Articles by Courtney Mares
Vatican announces date and theme for 2023 World Day for Grandparents and Elderly
Apr 13, 2023 / 12:00 pmThe annual event, which happens around the feast day of Sts. Anne and Joachim, will take its theme this year from the Gospel of Luke as well as World Youth Day 2023.
Pope Francis changes law regulating Vatican City court system
Apr 12, 2023 / 10:47 amPope Francis revised a law regulating the Vatican’s judicial system on Wednesday, reversing some aspects of the pope’s prior reform of the Vatican City courts.
Committee begins writing Synod on Synodality working document behind closed doors
Apr 12, 2023 / 09:25 amA committee of 22 people started the writing process for the synod’s working document that will be the blueprint for discussions during the meeting of bishops in October.
Pope Francis tells ‘keyboard warriors’ to put aside online polemics to proclaim the Gospel
Apr 12, 2023 / 04:10 amSpeaking in St. Peter’s Square on April 12, the pope urged Christians to go out and “get moving” to share the good news of the Gospel with the world.
Vatican prosecutor: Pope Francis wants the truth about ‘Vatican girl’ case
Apr 11, 2023 / 10:15 amThe chief prosecutor of the Vatican City State court met Tuesday with the brother of Emanuela Orlandi, who went missing from Vatican City nearly 40 years ago.
Pope Francis at Easter Vigil: ‘Rediscover the grace of God’s resurrection within you’
Apr 8, 2023 / 13:40 pmThe Easter Vigil, which takes place on Holy Saturday night, “is the greatest and most noble of all solemnities."
Here are the meditations for the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum on Good Friday 2023
Apr 7, 2023 / 14:05 pmThe meditations and prayers for the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum on Good Friday this year come from the testimonies of victims of violence whom Pope Francis encountered during his international apostolic journeys over the past ten years.
Good Friday at the Vatican: Papal preacher warns against relativism and ‘vortex of nihilism’
Apr 7, 2023 / 12:00 pmCardinal Cantalamessa compared Friedrich Nietzsche’s words “God is dead” with the Catholic Church’s proclamation of the death of Christ on Good Friday.
Vatican: Pope Francis will not attend Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum due to cold weather
Apr 7, 2023 / 09:10 amThe pope’s canceled Good Friday appearance comes one week after he was hospitalized for three nights in Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he was treated for bronchitis.
Pope Francis celebrates ‘the birthday of the priesthood’ with 1,800 priests on Holy Thursday
Apr 6, 2023 / 03:50 amThe pope said that on “the birthday of the priesthood,” he wanted to highlight the vital presence the Holy Spirit plays in the ministry and life of every priest.
Pope Francis’ advice for Holy Week: Look to the cross, our hope is there
Apr 5, 2023 / 09:53 amPope Francis has offered advice for how to have a fruitful Holy Week, urging people to focus on the essentials and look to the cross as the source of hope.
French bishops vote to open sainthood cause of Henri de Lubac
Apr 1, 2023 / 09:00 amHenri de Lubac is considered by many to be one of the most important theologians of the 20th century.
Pope Francis returns to the Vatican after 3 days in the hospital
Apr 1, 2023 / 04:16 amPope Francis was discharged from the hospital Saturday morning after a three-night stay in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
Social media apostolate brings the beauty of Rome’s historic churches to Instagram
Mar 27, 2023 / 07:53 amJacob Stein is visiting a church in Rome each day of Lent this year.
Pope Francis extends ‘Vos estis’ decree to counter both lay and clerical abuse
Mar 25, 2023 / 08:20 amThe decree promulgated March 25 extends the Church’s norms for handling of abuse to cover lay leaders of international associations.
On this day in 1944 the Ulma family was martyred by the Nazis
Mar 24, 2023 / 09:00 amOn March 24, 1944, all nine members of the Ulma family were killed by the Nazis — including a newborn baby — for hiding a Jewish family.
Pope Francis invites Catholics to renew consecration to Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25
Mar 22, 2023 / 06:40 amThe solemnity of the Annunciation on Saturday marks one year since Pope Francis consecrated Russia and Ukraine to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Pope Francis: Christian witness requires consistency between how one lives and what one proclaims
Mar 22, 2023 / 05:20 amTo effectively witness to the Gospel, Christians need to be consistent in what they believe, how they live, and what they preach, Pope Francis said.
Meet the new Nigerian secretary for the Vatican Dicastery for Evangelization
Mar 21, 2023 / 13:00 pmThe Nigerian archbishop was recently appointed by Pope Francis as a secretary for the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization.
How a forgotten nun’s visions shed ‘new light’ on the life of St. Joseph
Mar 19, 2023 / 04:00 amWhy a little-known book by an 18th-century visionary could be inspiring reading on this feast of St. Joseph.