Articles by Courtney Mares
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.
Pontifical Academy for Life expresses concern over pandemic aggravating inequalities
Jul 22, 2020 / 05:30 amThe Pontifical Academy for Life released a document Wednesday that expresses concern that the coronavirus pandemic is aggravating global inequalities.
At least 9 Catholic bishops have died from the coronavirus
Jul 20, 2020 / 10:30 amAt least nine Catholic bishops have died from the coronavirus worldwide as the pandemic continues to spread across the Americas.
Vatican publishes instructions on parish reform and diocesan restructuring
Jul 20, 2020 / 03:10 amThe Vatican’s Congregation for Clergy published instructions Monday on reforming parishes and restructuring dioceses to better serve their “singular mission of evangelization.”
The 800-year-old cathedral that inspired the Notre-Dame de Paris spire
Jul 19, 2020 / 03:00 amWhile the spire of Notre-Dame de Paris was completely destroyed in last year’s devastating fire, another Notre-Dame cathedral, the largest in France, offers the opportunity to see the spire that it was based on and to venerate a prized relic.
Pope Francis sends condolences after death of Cardinal Grocholewski
Jul 17, 2020 / 06:00 amPope Francis offered his condolences after Polish Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski died early Friday at the age of 80.
Catholic community welcomes its first refugees to Rome after lockdown
Jul 16, 2020 / 10:10 amA Catholic community welcomed Thursday the first refugees to arrive in Rome via a humanitarian corridor through the island of Lesbos since Italy’s coronavirus lockdown.
'Pope Francis' hospital boat delivers aid to pandemic-hit Amazon
Jul 14, 2020 / 08:00 amA hospital boat named after Pope Francis has been delivering medical aid along the Amazon River as rural communities struggle amid Brazil’s devastating coronavirus outbreak.
Lourdes offers digital pilgrimage as shrine struggles without pilgrims
Jul 14, 2020 / 05:00 amAs global coronavirus cases have surpassed 13 million, Lourdes is offering a digital pilgrimage this week to pray for the sick on the anniversary of its final Marian apparition.
Pope Francis sends message to priests on Argentina’s coronavirus front line
Jul 10, 2020 / 10:30 amPope Francis sent a video message Thursday to the priests who work in Argentina’s poor neighborhoods serving the sick and vulnerable amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Catholic bishops urge renewed solidarity within EU for pandemic recovery
Jul 10, 2020 / 06:00 amThe European Catholic bishops’ commission urged the European Union this week to commit to deepening solidarity in its pandemic recovery plan.
Vatican diplomat tells UN ‘gender identity’ category not necessary for refugee protection
Jul 9, 2020 / 08:15 amA Holy See diplomat raised concern at the United Nations in Geneva this week over the use of the term “gender identity” within the UN’s refugee protection categories.
‘Heart speaks to heart’: Benedict XVI sends message for his brother’s funeral Mass
Jul 8, 2020 / 07:30 amBenedict XVI watched his brother’s funeral via livestream on Wednesday as his secretary Archbishop Georg Gänswein read the pope emeritus’ message of remembrance at the Mass in Germany.
Pope Francis calls on Christians to recognize the face of Christ in migrants
Jul 8, 2020 / 05:05 amPope Francis offered Mass Wednesday asking the Virgin Mary to help Christians recognize the face of Christ in each migrant and refugee.
‘Life after ISIS’: Christians are leaving Iraq due to ongoing security concerns
Jul 7, 2020 / 11:00 amMore Christian families left the Nineveh Plains than returned to their hometowns last year amid ongoing security concerns in the northern Iraq, according to a recently published report by Aid to the Church in Need.
Pope Francis commends UN Security Council for global ceasefire resolution
Jul 5, 2020 / 05:20 amPope Francis applauded the United Nations Security Council Sunday for its recent resolution calling for an immediate global ceasefire amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Vatican appeals for debt relief for developing countries at United Nations
Jul 3, 2020 / 08:30 amThe Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva is urging countries to help relieve the “crippling external debt burdens” of developing countries struggling in the coronavirus pandemic.