The head of the Chaldean Catholic Church issued a petition on Jan.14 calling on Iraqi Catholics to pray at Sunday Masses that Pope Francis will be able to visit their country for the upcoming papal trip in March.
International News
In Clergy Killings in El Salvador, a Priest Who Knew Them Asks for Justice
In his 28 years as a priest in El Salvador, Father Manuel Acosta has witnessed his share of violence. He lived through the killings of Catholic clergy, men and women religious, catechists and countless lay ministers persecuted during the country’s civil conflict in the 1980s. He has also lived through decades of gang aggression against El Salvador’s poor.
COVID-19 Pandemic Increasing Persecution of Christians, Report Claims
Anti-Christian persecution is on the rise, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report.
Popes Francis, Benedict Receive Their First Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine
Both Pope Francis and retired Pope Benedict XVI have received the first dose of the vaccine against COVID-19 after the Vatican started vaccinating its employees and residents Jan. 13.
Queens Parishioners Fundraise to Help Croatians Affected by Earthquake
On Dec. 29, 2020, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck Petrinja, Croatia, and surrounding areas — killing seven people, injuring at least 26, and damaging homes, churches, and other buildings. The earthquake was reported as one of the country’s strongest in history and parishioners from Most Precious Blood Church wanted to offer their support.
Popes Francis, Benedict XVI in Line for Vaccination Against COVID-19
The Vatican began vaccinating its employees and residents against COVID-19 Jan. 13, giving priority to its health care workers, security personnel, employees who deal with the public and older residents, employees and retirees.
For Ash Wednesday, Vatican Asks Priests to ‘Sprinkle’ Ashes on Heads
The Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments asked priests to take special anti-COVID-19 precautions this year when distributing ashes on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, including sprinkling ashes on the top of people’s heads rather than using them to make a cross on people’s foreheads.
Venezuela Bishops Call for Change in Political Leadership
At the closing of the plenary assembly of the Venezuelan bishops, the prelates released a pastoral exhortation calling for a change in the political leadership and denouncing the “violent repression” by the government of those demanding the respect of human rights.
Pope Francis Says He Was ‘Astonished’ by Violence at Capitol
Pope Francis offered prayers for the people of the United States “shaken by the recent siege on Congress” and prayed for the five people who lost their lives “in those dramatic moments” when protesters stormed the Capitol Jan. 6.
Pope Francis Amends Canon Law so Women Can be Installed as Lectors, Acolytes
Recognizing “the gifts of each baptized person” — women and men — Pope Francis ordered a change to canon law and liturgical norms so that women could be formally installed as lectors and acolytes.