Baptism

The Latest

Ronaldo Luís Nazario da Lima.

‘The Phenomenon’ is baptized at age 46: Soccer great Ronaldo Nazario embraces Catholic faith

Sep 13, 2023

By Diego Lopez Marina

The Brazilian and world soccer legend nicknamed “The Phenomenon” took a significant step in his life of faith by receiving... Read more

Pope Francis baptizes a baby at Gemelli Hospital in Rome on March 31, 2023.

Pope Francis visits pediatric oncology ward at hospital, baptizes newborn baby

Mar 31, 2023

By Zelda Caldwell, Hannah Brockhaus

While staying at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital where he is undergoing treatment for bronchitis, Pope Francis paid a visit Friday to... Read more

Archbishop Arthur Roche at a Vatican press conference on Feb. 10, 2015.

Vatican’s liturgy czar rejects German Church’s plans for laity to preach homilies, conduct baptisms

Mar 30, 2023

By AC Wimmer

Cardinal Arthur Roche also said allowing laypeople to regularly perform baptisms goes against canon law. Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims from the popemobile in St. Peter’s Square on March 8, 2023.

Pope Francis: There is no option to be passive Catholics when it comes to evangelization

Mar 8, 2023

By Courtney Mares

“Every baptized person … whatever his position in the Church or level of education in the faith, is an active... Read more

Pope Francis baptized 13 babies in the Sistine Chapel on Jan. 8, 2023.

Pope Francis: Celebrate the date of your baptism like a birthday

Jan 8, 2023

By Courtney Mares

On the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on Jan. 8, the pope baptized 13 babies and presided over... Read more

Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck of Essen, Germany.

Women commissioned to confer baptisms in German Catholic diocese

Mar 15, 2022

By CNA Staff

Essen is the 1st diocese in Germany to take the step. Read more

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Phoenix priest who botched baptisms for decades apologizes, seeks to make amends

Feb 7, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

A Catholic priest in Phoenix has apologized, asked forgiveness, and resigned as parish pastor after a determination that he had... Read more

Fr. David Hudgins, a priest of the Diocese of Lansing who died in a car accident Jan. 3, 2022.

The Final Dispatch of Father Hudgins, a Lansing priest who died in a road accident

Jan 12, 2022

By CNA Staff

Father David Hudgins, a priest of the Diocese of Lansing, penned an article for publication in his parish bulletin shortly... Read more

A baptismal font in St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, Austria.

Adults from Afghanistan, Iran, prepare to be baptized as Catholics in Vienna

Oct 22, 2021

By CNA Staff

Some have had ‘very deep religious experiences.’ Read more

Baptism.

Godfather ban: Sicilian Catholic diocese suspends naming of godparents at baptism for 3 years

Oct 20, 2021

By Courtney Mares

A decree issued by the archbishop of Catania came into full effect this month. Read more

Filipino children pray during a March of Saints.

Philippine Catholic Church inks documents with nationalist Church for reconciliation, common baptism

Aug 5, 2021

By Jose Torres, Jr.

The Church leaders vowed that through “spiritual ecumenism,” they would encourage joint activities in prayer services, such as the celebration... Read more

Pope Francis baptizes a child in the Sistine Chapel on Jan. 12, 2020.

Pandemic forces Pope Francis to cancel annual baptism ceremony in Sistine Chapel

Jan 5, 2021

Pope Francis will not baptize babies in the Sistine Chapel this Sunday due to the coronavirus pandemic.  Read more

Cardinal Osoro baptizes a child Sept. 27 in Madrid.

Children who faced abortion baptized in Spain

Oct 8, 2020

Fourteen children whose mothers considered abortion were baptized last month in Madrid by the city’s archbishop, Cardinal Carlos Osoro.  Read more

Bishop Michael Olson.

Fort Worth Bishop Olson apologizes for ‘horrible effects’ of invalid baptisms

Sep 18, 2020

By JD Flynn

An Oklahoma City priest who discovered he was invalidly baptized as a child received that invalid sacrament from a deacon... Read more

Fr. Zachary Boazman, left, after the baptism of a baby, right.

Invalidly baptized Oklahoma priest baptized and ‘re-ordained’ 

Sep 16, 2020

By Mary Farrow

In the second known instance in the United States, a man who believed himself to be a validly baptized Catholic... Read more

My baptism was valid...right?

Aug 24, 2020

By Jonah McKeown

Last week, the news broke that Father Matthew Hood of the Archdiocese of Detroit had this summer learned that he... Read more

Pope Francis ordains 10 men to the priesthood May 7, 2017.

Detroit man thought he was a priest. He wasn't even a baptized Catholic

Aug 22, 2020

By JD Flynn

Father Matthew Hood of the Archdiocese of Detroit thought he became a priest in 2017. He hadn't even been baptized.  Read more

A 12th-century baptismal font at Collegiate Church of St. Bartholomew, Liège, Belgium.

Catholic Church in Belgium sees rise in adult baptisms

Aug 22, 2020

The Catholic Church in Belgium has reported a significant rise in adult baptisms.  Read more

Pope Francis, December 13, 2019.

Pope Francis baptizes conjoined twins separated in Rome

Aug 10, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis has baptized twins who were born conjoined at the head and were separated at the Vatican’s pediatric hospital.  Read more