Italian police have identified the person who sent an envelope with three bullets in it to Pope Francis. The envelope did not reach the pontiff, however, as it was intercepted in Milan on Sunday night. Police say the unnamed suspect is a French citizen “already known to Vatican security, with whom the Carabinieri of Milan Read more
Since the pope has no wife or children, he needs to designate someone who can make end-of-life decisions for him should he be unable to make them for himself. And the rest of the church needs to know who it is. Otherwise, arguments over his treatment can divide the church for decades, even after his Read more
Despite the recent decision of Pope Francis to curtail the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass, we are not going to see it disappear anytime soon for a simple reason: Local bishops can and will still permit it. Francis’ new rules on the old liturgy were laid out in “Traditionis Custodes” on Friday (July 16). Read more
Ten people, including a cardinal, are facing serious charges in a Vatican civil court. The Vatican’s trial against Cardinal Angelo Becciu and nine other individuals, along with three corporate entities, alleges extortion, fraud and embezzlement, money laundering and abuse of office. This is the first time a cardinal has been brought to trial by a Read more
Pope Francis has significantly changed the composition of the electoral college, even by adding to its number men from countries that had never before had a cardinal. This reflects his push to de-Europeanize the Church and the body that will eventually elect his successor. It is a very important institutional change. But the pope, who Read more
The Catholic Church in the Amazon region must implement the Amazon synod recommendations, says Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes, president of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic in the two years since the synod, there have been many interviews, documents and meetings “to reflect and discern about ‘what we Read more
Legions of female church workers at every level in parishes and chanceries, at episcopal conferences — and even at the Vatican — welcomed and welcome Pope Francis’ efforts to eliminate clericalism. The general perception that “they” (clerics) do not need “us” (women) seems to be fading. Or is it? The great diversity of the “church Read more
Pope Francis has given bishops greater responsibility regarding use of the 1962 Roman Missal. Apostolic See guidelines say it is the bishop’s exclusive responsibility as the moderator of his diocese’s liturgical life to authorise the 1962 Roman Missal’s use. In a motu proprio Traditionis Custodes (Guardians of the Tradition) published on Friday, Francis restored limits Read more
Pope Francis seems to be recovering nicely from his July 4 surgery, when the 84-year-old pontiff underwent a three-hour procedure for diverticular stenosis. But even with the best prognosis, age is catching up to Francis. Barring a miracle, he will only be expected to continue as pope for five or six years. We may look Read more
The organization of the universal Catholic Church has a precise hierarchy, but there is no such thing as a “vice pope,” who steps in when the reigning pontiff is traveling abroad, ill or under anesthesia. Although hospitalized since July 4, when he underwent a three-hour surgery on his colon, Pope Francis is still the supreme Read more