(CNA)—Queen Elizabeth II passed away today, on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Royal Family already had gathered in Balmoral Castle Thursday amid concerns for Queen Elizabeth II’s health, Catholic bishops in England and Wales have offered their prayers for her and her family. Queen Elizabeth, who turned 96 in…
CNA—A Vatican policy published Tuesday says that the Holy See’s financial investments cannot contradict Catholic teaching. The policy stipulates that Vatican investments should “be aligned with the teachings of the Catholic Church, with specific exclusions for financial investments which contradict its fundamental principles, such as the sanctity of life or the dignity of the human…
CNA—Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas has said he is “sad” over the way Pope Francis has handled the controversy surrounding the pro-abortion actions of President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose positions on the issue are at sharp odds with the teaching of their Catholic faith on the sanctity of…
CNA—Pope Francis has described it as an “incoherence” that President Joe Biden, a Catholic, is in favor of legal abortion. During an interview with Univisión and Televisa broadcast July 12, 2022, Pope Francis spoke about abortion and Biden’s position, after being asked about whether to admit politicians who promote legal abortion to Holy Communion. The…
CNA—The European Parliament has called on the Vatican “to give full support to Cardinal Zen” and told the Holy See it should “strengthen its diplomatic efforts and its leverage on the Chinese authorities”. In a resolution passed on July 7, the parliament condemned the arrest of the 90-year-old former bishop of Hong Kong by Chinese…
The Order of Malta on Tuesday announced the death of Fra’ Marco Luzzago, who had led the 1,000-year-old institution since 2020. In a June 7 statement, the order said that the 71-year-old died after a “sudden illness” at Villa Ciccolini in the Italian province of Macerata. The Italian medical doctor, who was related to Pope…
On Sunday, the Feast of Pentecost, likely terrorist gunmen targeted, massacred and injured a significant number of Catholics celebrating Holy Mass in Ondo state, south-west Nigeria. “We were about to round off service. I had even asked people to start leaving, that was how we started hearing gunshots from different angles,” recounted Father Andrew Abayomi,…
CNA—Cardinal Angelo Becciu said Wednesday that he is blameless in the forced resignation of a Vatican auditor, because it came at Pope Francis’ request. Becciu was said to be responsible for the sudden firing in 2017 of the Vatican’s first auditor general, Libero Milone, as well as the cancelation of an internal audit. But during…
The Consecration of Russia and the Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary by the Pope and the bishops throughout the world, joined by the laity, will take place today, on the Solemnity of the Annunciation: March 25, 2022. The Holy Father has asked the Faithful of the world to join him and the bishops…
Vatican News—The Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary will be pronounced by the Pope on the afternoon of Friday 25 March in St Peter’s Basilica. The act of consecration will be performed in communion with the local Churches throughout the world. In response to questions from journalists, the director of…
Vatican News—Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Friday, 25 March, during the Celebration of Penance that he will preside over at 5pm in St Peter’s Basilica. The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, said in a statement: “The same act, on the same day,…
CNA, Arecibo, Puerto Rico—Bishop Daniel Fernández Torres, who was relieved Wednesday of his office as Bishop of Arecibo, said that he feels “blessed to suffer persecution and calumny.” In a letter published on the Diocese of Arecibos’ website shortly after the Holy See Press Office announced Pope Francis’ decision, Bishop Fernández Torres, 57, stated that…
Vatican News (by Tiziana Campisi and Felipe Herrera)—As concerns about the war in Ukraine grow around the world, Cardinals Kurt Koch and Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot – presidents respectively of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue – joined the appeal for peace launched by the Pope…
CNA—Pope Francis has issued a decree confirming that the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) can continue to use the liturgical books in force in 1962, according to the traditionalist group. In a communique published Feb. 21, the FSSP said that Pope Francis met with two members of the priestly fraternity for nearly an hour,…
CNA—At his general audience in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on Feb. 9, the pope said that this ethical principle was valid not only for Christians but for everyone. He expressed gratitude for palliative care, which seeks to improve the quality of life of people suffering from severe illnesses. “However, we must be careful not…
CNA—Nearly 2,800 supporters of the Traditional Latin Mass have signed a petition addressed to Bishop Michael Burbidge (featured image) of Arlington in Virginia. The organizer tells Catholic News Agency (CNA) he delivered that petition to the bishop’s office on Monday. The document asks Burbidge to lift restrictions he recently imposed on the celebration of the…
Vatican News, CNA, CBJ—Pope Francis spoke to a group of French entrepreneurs meeting at the Vatican on January 7. He focused on how to apply the Gospel values in their work and businesses, saying “the Church needs your witness,” and offering teachings to help “carry out your role as leaders according to the heart of…
Inspiring words of Sr. Constance Veit, Little Sisters of the Poor, at the May 2016 National Catholic Prayer Breakfast— During the legal journey that led up to our day at the Supreme Court many people offered us advice and support. Three counsels stuck with me and have strongly influenced my life in the last few…
CNA—Pope Francis highlighted “the beauty of Mary’s heart” in his Angelus address on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. The pope said on Dec. 8 that the Blessed Virgin Mary’s encounter with the Angel Gabriel, described in St. Luke’s Gospel, revealed her deep humility. “Within the domestic walls, a person reveals him or herself better…
CNA—The apostolic nuncio to South Sudan has announced the postponement of the episcopal ordination of a Catholic bishop-elect who is recovering from gunshot wounds. Bishop-elect Christian Carlassare was due to be consecrated as bishop of Rumbek, central South Sudan, on May 23, Pentecost Sunday. But the episcopal ordination was postponed after he was shot in…
