People who think politics is sinking to new lows may find comfort in knowing Pope Francis also is concerned about the debasement of what church teaching has described as a “lofty vocation.”
World News
Belief in God as creator of all has practical consequences, pope says in new encyclical
Professing faith in God as the creator of all human beings, or even simply recognizing that all people possess an inherent dignity, has concrete consequences for how people should treat one another and make decisions in politics, economics and social life, Pope Francis wrote.
Notre Dame president tests positive for coronavirus
Holy Cross Father John Jenkins, president of the University of Notre Dame, has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Al Smith dinner draws presidential nominees for 75th year; this time dais is virtual
The Catholic vote and the coronavirus subtly headlined the annual fundraiser of the 75th annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner Oct. 1, livestreamed from the Manhattan residence of New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan due to COVID-19.
Pope tells new Swiss Guards that Christ stands beside them at all times
Meeting new recruits to the Swiss Guard, Pope Francis assured them that God always stands by their side, offering them comfort and consolation.
Tomb of young Italian tech whiz opened for veneration
The tomb of Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian teenager who used his computer programming skills to spread devotion to the Eucharist, was opened for veneration before his beatification in Assisi.
China at center of meeting between Pompeo, top Vatican officials
After two weeks of communicating through the media, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin spoke face-to-face about China, the topic of a major difference of opinion.
Expansion of abortion, gender rights loom large in Justice Ginsburg’s legacy
Given her prolific output of written opinions both before and after joining the U.S. Supreme Court, the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg left a long legacy of legal thought and analysis for future generations to parse. For many, the abortion debate will loom large in her record.
Late Rwandan Catholic gospel singer awarded Havel human rights prize
Kizito Mihigo, the late Rwandan Catholic gospel singer, song writer and organist, has been honored with Vaclav Havel International Prize for Creative Dissent, an international award that celebrates bravery, creativity and artistic innovation against dictatorships.
Pope releases apostolic letter on Sacred Scripture
In an apostolic letter dedicated to Sacred Scripture, Pope Francis said that even today, Christians can learn new things from the countless translations of the Bible that exist.
Catonsville Trinitarian lifts up persecuted Catholics in China
Trinitarian Father Stan De Boe recalls meeting a relentless anti-Communist bishop in China who suffered four decades of political imprisonment.
Learning about Pope John Paul I’s life will help dispel myths, niece says
Conspiracy theories and dark intrigue about Pope John Paul I’s untimely death just one month after his election should be set aside and his life and legacy made more widely known, said his niece.