Thumping the armrest of his chair, Emeritis Pope, Benedict XVI smacked down conservative Catholics who failed to accept the legitimacy of Pope Francis. – Originally reported 4 March, 2021 Benedict called the conservative Catholics “fanatics”. Some hardline conservatives Catholics are unhappy with Pope Francis and have often voiced doubts about whether Benedict stepped down willingly. Read more
Abortion was one topic New Zealand student Seamus Lohrey quizzed the Pope on during an online forum last Thursday. – Originally reported 24 June 2024 He was one of 12 students from the Asia-Pacific region who shared young people’s concerns with the Pope during the online “Building Bridges” forum. Organised by Loyola University Chicago, the Read more
West Australian police’s interruption of a Catholic Mass last week for a mask check – to ensure compliance – has left parishioners concerned and Perth’s archbishop looking for a better way forward. – Originally published 10 February 2022. St Bernadette’s Catholic Church in Mount Hawthorn, Perth had to stop the Mass after a police officer Read more
The Catholic Church in New Zealand has pledged to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and Faith-based Institutions. – Originally reported 30 September 2024 On 27 September, in the most detailed statement to date from any Church or the State, Catholic Church leaders expressed deep regret Read more
A group of 500 young Catholics in Ireland have sent a jointly signed letter to the Synod Steering Committee. – Originally reported 11 August 2022. The Committee is responsible for gathering and summarising responses to questionnaires for the Irish Synodal Pathway. The young Catholics wrote that they love the Church’s teaching, but their voices have Read more
Pope Francis has revived his sex abuse advisory commission but without a Kiwi member. – Originally reported 19 February 2018 The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors sat for 3 years before its term expired two months ago. In freshening the commission Pope Francis added nine new people to its ranks, and re-appointed only Read more
Pope Francis welcomed the ceasefire in Lebanon and hoped that it would be respected by all parties, the head of the Catholic Church said on Sunday in St Peter’s Square. Francis is now making an urgent appeal to all Lebanese politicians “so that a president of the republic is elected without delay and the institutions Read more
New Zealand’s Jewish community has seen an increase in anti-Semitic incidents during the past 13 months, including death threats, and abusive behaviour. In a new report provided to the Herald by the New Zealand Jewish Council, figures showed in the 12 months from October 7, 2023, there were 227 recorded anti-Semitic incidents – a jump Read more
Pope Francis received members of the International Theological Commission on November 28 and emphasised the “need to put Christ back at the centre, and second, to develop a theology of synodality.” The Pope recalled that the year 2025 is a jubilee year dedicated to hope, as well as the 1700th anniversary of the Ecumenical Council Read more
Groups will be able to go inside the quake-damaged Christ Church Cathedral this Christmas – and there will be a massive surprise waiting inside for them. Visitors will be greeted by a 10m steel City Mission Christmas tree which has been placed inside the cathedral for the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ event. Bookings will be Read more