Hannah Brockhaus

Obeying God key to Christian life, Pope Francis says

An important aspect of the Christian life is obeying God even when there may be consequences for going against the commands of others, Pope Francis said during the general audience Wednesday.

First Chinese bishop consecrated after Vatican-China deal

A new bishop was consecrated Monday in Inner Mongolia, China, becoming the first bishop to be consecrated in the country after a deal on bishop appointments was made with the Vatican last year.

Understanding the liturgy can be transformative, Cardinal Parolin says

A better understanding of the meaning and symbolic language of the Church’s liturgy, especially the Mass, will help Catholics encounter the Lord and grow in holiness, Cardinal Pietro Parolin said in a letter this week.

Pope Francis lends support to committee on Abu Dhabi declaration

Pope Francis has given his encouragement to a committee created by the United Arab Emirates for the promotion of his joint statement on human fraternity, signed in Abu Dhabi in February.

Pope Francis: Mary helps Christians enter heaven through the 'narrow gate'

The way to heaven is difficult and the gate to enter small, but Jesus’ mother, Mary, who herself entered through the narrow gate, will help those who ask, Pope Francis said Sunday.

Agreement reached on permanent Holy See representative to Vietnam

A Holy See-Vietnam diplomacy working group, which met inside the Vatican this week, reached an agreement on establishing a permanent resident papal representative to the southeast Asian country.

Vatican ‘acknowledges the court's decision’ to dismiss Cardinal George Pell's appeal

The Vatican said Wednesday it acknowledges the decision by the Court of Appeals in Victoria to uphold the conviction of Cardinal George Pell, while recalling Pell’s insistence of his innocence throughout the judicial process.

Papal visit a reason for Mozambique to rejoice, priest says

Pope Francis’ visit to Mozambique Sept. 5-6 will be a moment of rejoicing for Catholics in that country, who greatly look forward to the encounter, according to a priest from Mozambique.

Pope Francis: Ordination of married men 'absolutely not' main theme of Amazon synod

The ordination to the priesthood of mature, married men, sometimes called viri probati, is among the topics to be addressed at October’s Amazon synod but is “absolutely not” one of the principle themes of the meeting, Pope Francis said.

True wealth is found in Jesus Christ, not money, Pope Francis says

Pope Francis Wednesday criticized those who give more consideration to money than the sacraments or helping others find true wealth – a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Iraqi patriarch to Pope Francis: Chaldean Church is 'a church of martyrs'

The Chaldean Catholic Church is a Church of martyrs, Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako of Babylon told Pope Francis this week.

Pope Francis prays for victims of shootings in U.S.

Pope Francis Sunday remembered the victims, and the families of the victims, of recent shootings in Texas, California, and Ohio, asking for prayers.

Francis urges priests to be faithful in time of 'ecclesial purification'

Pope Francis published a letter Sunday to encourage all priests to remain steadfast and prayerful during this time of purification after revelations of abuse by some priests, so that there may be a renewal of holiness in the priesthood.

Pope Francis to scouts: True joy comes from God's love, not things

Worldly possessions do not make people happy; only knowing Jesus’ love and having love for others can do that, Pope Francis told a group of European Catholic scouts on Saturday.

Pope Francis surprises ill religious sister with visit

Pope Francis took advantage of his lighter summer schedule to make a surprise visit to a convalescing Daughter of Charity earlier this week.

Polish priest attacked in sacristy during apparent robbery

A Catholic priest was severely beaten in an attack by three men in the sacristy of St. John the Baptist church in Szczecin on Sunday, in what was reportedly an attempted robbery.

Vatican: Remains of missing teen not found among bones

The Vatican reported Sunday that bones discovered in previously hidden ossuaries pre-date the 20th century – and therefore cannot be the remains of a Vatican teen who went missing in the 1980s.

Pope Francis petitions Assad to protect weak and defenseless in Syria

Pope Francis, with concern for the humanitarian crisis in bombarded Idlib, has called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to safeguard the weak and defenseless civil population in his country.

Moon landing should inspire 'even greater goals,' Pope Francis urges

Pope Francis Sunday recalled the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, encouraging Catholics to look to that great event for inspiration to overcome injustices and mistreatment of the weak.

The hunt for the remains of the first Filipino-born bishop