World News
COVID-19 causing a ‘parallel pandemic’ for kids, Vatican says
Two new Vatican documents outlined the situation children and adolescents are facing worldwide and how governments, communities and the church can respond -- especially by keeping schools and parish programs open.
COVID-19 vaccines present ‘no ethical problem,’ says head of papal academy
The Vatican has reaffirmed its support of COVID-19 vaccines with both the head of the Pontifical Academy for Life and a Holy See communique insisting that getting inoculated is "an act of love," while refusing them is irresponsible.
Cardinal Turkson exits; pope names Canadian cardinal for key post
Pope Francis has named Cardinal Michael Czerny to lead the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, formed in 2017. The move ends Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson's five-year term of service.
Lebanese religious leaders stress unity after meeting with U.N. chief
Cardinal Bechara Rai was among those who greeted U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres during his visit to the crisis-stricken country, where 78% now live below the poverty line.
Caritas appeals for aid after typhoon claims over 200 lives in Philippines
The relief agency is urgently seeking donations to support relief efforts in the wake of Super Typhoon Rai, one of the deadliest to hit Southeast Asia.
Cardinal Turkson says he offered to resign at end of his term
The 73-year-old cardinal, the only African currently heading a major Vatican office, is awaiting word on whether he'll remain at a key dicastery or take on a new position.
Vatican answers questions on limits regarding pre-Vatican II Mass
In a Dec. 18 document, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments affirmed Pope Francis' July 2021 apostolic letter restricting permission to celebrate the older form of the liturgy.
Human rights groups raise alarm over new atrocities in Western Tigray
International observers warned of mass detentions, killings and forced expulsions of ethnic Tigrayans in Ethiopia, as Catholic Church leaders expressed concerns over the detention of priests, nuns and lay Catholics.
Many women fear their voices will be ignored in synod, speakers say
The synod process, which promotes what Pope Francis calls a "synodal church," is calling for change and change can bring fear, said a religious sister and official with the Synod of Bishops during the "Women in Synodality" conference.
Decline in vocations is a call to be humble, pope tells Jesuits
The decrease of vocations to religious life, including in the Society of Jesus, is a lesson in "beautiful humiliation" and a reminder that a calling to religious life depends on God, Pope Francis told Jesuits in Greece.