Goa Church awaiting clarity on Pope Francis’ ‘India visit’
2016-10-05
In April, a delegation of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India had requested Narendra Modi to invite Pope Francis to IndiaContinue Reading
Pope surprises Italian quake survivors
2016-10-05
Amatrice: Pope Francis has made good on a promise to go to the central Italian region hardest hit by the devastating earthquake that struck in August. He arrived Tuesday without warning to console survivors and urge them to press forward. According to the Associated Press, the pontiff hoped to keepContinue Reading
Pope to ‘almost certainly’ visit India, Bangladesh in 2017
2016-10-03
Pope Francis announced on Sunday he would “almost certainly” visit India and Bangladesh in 2017, as he wrapped up a three-day tour in the Caucasus and headed home to Rome. Asked on board the papal plane what his plans for the coming year were, the Argentine pope confirmed he wouldContinue Reading
Disabled youth perform special dance for Pope Francis in Georgia
2016-10-03
Vatican City: Pope Francis was treated to a special presentation Saturday when young people, including several disabled youth in wheelchairs, performed traditional dances for him during his papal visit to Georgia Saturday. The performance took place during a meeting held outside one of the buildings of the Assistance Center ofContinue Reading
Pope Francis urges pastoral care for transgender people, draws line between ministry and ‘indoctrination’
2016-10-03
Aboard the Papal plane — Pope Francis says Jesus would never turn away transgender faithful and that priests today should accompany them spiritually, even if they undergo sex change operations, sin and repent. “These people must be accompanied as Jesus accompanied them,” he said. Francis drew a firm distinction betweenContinue Reading
Pope presses Georgian Orthodox agenda despite Mass absence
2016-10-03
Pope Francis’s efforts to improve relations with the Georgian Orthodox Church suffered a setback Saturday after the patriarchate decided at the last minute not to send an official delegation to his Mass and reminded the Orthodox faithful they cannot participate in Catholic services. Francis still pressed on with his agenda,Continue Reading
Pope Francis praises religious tolerance in Azerbaijan
2016-10-02
Pope Francis praised Azerbaijan on Sunday as a model for a world divided by violent extremism, sidestepping criticism of the government for the sake of encouraging religious tolerance in an often-volatile region where Catholics are a minority. Francis avoided direct mention of criticism in the West over allegations of humanContinue Reading
Pope Francis awards high medal to Janeth Mhella
2016-09-30
Janeth Mhella of Vatican Radio’s Africa Service became the first African ever at Vatican Radio to be honoured by Pope Francis for having served the Pope and the Church diligently in her work at the radio. Mhella, from the KiSwahili language Service, was handed one of Pope Francis’ highest awardsContinue Reading
Pope Francis meets with World Jewish Congress
2016-09-28
Pope Francis also spoke about migrants integrating into their new surroundings, which he called “important”Continue Reading
Vatican makes new rules for miracles in saint-making
2016-09-24
Vatican City: The Vatican issued new rules Friday for the process to determine if healings qualify as miracles for sainthood, including safeguards against possible financial abuses. The rules deal with how a panel of medical experts scrutinizes potential miracles. Pope Francis has expressed determination to ensure the sainthood process, whichContinue Reading