Articles by Courtney Mares
Pope Francis decries culture that ‘throws away’ unborn children, elderly, poor
Jan 29, 2023 / 05:55 amIn his Sunday Angelus address, Pope Francis decried a culture that “throws away” unborn children, the elderly, and the poor if they are not useful.
Pope Francis offers condolences for Monterey Park shooting
Jan 25, 2023 / 12:00 pmThe pope sent a telegram to L.A. Archbishop José Gomez on Jan. 25 expressing his sadness and assuring his spiritual closeness to “those affected by this tragedy.”
‘Being homosexual is not a crime,’ Pope Francis reiterates in new interview
Jan 25, 2023 / 08:10 amThe interview with the Associated Press covered a wide range of topics, including laws that criminalize homosexuality and sodomy.
Taiwan president writes to Pope Francis about ‘preserving regional security’ with China
Jan 24, 2023 / 11:30 am“The war that erupted between Russia and Ukraine last February has brought home to humanity just how valuable peace is,” Tsai Ing-wen wrote in a letter to the pope.
Pope Francis: Amid polarization in Church, we are called to speak truth with charity
Jan 24, 2023 / 08:42 amPope Francis has urged Christians to “speak the truth and to do so with charity” amid polarization and divisions within the Church.
Controversial Dominican priest to lead October retreat for bishops at start of synod
Jan 23, 2023 / 09:21 amFather Timothy Radcliffe, whose statements on homosexuality have previously sparked controversy, will lead a three-day retreat to kick off the Synod of Bishops.
Pope Francis: To stay with Jesus requires the courage to leave our sins
Jan 22, 2023 / 07:00 amFollowing Jesus “means giving up the time wasted on so many useless things,” the pope said.
Pope Francis confers lay ministries upon 10 people in St. Peter’s Basilica
Jan 22, 2023 / 04:30 amPope Francis conferred the lay ministries on the Sunday of the Word of God, a day that he declared in 2019 on the 1,600th anniversary of the death of St. Jerome.
Meet the six newest venerable servants of God in the Catholic Church
Jan 19, 2023 / 12:15 pmIn a decree signed on Jan. 19, Pope Francis recognized the heroic virtue of an Italian stigmatic, four 20th-century priests, and a holy laywoman.
Cardinal Koch: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity a time to pray for peace in Ukraine
Jan 19, 2023 / 08:00 amThe president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity said he is praying this week that “we can re-find peace between Christians in Ukraine.”
Pope Francis discusses ‘ecological conversion’ with Buddhist monks from Cambodia
Jan 19, 2023 / 07:20 amThe pope defined “ecological conversion” as “true repentance” that leads to the end of “ideologies and practices that are hurtful and disrespectful to the earth.”
Italian Psychoanalytic Society expresses ‘great concern’ over use of puberty blockers
Jan 18, 2023 / 11:30 amThe president of the society called for “rigorous scientific discussion” of gender issues in young people.
Pope Francis: Jesus is ‘the unsurpassed model of evangelization’
Jan 18, 2023 / 06:05 amAt his weekly public audience, Pope Francis said that one of the best images to represent Jesus’ style of life is that of “the Good Shepherd.”
Pope Francis prays for priest killed in Nigeria, asks for prayers for persecuted Christians
Jan 18, 2023 / 03:05 amAt the end of his Wednesday audience, Pope Francis asked for people to join him in praying for persecuted Christians around the world.
PHOTOS: Animals blessed in St. Peter’s Square for feast of St. Anthony Abbot
Jan 17, 2023 / 12:20 pmFarmers and pet owners alike brought their beloved animals to the Vatican for a special blessing on Jan. 17.
Pope Francis prays for victims of Congo church bombing
Jan 17, 2023 / 09:00 amThe church bombing in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday killed at least 14 people and injured more than 60.
Cardinal Zen ‘very concerned’ about Synod on Synodality
Jan 17, 2023 / 07:21 amIn an interview with the Italian newspaper Il Giornale published on Jan. 17, Zen said that he hopes that the synod will change from its current course.
Pope Francis offers condolences after 69 die in Nepal plane crash
Jan 16, 2023 / 07:55 amThe plane was carrying 72 passengers from Kathmandu to Pokhara, a popular base for trekkers in the Annapurna mountain range in the Himalayas.
Islamic State bombs church service in Congo
Jan 16, 2023 / 03:00 amAt least 10 people were killed and more than three dozen injured in the terrorist attack on a church in the eastern Congolese town of Kasindi.
Catholic priest burned to death in Nigeria
Jan 15, 2023 / 07:02 amAnother priest was shot in the Jan. 15 bandit attack but survived.