world news
Pope Francis appoints first Catholic bishop with Anglican heritage for UK ordinariate
Catholics in the United Kingdom that are part of the personal ordinariate, a kind of diocese originally set up to receive groups of Anglican Christians into full communion with the Catholic Church, have welcomed Pope Francis’ appointment of their first bishop — and the first ordinariate bishop to hail from their Anglican heritage.
Kansas Legislature successfully overrides governor’s vetoes of 4 pro-life measures
Kansas lawmakers voted to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s vetoes on pro-life legislation, a victory hailed by Catholic and pro-life advocates that comes just two years after voters in Kansas rejected a push to remove abortion protections from their state constitution.
Fear is the great nemesis of faith, pope says at general audience
The greatest enemy of faith is fear, Pope Francis said at his weekly general audience.
Methodist minister, partner receive same-sex blessing from Chicago parish in video
A former Methodist minister has sought a blessing on her same-sex union from a priest at a parish within the Archdiocese of Chicago, months after the Vatican issued a document on the possibility of giving spontaneous, non-liturgical pastoral blessings to couples in irregular situations.
Ukrainian archbishop meets with military officials on missing priests, detained civilians
The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church recently met with Ukrainian military officials to discuss a range of issues, including Russia’s detention of two Ukrainian Catholic priests whose fate remains unknown.
It’s the year of the Paris Olympics. Here are the Catholic must-sees in the French capital
More than 15 million visitors are expected to descend upon the city of Paris this summer for the 2024 Olympics. The French capital will serve as the stage for over 300 events in 32 sports — including, for the first time, breakdancing — to test participants’ adherence to the time-honored Olympic creed: “The important thing in life is not the triumph, but the fight; the essential thing is not to have won, but to have fought well.”
Religious formation must also be human, ongoing, pope says
Seminarians and religious men and women need well-rounded formation throughout their lives, not only at the onset of their religious training, Pope Francis said.
‘Tortured Poet’ Taylor Swift offers troubled tales of our time
Taylor Swift grapples with the weight of her words in her latest offering “The Tortured Poets Department,” a 31-track double album that explores heartbreak, fame and longing.
Alleged victims of Father Marko Rupnik: His art cannot be separated from abuse claims
For the rector of the world’s second largest church after St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazil, May 11 will be a day of celebrating the inauguration of the southern facade’s mosaics, all created by Father Marko Rupik.
Global group of pastors looks at parishes, synodality and mission
The collaboration of laity and priests in the life of a parish and in outreach to the surrounding community “is not a strategy,” but the result of taking the sacraments of baptism and confirmation seriously rather than allowing it to remain “a beautiful principle, a virtuous and pious intention,” a Canadian theologian told hundreds of pastors.