024 full of important engagements, the longest trip of his papacy and major preparations for the Holy Year 2025, which he is set to open Dec. 24.
