The Vatican has released a special stamp to commemorate Mother Teresa of Kolkata’s canonisation on September 4. The 95-cent stamp features a wrinkled but radiant Mother Teresa smiling in her blue-trimmed, white sari. Overlaid on the design by Patrizio Daniele is another image of her holding the hand of a small child. “Frail but equally Read more
Pope Francis has authorised the promulgation of the Decree on the recognition of the heroic virtues of the missionary Bishop Henri Baptiste Stanislas Verjus. Versus (1860-1892) was a member of the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He may now be called Venerable Henri Baptiste Stanislas Verjus. Bishop Verjus is recognised as one Read more
[Sunday]’s canonisation of Saint John XXIII and Saint John Paul II drew 800,000 people to Rome. I spoke with a small fraction of the massive crowd that filled the streets near the Vatican, but every one of them agreed: Two popes, two saints, two more reasons to be happy. Much of the commentariat – and Read more
Floribeth Mora Diaz fought back tears on Thursday (April 24) as she claimed that the late Pope John Paul II had saved her from an inoperable brain aneurysm three years ago. Mora will be on hand at Sunday’s historic ceremony in St Peter’s Square as Pope Francis canonizes both John Paul and Pope John XXIII, Read more
Every spring in Rome, the big production is normally the Easter Mass celebrated by the pope. This year Easter remains the spiritual linchpin, but in popular terms it’s more like a warm-up act for next Sunday’s double-play canonisations of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II. This will be the first time two popes have Read more