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

Cardinal Gulbinowicz dies ten days after Vatican sanctions

Nov 16, 2020 / 06:45 am

A Polish cardinal recently sanctioned by the Vatican for sexual abuse has died at the age of 97.

China’s five-year plan proposal stresses eugenics in birth policy, says expert

Nov 13, 2020 / 10:00 am

The Chinese government’s latest five-year plan proposal contains a birth policy with an emphasis on eugenics, a China scholar said this week.

Video shows 90-year-old cardinal telling kidnappers: ‘I will preach what is the truth’

Nov 12, 2020 / 13:00 pm

When 90-year-old Cardinal Christian Tumi was interrogated in captivity by armed separatists in Cameroon last week, he calmly told his captors that he has been called by God to preach only what is true.

Armenia’s ambassador to Vatican stresses threat of Syrian fighters in Nagorno-Karabakh

Nov 12, 2020 / 08:30 am

The Armenian ambassador to the Holy See said Wednesday that the recruitment and deployment of Syrian Islamist extremists to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone in the Caucasus Mountains is a serious threat to international security.

Pope Francis blesses Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal statue

Nov 11, 2020 / 08:30 am

Pope Francis blessed a statue of the Immaculate Virgin Mary of the Miraculous Medal at the end of his Wednesday general audience.

Catholic charity sends aid to Mozambique after reports of mass beheading

Nov 11, 2020 / 06:00 am

In response to reports that militants linked to the Islamic State had beheaded more than 50 people in northern Mozambique, a Catholic charity is sending emergency aid to the affected diocese.

McCarrick Report: What Cardinal O’Connor said in 1999

Nov 10, 2020 / 10:30 am

The Vatican’s report on Theodore McCarrick released Tuesday includes a letter written by an American cardinal in 1999, who objected to McCarrick’s potential appointment to higher office, on the basis of existing allegations of misconduct, including incidents involving sharing a bed with seminarians at a New Jersey beach house.

French bishops' appeal for public Masses during lockdown rejected by judge

Nov 8, 2020 / 10:00 am

The French bishops’ appeal to continue public Masses during France’s second national lockdown was rejected Saturday by the Council of State.

Pope Francis: Prepare to meet the Lord with good deeds inspired by His love

Nov 8, 2020 / 08:40 am

Pope Francis said Sunday that it is important not to forget that at the end of one’s life there will be “a definitive appointment with God.”

Order of Malta opts to elect a Lieutenant of the Grand Master amid constitutional reform

Nov 8, 2020 / 07:00 am

The Order of Malta elected Fra’ Marco Luzzago as the Lieutenant of the Grand Master on Nov. 8. to serve a one year term amid the order’s constitutional reform.

Teen martyred while protecting the Eucharist beatified in Spain

Nov 8, 2020 / 05:15 am

A 19-year-old Spanish martyr who gave his life while protecting the Eucharist was beatified Saturday at a Mass in the Sagrada Família Basilica in Barcelona.

Pope Francis to meet with families of the victims of the Nice basilica attack

Nov 7, 2020 / 11:00 am

Pope Francis will meet with families of the victims of the Nice basilica attack, the city’s mayor said Saturday at the national memorial service for the victims.

Cardinal is freed after kidnapping by gunmen in Cameroon

Nov 6, 2020 / 05:35 am

Cardinal Christian Tumi, who was kidnapped by gunmen Thursday evening in Cameroon’s Northwest Region, has been freed.

Eastern Orthodox priest shot in France emerges from coma

Nov 5, 2020 / 09:00 am

Fr. Nikolas Kakavelakis, a Greek Orthodox priest in Lyon who was seriously wounded in a shooting Saturday, has emerged from coma, according to French media.

Pope Francis offers Mass for souls of 169 deceased bishops, cardinals

Nov 5, 2020 / 08:00 am

Pope Francis encouraged Catholics to pray for the dead and remember Christ’s promise of the resurrection at a Mass offered Thursday for the souls of cardinals and bishops who died in the past year.

Killing of catechist alarms Indonesia’s Catholic bishops

Nov 4, 2020 / 13:00 pm

Catholic bishops in Indonesia met with government officials this week to express concern about the violence in Papua after a Catholic catechist was shot and killed by security forces.

Vatican cardinal marks 70 years since proclamation of dogma of the Assumption

Nov 3, 2020 / 14:00 pm

Catholics in Rome marked the 70th anniversary of the proclamation of the dogma of the Assumption Sunday with a solemn Mass offered by Cardinal Mauro Piacenza.

French bishops say public Mass ban violates freedom of worship

Nov 3, 2020 / 09:00 am

As France begins its second lockdown this year, French bishops are filing an urgent appeal to continue public Masses, saying that the most recent coronavirus restrictions “violate freedom of worship.”

Cardinal Parolin to EU bishops: Protect life from conception to natural death

Nov 3, 2020 / 07:00 am

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin has encouraged bishops in Europe to evaluate legislative proposals in light of the transcendent dignity of every human person.

Pope Francis on All Souls’ Day: Christian hope gives life meaning

Nov 2, 2020 / 10:00 am

Pope Francis visited a cemetery in Vatican City to pray on All Souls Day Monday and offered Mass for the faithful departed.