Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of the Basilica of St John Lateran in Rome on Sunday, saying doing so was an “invitation to joy”. On the same day Holy Doors were opened throughout cathedrals and churches around the world to mark the start of the Year of Mercy. Pope Francis celebrated Mass at the Read more
Two hundred theologians have declared that reform of the Roman Curia must be widened to become reform of the whole Church. The theologians, from throughout the world, issued a declaration at the end of a theological congress in Germany earlier this month. The title of the gathering in Munich was “Opening the Council – Theology Read more
The postponement of Pope Francis’s visit to Milan next year has sparked speculation that the Pontiff is avoiding meeting Cardinal Angelo Scola. The Vatican press office announced that the papal pastoral visits to Milan and other Italian dioceses next year were postponed. The reason cited is the demands on the Pope’s schedule during the jubilee Read more
A US senator has called on Pope Francis to intervene over a Dominican Republic cardinal who made derogatory remarks about a gay US ambassador. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois took exception to what he called “hateful” attacks against openly gay ambassador James “Wally” Brewster. Earlier this month, Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez, 79, said Read more
Rome’s Lutheran pastor and many in his flock believe Pope Francis has opened the door for intercommunion between Catholics and Lutherans. Pastor Jens Kruse of Rome’s Evangelical Lutheran Church told the National Catholic Register that Lutherans has felt this door was closed “for an eternity”. But last month, during a visit to Pastor Kruse’s church, Read more
A health issue means Cardinal George Pell will not go to Australia this month to testify in person before a royal commission into child sex abuse. The cardinal, currently based at the Vatican, had been scheduled to appear before the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses into Child Sexual Abuse in Melbourne on December 16. But Cardinal Read more
The Vatican has denied reports that the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was involved in financial irregularities. Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi, SJ, confirmed investigations were being carried out in the CDF, led by Cardinal Gerhard Müller But the spokesman denied the cardinal’s involvement in any wrong-doing. “The superiors of Read more
The Pope’s advisory council of cardinals is to focus on the possible decentralisation of the Church’s structures. In a press release on Saturday, the Vatican announced this and gave an update on the council’s meeting last week. In their next meeting in February, the so-called C9 council, which advises the Pope on Church governance, will reflect Read more
A new Vatican document has affirmed that the Catholic Church does not support any institutional mission to convert Jews. Marking 50 years of Catholic-Jewish dialogue since Vatican II, the Pontifical Council for Religious Relations with Jews has published “The Gifts and Calling of God are Irrevocable”. The document states that Catholics are called to witness Read more
The Archbishop of Canterbury has said he would attend the gay wedding of one of his own children, despite his church opposing same-sex marriage. Archbishop Justin Welby said in an interview that if one of his five children asked for his blessing for a gay marriage, he would pray with them and attend the ceremony. Read more