By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Feb 18, 2022 / 06:30 am Pope Francis has advanced the sainthood cause of an Argentine cardinal who helped to organize the first World Youth Day celebrations. The pope confirmed a decree on Feb. 18 declaring that Cardinal Eduardo Francisco Pironio (1920-1998) lived a life of heroic …

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Jan 26, 2022 / 04:28 am At the beginning of the Catholic Church’s day of prayer for peace in Ukraine, Pope Francis made an earnest appeal to those in power: “Please, no more war.” “I invite you to pray for peace in Ukraine and to …

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Jan 25, 2022 / 05:49 am Pope Francis on Tuesday appointed two new auxiliaries for the Archdiocese of New York, one of whom will be one of the world’s youngest bishops. The Vatican announced on Jan. 25 that Father Joseph A. Espaillat and Father John S. Bonnici …

by Courtney Mares Rome Newsroom, Jan 20, 2022 / 07:05 am A pro-life group in France has denounced President Emmanuel Macron’s call to add abortion to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. “Advocating for the inclusion of a ‘right to abortion’ in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European …

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Jan 20, 2022 / 12:00 pm St. Irenaeus of Lyon is one step closer to being the first martyr to be declared a Doctor of the Church. Pope Francis met with the head of the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints on Thursday to discuss the …

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Jan 6, 2022 / 06:00 am On the Solemnity of the Epiphany, Pope Francis encouraged people to spend time in the presence of Christ in adoration, like the Magi. “Let us never forget this: the journey of faith finds renewed strength and fulfillment only when …

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Jan 5, 2022 / 04:20 am Pope Francis said on Wednesday that it is a civilizational loss when dogs and cats replace children in society, encouraging couples to “take the risk” to become parents. “The other day, I was talking about the demographic winter that …

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Jan 1, 2022 / 09:35 am On New Year’s Day, Pope Francis encouraged people to place their lives under the protection of Mary, the Mother of God. “The new year begins under the sign of the Holy Mother of God, under the sign of the …

by Courtney Mares Assisi, Italy, Dec 17, 2021 / 15:17 pm Saint Francis’ hometown of Assisi has once again been illuminated with Giotto’s frescoes this Christmas season. The frescoes from the interior of the Basilica of St. Francis are being projected each night onto the town’s churches from Dec. 8 …

by Courtney Mares Rome Newsroom, Dec 1, 2021 / 08:30 am Catholic bishops in the Netherlands have decided to cancel Christmas Midnight Masses once again this year as a precaution to stop the spread of COVID-19. The Dutch bishops announced on Dec. 1 that no Catholic Masses or other parish …