It seems no sooner than all Covid restrictions have been lifted from Catholic churches – the sneeze-proof face mask, the empty holy water stoup, the contactless signs of peace, that a selection of lurgies have made themselves known. The rising number of Covid cases, hospitalisations and deaths suggest we could be in for another rough Read more
Known as the “Orlandi case” and, thanks to a recent television series, the case of the “Vatican Girl“, it is the saga of Emanuela Orlandi, a 15-year-old daughter of a Vatican employee who disappeared in Rome nearly 40 years ago. Since her father worked in the Prefecture of the Papal Household, she and her family Read more
King Charles’ May 6 coronation procession will be led by a cross containing religious relics gifted to the monarch by Pope Francis. The cross, named the Cross of Wales, contains two shards of the True Cross, which is said to have been used in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Royal Palace made the announcement Read more
In a Sunday address, Pope Francis made a heartfelt plea to the world to pray for Sudan, urging the country’s warring military factions to set aside their arms and actively seek peace. “I am following with concern the events unfolding in Sudan,” he said on April 16 from a window overlooking St Peter’s Square. “I Read more
The marriage of Charles and Diana was never going to be successful, says former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey. Speaking on a new royal ‘docuseries’ the Church of England’s most senior cleric from 1991 to 2002 says he was ‘pitched in to help’ with Charles and Dianna’s marriage. In a frank discussion, he tells ITVXs Read more
Retired Catholic Bishop of Dunedin Colin Campbell has been appointed as the Interim Rector of Holy Cross Seminary in Auckland. Campbell is taking over from Father Mathew Vadakkevettuvazhiyil, who has left the seminary. Bishop Emeritus Campbell accepted the interim role until a permanent appointment is made, expected at the end of 2023. The appointment has Read more
The things that make you feel good in politics don’t necessary do good. But boy, are they morally satisfying. Legislating to stop hate speech. Using a “hecklers’ veto” to run Posie Parker out of town. Victories against hate. Job done. I’ve done my share. My student comrades were on a high after we heckled and Read more
Better homilies. Catholics all over the world are begging for them. A leading Catholic theologian says the need is clear. It’s expressed in a strong “lament” emerging from the “listening phase” of the Church’s global synodal process. Professor Anna Rowlands from Durham University says a strong, universal theme emerging from the listening phase was concern Read more
The validity of the Vatican’s Oceania Synod Continent phase of Pope Francis’ Synod on Synodality is being questioned by the report itself. “The Vatican’s fictional construct, a new continent it calls Oceania, may have been a step too far” a seasoned observer of Church politics told CathNews. The Vatican’s “Oceania Continent” occupies 33% of the Read more
The Vatican, Friday, pushed back hard, suggestions that 40 years ago John Paul II may have been involved in the disappearance of a 15-year-old girl and went out on the town with Vatican monsignors, looking for young girls to molest. Pietro Orlandi, the brother of a missing 15 girl, Emanuela Orlandi, made the allegation. However, Read more