Archive for October 11, 2023

Daily procession of the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land (Calvary, Latin Chapel), Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem. Oct. 9, 2023.?w=200&h=150

By Marinella Bandini

In the Holy Land, Franciscans are keeping doors to holy sites open — for now

Jerusalem is semi-deserted, with many shops, schools, and offices closed, but the Custody of the Holy Land has kept holy... Read more

Pope Francis speaks during his general audience in St. Peter's Square on Oct. 11, 2023.?w=200&h=150

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis calls for immediate release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas

Some 130 Israeli hostages were taken by the militant Islamist group Hamas during its attack on Israel last weekend. Read more

Pope Francis prays at the opening Mass for the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 4, 2023.?w=200&h=150

By Hannah Brockhaus

Prayer opportunities abound at Synod on Synodality

Eucharistic adoration, liturgies, and moments of silence all signal the importance of prayer in the synodal process. Read more

Josephine Bakhita.?w=200&h=150

By Matthew Santucci

Pope Francis highlights St. Josephine Bakhita’s example of forgiveness

The Sudanese-Italian saint’s life story is “an existential parable of forgiveness,” the pope said Wednesday. Read more

Three nuns, a seminarian, and the driver of the vehicle they were in were abducted in Nigeria’s Imo State on Oct. 5, 2023. The nuns’ order, the Missionary Daughters of Mater Ecclesiae, appealed for their safe release in an Oct. 6 statement.?w=200&h=150

By Jude Atemanke

Sisters issue appeal for ‘safe release’ of 3 nuns who were abducted from Nigerian diocese

The vicar general of the Missionary Daughters of Mater Ecclesiae in Nigeria said five people were abducted Oct. 5 in... Read more

Pope Francis at the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 6, 2023.?w=200&h=150

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis has lunch with Rome’s poor who tell him ‘what they expect from the Church’

Like the synod assembly participants, the lunch guests were asked “what they expect from the Church,” Paolo Ruffini told journalists... Read more

CompassCare, a pro-life pregnancy center near Buffalo, New York, was heavily damaged by fire and spray-painted with pro-abortion graffiti on June 7, 2022.?w=200&h=150

By Joe Bukuras

Firebombed pro-life pregnancy center files FACE Act lawsuit 

CEO Jim Harden said in a statement about the suit: “It is ridiculous that as pro-life citizens we are forced... Read more

The cross, preceding the Blessed Sacrament, passes by during a Eucharistic procession on the streets of New York City on Oct. 10, 2023.?w=200&h=150

By Jonah McKeown

PHOTOS: Eucharistic procession passes through the heart of New York City

The monstrance was carried through busy streets with dozens of priests, nuns, and laypeople following after attending Mass at St.... Read more

Pope Francis leads the prayer at the general congregation of the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican on Oct. 6, 2023.?w=200&h=150

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The cardinals at the Synod on Synodality: A prelude for the next conclave?

While not exactly a dress rehearsal for an upcoming conclave, the Synod on Synodality provides a setting for numerous cardinals... Read more

Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo blesses refugee Christians at Barakhama in Kandhamal in January 2008.?w=200&h=150

By Anto Akkara

Thousands mourn Indian Cardinal Telesphore Toppo at funeral Mass

Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo, Asia’s first tribal cardinal who died on Oct. 4, was remembered for his humility, simplicity, and... Read more

Rocket shells are left on the grass outside a house where civilians and soldiers were killed by Hamas militants days earlier, Oct. 11, 2023, in Be'eri, Israel.?w=200&h=150

By Daniel Payne

Israeli woman whose 80-year-old father was among those taken hostage: ‘Save their lives’

“Dozens of terrorists invaded the kibbutz and started butchering the residents, going house by house,” Noam Perry said. “They butchered... Read more

Delegates meet at round tables during the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 10, 2023.?w=200&h=150

By Jonathan Liedl

Synod on Synodality members ask ‘for greater discernment’ of Church teaching on sexuality

Spokesman Paolo Ruffini told the media that while some have asked for further discernment on the Church’s teaching, others said... Read more

Family and friends of May Naim, 24, who was murdered by Palestinians militants at the "Supernova" festival near the Israeli border with Gaza Strip, react during her funeral on Oct. 11, 2023, in Gan Haim, Israel.?w=200&h=150

By Peter Pinedo

Update: Over 1,000 killed, including 22 Americans, in Saturday terrorist attacks on Israel

President Joe Biden on Tuesday called the attack a moment of “pure unadulterated evil” unleashed by Hamas, who he said... Read more

Jedidiah Murphy was executed by the state of Texas on Oct. 10, 2023.?w=200&h=150

By Daniel Payne

Texas executes prisoner despite pleas for clemency from Catholic anti-death-penalty group

Jedidiah Murphy was put to death by lethal injection at the execution chamber in Huntsville on Tuesday night. Read more

A house is completely destroyed after being burned by Hamas militants during the attack at Kibbutz Be'eri, near the border with Gaza on Oct. 11, 2023, in Be'eri, Israel.?w=200&h=150

By Diego López Marina

Caritas Jerusalem suspends activities in Gaza and Israel but announces emergency plan

Caritas Jerusalem, which serves the needs of people in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem, reported that some of... Read more

Cardinal Juan Sandoval Íñiguez.?w=200&h=150

By David Ramos

Mexican dubia cardinal: A synod ‘does not have doctrinal authority’

In an Oct. 6 telephone interview with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, the 90-year-old cardinal said “doctrinal authority resides... Read more