Courtney Mares

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.

Articles by Courtney Mares

Pope Francis: ‘Experience Lent with love’ by caring for those affected by pandemic

Feb 12, 2021 / 07:00 am

Pope Francis has encouraged Catholics to practice charity in Lent this year by caring for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Catholic missionary priest nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

Feb 11, 2021 / 12:00 pm

A Catholic missionary priest in Madagascar known for serving the poor living on a landfill has been nominated for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.

Lourdes shrine invites the sick to find hope through virtual visit

Feb 11, 2021 / 08:00 am

On the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, the papal delegate for the Marian shrine urged masked pilgrims and virtual viewers alike not to lose hope in the face of sickness and difficulties.

Pope Francis presented with historic prayer manuscript saved from Islamic State

Feb 10, 2021 / 13:00 pm

Pope Francis was presented on Wednesday with a historic Aramaic prayer manuscript rescued from the Islamic State’s destructive occupation of northern Iraq.

Maronite Catholic leader calls on international community to ‘help save Lebanon’

Feb 9, 2021 / 12:00 pm

Lebanon’s Maronite patriarch called on Tuesday for the United Nations to help resolve the country’s crisis by convening an international conference.

Vatican: Institutionalization of elderly a mark of ‘throwaway culture’

Feb 9, 2021 / 04:35 am

The Vatican called on Tuesday for a rethinking of elder care in a document arguing that the elderly are best cared for in an environment more like a family home than a hospital.

Pope Francis to visit Iraqi cathedral burned by Islamic State

Feb 8, 2021 / 12:10 pm

The Great Al-Tahira Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Bakhdida was charred black inside after the Islamic State set it aflame after taking control of the town in 2014. Now the restored cathedral is preparing to welcome Pope Francis during his trip to Iraq next month.

Pope Francis asks people to pray for every victim of human trafficking

Feb 8, 2021 / 08:30 am

Pope Francis has asked people to pray Monday for every person who is currently a victim of human trafficking.

Pope Francis tells diplomats 'right to life' is a foundational human right

Feb 8, 2021 / 06:30 am

Pope Francis told diplomats at the Vatican Monday that it is “painful” for him to see more countries move away from “their inalienable duty to protect human life” from conception to natural death.

Burma’s Catholic bishops call for prayer and fasting after coup

Feb 5, 2021 / 12:00 pm

Catholic bishops in Burma have announced that Feb. 7 will be a day of prayer and fasting for peace in their country following Monday’s military coup.

Catholic archbishop of Damascus appeals for Syrians to return home

Feb 5, 2021 / 07:00 am

As the 10th anniversary of the start of the Syrian war approaches, the Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Damascus is appealing for refugees to return home.

Pope Francis: Without liturgy, Christianity is without the whole of Christ

Feb 3, 2021 / 04:10 am

Pope Francis said Wednesday that it is essential for Christians to participate in the liturgy and the sacraments to encounter the Real Presence of Jesus.

Pope Francis on Feast of Presentation: Learn from the patience of Simeon and Anna

Feb 2, 2021 / 14:00 pm

On the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Pope Francis pointed to Simeon and Anna as models of having a “patience of heart” that can keep hope alive during difficult times.

Focolare Movement elects Holy Land Catholic as new president

Feb 2, 2021 / 07:00 am

The Focolare Movement has elected Margaret Karram as the new president of the international Catholic organization.

Pope Francis encourages catechists to lead others to a personal encounter with Jesus

Jan 31, 2021 / 08:00 am

Pope Francis said Saturday that catechists have the vital responsibility of leading others to a personal encounter with Jesus through prayer, the sacraments, and Scripture.

Pope Francis proclaims World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

Jan 31, 2021 / 06:30 am

Pope Francis announced Sunday the establishment of an international day to honor grandparents and the elderly to take place each year in July.

Pope Francis meets with Cardinal Cupich after Biden inauguration statement dispute

Jan 30, 2021 / 08:00 am

Pope Francis met with Cardinal Blase Cupich on Saturday, 10 days after the cardinal publicly criticized the U.S. bishops’ official statement on the inauguration of President Joe Biden.

Cardinal Parolin on Vatican finances: 'Talking about a crisis is a bit excessive'

Jan 30, 2021 / 06:00 am

Cardinal Pietro Parolin has said that he does not consider the Vatican’s financial scandals to be “a crisis,” but pointed to the recent headlines as a sign of the Vatican’s transparency.

Cardinal Turkson to Davos forum: Human dignity must not be compromised

Jan 29, 2021 / 13:00 pm

Cardinal Peter Turkson told a virtual summit organized by the World Economic Forum on Thursday that the human person must be at the center of efforts to counter the coronavirus pandemic.

Vatican cardinal visits Cameroon as Catholic Church seeks to resolve Anglophone crisis

Jan 28, 2021 / 12:00 pm

The Vatican’s Secretary of State kicked off a week-long trip to Cameroon on Thursday in which he will visit a region blighted by clashes between government forces and separatists.