The Vatican’s media department has a deputy editorial director for the first time. Pope Francis appointed Massimiliano Menichetti (53) as Deputy Director of the Dicastery for Communication and Vatican News, as the Vatican announced on Thursday. The Rome-born lawyer and journalist has been working for the Vatican media for more than 20 years, until now Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Vatican news’
Vatican holds thermal shirt drive for Ukraine
Thursday, December 8th, 2022
The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Service of Charity is holding a thermal shirt drive to help people in Ukraine, who are facing an energy emergency amid the war. Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the pope’s almoner, says the charity office is “already stocking up” on thermal shirts for men, women and children. He is encouraging others to Read more
Shot bishop-elect meets pope
Thursday, March 17th, 2022
On Monday, Pope Francis met the South Sudan bishop-elect who was shot in the legs last April shortly after his nomination to lead Rumbek diocese. Bishop-elect Christian Carlassare (44) had a private meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Monday. Carlassare’s episcopal consecration is scheduled for March 25. It was deferred after the shooting, Read more
Vatican’s Synodal process in trouble
Thursday, February 10th, 2022
The Vatican says the Church’s effort to listen to the 1.34 billion Catholics worldwide through a synodal process is facing challenges. The synod’s diocesan phase is expected to last until 15 August. “Many of the faithful perceive the synodal process as a crucial moment in the Church’s life, as a learning process as well as Read more
Procedural norms updated for crimes judged by doctrinal office
Thursday, December 9th, 2021
The pope has updated the Church’s procedural norms for dealing with delicts – serious crimes such as schism, sacramental desecration and abuse of minors. On Tuesday, Pope Francis publicised adaptations to the “Norms on the delicts reserved for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith”. The following day on 8 December (the feast of Read more
Synod’s about listening to the Holy Spirit, not gathering opinions
Monday, September 27th, 2021
Pope Francis says the two-year process leading to the 2023 synod on synodality is not about “gathering opinions,” but “listening to the Holy Spirit.” He repeatedly stressed the Holy Spirit’s role in decision-making. The three-phase synod opens next month with a diocesan phase, which will run until April. A second, continental phase will take place Read more
Letter with three bullets sent to Pope
Thursday, August 12th, 2021
Italian police have identified the person who sent an envelope with three bullets in it to Pope Francis. The envelope did not reach the pontiff, however, as it was intercepted in Milan on Sunday night. Police say the unnamed suspect is a French citizen “already known to Vatican security, with whom the Carabinieri of Milan Read more
Sad loss of reason in Europe
Monday, April 12th, 2021
The Vatican Secretary of State has said that euthanasia and abortion laws in Europe represent not only a loss of faith but also a loss of reason. “These anthropological changes that are taking place, losing the identity of the human person. Before a loss of faith, I would say that it is a loss of Read more
Bishop who warned of schism over women priests resigns
Thursday, February 11th, 2021
A Swiss bishop who recently warned of a potential schism caused by different opinions about ordaining women in the Catholic church has resigned unexpectedly. Denis Theurillat, who was the auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Basel cited “the increasing burdens of his office” as his reason for resigning five years before the customary retirement age Read more
14,000 people per priest worldwide
Monday, October 19th, 2020
New data released by the Vatican shows the number of Catholics is on the rise worldwide. However, the reduction in the numbers of priests is placing pressure on the fewer clergy. The number of Catholics grew 16 million to 1.33 billion in the past year according to figures released by the Vatican ahead of 2020 Read more