As many of the restrictions imposed early on by Italy to fight the COVID-19 coronavirus begin to be adopted elsewhere, the number of Catholics unable to get to Mass, or at least strongly discouraged from leaving the house to do so, is growing.
Pope Francis
After Italian Prison Riots Due to Coronavirus Clampdown, Pope Prays for Prisoners
As the number climbs of inmates who’ve died in Italian prisons amid riots related to the country’s coronavirus restrictions, and as the Vatican tightens its own controls, Pope Francis March 11 offered a prayer for prisoners suffering as the disease spreads.
Nine Priests From the Diocese of Brooklyn Are Named Monsignors
Nine priests of the Diocese of Brooklyn have been named monsignor, a title that is typically bestowed upon priests who have distinguished themselves.
Analysis: Despite Staying Home, Pope’s Vibe Still Will Be Felt During Lenten Retreat
Pope Francis was supposed to depart March 1 for his annual weeklong Lenten retreat with senior members of the Roman Curia. As has been custom since 2015, the get-away is being staged at a retreat center in the nearby hill town of Ariccia, about 45 minutes by car outside Rome.
Pope Skips Penance Service With Rome Clergy Due to Mild Cold
Pope Francis did not attend a traditional penitential service with priests of the Diocese of Rome due to a mild cold, the Vatican said.
Pope Condemns ‘Hypocrisy’ of Countries Calling for Peace While Funding War
Visiting the Southern Italian city of Bari, Pope Francis on Feb. 23 demanded government leaders protect minorities, particularly Christians.
Survivors Storm Rome to Mark Anniversary of Global Abuse Summit
This week, clerical abuse survivors from around the world have flocked to Rome to mark the one-year anniversary of Pope Francis’s global summit on child protection, which took place at the Vatican in February of last year.
Bari Trip Gives Pope a Chance to Help Save Christianity in the Middle East
During the Roman Empire, the entire Mediterranean region was known as Mare Nostrum,“Our Sea.” It was an imperial assertion of dominance, of course, but it also reflected the idea that the peoples of the Mediterranean are linked by geography and destiny, sharing a common fate.
Married Priests Debate Sparked By Pope’s Exhortation
The pope in his apostolic exhortation largely sidestepped the question of whether married men can become priests, but he made clear that it’s not happening now.
Pope Says New Vatican Finance Laws, Norms Are Working
The decade-long process of updating the laws of Vatican City State is part of the Vatican’s support for international commitments to protect people and safeguard vulnerable groups, who are “frequently the victims of new, odious forms of illegality,” Pope Francis said.