When Pope Francis issued his motu proprio on liturgical translation (Magnum principium) in September, most of the commentary that followed was focused on the change in Canon Law this enacted, which strengthened the role of bishops’ conferences. The 2001 Vatican instruction on translation, Liturgiam authenticam, had strongly centralized authority in Rome and diminished the role of the bishops’ conferences. Read more
Although Pope Francis has handed control of translating the liturgy to bishops’ conferences, Cardinal Robert Sarah says the Vatican will still need to approve the translations. Sarah, who is the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, says the Vatican will continue to safeguard any changes and any new Read more
On Sunday Pope Francis created 35 new saints during a Mass in St Peter’s Square. In his homily, Francis referred to the Christian life as a “love story with God” and said “The Saints who were canonised today and especially the many martyrs, point the way.” Read more
“The death penalty is ‘inadmissible’ under any circumstance,” says Pope Francis. Speaking during the 25th anniversary of St. John Paul II’s revised publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Francis said the death penalty violates the Gospel and amounts to the voluntary killing of a human life, which “is always sacred in the eyes Read more
Pope Francis has changed Catholic Canon law – and met with some intense reactions. At stake here is the language used for the Mass and the question of who has the responsibility for translating the Catholic liturgy into regional languages. So why should this issue be so very controversial in the 21st century? Early history As a Read more
A call to action has followed last week’s World Congress on Child Dignity in a Digital World. The call is the fruit of the four-day congress that brought experts in child care, internet security, law enforcement, education and a host of other fields together in Rome. The delegates shared experiences and best practice to develop Read more
An Italian Jesuit says Pope Francis thinks the Church can no longer issue one general rules that apply to whole categories of people. Jesuit Fr. Antonio Spadaro who was one of the first people to interview Francis as pope in 2013, told a conference of bishops and theologians considering how to implement Amoris Laetitia that Read more
Pope Francis is arranging a youth summit for March next year so he can hear firsthand from young people before next September’s bishops’ synod. “The Church wants to listen to the voice, the sensitivity, of faith and also the doubts and criticisms of young people,” he says. The Vatican says it is inviting young people Read more
From the very first moments of his pontificate, Jorge Bergoglio signalled a departure in style from that of his immediate predecessors. His taking of the name Francis, his eschewing the full papal vestments, and his appeal to the masses gathered in Saint Peter’s Square below to pray for him, before imparting his own blessing, all Read more
Pope Francis has reappointed Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke to the Apostolic Signatura, the Vatican’s highest court. Burke had earlier served as a prefect of the court for six years. It is nearly three years since Francis removed him. Over that time Francis has removed or failed to reappoint Burke as a member of the Vatican’s Read more