The Vatican will launch a year-long celebration of Laudato si’ on Sunday, to mark Pope Francis’s encyclical on the environment’s fifth anniversary. The “special Laudato si’ anniversary year” is an initiative of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. The Dicastery has organised events this week in the lead-up to the celebratory year, including several Read more
Public Masses have resumed in Rome, 10 weeks after they were closed because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Although public worship is permitted, additional safety protocols have been instigated to ensure any remaining coronavirus infection does not continue to spread. “To receive Communion again as a family was the culmination of our every prayer and Read more
France’s religious gathering ban must be lifted within eight days, says the French Council of State. The Council is France’s highest administrative court. Currently, all gatherings in places of worship are banned except for funerals, which are limited to 20 people. After receiving many complaints, the Council ruled on Monday that the ban on religious Read more
One hundred years ago Saint John Paul II – at that time Karol Wojtyla – was born. His birth was something of a miracle as his mother Emilia Wojtyla’s pregnancy with him was difficult and life-threatening. In a new book published in Poland, Milena Kindziuk describes how St. John Paul II’s mother was advised to Read more
Faith can prosper even when the only services available are online, a new Pew Research survey shows. Even though the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has seen places of worship in the United States – as elsewhere – close for several weeks, many have livestreamed their services online. In April this year the Pew Research Centre (via Read more
Muslims are helping Catholics, despite the constraints of the coronavirus pandemic, to rebuild a church building in northern Iraq, once ruled by the Islamic State. Islamic State that ruled Mosul from 2014 to 2016, damaged or destroyed every church in the city including the 19th century built “Our Lady of the Hour” Church, popularly called Read more
While most academic conferences have been cancelled or postponed this spring because of the coronavirus pandemic, one group of theologians is planning to go forward with its annual event—completely online. The College Theology Society (CTS) has moved its three plenary addresses, 42 workshops, the president’s address and even an abbreviated awards ceremony and business meeting Read more
Pope Francis joined an inter-faith day of prayer on Thursday to call on God to end the coronavirus pandemic, brushing aside criticism from ultra-conservative Catholic groups, with one accusing him of associating with “infidels”. A multi-faith committee formed after the pope’s historic visit to the Arabian Peninsula last year came up with the proposal that Read more
The small Middle Eastern nation of Qatar now has one of the world’s most strict coronavirus restrictions. Those who go out in public without a face covering now face up to three years in prison and a fine of about $40,000. The Gulf country made the announcement on Qatar state TV this weekend. Authorities have Read more
Bishop Edward Janiak of Kalisz ignored child sex abuse and shielded paedophile priests, a new documentary about paedophilia within the Polish Catholic Church claims. Tomasz and Marek Sekielsk’s documentary “Playing Hide and Seek”, went viral on YouTube after its release on Saturday. The documentary overshadowed centenary of the birth of popular Polish Pope, John Paul Read more