Articles by Hannah Brockhaus
Cardinal Koch: the Gospel must incorporate and purify culture
Oct 24, 2019 / 04:10 amThe head of the Vatican’s Christian unity office says inculturation of the Gospel is a necessary part of evangelization, but also requires discernment of what in that culture may need “purification.”
Amazon synod final report an 'instrument', communications official says
Oct 23, 2019 / 10:24 amAs the Amazon synod nears a close, a communications official downplayed Wednesday the importance of the assembly’s final report, saying it is not an official Church document, but merely an “instrument” in the synodal journey.
Amazon synod bishops sign new version of Vatican II-era 'Catacombs Pact'
Oct 21, 2019 / 07:50 amIn the Roman catacombs Sunday morning, some bishops participating in the Amazon synod signed a pact about how they want to conduct their particular churches in the Amazon region, following the style of a similar Catacombs Pact signed during the Second Vatican Council.
Amazon synod's controversial carved figures thrown into Tiber River
Oct 21, 2019 / 07:15 amA video uploaded to YouTube on Oct. 21 shows two men taking several wooden figures of a nude pregnant woman from a church near the Vatican and throwing them into the Tiber River.
Vatican documents detail suspicious investments at Secretariat of State
Oct 20, 2019 / 15:33 pmA confidential report from the Vatican’s anti-corruption authority shows that the Secretariat of State has used about $725 million, most of which came from the pope’s charity fund, in off-books operations.
On World Mission Day, pope urges Catholics to share Christ's love with all
Oct 20, 2019 / 03:48 amJesus Christ desires that all people know him and his love, and every Catholic has the mission of sharing this love with the world, Pope Francis said Sunday at Mass for World Mission Day.
This princess saint was not Harry Potter’s owl: St. Hedwig of Silesia
Oct 16, 2019 / 10:20 amReaders who find this story through a search engine will likely have been looking for information about Hedwig, Harry Potter’s owl. St. Hedwig of Silesia was not an owl. But read on anyway: she was a princess, a wife, a mother, and a builder of bridges between the German and Polish people. And her husband’s name was “Henry the Bearded.”
Brazilian bishop: Lack of holiness among clerics an obstacle to vocations
Oct 16, 2019 / 10:01 amA bishop in Brazil who is a member of the Amazon synod said Wednesday he believes a major obstacle to increasing priestly vocations in the region is a lack of personal holiness among the ordained, rather than the discipline of celibacy.
Vatican communications official: Carved figure at Amazon synod not Virgin Mary
Oct 16, 2019 / 06:18 amFr. Giacomo Costa, a communications official for the Amazon synod, said Wednesday a wooden figure of a nude pregnant woman, which has been present at events related to the synod, is not the Virgin Mary, but is instead a female figure representing life.
Pope names members of drafting committee for Amazon synod final doc
Oct 15, 2019 / 08:53 amPope Francis Tuesday made four personal nominations of members to the group responsible for drafting the final document of the Amazon synod.
Pope Francis appoints new head of Vatican security
Oct 15, 2019 / 03:39 amPope Francis Tuesday appointed the second-in-command of Vatican security to head the City State's national police force, after the resignation of the former chief Oct. 14.
Bishop in Brazil says he will ordain women to diaconate if pope permits it
Oct 12, 2019 / 08:58 amA bishop participating in the Vatican’s Amazon Synod said Saturday he would ordain women in his communities as deacons if the idea is recommended by the synod and permitted by Pope Francis.
The Amazon synod, by the numbers
Oct 11, 2019 / 14:00 pmHere are a few facts about the Amazon synod, as told by the numbers.
Cardinal Newman’s time in Rome
Oct 11, 2019 / 12:12 pmCardinal John Henry Newman, who will be canonized Oct. 13, is more often associated with Birmingham than Rome, but his four visits to the Eternal City mark significant moments in the life of this soon-to-be saint.
Amazon spirituality events organized by network of Latin American and European groups
Oct 10, 2019 / 10:50 amA network of organizations has united to promote gatherings devoted to the spirituality and culture of indigenous Amazonian people, all of which take place in Rome in conjunction with the Vatican’s Amazon synod this month.
Pope accepts resignation of NY auxiliary under investigation for abuse
Oct 10, 2019 / 03:55 amPope Francis accepted Thursday the resignation of Bishop John Jenik as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York and appointed two New York priests as auxiliaries of the archdiocese.
Cardinal Sarah: Ideological push in Amazon synod an 'insult to God'
Oct 9, 2019 / 07:56 amThe push by some Westerners to use the Vatican’s Amazon synod to advance their personal agendas is an insult to God and his plan for the Church, Cardinal Robert Sarah said in an interview published this week.
Pope Francis warns Catholics to not profess ideology over faith
Oct 9, 2019 / 03:41 amIn his general audience Wednesday, Pope Francis warned Catholics to not turn their faith into an ideology, as he said St. Paul did when he was persecuting Christians before his conversion.
Women religious play vital role in Amazon, sister says
Oct 7, 2019 / 09:31 amA religious sister from Colombia taking part in the Amazon synod said Monday her congregation and other women’s religious congregations play a big role in the life of the Catholic Church in the Amazon.
Holy Spirit is 'main actor' of Amazon synod, pope says in opening remarks
Oct 7, 2019 / 02:39 amIn his opening remarks for the Amazon synod Monday, Pope Francis said the assembly’s working document is meant to be “destroyed” as the starting point of the work of the Holy Spirit, who he prays will guide the synodal process.