Pope Francis has invited bishops of the Ukrainian Catholic Church to the Vatican in July to find ways the church can best serve their people, peace and the Gospel.
International News
Venezuela Cardinal Calls Pro-Maduro Violence ‘Immoral’
Cardinal Jorge Urosa, former Archbishop of Caracas, Venezuela, says the local bishops strongly condemn what he called the “immoral” repression perpetrated by the government of Nicolas Maduro, which, according to the United Nations, has seen at least five people killed in the past few days, three of them minors.
Pope in the Balkans as Priest and Apostle
See The Tablet’s coverage of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Voyage to Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
Pope Urges Youth to Follow Mother Teresa’s Example
After a brief, whirlwind trip to Skopje, Pope Francis issued a summons to young people and consecrated, telling them to look to Mother Teresa as an example to keep dreaming, and of how big things can come in small packages.
Social Media a Boon to Satanic Groups, Exorcists Say
While much of the secular world reacts with alarm to a new United Nations report warning that up to one million species may be at risk of extinction due to human activity, it’s another kind of global threat that has the organizers of an annual Rome conference especially concerned this year.
Among Three New Books on Papacy, One Stands Out
Each of these three new books on the papacy is informative and interesting. “The Pope: Francis, Benedict, and the Decision That Shook the World” is by the author of the screenplay for a dramatic film with the same title being produced by Netflix. The co-authors of “The Papacy: What the Pope Does and Why It Matters” are a former Baptist who became a Catholic and a literature professor and deacon who spent eight years in a Catholic seminary. Gerard O’Connell, author of “The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Account of the Conclave that Changed History,” is an associate editor and Vatican correspondent for the Jesuit weekly magazine, America, as well as a reporter on the Vatican for various other English-speaking Catholic news outlets.
With Death Of Jean Vanier, Catholicism Loses A Living Saint
Vanier, who was 90, died from cancer Tuesday morning in a facility in Paris run by the L’Arche community that he founded in 1964. Upon hearing the news, Francis released a brief statement through a spokesman saying he’s “praying for [Vanier] and for the entire L’Arche community.”
Pope In Macedonia Praises Care For Migrants, Refugees
When Pope Francis landed in Skopje, North Macedonia Tuesday, he offered a different tone than his visit to neighboring Bulgaria, praising the nation for their welcome of migrants and refugees.
Shrinking Swiss Guards Implored By Pope To Embrace Diversity
For at least the past six centuries, there’s always been a spirit of “We Few, We Proud,” about the Swiss Guards, the small but elite military force, with their signature multi-colored uniforms and timeless halberds, responsible for the personal security of the pope.
In Bulgaria, Pope Tells Migrants They Carry A ‘Cross For Humanity’
On his second day in Bulgaria, Pope Francis made an early morning visit to a refugee center, thanking children and families for their joy despite the pain of leaving their homes and the difficulties of integrating into another culture.