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Vatican Secretariat of State provides context of Pope Francis civil union remark
The Vatican’s Secretary of State has asked papal representatives to share with bishops some clarifications regarding comments on civil unions made by Pope Francis in a recently released documentary, according to the apostolic nuncio to Mexico. The clarifications explain that the pope’s... Read more -
‘He lived the Beatitudes’: Mass of Thanksgiving for Blessed Michael McGivney
At the Nov. 1 Mass of Thanksgiving for newly beatified Father Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus, Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore said McGivney provides a model for both priests and laypeople of how to “live the Beatitudes.” “Anyone aspiring to holiness will... Read more -
Cardinal Sarah says West must wake up to threat of Islamism after three killed at French Catholic church
Vatican Cardinal Robert Sarah said Thursday that the West must wake up to the threat of Islamism after three people were killed at a French church by an attacker shouting “Allahu Akbar.” The Guinean cardinal wrote on Twitter Oct. 29 that “Islamism is a monstrous fanaticism which must... Read more -
China’s Catholic Leviathan: Jesuits and the Sino-Vatican Agreement
On October 22nd, the Holy See Press Office announced that the Vatican has renewed its agreement with China’s state officials – the new expiration date of the agreement is October 22, 2022. The Vatican states: The primary objective of the Provisional Agreement regarding the appointment of... Read more -
Pope to Create 13 New Cardinals, Including Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington, D.C.
Pope Francis has announced that Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington, D.C. will be among 13 new churchmen to be elevated to the College of Cardinals at a cardinal-making consistory on Nov. 28 — the seventh of Francis’ pontificate. Nine of the new cardinal-designates are under 80... Read more -
What did Pope Francis say about civil unions? A CNA Explainer
“Francesco,” a newly released documentary on the life and ministry of Pope Francis, has made global headlines, because the film contains a scene in which Pope Francis calls for the passage of civil union laws for same-sex couples. Some activists and media reports have suggested that Pope... Read more -
On John Paul II’s centenary
Pope John Paul II prays during a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican in 2003. (CNS photo by Alessia Giuliani, Catholic Press Photo) As the world and the Church mark the centenary of the birth of Pope St. John Paul II on May 18, a kaleidoscope of memories will shape my prayer and... Read more -
Here’s why John Paul II said “Do not be afraid”
Renata Sedmakova | Shutterstock Throughout his 26-year pontificate, one of St. John Paul II’s most used phrases was, “Do not be afraid” (also phrased “Be not afraid”). Was that planned? How did it come about? John Paul II reflected on that phrase in the book Crossing the... Read more -
Polish bishop dies from the coronavirus
A Polish bishop died from COVID-19 Tuesday at the age of 83. Bishop Bogdan Wojtuś died at noon local time Oct. 20, according to a statement from the Archdiocese of Gniezno. Wojtuś, a retired auxiliary bishop of Gniezno archdiocese, was admitted to hospital on Saturday after... Read more -
St. Junipero Serra statue defaced, pulled down on California’s Indigenous People’s Day
A group of activists near San Francisco on Monday defaced a statue of St. Junipero Serra on private property with red spray paint before tearing it from its foundation. Serra, an 18th-century Franciscan priest and missionary, is viewed by some activists as a symbol of colonialism and of the... Read more