With the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe closed for her feast to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Pope Francis said Catholics still can receive a plenary indulgence Dec. 11 and 12 for their Marian devotion if they follow certain conditions.
Pope Francis
‘Angels Unawares’ Called a Fitting Nativity for Brooklyn’s Immigrant Heritage
A duplicate rendering of “Angels Unawares” is touring the U.S., with a stop in Brooklyn to serve as the Nativity scene for the Diocese of Brooklyn in Grand Army Plaza of Prospect Park. Its unveiling is set for early Tuesday evening, Dec. 8, along with the annual Christmas tree lighting, also in the plaza.
Pope Francis Plans to Visit Iraq in March
Barring any obstacles caused by the global pandemic, Pope Francis is set to begin international travel again in 2021 by visiting Iraq in March, which would make him the first pope to visit this nation.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Did Not Lose His Voice, Says Archbishop Gänswein
Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the pope emeritus’ secretary, is denying media reports that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI lost his voice.
Pope Says Disabled Persons Have a ‘Right’ to the Sacraments
Pope Francis weighed into a long-standing debate about whether people with intellectual disabilities should be able to receive the sacraments Thursday, saying the disabled are members of equal standing in the Catholic Church and, as such, have the same right to the sacraments as everyone else.
New Bishop to Rely on Ministerial Approach to Lead the Diocese of Buffalo Through Challenging Times
In an introductory teleconference Tuesday morning, Dec.1, Auxiliary Bishop Michael Fisher of Washington emphasized the collaborative, cooperative, and communicative approach to ministry that he will bring to the Diocese of Buffalo as its new bishop.
Pope Creates 13 New Cardinals, Including Washington Archbishop
One by one 11 senior churchmen, including two U.S. citizens — Cardinals Wilton D. Gregory of Washington and Silvano M. Tomasi, a former Vatican diplomat — knelt before Pope Francis to receive their red hats, a cardinal’s ring and a scroll formally declaring their new status and assigning them a “titular” church in Rome.
New Date for Local WYD Suits Needs of Dioceses, Vatican Official Says
Pope Francis’ decision to move the local celebrations of World Youth Day from Palm Sunday to the feast of Christ the King addresses the pastoral needs of local churches, said Father Joao Chagas, head of the youth section of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life.
New Book Sketches Pope’s Dream for a Post-COVID World
In that brief intermezzo over the summer between what turned out to be the first and second great surges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pope Francis held a series of appropriately socially distanced, “virtual” conversations with his premier English-language explicator about what he believes needs to be done for the world to be better than it was before the crisis.
Pope Francis Meets With NBA Players’ Union Delegation at the Vatican
A delegation representing the National Basketball Players Association, a union representing professional athletes from the NBA, met with Pope Francis and spoke with him about their work in promoting social justice.