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Pope Francis gives a general audience address in the library of the Apostolic Palace.

Pope Francis says prayer opens the door of hope

May 20, 2020

Prayer opens the door of hope, Pope Francis said at the general audience Wednesday.  Read more

University of Notre Dame.

Notre Dame to start fall semester early as colleges weigh in-person options

May 19, 2020

By Jonah McKeown

The University of Notre Dame announced this week that students will return to campus in the fall, with the semester... Read more

A lab technician scientist in PPE.

Holy See donates to WHO fund for medics on pandemic front line

May 19, 2020

The Holy See has pledged to contribute to the World Health Organization’s emergency fund supplying protective equipment to medics fighting... Read more

Catholic Charities in Louisiana appeals for aid after major spike in homelessness 

May 19, 2020

By Mary Farrow

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic hitting the United States in mid-March, thousands of Americans were either furloughed or... Read more

Seminarians need 'solid formation' in hospital ministry, chaplain says

May 19, 2020

Future seminarians should receive an “absolutely solid formation” in hospital ministry, a priest working with coronavirus patients has said.  Read more

Boatmen in Guwahati Assam, India.

Vatican to mark 5th anniversary of Laudato si’ with year-long celebration

May 19, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Vatican will on May 24 launch a year-long celebration of Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical Laudato si’ to mark its... Read more

Bishop Andrew E. Bellisario, the new metropolitan archbishop of Anchorage-Juneau. Photo courtesy of Juneau diocese

Pope Francis merges Alaskan dioceses to create Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau

May 19, 2020

Pope Francis merged two dioceses in Alaska Tuesday, creating the new Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau which will cover a territory larger... Read more

Acedia, from "The Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things," by Hieronymus Bosch. public domain.

What is acedia, how do you pronounce it, and why does this priest tweet about it?

May 19, 2020

By Mary Farrow

What is acedia, and why does this priest tweet about it so much.  Read more

Federal judge blocks NC coronavirus church limits

May 18, 2020

A federal judge has blocked the North Carolina governor’s order limiting most church services to 10 people or fewer, saying... Read more

Pope John Paul II made Jorge Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, a cardinal in St. Peter's Square on Feb. 21, 2001.

Pope Francis: St. John Paul II was an ‘extraordinary gift’ to the Church

May 18, 2020

Pope Francis described St. John Paul II as “an extraordinary gift of God to the Church and to Poland” in... Read more

Bishop Vincent Malone died May 18, 2020, at the age of 88. Photo courtesy of the Archdiocese of Liverpool

‘Humble and dedicated’ bishop dies from the coronavirus 

May 18, 2020

An English bishop died Monday after contracting the coronavirus.  Read more

Mass on May 18, 2020 at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.

Catholics rejoice as public Masses resume in Rome with safety precautions

May 18, 2020

By Courtney Mares

As Rome reopened shops and restaurants on Monday, Catholics rejoiced in being able to attend Mass again for the first... Read more

The tomb of St. Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938) in Łagiewniki, Poland.

Pope Francis adds St. Faustina Kowalska’s feast day to Roman Calendar

May 18, 2020

Pope Francis has decreed that St. Faustina Kowalska’s feast day be added to the Roman Calendar as an optional memorial... Read more

Joan Lewis meets St. John Paul II Dec 10, 1985. Photo courtesy of Joan Lewis

Baking cookies for St. John Paul II and other memories for his 100th birthday

May 18, 2020

By Courtney Mares

“Thirty-nine years ago today I was on my way into St. Peter’s Square when the pope was shot,” Joan Lewis... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the tomb of St. John Paul II in St. Peter’s Basilica May 18, 2020.

Pope Francis praises St. John Paul II as man of prayer and justice

May 18, 2020

St. John Paul II was a man of prayer who was close to the people and loved justice, Pope Francis... Read more

Pope Francis waves from a window of the apostolic palace May 10, 2020.

Pope Francis: St. John Paul II is remembered with 'affection and gratitude'

May 17, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis Sunday recalled the 100th anniversary of the birth of St. Pope John Paul II, saying his predecessor is... Read more

Vatican calls attention to growing food crisis from coronavirus

May 16, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The coronavirus emergency is also causing a food-related crisis, Vatican officials said Saturday, encouraging people to do their small part... Read more

Pope Francis during Mass in the Casa Santa Marta May 16, 2020.

Pope Francis: The antidote to worldliness is Christ

May 16, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The only cure for worldliness is faith in Jesus Christ and in his death and resurrection, Pope Francis said at... Read more

A worker cleanses St. Peter's Basilica ahead of its reopening.

St. Peter’s Basilica is sanitized ahead of reopening to public

May 15, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Ahead of its eventual reopening to the public, St. Peter’s Basilica is being cleaned and sanitized at the direction of... Read more

Refugee children at the Sharia Al Haman Hope Refugee Camp in Duhok, Iraq on March 28, 2015.

Iraq’s suffering will ‘rise sharply’ in wake of coronavirus, priest says

May 15, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The number of people in need of help with basic necessities in Iraq, already in the millions, is expected to... Read more