Articles by Courtney Mares
Pope Francis meets Russian Orthodox Church’s ‘foreign minister’ at the Vatican
Jul 12, 2024 / 09:18 amThe pope met Russian Orthodox Metropolitan Anthony at the Vatican, the head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, on Thursday.
Pope Francis tells AI leaders: No machine should ever choose to take human life
Jul 10, 2024 / 10:33 amIn a message to an AI ethics conference in Hiroshima, Japan, the pope underlined that artificial intelligence has implications for the future of war and peace in our world.
Synod organizer says Vatican doctrine office is studying women deacons
Jul 9, 2024 / 15:05 pmCardinal Mario Grech said the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith is studying “the women’s diaconate” within the context of its in-depth study of ministries.
Pope Francis appoints new prefect of Vatican archives
Jul 6, 2024 / 09:05 amThe Vatican Apostolic Archive contains 53 miles of shelving preserving documentation preserving important documents for the Church dating to the eighth century.
Vatican releases schedule for Pope Francis’ two-week trip to Asia and Oceania
Jul 5, 2024 / 11:46 amAt the age of 87, the Holy Father is set to take on his most ambitious international trip yet to Southeast Asia and Oceania in September.
Vatican excommunicates Viganò for schism
Jul 5, 2024 / 09:35 amThe Vatican has officially excommunicated Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith announced Friday.
Lourdes bishop wants to tear down Rupnik mosaics — but not yet
Jul 3, 2024 / 06:38 amThe Lourdes bishop’s announcement comes less than two weeks after he met with Pope Francis in a private audience at the Vatican on June 20.
Pope Francis asks Sacred Heart of Jesus to convert hearts who want war
Jun 30, 2024 / 09:59 amPope Francis prayed for the intercession of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on Sunday to convert “the hearts of those who want war” to projects of dialogue and peace.
Vatican fireworks: A 500-year-old tradition for the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul
Jun 29, 2024 / 05:00 amEach year on June 29, fireworks are launched from atop Castel Sant’Angelo in celebration of the co-patron saints of Rome, St. Peter and St. Paul.
Vatican rules supposed apparitions of Virgin Mary near Rome ‘not supernatural’
Jun 27, 2024 / 11:38 amThe Vatican confirmed the legal validity of an Italian bishop’s decree that the supposed apparitions in Trevignano Romano are “not supernatural.”
Pope Francis: Drug cartels are ‘traffickers of death’ and ‘murderers’
Jun 26, 2024 / 07:48 am“We cannot ignore the evil intentions and actions of drug dealers and traffickers. They are murderers!” Pope Francis said in St. Peter’s Square on June 26.
Pope Francis donates ambulance, opens war trauma center in Ukraine
Jun 25, 2024 / 13:15 pmCardinal Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner and prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, is traveling to Ukraine to inaugurate the clinic.
Pope Francis appoints Gänswein to diplomatic role in Baltic states
Jun 24, 2024 / 07:30 amThe diplomatic appointment comes after months of speculation and rumor as to Gänswein’s future after the death of Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope Francis: Jesus in the Eucharist strengthens us in times of trial
Jun 23, 2024 / 10:26 amSpeaking from an Apostolic Palace window on June 23, Pope Francis asked the crowd in St. Peter’s Square to reflect on how they usually deal with times of trial.
Pope Francis fields questions from students about gender identity and LGBTQ discrimination
Jun 20, 2024 / 16:15 pmIn the one-hour conversation on June 20 organized by the Building Bridges Initiative, Pope Francis spoke directly to students from across the Asia-Pacific region.
From alcoholic to future saint: The inspiring conversion of Ireland’s Matt Talbot
Jun 19, 2024 / 06:00 amVenerable Matt Talbot has inspired many who struggle with addiction and is being considered for sainthood in the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis: The seeds of the Gospel take time to bloom
Jun 16, 2024 / 08:23 amReflecting on Jesus’ parable comparing the kingdom of God to a mustard seed, the pope said Christians should have an attitude of “confident expectation” in the Lord.
Vatican publishes papal primacy document aimed at ‘a reunited Church’
Jun 13, 2024 / 09:42 amThe study document is the first Vatican text since Vatican II to outline the entire ecumenical debate on papal primacy.
Vatican commemorates 80th anniversary of Pius XII’s meeting with Allied troops
Jun 12, 2024 / 15:30 pmOn June 12, 1944, Pius XII gave an enthusiastic speech in English thanking the members of the 38th (Irish) Brigade as he welcomed them to the Vatican.
Pope Francis: Keep your homilies short or ‘people will fall asleep’
Jun 12, 2024 / 09:35 amSpeaking at his Wednesday catechesis on June 12, the pope explained that the goal of a homily is to “help move the Word of God from the book to life.”