Pope Francis: Let’s focus on helping others this Christmas
Pope Francis gives the Angelus address on Dec. 19, 2021 / Vatican Media. Vatican City, Dec 19, 2021 / 06:00 am (CNA). A good way to get out of a cycle of self-pity or a negative mood is to help others, following the example of the Virgin Mary, … […]
Conversations between women in the Gospels
A Reflection for the Sunday of the Fourth Week of Advent
“Religious Track” fostering dialogue for unity in Cyprus
The Cypriot conflict is not a religious but a political one. And yet religion is being instrumentalized and misused in this context. This is emphasized in an interview with Vatican Radio by Salpy Eskidijan, the founder of “Religious Track”, an initiative that has been bringing the religious leaders of Cyprus to the table for the […]
Pope doubles down on quashing old Latin Mass with new limits
ROME — Pope Francis doubled down Saturday on his efforts to quash the old Latin Mass, forbidding the celebration of some sacraments according to the ancient rite in his latest salvo against conservatives and traditionalists. The Vatican’s liturgy office issued a document that clarified some questions that arose after Francis in July reimposed restrictions on […]
Priest convicted of stealing from churches appeals sentence
RAPID CITY, South Dakota — A former Rapid City priest convicted of stealing donations from Catholic churches is appealing his sentence. Marcin Garbacz’s attorney told Eighth Circuit appeals court judges Thursday that the priest was ordered to pay restitution for money that wasn’t necessarily stolen. But the prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Koliner, said the […]
Mask requirement for Boston Catholic churches in effect
BOSTON — A mask mandate for Catholic churches in the Boston-area is taking effect this weekend as Christmas approaches. The Archdiocese of Boston said masks will be required for all holiday Masses and other church services, including weddings and funerals. The mandate takes effect Saturday and expires on Jan. 17. Church officials, including deacons, readers, […]
Biden marks anniversary of 1972 car crash that killed wife
GREENVILLE, Delaware — President Joe Biden on Saturday commemorated the 49th anniversary of the car crash that killed his first wife and infant daughter, visiting their graves at the Saint Joseph on the Brandywine Catholic Church. Their deaths occurred just after Delaware voters elected Biden to the Senate in 1972 and the fatal car crash […]
Ex-hostages doing well, have left Haiti, mission agency says
All the former hostages from a U.S.-based missionary group kidnapped in Haiti have been flown out of the country after a two-month ordeal, the leader of their Ohio-based missions organization said Friday, as he also extended an offer of forgiveness to their captors. David Troyer, general director of Christian Aid Ministries, said in a video […]
Teen helps raise funds for COVID-19 vaccines with no abortion connection
PHILADELPHIA — Luke Luna, a junior at Martin Saints Classical High School in Oreland, Pennsylvania, has issued a video urging support for an online drive benefiting the John Paul II Medical Research Institute in Coralville, Iowa. Founded in 2006, the institute focuses on therapies and cures that use adult stem cells and induced pluripotent stem […]
Pope Francis’ 85th birthday party included lots of kids and cake
Pope Francis had a belated birthday celebration on Dec. 19 with children helped by the Vatican’s Santa Marta Pediatric Dispensary / Veronica Giacometti/CNA Vatican City, Dec 19, 2021 / 07:42 am (CNA). Pope Francis on Sunday joined a belated celebration of his 85th birthday, thrown by the children and families helped by the Vatican’s charitable […]