Catholic Church

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St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican flag.

Council for the Economy discusses 2021 Vatican budget

Feb 17, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Vatican’s Council for the Economy met on Tuesday to discuss the details of the annual budget for 2021.  Read more

Pope Francis celebrates the Liturgy of the Passion of Our Lord in St. Peter's Basilica April 14, 2017. Credit: L'Osservatore Romano.

Holy Week 2021: Vatican issues guidelines for Catholics amid ongoing COVID-19 restrictions

Feb 17, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments issued guidelines on Wednesday for the celebration of... Read more

The Iraqi flag. Credit: Alyaa99 (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Pope Francis’ visit to Iraq comes as country faces ‘multiple crises’

Feb 17, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis’ trip to Iraq comes at a time when the country faces severe political, socioeconomic, and security challenges. The... Read more

Pavica Vojnović takes part in a 40 Days for Life event in Pforzheim, Germany. Credit: ADF International.

Pro-life activists challenge German municipality’s prayer vigil ban

Feb 17, 2021

Pro-life activists are challenging a German municipality’s decision to ban them from praying in front of a pre-abortion advisory center.  Read more

 Pope Francis greets Mario Draghi at the Vatican on Oct. 19, 2013. Credit: Vatican Media.

The Vatican ties of Italy’s new Prime Minister Mario Draghi

Feb 17, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

Italy’s new prime minister -- an economist nicknamed “Super Mario” -- has Vatican ties that date back many years.  Read more

Chur Cathedral in Switzerland. Credit: Adrian Michael (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Pope Francis ends deadlock over new bishop for Swiss diocese

Feb 16, 2021

Pope Francis on Monday ended the deadlock over the appointment of a new bishop in a historic Swiss diocese that... Read more

Archbishop John Wilson at St. George’s Cathedral, Southwark, England, Feb. 26, 2020. Credit: Mazur/cbcew.org.uk.

Catholic archbishop: ‘Our commitment to Christ remains undimmed’ despite the pandemic

Feb 13, 2021

By Luke Coppen

If you’ve experienced ups and downs during the pandemic, you are not alone. So has Archbishop John Wilson, leader of... Read more

Pope Francis, pictured in St. Peter’s Square Oct. 22, 2016. Credit: Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk.

Pope Francis: ‘Be vigorous and resilient like legumes’

Feb 12, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis has encouraged people to have resilience in the fight against world hunger, drawing inspiration from the hardiness of... Read more

A crucifix inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, one of the sites of the Hearts Aflame pilgrimage for priests and religious.

We have a lot to learn this Lent from persecuted Christians, advocate says at Vatican

Feb 12, 2021

By Courtney Mares

In approaching the penitential practices of Lent, Catholics can learn a lot from persecuted Christian communities, an advocate for Aid... Read more

Guglielmo Giaquinta as a young priest. Credit: Pro Sanctitate.

Beatification cause of bishop known for ‘ordinary extraordinariness’ moves forward

Feb 12, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Diocese of Rome on Friday concluded the first phase of the cause for beatification of an Italian bishop and... Read more

Bishop Luiz Fernando Lisboa. Credit: Diocese of Pemba's Facebook page.

Catholic bishop in Mozambique hotspot transferred to Brazilian diocese

Feb 12, 2021

Pope Francis on Thursday appointed a Catholic bishop serving in a strife-torn diocese in Mozambique to lead a diocese in... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta April 4, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis: ‘Experience Lent with love’ by caring for those affected by pandemic

Feb 12, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis has encouraged Catholics to practice charity in Lent this year by caring for those affected by the coronavirus... Read more

Pope Francis: Global pandemic shows urgent need to build ‘culture of encounter’

Feb 12, 2021

Pope Francis on Friday told academics and diplomats that the coronavirus crisis showed the “urgent need” to build a “culture... Read more

Fr. Pedro Opeka. Credit: Anne Aubert/Amici di Padre Pedro via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Catholic missionary priest nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

Feb 11, 2021

By Courtney Mares

A Catholic missionary priest in Madagascar known for serving the poor living on a landfill has been nominated for this... Read more

Pilgrims at the Sanctuary Our Lady of Lourdes in France. Photo credits: Sanctuaire ND de Lourdes/Pierre Vincent.

Lourdes shrine invites the sick to find hope through virtual visit

Feb 11, 2021

By Courtney Mares

On the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, the papal delegate for the Marian shrine urged masked pilgrims and virtual... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Coutts at the Rome office of Aid to the Church in Need April 2, 2019. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.

Pope Francis names 54-year-old successor to Cardinal Coutts in Karachi

Feb 11, 2021

Pope Francis on Thursday named a 54-year-old successor to Cardinal Joseph Coutts as Archbishop of Karachi, Pakistan.  Read more

Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, president of the Italian bishops' conference, at a press conference in Bari, Italy, on Jan. 22, 2020.

Italian cardinal condemns anti-Semitism after disruption of online event

Feb 11, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

The president of the Italian bishops’ conference has condemned anti-Semitism after an online event in memory of a Jewish leader... Read more

The Gothic altarpiece at St. Mary’s Basilica in Kraków, Poland. Photo credits: The Archives of St. Mary’s Basilica in Kraków.

World’s largest Gothic altarpiece dazzles again after 6-year restoration project

Feb 11, 2021

The world’s largest Gothic altarpiece is once again dazzling visitors to a Catholic basilica in Poland following a six-year restoration... Read more

Pope Francis is presented with an Aramaic prayer manuscript at the Vatican Feb. 10, 2021. Photo credits: Vatican Media/Ufficio Stampa FOCSIV.

Pope Francis presented with historic prayer manuscript saved from Islamic State

Feb 10, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis was presented on Wednesday with a historic Aramaic prayer manuscript rescued from the Islamic State’s destructive occupation of... Read more

Fr. Werenfried van Straaten, founder of Aid to the Church in Need. Credit: Redigolo via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Aid to the Church in Need confirms ‘credible’ accusation of ‘serious sexual assault’ against founder

Feb 10, 2021

The Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) confirmed on Wednesday the existence of a “credible” description of... Read more