Catholic Church

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Twitter restores Irish Catholic bishop’s post on assisted suicide after review

Feb 23, 2021

Twitter has restored an Irish Catholic bishop’s post about assisted suicide following a review.  Read more

Beate Gilles, the new general secretary of the German bishops’ conference. Credit: Schnelle/Deutsche Bischofskonferenz.

German bishops’ conference elects first female general secretary

Feb 23, 2021

The theologian Beate Gilles was elected general secretary of the German bishops’ conference on Monday, becoming the first woman to... Read more

Stock Image via Shutterstock.

Catholic leaders urge EU to be guided by solidarity in vaccine distribution

Feb 23, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

Catholic leaders in Europe have urged the European Union to be guided by solidarity, fraternity, and social justice as it... Read more

Bishop-elect Joseph Bonnemain of Chur, Switzerland. Credit: Diocese of Chur.

Pope Francis asks new bishop of divided Swiss diocese to serve for at least five years

Feb 23, 2021

Pope Francis has asked the new bishop of a divided Swiss diocese to remain in the post for at least... Read more

Archbishop Jan Romeo Pawłowski celebrates Mass on the 90th anniversary of the Divine Mercy apparition at the  Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Płock, Poland, Feb. 22, 2021. Photo credits: Foreign Communicati

Vatican archbishop celebrates 90th anniversary of Divine Mercy apparition

Feb 23, 2021

A Vatican archbishop celebrated the 90th anniversary of the first Divine Mercy apparition on Monday in the Polish city of Płock.  Read more

The flag of Scotland. Credit: Lynx Aqua/Shutterstock.

Catholics press for further changes to Scotland’s controversial hate crime bill

Feb 22, 2021

Catholics are pressing for further changes to Scotland’s controversial hate crime bill amid a last-minute consultation.  Read more

Teachers protest in Hpa-An, the capital of Karen State, Burma, on Feb. 9, 2021. Credit: Ninjastrikers (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Burma’s Catholic bishops call for peace and dialogue as two protesters killed

Feb 22, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Catholic bishops of Burma have called for a “return to dialogue” as two protesters were killed during demonstrations over the weekend.  Read more

Pope Francis on retreat with the Roman Curia at the Casa Divin Maestro in Ariccia, Italy, March 4, 2017. Credit: Vatican Media.

From Pius XI to Pope Francis: A history of Spiritual Exercises at the Vatican

Feb 22, 2021

By Courtney Mares

For nearly 100 years, popes have set aside time for an annual retreat and meditation on spiritual exercises.   Read more

Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary. Credit: PersiGianluigi (public domain).).

Vatican cardinal reflects on the value of penance in a time of pandemic

Feb 22, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

The penance called for in the Christian life, and accentuated during Lent, can help us make sense of the sacrifices... Read more

Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, in Rome on Oct. 23, 2019. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.

Vatican cardinal congratulates new Serbian Orthodox patriarch on election

Feb 19, 2021

A Vatican cardinal on Friday congratulated the new leader of the Serbian Orthodox Church on his election and said he... Read more

Pope Francis meets a delegation from the Italian soccer club Sampdoria Feb. 19, 2021. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis to soccer players: ‘The most beautiful victories are those you win as a team’

Feb 19, 2021

Pope Francis said on Friday that participation in sports can help people to grow in holiness, stressing the importance of... Read more

Archbishop Franz Lackner of Salzburg, Austria. Credit: Archdiocese of Salzburg.

Catholic archbishop: Austrian court ruling on assisted suicide ‘just the beginning’

Feb 19, 2021

An Austrian archbishop warned Catholics on Wednesday that a top court’s ruling on assisted suicide is “just the beginning.”  Read more

The flag of Vatican City with St. Peter's Basilica in the background on May 29, 2015.

Vatican expects deficit of $60 million in 2021

Feb 19, 2021

The Vatican said on Friday that it expects to record a deficit of around $60 million in 2021 amid the... Read more

The cover of “Abbi a cuore il Signore,” by the “Master of San Bartolo.” Screenshot.

Pope Francis gives Roman Curia 17th-century text as Lenten reading

Feb 19, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis has given each member of the Roman Curia a book to include in their spiritual reading for their... Read more

A prayer for COVID-19 victims at Westminster Cathedral in London, England, pictured July 3, 2020. Credit: Mazur/cbcew.org.uk.

Catholic bishops across Europe join in Lent prayer for victims of coronavirus pandemic

Feb 19, 2021

Catholic bishops across Europe will join together in prayer throughout Lent for victims of the coronavirus pandemic.   Read more

Catholic safeguarding commission reports rise in abuse allegations in England and Wales

Feb 19, 2021

The number of people facing concerns or allegations of abuse against children rose by 29% in a year, according to... Read more

Archbishop Dominique Mathieu (center) after his consecration as archbishop of Tehran-Isfahan, Iran, in Rome’s Basilica of the Twelve Apostles. Credit: Vatican Congregation for the Oriental Churches.

‘Offer the light of the Gospel’: Tehran’s new Catholic archbishop is ordained

Feb 18, 2021

By Courtney Mares

A Franciscan friar was ordained archbishop of Tehran-Isfahan this week and commissioned to “offer the light of the Gospel” in... Read more

Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa, Poland, pictured June 22, 2016. Credit: Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk.

Poland’s Catholic Church holds day of prayer for abuse survivors

Feb 18, 2021

Poland’s Catholic Church on Friday will observe a day of prayer for abuse survivors.  Read more

Pope Francis, pictured Oct. 15, 2014. Credit: Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk.

Pope Francis urges Brazil’s Christians to seek unity in battle against pandemic

Feb 17, 2021

Pope Francis encouraged Brazil’s Christians on Wednesday to confront the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic together this Lent.  Read more

The flag of the Republic of Belarus.

Authorities in Belarus stall Catholic charity initiative to help low-income families

Feb 17, 2021

By Courtney Mares

A decision by the authorities in Belarus has left a Catholic charity unable to pursue an initiative aimed at helping poor... Read more