Articles by Courtney Mares
Pope Francis gives relic of St. Peter's bones to Orthodox patriarch
Jul 3, 2019 / 09:50 amPope Francis gave unexpectedly a reliquary containing what are believed to be bone fragments of St. Peter to Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew, an ecumenical gesture that has generated controversy among some Catholics.
Seal of confession is an 'intrinsic requirement,' Vatican says
Jul 1, 2019 / 08:30 amThe head of the Vatican’s Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary released a note Monday reaffirming the inviolability of the seal of confession and the importance of other forms of secrecy in the life of the Church.
Blessed John Henry Newman to be canonized October 13
Jul 1, 2019 / 03:00 amThe Vatican announced Monday that Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman will be canonized on October 13 in Rome.
As Trump and Kim meet in North Korea, Pope Francis prays for peace
Jun 30, 2019 / 04:30 amPope Francis prayed for peace and the successful outcome of the meeting Sunday between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the DMZ.
Pope Francis: The Catholic Church belongs to Christ
Jun 29, 2019 / 06:35 am“To the Lord we are not a group of believers or a religious organization, we are His bride. He looks at His Church with tenderness, He loves it with absolute fidelity, despite our mistakes and betrayals,” Pope Francis said June 29.
Saints Peter and Paul witness to the power of God’s forgiveness, pope says
Jun 29, 2019 / 05:25 amPope Francis said Saturday that Saints Peter and Paul are both witnesses to the transformative power of God’s forgiveness through which all Christians can experience a new beginning of peace and joy.
Pope Francis tells German Catholics to focus on evangelization
Jun 29, 2019 / 02:30 amPope Francis sent a 28-page letter to Catholics in Germany Saturday calling for a focus on evangelization in the face of the “erosion” and “decline of the faith” in the country.
German cardinal thanks Pope Francis for his letter’s call to conversion
Jun 29, 2019 / 02:30 amGerman Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki thanked Pope Francis for ‘fearlessly’ calling Catholics in Germany to be a missionary church in a letter published Saturday.
‘The heart of the Church’s mission is prayer,’ Pope Francis says
Jun 28, 2019 / 08:00 amPope Francis addressed 6,000 members of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of its founding.
Benedict XVI: The Church’s unity is stronger than internal conflicts
Jun 28, 2019 / 03:51 amPope Emeritus Benedict XVI has said that the unity of the Church has always prevailed over internal struggles and affirmed that there is only one pope, according to an article published Friday.
Global Rosary Relay aims at 1 billion Hail Marys for priests
Jun 27, 2019 / 12:19 pmThe Global Rosary Relay aims to have 1 billion Hail Marys said for the sanctification of priests June 28, the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Pope could see final draft of new curial constitution by September
Jun 27, 2019 / 09:22 amPope Francis could receive a final draft of a new constitution for the Roman curia as soon as September, according to the secretary of the pope’s Council of Cardinal Advisors.
After forced abortion threat, disability advocate says support is key to fight eugenics
Jun 26, 2019 / 12:10 pmIn the face of an increasingly ‘eugenic’ mentality toward people with disabilities in Europe -- exemplified in the recent overturned forced abortion case -- a Catholic disability expert says parishes should be looking at how to further support people with disabilities and their families.
Pope Francis 'profoundly saddened' at image of drowned migrant father and daughter
Jun 26, 2019 / 07:00 amPope Francis expressed his ‘immense sadness’ upon seeing the image of the migrant father and child who drowned in their attempt to cross the Rio Grande, a Vatican spokesman said Wednesday.
Pope Francis: There is no room for selfishness in Christian life
Jun 26, 2019 / 02:00 amPope Francis said Wednesday that there is no room for selfishness in the Christian life, pointing to the example of the lives of the early Christians in the Acts of the Apostles.
Pope Francis: God’s love can do great things with our littleness
Jun 23, 2019 / 10:50 amPope Francis said Sunday that the Eucharist exemplifies how God’s love can accomplish great things with very little.
Pope Francis: The Eucharist is Jesus alive
Jun 23, 2019 / 04:12 amOn the feast of Corpus Christi, Pope Francis said that Jesus gave the Church the Eucharist for the salvation of the world.
Pope Francis announces Marian theme of World Youth Day 2022 in Lisbon
Jun 22, 2019 / 03:31 amAt the conclusion of the International Youth Forum Saturday, Pope Francis announced the theme of World Youth Day 2022 to be held in Lisbon: “Mary arose and went with haste.”
In Naples, Pope Francis calls for theological dialogue with Islam, Judaism
Jun 21, 2019 / 05:39 amIn Naples Friday Pope Francis delivered a speech calling for theological dialogue with Islam and Judaism in pontifical universities as part of “a theology of dialogue and acceptance.”
Pentecost pilgrimages in France, Middle East link Catholics in prayer
Jun 19, 2019 / 11:00 amCatholics walked through Syria’s Wadi al-Nasara, or “Valley of the Christians,” this Pentecost, praying the rosary, alternating between the Arabic and French prayers for each decade.