Hubert Wolf, Professor of Church History at the University of Münster, is calling for a clearer distinction between “pope” and “pope emeritus”. According to Wolf, there are fears that “around Francis and Benedict XVI two competing power centres could come into being in the curia, with pope and antipope at the top of each.” The Read more
The Vatican is calling for a renewed commitment to ensure the world’s fishers and their families are not isolated and exploited. “Fishing is recognized as one of the most dangerous professions in the world with hundreds of lives lost at sea every year and many more affected by occupational hazards, (and) Fishers can be easily exploited, Read more
The return of €23m to the Vatican Bank marks a turning point in being accepted again by Italy’s banks. After blocking the funds in a 2010 money laundering investigation, an Italian bank returned the money last week. The Vatican Bank, whose official name is “Institute for Works of Religion” (IOR), said in a statement, the return of Read more
Catholic Church leaders in the Philippines will seek to limit expenses for Pope Francis’ January visit to the country to US$1.5 million. The move is in response to concerns from the Vatican over the potential cost of the visit in a country where millions of its citizens live below the poverty line. Cardinal Luis Antonio Read more
At Mass on 21 November in St. Martha’s House, the Pope spoke out strongly against priests, lay people and secretaries who serve in the Church acting like businessmen. “The people of God cannot forgive this. “Price lists for baptism, blessings, Mass intentions need to go. “Churches must never become businesses. “Ever. “God’s redemption is free. “Always”. Pope Francis Read more
Pope Francis tenderly embraced children with autism spectrum disorders, some of whom avoided meeting his gaze, during an audience Saturday aimed at offering solidarity to people living with the condition. The pope urged governments and institutions to respond to the needs of people with autism to help break “the isolation and, in many cases also Read more
The Vatican has lifted the ban on the ordination of married men to priesthood in Eastern Catholic churches outside their traditional territories. The lifting of the ban allows married men in Eastern Catholic churches to be ordained in the likes of the US, Canada and Australia. Lifting the ban also does away with the provision that Read more
The man who tried to assassinate John Paul II wants to meet Pope Francis during the Holy Father’s November 28-30 visit to Turkey. “I had met with a pope before. It is quite normal to meet with him (Pope Francis) as well,” said gunman Mehmet Ali Agca in a written statement. In mentioning his first papal meeting Agca Read more
In modifying a 1972 essay on divorced and remarried Catholics, Pope Emeritus Benedict may be breaking his retirement vow to not the play an active role in Church affairs. In 1972, Fr Joseph Ratzinger originally wrote that marriage was indissoluble in the eyes of the Church, but if a “second marriage has proven to have Read more
The US bishops elected a solidly conservative team to represent the US Church at part two of the Synod in 2015. The decision, reported Monday, comes in the wake of what they see as a confusing part one of the Synod held in October 2014. The US Bishops are of a view that the October 2014 Synod sent Read more