Coptic Patriarch to offer Orthodox Divine Liturgy in St. John Lateran Basilica

Coptic Patriarch to offer Orthodox Divine Liturgy in St. John Lateran Basilica

CNA—The head of the Coptic Church is scheduled to offer the Orthodox Divine Liturgy in the Catholic Archbasilica of St. John Lateran in Rome on May 14. According to Father Martin Browne, an official at the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, this liturgy will take place in the context of an official visit of…

Cardinal Zen meets Pope Francis, prays at Benedict XVI’s tomb

Cardinal Zen meets Pope Francis, prays at Benedict XVI’s tomb

CNA—Cardinal Joseph Zen met privately with Pope Francis on Friday after attending Benedict XVI’s funeral. The Hong Kong authorities temporarily released the passport of the 90-year-old cardinal, who was arrested last year under the city’s national security law, to allow him to travel to Rome. According to America Magazine, Zen met Pope Francis in the…

Was Peter’s Pence used to finance investments like the now infamous London property deal?

Was Peter’s Pence used to finance investments like the now infamous London property deal?

CNA—The Vatican’s “trial of the century”, scheduled to continue in September, has so far offered plenty of drama and raised numerous unanswered questions. One of the most sensitive, not just for Catholics who have donated money to the Vatican, is this: Was Peter’s Pence used to finance investments like the now infamous London property deal?…

Benedict XVI praying ‘fervently’ for Pope Francis’ recovery from surgery

Benedict XVI praying ‘fervently’ for Pope Francis’ recovery from surgery

CNA—Pope emeritus Benedict XVI is praying for Pope Francis after he underwent intestinal surgery on Sunday. Archbishop Georg Gänswein, Benedict’s personal secretary, told Italian media that the retired pope “lovingly directs his thoughts to Pope Francis and fervently prays for him,” the German section of Vatican News reported. Pope Francis is recovering at Rome’s Gemelli…

St. Dominic entrusted this Marian icon to nuns in Rome 800 years ago

St. Dominic entrusted this Marian icon to nuns in Rome 800 years ago

CNA—Eight hundred years ago, a barefoot St. Dominic carried an icon of the Virgin Mary across Rome to entrust the Marian image to a new community of cloistered nuns, who have safeguarded the icon within the walls of their convent to this day. The icon, known as the “Advocata,” can be found today in a…

HISTORY:  Mussolini and His Blackshirts March on Rome

HISTORY: Mussolini and His Blackshirts March on Rome

“Either the government will be given to us, or we will seize it by marching on Rome!” declared Mussolini. And his Fascists responded with the cry, Roma! Roma! Roma! The following text comes from the pre-eminent history textbook series for Catholic students, Volume:  “Light to the Nations II: The Making of the Modern World.” The…