Mexican prison riot leaves 52 dead on day before pope arrives
IMAGE: CNS photo/Miguel Sierra, EPA By David Agren MEXICO CITY (CNS) — A prison riot in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey has claimed 52 lives, offering another example of the problems plaguing Mexico’s prison system and casting a pall over the arrival of Pope Francis in the country. Nuevo …
Pope pushes ‘door of mercy’ wider, sends missionaries to local parishes
IMAGE: CNS/Carol Glatz By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — After opening holy doors in Rome to begin the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis has now pushed those passageways even wider by sending forth hundreds of “missionaries of mercy” to every corner of the earth. Their special mission, he has …
Pope to priests: Year of Mercy means unpaid overtime, but God gives joy
By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis told Rome’s priests that offering God’s mercy during the jubilee year will mean lots of unpaid overtime. “I think this year there will be lots of overtime that will not be paid,” he said to laughter. “But the Lord will give …
Throwback Thursday: Consider receiving the print edition
February is Catholic Press Month, and as the primary Catholic media outlet in the region, The Catholic Telegraph has long served the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Subscribe to our print edition at no cost HERE. For today’s Throwback Thursday, we’re looking inward. Our history, as you can see from our website logo, …
New initiatives aim to help Catholics enrich prayer, giving during Lent
By WASHINGTON (CNS) — What do a new social media campaign, a new fundraiser and new features for a popular app have in common? Launched by different Catholic organizations for Lent, the three efforts aim to help Catholics enrich their Lenten prayer experience, sacrifice to help others in need and …
Pope sends off missionaries of mercy to help people open hearts to God
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis marked the beginning of the church’s Lenten journey by sending off several hundred religious and diocesan priests on their own special path as “missionaries of mercy” in local parishes. “Look upon your servants, Lord, that we are sending …
Pope, meeting Iraqi leader, urges work for reconciliation
IMAGE: CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Meeting Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, Pope Francis expressed his hopes that Iraq and other war-torn countries would have leaders strong enough to bring once-divided peoples together. “I wish for Iraqis and for all of us — for the …
Giving to the poor is part of jubilee year, pope says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Max Rossi, Reuters By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A jubilee year that does not open people’s wallets to share what they have with others is not a true jubilee, Pope Francis said. “This pope isn’t inventing that,” he insisted. “It’s in the Bible.” At his weekly …
Local Catholic football program participates in Stations of the Cross workout
SportsLeader, a virtue-based program for coaches based in Louisville, Ky., has come up with a Lenten challenge for high school athletic programs and at least one local school has accepted that challenge. The SportsLeader Stations of the Cross Workout capitalizes on the Lenten practice of reflecting on Christ’s passion with 14 …
Pope-patriarch meeting historic, observers say, but substance is key
IMAGE: CNS photo/Maxim Shemetov, Reuters By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — The planned Feb. 12 meeting in Cuba between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church will be a historic event, those involved in ecumenical relations agree, but they contend the proof of the pudding will lie …