Vatican City: Pope Francis announced December 27 a special year dedicated to the family, marking the fifth anniversary of the publication of his apostolic exhortation Amoris laetitia. In his Angelus address on the feast of the Holy Family, the Pope noted that March 19, 2021, would mark five years sinceContinue Reading
Vatican City: The Gospel of Matthew never details how many Magi came from “the East,” but it makes it clear they traveled to pay homage to “the newborn king of the Jews” and “offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Beyond their great monetary value, scholars say, the giftsContinue Reading
ROME: The Vatican’s doctrinal office issued a note Dec. 21 saying it is “morally acceptable” for Catholics to take vaccines against the coronavirus, in what appears an unprecedented effort to convince believers to inoculate themselves to help end the global pandemic. Addressing concerns that some of the new vaccines wereContinue Reading
Vatican City: Pope Francis on December 8 proclaimed a “Year of Saint Joseph” to mark the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. The year will last from December 8 this year to December 8, 2021. In a new Apostolic Letter entitled PatrisContinue Reading
Vatican City: Pope Francis will make a historic visit to Iraq in March, the Vatican said Dec. 7, the first ever by a pontiff and which will include a trip to Mosul. The 83-year-old has long spoken of his desire to visit the Middle Eastern country, although the Vatican saidContinue Reading
By Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City: People with disabilities must have access to the Sacraments and, as missionary disciples, the ability to be full and active participants in the life of their Catholic parish, Pope Francis has asserted. “Before all else, I strongly reaffirm the right of persons with disabilities toContinue Reading
Vatican City: The Vatican on December 3 announced that Pope Francis has established the Worldwide Prayer Network Foundation as an entity with canonical and Vatican juridical identity. Formerly known as the “Apostleship of Prayer,” the Worldwide Prayer Network works “to coordinate and animate the vast spiritual movement, always very dearContinue Reading
Vatican City: Pope Francis told the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople November 30 that he is confident that Catholics and Orthodox Christians will attain full communion. In a message to Bartholomew I on the Feast of St. Andrew, Pope Francis praised the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s efforts to promote Christian unity. “We canContinue Reading
Rome: Pope Francis on November 26 raised 13 new cardinals to the highest rank in the Catholic hierarchy and immediately warned them not to use their titles for corrupt, personal gain, presiding over a ceremony marked from beginning to end by the coronavirus pandemic. Two new “princes” of the church,Continue Reading
By Matters India Reporter New Delhi: Pope Francis has dismissed from priesthood the former spokesperson of the Catholic Church in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. “Now, with regret and pain I wish to formally communicate to everyone that by an official decree from our Supreme Pontiff Pope Francis,Continue Reading
