Pope Francis is either an anarchist or a man with an unshakable faith in the work of the Holy Spirit. Of course, he could actually be both. How else does one describe what the 85-year-old pope did on May 29 when he announced a consistory for late August during which he intends to make 21 Read more
Pope Francis deserves our admiration, prayers and support for his tireless efforts to promote peace and goodwill among nations, peoples and religions, and for constantly reminding us that everything and everybody in the universe are interconnected. His intense advocacy for the health of our planet, his concern for the poor, and his courageous stance to Read more
Pope Francis on Wednesday kissed a battered Ukrainian flag that he said was brought to him from the “martyred” Ukrainian city of Bucha as he denounced the “massacre” there and called again for an end to the war. Francis held the flag as he welcomed a half-dozen Ukrainian refugee children up to the stage of Read more
Life is full of ironies. And life in the Church is no different. In fact, this past week we just witnessed a bit of irony that stretched right across the Atlantic Ocean, though most people seem to have missed it. On October 4, as English Archbishop Arthur Roche had just finished giving his first major Read more
Age and illness have not taken the wind out of Pope Francis’ sails. Despite major intestinal surgery last July and his upcoming 85th birthday in December, the Italo-Argentine pope — amazingly! — is showing absolutely no signs that he’s slowing down or planning to close up shop anytime soon. His recent four-day visit to Budapest, Read more
On July 9, more than 20 homeless people from Palazzo Migliorie near the Vatican came to the Gemelli General Hospital to pray for and express their gratitude to the Pope. ‘Palazzo Migliori’ is the building where they live and it is a gift from the Pope for people with no home or place to stay. Read more
While the pope’s announcement of Antiquum ministerium – the new Rite of Institution of the Lay Catechist has made many people happy, others are finding it perplexing and likely to backfire. “Just who are the laity in a church of priestly people” asks Robert Mickens, writing his weekly Letter from Rome column in La Croix Read more
Now is the time to take personal responsibility and begin living our faith, writes Robert Mickens, Editor in Chief of La Croix International. In his weekly Letter from Rome entitled ‘Blessing and Curses’, Mickens says, “We do not have to wait for permission. “The Church is vaster and much more diversified than we sometimes want Read more
The Vatican is seeking an explanation from Instagram on how the pope’s official Instagram account ‘liked’ a photo of a scantily clad Brazilian model. Pope Francis’ account “liked” the picture of Natalia Garibotto, who was dressed up in a school uniform of sorts. The image has since been ‘unliked’ by the account. “We can exclude Read more
A cardinal sacked by Pope Francis says he is “devastated,” he did not commit any crimes and has had no communication with the Vatican magistrates. Cardinal Angelo Becciu called his downfall “surreal.” Becciu, former ‘substitute’ (No 2) at the Vatican’s Secretariat of State and until Friday, prefect for the Congregation for the Causes of the Read more