Catholic nuns who cited a Pope Francis climate-change encyclical to claim a natural gas pipeline on their property violates their religious beliefs waited too long to raise those concerns, a federal appeals court said on Tuesday rejecting their request for compensation. The Adorers of the Blood of Christ sisters claimed the pipeline built on their Read more
World
Russian ambassador confirms pope helped facilitate prisoner exchanges
Thursday, November 10th, 2022Russia’s ambassador to the Vatican confirmed Pope Francis helped facilitate recent prisoner exchanges with Ukraine and said the Vatican is ready to act as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia. The Italian news agency Askanews reported the ambassador, Aleksandr Avdeyev, said the exchanges of prisoners occur in accordance with the lists of military prisoners of Read more
Four days in Bahrain – papal visit highlights
Monday, November 7th, 2022
The Pope’s 39th Apostolic Journey was to Bahrain last week. It was his first visit to Bahrain and second to the Gulf. He was aiming to further solidify his outreach to the Muslim community and to offer support to Bahrain’s small Christian minority. Pope Francis and the King Francis’s first official engagement was a courtesy Read more
One in three Catholics want more from Gov’t on climate emergency
Monday, November 7th, 2022
As COP27 opens, one in three Catholics in the UK says the Government is doing too little to support poorer countries to tackle climate change. A YouGov poll commissioned by the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (Cafod) shows nearly six out of ten Catholics feel the Government has done too little to tackle climate change Read more
Sinful sermon lands priest in hot water
Monday, November 7th, 2022
An Irish Catholic priest has been reprimanded by his bishop for a sermon on sin, homosexuality, promiscuity, abortion and the ‘lunatic approach of transgenderism. “We rarely hear about sin, but it’s rampant, it’s rampant. “We see it in the promotion of abortion. .. in this lunatic approach of transgenderism,… in the promotion of sex between Read more
Women working in the Vatican have improved things
Monday, November 7th, 2022
Speaking to reporters on the plane returning from a four-day trip to Bahrain, Pope Francis, Sunday, praised the women he has appointed to managerial jobs in the Vatican. They have had improved things there, he said. One he mentioned by name was Sister Raffaella Petrini, who as the deputy governor of Vatican City is effectively Read more
Wheat flour shortage means no Communion hosts in Cuba
Monday, November 7th, 2022
The latest problem to come out of Cuba’s economic crisis is a wheat flour shortage. Besides all the usual wheat flour products the population can no longer access, the shortage means Communion hosts aren’t being made any more. “We inform all the dioceses that there are no longer hosts for sale,” the St. Teresa Discalced Read more
Look past mistakes and understand what we can become
Thursday, November 3rd, 2022
God always sees people’s potential, looking past mistakes and understanding what they can become, says Pope Francis. He told people gathered for the Angelus in St Peter’s Square on Sunday that Jesus always looks at us with love. If you feel your are “not up to the challenges of life and, even less, of the Read more
Rabbi gets Papal Knighthood
Thursday, November 3rd, 2022
A papal knighthood is a rare honour. Even more so is being honoured as a Papal Knight of St Gregory. Jewish Papal Knights of St Gregory are even rarer. The order, established in 1831, recognises personal service or unusual labour in support of the Catholic Church. Rabbi A. James Rudin, the longtime interreligious affairs director Read more
Parishes essential for growing in faith, community
Thursday, November 3rd, 2022
Pope Francis met with a group of young people and said that, despite COVID-19 weakening many parishes, parish life is irreplaceable and essential for the faith journey. The pope was addressing leaders of the young adult section of Italian Catholic Action, a parish-based programme of faith-building and social outreach. The parish is “the normal environment Read more