On Saturday, Pope Francis laid out a template for living the faith in the deeply secular culture of Belgium. Belgium is consistently rated as one of the world’s most secular societies, but Francis insisted that doesn’t mean we can stop trying to follow our template of service, mission and joy. “We have moved from a Read more
After an intensive eight-month certificate training programme, the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN) has graduated its first cohort of 56 young Digital Faith Influencers. The initiative aims to address declining Catholic membership in African countries and equip young leaders with digital evangelisation skills. Dr Linus Kweku Labik, a Ghanaian graduate, plans to target Read more
Evangelisation needs to take place where the people are. Doing so is succeeding beyond a UK archdiocese’s wildest expectations. The new “Some Definite Service” programme is working, say Catholics in the Southwark archdiocese. They say the programme is behind the 450 adults who completed the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) course this year. Read more
The Catholic Church in Nigeria is experiencing remarkable growth, positioning itself as a potential source of revitalisation for Catholicism in the West. Nigeria’s Catholic population is estimated to be 25 million, making up 10-15% of the country’s 220 million people. The country’s population is expected to soar to 350-400 million in the next 20 years. Read more
Fr Tomáš Halík, a renowned Czech theologian and philosopher, says the Catholic Church should shed the “heresy of triumphalism” and foster a more synodal approach to evangelisation in today’s secular climate. Halík recently participated in a synodal gathering convened by the Vatican, highlighting concerns over parish priests’ exclusion from previous synodal sessions and stressing the Read more
Monsignor Tomáš Halík, a prominent Czech theologian, has emphasised the importance of taking seriously those who report having no religious affiliation (‘nones’) and spiritual seekers. Halik recently visited Sydney and addressed various Catholic audiences, including educators, parish leaders and youth. He stressed that ‘nones’ and spiritual seekers are a growing demographic in Australia and other Read more
Catechumen and candidate numbers in Brisbane and Sydney dioceses are continuing to rise as hundreds of people are choosing to become Catholic. They – catechumens (those who have never been baptised) and candidates (who have been baptised, but not as Catholics) – will all become members of the Catholic Church this Easter. Numbers up In Read more
Cardinal Christophe Pierre has been apostolic nuncio to the United States since 2016 and, at Pope Francis’ request, he will continue in this role for the foreseeable future, he told America’s Vatican correspondent in an exclusive interview in Rome in early October. After graduating from the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, which trains Vatican diplomats, in 1977, Read more
Pope Francis, in his ongoing catechetical series on apostolic zeal, spoke about the example of Sts Cyril and Methodius, the ninth-century “apostles of the Slavs” whose mission was built on three pillars: unity, inculturation, and liberty. At the centre of the pope’s Oct 25 general audience was an emphasis on the relationship — and harmonisation Read more
The Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, Archbishop Charles Balvo, is upbeat about the changing role of the Church. “There are new opportunities to evangelise right in front of us”, he observed enthusiastically after visiting the Archdiocese of Brisbane. During his visit, he found himself alongside Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge aboard a helicopter flying high above a Read more