Pope Francis has reportedly told an Argentine woman living in an irregular marriage situation that she can go to Communion. On Easter Monday, Pope Francis phoned the home of Jacqueline Sabetta Lisbona, who had written to him in September. She has been in a civil marriage with her husband for 19 years and they have Read more
Pope Francis’s efforts to build a new way of “being Church” are facing increased opposition from within the Roman Curia, a leading cardinal says. Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga said this during an address to Franciscan provincials in Florida, according to the National Catholic Reporter. The cardinal said Pope Francis is seeking to build a Read more
Every spring in Rome, the big production is normally the Easter Mass celebrated by the pope. This year Easter remains the spiritual linchpin, but in popular terms it’s more like a warm-up act for next Sunday’s double-play canonisations of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II. This will be the first time two popes have Read more
In his traditional Easter message, Pope Francis has prayed for people suffering from war, violence, abandonment and disease around the world. An estimated 150,000 people were gathered on Easter Sunday in St Peter’s Square. The Pope delivered his traditional blessing and address Urbi et Orbi, “to the city and to the world” from the balcony Read more
The papal preacher has warned against a “god of money” who creates an alternative spiritual universe where virtues are turned upside down. Fr Raniero Cantalamessa was preaching at a Good Friday service presided over by Pope Francis at St Peter’s Basilica. In such an alternative universe, faith, hope and love do not come from God Read more
The messages and visions of an alleged seer, Maria Divine Mercy, have been given the thumbs down by Church authority. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin has issued a statement about the alleged prophetess, who is believed to live in his archdiocese. He declared that these “messages and alleged visions have no ecclesiastical approval and many Read more
Three England and Wales bishops have backed suggestions that permission to ordain married men to the priesthood be widened. This followed reports that Pope Francis would like bishops’ conferences to achieve consensus and put forward reform ideas to Rome. The Pope reportedly made this suggestion to a bishop from a remote diocese in Brazil. During Read more
Pope Francis has told seminarians that the seminary is not a refuge for those who lack the courage to “get on in life”. The Pope told seminarians training for the Italian diocese of Lazio that a seminary is not a refuge for those who have psychological problems either. The Pontiff was speaking on April 15 Read more
During a Holy Thursday Mass at a rehabilitation centre, Pope Francis washed the feet of four women and eight men with disabilities. Ranging from 16 to 86 years of age, nine of the patients were Italian, one was a Muslim from Libya, one was a woman from Ethiopia and one young man was from Cape Read more
Pope Francis’s team of eight cardinals is to meet for three days starting April 28 to consider proposals to reform the Roman Curia. They will also examine each of the Pontifical Councils, weighing up measures for mergers and changes. One proposal is for a new figure, a “moderator Curiae”, who would coordinate the work of Read more