In what’s been described as his first real encyclical, RtoZ News reports the picture of Pope Francis kissing and blessing a severely disfigured man, is going viral on social media. Time calls the photo, “the most beautiful photo” and reminds readers that while we may not know the words the Holy Father prayed, calls the moment Read more
Pope Francis is asking youth to prepare for 2016 World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland by reflecting on the Beatitudes. As Catholic dioceses around the world prepare for the international World Youth Day, the Holy Father is asking the dioceses in 2014, to reflect on Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is Read more
The Vatican is planning to end the Year of Faith with an unprecedented display of St Peter’s relics. It is the first time in history, the bones, believed to be those of first Bishop of Rome’s bones will leave the Vatican Grotto and be on display for public veneration. Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president for the Pontifical Read more
The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on November 25. Details are not yet in place, however the meeting comes at a time when the Catholic Church seeks to improve ties with the Russian Orthodox Church. Relations between Russia and the Vatican have been fraught since the 1991 breakup Read more
Pope Francis wants action against modern forms of slavery including forced labour and prostitution, the Vatican said on Monday after a meeting of experts called by the pontiff to debate the problem. “Some experts believe human trafficking will overtake drug and arms trafficking in a decade, becoming the most lucrative criminal activity in the world,” Read more
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has told Catholics in the US not to take part in events in which the “seers” of Medjugorje promise apparitions of the Virgin Mary. The dramatic move comes prior to the release of the CDF’s final report on Medjugorje. US Papal Nuncio, on behalf of the prefect Read more
Retired Bishop Peter Liu Guandong of Yixian, former acting president of China’s “underground” Church community’s bishops’ conference, died on October 28 at the age of 94. A report by UCA News said the Vatican-approved bishop, who escaped house arrest and lived in hiding for the last 16 years of his life, was buried in secret Read more
A mortar round hit the apostolic nunciature in the Syrian capital, causing limited damage to the building and no casualties, the Vatican ambassador to Syria was quoted by a report on Catholic News Service. Archbishop Mario Zenari, the Vatican nuncio, said if the rocket had been launched just a half-hour later, he would have been Read more
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak assured Muslims that his government would continue to defend the name of “Allah” and uphold the position of Islam, even as it embraced the concept of moderation. In a message during the celebration of Maal Hijrah celebration, the Malaysian leader said that even as Malaysia upholds the Federal Read more
The Vatican is conducting a worldwide survey on how parishes deal with sensitive issues such as contraception, divorce and gay couples. The Vatican, through the survey, is asking bishops and parish priests around the world about local views on gay marriage, divorce and birth control ahead of a meeting of bishops next year to discuss Read more