Vatican City: Pope Francis and Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi discussed the importance of protecting the Christian presence in the Middle East during a meeting at the Vatican on July 1. According to a Vatican press release, the roughly 30-minute private meeting included conversation about Pope Francis’ visit to IraqContinue Reading
Rome: A Vatican judge has ordered 10 people, including an Italian cardinal, to stand trial for alleged financial crimes. Cardinal Angelo Becciu has become the highest-ranked cleric in the Vatican to be indicted over charges that include embezzlement and abuse of office. The 73-year-old cardinal, who denies wrongdoing, was forcedContinue Reading
By Devin Watkins Rome: As preparations get underway for the World Meeting of Families (WMF) set to take place on June 22-26, 2022, Pope Francis is urging Catholics around the globe to take part in the 10th edition of the event. In a video message released on July 2, theContinue Reading
Vatican City: Pope Francis has delivered pallium to 34 archbishops, including four from India. The pallium symbolizes an archbishop’s unity with the Pope and his authority and responsibility to care for the flock the pope entrusted to him. The Pope blessed the palliums after they were brought up from theContinue Reading
By Inés San Martín Rome: Pope Francis has sent a short, hand-written note to American Jesuit Father James Martin thanking him for his “Outreach LGBTQ Catholic Ministry” webinar, held with 1,000 people taking part. “I want to thank you for your pastoral zeal and your capacity to be close toContinue Reading
Vatican City: Ahead of the Vatican’s day of prayer for Lebanon on July 1, a senior Vatican official has expressed concern that the potential collapse of the country could jeopardize the Christian presence in the Middle East. Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s equivalent of a foreign minister, said June 25Continue Reading
Vatican City: Pope Francis on June 22 appointed 12 new members of the Vatican’s highest court, the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, including Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark. American Cardinal James Harvey, archpriest of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, and Bishop Mark Bartchak of the DioceseContinue Reading
By Hussein Yassine Beirut: Pope Francis has received a wooden crucifix made from debris collected in the aftermath of the Beirut Port explosion. The crucifix was created by Mario Khoury using the shattered wood of the doors and windows of the Maronite Archdiocese of Beirut, which was heavily damaged duringContinue Reading
By chhotebhai Kanpur: Is Pope Francis actually getting through to India? Is his message coming across? The indices are to the contrary. Has any bishop in India written a pastoral letter on papal documents like Vos Estis Lux Mundi (promulgated on 7/5/19), regarding clerical sexual abuse; Fratelli Tutti (3/10/20) onContinue Reading
Vatican City: Pope Francis on May 31 described basketball as “a sport that lifts you up to the heavens.” He made the remark during a May 31 audience with members of the Italian Basketball Federation, basketball’s governing body in Italy, which is celebrating its centenary. He said: “I would likeContinue Reading
