Iranian cleric pleads with pope to help end U.S. sanctions
IMAGE: Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Citing the increasing loss of lives to COVID-19 and a lack of medical resources, an Iranian cleric has urged Pope Francis to do what he can to help get U.S. sanctions against Iran lifted. "Without judging the root causes of …
Passing the time in lockdown: Sisters sew face masks
IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit By Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) — While most of the work at a religious order’s general headquarters continues in lockdown, a group of Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit found an additional activity where they could use their hands, …
‘Every man for himself’ is not a solution to pandemic, pope says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Soe Zeya Tun, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As more and more countries start to feel the economic pinch due to the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis urged business leaders to seek solutions that will not hurt employees and their families. "Each (country) must find …
Pope prays for people in financial difficulty because of pandemic
IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis offered prayers for everyone, particularly families, facing financial difficulties because of the pandemic. "Let us pray today for people who are beginning to experience economic problems because they cannot work due to the pandemic, and all of …
Pope Francis: As humanity trembles from pandemic, let us unite in prayer
By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Mar 22, 2020 / 07:05 am (CNA).- Pope Francis has asked Christians around the world to unite in praying the Our Father prayer at noon on March 25 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. “In these days of trial, while humanity trembles at the threat …
Coronavirus in the Holy Land: How Catholics in the Jerusalem patriarchate are coping
By Andrea Gagliarducci Jerusalem, Mar 20, 2020 / 11:30 am (CNA).- As Easter is approaching, the Holy Land is enduring tough times: the sacred sites are shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic, and pilgrimages have come to an end. These events “meaningfully impact our religious communities, especially for the …
Pope announces extraordinary ‘urbi et orbi’ blessing March 27
IMAGE: CNS photo/Alberto Lingria, Reuters By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis said he will give an extraordinary blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world) at 6 p.m. Rome time March 27. The formal blessing — usually given …
Two Roman convents isolated as 59 religious sisters test positive for coronavirus
By Hannah Brockhaus Rome, Italy, Mar 20, 2020 / 11:53 am (CNA).- Two convents, one in Rome and one in a town nearby the capital city, have been isolated as the majority of religious sisters in the communities tested positive for COVID-19. According to Italian news agency ANSA, 59 sisters …
A Franciscan friar is DC’s first known coronavirus fatality
By Jonah McKeown Washington D.C., Mar 21, 2020 / 04:07 pm (CNA).- A Franciscan friar is the first person known to have died as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the District of Columbia. Br. John-Sebastian Laird-Hammond, OFM, was hospitalized with the virus last week, and died Friday, the Washington …
Xavier University goes the extra mile to connect with students
Cincinnati (OH) – In the wake of the coronavirus, Xavier University has taken extraordinary steps to connect with every Xavier student. “It became very clear to us that we needed to act swiftly in the best interest of our students and to make resources available for students and their families,” …
