Jesus’s example shows us that greatness comes from serving others, Pope Francis says. Speaking to the crowd in St Peter’s Square after the Angelus on Sunday, Francis explained what he meant. Jesus opposes “worldly logic with his own: Instead of exalting yourself over others, get off your pedestal to serve them; instead of rising above Read more
This weekend, Pope Francis published a series of tweets that linked environmental and social crises. This connection embodies the “integral ecology” that is a refrain of his 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si’.” The publication of “Laudato Si’” was a landmark moment in the fight against climate change. Secular environmentalists were encouraged to see such a prominent global Read more
Changes to New Zealand legislation in March 2020 has resulted in a three per cent rise in abortions. After a decade of falling numbers, the Ministry of Health says 13,246 abortions were performed last year. This number compared to 12,857 in 2019 and 16,630 in 2010. The mean age of those having an abortion last Read more
A sharp increase in demand for mental health support has helped spur the University of Otago’s push to improve student support services. Counselling and chaplaincy services, especially for the university’s burgeoning Maori student population are in particular need of extra support. The costs of the additional services will be met from student fees. To achieve Read more
A Colombian nun who was kidnapped over four years ago by Islamic jihadists in Mali met Pope Francis just 24 hours after her release last Saturday. Francis greeted Sister Gloria Cecilia Narváez Argoti on Sunday before celebrating Mass at the Vatican and blessed her after it. The Mass was part of the formal opening process Read more
In an abrupt volte-face, France’s top Catholic bishop says protecting children from sexual abuse overrules confessional secrecy, the RFIa French news and current affairs public radio station has reported. This remark made by Bishop Eric de Moulins-Beaufort (pictured) completely contradicts the comments he made last week when he suggested priests should not violate the confessional Read more
Pope Francis, Sunday, officially launched the global synod on synodality. During the synod’s opening Mass at St Peter’s Basilica, Francis urged the Catholic Church to master the “art of encounter.” “Everything changes once we are capable of genuine encounters with [Jesus] and with one another, without formalism or pretense, but simply as we are,” he Read more
In a light-hearted quip Pope Francis has suggested his successor may be called Pope John XXIV. St John XXIII’s feast day is not the day of his death, but October 11, the day he opened Vatican II. Read more
Pope Francis expressed shame and sadness after learning that around 3,000 people (2,000 clergy and 1,000 laypeople) abused some 216,000 children in the Catholic Church in France over the last 70 years. Francis first thoughts were for the victims. It is “with a deep sadness for their wounds and gratitude for their courage in coming Read more
The heart of the Gospel is the proclamation of the Reign of God, in the person of Jesus himself, the Emmanuel, God-Is-With-Us. In him, God brings his project of love for humanity to fulfillment, establishing his lordship over creatures and sowing the seed of divine life in human history, transforming it from within. Certainly the Read more