The relationship Fidel Castro had with the Church has often often speculated about Pope Francis’s condolence message to Raul Castro expressed his “sentiments of grief”. He promised to pray for Fidel. Jesuit-educated, Fidel Castro followed a Marxist-Leninist ideology. Believing the Church was a state enemy, he declared Cuba an atheist state. He seized all Cuba’s Read more
Pope Benedict is often forgotten when the call for Catholics to be better stewards of God’s creation is made. Even though Pope Francis usually gets the credit, Benedict was behind the changes the Vatican has made to becoming a “green” carbon-neutral state. Read more
Pope Francis’ first interview with an Italian television channel was granted to TV2000 and InBlu Radio, the Italian Episcopal Conference’s broadcasters. In a 40-minute question and answer session, the Pope speaks to web and news directors Paolo Ruffini and Lucio Brunelli, about his reflections on the fruits of the Extraordinary Holy Year, which he describes Read more
Abortion’s forgivable, says Pope Francis. Any priest can now forgive women who have had abortions. This is a significant change in direction. The new direction was signaled during the Holy Year of Mercy which finished last Sunday. Francis gave all priests temporary ability to absolve women who had abortions during the Holy Year. Until then, Read more
The Vatican Commission on Women Deacons meets for the first time today. The 12-members will study how things were in the early times of the Church. This will involve finding out how women served as deacons in the early church. Questions include “were their duties similar to those performed by male deacons” and if so, Read more
Mary will be at the heart of the next three World Youth Days, Pope Francis says. All three will take participants on a spiritual journey with Our Lady when she finds herself chosen by God. World Youth Day (WYD) sees young people from all over the world work to build and strengthen the bonds of Read more
Death is not frightening if you are faithful to God’s teachings. Don’t fear it. Think about the day you meet Jesus and put your faith in God, says Pope Francis. Read more
Conservative Cardinals have gone public with a letter they wrote to the Pope in September, because he hasn’t answered it. The letter asked him to clarify Church teaching about love and the family. The Cardinals are Raymond Burke, Carlo Caffarra, Walter Brandmüller and Joachim Meisner. The “dubia” (matters they say need specific yes/no answers from Read more
Seventeen new Cardinals were named on Saturday. They come from all over the world and a range of backgrounds. The Pope Francis has now chosen 44 cardinal electors. That’s about a third of the number allowed by Church Law to choose his successor. Thirteen of his newest Cardinals are under the age of 80. While Read more
“I am praying for all the people of New Zealand at this time of the earthquakes.” This is what Pope Francis said to Cardinal John Dew when he greeted him in Rome at the closing of the Holy Door. On Sunday Cardinal John wrote on his Facebook page: “This morning St Peter’s Square was filled Read more