Articles by Courtney Mares
Pope Francis tells Catholic youth: Live the Gospel like St. Anthony
Jun 5, 2020 / 07:15 amPope Francis has pointed to St. Anthony of Padua as an example for younger generations of Catholics to “live the Gospel courageously.”
Vatican Museums offer free entry to Italian medical workers
Jun 3, 2020 / 08:30 amThe Vatican Museums announced Wednesday that it is offering free entry to medical workers in appreciation for their work on the front line of Italy’s coronavirus outbreak.
Pope Francis on what we can learn about prayer from Blaise Pascal
Jun 3, 2020 / 05:00 amPope Francis pointed to an experience of 17th-century mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal as an important testimony of how one can sense the living presence of God in personal prayer.
Pope Francis prays for the soul of George Floyd and for peace and justice in US
Jun 3, 2020 / 01:45 amPope Francis said Wednesday that he is praying for the soul of George Floyd and all victims of racism, adding that nothing is gained by violence.
Bishops join woman with Down syndrome in call to change N Ireland abortion law
Jun 2, 2020 / 08:15 amBishops in Northern Ireland have strongly backed a call by a campaigner with Down syndrome to reject a law permitting abortion up to birth on grounds of disability.
Vatican Museums reopening unveils restored Raphael Rooms
Jun 2, 2020 / 02:01 amThe Vatican Museums reopened Monday revealing newly restored frescoes in the Raphael Rooms depicting scenes from early Church history to the public.
Pope Francis donates an ambulance to aid the homeless
Jun 1, 2020 / 10:57 amPope Francis has donated an ambulance that will be set apart to serve Rome’s poor and homeless population in need of emergency medical care.
Vatican offers online book for parents facing difficult prenatal diagnosis
May 29, 2020 / 06:10 amThe Vatican has published a free book online that can be a resource for parents facing a difficult or fatal diagnosis for their unborn child during pregnancy.
Catholic gift shops near Vatican struggle to reopen after coronavirus lockdown
May 28, 2020 / 11:00 amWalking toward St. Peter’s Square, one sees sign after sign posted on the closed doors of religious gift shops and other local businesses with large red letters stating: “Without help from the government, we cannot reopen.”
American priest heading for beatification died amid a global pandemic
May 27, 2020 / 04:40 amFr. Michael McGivney, an American priest soon to be beatified, died while ministering to the sick amid a 19th-century pandemic, which may have been caused by a coronavirus.
Chinese bishop who suffered years of forced labor dies at 98
May 26, 2020 / 11:30 amA Chinese underground bishop who was sentenced to 10 years of forced labor in the 1980s for bringing Catholics on pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Sheshan died this month at the age of 98.
Pope Francis entrusts China to the Blessed Virgin Mary
May 24, 2020 / 04:45 amPope Francis Sunday entrusted China to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and asked all people to pray for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the most populated country in the world.
Vatican Museums will reopen June 1 as Italy opens borders to tourists
May 23, 2020 / 07:35 amThe Vatican Museums announced Saturday that it will reopen on June 1, two days before Italy opens its borders to European visitors after nearly three months of lockdown.
Pope Francis appoints new archbishop for Taiwan’s capital
May 23, 2020 / 06:05 amPope Francis appointed Saturday Bishop Thomas An-Zu Chung as the next Metropolitan Archbishop of Taipei, Taiwan.
Livestream of Mass with Pope Francis on Chinese social media raises censorship questions
May 22, 2020 / 16:34 pmThe Vatican revealed this week that Catholics in China were able to use the most popular Chinese state-monitored social media platform, WeChat, to livestream Pope Francis’ daily Mass during the coronavirus pandemic.
Around the globe, Catholics hope papal Mass online will continue
May 21, 2020 / 09:45 amAfter the Vatican stopped livestreaming Pope Francis’ daily Masses this week, Catholics from around the world have urged the pope to resume the broadcast.
Vatican expresses concern over potential West Bank annexation
May 20, 2020 / 09:30 amAs Israel’s new government considers annexing parts of the West Bank, the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s chief negotiator appealed to the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States over the phone.
Catholics rejoice as public Masses resume in Rome with safety precautions
May 18, 2020 / 08:30 amAs Rome reopened shops and restaurants on Monday, Catholics rejoiced in being able to attend Mass again for the first time in 10 weeks after Masses were first closed to the public.
Baking cookies for St. John Paul II and other memories for his 100th birthday
May 18, 2020 / 04:00 am“Thirty-nine years ago today I was on my way into St. Peter’s Square when the pope was shot,” Joan Lewis said over the phone on May 13.
What is the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity?
May 14, 2020 / 12:19 pmThis week’s interreligious day of prayer is the first major worldwide initiative of a committee created by the United Arab Emirates following Pope Francis’ trip to Abu Dhabi in 2019.