News

Pope to formally proclaim holy year in front of basilica’s Holy Door

Portions of the document will be read in front of the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica April 11, the Vatican announced. The Holy Door, usually bricked up, is opened at the beginning of a jubilee year.

Ten years after his death, St. John Paul’s example lives on, pope says

Speaking to pilgrims at the end of his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square April 1, the pope highlighted the spiritual legacy of his predecessor, whom he canonized together with St. John XXIII in April 2014.

Christian leaders call for end to ‘profound evil’ of the death penalty

"Torture and execution is always a profound evil, made even more abhorrent when sanctioned by the government in the name of justice when other means of protecting society are available," said the statement released March 31.

Faith leaders call on U.S. to halt ‘inhumane’ family detention policy

Five Catholic and Evangelical Lutheran bishops traveled to the Dilley Detention Center in south Texas March 27 and visited with families -- young mothers with children from Central America -- who are being detained there.

With Armenian Catholics, pope will declare new ‘doctor of church’

Pope Francis formally will proclaim a 10th-century Armenian monk as a doctor of the church when he celebrates a liturgy April 12 with leaders and faithful of the Armenian Catholic Church.

Speakers propose ways to foster solidarity, fight ‘global indifference’

The causes of what Pope Francis has called the "globalization of indifference" are numerous: material prosperity that leads people to be unaware of the suffering around them, selfishness that causes people to ignore those in need, or a sense of hopelessness that paralyzes action.

Art teacher, Sister Mary Deborah Abel, dies at 69

Born in San Diego and raised in St. Clement Parish in Philadelphia, the I.H.M. sister taught art in schools of the Philadelphia Archdiocese and Camden diocese.

Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral welcomes all for visitation and prayer

The golden-domed Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia offers special hours for Holy Week. Byzantine icons, mosaics, relics and a Shroud of Turin replica are on view.

Today’s teaching on the family

See the daily excerpt from the preparatory catechesis for the 2015 World Meeting of Families, “Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive.”

‘Golden thread’ links Holy Year of Mercy and St. Faustina Kowalska

The rector of a Rome sanctuary dedicated to Divine Mercy said he sees a "golden thread" connecting the upcoming Holy Year of Mercy and the message Jesus conveyed to St. Faustina Kowalska nearly 85 years ago.