News

Mary foretold COVID-19 pandemic, alleged visionary claims

An Italian woman who claims to regularly experience supernatural visions said Mary told her in September 2019 that a new disease would soon emerge from China.

Vatican says baptisms that change wording are not valid

The formula "We baptize you," signifying the family at a baptism, renders it invalid and must be redone. Only "I baptize you..." is valid because it indicates the presence of Christ in the action of the minister.

On Hiroshima anniversary, pope calls survivors ‘prophetic voices’ of peace

"For peace to flourish, all people need to lay down the weapons of war," Pope Francis said on the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan.

Pope names six women to previously all-male Council for Economy

The six women and one man, all European, were named the lay members of the board that oversees the financial operations of all Vatican offices and entities.

Lebanon’s Catholic leaders seek help; here’s where you can donate

The Aug. 4 explosion in Beirut left 130 people dead and 300,000 homeless. Maronite Catholics are the largest Christian group in Lebanon, and in the U.S., two Maronite bishops appealed for help.

Church leaders seek aid for Catholic students in coronavirus relief bill

Top U.S. bishops appealed to Congress to include financial support for families to send their children to Catholic and non-public schools in a coronavirus relief bill currently being negotiated.

John Hume, peacemaker in Northern Ireland, dies at 83

Remembered as "a paragon of peace, a giant of a statesman," he convinced the Provisional IRA to declare a cease-fire in 1994 and helped build the Good Friday peace agreement in 1998.

Local Lebanese Catholics unite in prayer, tears after Beirut blast

Some two dozen gathered for an Aug. 5 liturgy at St. Maron Maronite Catholic Church in South Philadelphia to support a nation reeling from recent tragedy and ongoing crisis.

Woman with disabilities takes her place at the boardroom table

Catherine McCrorey, a longtime resident of the Communities of Don Guanella and Divine Providence, brings decades of work experience to her role as a client advocate.

‘These were innocent children,’ archbishop says of South Sudan murders

Three girls -- ages 9, 7 and 4 -- were killed while watching television alone in their home while their mother shopped at a market. Recent murders and abductions of children highlight rampant insecurity in the country.