By Matters India Reporter New Delhi: With the appointment of Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu to the Council of Cardinals (C 9), Pope Francis has selected two Capuchins among his seven close confidants. The Council of Cardinals, also known as the Council of Cardinal Advisers, is a group of cardinals ofContinue Reading
Manila: Pope Francis’ surprise endorsement of same-sex civil unions reverberated through the Catholic world October 22, with his comments prompting criticism but also support. The supporters included Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, the strongman leader of Asia’s largest Catholic nation. Even before the Pope’s comments, Duterte supported a law that wouldContinue Reading
Vatican:The Vatican and China have renewed a provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops for two more years, the Holy See announced Oct. 22. An Oct. 22 Vatican communique said that the Chinese government and Vatican authorities agreed “to extend the experimental implementation phase” of the two-year provisional agreement firstContinue Reading
Ghana: At least 17 worshippers were killed in eastern Ghana when a three-storey church building collapsed, local officials said Oct. 22, with more people feared trapped in the rubble. One survivor told local media that some 60 people were inside the building belonging to the Church of Prosperity when itContinue Reading
Rome: Pope Francis set the tone of his speech October 20 by recalling the historic Assisi Meeting desired by Saint Pope John Paul II on October 27, 1986, in which for the first time in Church history the Pope invited leaders of other religions to join him in prayer forContinue Reading
Colombo: Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) October 18 arrested a 43-year-old woman for posting an inflammatory video promoting religious hate between Buddhists and Catholics on social media. Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said the woman from Battaramulla was arrested for uploading a video to social media with malicious contentContinue Reading
Vatican City: The Holy See press office said Saturday a resident of the Vatican hotel where Pope Francis also lives has tested positive for COVID-19. The person has been temporarily moved out of the Casa Santa Marta residence and placed in isolation, the Oct. 17 statement said. Anyone who cameContinue Reading
Vatican City: Pope Francis October 17 accepted the resignation of the bishop of the Polish diocese of Kalisz who has been accused of shielding priests known to have sexually abused children. A Vatican statement said Bishop Edward Janiak had handed in his resignation and that the Pope had appointed ArchbishopContinue Reading
Vatican City: In a video message for World Food Day Oct. 15, Pope Francis expressed concern that tons of food is being thrown away while people continue to die for lack of food. “For humanity, hunger is not only a tragedy but it is also shameful,” Pope Francis said inContinue Reading
Vatican City: Pope Francis called for the laity to “take a step forward” in carrying out the Church’s mission of evangelization in a preface to a book written by an Italian bishop. “The time is now. The mission of the laity is not a privilege of a few and itContinue Reading
