Catholic Church

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Hospital quarantine room. Stock image via Shutterstock.

As Christmas nears, Catholic priest sees ‘signs of hope’ at COVID hospital in Rome

Dec 18, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

A Catholic chaplain at a COVID hospital in Rome said he has seen many reasons for hope this Advent, especially... Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx, president of the Council for the Economy.

Council for the Economy discusses Vatican pension fund

Dec 17, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Council for the Economy held an online meeting this week to discuss several challenges to Vatican finances, including the... Read more

Pope Francis, pictured April 17, 2013.

Pope Francis: Hundreds of millions of children ‘left behind’ amid pandemic

Dec 17, 2020

Hundreds of millions of children have been “left behind” as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis said Wednesday.  Read more

Pope Francis, pictured on Oct. 15, 2014.

Pope Francis calls for ‘culture of care’ in 2021 World Peace Day message

Dec 17, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis appealed for a “culture of care” in his message for the 2021 World Day of Peace released Thursday.  Read more

Alexander Lukashenko, president of Belarus.

Pope Francis sends special envoy to meet with Belarus president

Dec 17, 2020

Pope Francis sent a special envoy to meet with the president of Belarus Thursday amid tensions between between the Catholic Church... Read more

The coffins of 640 unborn children in the Church of Holy Trinity in Gończyce, Poland, Dec. 12, 2020. Photo

Funeral Mass for 640 unborn children is held in Poland

Dec 17, 2020

A Catholic bishop presided Saturday at a funeral Mass for 640 unborn children in Poland.  Read more

Fr. Valentine Oluchukwu Ezeagu. Photo courtesy of the Congregation of the Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy.

As abducted Catholic priest is freed, congregation prays for kidnappers’ conversion

Dec 17, 2020

By Courtney Mares

After abducted Nigerian priest Fr. Valentine Ezeugu was released Wednesday, his religious congregation said it was praying for the conversion... Read more

Archbishop Rino Fisichella at the inauguration of '100 Nativity Scenes at the Vatican' Dec. 13, 2020.

Mini Pope Francis featured in Vatican’s annual 100 nativity scenes display

Dec 16, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Among the novelties of this year’s “100 Nativity Scenes at the Vatican” exhibit is the inclusion of a miniature Pope... Read more

Cardinal Crecscenzio Sepe views the reliquary with the blood of St. Januarius in 2009.

Blood of St. Januarius fails to liquefy on December feast

Dec 16, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

In Naples, the blood of St. Januarius remained solid Wednesday, after having liquefied both in May and September this year.  Read more

 Archbishop Luigi Ventura, then apostolic nuncio to Canada, speaks at a Mass and Concert held in Ottawa, April 2, 2009.

Ex-nuncio to France given suspended 8-month prison sentence

Dec 16, 2020

A Paris criminal court on Wednesday gave a former nuncio to France an eight-month suspended sentence for sexual assault.  Read more

Fr. Valentine Oluchukwu Ezeagu. Photo courtesy of the Congregation of the Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy.

Catholic priest kidnapped in Nigeria while traveling to his father’s funeral

Dec 16, 2020

By Courtney Mares

A priest of the Congregation of Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy was kidnapped in Nigeria Tuesday while traveling to... Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience address in the library of the Apostolic Palace Dec. 16, 2020.

Pope Francis: ‘Those who pray never turn their backs on the world’

Dec 16, 2020

People who pray for others are like God’s antennas, Pope Francis said at the general audience Wednesday.  Read more

Mar Joseph Srampickal is consecrated Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Great Britain at Preston North End stadium on Oct. 9, 2016. Photo

Britain’s first Syro-Malabar Catholic bishop: We are committed to the new evangelization

Dec 15, 2020

Four years after it was established, the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Great Britain is expanding rapidly. Its bishop explains why.  Read more

Pope Francis, pictured in St. Peter's Square Oct. 8, 2014.

Pope Francis to agricultural sector: Seek solidarity, not just profit

Dec 15, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Those who work in agriculture should consider the relationship between Creator, man, and nature, and strive to operate on a... Read more

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, pictured in St. Peter’s Basilica Oct. 3, 2015.

Cardinal Parolin returns to Vatican following surgery

Dec 15, 2020

Cardinal Pietro Parolin has returned to the Vatican following surgery, the director of the Holy See press office said Tuesday.  Read more

A pilgrim from Russia wears a mask and uses hand sanitizer in front of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican March 6, 2020.

Vatican City to start coronavirus vaccinations in January

Dec 15, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Vatican City will begin to offer coronavirus vaccinations in January, according to the Vatican director of health and hygiene.   Read more

Purple stole and confessional.

Bishops in northeast Italy permit general absolution at Christmas due to pandemic

Dec 14, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Catholic bishops in northeast Italy have said that the risk of illness amid the ongoing pandemic constitutes a grave necessity... Read more

Austrian Catholic leader deplores court ruling on assisted suicide

Dec 14, 2020

An Austrian Catholic archbishop expressed dismay after the country’s top court ruled that assisted suicide should no longer be a... Read more

Cardinal Vinko Puljic, center, with other Catholic bishops of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Catholic bishops: No ‘stable and just peace’ 25 years after Dayton Accords

Dec 14, 2020

The Dayton Agreement, signed in Paris 25 years ago today, ended the Bosnian War but failed to create “a stable... Read more

Pope John Paul II, pictured in 1992.

St. John Paul II: 1,700 professors respond to ‘wave of accusations’ against Polish pope

Dec 12, 2020

Hundreds of Polish professors have signed an appeal defending St. John Paul II following criticism in the wake of the... Read more