Posts Tagged
Courtney Mares
College of Cardinals asks for prayers ahead of May 7 conclave

By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Apr 30, 2025 / 09:23 am The College of Cardinals on Wednesday called on Catholics around the world to pray for them as they prepare to enter the conclave next week to elect the next pope, acknowledging the “enormity of the task ahead” in choosing the …
Carlo Acutis and the four popes

By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Apr 27, 2025 / 08:00 am The unexpected death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, April 21, postponed the much-anticipated canonization of Carlo Acutis, the Italian teenager who captivated a generation of young Catholics with his love of the Eucharist and passion for technology. Now, as …
Pope Francis’ funeral: A global farewell to a humble shepherd

By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Apr 26, 2025 / 05:03 am More than 400,000 people filled St. Peter’s Square for the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday as the world said goodbye to the first Latin American pope who led the Catholic Church for the past 12 years. Under the bright Roman …
Vatican postpones Carlo Acutis canonization following Pope Francis’ death

By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Apr 21, 2025 / 08:20 am The Vatican announced Monday that the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis has been postponed following the death of Pope Francis. “Following the death of Supreme Pontiff Francis, notice is hereby given that the Eucharistic celebration and Rite of Canonization of …
Pope Francis declares Sagrada Familia basilica architect Antoni Gaudí ‘venerable’

By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Apr 14, 2025 / 10:30 am Pope Francis on Monday declared Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí “venerable,” bringing the designer of Barcelona’s iconic Sagrada Familia basilica one step closer to sainthood. The Vatican announced April 14 that Pope Francis has formally recognized Gaudí’s “heroic virtue,” a key …
Pope Francis appoints Bishop Lewandowski as new bishop of Providence, Rhode Island

By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Apr 8, 2025 / 09:40 am Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Bruce Lewandowski as the new head of the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island, the Vatican announced Tuesday. Lewandowski, 57, currently serves as an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. He will be installed in …
‘Go to Joseph’: What popes from Blessed Pius IX to Pope Francis have said about St. Joseph

By Courtney Mares Rome Newsroom, Mar 19, 2025 / 04:00 am The proclamation of the Year of St. Joseph by Pope Francis in December 2020 coincided with the 150th anniversary of the saint’s proclamation as patron of the universal Church by Blessed Pius IX on Dec. 8, 1870. “Jesus Christ Our …
Why the Church has celebrated the Chair of St. Peter feast for 1,600 years

By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Feb 22, 2025 / 11:00 am Every year on Feb. 22, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, a tradition that dates back more than 1,600 years. The feast honors not just a physical chair but what it represents: the authority …
Elon Musk’s brother pitches jubilee year drone show in Rome

By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Jan 28, 2025 / 11:30 am Kimbal Musk, entrepreneur and younger brother of Elon Musk, met with Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri over the weekend to propose a drone-based musical light show for the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee, according to Italian media. Donning his signature cowboy hat, …
Pope Francis ‘deeply saddened’ by New Orleans attack, offers prayers

By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Jan 2, 2025 / 09:40 am Pope Francis offered his condolences after 15 people were killed in New Orleans when a U.S. Army veteran drove a pickup truck with an Islamic State flag into a crowd celebrating the New Year. The pope sent a condolence message …