News
Pope sends second, personal note of condolence to Ukrainians
Saying he was moved by reports of tens of thousands of people gathering for a funeral procession for Ukrainian Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, who died May 31, Pope Francis sent a second message of condolence to the cardinal's successor.
Pope calls for month of prayer to renew passion for missionary outreach
Pope Francis called for an "extraordinary month of prayer and reflection" to reinvigorate and renew the missionary spirit and action of the Catholic Church during the month of October 2019.
Mercy toward others implies taking risks, suffering, pope says
Works of mercy are not a way of easing one's conscience but are acts of suffering with those who suffer, Pope Francis said.
Theologian: Luther’s post-Vatican II impact traceable to Middle Ages
Three issues that arose during Luther's time were what German theologian Johanna Rahner called "a turn toward a more inward, intensive form of piety," the growing prominence of the notion of being saved through one's faith, and a "growing discontent with the ways the church acts as a spiritual mediator.
Trump pushes travel ban to U.S. Supreme Court
The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking a way to implement the president's troubled executive order, which the other lower courts have blocked saying it unfairly targets Muslims, despite a revision.
Pentecost is celebration of unity in diversity, pope says
The Holy Spirit continues to give Christians different gifts and to call them to share those gifts with each other in a community marked by forgiveness and "unity in diversity," Pope Francis said on Pentecost.
Catholic organizations decry U.S. move to abandon climate accord
Catholic leaders said President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate change agreement snubs the needs of impoverished people around the world and avoids addressing the causes of global warming.
Vatican official urges use of language that builds trust among nations
Cardinal Peter Turkson, a top adviser to Pope Francis, questioned how well President Donald Trump's declarations of "America first" serve understanding across the broader global community.
Roman Catholic HS to expand campus with new arts center
The center city Philadelphia high school broke ground May 30 on a new arts facility, the first phase of a $25 million expansion geared to enhance the offerings for the school whose enrollment remains strong.
Graduations set for 17 archdiocesan Catholic high schools
The archdiocesan schools are in the midst of celebrating baccalaureate Masses and commencement exercises for the class of 2017 -- see our full list. Congratulations all graduates!