Rachel Thomas

Rachel Thomas

Rachel Thomas is a freelance writer based in Spain.

Articles by Rachel Thomas

Pope Francis addresses pilgrims in St. Peter's Square for the Sunday Angelus, July 28, 2024. Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis proposes 3 gestures from Gospel miracle to live at Mass

Jul 28, 2024 / 08:15 am

The pope pointed out “offering, giving thanks, and sharing” as highlights of the miracle recounted in the Gospel of John.

There are 159 sculptures adorning the monstrance used in the annual Corpus Christi procession in Valencia, Spain, including biblical scenes from the Old Testament up to the Good Shepherd and the risen Christ. The apostles and doctors of the Church adorn the host and Eucharistic miracles are depicted. Saints particularly devoted to the Eucharist are part of the multitude of adorers, as is Pope Pius X, known as the "pope of the Eucharist" since he encouraged frequent reception of the sacrament and lowered the age for first Communion. June 2, 2024. Credit: Archivalencia/Catedral VLC

World’s biggest monstrance created in reparation for Spanish war leads yearly procession

Jun 4, 2024 / 15:52 pm

The monstrance used in the annual Corpus Christi procession in Valencia, Spain, was created as an act of reparation for the atrocities of the Spanish Civil War.

Pope Francis greets thousands of children and their families as he makes his way through St. Peter's Square during the first World Children's Day, Sunday, May 26, 2024. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

World Children’s Day: Pope Francis instills key lesson on Holy Spirit at Mass with children

May 26, 2024 / 13:15 pm

The pope gathered with tens of thousands of children in St. Peter’s Square for Mass and provided a lively lesson about the Holy Trinity.

Flowers and candles are laid out on the sidewalk on Feb. 26, 2024, after a huge fire killed 10 people in a multi-story residential block in Valencia, Spain, on Feb. 22. Credit: MAO/AFP via Getty Images

God is close, archbishop assures after fire destroys Spanish apartment complex

Feb 28, 2024 / 14:37 pm

Ten people died in what commentators called the biggest blaze the city of Valencia had ever seen.

Five children representing five continents speak with Pope Francis in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican on Oct. 1, 2023. The pope will hold a meeting with children at the Vatican on Nov. 6, 2023. Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis to hold meeting with children at the Vatican on Nov. 6

Oct 1, 2023 / 10:15 am

The theme of the event in the Paul VI Audience Hall will be “Let us learn from boys and girls.” 

Pope Francis speaks at the closing session of the Mediterranean Encounter in Marseille, France, on Sept. 23, 2023. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

Pope Francis: Migrant crisis requires wisdom, not ‘alarmist propaganda’

Sep 23, 2023 / 08:41 am

“Those who risk their lives at sea do not invade, they look for welcome,” the Holy Father insisted.

Catholics hold Chinese flags at Pope Francis' Mass in Mongolia's Steppe Arena in Ulaanbaatar on Sept. 4, 2023. Colm Flynn/EWTN

Catholics from mainland China and across Asia in Mongolia for Mass with Pope Francis

Sep 3, 2023 / 03:30 am

While 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 meets with local priests and religious of Mongolia, which includes only 25 priests (19 religious and six diocesan), 33 women religious, and one bishop — Cardinal Giorgio Marengo — in Ulaanbaatar’s Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul on Sept. 2, 2023. Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis tells Mongolia’s tiny Catholic community that ‘God loves littleness’

Sep 2, 2023 / 07:23 am

“Brothers and sisters, do not be concerned about small numbers, limited success, or apparent irrelevance,” Pope Francis assured missionaries in Mongolia.

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Pope calls grieving mother of son who died at WYD: ‘He comforted me as if he were my dad’

Aug 19, 2023 / 09:41 am

Pope Francis called the mother of a young man, Luca Re Sartù, 24, who has passed away after apparently contracting a bacterial staph infection.

Pope Francis takes selfies with volunteers after closing Mass for WYD2023 in Lisbon, Aug 6, 2023. Photo credit: Vatican Media

After closing Mass, pope ends World Youth Day trip by meeting volunteers to say thanks

Aug 6, 2023 / 12:25 pm

After celebrating Mass for WYD 2023 with an estimated 1.5 million pilgrims in Lisbon, the pope thanked the many volunteers who made the event possible.

Pope Francis offers Mass in Bari, Italy on Feb. 23, 2020. Daniel Ibanez/CNA.

Vatican announces Pope Francis’ Marseille visit schedule

Jul 29, 2023 / 08:55 am

In September, the pope will travel to France to meet with young people and bishops from around the world at the Mediterranean Encounter.

Pope Francis presides over a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on July 23, 2023, for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Pablo Esparza/EWTN

Now hear this: St. Peter’s Basilica upgrades its sound system

Jul 23, 2023 / 08:30 am

The new system debuted at the July 23 papal Mass for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

Pope Francis is flanked by a grandmother and grandson during his Angelus reflection on July 23, 2023, in honor of the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Vatican Media

Here’s a beautiful prayer you can say on the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2023

Jul 23, 2023 / 08:00 am

The prayer from the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life invokes Mary’s intercession.

Pope Francis blesses a woman in St. Peter's Basilica, where he presided over a special papal Mass on July 23, 2023, marking the third annual World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Vatican Media

Pope Francis celebrates World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

Jul 23, 2023 / 07:25 am

Calling for “a new bond between the young and old,” Pope Francis marked the third annual World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on Sunday.

Pope Francis at the Angelus from St. Peter's, July 9, 2023. Vatican News

Pope Francis: Do we allow ourselves to be amazed at God’s works?

Jul 9, 2023 / 07:09 am

The Holy Father prayed the Angelus from St. Peter’s, recalling Jesus’ praise for the Father for revealing his wonders to the “little children.”

The altar of Sant’Agata in the Milan Cathedral. Credit: Roberto Morabito Italy/Shutterstock

Why June 29 is a good day to consider the legend of St. Peter and St. Agatha

Jun 29, 2023 / 01:00 am

A painting in the Milan cathedral depicts a Christian legend that is not particularly well known.

Biblical characters, Noah, David, Melchizedek, and Judith, process through the streets of Valencia, Spain, during the Corpus Christi procession, June 11, 2023 Credit: Photo courtesy of Rachel Thomas

PHOTOS: Corpus Christi procession in Valencia, Spain, continues to catechize

Jun 12, 2023 / 15:45 pm

Valencia’s first Corpus Christi procession has been an annual affair since 1372.

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for the recitation of the Regina Caeli on May 7, 2023. Vatican Media

Pope Francis: Jesus calls us to set our sights on heaven

May 7, 2023 / 06:30 am

Pope Francis on Sunday warned against the danger of living life without a sense of purpose or a destination to set our course by.

Pope Francis stands on an altar erected outside the Parliament Building in Budapest's Kossuth Lajos' Square during a public outdoor Mass on April 30, 2023. Vatican Media

The Good Shepherd calls us to ‘open our hearts to love,’ Pope Francis says at Mass in Hungary

Apr 30, 2023 / 05:47 am

Some 50,000 people attended a public outdoor Mass with Pope Francis in Budapest on Sunday.

Pope Francis smiles during a meeting on April 29, 2023, with children and adults who are visually impaired and have other disabilities at a Catholic institute in Budapest, Hungary, dedicated to Blessed László Batthyány-Strattmann. Vatican Media

Pope Francis visits with children in Budapest with visual impairments

Apr 29, 2023 / 07:08 am

At the end of the visit, the children and residents presented the pope with a handmade gift.