Catholic Church

The Latest

 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

Cardinal Cláudio Hummes arrives for the afternoon session of the Amazon Synod, October 8, 2019.

New Amazon region 'ecclesial conference' created

Jun 30, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Following a recommendation by the Amazon synod, a new “ecclesial conference” for the Amazon region was created Monday.  Read more

Pope Francis, pictured in St. Peter’s Square, September 10, 2014.

Pope Francis urges Catholic media to help young tell good from evil

Jun 30, 2020

The world needs media that can help young people to distinguish between good and evil, presenting the facts in a... Read more

Bishop Georg Bätzing, president of the German bishop's conference in St. Peter's Square, June 27, 2020.

Pope Francis ‘appreciates’ the ‘Synodal Way,’ says German bishop after private audience

Jun 27, 2020

Pope Francis “appreciates” the German Church’s “Synodal Way,” the president of the German bishops’ conference said after meeting with the... Read more

 Msgr. Domenico Tardini in 1932.

Cardinal’s notes give depth to research in Venerable Pius XII archives

Jun 26, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Vatican’s apostolic archives reopened to researchers in June after a nearly three-month closure because of the pandemic.  Read more

Interior of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.

Irish churches exempted from 50 person limit during coronavirus reopening

Jun 26, 2020

Churches and other places of worship in Ireland will be permitted to open to more than 50 people, following a... Read more

The Holy Face of Lucca crucifix in the Cathedral of St. Martin.

Scientists confirm Italian crucifix is oldest wooden statue in Europe

Jun 26, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Scientists confirmed this month that a crucifix in the Italian city of Lucca is the oldest wooden statue in Europe.  Read more

Bishop Georg Bätzing, president of the German bishops’ conference. Courtesy: Diocese of Limburg

Catholic Church in Germany lost a record number of members last year

Jun 26, 2020

A record number of Catholics formally left the Church in Germany in 2019, according to official figures released Friday.   Read more

Research astronomer Fr. Christopher Corbally. Courtesy of Fr. Corbally

Catholic priest ‘thoroughly surprised’ to have asteroid named after him

Jun 26, 2020

Somewhere between Mars and Jupiter there is a hunk of rock that now bears the name of a living English... Read more

Pews at St George's Cathedral, Southwark, are cleansed after it reopened for private prayer.

England's Catholics asked to consider avoiding Sunday Masses amid attendance limits

Jun 25, 2020

England’s metropolitan archbishops urged Catholics Thursday to consider going to Mass during the week rather than on Sunday after public... Read more