COVID-19 and ecumenism: Pandemic prompts prayer, action
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The pandemic lockdowns and travel restrictions have had an impact on the Catholic Church’s relationships with other Christian churches, but the effects were not all bad….
‘Words can be kisses,’ but also ‘swords,’ pope writes in new book
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Silence, like words, can be a love language, Pope Francis wrote in a very short introduction to a new book in Italian. “Silence is one of…
Bedside care: Rome priest chronicles ministering while sick with COVID-19
ROME (CNS) — Before Nov. 19, Father Valerio Bortolotti’s Facebook posts had been the usual updates and reminders about parish activities, formation courses and video-recorded Masses outdoors with lax mask…
Papal trip to Argentina, Uruguay still on the table, pope tells ambassador
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis told Uruguay’s new ambassador to the Holy See that a future visit to the country as well as to his native Argentina is still…
UPDATE: Popes Francis, Benedict receive their first doses of COVID-19 vaccine
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Both Pope Francis and retired Pope Benedict XVI have received the first dose of the vaccine against COVID-19 after the Vatican started vaccinating its employees and…
Praising God purifies the soul, is like breathing ‘pure oxygen,’ pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — It may seem illogical, but Christians are called to give God praise — not complaints — in times of darkness and difficulty, Pope Francis said. Jesus…
For Ash Wednesday, Vatican asks priests to ‘sprinkle’ ashes on heads
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments asked priests to take special anti-COVID-19 precautions this year when distributing ashes on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17,…
In message for World Sick Day, pope calls for health care for all
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Praising those who help the sick and praying for those who are sick, Pope Francis called on Christians to practice what they preach, including by guaranteeing…
UPDATE: Pope amends canon law so women can be installed as lectors, acolytes
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Recognizing “the gifts of each baptized person” — women and men — Pope Francis ordered a change to canon law and liturgical norms so that women…
UPDATE: Pope says he was ‘astonished’ by violence at Capitol
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis offered prayers for the people of the United States “shaken by the recent siege on Congress” and prayed for the five people who lost…
