The Vatican says people must wear a face covering when they’re outdoors in the Vatican City State to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Bishop Fernando Vérgez, Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State, says face covering masks should be worn “in the open air and in all workplaces where distance cannot Read more
Pope Francis and Warren Buffett both blame free market policies for rising inequality. In his latest encyclical (Fratelli Tutti), Francis points out “The marketplace, by itself, cannot resolve every problem, however much we are asked to believe this dogma of neo-liberal faith. “Neo-liberalism simply reproduces itself by resorting to the magic theories of ‘spillover’ or Read more
This summer while cantoring during Mass, Margaret Hillman was overcome by traumatic flashbacks that caused her to have panic attacks while singing music by Catholic composer David Haas. Hillman’s flashbacks were triggered by a press release from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) that supported the reports that the advocacy group Into Read more
The accuser of Cardinal George Pell has denied bribery allegations regarding his complaint of abuse against the cardinal, after Italian media have reported the allegation that Cardinal Angelo Becciu might have wired money to Australia as a bribe during Pell’s trial. “My client denies any knowledge or receipt of any payments,” attorney Vivian Waller, who Read more
Moves to reinterpret the very foundations of human rights have left a Vatican representative to the United Nations “deeply concerned”. In a statement Oct. 6, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, said that the reinterpretation of human rights benefited the powerful at the expense of the weak. “The Read more
A Chinese bishop has resigned just weeks before the Vatican and Beijing are expected to renew a controversial agreement on appointments, saying he could not keep pace with changing times. Vincenzo Guo Xijin announced his resignation as auxiliary bishop at an evening mass in the eastern province of Fujian on Sunday, saying he did not Read more
October 4, Pope Francis signed his new encyclical, Fratelli Tutti during a visit to Assisi. The encyclical calls for a new kind of politics and emphasises social friendship as a way to build a more just and peaceful world. It encourages the contribution of all people and institutions and seeks to build a global movement Read more
There is no connection between the timing of Cardinal George Pell’s return to Rome and the recent resignation of Cardinal Angelo Becciu. Pell and Becciu were known rivals in the bid to reform the finances of the Holy See before Pell returned to Australia to face child sex abuse charges. “There is no connection between Read more
The economy of the Holy See should be transparent like a house of glass, says Vatican Secretariat for the Economy prefect Fr. Juan A. Guerrero SJ. He made the comment when the Secretariat released the 2019 balance sheet for the Roman Curia last Thursday. “We want the budget to explain how the Holy See uses Read more
The Vatican is defending its continued discussions with China about bishop nominations. Critics of the 2018 accord say Francis sold out the underground faithful. But the deal was – and is – necessary to the life of the Catholic Church in China, says Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. In the Holy See’s most Read more