The extraordinary story of the Ulma family is one of faith, courage, and heroic love of neighbor. Józef and Wiktoria Ulma risked their lives to protect three Jewish families during the Holocaust. On the night of March 24, 1944, German Nazis raided their farmhouse and cruelly shot all of the Jews the Ulmas were hiding…
Vatican News—A political analyst engaged in helping Mongolia implement democracy and human rights shines a light on the current socio-political challenges in the country, and upholds its commitment to protect freedom of religion and the rights of religious minorities. Pope Francis’ historic Apostolic Visit to Mongolia would have been unimaginable during Mongolia’s communist period “where…
Pope Francis is visiting Mongolia from Aug. 31–Sept. 4. Mongolia is one of the world’s largest landlocked nations, sandwiched between its much larger and more powerful neighbors, China and Russia. It has one of the smallest Christian communities in the world with 1,450 Catholics. Here are a few highlights: A special Virgin Mary statue Pope…
The Holy Father Pope Francis today named Msgr. Albert Bahhuth, Ph.D., Father Matthew Elshoff, OFM. Cap., Father Brian Nunes, and Father Slawomir Szkredka, Ph.D., S.S.D., auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Archbishop José H. Gomez and the bishops-elect addressed the L.A. media on the Pope’s announcement at a press conference today, at 10…
Vatican News, CNA—The Vatican has published the names of those participating in the upcoming Synod on Synodality assembly in October, including laypeople who will be full voting delegates at a Catholic Church synod for the first time. The delegates are made up of representatives selected by bishops’ conferences and Eastern Catholic Churches, leaders in the…
The announcement on July 1 that Pope Francis has named Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández to lead the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith was accompanied by a letter the Holy Father addressed to the Argentine theologian. While Fernández’s appointment came as a surprise to many, the pope’s letter also has attracted attention because of…
Pope Francis has named Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández, his longtime personal theologian and ghostwriter, to lead the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Argentine prelate succeeds Cardinal Luis Ladaria Ferrer, SJ, 79, who has been prefect of the dicastery since 2017. Fernández, almost 61, will take up his new post in the middle…
CNA, CBJ—The Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops has completed a formal investigation of Bishop Joseph E. Strickland and the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, according to multiple media reports and confirmed by EWTN News. Apolstolic Visitation The inquiry, known as an apostolic visitation, marks a rare though not unprecedented intervention by Rome into a U.S. diocese and…
Vatican News — “I encourage you to continue your efforts to contribute to a revival of faith in, and love for, the Holy Eucharist, the “source and summit of the Christian life.” With these words, Pope Francis expressed his gratitude to the members of the Committee preparing for the forthcoming National Eucharistic Congress in the…
Pope Francis is recovering from abdominal surgery this week in the same hospital room where St. John Paul II was treated throughout his pontificate. The Vatican said on June 8 that Francis is “in good general condition, alert and breathing naturally” one day after his three-hour surgery to treat an incisional hernia. Pope Francis is…
According to a June 6, 2023, article by Religion News Service, the Vatican bank—once a symbol of financial malfeasance—has successfully rebranded itself as a pillar of transparency at the Vatican. The late Cardinal Pell of Australia, at the behest of Pope Francis, played a major role in radically transforming the Vatican bank policies and practices.…
American layman Curtis Martin, founder of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), was named by Pope Francis to serve along with 13 other consultors as advisors to the members of the Dicastry of Evangelization. Since FOCUS was founded in 1998, it has grown to have hundreds of full-time student missionaries who serve tens of…
CNA—In the late summer and fall of 2016, central Italy was devastated by several powerful earthquakes. Numerous historic churches and buildings were destroyed in the quakes — including one of the oldest monastic complexes in Italy, the Abbey of Sant’Eutizio, whose bell tower and church roof collapsed. One of the Benedictine abbey’s artworks, a crucifix…
As a college student, someone led me to Introduction to the Devout Life, penned by St. Francis de Sales. It quickly became my anchor throughout my life, but especially as a young adult. Why? Because St. Francis de Sales is a master of the spiritual life. His writing style is direct, simple and clear. More…
CNA, CBJ—The late Cardinal George Pell’s funeral Mass drew thousands of mourners, filling Sydney’s St. Mary’s Cathedral to capacity. Civic leaders, friends and members of Pell’s family remembered the Australian cardinal’s dedication to the Church and the Gospel, in addition to his courage in the face of many obstacles, including more than a year in…
NEW YORK, January 13 (C-Fam)— In his annual address to foreign diplomats at the Holy See Pope Francis criticized Western countries and the UN for promoting gender ideology and abortion. He told the ambassadors that education “requires showing integral respect for the person, and for his or her natural physiognomy, and avoiding the imposition of…
The following is the full text of Pope Francis’ homily for the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica on Jan. 6, 2023. Like a rising star (cf. Num 24:17), Jesus comes to enlighten all peoples and to brighten the nights of humanity. Today, with the Magi, let us lift…
Vatican News/CNA—Two Catholic priests killed by Nazis while ministering to the dying amid the Boves massacre were beatified as martyrs on Sunday in northern Italy. See two very short videos at the end of this article featuring actual footage of these inspiring priests. In the face of grave danger, Father Giuseppe Bernardi and Father Mario…
CNA—Pope Francis on Monday called on entrepreneurs to be “prophets“ and to continue to transform the economy. “We are living in an era of notorious economic and social imbalances,” the pope told members of two Spanish associations of entrepreneurs at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on Oct. 17. It was “urgent to propose a suitable economy…
The former grand chancellor of the Order of Malta has written a letter to members calling for unity while also expressing concern over the new constitution promulgated by Pope Francis. Albrecht von Boeselager asked members not to abandon the Church or the Order of Malta in a letter sent to all the confreres. Instead, the former grand chancellor called…
