World News
Bishop hopeful new Venezuelan leader will continue to seek closer ties
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A Venezuelan bishop said he hoped efforts to improve relations between the country's Catholic Church and the socialist government will continue under newly elected President Nicolas Maduro. High-level meetings between the Venezuelan bishops' conference and the government, including Maduro, began last May in an effort "to foster a climate of peace" and to "reflect the dignity and independence of each institution," Bishop Jose Azuaje Ayala of El Vigia-San Carlos del Zulia, Venezuela, told Catholic News Service April 22 during a visit to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Italian media report progress in Blessed John Paul’s sainthood cause
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A Vatican-convoked commission of doctors concluded a healing attributed to Blessed John Paul II had no natural explanation, according to Italian news reports. Eventual papal approval of the alleged miracle would clear the way for the canonization of the pope, who died April 2, 2005, and was beatified May 1, 2011.
Catholic members of royal couples won’t have to raise kids Catholics
LONDON (CNS) — Church leaders have told the British government that members of the royal family who marry Catholics under recently passed legislation will not be obliged to bring up their children in the Catholic faith. Lord Wallace of Tankerness, speaking on behalf of the government, said he had been assured personally by Msgr. Marcus […]
One cannot follow Jesus, love Jesus without the church, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Following Jesus means belonging to the church, the community that gives Christians their identity, Pope Francis said. “It is not possible to find Jesus outside the church,” he said in his Mass homily April 23. “The great Paul VI said it is ‘an absurd dichotomy’ to want to live with Jesus […]
Vatican official says Archbishop Romero’s sainthood cause ‘unblocked’
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family and the official promoter of the sainthood cause of the late Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador, said the process to beatify and eventually canonize the slain Salvadoran archbishop has been unblocked.
Pope calls on Venezuelan leaders to resolve political crisis peacefully
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis called on Venezuela’s political leaders to resolve their differences through respectful dialogue and he urged the nation’s people to reject all forms of violence as the country seeks to move ahead. Venezuelans went to the polls April 14 to elect a successor to President Hugo Chavez, the socialist who […]
Following Jesus takes courage, pope says at morning Masses
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Following Jesus isn’t complicated, but it may take courage and it always requires recognizing that human beings aren’t God, Pope Francis said in two of his morning Mass homilies. The pope celebrated Mass April 20 with volunteers who work at a Vatican pediatric clinic for immigrants and for the poor, and […]
Pope ordains new priests, talks about learning to hear Jesus’ voice
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Before ordaining 10 men to the priesthood, Pope Francis prayed privately with them in the sacristy and entrusted them to Mary’s care. The private moment April 21 was a repeat of a practice he began as bishop before celebrating an ordination Mass, according to Vatican Radio. The 10 new priests — […]
Bishops’ leaders in France, Spain criticize promotion of gay marriage
OXFORD, England (CNS) -- Heads of Catholic bishops' conferences in France and Spain warned that the promotion of same-sex marriage could threaten social peace. "These long months of debate on the bill to allow marriage for persons of the same sex have highlighted predictable divisions," said Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois of Paris.
Citing financial problems, Vatican withholds election-year staff bonus
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In an austerity move like those being taken by governments around the world, the Vatican will not pay its employees a bonus marking the March 13 election of Pope Francis but will instead make a donation to charity. “In the past, on the occasion of the start of a pontificate, a […]