Articles by Courtney Mares
Vatican excommunicates Viganò for schism
Jul 5, 2024 / 09:35 amThe Vatican has officially excommunicated Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith announced Friday.
Lourdes bishop wants to tear down Rupnik mosaics — but not yet
Jul 3, 2024 / 06:38 amThe Lourdes bishop’s announcement comes less than two weeks after he met with Pope Francis in a private audience at the Vatican on June 20.
Pope Francis asks Sacred Heart of Jesus to convert hearts who want war
Jun 30, 2024 / 09:59 amPope Francis prayed for the intercession of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on Sunday to convert “the hearts of those who want war” to projects of dialogue and peace.
Vatican fireworks: A 500-year-old tradition for the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul
Jun 29, 2024 / 05:00 amEach year on June 29, fireworks are launched from atop Castel Sant’Angelo in celebration of the co-patron saints of Rome, St. Peter and St. Paul.
Vatican rules supposed apparitions of Virgin Mary near Rome ‘not supernatural’
Jun 27, 2024 / 11:38 amThe Vatican confirmed the legal validity of an Italian bishop’s decree that the supposed apparitions in Trevignano Romano are “not supernatural.”
Pope Francis: Drug cartels are ‘traffickers of death’ and ‘murderers’
Jun 26, 2024 / 07:48 am“We cannot ignore the evil intentions and actions of drug dealers and traffickers. They are murderers!” Pope Francis said in St. Peter’s Square on June 26.
Pope Francis donates ambulance, opens war trauma center in Ukraine
Jun 25, 2024 / 13:15 pmCardinal Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner and prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, is traveling to Ukraine to inaugurate the clinic.
Pope Francis appoints Gänswein to diplomatic role in Baltic states
Jun 24, 2024 / 07:30 amThe diplomatic appointment comes after months of speculation and rumor as to Gänswein’s future after the death of Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope Francis: Jesus in the Eucharist strengthens us in times of trial
Jun 23, 2024 / 10:26 amSpeaking from an Apostolic Palace window on June 23, Pope Francis asked the crowd in St. Peter’s Square to reflect on how they usually deal with times of trial.
Pope Francis fields questions from students about gender identity and LGBTQ discrimination
Jun 20, 2024 / 16:15 pmIn the one-hour conversation on June 20 organized by the Building Bridges Initiative, Pope Francis spoke directly to students from across the Asia-Pacific region.
From alcoholic to future saint: The inspiring conversion of Ireland’s Matt Talbot
Jun 19, 2024 / 06:00 amVenerable Matt Talbot has inspired many who struggle with addiction and is being considered for sainthood in the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis: The seeds of the Gospel take time to bloom
Jun 16, 2024 / 08:23 amReflecting on Jesus’ parable comparing the kingdom of God to a mustard seed, the pope said Christians should have an attitude of “confident expectation” in the Lord.
Vatican publishes papal primacy document aimed at ‘a reunited Church’
Jun 13, 2024 / 09:42 amThe study document is the first Vatican text since Vatican II to outline the entire ecumenical debate on papal primacy.
Vatican commemorates 80th anniversary of Pius XII’s meeting with Allied troops
Jun 12, 2024 / 15:30 pmOn June 12, 1944, Pius XII gave an enthusiastic speech in English thanking the members of the 38th (Irish) Brigade as he welcomed them to the Vatican.
Pope Francis: Keep your homilies short or ‘people will fall asleep’
Jun 12, 2024 / 09:35 amSpeaking at his Wednesday catechesis on June 12, the pope explained that the goal of a homily is to “help move the Word of God from the book to life.”
Vatican to publish new document on papal primacy
Jun 11, 2024 / 14:15 pmThe document, titled “The Bishop of Rome: Primacy and Synodality in Ecumenical Dialogue and Responses to the Encyclical Ut Unum Sint,” will be released June 13.
Workers discover human skeleton during Jubilee construction dig in Rome
Jun 11, 2024 / 10:15 amThe skeleton was unearthed during excavations to create an underground motorway that will create a pedestrian-only road to St. Peter’s Basilica.
Pope Francis reflects on Roman Empire in visit to ancient Capitoline Hill
Jun 10, 2024 / 13:00 pmThe pope made the trip to the Capitoline Hill to speak to local government officials on June 10 in the Senatorial Palace, home to Rome’s city hall.
Pope Francis: Money, power, pleasure can enslave us
Jun 9, 2024 / 09:05 amSpeaking in his Angelus address on June 9, the pope asked people to contemplate the temptations that can imprison us and the freedom found in Christ.
Pope Francis to take 8-week break in liturgical schedule this summer
Jun 5, 2024 / 15:27 pmThe 87-year-old pope does not have any public Masses on his schedule for eight weeks in July and August, according to the official schedule published this week.