Catholic Church

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Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa prays in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem Dec. 4, 2020. Screenshot from livestream

Patriarch Pizzaballa makes solemn entry into the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem

Dec 4, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa made a solemn entry into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre Friday as the new Latin Patriarch... Read more

Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, in Rome on Oct. 23, 2019.

Vatican guide for bishops addresses common challenges to Christian unity

Dec 4, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Vatican published Friday a guide with suggestions for Catholic bishops to promote unity with other Christian communities, and offering... Read more

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the day after a massive fire damaged parts of the roof and structure in April 2019.

Notre-Dame choir to return to fire-damaged cathedral for Christmas concert

Dec 4, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Notre-Dame Cathedral choir will return to the damaged cathedral on Christmas Eve to perform a concert that will be broadcast... Read more

Benedict XVI addresses new cardinals at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery at the Vatican on Nov. 28, 2020.

Benedict XVI has not lost his voice, says Archbishop Gänswein

Dec 4, 2020

Archbishop Georg Gänswein has denied media reports that Benedict XVI has lost his voice.  Read more

Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, S.J., addresses a rally at World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain, Aug. 16, 2011.

Pope Francis accepts resignation of Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast at age of 76

Dec 4, 2020

Pope Francis accepted Friday the resignation of 76-year-old Canadian Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, S.J., and confirmed his successor as Archbishop of... Read more

Pope Francis, pictured on April 17, 2013.

Pope Francis establishes worldwide prayer network as Vatican body

Dec 4, 2020

Pope Francis has established the global network that promotes his monthly prayer intentions as a Vatican body.  Read more

Giuseppe Dalla Torre died Dec. 3, 2020 at the age of 77. CNA file photo.

Former Vatican court president Giuseppe Dalla Torre dies at 77

Dec 3, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Giuseppe Dalla Torre, a jurist who retired last year after more than 20 years as president of the Vatican City... Read more

Sainte-Chapelle, the 13th-century chapel built by French King Louis IX to house Christ's crown of thorns.

Catholic bishops welcome ‘realistic’ new measures for public Masses in France

Dec 3, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Bishops in France have welcomed new government measures that will allow more people to attend public Masses during Advent.   Read more

Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, president of the Polish bishops’ conference, pictured in Warsaw Feb. 12, 2020.

Polish Catholic leader to European Parliament: There can be no compromise on the right to life

Dec 3, 2020

A Catholic archbishop spoke out Wednesday after the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning Poland’s pro-life laws.   Read more

Pope Francis, pictured on Oct. 19, 2014.

Pope Francis: Disabled people must have access to the sacraments, Catholic parish life

Dec 3, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

People with disabilities must have access to the sacraments, and as missionary disciples, the ability to be full and active... Read more

Fr. Matthew Dajo, who was kidnapped Nov. 22 in Nigeria's Abuja archdiocese. Public Domain.

Catholic priest in Nigeria released after being held captive for 10 days

Dec 3, 2020

By Courtney Mares

A priest who was kidnapped in Nigeria has been released after being held captive for 10 days.   Read more

Pope Francis blesses an ambulance entrusted to the Office of Papal Charities.

Pope Francis’ ambulance brings free flu shots and coronavirus tests to the homeless

Dec 3, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis’ charity brought free flu vaccines and coronavirus tests to homeless people living in a town outside Rome on... Read more

Pope Francis touches a statue of Our Lady of Luján at his general audience in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace Dec. 2, 2020.

Pope Francis prays for victims of Islamist attack in Nigeria that left 30 beheaded

Dec 2, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis said Wednesday that he was praying for Nigeria following a massacre of at least 110 farmers in which... Read more

The statue of the Immaculate Conception overlooking the Spanish Steps in Rome.

Rome’s Franciscans to provide ‘blessing from afar’ on Immaculate Conception feast

Dec 2, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Conventual Franciscans said they will be present at a statue of the Immaculate Conception in the center of Rome to... Read more

The interior of the Basilica of Our Lady of Geneva in Switzerland.

Switzerland’s Catholic bishops lament record exodus from Church in 2019

Dec 2, 2020

Bishops in Switzerland lamented Wednesday a record exodus of Catholics from the Church in 2019.  Read more

A view of the facade of St. Peter's Basilica from the Vatican's Apostolic Palace.

Council of Cardinals studies suggested amendments to draft of Vatican constitution

Dec 2, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis’ Council of Cardinals met online Tuesday to continue work on the new apostolic constitution to govern the Roman... Read more

Pope Francis speaks at a general audience in the apostolic library.

Pope Francis: God is patient and never stops waiting for a sinner’s conversion

Dec 2, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis said Wednesday that God does not wait for us to stop sinning to start loving us, but always... Read more

A German police officer in front of a crowd.

Catholic diocese prays for the dead and injured after car plows into pedestrians in Trier

Dec 1, 2020

A German Catholic diocese said Tuesday that it was praying for the dead and injured after a car plowed into... Read more

The Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp, Belgium.

No public Masses until January for Belgian Catholics

Dec 1, 2020

Belgium’s Catholic bishops called Tuesday for dialogue with the government after it decreed that public Masses would remain suspended until... Read more

Pope Francis records a video message for judges released Nov. 30, 2020. Screenshot from Vatican News YouTube channel.

Pope Francis: Be God’s people, not God’s elite

Dec 1, 2020

Catholics are called to be God’s people, not God’s elite, Pope Francis said in a video message Monday.  Read more