A cardinal who was tipped as a possible successor to Pope Benedict XVI has spoken of “signs” from the Holy Spirit that led to the election of Pope Francis. Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the Archbishop of Vienna, said he had personally had two “strong signs” that Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was “the chosen one” in the Read more
The Vatican will take part for the first time this year in the Venice Biennale, a contemporary art exhibition with a reputation for avant-garde works. The theme of the Vatican’s pavilion, “Creation, Un-Creation and Re-Creation”, will have the aim of promoting modern dialogue on faith. It will use the first 11 chapters of the Book Read more
Major clothing retailers in the Western world are being urged to exercise more oversight of working conditions in the Asian factories where their garments are manufactured. Catholic social teaching is being quoted as the death toll in the Bangladesh tragedy of a collapsed garment factory rises above 1100. Bangladesh is the second or third largest Read more
Catholic and pro-life spokespeople have expressed concern at an announcement by United States scientists that they have successfully converted human skin cells into embryonic stem cells. Oregon Health & Science University scientists said they had used cloning techniques to create human embryos, 21 of whom they were able to sustain to the point at which stem Read more
Israel’s deputy foreign minister has issued an apology to the Coptic Orthodox Church after a Coptic priest was beaten by police during Holy Saturday observances at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Police confronted pilgrims outside the church on May 4, as thousand of Christians arrived for Easter celebrations, according to the Orthodox Read more
The May 1 appointment of Kim Daniels as the first lay media relations officer for the president of the US Catholic Bishops signals the beginning of a new phase in media relations for the US Catholic Bishops. The appointment, which has surprised some, was foreshadowed last year by US Bishops’ President, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, when he Read more
Pope Francis has a general policy of not administering Communion to members of the congregation at the public Masses he celebrates. Though the Pope has give no explanation for this practice, Vatican journalist Sandro Magister has come up with the reason: He does not want to give unrepentant sinners a photo opportunity. Magister said the Read more
Pope Francis is facing the challenge of a Puerto Rican archbishop who is refusing to obey a Vatican call for his resignation. Archbishop Roberto Gonzalez Nieves of San Juan has not confirmed that he has been asked to step down as leader of the Catholic Church in the United States island territory. But, after local Read more
A campaign by a pseudo-Catholic group from the United States to promote condoms to Kenyans has been condemned by the country’s Catholic bishops. The group called Catholics for Choice says its billboard and newspaper advertising campaign gives “an authentically Catholic message”. The “Good Catholics Use Condoms” advertisements show a smiling couple with the wording: “We Read more
He recites the liturgy of the Mass from memory with all the appropriate gestures. He even gives homilies. And he’s only three years old. Samuel Jaramillo, an orphan who lives with his grandmother and aunt in the city of Medellin, Colombia, has become an Internet hit since family members posted YouTube videos showing him pretending Read more