At the age of 87, Pope Francis will embark on an 11-day trip to Southeast Asia that will test both his physical health and the core messages of his pontificate, focusing on the poor, the environment and a Catholic Church at the margins. The papal trip, which will take place Sept. 2-13, presents the most Read more
Pope Francis is well known for his strong views about faith and protecting God’s creation. The Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople is of the same view. Faith in God comes with two “inseparable” elements, Bartholomew said on Sunday which was the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation He said these two Read more
I was struck by the gospel reading on Sunday (Aug. 25) in which John, speaking about Jesus’ followers, wrote that “many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.” The image made me sad, because it seemed to reflect what is going on in the Catholic Church and Read more
Pope Francis has criticised Ukraine for banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) which has historically been tied to Russia. “Let those who want to pray be allowed to pray in what they consider their church” Pope Francis said. None of the warring parties have heeded the Pope’s pleas for the war to cease. Praying is Read more
Scandal-plagued former Archbishop José Antonio Eguren Anselmi met Pope Francis for a private meeting in Rome on Friday last week. The Vatican bulletin about it did not disclose the reasons for the meeting. Nor was it clear from the bulletin as to whether Anselmi had been summoned to the meeting or whether he himself had Read more
Plans being made for a September papal visit to East Timor are drawing criticism from local human rights groups. The costs will be too high and people’s lives are already being disrupted they say. Extremely expensive Last Thursday human rights organisation Lao Hamutuk told Union of Catholic Asian (UCA) News that the Government’s budgeted US$12 Read more
In a high-rise apartment in New York City overlooking the Freedom Tower and the Statue of Liberty, Catholic thought leaders both conservative and liberal gathered. They were there to pray together and share a fine meal over a glass of Cabernet Francis — all in an effort to overcome polarisation. In the Catholic world, it’s Read more
Caritas Luxembourg has created a crisis committee after disclosing around 61 million euros (circa NZ$111 million) is missing from its accounts. The Catholic charity is a member of Caritas Internationalis – confederation of Catholic relief groups. It is one of Luxembourg’s largest charities. Caritas Luxembourg says it is providing counselling for its almost 500 employees. Read more
US President Joe Biden’s decision not to run for a second presidential term is a major event in US history, but also for American Christianity. It marks the end of a generation of Catholics in politics, those who arrived on the national political scene in the wake of World War II and the GI Bill Read more
Pope Francis visited a summer festival at an amusement park last Wednesday. The Holy See Press Office says Francis made the journey to visit Sister Geneviève Jeanningros (81) of the Little Sisters of Jesus who has been caring for homosexuals and transgender people at the park for 56 years. Jeanningros lives at the park with Read more