With Pope Francis midway into the sixth year of his pontificate, the percentage of U.S. Catholics who view him favorably, while still strong, is noticeably down.
International News
In Times of Hurt, Seek Healing of the Holy Spirit, Says Red Mass Homilist
At a time when the United States is divided by the pending confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and Catholics are roiling from clerical sex abuse scandals, Msgr. Peter Vaghi urged attendees at Sunday’s annual Red Mass to seek the Holy Spirit’s healing power.
Redemptoris Mater Receives Its Patron, New Seminarians
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio participated in a three-day convivence (retreat) for seminary candidates at the International Center of the Neocatechumenal Way in Porto San Giorgio, Italy, Sept. 6-9.
FIFA Called Upon to Help End Discrimination Against Copts
Last September, Fernando Sanz, the director of La Liga Middle East and North Africa, announced the launch of a youth academy in Egypt to train and scout Egyptian footballers for Spanish teams.
Pope Opens Much-Anticipated Synod on Young People
Pope Francis kicked off this month’s much-anticipated summit of bishops from around the world by saying he hopes both young people and the Church’s synod fathers can have “the capacity to dream and to hope” together.
Catholics Cautiously Watch As Orthodox Christians Split
As plans to establish an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church encounter complaints from Russia, Catholic leaders hope ecumenical ties will not be affected.
Wealthy Catholics to Target Cardinals with ‘Red Hat Report’
As U.S. bishops work to formulate an official response to clerical sexual abuse and cover-up, a new watchdog group backed by wealthy Catholics is seeking to take matters into their own hands.
Women Must Fight Against Clericalism to Heal Church
In response to current scandals, clericalism and the need for reform, Catholic women must take the initiative and make their voices be heard, according to a series of articles in a Vatican magazine.
Vatican Signs Agreement with China
Finally, the Vatican has done a deal with China, or rather with the ruling Chinese Communist Party that has been conducting an escalating program of repression against religion.
Pope Francis to Latvians: Faith Not ‘Curio of the Past’
What would Mary do? That was the question Pope Francis, in effect, asked Latvian Catholics gathered at their nation’s popular Marian shrine.