Ireland’s former president wants Pope Francis to develop a credible strategy to include women at every level in the Catholic Church’s global structure. Mary McAleese says women’s exclusion from decision-making roles “has left the church flapping about awkwardly on one wing.” Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Pope Francis’
New saints including Blessed Pope Paul VI to be canonised
Thursday, March 8th, 2018
Blessed Pope Paul VI will be canonised a saint in October. The ceremony will take place at the end of the Synod of Bishops on youth and discernment, Cardinal Pietro Parolin says. The cardinals and bishops who are members of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes have voted to recognise a miracle where Blessed Paul healed Read more
PNG Earthquake: More die in powerful aftershock – Pope Francis sends his condolences
Thursday, March 8th, 2018
More than 100 people were killed in a magnitude 7.5 earthquake that struck Papua New Guinea on February 26. The exact toll from a magnitude 6.7 aftershock that followed just after midnight on Wednesday 7 March is unknown but at least 18 people are said to have died or been injured. On Tuesday Pope Francis Read more
Sexual abuse commission: working time with Pope needed
Thursday, March 8th, 2018Pope Francis’s clergy sexual abuse commission could be more effective in protecting children if the group were granted more time to work directly with him. It also needs resources to hold more in-person meetings each year, a former member says. Read more
Pope to join World Council of Churches anniversary
Monday, March 5th, 2018
The Vatican has confirmed Pope Francis will join the World Council of Churches 70th anniversary celebrations in June. The gathering will take place in Geneva. The World Council of Churches (WCC) includes 348 member churches across 110 nations. It is the largest umbrella group of Christian denominations in the world. Members include most Eastern Orthodox Read more
Five Years of Francis: The Keys to His Papacy
Thursday, March 1st, 2018
Pope Francis has been a remarkable pontiff by almost any measure, one who may well rank among the most consequential in the long and colorful history of the papacy. That judgment might even be shared by his detractors, if for different reasons from those of his far more numerous supporters, who welcome Francis’ passionate promotion Read more
Receiving communion on the hand: a diabolical attack
Monday, February 26th, 2018
Receiving communion on the hand is part of a diabolical attack, claims Cardinal Robert Sarah. Sarah, who is the Prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, wants Catholics to kneel and receive the Host on the tongue. He says this mode is “more suited to the sacrament. “Truly the war Read more
Pope makes Spanish nun new undersecretary
Monday, February 26th, 2018
A Spanish nun who had served as a missionary in South Korea will be the new undersecretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Pope Francis has appointed Sister Carmen Ros Nortes, a member of the Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation, to the role. The 64 year-old has Read more
Rome, bishops, people: Democratic Republic of Congo tensions rise
Monday, February 26th, 2018
The Catholic bishops in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have joined with many Catholics in the DRC and elsewhere in denouncing the government’s ongoing aggravation of the country’s socio-political crisis. They say the Church’s only concern is to contribute to the welfare of the entire Congolese people. Pope Francis has also raised his voice Read more
South Sudanese leaders – no peacemaking skills say bishops
Monday, February 26th, 2018Catholic bishops in South Sudan say the country’s leaders need help with peacemaking. They say the killings in South Sudan must stop. In their view South Sudanese leaders do not know how to make peace, are confused, traumatised and fear peace. Their comments were made the same day Pope Francis designated for global prayers for Read more