No papal document in recent decades has generated as much pre-release interest as Laudato Si, an encyclical letter written by Pope Francis that the Vatican will release Thursday. Considering the author’s global popularity, the high profile created by his office, and the politically polarizing topic – the environment, especially his insistence on action on climate Read more
A charity established by Pope Francis has suspended a donations agreement with a football federation in the wake of the FIFA corruption scandals. The South American football federation CONMEBOL had pledged to donate US$10,000 to the Vatican charity Scholas Occurrentes for every goal scored during the Copa America, which began in Chile on June 11. Read more
In a new encyclical, Pope Francis has acknowledged “very solid scientific consensus” that humans are causing climate change that is endangering the planet. In Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home, released on June 18, Francis urged the world to embark upon a revolutionary ethical rethink and change of heart in its relationship with Read more
The Church likes to pretend that its current state is as it has always been, and it does this by reading history backwards, an historian writes. Practising Catholic and Pulitzer Prize winner Garry Wills argues this in his latest book, titled: “The Future of the Church with Pope Francis”. “Since one begins from a certitude Read more
Shortly before the start of the mass at Sarajevo’s Olympic Stadium, when the Pope was visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina, the cross on his pastoral staff broke off. The master of papal ceremonies, Mgr. Guido Martini first tired to search for a replacement one but was unsuccessful given the tight schedule. The solution he came up with Read more
Pope Francis has approved a new system of accountability for bishops who don’t appropriately handle accusations of clergy sex abuse. Power will be given to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to judge bishops “with regard to crimes of the abuse of office when connected to the abuse of minors”. A new office Read more
Pope Francis has named a new archbishop for Berlin in Germany, following a local election. Francis named Bishop Heiner Koch of Dresden-Meissen to the position. The right to elect their own bishops, from a “terno”, or list of three candidates approved by Rome, is still held by 13 of Germany’s 27 dioceses and archdioceses. This Read more
Pope Francis has warned against listening to the daily messages of seers as a way of renewing one’s Christian identity. Speaking during Mass at the Sancta Martha Guesthouse on June 9, the Pope’s words came only days after he said a ruling on the Medjugorje apparitions will be coming soon. On June 9, Francis preached Read more
Pope Francis has urged Russian president Vladimir Putin to make a “sincere and great effort” to achieve peace in the Ukraine. When Mr Putin met the Pope at the Vatican on Wednesday, he was received with full honours and regalia, including a ceremonial Swiss Guard welcome. Pope Francis seemed stiff and exceptionally formal when he Read more