By Tyler Arnold Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jan 29, 2024 / 14:40 pm Pope Francis suggested that the opposition to the Vatican’s approval of nonliturgical blessings for same-sex couples mostly comes from “small ideological groups” with the exception of Africa, which he said is “a special case.” “Those who vehemently protest belong …

By Matthew Santucci Rome Newsroom, Jan 26, 2024 / 12:00 pm Pope Francis on Friday clarified the Vatican’s position on same-sex blessings, affirming the recent declaration Fiducia Supplicans and emphasizing that “moral perfection” isn’t a requirement for receiving a blessing. The Dec. 18, 2023, document, published by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the …

By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Jan 21, 2024 / 10:00 am Pope Francis announced the start of a Year of Prayer on Sunday in preparation for the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year. In his Angelus address, the pope said that a Year of Prayer starting on Jan. 21 will be “a …

By Matthew Santucci Rome Newsroom, Jan 17, 2024 / 09:12 am In a continuation of his catechetical series on vice and virtue, Pope Francis on Wednesday dedicated his general audience to highlighting the difference between love and lust, arguing that “in Christianity, there is no condemnation of the sexual instinct.” Centering …

By Matthew Santucci Rome Newsroom, Jan 12, 2024 / 10:30 am Pope Francis this week called for cooperation between Christians and Marxists as a way to achieve greater “dialogue” and help in the search for the “common good.” “I thank you for your commitment to dialogue,” the pope said in a …

By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Jan 8, 2024 / 12:13 pm A Vatican official has said that he thinks the Catholic Church’s priestly celibacy requirement in the Latin rite should be revised. Archbishop Charles Scicluna, who serves as the archbishop of Malta and is an assistant secretary at the Vatican’s Dicastery …

By Jonathan Liedl Vatican City, Dec 25, 2023 / 08:33 am On the birthday of the Prince of Peace, Pope Francis called for an end to war in the Holy Land and throughout the world as well as the arms trade that fuels it. Delivering his annual “urbi et orbi” Christmas …

By Jonathan Liedl Rome Newsroom, Dec 18, 2023 / 15:22 pm The Vatican has issued new guidance on the topic of blessings of same-sex attracted people, stating that Catholic priests can bless same-sex couples as an expression of pastoral closeness without condoning their sexual relations. The ruling, which also applies to …

With the Declaration “Fiducia supplicans” issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, approved by Pope Francis, it will be possible to bless same-sex couples but without any type of ritualization or offering the impression of a marriage. The doctrine regarding marriage does not change, and the blessing …

By Courtney Mares Rome Newsroom, Dec 14, 2023 / 13:50 pm The Vatican’s doctrine office published a letter on Thursday confirming that single mothers can receive Communion after going to confession and urging the need for further “pastoral work” in parts of the world where single mothers might still face harsh …