An Indian priest abducted by gunmen in Yemen last month is safe and could be released soon, an Indian official told the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India. “[Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj] has assured us Father Tom is safe and negotiations are on for his release which could happen very soon,” said Father Joseph Chinnaiyan, deputy Read more
It’s an unconventional rendering of Jesus that was rejected years ago by top officials with two major Catholic cathedrals, yet it now sits in one of the world’s holiest sites. Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz was thrilled to receive an email a few days ago telling him his bronze sculpture, Homeless Jesus, has been installed inside Read more
The first chariot had red horses, according to the Bible. Well, this one has 101 horses. Another pope mobile has hit the auction block. The website Charitybuzz auctioned one of the Fiat 500s that toted Pope Francis around New York in September. Miles Nadal, an entrepreneur, businessman and philanthropist, says he paid $300,000 for the Read more
A Chinese bishop said the visit by German President Joachim Gauck to a cathedral in Xi’an on Holy Thursday should help the development of the church’s charity work. Bishop Anthony Dang Mingyan said he introduced the German president to the diocese’s charity works and described the general situation of Shaanxi province during the 50-minute March Read more
Pope Francis condemned the “rejection” of migrants during his traditional Easter message in the Vatican. “All too often, these brothers and sisters of ours meet along the way with death or, in any event, rejection by those who could offer them welcome and assistance,” said the pontiff on Easter Sunday. Pope Francis urge people to Read more
The fate of Father Tom Uzhunnalil, a Salesian priest kidnapped in Yemen, remains unknown even after media reports suggested that Islamist militants crucified the priest on Good Friday. “I have no confirmation that anything happened Good Friday,” Bishop Paul Hinder, head of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, told the Catholic News Service. The bishop Read more
Pope Francis has offered a special blessing for Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, founder of the largest Roman Catholic television network in the United States, who died on Easter Sunday. The cloistered Franciscan nun died at the age of 92 due to complications of a stroke. “She’s in heaven,” Pope Francis told members of Read more
Pope Francis condemned the attack on Christians celebrating Easter in Pakistan on Sunday. At least 74 people, 24 of whom children, were killed in the incident. The pontiff described the attack “reprehensible.” He said Easter “was bloodied by an execrable attack which massacred many innocent people, mostly families of the Christian minority.” “I appeal to Read more
The Archdiocese of Boston has agreed to settle with seven alleged victims of clergy sex abuse. Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, counsel of the claimants, said there were 16 settlements in all, including three with religious orders. The settlements total about $1 million, according to media reports. Garabedian said two settlements with religious orders have been reached Read more
Pope Francis is the most popular world leader according to a new opinion poll by WIN/Gallup. The survey, taken by 1,000 people in 64 countries respectively, puts the popularity of the Pope above US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as well as British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande. Read more