Courtney Mares

Courtney Mares is a Rome Correspondent for Catholic News Agency. A graduate of Harvard University, she has reported from news bureaus on three continents and was awarded the Gardner Fellowship for her work with North Korean refugees. She is the author of “Blessed Carlo Acutis: A Saint in Sneakers” (Ignatius, 2023), https://ignatius.com/carlo-acutis-sscap/.

Follow @catholicourtney

Articles by Courtney Mares

A reliquary containing relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis at the Church of Sant'Angela Merici in Rome, Oct 11, 2021. Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.

A relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis’ heart is coming to New York

Mar 18, 2022 / 06:35 am

The relic will be brought from Italy to New York City on April 3.

A Syrian refugee. thomas koch via Shutterstock.

‘You are not forgotten,’ Pope Francis tells Syrians entering 12th year of war

Mar 17, 2022 / 14:00 pm

Since the war started on March 15, 2011, half a million people have died.

Carl Anderson, pictured at the Angelicum in Rome on March 17, 2022. Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.

Carl Anderson: ‘The Christian heritage of the West cannot be preserved by looking backward’

Mar 17, 2022 / 13:00 pm

The former Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus was speaking at the Angelicum in Rome.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary, Moscow, Russia. Sergey Ilyin-Mikhalski (Public Domain).

Catholic leader in Moscow welcomes Russia’s consecration to Immaculate Heart of Mary

Mar 16, 2022 / 13:30 pm

Archbishop Paolo Pezzi said he hoped Mary’s intercession would ‘stop the bloodshed.’

Pope Francis prays for Ukraine | A Ukrainian soldier rescues a child Daniel Ibañez/CNA | Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on March 5, 2022.

Here’s the prayer for Ukraine cited by Pope Francis

Mar 16, 2022 / 06:20 am

The prayer was composed by Archbishop Domenico Battaglia of Naples.

Pope Francis prays for children in Ukraine, March 16, 2022. Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.

Pope Francis: After a nuclear war, humanity would have to ‘start from scratch’

Mar 16, 2022 / 04:20 am

The pope was speaking on the 21st day of the war in Ukraine.

A crucifix at the Bernardine Church in Lviv, western Ukraine. N_Dmitriy/Shutterstock.

Jesus ‘bears the wounds of Ukraine today,’ says Catholic leader

Mar 15, 2022 / 13:00 pm

Major Archbishop Shevchuk said: ‘God is on the side of those who are victims of unjust aggression.’

Mother Teresa’s former secretary to lead Missionaries of Charity

Mar 15, 2022 / 07:20 am

Sister Joseph Michael is the 3rd person to lead the order since St. Teresa of Calcutta’s death.

The late Cardinal Agostino Cacciavillan. Holy See Press Office

Cardinal Cacciavillan, former nuncio to the US, has died

Mar 5, 2022 / 08:30 am

Pope Francis is expected to attend Cardinal Cacciavillan’s funeral, which will be held in St. Peter’s Basilica on the morning of March 7.

A Ukrainian soldier rescues a child Photo courtesy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on March 5, 2022.

Ukrainian archbishop warns that bombings have left people without heat in freezing temperatures

Mar 5, 2022 / 05:45 am

The leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has warned hat Russian bombardments have left some people in Ukraine without heat in freezing temperatures.