Hundreds of homeless families in Victoria, Australia, who have been staying in state-funded hotels during lockdowns will be found a permanent place to live. Housing Minister Richard Wynne says the state government’s $66-million investment will go towards supporting 250 families, including 400 children. They will be able to stay in hotels after next February’s cut-off Read more
The Vatican has announced it will give dioceses more time to complete local consultations ahead of the 2023 Synod on Synodality. Dioceses are likely to welcome the extension as synod organizers have urged them to include “all the baptized” in the consultation process, not only churchgoers. “Special care should be taken to involve those persons Read more
In the longest ever meeting between a pope and a US President, Pope Francis and Joe Biden spoke in private on Friday for 75 minutes, with Biden saying to Francis, “You are the most significant warrior for peace I’ve ever met.” It was clear to officials and media in Rome that Mr Biden came to Read more
Jérôme Lejeune – who dedicated his “scientific genius” to serving children with Down syndrome and their families, was a servant of life, love and truth, says Aude Dugast. He was like “a fourth Wise Man,” offering his gifts of intelligence and medical and scientific know-how to a vulnerable child who “was waiting for him,” she Read more
On Friday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in met Pope Francis, presented him with a cross made from barbed wire, and urged him to visit North Korea. Moon, a Catholic, was in Rome for the G20 summit of world leaders and held private talks with the pope for about 25 minutes, the Vatican said. The cross Read more
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced Sunday she has tested positive for COVID-19. Last week, President Biden travelled to Europe for a meeting with Pope Francis, the G20 summit, and the COP26 climate talks. In a statement, Psaki said she remained in the United States because members of her household tested positive for COVID-19, Read more
Vatican City is providing a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with priority given to the vulnerable and those over 60 years of age, a press release said Wednesday. The city state’s health and hygiene office started administering the third dose in the second half of October, according to a Vatican statement. The Vatican has Read more
Indigenous leaders say Pope Francis must be ready to deliver an apology for the Catholic Church’s role in residential schools if he visits Canada. “An apology is the beginning,” said Cowessess First Nation Chief Cadmus Delorme. “An apology is required, and the rebuilding of a relationship would follow the apology.” The Saskatchewan First Nation made Read more
The Samoan Government is preparing to repeal the controversial law introduced by the previous administration in 2018 to tax church ministers. The Minister of Customs and Revenue, Tuala Ponifasio, has been instructed to consult with the church ministers – as is required for any amendments to laws. Removing the tax was an election promise by Read more
Four years after Pope Francis modified canon law around translating the Mass, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, 22 October, published an executive decree formalizing the new process. Key in the decree is an emphasis on one of the fundamentals of communication; that people need to be able to understand what is being Read more