By Jonathan Liedl Rome Newsroom, Dec 18, 2023 / 15:22 pm The Vatican has issued new guidance on the topic of blessings of same-sex attracted people, stating that Catholic priests can bless same-sex couples as an expression of pastoral closeness without condoning their sexual relations. The ruling, which also applies to …

With the Declaration “Fiducia supplicans” issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, approved by Pope Francis, it will be possible to bless same-sex couples but without any type of ritualization or offering the impression of a marriage. The doctrine regarding marriage does not change, and the blessing …

By Tyler Arnold Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 12, 2023 / 11:36 am Under certain circumstances, it may be permissible for a Catholic to keep a small portion of a deceased loved one’s ashes in a personal place of significance if some conditions are met, according to the Vatican’s Dicastery for the …

By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Nov 27, 2023 / 06:05 am Pope Francis’ lung inflammation has caused him some breathing difficulties, but his condition is stable and “clearly improving,” the Vatican said on Monday. The 86-year-old pope is being treated with antibiotics intravenously and is in “good and stable” condition without …

By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Nov 15, 2023 / 05:40 am The Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) released a document on Wednesday reaffirming that Catholics are forbidden from becoming Freemasons. The new document signed by Pope Francis and DDF Prefect Cardinal Victor Fernández was written in response to a …

By Hannah Brockhaus Rome Newsroom, Nov 8, 2023 / 14:25 pm The Vatican’s doctrine office has said an adult who identifies as transgender can receive the sacrament of baptism under the same conditions as any adult, as long as there is no risk of causing scandal or confusion to other Catholics. …

By Matthew Santucci Vatican City, Nov 1, 2023 / 17:50 pm More than 1,000 pilgrims gathered in Rome for an annual three-day pilgrimage for those devoted to the Traditional Latin Mass held Oct. 27–29. The Summorum Pontificum pilgrimage takes its name from Pope Benedict XVI’s 2007 apostolic letter Summorum Pontficum, which granted …

By Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Oct 28, 2023 / 18:30 pm The Synod on Synodality, the monthlong assembly convened by Pope Francis at the Vatican, released its final document containing the discussion of several hot-button issues which it calls “controversial”: the idea of women deacons, optional priestly celibacy, and the accompaniment …

By Jonathan Liedl Vatican City, Oct 28, 2023 / 19:04 pm The Vatican’s nearly monthlong Synod on Synodality assembly, convened by Pope Francis, concluded this evening with members approving an ambitious text calling for greater “co-responsibility” among all believers in the evangelizing mission of the Church — and proposing concrete reforms …

By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Oct 4, 2023 / 04:15 am Pope Francis opened the Synod on Synodality’s three-week assembly on Wednesday with a call to remember that the Church exists to bring Jesus to the world and should face today’s challenges with a gaze fixed on God rather than “political …