Poland finally opened a huge Catholic shrine on 11 November. What’s unusual is that it took over 200 years to complete from the time the cornerstone was laid. An invasion and two world wars were among the interruptions to the works. Read more
World
Poland finally opened huge Catholic shrine 200 years after cornerstone laid
Tuesday, November 15th, 2016Very Rev Dr Sheilagh Kesting named a Dame by Pope Francis
Tuesday, November 15th, 2016Very Rev Dr Sheilagh Kesting has been named a Dame of the Order of St Gregory the Great by Pope Francis. She is a former moderator of the Church of Scotland. She was awarded the honour for her ecumenical work. Read more
Mass for scientists
Tuesday, November 15th, 2016A Mass for scientists will be celebrated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) chapel today. It is the first time such a Mass has been celebrated. The Society of Catholic Scientists is a recently formed group of American Catholic scientists as well as undergraduate, graduate or postdoctoral students pursuing research in a natural science. Read more
17th-century painting looted from earthquake-damaged Italian churches
Friday, November 11th, 2016
A 17th-century painting looted from an earthquake-damaged village church in Nottoria has prompted Italian authorities to secure art before others are stolen or damaged. The painting, “Pardon in Assisi” was completed by French painter Jean Lhomme in 1631. The thieves cut the painting from its frame. The archbishop of Norcia and Spoleto, Monsignor Renato Boccardo Read more
Many human trafficking survivors owe lives to women religious
Friday, November 11th, 2016
Human trafficking survivors owe their restored lives and dignity to religious congregations in many cases, Pope Francis said at a meeting he had with women religious in Rome on Monday. The women were all members of RENATE (Religious in Europe Networking Against Trafficking and Exploitation). It was established by a group of women religious from Read more
US Catholic Bishops’ Conference president, the Pope and Trump
Friday, November 11th, 2016
US Catholic Bishops’ Conference president, Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, is looking forward to holding pro-life discussions with the new US President-elect. He also indicated in his congratulatory speech to Donald Trump that the Church is hoping to make some changes to policies affecting migrants and refugees. Kurtz set the tone for his congratulations early in his Read more
President Donald Trump – courtesy of Catholics, evangelicals and the poor
Friday, November 11th, 2016
President Donald Trump has been elected courtesy of Catholics, evangelicals and the poor according to US news analysts. Religion was a big player in this election. In a country where over a fifth of the population identifies as Catholic, the majority voted for Trump. This was a big swing from the previous two elections when Read more
Prayers for world peace from Vatican follow Trump’s win
Friday, November 11th, 2016
Prayers for world peace from the Vatican followed President-elect Donald Trump’s win at the polls. “May we make God’s merciful love ever more evident in our world through dialogue, mutual acceptance and fraternal cooperation,” Pope Francis tweeted from his Pontifex site. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who is the Pope’s Secretary of State, echoed Francis’s prayerful response Read more
Forget about the pulpit, start tweeting says Vatican official
Friday, November 11th, 2016
The Vatican’s top communications experts say tweeting and other social media is the way to go. Bishop Paul Tighe, a Vatican culture secretary, says they are finding people on Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat and other all-inclusive, non-denominational digital houses of worship. Tighe has been in Lisbon for Web Summit, Europe’s largest tech conference. Before he left Read more
Vatican permanent UN observer wants action to combat biological weapons
Friday, November 11th, 2016The Vatican permanent UN observer wants action to combat biological weapons. To do this, countries need to work together Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič says. Read more