COVID-19

The Latest

Religious sisters pray during the Regina caeli with Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square May 2, 2021.

Masks no longer necessary inside churches in Spain

Apr 20, 2022

By ACI Prensa

Given the improvement in the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, a Royal Decree published Wednesday states that the... Read more

Rosa Lalor.

Grandmother challenges fine for ‘solitary prayer walk’ during COVID-19 lockdown

Apr 14, 2022

By CNA Staff

‘I’m taking a stand to protect fundamental freedoms for all people,’ said Rosa Lalor. Read more

Pope Francis gives an extraordinary Urbi et Orbi blessing from the entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica, March 27, 2020.

Pope Francis marks two years since Urbi et Orbi to end pandemic

Mar 27, 2022

By CNA Staff

After his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Francis remarked that it was the second anniversary of his offering an Urbi... Read more

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Despite new law allowing hospital clergy visits, some Arizona patients can still face difficulties

Mar 4, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

A new Arizona law strengthened the ability of hospital patients to receive clergy visitors, but reports that some patients still... Read more

CNA

Chicago-area Catholic principal who defied mask mandate won't return to school, pastor says

Feb 17, 2022

By Christine Rousselle

A principal at a Catholic school who was placed on leave after he defied the Archdiocese of Chicago's mask mandate... Read more

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Washington archdiocese drops mask mandate in Maryland schools

Feb 16, 2022

By Christine Rousselle

Following an outcry from parents, the Archdiocese of Washington has reportedly decided to permit its schools in Maryland to go... Read more

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Parents of Washington archdiocese schoolchildren urge end to mandatory masking

Feb 11, 2022

By Christine Rousselle

Parents of children enrolled in Archdiocese of Washington schools have begun a campaign to urge the archdiocese to align mask... Read more

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Boston Catholic schools to drop mask mandate

Feb 11, 2022

By Carl Bunderson

The Archdiocese of Boston announced Wednesday, the same day the Massachusetts governor lifted a state school mask mandate, that school... Read more

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Archdiocese of Chicago shifts course on school mask mandate

Feb 10, 2022

By Christine Rousselle

Catholic schools across much of the Archdiocese of Chicago (but not in the city of Chicago) can now make masks... Read more

Cardinal Gérald Lacroix, Archbishop of Quebec, speaks at the International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest, Hungary, Sept. 7, 2021.

Quebec bishops lament government's COVID vaccine passport for Mass attendance

Feb 9, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

The Catholic bishops of Quebec, while registering their opposition to the province's imposition of COVID-19 vaccine passports as a requirement... Read more

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Chicago archdiocese will continue to require masks in schools, while other Illinois dioceses drop requirement 

Feb 7, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

Following an Illinois judge’s Friday ruling that nullified a statewide mask mandate for schools, the superintendent of schools for the... Read more

Pope Francis welcomes members of the Italian Association of Leather Chemists during an audience in the Clementine Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Palace on January 29, 2022.

Pope Francis to workers: Turn to St Joseph during Covid-19 pandemic

Jan 29, 2022

By Katie Yoder

Pope Francis encouraged workers to turn to St. Joseph for guidance during the Covid-19 pandemic, during an audience at the... Read more

Pope Francis takes part in the Roman Curia’s Lenten retreat in Ariccia, Italy, on March 6-10, 2016. Credit: Vatican Media.

Roman Curia’s annual Lenten retreat changed again due to COVID-19

Jan 20, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Curial officials will make their own arrangements for a private Lenten retreat. Read more

Cardinal Pietro Parolin attends an ordination at the Basilica of Sant'Eugenio in Rome, Sept. 5, 2020.

Cardinal Parolin and Archbishop Peña Parra test positive for COVID-19

Jan 18, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Parolin has ‘very mild’ symptoms, while Peña Parra is asymptomatic. Read more

Pro-life poster

March for Life: What about bathrooms? Food? We’ve got answers here

Jan 16, 2022

By Katie Yoder, Christine Rousselle

The 49th Annual March for Life is going on as planned on Jan. 21 in Washington, D.C. Here's what you... Read more

Brother Guy Consolmagno, S.J., pictured on March 3, 2012.

Vatican astronomer: ‘Trust the science’ does not convince those who most need to be convinced

Jan 14, 2022

By CNA Staff

Brother Guy Consolmagno said the phrase left him ‘puzzled.’ Read more

President Joe Biden announces the vaccine mandate at the White House on Sept. 9, 2021

Supreme Court halts Biden vaccine-or-test policy for businesses, allows mandate for health care workers

Jan 13, 2022

By Shannon Mullen, Katie Yoder

The Supreme Court has blocked President Joe Biden's sweeping vaccine-or-test mandate for private sector businesses, while allowing a new federal... Read more

The Vatican Museums.

New COVID-19 rules for visitors to Vatican Museums

Jan 13, 2022

By CNA Staff

The museums are a major source of revenue for the Holy See. Read more

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Italian bishop forbids unvaccinated priests from distributing Communion

Jan 11, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The new diocesan restrictions come as the Italian government has banned unvaccinated citizens from entering restaurants, public transportation, gyms, theaters,... Read more

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conceptionin Portland, Maine.    Credit: Kelly Lynn Butler/Shutterstock

Maine's Catholic churches will continue attendance at Mass, while ecumenical group urges online services

Jan 6, 2022

By Christine Rousselle

The Diocese of Portland will continue to permit attendance at Mass, even as the state’s Council of Churches has urged... Read more