Catholic Church

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Pope Francis celebrates Mass in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta July 8, 2020.

Pope Francis calls on Christians to recognize the face of Christ in migrants

Jul 8, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis offered Mass Wednesday asking the Virgin Mary to help Christians recognize the face of Christ in each migrant... Read more

Father Stephen Parkes.

Bishop's brother appointed brother bishop in Savannah

Jul 8, 2020

Pope Francis appointed Fr. Stephen D. Parkes as the next bishop of Savannah, Georgia, Wednesday.  Read more

Photo of a portrait of Mary Seacole (c.1869), by Albert Charles Challen (original held by the National Portrait Gallery in London.) Public domain.

‘It meant a great deal to her’: the Catholic faith of the woman voted ‘greatest Black Briton’

Jul 8, 2020

She was voted the “greatest Black Briton.” A statue of her stands opposite the Houses of Parliament. Her heroic life... Read more

The Church of Mar Behnam and Mart Sarah in Qaraqosh, Iraq celebrates Christmas Mass Dec. 25, 2018 before the church's renovation.

‘Life after ISIS’: Christians are leaving Iraq due to ongoing security concerns

Jul 7, 2020

By Courtney Mares

More Christian families left the Nineveh Plains than returned to their hometowns last year amid ongoing security concerns in the... Read more

Big Ben and Houses of Parliament.

Pro-life MP hails ‘clear victory’ over abortion amendments

Jul 7, 2020

A leading pro-life MP welcomed the defeat Monday of attempts to strip away protections for unborn children in the U.K.  Read more

Archbishop Wojciech Polak, Primate of Poland.

Primate of Poland: Church must rebuild trust amid abuse crisis

Jul 6, 2020

The Catholic Church can only rebuild trust in its handling of clerical abuse by “taking responsibility for clarifying all crimes... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square on Oct. 16, 2019.

Pope Francis to celebrate Mass marking anniversary of Lampedusa visit

Jul 6, 2020

Pope Francis will celebrate Mass Wednesday marking the seventh anniversary of his visit to the Italian island of Lampedusa.  Read more

Bishop Mark Davies reopens Shrewsbury Cathedral to the public after 86 days of lockdown June 15, 2020.

English Catholic bishop: parishes see 'dramatic fall' in income following lockdown

Jul 6, 2020

An English bishop has said that parishes have seen “dramatic fall” in income as a result of the coronavirus lockdown.  Read more

A rainbow over Sagrada Família in Barcelona, February 10, 2016.

Sagrada Familia invites medical workers to attend July 4 reopening

Jul 3, 2020

Sagrada Família, the majestic basilica designed by Antoni Gaudí, will reopen its doors July 4 following a more than 100-day... Read more

 The Flag of the Holy See.

Vatican appeals for debt relief for developing countries at United Nations

Jul 3, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva is urging countries to help relieve the... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square, Nov. 27, 2019.

Pope Francis makes donation to World Food Programme as pandemic causes rising hunger

Jul 3, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis has made a donation to the World Food Programme as the organization works to feed 270 million people... Read more

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna, Italy, in St. Peter's Basilica on Oct. 5, 2019.

Cardinal says it is time to rebuild, as economic crisis hits northern Italy

Jul 3, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

A cardinal archbishop in northern Italy said Friday that the COVID-19 health crisis has created an “immense” poverty in the... Read more

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg, at the Vatican, Oct. 5, 2019.

European bishops call for EU support of persecuted Christians in Nigeria

Jul 3, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The president of the European bishops’ commission has promised persecuted Christians in Nigeria that he will advocate for increased support... Read more

St. Peter's Basilica.

Vatican financial watchdog hails ‘rising trend’ in reports to Promoter of Justice

Jul 3, 2020

The Vatican’s financial watchdog authority reported Friday that it received 64 suspicious activity reports in 2019, 15 of which it... Read more

The Ethiopian flag.

Pope Francis appoints apostolic visitor for Ethiopian Catholics in US and Canada

Jul 2, 2020

Pope Francis appointed an apostolic visitor Thursday for Ethiopian Catholics in the United States and Canada.   Read more

Pope Francis greets Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Dec. 21, 2018.

Pope Francis offers condolences to Benedict XVI following his brother’s death

Jul 2, 2020

Pope Francis offered his condolences to Benedict XVI Thursday following the death of his brother.   Read more

Bishop John Sherrington, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster.

Catholic bishop: bill changes would leave UK with ‘most extreme abortion legislation in Europe’

Jul 2, 2020

An English bishop has urged Catholics to resist a new push to strip away protections for unborn children that would... Read more

Camino de Santiago.

Santiago de Compostela Cathedral reopens to pilgrims

Jul 1, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pilgrims can walk the Camino de Santiago once again as the pilgrimage’s destination, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, reopened... Read more

Pope Francis.

Pope Francis praying for Polish Catholics seeking Vatican intervention on clerical abuse

Jul 1, 2020

Pope Francis is praying for a group of lay people who appealed to him to crack down on clerical abuse... Read more

Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald greets friends after receiving the red hat at the Vatican October 5, 2019.

‘This is the Christian message’: Cardinal urges Catholics to join struggle for racial justice

Jun 30, 2020

By Luke Coppen

A cardinal has encouraged Catholics to take part in the worldwide struggle for racial justice following the death of George... Read more