motherhood

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Votes are counted in Dublin, Ireland, on March 9, 2024, after voters in the country went to the polls March 8 to decide on a pair of referendums proposing wording changes to the Irish constitution aimed at reflecting secular values.

Irish voters keep motherhood, traditional family in constitution

Mar 9, 2024

By Kate Quiñones, Shannon Mullen

Irish voters by large margins rejected proposed changes to the 1937 Irish Constitution. Read more

Pope Francis smiles at pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Jan. 1, 2024, for his first Angelus of the new year.

Pope Francis reflects on Mary’s motherhood, prays for Nicaragua during New Year’s Angelus

Jan 1, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

Just days after Christmas, Nicaragua’s Sandinista regime abducted four priests, whose whereabouts are still unknown. Read more

Pope Francis offers Mass on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Peter's Basilica on Dec. 12, 2020.

Pope Francis: Like Our Lady of Guadalupe, mothers can be great evangelizers today

Aug 23, 2023

By Courtney Mares

In his catechesis on evangelization on Aug. 23, the pope spoke about how the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe... Read more

Mother and Home gift set

Mother’s Day gifts from small mom-run Catholic businesses

May 5, 2023

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

Our gift guide of products from Catholic shops owned by moms can help you find a special way to honor... Read more

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for the Regina Caeli on May 8, 2022.

Mother’s Day: Pope Francis sends moms ‘Our prayer, affection, best wishes’

May 8, 2022

By Katie Yoder

In his Regina Caeli address, Pope Francis asked the faithful to celebrate their mothers in a special way on Sunday,... Read more

Author says maternal instinct can be measured in a lab

Jun 10, 2021

By Kate Scanlon

In her new book “Mom Genes: Inside the New Science of Our Ancient Maternal Instinct,” author Abigail Tucker argues that... Read more

Hungary defines family as having a mother and a father

Dec 15, 2020

Hungary’s Parliament passed a law Tuesday defining the family as having a woman as the mother and a man as... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on Oct. 1 2014.

In letter, Pope Francis asks for prayers for mothers facing the post-pandemic world

May 26, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

In a letter to an Italian journalist Monday, Pope Francis said we should pray for mothers to have courage as... Read more

As population plummets, Hungary to end income tax for moms of at least four

Feb 12, 2019

In an effort to encourage Hungarians to have more babies, the prime minister of the country has announced that women... Read more

Dr. Catherine Pakaluk and her children.

Having kids won’t doom your country, says #PostcardsForMacron creator

Oct 20, 2018

By Christine Rousselle

The idea that high fertility rates are a barrier to economic success is a contemporary myth, Catholic University of America... Read more

The letter that Pope Francis wrote to a young mother in prison.

Pope Francis wrote a letter to this young mother in prison

Dec 30, 2016

A prison inmate in Chile was surprised when she received a letter this summer from Pope Francis, whom she had... Read more

Mama Irene. Photo

A goodbye to 'Mama Irene,' the woman who adopted 58 kids

Jun 1, 2016

Irene Bertoni was 18 years-old during World War II. And it was at this tumultuous time that she discovered God's... Read more

Want to empower women? Support mothers, politician argues

May 22, 2015

By Elise Harris

Ahead of a conference discussing the presence of women in the 2015 development agenda, organizers said goals fall short of... Read more

Pope Francis kisses a baby at a Pontifical Council for Health Care conference on autism Nov. 22, 2014.

Pope Francis baptizes babies, says God's word helps faith grow

Jan 11, 2015

Pope Francis baptized 33 babies at the Sistine Chapel on Sunday, advising families to set an example for their children... Read more

Pope Francis prays before a statue of Mary in St. Peter's Basilica on Nov. 30, 2013.

Pope Francis hails motherhood as the 'antidote to individualism'

Jan 7, 2015

By Elise Harris

During his general audience Pope Francis lamented how mothers are often under-appreciated in their family role, and said they are... Read more

Women from across the nation relax and dance during the Edel Gathering conference in Austin, TX. Photo courtesy of Hallie Lord.

Catholic women's conference refreshes moms, forges friendships

Sep 18, 2014

By Hillary Mast

A pair of Catholic authors has found a new way to give mothers some time off while helping break the... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on May 28, 2014.

Pope Francis: the Church is a mother who guides her children

Sep 3, 2014

By Elise Harris

In his general audience Pope Francis continued his catechesis on the Church, turning to the aspect of her maternity, of... Read more

Pope Francis greets the ill and disabled during his General Audience Nov. 13, 2013.

Pope Francis lauds testimony of working mothers

Jul 5, 2014

By Elise Harris

During his one-day trip to Molise Pope Francis met with personnel of the region’s university, urging them to find creative... Read more

Raquel Kato and her daughter, AveMarie Rose.

After crisis pregnancy, young mom finds fulfillment

Jun 30, 2013

A 22-year-old single mom who chose life during an unplanned pregnancy says that she has found “purpose and love” in... Read more

Kenyan family.

Global contraception push aims to 'eliminate motherhood'

Jun 7, 2013

The head of an international charity called the billions of dollars funding “reproductive health” in the developing world an effort... Read more