Articles by Hannah Brockhaus
Pope's historic meeting with Huntington's patients offered ray of hope
May 19, 2017 / 14:24 pmPope Francis’ gathering this week with a group of Huntington’s disease patients was a major inspiration for those seeking to increase awareness and research about the condition.
Pope Francis to Huntington's patients: You deserve respect and love
May 18, 2017 / 07:22 amPope Francis on Thursday offered a message of hope and love to patients with Huntington’s disease, a rare and incurable genetic brain disorder that causes intense suffering.
Menorah exhibit in Rome underlines positive Catholic-Jewish relations
May 18, 2017 / 02:04 amAt the center of the first joint exhibit between the Vatican Museums and the Jewish museum in Rome is the Magdala Stone, a large decorated stone block from a first century Galilean synagogue which has shed light on synagogue worship before the destruction of the Second Temple.
Pope urges Macron to strengthen France’s Christian roots
May 16, 2017 / 06:52 amTuesday Pope Francis sent a telegram to the new President of France, Emmanuel Macron, offering his prayers and wishes that in his new role, he will support the rich moral and spiritual traditions of the country, including that of Christianity.
Pope Francis: Fatima reminds us to care for the faith of children
May 14, 2017 / 05:07 amOn Sunday Pope Francis reflected on the May 13 canonization of the child visionaries St. Francisco and Jacinta Marto, saying that their faithfulness, despite their young age, reminds us to pay special attention to children in the ministry of the Church.
Like the Fatima children, offer your lives to God, Pope urges
May 13, 2017 / 04:23 amOn Saturday, Pope Francis told those gathered at Fatima, in particular the sick and suffering, to follow the example of the newly canonized saints Francisco and Jacinta, offering their lives – both the joy and suffering – as a gift for God.
Francisco and Jacinta have officially been declared saints!
May 13, 2017 / 02:28 amPope Francis on Saturday officially declared Francisco and Jacinta Marto saints of the Catholic Church in front of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims at Fatima, Portugal – teaching us that even young children can become saints.
Mary points to Christ's mercy, Pope Francis tells Fatima pilgrims
May 12, 2017 / 13:47 pmPope Francis asked pilgrims in Fatima on Friday evening to think about the qualities the Virgin Mary possesses, being careful not to make her into something she is not – especially elevating her mercifulness above that of her Son.
Let's be guided by Mary's Immaculate Heart, Pope says in Fatima
May 12, 2017 / 10:37 amDuring his first day in Fatima, Pope Francis led pilgrims in prayer, asking that the Immaculate Heart of Mary would watch over the joys and sorrows of all mankind as they make their earthly pilgrimage.
We still need to heed Our Lady of Fatima's advice, priest says
May 11, 2017 / 23:08 pmWhile a lot has changed since Mary’s appearances at Fatima 100 years ago, we can’t stop heeding Our Lady’s request to pray and offer sacrifices for the world, an expert on Marian theology has said.
Join me at the feet of Mary, Francis asks ahead of Fatima trip
May 11, 2017 / 02:56 amWednesday evening, just two days ahead of his trip to Fatima, Pope Francis sent a video message to the people of Portugal asking them to be with him during his pilgrimage, whether physically or spiritually, as he presents flowers to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Let's continue to grow in unity, Francis urges Coptic Orthodox patriarch
May 10, 2017 / 10:06 amFollowing his trip to Egypt last month, Pope Francis sent a message Wednesday to the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Tawadros II, expressing his hope that their Churches will continue to work toward unity in the sacraments.
Pope: Mary's 'yes' echoes the joy, suffering of every mother
May 10, 2017 / 04:56 amDays before his trip to Fatima, Pope Francis said Mary’s ‘yes’ at the Annunciation was more than a yes to bearing the Son of God, but was also an acceptance of everything she would endure after – something every mother experiences with a new child.
Vatican astronomer: If you're afraid of science, you don't have faith
May 10, 2017 / 02:04 amThe Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory, who has worked as an astronomer and planetary scientist at the Vatican for more than 20 years, told journalists Monday that faith and reason are hardly at odds.
Kidnapped Indian priest pleads for help in new video
May 9, 2017 / 04:04 amFourteen months after his kidnapping in March 2016, Salesian priest Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil has appeared in another video asking for help in obtaining his release, criticizing the response of a local bishop and the Indian government.
Pope to seminarians: Let Mary help you fall in love with Jesus
May 8, 2017 / 11:05 amPope Francis met with priests and seminarians from the Portuguese College in Rome, asking them to allow Mary to bring them closer to Christ – just like she did for the children at Fatima.
Pope to future Romanian priests: seminary is your 'gym' for ministry
May 5, 2017 / 09:41 amOn Friday Pope Francis told seminarians studying in Rome to resist complacency and to think of their studies as strength training for their hearts and wills, preparing them for service to others.
Solanus Casey, Cardinal Van Thuan among those advanced toward sainthood
May 4, 2017 / 09:47 amPope Francis on Thursday approved decrees of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints advancing the causes for canonization of 12 individuals, including the American-born Capuchin Solanus Casey and the Vietnamese cardinal Francis Xavier Nguen Van Thuan.
Pope urges Vatican communications to go digital amid ongoing reform
May 4, 2017 / 05:14 amPope Francis told the Vatican’s Secretariat for Communications, which is holding their first plenary assembly this week, that given a growing digital culture throughout the world, new media must become a primary platform for spreading the Gospel.
Vatican group talks new ways to help poor, marginalized
May 2, 2017 / 10:33 amTraditional solutions to the problem of poverty typically take a top-down welfare approach, focused on fulfilling a person's most basic needs, such as food and shelter – but which don't address the issue of societal participation and inclusion.