A young Italian priest given special permission to be ordained two years before he finished his seminary studies has died of cancer. Fr Salvatore Mellone, 38, from Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie archdiocese, died on June 29, two and a half months after he was ordained. When he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, the young priest was given special Read more
The criticisms of Pope Francis’ economic vision have been harsh and unrelenting: National Review says “Laudato No,” Maureen Mullarkey in The Federalist called it “An Extravagant Rant” and David Brooks in The New York Times echoes their basic premise: The growth that lifted so many from poverty in the past century would not have happened Read more
Pope Francis has said the Catholic Church should not have “leaders for life” in its ranks. Otherwise it would risk being like a country under a dictatorship, he told 30,000 people at a rally in St Peter’s Square on July 3. “There should be a time limit to positions (in the Church), which in reality Read more
In the days just before its publication, those involved in drafting the pope’s controversial eco-encyclical Laudato Si’ were much exercised about how it would be received by conservative critics. But Pope Francis, Vatican insiders tell me, was unfazed. He remains so in the face of the onslaught of criticism that has indeed ensued. The pope’s Read more
Questions are being raised about the spending decisions of a controversial Paraguayan bishop whom Pope Francis forced to resign. Bishop Rogelio Livieres Plano was told to step down last year as head of the diocese of Ciudad del Este. At the time, the Vatican cited unspecified “serious pastoral reasons”. The dismissal came after Francis sent Read more
Pope Francis is to have a reduced schedule in Rome this month, the Vatican has announced. There will be no Wednesday general audience for July, although the Pope will continue his Sunday address and Angelus prayer. During July, all audiences with the Pope are expected to be suspended, other than a meeting with members of Read more
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith might not consider a commission’s report on the Medjugorje phenomenon until after the northern summer. There had been a report in Italian media that the CDF had considered the report – by a commission led by Cardinal Camillo Ruini – at a “feria quarta” meeting on June Read more
Pope Francis has criticised “worldly pastors” who say and do great things, but who do not listen. Preaching on June 25 regarding Jesus’ authoritative teaching, the Pope said there are three things to look for to distinguish true preachers of the Gospel from false prophets. These are: How do they speak, what do they do Read more
The unvarnished truths of the Gospel, compellingly written and lovingly interpreted, make Laudato Si’ an unforgettable document. I began reading it, fascinated as to what Pope Francis would make of the science and politics of climate change. I continued simply overwhelmed by the direct evangelical call to action, personal and collective. The encyclical is no Read more
The Vatican’s nine communications offices are to be consolidated under the authority of a new Secretariat for Communications. Pope Francis announced the new secretariat with a motu proprio, promulgated on June 27. The new dicastery will oversee the all of the Vatican’s communications offices, including Vatican Radio, L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican Television Centre, the Holy Read more