Bishops should be pastors — not princes, Pope Francis has emphasised in an address to papal nuncios, whose duties include sending to the Vatican the names of candidates for the episcopacy. The Pope said he wants these candidates to be “pastors who are close to their people, fathers and brothers, who are meek, patient and Read more
Catholic bishops in Brazil have given their support to the massive demonstrations sweeping across the nation, which Pope Francis is scheduled to visit during World Youth Day activities in July. Millions of Brazilians have taken part in protests over an increase in the cost of public transportation, the high costs of the 2014 World Cup, Read more
A strong media bias towards same-sex marriage in the United States has been revealed in a study conducted by the independent Pew Research Center. An analysis of reporting during a period when the issue was before the US Supreme Court found that stories predominantly supporting same-sex marriage outweighed those predominantly opposing it by 5-1. This Read more
The fact that millions of people face the danger of starvation in today’s world is “truly scandalous”, Pope Francis has told participants in a conference organised by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. “A way has to be found to enable everyone to benefit from the fruits of the earth … to satisfy the Read more
Exodus, an international Christian ministry dealing with faith and homosexuality, has closed down with an apology from its president for inflicting “years of undue suffering” on the gay community. Founded in 1976 by a gay man, Frank Worthen, Exodus functioned as a support group for men and women who were struggling with their sexual orientation. Read more
Catholics cannot hope to achieve unity with other Christians if they cannot be united themselves, Pope Francis has told a general audience. “How can we have Christian unity if we are unable to find unity among us Catholics? To have unity in our families? How many families are fighting? Seek unity,” he urged. Speaking to Read more
In his first decree pertaining to the liturgy, Pope Francis has approved the permanent inclusion of the name of St Joseph in all of the Eucharistic Prayers regularly used in the Latin rite of the Mass. The Congregation for Divine Worship issued the decree calling for the inclusion of St Joseph in Eucharistic Prayers II, Read more
Heavy flooding in southwest France has forced the closure of the Marian shrine at Lourdes, for the second time in a year. As hundreds of pilgrims were evacuated from nearby hotels, officials used sandbags and other barriers to minimise damage to the grotto where the Virgin Mary appeared to St Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. About Read more
Putting aside centuries of hostility and prejudice, Lutherans and Catholics have agreed to celebrate together the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in 2017. In a joint document — entitled From Conflict to Communion — the Vatican and the Lutheran World Federation said there is little purpose in dredging up centuries-old disagreements. The lengthy text Read more
When a parishioner was shot during Mass in Utah, the priest ducked behind the altar, parishioners behaved heroically, the injured man was cared for — and Mass went on. James Evans, 65, was shot in the head by his son-in-law while attending a Father’s Day Mass in St James the Just Church in Ogden, Utah. Read more