Some self-declared Catholic traditionalists have been complaining bitterly that there is much confusion and division within the Catholic Church. They blame it all on Pope Francis and especially on the challenging program he has launched for ecclesial renewal and reform. In doing so, they are de facto opposing the pope—especially his more merciful and pastoral Read more
The Sisters of Mercy in the United States are among religious orders being asked to come to Rome for further conversation. This follows an apostolic visitation of women’s religious orders in the US several years ago. The Sisters of Mercy’s US communications director confirmed the request to visit Rome, but said there would be no further Read more
The Vatican has asked the superiors of 15 US orders of Catholic sisters to come to Rome to discuss concerns and provide clarifications. This comes after the 2014 final report on a Vatican apostolic visitation of US orders of religious women. Last week, it was reported that the superior of the Sisters of Loretto had Read more
Some A$110,000 has been raised to send child sexual abuse survivors to Rome to witness Cardinal George Pell’s latest royal commission testimony. Australia’s Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has agreed to let Cardinal Pell testify through a video link. This was after it accepted the cardinal’s health meant he could not Read more
The heads of four Franciscan communities have announced plans to establish a Pontifical Franciscan University in Rome by 2018. This was announced by the Ministers General of the First Order in a letter dated November 29. “As an expression of the academic unity of the Franciscan family, this project will be committed to an emphasis Read more
In the last quarter century, since the fall of the Berlin Wall redrew the map of the world, the Holy See was the only global institution that firmly and clearly opposed the so-called clash of civilisations. Many in the West and the Middle East sought this clash of civilisations due to economic, territorial and political Read more
Pope Francis stunned tourists and passersby on the Via del Babuino in Rome on September 3 by dropping into an optician’s to buy eye-glass lenses. “I don’t want a whole new set of frames, just new lenses,” the pontiff told Alessandro Spiezia, proprietor of the eyewear shop in the heart of the Spanish Steps area. Read more
Rome is to have a piazza named after German theologian and reformer Martin Luther, which will be close to the Colosseum. City authorities finally approved a 2009 proposal by the Union of Seventh Day Adventist Churches to mark the 500th anniversary of the start of the Reformation. The Vatican reportedly did not oppose the project, Read more
The Hollywood-style funeral of a notorious mobster in Rome has seen anti-Mafia campaigners demanding to know why police and the Catholic Church allowed it. The funeral of Vittorio Casamonica, 65, on August 20 featured a gilded horse-drawn carriage, flower petals tossed from a helicopter and theme music from “The Godfather”. The coffin was draped with Read more