Articles by Courtney Mares
In Belgium, Pope Francis says ‘Church should be ashamed’ of clerical abuse
Sep 27, 2024 / 09:11 amSpeaking before approximately 300 dignitaries, the pope remarked that child abuse is “a scourge that the Church is tackling resolutely and firmly.”
What you need to know about part 2 of the Synod on Synodality
Sep 21, 2024 / 07:00 amThe second Vatican assembly for the global Synod on Synodality will kick off in October, bringing together clerics and laity alike for a month of discussions.
St. Januarius’ blood liquefies in Naples on his feast day
Sep 19, 2024 / 10:40 amThe archbishop of Naples recalled that Sept. 19 marks the anniversary of St. Januarius’ martyrdom more than 1,700 years ago.
Pope Francis says the Catholic Church is ‘more alive’ outside of Europe
Sep 18, 2024 / 08:54 amIn his first general audience since returning from the longest international trip of his pontificate, the pope expressed gratitude to God for his experiences.
Pope Francis tells young people to prioritize the Eucharist like Carlo Acutis
Sep 17, 2024 / 12:52 pm“As Blessed Carlo Acutis said, the Eucharist is the highway to heaven,” the pope wrote in his message for diocesan World Youth Days published on Sept. 17.
Pope Francis will not go to Paris for Notre Dame cathedral reopening
Sep 13, 2024 / 14:28 pmOn the plane back to Rome after his journey to Asia and Oceania, Pope Francis definitively ruled out visiting Paris for the Notre Dame cathedral reopening.
Pope Francis: U.S. presidential election a choice between ‘the lesser evil’
Sep 13, 2024 / 13:50 pmSpeaking aboard the papal plane, Pope Francis encouraged U.S. Catholics to vote with their conscience in the upcoming Nov. 5 election.
Pope Francis’ Mass in East Timor draws 600,000 Catholics
Sep 10, 2024 / 13:21 pmThe pope celebrated the youthfulness of East Timor at the outdoor Mass where the crowd appeared like a sea of yellow-and-white Vatican-themed umbrellas.
Catholics in East Timor welcome Pope Francis to their island ‘oasis’ of religious vocations
Sep 10, 2024 / 02:55 amIn East Timor, a country where 98% of the population is Catholic, Pope Francis was met with great enthusiasm on Tuesday by local clergy and religious.
Pope Francis arrives in East Timor, Asia’s youngest and most Catholic country
Sep 9, 2024 / 11:06 amFrancis is the first pope to visit East Timor since it gained independence from Indonesia in 2002, becoming the first new sovereign state of the 21st century.
Remembering the missionary martyrs of Papua New Guinea
Sep 8, 2024 / 00:01 amHere is a closer look at three remarkable individuals who shaped the Catholic mission in Papua New Guinea.
Pope Francis’ Mass in Papua New Guinea: ‘Open yourselves to the joy of the Gospel’
Sep 7, 2024 / 21:43 pmPope Francis celebrated Mass in Papua New Guinea on Sunday, urging openness to God and others while praying for peace in Asia-Pacific region.
Pope Francis asks Papua New Guinea Catholics to spread the Gospel to ‘peripheries’
Sep 7, 2024 / 07:00 amPope Francis called on Catholics in Papua New Guinea to continue to bring the Gospel to the most marginalized and remote communities within the country.
Pope Francis urges stewardship of Papua New Guinea’s resources, peace among tribes
Sep 6, 2024 / 23:38 pmIn his address to officials in Port Moresby, Pope Francis called for responsible use of natural resources, an end to tribal conflict, and celebrated cultural diversity.
Pope Francis and grand imam sign joint declaration at Indonesia mosque
Sep 5, 2024 / 00:13 amPope Francis signs interfaith declaration at Indonesia’s largest mosque, promoting religious harmony and condemning violence.
Pope Francis invites Indonesia’s Catholics to share ‘joy of encountering Christ’
Sep 4, 2024 / 09:37 am“Proclaiming the Gospel … [means] giving and sharing the joy of encountering Christ always with great respect and fraternal affection for everyone,” he said.
Pope Francis begins Indonesia visit with call for Catholic-Muslim dialogue
Sep 4, 2024 / 02:00 amOn Francis’ first full day in Indonesia on Wednesday, the pope called upon the political leaders to protect the country’s delicate balance of many cultures.
Pope Francis arrives in Indonesia, the first leg of his longest trip ever
Sep 3, 2024 / 08:30 amPope Francis arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday, launching his challenging 11-day, four-country tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania amid warm welcomes.
What it’s like to be a Catholic in the world’s largest Muslim country
Sep 3, 2024 / 06:08 amPope Francis’ visit to Indonesia spotlights the unique experience of the country’s 8.3 million Catholics who navigate daily life in a diverse religious landscape.
Pope Francis urges release of hostages, aid for polio outbreak in Gaza
Sep 1, 2024 / 13:15 pmThe pope appealed for peace in Gaza and for aid to continue and also expressed his closeness to the people of Burkina Faso after a terrorist attack there Aug. 24.