Catholic Church

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The statue of Our Lady of Lourdes in the grotto in the French shrine.

Lourdes offers digital pilgrimage as shrine struggles without pilgrims

Jul 14, 2020

By Courtney Mares

As global coronavirus cases have surpassed 13 million, Lourdes is offering a digital pilgrimage this week to pray for the... Read more

 The first public Mass since March takes place at St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, England, July 5, 2020.

Why some Catholic churches in England are struggling to resume public Masses

Jul 11, 2020

When the government permitted churches in England to resume public Masses July 4, Fr. Rick McGrath faced a difficult dilemma.   Read more

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square Oct. 2, 2019.

Pope Francis advances cause of teen who died of bone cancer

Jul 11, 2020

The Vatican announced Saturday that Pope Francis has recognized the heroic virtues of a 14-year-old Italian boy who died in... Read more

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

Pope Francis sends message to priests on Argentina’s coronavirus front line

Jul 10, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis sent a video message Thursday to the priests who work in Argentina’s poor neighborhoods serving the sick and... Read more

The Palais Bourbon, the seat of the National Assembly, in Paris.

French archbishop criticizes push to pass bioethics law amid pandemic

Jul 10, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The archbishop of Paris has criticized the French parliament’s decision to debate a controversial bioethics bill which would increase access to... Read more

Caption: EU flags.

Catholic bishops urge renewed solidarity within EU for pandemic recovery

Jul 10, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The European Catholic bishops’ commission urged the European Union this week to commit to deepening solidarity in its pandemic recovery... Read more

Mario Draghi at a press conference at the ECB headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany.

Pope Francis appoints former European Central Bank chief to pontifical academy

Jul 10, 2020

Pope Francis appointed the former president of the European Central Bank to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences Friday.  Read more

United Nations Offices in Geneva, Switzerland, home of the UNHRC.

Vatican diplomat tells UN ‘gender identity’ category not necessary for refugee protection

Jul 9, 2020

By Courtney Mares

A Holy See diplomat raised concern at the United Nations in Geneva this week over the use of the term... Read more

Xanten Cathedral, Germany.

Survey finds 30% of German Catholics are considering leaving Church

Jul 9, 2020

A survey released Thursday found that 30% of German Catholics are considering leaving the Church.  Read more

Fr. Jerome Pascal Ombeni. Courtesy photo.

A tale of two Churches: Young African priest ordained in south Italy

Jul 8, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Last month three men were ordained to the priesthood in a small city in southern Italy. Among them was Fr.... Read more

Emmanuel Sani, a farmer affected by a Fulani attack at his village, rests on a bed at St. Gerard’s Catholic Hospital, Kaduna, Nigeria, April 13, 2019.

UK urged to sanction Nigerian officials for failing to protect persecuted Christians

Jul 8, 2020

A new report Wednesday urged the U.K. to sanction Nigerian officials accused of turning a blind eye to the persecution... Read more

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