The Vatican press office says a document it is releasing about the papacy could have far-reaching consequences for relations between Christian churches. They say the hot-off-the-press document will be released sometime today, New Zealand time. The document Entitled “The Bishop of Rome – Primacy and Synodality in Ecumenical Discussions and Responses to the Encyclical Ut Read more
Pope Francis is slowing down his liturgical schedule this summer as he prepares to head out on the longest international trip of his pontificate in September. According to the official schedule published this week by the master of papal liturgical ceremonies, the 87-year-old pope will not have any public Masses for eight weeks in July Read more
The film “Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist” scored big at the box office, grossing $2,141,273 and landing at the No 1 spot in per screen average for all three days of its initial release. According to Fathom Events, the film’s distributor, the movie is Fathom’s highest-grossing documentary of 2024 and is currently in Read more
Parishioners subdued a teenager with a gun who entered a Louisiana church during a service for dozens of young children, a spokeswoman said Tuesday. Officials in the Catholic diocese are weighing new safety protocols, including the possibility of someone carrying a firearm at services, after Saturday’s confrontation at St Mary Magdalen Church in Abbeville, a Read more
Pope Francis encouraged priests to seek out those who are “invisible” in society and he warned against “ideologies” in the church. According to Italian news reports, one of the ideologies he specified was a gay culture, referring to it, however, by using the same derogatory slang term in Italian that he reportedly used in a Read more
Ukraine has experienced a surge in religious growth since February 2022. The number of registered religious organisations has climbed by over 3,000, according to Kyiv’s State Service on Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience. The increase brings the total number of religious organisations in Ukraine to 36,195. A key change is the movement of around 1,000 Read more
World Youth Day (WYD) 2023 in Portugal ended with a record surplus of around €35 million (NZ61.7m). This financial success, announced by Cardinal Américo Aguiar, the event’s chief organiser, marks the highest recorded in WYD history. WYD 2023 attracted over 400,000 pilgrims. This number significantly exceeded expectations, contributing to the robust financial outcome. The result Read more
Catholics must understand financial systems in order to influence fiscal policy positively, says Pope Francis. During a meeting on 3 June with participants of a sustainable finance conference, the Pope emphasised the need for Catholic social teaching to critique, comprehend and improve financial structures. The Church’s social teaching to serve as a “compass” in this Read more
Reports concerning Pope Francis’s homophobic comment keep hitting headlines. Francis reportedly used a homophobic word when he discussed the question of gay candidates for priesthood with Italy’s bishops on May 20. The official Church position is that they should be barred from ministry if they are sexually active. Francis’s word for “sexually active” was reported Read more
Young Catholics are creating a stir in Ireland. Catholic youth groups are experiencing a resurgence. Hundreds of young Catholics are being drawn to faith-based activities and community service, the word from youth groups says. Hope is in the air Bishop Fintan Gavin of Cork and Ross says the resurgence makes him feel hopeful. “I am Read more