Articles by Courtney Mares
Pope Francis appoints Father James Ruggieri as bishop of Portland, Maine
Feb 13, 2024 / 09:00 amThe Vatican announced on Feb. 13 that the 56-year-old priest from Providence, Rhode Island, will be ordained as the bishop of Maine’s only diocese.
Pope Francis on Our Lady of Lourdes feast: The Church is close to all who are sick or frail
Feb 11, 2024 / 10:00 amIn his Angelus address, the pope asked people to reflect on what they have done to help the sick and the suffering.
Pope Francis canonizes Argentina’s first female saint
Feb 11, 2024 / 08:15 amPope Francis praised the Argentine saint as “a model of apostolic fervor and boldness” for traveling “thousands of miles on foot” to bring people to God.
What if you do not receive a physical healing at Lourdes?
Feb 10, 2024 / 07:00 amWhat about the millions who come to the Lourdes Grotto and leave without receiving a miraculous physical healing?
Pope Francis: ‘It is never too late to take action’ against human trafficking
Feb 8, 2024 / 12:15 pmThe pope established the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking 10 years ago to coincide with the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita.
Exclusive: Lourdes bishop hopes to make decision on Rupnik mosaics by spring
Feb 5, 2024 / 06:00 amThe bishop says he has heard from Catholics all over the world as he considers whether to remove the shrine’s mosaics by Father Marko Rupnik.
Synod on Synodality organizers invite 300 parish priests to a listening session in Rome
Feb 3, 2024 / 10:30 amSynod on Synodality organizers are inviting 300 parish priests to come to Rome for a meeting of “listening, prayer, and discernment.”
Vatican doctrine office releases note on discerning the validity of the sacraments
Feb 3, 2024 / 09:21 amThe new document signed by Pope Francis and Cardinal Victor Fernández is titled “Gestis Verbisque,” or “Deeds and Words.”
Pope Francis urges consecrated men and women to cultivate ‘an intense interior life’
Feb 2, 2024 / 13:55 pmThe Holy Father presided over Mass on Feb. 2 for the feast of the Presentation of the Lord in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Ireland celebrates 1,500th anniversary of St. Brigid’s death
Feb 1, 2024 / 06:00 amOn Thursday, Ireland celebrates the 1,500th anniversary of the death of St. Brigid of Kildare, the Emerald Isle’s female patron saint.
Victim of Istanbul attack was a Muslim who often went to Catholic Mass
Jan 31, 2024 / 10:10 amThe sole victim of Sunday’s attack on a Catholic church in Istanbul was a Muslim man who regularly attended Mass, according to his relatives.
Pope Francis creates ‘new’ diocese in China, accepting borders drawn by Beijing
Jan 29, 2024 / 13:40 pmThe Holy See Press Office said Pope Francis established the diocese on April 20, 2023, “in the desire to promote the pastoral care of the Lord’s flock.”
Islamic State claims responsibility for attack on Catholic church in Istanbul
Jan 29, 2024 / 07:27 amTwo suspects described as members of the Islamic State group have been arrested following the shooting at Santa Maria Church in Istanbul’s Sariyer district.
Pope Francis: ‘The devil always takes away your freedom’
Jan 28, 2024 / 12:18 pmPope Francis encouraged people to learn how to “say ‘no’ to the temptations of evil before they creep into the soul” by invoking the name of Jesus.
One person killed in shooting at Catholic church in Istanbul, manhunt underway
Jan 28, 2024 / 06:53 amBishop Massimiliano Palinuro, the apostolic vicar of Istanbul, told EWTN News on Jan. 28 that a parishioner was killed “during the consecration.”
Pope Francis thanks Vatican journalists for reporting on scandals in the Church
Jan 22, 2024 / 11:30 amJournalists accredited to the Holy See Press Office met the pope in a private audience at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on Jan. 22.
Pope Francis calls for release of 6 religious sisters taken hostage in Haiti
Jan 21, 2024 / 11:05 amArmed gunmen took the religious sisters hostage in Port-au-Prince on Friday during a bus hijacking.
Pope Francis announces Year of Prayer to prepare for 2025 Jubilee
Jan 21, 2024 / 10:00 amIn his Angelus address, the pope said that a Year of Prayer starting Jan. 21 will be “a year dedicated to rediscovering the great value and absolute need for prayer.”
Pope Francis: Return to God’s word rather than social media’s ‘violence of words’
Jan 21, 2024 / 08:00 amSpeaking of the “immense power” that the word of God can unleash in people’s lives, Pope Francis encouraged us to always “have the Gospel within easy reach.”
Could Pope Francis become the first pope to visit Vietnam?
Jan 18, 2024 / 15:13 pmVietnam has one of the largest Catholic populations among countries never visited by a pope. Pope Francis is keen to visit the Southeast Asian country.