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National & World News
Pope Francis changes structure of Vatican doctrinal office

by Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Feb 14, 2022 / 04:35 am Pope Francis on Monday reorganized the internal structure of the Vatican’s doctrine office into two sections — the latest step in his ongoing reform of the Roman Curia. In a letter issued motu proprio (of his own accord) on Feb. 14, …
The Rome church where you can venerate St. Valentine’s skull

by Hannah Brockhaus Rome, Italy, Feb 14, 2021 / 02:00 am MT (CNA).- When most people think of romantic love, a third-century skull crowned with flowers probably does not spring to mind — nor the story behind it. But a visit to an unassuming Byzantine basilica in Rome might change …
Invalid baptisms: A Catholic explainer about the facts and the fears

by Kevin J. Jones Denver Newsroom, Feb 11, 2022 / 17:19 pm Baptism involves a simple formula: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” The celebrant pours water on the head of the baptized, or immerses them in water. Usually, Catholic clergy …
Catholic athlete Sarah Escobar makes history at Winter Olympics

by Katie Yoder Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Feb 12, 2022 / 11:48 am When Sarah Escobar packed her bags for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, she included a memento from her mother: a stone carved with the word “Faith.” “Sarah’s mom said she gave it to her, and Sarah holds it …
Milwaukee priest named USCCB associate general secretary

by Christine Rousselle Washington D.C., Feb 11, 2022 / 15:00 pm Fr. Paul Hartmann, a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, has been named the Associate General Secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, it was announced Thursday. He will assume his new role in May 2022. “I …
Vatican: Number of Catholics worldwide rose by 16 million in 2020

By CNA Staff Vatican City, Feb 11, 2022 / 13:00 pm The number of Catholics worldwide increased by an estimated 16 million in 2020 to 1.36 billion, according to statistics released on Friday by the Vatican. The rise was in line with global population growth in the year that the coronavirus …
5 fascinating facts about the apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes

by Francesca Pollio Denver Newsroom, Feb 11, 2022 / 03:00 am On Feb. 11, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. In Lourdes, France, in 1858, thirteen-year-old Bernadette Soubirous was collecting pieces of wood as part of her daily chores when she noticed a startling wind …
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR THE THIRTIETH WORLD DAY OF THE SICK

“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Lk 6:36). Standing beside those who suffer on a path of charity Dear brothers and sisters, Thirty years ago, Saint John Paul II instituted the World Day of the Sick to encourage the people of God, Catholic health institutions and civil society …
Chicago archdiocese announces new groupings from parish mergers

by CNA Staff Chicago, Ill., Feb 10, 2022 / 12:46 pm As part of its “Renew My Church” initiative the Archdiocese of Chicago recently announced 12 new parish groupings. By July, the archdiocese will have 221 parishes. The 12 groupings, formed by parish mergers, were announced between Jan. 20 and …
How Benedict XVI’s resignation changed the papacy

by Andrea Gagliarducci Vatican City, May 30, 2016 / 05:32 am When Pope emeritus Benedict XVI resigned as pontiff three years ago, he added a new dimension to the papacy, said his personal secretary Archbishop Georg Ganswein. Archbishop Ganswein remains prefect of the Pontifical Household. He works closely with both …