In an important sense, formal Vatican diplomacy is an historical artifact arising from the immense worldly influence enjoyed by the popes and bishops in a largely Catholic society, in which the pope governed the Papal States and bishops and religious orders throughout Europe controlled extensive territorial holdings…
POPE FRANCIS TO CONFER NEW LAY MINISTRIES FOR FIRST TIME IN ST. PETER’S BASILICA
The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis will confer the ministries of catechist, lector, and acolyte upon lay men and
