“A special thanks to those who, with courage, keep us informed about humanity’s wounds,” the pope on Sunday in St Peter’s Square. He paid particular tribute to journalists who have died or been jailed in the line of duty, defending a free press and praising those in the media who courageously report on “humanity’s wounds”. Read more
World
Anglican leader apologizes to Canadian residential school survivors for church’s role
Thursday, May 5th, 2022The head of the Anglican Communion told a gathering of Canadian residential school survivors Saturday he was sorry for the church’s role in the “terrible crime” that was committed. The Rev. Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, visited the James Smith Cree Nation and heard stories shared by residential school survivors. “It was the church Read more
Indigenous peoples, spirituality and Catholicism
Monday, May 2nd, 2022
“For a long time, I have been interested in how the faith of indigenous peoples is expressed,” says Father François Paradis (75), an Oblate of Mary Immaculate (OMI) missionary in Canada. Paradis studied the traditional beliefs of the First Nations peoples for a long time before he began adding some of their elements – like Read more
Smell of the sheep in Ukraine is death and scorched homes
Monday, May 2nd, 2022
There’s no doubt suffering has its own unique smell and associations, a priest serving in Ukraine says. For him, the smell of burned homes and lives is tied to the metaphoric “smell of sheep”. Francis says priests need to learn what suffering smells like. It will be coming from human lives and they need to Read more
Catholic Church and Church of Scotland declare friendship
Monday, May 2nd, 2022
Scotland’s Catholic bishops and the leader of the Church of Scotland have agreed to a Declaration of Friendship in a monumental agreement more than 100 years in the making. The declaration speaks of the shared faith and common ground that unites the Churches, saying “We recognise each other as brothers and sisters in Christ, and Read more
Parramatta diocese publishes Draft Synod Synthesis
Monday, May 2nd, 2022
Dioceses throughout Australia are progressing their Synod journey, with reports being prepared from the local consultation phase of the Global Synod on Synodality. Individuals and groups were invited to reflect on and respond to a series of questions across the Synod of Bishops’ three key themes: communion, participation and mission. The online portal for submissions Read more
Pell praises Pope’s reforms
Monday, May 2nd, 2022
The Vatican’s former treasurer, Cardinal George Pell, has praised Pope Francis’ reforms designed to improve transparency in the Holy See. Pell was speaking at “Real Estate and the New Evangelisation,” an event held in Rome on April 28. The cardinal addressed several questions raised by recent financial scandals in the Catholic Church. Francis’ reforms of Read more
Pope Francis asks for annual report on Church’s efforts to prevent abuse
Monday, May 2nd, 2022Pope Francis has asked the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors to produce an annual report on what the Catholic Church is doing around the world to prevent the abuse of minors and vulnerable adults. In an audience at the Vatican on April 29, the pope called on the commission to produce the annual Read more
Two Irish Catholic dioceses will soon be under the leadership of one bishop
Monday, May 2nd, 2022Two Catholic dioceses in Ireland will soon be under the leadership of one bishop, a representative of Pope Francis has told local Irish bishops. In a joint statement, Bishop Brendan Kelly of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora and Bishop Michael Duignan of Clonfert said that their two dioceses in the west of Ireland would be joined Read more