Articles by Courtney Mares
Pope Francis discusses revising priestly celibacy in new interview
Mar 10, 2023 / 05:45 amMarried priests are common in the Eastern Catholic Church, the pope noted, while the discipline of priestly celibacy is a “temporary prescription” in the Western Church.
Pope Francis meets with two Nigerian girls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram
Mar 8, 2023 / 11:45 amThe women, who both saw members of their families murdered by Boko Haram, met with the pope at the end of his general audience March 8.
Pope Francis: There is no option to be passive Catholics when it comes to evangelization
Mar 8, 2023 / 05:00 am“Every baptized person … whatever his position in the Church or level of education in the faith, is an active subject of evangelization,” the pope said.
Rupnik concelebrated Mass in a basilica in Rome despite restrictions
Mar 7, 2023 / 11:12 amFather Marko Rupnik concelebrated Mass at a basilica in Rome on Sunday despite restrictions prohibiting “any public ministerial and sacramental activity.”
Pope Francis adds Hollerich and four other cardinals to his council of advisers
Mar 7, 2023 / 06:45 amThe Vatican announced March 7 the nine members of the pope’s Council of Cardinals tasked with assisting the pope “in the governance of the universal Church.”
Pope Francis, Biden commend ‘peacemaker’ Bishop O’Connell as memorial services begin
Mar 2, 2023 / 13:27 pmThe messages came at the start of memorial services for the late Los Angeles auxiliary bishop, who was murdered in his Hacienda Heights home Feb. 18.
Pope Francis: The devil uses ‘three widespread and dangerous temptations’ to divide us
Feb 26, 2023 / 06:15 amThe pope also offered advice for how to overcome temptations using the Word of God.
Nigeria’s newest cardinal: Presidential election will ‘either make or break Nigeria’
Feb 23, 2023 / 13:30 pmWith Nigeria’s escalating violence, a lot is at stake in the presidential election this week in Africa’s most populous country, according Cardinal Peter Ebere Okpaleke.
Catholic priest from Ukraine gives Pope Francis cross made out of war rubble
Feb 23, 2023 / 04:45 amThe Catholic priest and his team have worked tirelessly to provide food, shelter, protection, and health and psychological support to 3 million people in Ukraine.
Ukrainian Catholics to livestream Stations of the Cross from bomb shelter on Friday
Feb 22, 2023 / 09:35 amThe online prayer event on the first Friday of Lent at 8 p.m. Kyiv time will tell the personal stories of victims of war as they relate to Christ’s passion.
Pope Francis asks Pontifical Academy for Life to study ethics of emerging technologies
Feb 20, 2023 / 10:00 amThe rapid acceleration of new technologies can produce significant consequences for human life and the environment Pope Francis said Feb. 20.
Pope Francis encourages filmmakers to ‘reawaken wonder’
Feb 20, 2023 / 06:10 amA good movie has the power to inspire wonder and to evangelize by reflecting the beauty of God’s creation, Pope Francis told filmmakers at the Vatican.
UPDATE: Murder investigation underway in shooting death of LA Auxiliary Bishop O’Connell
Feb 19, 2023 / 13:47 pmBishop David G. O’Connell, known affectionately as “Bishop Dave,” was shot in the torso on Feb. 18. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Pope Francis: God asks us to love beyond ‘the logic of self-interest’
Feb 19, 2023 / 06:30 amThe pope reflected on what it means to “love your enemies” in his Sunday Angelus address.
LA Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell shot and killed
Feb 18, 2023 / 23:08 pmAuxiliary Bishop David O'Connell, 69, was a native of Ireland who had worked with the poor in the South Los Angeles area for 45 years.
Pope Francis: Bring the Gospel into the world without becoming worldly
Feb 15, 2023 / 06:10 am“For the Church, falling into worldliness is the worst thing that can happen,” the pope said.
Beatification date announced for married couple with seven children martyred by Nazis
Feb 15, 2023 / 04:00 amThe entire Ulma family, including one unborn child, will be beatified in Markowa, Poland.
Nigeria’s newest cardinal shares secret behind the highest Mass attendance in the world
Feb 14, 2023 / 13:00 pmCardinal Peter Ebere Okpaleke said Nigerian society as a whole has “a traditional worldview” that recognizes the presence of God in life and society.
Pope Francis asks Virgin Mary to intercede for Nicaragua after bishop sentenced to 26 years in prison
Feb 12, 2023 / 08:20 am“The news from Nicaragua has grieved me a great deal,” the pope said.
Pope Francis urges support for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria
Feb 12, 2023 / 06:10 amPope Francis prayed Sunday for the people of Turkey and Syria who are suffering after devastating earthquakes killed more than 28,000 people.