Pope Francis will ordain nine deacons to the priesthood at St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, 25 April. Among those who are to be ordained are Samuel Piermarini, who gave up a promising football career and Riccardo Cendamo, a former film director. Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Pope Francis’
Pope urges politics rooted in service; attending to local concerns
Monday, April 19th, 2021
A politics that takes the people’s path and is rooted in service and local concerns is the best antidote to populism, Pope Francis says. In a speech to an online conference, he opened up about his thinking on how to combat populist trends. Francis’s vision is for a “popularism” that focuses on “finding the means Read more
Religions, together, can fight evil of child abuse
Monday, April 19th, 2021
At an April 8-10 online symposium with religious representatives from around the world, Pope Francis expressed his hope that religions, together, can fight the profound evil of child abuse. After decades of child sexual abuse scandals the Church is ready to share its successes — and failures — with other religious and lay institutions. Francis’ Read more
Communion for the divorced and remarried; ‘Amoris Laetitia’ at 5 years
Thursday, April 15th, 2021
Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation “Amoris Laetitia” was released five years ago. The 264-page document, whose title is Latin for “The Joy of Love,” is one of the longest papal writings in history. It meanders through an introduction and nine chapters, offering everything from grandfatherly advice on family life to Scripture reflections to South American love Read more
Pope praises Duke of Edinburgh’s ‘distinguished’ public service
Monday, April 12th, 2021Pope Francis has offered the Queen “heartfelt condolences” for the loss of her husband and praised the Duke of Edinburgh for his devotion to marriage and “distinguished record” of public service. In a telegram sent by the Vatican’s secretary of state and made public on Saturday, Francis said he was “saddened” to learn of Philip’s Read more
‘In drawing close to those ill-treated by life, we are loving Jesus’
Monday, March 29th, 2021
Pope Francis opened Holy Week celebrations the Palm Sunday ceremony in St. Peter’s Basilica. “For the second time we are living in the context of the pandemic. “Last year we were more shocked, this year we are more tried, and the economic crisis has become heavier,” he said after reciting the Angelus at the end Read more
Cardinals’ pay cuts at the Vatican to save lay jobs
Monday, March 29th, 2021
Pay cuts at the Vatican will see cardinals working at the Holy See taking a 10 per cent pay cut. Most other Vatican-based clerics’ salaries are also being reduced. Department heads and secretaries will have their salaries reduced by eight percent and clergy and religious by three percent. In addition, almost all employees will have Read more
Ministry to families must meet their real needs, pope says
Thursday, March 25th, 2021
If people are providing a ministry to families, they must make sure they actually know what the families need, Pope Francis says. The Catholic Church cannot claim to safeguard marriage and family life if it simply repeats its traditional teaching without supporting, encouraging and caring for real families. This is especially when families are struggling Read more
Mislabeled photo shows Pope Benedict, not Pope Francis
Monday, March 22nd, 2021Some users on social media are claiming a photograph shows Pope Francis wearing designer clothing. The image is incorrectly captioned: the photograph from 2007 shows his predecessor , Pope Benedict, in a white and golden outfit wearing red loafers.
Pope Francis’ pilgrimage to Iraq improves relations with Muslims
Monday, March 22nd, 2021
Despite the naysayers who opposed the pope’s visit, Pope Francis’ pilgrimage to Iraq (March 5-8) went beyond expectations in achieving the three goals of his trip: showing pastoral solidarity with his suffering Christian flock, calling for peace and reconciliation for the Iraqi people and establishing improved relations between Christians and Muslims. In the run-up to Read more