Terrorists may be surprised at the loving, Christian message the General Bishop of the UK’s Coptic Orthodox Church has posted for them. Bishop Angaelos says he grieves for those who have died and for those who mourn them. He also grieves for the young men who see it as “not only justifiable, but glorious, to Read more
South Korea can be sure of Vatican support in reconciling differences with North Korea. “You are always welcome,” South Korea’s Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-jong was told when he asked if President Moon Jae-in could visit. Last month Moon, who is a practising Catholic, sent Archbishop Kim to the Vatican on his behalf. Kim is South Read more
The world’s oldest Sister, Candida Bellotti, has died at her Italian convent. She was 110. A professional nurse and since 1931 a “Camillian” – that is, a member of the Congregation of the Ministers of the Sick of Saint Camillus, Sister Candida lived under 10 popes. They were: Pius X (1903-1914); Benedict XV (1914-1922); Pius Read more
Religious places must be protected, say India’s Catholic bishops. They are concerned about the way “some of the fringe elements feel empowered” to destroy them. The bishops spoke out after a mob of more than 100 people attacked a church, breaking statues of Jesus, the Blessed Mother, a crucifix and damaging furniture in the newly Read more
Russian Catholics are reflecting on the past century since the revolution “in the light of faith and humanity’s ultimate redemption,” says Msgr. Igor Kovalevsky, secretary-general of Russia’s Catholic Bishops’ Conference. Read more
Pope Francis compared financial speculators to mercenaries when he visited an Italian steel factory on Saturday. He went on to demand dignity for working people. “Without work for all there will not be dignity for all,” he told several thousand workers at the factory. “The progressive transformation of the entrepreneur into a speculator is an Read more
Melania Trump confirmed a little known fact after meeting Pope Francis last week: she is a practising Catholic. The American First Lady said it was a meeting she will never forget. Francis blessed her rosary beads during the audience which she, her husband President Donald Trump, first daughter Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner attended. After her Read more
Belgium’s Catholic bishops have made a strong statement opposing euthanasia. They are responding to complaints that several Belgian Brothers of Charity-run psychiatric hospitals say euthanasia is allowed in its institutions. The Brothers care for about 5,000 psychiatric patients in Belgium. While acknowledging the pain a person suffering from a psychiatric illness can experience, it is Read more
A survey of 444 newly ordained priests in the United States shows they were closely connected to the church when they were growing up. The survey run by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University shows most of the new priests went to Catholic schools. Family example is another important factor Read more
An attack by masked gunmen on a busload of Coptic Christians traveling to visit monastery south of Cairo has drawn widespread condemnation and disgust. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack which “riddled the bus” with machine gun fire. Twenty eight people including children died in the attack. Another 22 were injured. At least one Read more