Though problems abound, God-given hope never fails, pope says December 31, 2021By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Christian hope grants those who suffer the assurance that God does not abandon his people in their time of need, Pope Francis said.
Vatican pays tribute to 22 church workers murdered in 2021 December 30, 2021By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News In situations of extreme poverty, war or civil tensions, 22 Catholic church workers were murdered in 2021, according to Fides, the news agency of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
Contention over Catholic University icon grows after it’s stolen again December 29, 2021By Rhina Guidos Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, World News A second icon of Mary holding Jesus has been stolen from outside a chapel at The Catholic University of America following complaints that the image of Christ resembled George Floyd, a Black man killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis in May 2020.
Think of the Holy Family fleeing Herod and pray for migrants, pope says December 29, 2021By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, World News Meditating on the scene of the Holy Family fleeing to Egypt to escape Herod’s murderous rage, Christians cannot close their eyes to the fact that too many people in the world today also feel forced to flee their homelands, Pope Francis said.
Vatican adds QR code to sculpture to educate people about migration December 29, 2021By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, Vatican, World News A life-sized bronze sculpture of migrants and refugees crowded onto a boat has stood in St. Peter’s Square for more than two years, but just before Christmas a small QR code was placed on the boat’s stern to give onlookers information about the work.
Immediate, long-term relief: Catholic agencies’ response to 2021 disasters December 28, 2021By Tom Tracy Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, World News Right up through December, extreme weather events and natural disasters of 2021 continued to upend local communities and set agendas for domestic and overseas emergency response efforts at major Catholic aid organizations.
Christians in Bethlehem on Christmas: Tell the world we have joy December 28, 2021By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Christmas, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The normal crowds of pilgrims and tourists may not have been able to come to Bethlehem for Christmas due to COVID-19 travel restrictions for a second year in a row, but local Palestinian Christians wanted to assure everyone that the Christmas spirit is still alive and well in the city of Jesus’ birth.
Pope asks pontifical council to begin planning Holy Year 2025 December 28, 2021By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Preparations for the Holy Year 2025 have already begun, and Pope Francis has asked the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization to take charge of the efforts.
Desmond Tutu, known for commitment to justice, peace, dies at age 90 December 27, 2021By Bronwen Dachs Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Obituaries, World News Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s compassion and sense of humor, as well as his commitment to justice and processes of peace, were among the many reasons he was an icon, said Bishop Kevin Dowling of Rustenburg.
Even the Holy Family felt stress, pope tells families December 26, 2021By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough on families, but with extra patience and faith, bonds can grow stronger, Pope Francis wrote in a letter released on the feast of the Holy Family.
Pope prays Christmas will bring yearning for peace, dialogue December 26, 2021By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Before giving his Christmas blessing to the city of Rome and to the world, Pope Francis drew attention to the many places around the globe and within human hearts in need of Jesus, the prince of peace.
Pope at Christmas: ‘God comes into the world in littleness’ December 26, 2021By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service Filed Under: Christmas, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The celebration of Christmas serves as a reminder that God did not reveal his greatness in a grand spectacle, but rather in the “littleness” of a poor, vulnerable child born in a stable in Bethlehem, Pope Francis said.
