Struggle for justice for Aboriginal peoples, Australian bishops’ conference urges (Australian Catholic Bishops Conference)
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s Office for Justice, Ecology, and Peace has issued a statement for National Reconciliation Week, an effort to redress historic injustices against Australia’s indigenous peoples. “Many First Nations Australians were devastated” by the failure of the Australian Indigenous Voice referendum, according to the statement. “That should not be forgotten by anyone […]
Parents are ‘protagonists and primary architects’ of children’s education, Pope writes (Vatican Press Office (French))
In a message to participants in a conference organized by a French school parents’ association, Pope Francis wrote that “you are truly the protagonists and primary architects of your children’s education, but this task requires the help of the whole of society, starting with the school.” “A strong alliance between school and families allows the […]
Israeli Christians feel pinch as war discourages pilgrimages (CNA)
Tourism is down almost 80% in Israel thus far in 2024, according to the Ministry of Tourism. The month of May brought the highest religious holy days of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. But Jerusalem was quiet. Pilgrimages were cancelled after the outbreak of warfare in Gaza, and Israeli officials do not expect a revival until […]
Hong Kong cardinal urges forgiveness for Tienanmen Square massacre (CNA)
Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-yan of Hong Kong encouraged his people to “proactively forgive” the Tienanmen Square massacre, in a column for the diocesan newspaper. The cardinal’s column appeared just before the 35th anniversary of the massacre. Demonstrations commemorating the event, which had been held yearly in Hong Kong, were outlawed in 2020. Cardinal Chow wrote […]
Pope encourages homosexual rejected from seminary (Crux)
Just days after telling Italian bishops that homosexuals should not be admitted to seminary training, Pope Francis reportedly sent a message of sympathy to a homosexual man who protested after he was rejected. Lorenzo Caruso wrote to the Pontiff after his application was turned down, complaining that the policy reflected “a toxic and elective clericalism.” […]
Italian newspaper’s leaders meet with Pope, discuss Ukraine (Il Giornale (Italian))
Pope Francis received the publisher and editors of the Italian newspaper Il Giornale in a June 1 audience, in commemoration of the newspaper’s 50th anniversary. “Even today they make me work, but I confess a secret to you: if I don’t work I get bored,” the Pope said at the beginning of the 20-minute June […]
Over 1 million attend celebration for feast of Ugandan martyrs (Fides)
A massive congregation of over 1 million people—the Fides news service estimated the crowd at 4 million—participated in the June 3 celebration of the feast of St. Charles Lwanga and his companions at their shrine in Namugongo, Uganda. The shrine, located outside the capital city of Kampala, is built on the site where the Ugandan […]
Journalist explores new DDF members’ views on homosexuality (@EdwardPentin)
Pope Francis has appointed Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, and Archbishop Bruno Forte as members of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Each Vatican dicastery is led by a prefect and secretary; the members of dicasteries are appointed to five-year terms and meet at least every two years for discussion […]
Papal encouragement for Italian Christian Workers’ Associations (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Francis paid tribute to the Christian Associations of Italian Workers (ACLI) as thousands of members gathered in Paul VI Audience Hall to celebrate its 80th anniversary. The Pope praised the organization as “a place where it is possible to meet the ‘saints next door,’ who do not end up on the front pages of […]
Real Madrid, Europe’s best soccer team, offers championship trophy to Virgin of Almudena
By Santiago Tedeschi MADRID (OSV News) — The archbishop of Madrid received unusual guests June 2 as Europe’s best soccer team, Real Madrid, came to the Spanish capital’s St. Mary the Royal of the Almudena Cathedral to offer its championship trophy to Mary. The players arrived at the cathedral right after returning from London, where […]