Articles by Courtney Mares
Nuncio meets Zimbabwe government minister after clash over Catholic bishops’ letter
Aug 20, 2020 / 09:45 amThe Vatican’s representative in Zimbabwe met a senior government official Wednesday amid tensions following a pastoral letter issued by the country’s bishops.
Catholic archbishop prays outside of prison for detained Belarusian protesters
Aug 20, 2020 / 04:30 amThe archbishop of Minsk prayed outside of a prison in Belarus Wednesday where detained protesters were reported to have been tortured.
Abbot who helped revive traditional monasticism laid to rest in France
Aug 19, 2020 / 10:10 amA Benedictine abbot who helped to revive traditional monasticism and Gregorian chant in France was buried Wednesday in the 11th-century Abbey of Fontgombault, the monastery he led for more than 30 years.
Catholic leader outlines vision for Lebanon as the ‘Switzerland of the East’
Aug 18, 2020 / 08:30 amLebanon’s Maronite patriarch issued a memorandum Monday outlining a vision for the restoration of the country’s neutral status as the “Switzerland of the East.”
Pope Francis calls for justice and dialogue in Belarus
Aug 16, 2020 / 05:30 amPope Francis offered a prayer for Belarus Sunday asking for respect for justice and dialogue following a week of violent clashes over the disputed presidential election.
Pope Francis asks Mary 'Mother of Hope' to intercede for Nigeria's persecuted Christians
Aug 15, 2020 / 07:00 amPope Francis prayed Saturday for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, “Mother of Hope,” for Nigeria’s persecuted Christians and for peace in conflicts in Africa.
Pope Francis: Mary’s Assumption was a 'giant leap for mankind'
Aug 15, 2020 / 05:10 amOn the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Francis said that Mary’s assumption into Heaven was an infinitely greater achievement than man’s first steps on the moon.
Mauritius oil spill: Catholic cardinal says local villages are suffering
Aug 14, 2020 / 09:31 amAfter a damaged ship leaked more than 1,000 tons of oil off the coast of Mauritius, the Bishop of Port-Louis is worried about the consequences for local fishing villages who depend on the dying sea life in the island’s coral reefs.
Pope Francis meets with bishop newly consecrated to lead Mongolia’s Catholics
Aug 12, 2020 / 14:11 pmPope Francis met Wednesday with an Italian missionary who was recently consecrated a bishop to lead Mongolia’s apostolic prefecture.
Pope Francis: Human dignity has serious political implications
Aug 12, 2020 / 04:00 amPope Francis said Wednesday that Christian faith demands conversion from individualism and a commitment to defending the inherent dignity of every person.
Franciscans of Assisi report 18 coronavirus cases
Aug 11, 2020 / 07:00 amWhile Assisi was largely sheltered from a major coronavirus outbreak during Italy’s lockdown, ten Franciscan friars and eight novices at the landmark pilgrimage destination tested positive this week for COVID-19.
Archbishop Gänswein: Benedict XVI’s 'illness is subsiding'
Aug 11, 2020 / 02:30 amBenedict XVI’s personal secretary Archbishop Georg Gänswein has said that the pope emeritus’ illness is “subsiding.”
Cardinal says Lebanon leaders should resign after Beirut blast
Aug 10, 2020 / 09:30 amLebanon’s Maronite Catholic patriarch called for the resignation of the entire Lebanese government Sunday, following the devastating explosion in Beirut last week.
Pope Francis baptizes conjoined twins separated in Rome
Aug 10, 2020 / 07:30 amPope Francis has baptized twins who were born conjoined at the head and were separated at the Vatican’s pediatric hospital.
Cardinals condemn China’s ‘potential genocide’ of Uyghurs
Aug 10, 2020 / 06:30 amThe Chinese government’s treatment of Uyghurs is “one of the most egregious human tragedies since the Holocaust,” two Asian cardinals and 74 other religious leaders wrote in a statement released August 8.
The Miraculous Medal: St Maximilian Kolbe's weapon for evangelization
Aug 9, 2020 / 04:40 amAs World War II raged around him in Poland, St. Maximilian Kolbe fought for souls using a printing press and another “weapon” – the Miraculous Medal.
Pope Francis asks young people to 'send a hug' to the elderly
Jul 26, 2020 / 05:40 amPope Francis asked young people Sunday to reach out to the elderly, especially those in nursing homes, to send a message of encouragement amid the loneliness of the coronavirus pandemic.
Nantes cathedral fire: Altar server charged with arson
Jul 26, 2020 / 03:00 amA church volunteer has admitted to starting the fire at Nantes Cathedral and was charged with arson on Saturday.
Patriarchs meet in Lebanon to discuss political neutrality amid crisis
Jul 24, 2020 / 10:15 amAs Lebanon reels from an economic crisis, Catholic patriarchs met Thursday and reaffirmed the importance of the country’s neutrality in regional rivalries, underlining that this is important for a peaceful future in the Middle East.
Churches burned, people beheaded in Mozambique’s escalating extremist violence
Jul 23, 2020 / 09:30 amA Catholic bishop has deplored the world’s indifference to escalating extremist violence in northern Mozambique, where multiple churches have been burnt, people beheaded, young girls kidnapped, and hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the violence.