Articles by Jonathan Liedl
Pope Francis: I was ‘used’ against Ratzinger in 2005 conclave, but he was ‘my candidate’
Apr 1, 2024 / 13:30 pm“The idea was to block the election of [Ratzinger],” Pope Francis explained.
Cardinal Grech’s controversial comments add to list of concerns on postsynodal study groups
Mar 29, 2024 / 07:00 amThe Maltese cardinal stated in a recent interview that a female diaconate would not be a “revolution” but a “natural deepening of the Lord’s will.”
Pope Francis takes on critics in forthcoming memoir, says he won’t be resigning
Mar 14, 2024 / 16:30 pmPope Francis has no plans to resign from office according to excerpts from his forthcoming memoir — though he says some in the Church wish he would.
Pope Francis: St. Thomas Aquinas is needed to answer today’s social challenges
Mar 7, 2024 / 17:30 pmPope Francis reflected on the intellectual legacy of the “Angelic Doctor” in a letter to social scientists.
German bishops halt move toward establishing a Synodal Council at Vatican’s request
Feb 17, 2024 / 18:35 pmThe bishops were poised to vote on the matter at their upcoming plenary assembly Feb. 19–22.
UPDATE: Irreverent funeral service at St. Patrick's Cathedral for trans activist sparks outcry
Feb 16, 2024 / 22:15 pmThe Feb. 15 funeral service was held for Cecilia Gentili, a high-profile trans activist and sex-worker advocate.
Dutch bishops offer cautious response to Vatican blessing guidance, bucking regional trend
Jan 19, 2024 / 16:30 pmThe bishops emphasized that any blessings should help people “live in accordance with [God’s] intentions for the creation of man and woman and marriage.”
Rediscovered book by Cardinal Fernández features graphic erotic passages on ‘spirituality and sensuality’
Jan 8, 2024 / 11:30 amThe 1998 book’s provocative, sexually-charged themes are likely to add further scrutiny to the already embattled prefect of the Vatican’s doctrine office.
Cardinal Fernández: Vatican’s same-sex blessings guidance is ‘clear answer’ to German bishops
Jan 3, 2024 / 18:20 pmMembers of the controversial German Synodal Way overwhelmingly approved developing formalized ritual texts for same-sex blessings in March 2023.
Pope Francis: Entrust 2024 to the Mother of God
Jan 1, 2024 / 10:15 amThe pope made his appeal during Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on Jan. 1 for the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.
Pope Francis asks Mary’s intercession in World Day of Peace video
Jan 1, 2024 / 09:00 amPope Francis implores the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for an end to human conflicts in a new video released on Jan. 1 for the World Day of Peace.
Pope Francis: Faith allows Christians to live transition into the new year ‘differently’
Dec 31, 2023 / 12:55 pmPope Francis rang in the new year and gave thanks for 2023 at a special New Year’s Eve Vatican liturgy.
Pope Francis says Benedict XVI ‘blesses us and accompanies us’ from heaven
Dec 31, 2023 / 10:21 amIn his final Angelus address of 2023, Pope Francis paid tribute to Pope Benedict XVI on the one-year anniversary of his predecessor’s death.
Pope Francis on Christmas: Saying ‘yes’ to the Prince of Peace means saying ‘no’ to war
Dec 25, 2023 / 08:33 amIn his annual “urbi et orbi” address, Pope Francis called for an end to war in the Holy Land and throughout the world.
Vatican says priests can bless same-sex couples without condoning their lifestyles
Dec 18, 2023 / 15:22 pmNonliturgical blessings can be a sign of a person seeking God, not a validation of their lifestyle, the new document states.
Pope Francis appoints Brazilian native as Boston’s new auxiliary bishop
Dec 9, 2023 / 10:26 amFather Cristiano G. Borro Barbosa, 47, will join Cardinal Seán O’Malley and four other auxiliaries as bishops of the archdiocese.
Pope Francis: Vatican Nativity scene should prompt prayers for the Holy Land
Dec 9, 2023 / 09:50 amThe pope made his remarks in a Saturday morning audience in Paul VI Hall with two delegations who donated the Christmas tree and Nativity scene.
German bishop says divisions within local Church are a ‘disaster for the faithful’
Nov 30, 2023 / 16:25 pmBishop Stefan Oster did not shy away from identifying profound theological disagreements as the source of division within the Church in Germany.
Pope Francis reportedly takes Vatican apartment, salary from Cardinal Burke
Nov 28, 2023 / 13:34 pmThe pope reportedly said that Cardinal Raymond Burke was a source of “disunity” in the Church.
Pope adds married couples, Church movement reps to Vatican’s laity and family office
Nov 25, 2023 / 10:07 amThe Vatican announced the pope’s picks to the Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life on Nov. 25.