Articles by Courtney Mares
Pope Francis appeals for peace in Nagorno-Karabakh: ‘Silence the weapons’
Sep 20, 2023 / 05:50 amSpeaking to more than 15,000 people in St. Peter’s Square, the pope said Wednesday that he was troubled by the news he received Tuesday from Nagorno Karabakh.
Rupnik’s victims say Diocese of Rome’s statement ‘ridicules’ their pain
Sep 19, 2023 / 14:00 pmThe diocese described the Aletti Center — where Father Marko Rupnik has been accused of abuse — as having “a healthy community life.”
Pope Francis: Forgiveness is the cure that heals ‘the poisons of resentment’
Sep 17, 2023 / 07:41 amIn his Angelus, the pope said forgiving is “not a good deed that we can choose to do or not do” but “a fundamental condition for those who are Christians.”
Why the Queen of Belgium can wear white when meeting the pope
Sep 14, 2023 / 10:15 amShe has the “privilège du blanc,” a papal privilege currently granted only to Catholic royalty from Spain, Luxembourg, Belgium, Monaco, and the House of Savoy.
Cardinal Zuppi heading to Beijing to discuss peace efforts in Ukraine
Sep 12, 2023 / 12:45 pmVatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed on Tuesday that the cardinal will be in the Chinese capital as the pope’s peace envoy from Sept. 13–15.
Ukrainian Catholic leader offers Divine Liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica
Sep 11, 2023 / 09:30 amMajor Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk said Sept. 10 that he wanted to express gratitude to the pope and Catholics everywhere for not abandoning Ukraine.
Catholics in Vietnam ask Pope Francis to visit their country next
Sep 7, 2023 / 10:00 amVietnam is home to millions of Catholics, yet no pope has ever visited the southeast Asian country.
What Pope Francis had to say about the Synod on Synodality in the in-flight press conference
Sep 4, 2023 / 09:07 am“In the synod, there is no place for ideology,” Pope Francis told journalists on the flight from Mongolia to Rome.
Pope Francis gives a glimpse into Vatican-China deal on appointment of Chinese bishops
Sep 4, 2023 / 09:00 amThe pope said that there is a joint commission between the Chinese government and the Holy See on the appointment of Catholic bishops in China.
Pope Francis at Mongolia charity: ‘Only love can overcome selfishness’
Sep 3, 2023 / 20:40 pmPope Francis blessed a new charity called the “House of Mercy” on his last day in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Catholics from mainland China and across Asia in Mongolia for Mass with Pope Francis
Sep 3, 2023 / 03:30 amWhile papal Masses on the pope’s other trips can draw hundreds of thousands of people, the Mass in Ulaanbaatar only had an estimated 2,000 in attendance.
Pope Francis quotes Buddha at interreligious event in Mongolia
Sep 2, 2023 / 22:46 pmPope Francis said Sunday that interreligious dialogue is “not antithetical to proclamation” but helps religious traditions to understand one another.
Pope Francis: ‘Mongolia is a symbol of religious freedom’
Sep 1, 2023 / 21:50 pmPope Francis called Mongolia a “symbol of religious freedom” in his first speech in the Asian country sandwiched between China and Russia.
PHOTOS: Pope Francis’ first day in Mongolia
Sep 1, 2023 / 11:48 amPope Francis received an enthusiastic welcome to Mongolia on Friday morning after a nearly 10-hour flight on the papal plane.
Pope Francis becomes first pope in history to set foot in Mongolia
Aug 31, 2023 / 20:40 pmThe pope told journalists aboard the papal plane that to visit Mongolia is to encounter “a small people, but a big culture.”
Vatican reassures Ukrainian Catholics that pope did not intend to praise Russian imperialism
Aug 29, 2023 / 10:34 amPope Francis made the comment while speaking off the cuff during a live video conference with Russian youth Aug. 25.
Pope Francis to visit one of the world’s most polluted capitals this week
Aug 28, 2023 / 01:00 amPope Francis is likely to make “care for our common home” a key theme of his Mongolian trip this week from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4.
What Pope Francis’ trip to Mongolia could mean for Vatican relations with Russia and China
Aug 27, 2023 / 08:00 amThe pope’s upcoming trip could have geopolitical implications beyond the country’s small population of Catholics.
Pope Francis: Synod on Synodality ‘truly important’ despite being ‘of little interest to the general public’
Aug 26, 2023 / 09:30 amThe pope spoke about the significance of the synod nearly one month ahead of the first Synod on Synodality assembly taking place Oct. 4–28.
Pope Francis discusses family values, Ukraine war with Hungarian president
Aug 25, 2023 / 10:45 amIn the 45-minute meeting on Aug. 25, the pope and Novák spoke about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and efforts to end the conflict.