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.
Two Vatican cardinals test positive for COVID-19; one hospitalized December 22, 2020By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, News, Vatican, World News Two top Vatican officials — Cardinal Konrad Krajewski and Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello — have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, Italian media reported, and a Vatican source confirmed.
Nativity light-sound show projected on U.S. cathedral called joyful, hopeful December 22, 2020By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Christmas, Feature, News, World News The gentle and hopeful show came as the nation grapples with COVID-19, stark political divisions and racial tensions brought by the death of George Floyd.
Vatican: Without alternatives, current COVID-19 vaccines are morally acceptable December 21, 2020By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The Vatican’s doctrinal office said that when alternative vaccines are not available, it is morally acceptable to receive COVID-19 vaccines developed or tested using cell lines originating from aborted fetuses.
Frankincense’s future: Ancient gift endangered, risks depletion December 18, 2020By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, World News A study published last year in the journal, Nature Sustainability, predicted frankincense resin production will be halved in the next 20 years.
Christmas is sign of God’s preferential love for the poor, cardinal says December 18, 2020By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Christmas, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Reaching out to and helping the poor “is to imitate God; it is to make oneself small out of love in order to raise up the other,” the preacher of the papal household told Pope Francis, officials of the Roman Curia and Vatican employees.
Death penalty hits historic low in U.S. ‘despite federal execution spree,’ says report December 17, 2020By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, World News A new report Dec. 16 by the Death Penalty Information Center said the use of capital punishment reached a historic low this year in the United States even with the return of federal executions by the Trump administration.