I really like Pope Francis. But I’m biased. I like him not primarily because he strikes me as so “different” or “humble” or for the other things the press says about him. No, I like him because he strikes me as a bit goofy. He talks to people he’s not expected to talk to and Read more
The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on November 25. Details are not yet in place, however the meeting comes at a time when the Catholic Church seeks to improve ties with the Russian Orthodox Church. Relations between Russia and the Vatican have been fraught since the 1991 breakup Read more
Pope Francis wants action against modern forms of slavery including forced labour and prostitution, the Vatican said on Monday after a meeting of experts called by the pontiff to debate the problem. “Some experts believe human trafficking will overtake drug and arms trafficking in a decade, becoming the most lucrative criminal activity in the world,” Read more
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has told Catholics in the US not to take part in events in which the “seers” of Medjugorje promise apparitions of the Virgin Mary. The dramatic move comes prior to the release of the CDF’s final report on Medjugorje. US Papal Nuncio, on behalf of the prefect Read more
It would be wrong for me to anticipate the mind of the Church, but I personally believe that one day Oscar Romero will be declared a Saint of the Church. These were the carefully-chosen words of Cardinal Basil Hume in a tribute to Archbishop Romero at a memorial service in Westminster Cathedral the week after his assassination Read more
The Vatican is conducting a worldwide survey on how parishes deal with sensitive issues such as contraception, divorce and gay couples. The Vatican, through the survey, is asking bishops and parish priests around the world about local views on gay marriage, divorce and birth control ahead of a meeting of bishops next year to discuss Read more
The US National Security Agency has denied reports in an Italian magazine that the Vatican has been a target of its spying activities. “Assertions that the [National Security Agency] has targeted the Vatican, published in Italy’s Panorama magazine, are not true,” an NSA spokesperson told the Los Angeles Times. Citing a document purportedly furnished by Read more
The Vatican has said it is not concerned about a report that a United States spy agency intercepted its internal communications — including phone calls by cardinals during the conclave that elected Pope Francis. The report was denied by the National Security Agency, which said: “The National Security Agency does not target the Vatican. Assertions Read more
The other night I was drinking with an American Catholic nun and her daughter.The mother had been married twice, once to a former priest. She had entered a convent straight out of high school and left to marry her high school sweetheart eight years later. Some time after the second marriage broke down and her Read more
The Vatican has called a “summit meeting” for the leaders of the Eastern churches in communion with the Holy See, to take place on November 19-22. Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, the prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, said the meeting would allow the leaders of the Eastern churches to “speak before the Pope on Read more