VATICAN CITY (CNS) – In a move reflecting both his drive to reform the Vatican bureaucracy and his oft-stated desire to include laypeople in the leadership of the Church, Pope Francis established a new panel – to include almost as many lay members as clerics – to oversee the finances of the Holy See and […]
International News
Flight Into Egypt: Event Hits Home with Immigrants (with slideshow)
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio joined a largely African Igbo congregation at St. Fortunata Church, East New York, to celebrate the model of an immigrant family: Joseph, Mary and Jesus, in flight to Egypt. “As immigrants, all of you understand this great mystery of faith,” Bishop DiMarzio said addressing the congregation. The bishop quoted from “Exsul Familia […]
Ireland to Reopen Its Embassy at the Vatican
DUBLIN (CNS) – Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin welcomed an Irish government decision to reopen a Vatican Embassy just over three years after closing it. Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore announced Jan. 21 that Ireland was preparing to open a scaled-back embassy but gave no date for the reopening.
Spain’s Bishops Back Abortion Restrictions
MADRID (CNS) – A Spanish bishop urged medical personnel to stop performing all abortions, even though the Church has backed new legislation that would still allow abortion in cases of rape. “Those who assist with abortions are seen as automatically excommunicated because the Church wants to defend the weak,” said Madrid Auxiliary Bishop Juan Martinez […]
Pope Renews Argentine Passport and ID Card
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis is the sovereign of Vatican City and has a Holy See passport. But even dressed in papal white, Jorge Mario Bergoglio is an Argentine citizen with a brand new passport and national identity card. “The pope wanted to continue having normal Argentine documents,” said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican […]
Pope: Love Means Always Saying You Are Sorry
by Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Greeting thousands of engaged couples on the feast of St. Valentine, Pope Francis told them not to be afraid of building a permanent and loving relationship in a culture where everything is disposable and fleeting. The secrets to a loving and lasting union, he said, include treating each […]
Pope Says God Is Not a Sorcerer
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis met for the third time in late February with his international Council of Cardinals, an eight-member group advising him on the reform of the Vatican bureaucracy and other issues. The meetings focused on financial and bureaucratic matters even as the council was rumored to be working on a draft […]
Pope: Mass Is More Than Just a Habit
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Going to Mass and receiving the Eucharist should make a difference in the way Catholics live, Pope Francis said; they should be more accepting of others and more aware of their sinfulness. “If we don’t feel in need of God’s mercy and don’t think we are sinners, it’s better not to […]
Queen Elizabeth to Visit Pope
MANCHESTER, England (CNS) – The Queen of England will visit Pope Francis at the Vatican in April, Buckingham Palace announced. A Feb. 4 statement said Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, will meet the pope on April 3. The queen and prince will visit Rome at the invitation of […]
Petition Urges Pope to Condemn Death Penalty
Religious sisters and pro-life advocates have launched a petition drive to urge Pope Francis to call for an end to capital punishment in the U.S. and to personally intervene in the case of a prisoner in Indiana. The Sisters of Mercy and Cherish Life Circle, a pro-life advocacy group founded by the religious community, launched […]