by Francis X. Rocca VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Thieves reportedly stole a relic of Blessed John Paul II from a country chapel 85 miles east of Rome. Italian media reported that the relic, a piece of fabric soaked in Blessed John Paul’s blood, had disappeared over the preceding weekend from the church of San Pietro […]
by Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) – Meeting 80 immigrants assisted by members of a Rome parish, Pope Francis said leaving one’s homeland is always painful, but faith can give one the strength to keep going. “The faith that your parents instilled in you will help you move forward,” the pope told the immigrants at the […]
by Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) – A Pew Research Center study issued Jan. 14 shows another increase in hostility toward religion by most of the world’s 198 nations. The share of countries with a high or very high level of social hostilities involving religion reached a six-year peak in 2012, the study said. The share […]
by Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis will meet with U.S. President Barack Obama at the Vatican March 27, the White House announced and the Vatican confirmed. The spring meeting would be Obama’s second visit to the Vatican as president, but his first with Pope Francis, who was elected March 13, 2013. The […]
The Diocesan Haitian Apostolate gathered at Holy Innocents Church, Flatbush, on New Year’s Day for its traditional celebration of Haiti’s Independence Day. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio was the main celebrant of the Mass which was celebrated in French/Creole. Retired Auxiliary Bishop Guy Sansaricq was among the concelebrants, as was Father Jean Delva, coordinator of the Haitian […]
Pope Francis visits the Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square after leading an evening prayer service in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 31. Pope Francis said Rome, like all communities, will be more beautiful, hospitable, welcoming and kind in the new year “if all of us are attentive and generous toward whoever is […]
by Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Welcoming in a new year, Pope Francis said it was time to stop provoking and ignoring violence, tragedy and conflict in the world and begin building peace at home. “Justice and peace at home, among us – you begin at home and then you move on to all […]
by Dale Gavlak AMMAN, Jordan (CNS) – Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem welcomed the announcement of Pope Francis’ May visit to the Holy Land and said he hopes the pilgrimage will be a “cry for peace,” particularly for Palestinians, Israelis, Syrians and others beset by conflict. Pope Francis announced his first trip as pontiff […]
CAIRO (CNS) – In an unprecedented and highly symbolic move, Egypt’s interim President Adly Mansour paid a Christmas visit to the leader of the country’s Coptic Orthodox, Egyptian Pope Tawadros II. Previous presidents have extended Christmas greetings through presidential envoys or by phone. Mansour’s visit to Pope Tawadros’ papal seat in St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox […]
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – This new year will be brighter only if everyone steps outside their safe havens, gets involved and works together to solve local problems, Pope Francis said. May Mary “teach us to welcome God made man so that every year, every month, every day be overflowing with his eternal love,” he said […]
