Pope Francis said seminarians and religious men and women need well-rounded formation throughout their lives, not only at the onset of their religious training. In his prayer intention for the month of May, released on April 30 by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, the pope described each vocation as a “diamond in the rough” needing Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Pope Francis’
‘Stop The War’: Pope Francis pleads for peace in Ukraine, Gaza wars
Monday, April 29th, 2024The pope issued a plea for an end to the wars raging in Ukraine and Gaza during a rare interview with CBS News on Wednesday. “Please. Countries at war, all of them, stop the war. Look to negotiate. Look for peace,” Pope Francis told “CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell during the hourlong interview. “A Read more
The inheritance of Anzac Day
Monday, April 22nd, 2024
Each year the eve of Anzac Day is given over to the International Day of Multiculturalism and Diplomacy for Peace. This year the conjunction is particularly apposite at a time when the air is full of wars and rumours of war. Wars – past, present and future Anzac Day recalls the generosity and death of Read more
A better world can’t be built lying on the couch
Monday, April 22nd, 2024
A better world can happen but change for the better will materialise only when people are out in the world, “not lying on the couch” said Pope Francis. The pope was talking to a group of Italian schoolchildren saying that each of them can help make peace grow. The youngsters were all involved in the Read more
Fiat 500L used by Pope Francis could sell for $100,000
Monday, April 15th, 2024
Fiat’s dowdy 500L isn’t exactly a champion regarding resale value; it’s easy to find a used example for less than US$10,000. And yet, auction house RM Sotheby’s is offering a 2015 Lounge model that could sell for up to US$100,000. While that’s a tremendous amount of money to pay for a 500L approaching its 10th Read more
Transgender inclusion? World’s major religions take varying stances on policies toward trans people
Monday, April 15th, 2024
The Vatican has issued a new document rejecting the concept of changing one’s biological sex. This is a setback for transgender people who had hoped Pope Francis might be setting the stage for a more welcoming approach from the Catholic Church. World Religions Around the world, major religions have diverse approaches to gender identity, and Read more
Full text of Pope Francis’ urbi et orbi blessing for Easter 2024
Monday, April 8th, 2024
On the morning of Easter Sunday 2024, Pope Francis presided over Mass in St Peter’s Square before delivering his urbi et orbi message and blessing from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica in the presence of an estimated 60,000 people. “Urbi et orbi” means “To the city [of Rome] and to the world.” I Read more
Pope Francis subdues health issues – presides at Easter Mass
Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024
Rallying from a winter-long bout of respiratory problems, Pope Francis led some 30,000 people in Easter celebrations on Sunday and made a strong appeal for a cease-fire in Gaza and a prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine. Francis presided over Easter Sunday Mass in a flower-decked St Peter’s Square and then delivered a heartfelt prayer Read more
Can you be a feminist and a Catholic? A theologian argues it’s harder than ever.
Monday, March 25th, 2024
Women are leaving the Catholic Church at an alarming rate, many citing “irreconcilable differences.” In a world waking up to the reality of sexism and sex abuse at every level of seemingly every institution, the church’s slowness to adapt and engage with feminist demands has weakened its hold, with some women leaving the faith altogether. Read more
Small family arguments
Thursday, March 21st, 2024
Some ask about polarisations occurring within the Church, and they expect honest answers. Others give me their own frank and honest opinions. Their concerns deserve respectful dialogue. Yet others have partially removed themselves from in-house discussion by opting for a “spirituality” more or less independent of the Church. Confusions that come to us from the Read more