News
Relics of a saintly ‘sign of hope’ come to South Philadelphia
St. Maron Church in Philadelphia, of the Maronite Catholic rite, welcomed the remains of St. Sharbel, which drew up to 800 visitors last weekend to share the faith of which the saintly monk was a witness.
Vatican to undertake ecological initiatives during Easter season
The Governorate of Vatican City State announced March 18 that the thousands of floral arrangements for the Easter morning Mass and the pope's solemn blessing "urbi et orbi" will be repurposed after the celebrations.
Christians concerned with Israeli restrictions for Holy Week, Easter
Israeli restrictions on reaching the Church of the Holy Sepulcher for Holy Week and Easter are part of the current Israeli government's policy of making Jerusalem an exclusively Jewish city.
‘Laudato Si” connects Catholic tradition, natural world and science
A panel pointed to the need to ignite "awe and wonder" in people so that they begin to understand the transformation that Pope Francis is calling the human family to undertake.
Don’t let the devil divide us, pope tells Neocatechumenal Way
The church is holy, but the devil loves to tempt its human members to be proud and judgmental, which sows division, Pope Francis told members of the Neocatechumenal Way.
Pope may visit Armenia in June, Vatican says
Of the country's 3 million inhabitants, the Vatican says about 280,000 are Catholic, belonging either to the Latin-rite or to the Armenian Catholic Church, an Eastern church in full communion with Rome.
Catholic aid official: Boko Haram disrupts church life in Cameroon
A Catholic aid official warned that church life faces "grave disruption" from Boko Haram in Cameroon after a local bishop confirmed the Nigeria-based group had caused a "psychosis of fear."
How to ‘green’ parishes focus of archdiocese’s ‘Laudato Si” initiative
The workshop is designed to engage members of parish and school communities around the messages of the encyclical and give them the inspiration and tools to evaluate the environmental sustainability of parish activities.
As Syria war drags on, Vatican official notes sense of helplessness
"Crimes against humanity are frequent and unpunished; intentional attacks against the civilian population are daily," said Msgr. Richard Gyhra, charge d'affaires at the Vatican's observer mission to U.N. agencies in Geneva.
Kerry says Islamic State is committing genocide against minorities
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the Islamic State had self-defined itself as genocidal because of its actions against Yezidis, Christians, Shiite Muslims and other minorities.