Catholic Church

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The Church of St. James in Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Pope Francis tells youth at Medjugorje: be inspired by the Virgin Mary

Aug 2, 2020

Pope Francis has urged young people gathered in Medjugorje to imitate the Virgin Mary by abandoning themselves to God.  Read more

Pope Francis is pictured during an Angelus address.

Pope Francis deplores firebomb attack on Catholic cathedral in Nicaragua

Aug 2, 2020

Pope Francis deplored a firebomb attack on a cathedral in Nicaragua Sunday.  Read more

Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 9, 2019.

Pope Francis appoints new personal secretary

Aug 1, 2020

Pope Francis appointed an official from the Vatican Secretariat of State as his new personal secretary Saturday.  Read more

English Catholic bishops: Church backs vaccination to protect the most vulnerable

Jul 31, 2020

The Catholic Church supports vaccination because it helps to protect society’s most vulnerable people, bishops in England said Thursday.  Read more

Exorcism is a ministry of joy, light, and peace, new guide says

Jul 30, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Exorcism is not an obscure practice shrouded in darkness, but a ministry filled with light, peace, and joy, according to... Read more

Fr. Paolo Dall'Oglio, pictured in Rome Sept. 6, 2012.

Kidnapped priest remembered for his love of Syrian people

Jul 29, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Seven years after his kidnapping in Syria, Fr. Paolo Dall’Oglio was remembered in Rome Wednesday for his love of the... Read more

The flag of Scotland.

Catholic bishops fear Scotland's hate crime law could criminalize Bible and Catechism

Jul 29, 2020

Catholic bishops have said that proposed hate crime legislation in Scotland could criminalize the Bible and the Catechism of the... Read more

The website of Protège ton église.

‘We must pray for their conversion’: Young French Catholics respond to wave of desecrations

Jul 28, 2020

In 2019, two friends launched a movement to protect churches across France in response to a wave of desecrations.   Read more

Pope Benedict XVI on Aug. 28, 2010.

Benedict XVI praises “glorious music” of Bach in festival message

Jul 28, 2020

Pope emeritus Benedict XVI has praised the “glorious music” of Johann Sebastian Bach in a message to a festival in... Read more

How the Catholic Church is helping London's new homeless

Jul 28, 2020

People made homeless as a result of the coronavirus pandemic will “need a lot of help” to get their lives... Read more

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square on Oct. 9, 2019.

One million people helped in Ukraine by Pope Francis’ charitable project

Jul 28, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis’ charitable project for Ukraine, started in 2016, has helped nearly one million people in the war-torn country, according... Read more

A statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Poland.

Catholics mark centenary of Poland’s consecration to the Sacred Heart

Jul 27, 2020

Catholics marked the 100th anniversary Monday of the consecration of Poland to the Sacred Heart.  Read more

A detail from a graphic promoting the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life campaign.

Vatican dicastery launches ‘send a hug’ campaign for elderly isolated by pandemic

Jul 27, 2020

The Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life launched a new campaign Monday urging young people to “send a hug”... Read more

Cardinal Walter Kasper.

Cardinal Kasper defends Vatican instruction on parishes

Jul 27, 2020

Cardinal Walter Kasper has defended a new Vatican instruction on parishes after it was criticized by several German bishops.   Read more

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, archbishop of Yangon.

Cardinal Bo: Hagia Sophia’s conversion into a mosque will ‘reopen wounds’

Jul 24, 2020

As Hagia Sophia opened for Muslim prayers Friday for the first time in 86 years, a leading Asian cardinal said... Read more

A woman stands in a burned out area after an extremist attack on the village of Aldeia da Paz, Mozambique, Aug. 24, 2019.

Churches burned, people beheaded in Mozambique’s escalating extremist violence

Jul 23, 2020

By Courtney Mares

A Catholic bishop has deplored the world’s indifference to escalating extremist violence in northern Mozambique, where multiple churches have been... Read more

Archbishop Luigi Ventura, then-Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, speaks at a Mass and Concert held in Ottawa, April 2, 2009.

Ex-nuncio to France to face trial in Paris on sexual assault charges

Jul 23, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

A retired Vatican diplomat accused of sexual assault while in office is due to appear before the Paris criminal court... Read more

Bishop Paul McAleenan, lead bishop for migrants and refugees of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.

Catholic bishop: UK and France must tackle ‘underlying reasons’ for rise in English Channel migrant crossings

Jul 23, 2020

A Catholic bishop has urged the U.K. and France to address the “underlying reasons” for a rise in migrants risking... Read more

From left: Bishop Peter Kohlgraf of Mainz, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne, and Bishop Franz-Josef Bode of Osnabrück.

Germany’s Catholic bishops divided over Vatican instruction on parishes

Jul 23, 2020

A new Vatican instruction on parishes has received a mixed reception in Germany.  Read more

Bishop Henrique Soares da Costa.

Cries of ‘santo subito’ for Brazilian bishop who died of the coronavirus

Jul 22, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

More than 48,000 people have signed an online petition asking the Brazilian bishops to open a beatification cause for the... Read more