Author Archive

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis has decided the next world Synod of Bishops at the Vatican, which will take place in October 2022, will have the theme: "For a synodal church: Communion, participation and mission." The Vatican announced the choice of "synodality" …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis did not recite the Sunday Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square March 8, but he did go to the window to wave and to bless the pilgrims who showed up anyway. The …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Dinuka Liyanawatte, Reuters By NEW YORK (CNS) — Over half of U.S. Catholics are "very concerned" about global Christian persecution, but this group accounts for 52% of Catholics today, compared to 58% in winter 2019 — a decline of more than 10%, according to a new poll. It …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The purpose of the Lenten journey is to spiritually retrace the journey of Exodus — from the desert to the mountain of God, a Jesuit theologian told top Vatican officials. Jesuit Father Pietro Bovati, secretary of the Pontifical Biblical …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Khalil Ashawi, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — For the next World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope Francis wants Catholics to focus on the pastoral care of people displaced within the borders of their own country and the church’s mission to serve them. The …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Junno Arocho Esteves By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican health clinic was closed temporarily after a person tested positive for the coronavirus, the Vatican announced. In a statement released March 6, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said services were halted "in order to sanitize the …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Dave Hrbacek, Catholic Spirit By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — In the last presidential election, some political pundits referred to the "Catholic vote," one that predicted Donald Trump’s rise to the presidency, and one that aligned in 2016 with the voting constituency that landed him the White House: …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Sean Gallagher, The Criterion By Sean Gallagher GREENCASTLE, Ind. (CNS) — Father John Hollowell cried as he sat in the confessional of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Greencastle. It was the summer of 2018 — a time when the tragedy of clergy sexual abuse surfaced again through …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Mussa Qawasma, Reuters By Judith Sudilovsky JERUSALEM (CNS) — The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem urged its faithful to cooperate with the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Health, following its order March 5 to close all schools, universities, mosques and churches, including the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd’s field. …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Jim Young, Reuters By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — Chief Justice John Roberts, accustomed to writing in-depth opinions on court cases, penned a rare statement March 4 denouncing remarks made earlier that day by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, at a rally outside the Supreme Court. …