As we live through the tragic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is useful to reflect on the current vaccination process and, in particular, the innovative contribution of Pope Francis’ teaching and action. Michael Rozier, a Jesuit professor of health management and policy, has reflected on the importance of commitment to health care and identified Read more
Pope Francis is urging people to be cautious in the way they interpret the report released in October about child sexual abuse by French Catholic clergy. The “historical situation” must be interpreted by the standards of the time, Francis says. The October report from an independent commission of inquiry confirmed extensive sexual abuse of minors Read more
The pope has updated the Church’s procedural norms for dealing with delicts – serious crimes such as schism, sacramental desecration and abuse of minors. On Tuesday, Pope Francis publicised adaptations to the “Norms on the delicts reserved for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith”. The following day on 8 December (the feast of Read more
An elderly Orthodox priest yelled “Pope you’re a heretic” several times as Pope Francis arrived for a meeting in Athens with the leader of Greece’s Orthodox Church on Saturday. “The pope is unacceptable in Greece! He should repent!” the priest told reporters after being removed from the scene. According to The Associated Press, Francis “appeared Read more
Pope Francis, at an emotional meeting with migrants, said on Friday he had a responsibility to tell the hard truth about the suffering of refugees, many held in conditions he compared to those in Nazi and Soviet camps. Francis, who has made defence of migrants and refugees a cornerstone of his pontificate, spoke at the Read more
At the beginning of an Italian bishops’ conference plenary session, Pope Francis gave each a copy of a text called “The Beatitudes of the Bishop”. Originally written by the archbishop of Naples for his homily when ordaining three bishops last month, the eight “beatitudes of the bishop” loosely correspond with those spoken by Jesus in Read more
Pope Francis urged young Catholics on Sunday to “be the critical conscience of society”. During his celebration of a Mass marking the 36th World Youth Day, Francis praised young people for their efforts to protect the Earth’s environment. Calling them “friends”, Francis told his young congregation “we are not here to be enchanted by the Read more
Most Holy Father, Inspired by your messages on interdependence and sharing, we humbly bring to your attention the issue of vaccine inequality plaguing our planet and ask you to support action to address the unequal distribution of global vaccines between high and low-income countries. Over 6 billion doses have been administered worldwide, but 70% of Read more
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced Sunday she has tested positive for COVID-19. Last week, President Biden travelled to Europe for a meeting with Pope Francis, the G20 summit, and the COP26 climate talks. In a statement, Psaki said she remained in the United States because members of her household tested positive for COVID-19, Read more
Four years after Pope Francis modified canon law around translating the Mass, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, 22 October, published an executive decree formalizing the new process. Key in the decree is an emphasis on one of the fundamentals of communication; that people need to be able to understand what is being Read more