Married 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.
The 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.
“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.
Father Marko Rupnik concelebrated Mass at a basilica in Rome on Sunday despite restrictions prohibiting “any public ministerial and sacramental activity.”
The 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.”
The 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.
The pope also offered advice for how to overcome temptations using the Word of God.
With 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.
The Catholic priest and his team have worked tirelessly to provide food, shelter, protection, and health and psychological support to 3 million people in Ukraine.
The 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.
The rapid acceleration of new technologies can produce significant consequences for human life and the environment Pope Francis said Feb. 20.
A 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.
Bishop David G. O’Connell, known affectionately as “Bishop Dave,” was shot in the torso on Feb. 18. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The pope reflected on what it means to “love your enemies” in his Sunday Angelus address.
Auxiliary 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.
“For the Church, falling into worldliness is the worst thing that can happen,” the pope said.
The entire Ulma family, including one unborn child, will be beatified in Markowa, Poland.
Cardinal Peter Ebere Okpaleke said Nigerian society as a whole has “a traditional worldview” that recognizes the presence of God in life and society.
“The news from Nicaragua has grieved me a great deal,” the pope said.
Pope Francis prayed Sunday for the people of Turkey and Syria who are suffering after devastating earthquakes killed more than 28,000 people.