Pope Francis holds up a box of “spiritual medicine” after praying the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Nov. 17. The box contained a rosary, a Divine Mercy holy card and a medicinal-style instruction sheet. The pope said the rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet are “a spiritual […]
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – For the first time, bones traditionally believed to be relics of St. Peter the Apostle will be displayed for public veneration in St. Peter’s Square Nov. 24, at a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis to conclude the Year of Faith. Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New […]
MANILA, Philippines (CNS) – International and local groups were poised to get aid to the worst-hit areas of the typhoon-stricken central Philippines, but the challenges of getting help to communities growing desperate for food and water went beyond just making sure roads were clear. For the Jesuits who wanted to help, security was the priority. […]
by Dennis Sadowski BALTIMORE (CNS) – New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan called upon his brother bishops to champion the cause of people around the world being persecuted because of their faith even as the bishops continue to prevent what he described as infringements upon religious practice in the U.S. In his final address as […]
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Bishops around the world are being asked to take a realistic look at the situation of families under their care and at how effective pastoral and educational programs have been at promoting Church teaching on sexuality, marriage and family life. The preparatory document for the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the […]
WASHINGTON (CNS) – The Vatican ambassador to the U.S. has reminded U.S. Catholics that the Vatican has not recognized alleged Marian apparitions in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina, as authentic. Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio, wrote to Msgr. Ronny Jenkins, general secretary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and told him the reminder came as one […]
After private meetings with prefects of Vatican congregations and presidents of pontifical councils in late October, six Catholic women philanthropists came away hopeful and encouraged, because they felt an openness to including more women in advisory and other roles in the Catholic Church. Kerry Robinson, executive director of the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management, […]
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis will create his first cardinals during a consistory Feb. 22, the feast of the Chair of St. Peter. The pope also is expected to use the occasion “to have a meeting with the cardinals for consultations” immediately before the ceremony, as retired Pope Benedict XVI did in the run-up […]
By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – A mortar round hit the apostolic nunciature in the Syrian capital, causing limited damage to the building and no casualities because of the early hour of the strike, said the Vatican ambassador to Syria. Archbishop Mario Zenari, the Vatican nuncio, told Vatican Radio Nov. 5 that if the […]
By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – After Pope Francis entrusted two Vatican academies to study the problem of human trafficking, a group of women religious asked the pope to raise greater awareness in the Church about the issue by establishing a worldwide day of prayer and fasting. “The pope was very interested in our […]
