‘Pilgrims of Hope’: Vatican prepares to welcome millions for Holy Year December 5, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Jubilee 2025, News, Vatican, World News The celebration of a Holy Year every 25 years is an acknowledgment that “the Christian life is a journey calling for moments of greater intensity to encourage and sustain hope as the constant companion that guides our steps toward the goal of our encounter with the Lord Jesus,” Pope Francis wrote.
Charity is more than material support, pope says December 5, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Social Justice, Vatican, World News Charity involves more than offering material aid to those in need; it also calls for a commitment to fostering societal change, Pope Francis said.
Homilies must be short, about Jesus, inspired by the Spirit, pope says December 4, 2024By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Homilies must be prepared with the help of the Holy Spirit, be shorter than 10 minutes and put the spotlight on the Lord, not oneself, Pope Francis said.
Pope, cardinal advisers discuss collegiality, role of women December 4, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Synodality, Vatican, World News During two days of meetings, Pope Francis and his closest cardinal advisers discussed the relationship between local churches and other institutional church assemblies, a main topic of discussion to come out of the Synod of Bishops on synodality.
Pope asks the faithful to pray for God’s gift of hope December 3, 2024By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Jubilee 2025, News, Vatican, World News The pope’s message encouraging prayers “for pilgrims of hope” was released by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network Dec. 3.
Preparations begin for opening Holy Doors at Vatican, Rome basilicas December 3, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Jubilee 2025, News, Vatican, World News Hours after the last visitors and pilgrims left St. Peter’s Basilica for the day, a chisel clanged and dust flew as a group of prelates chanted their prayers before a simple wall marked with a cross.
In age of individualism, young people need holistic education, pope says December 3, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Schools, Vatican, World News As young people become increasingly immersed in a society that encourages individualism and disconnection, educators must strive to develop a holistic form of education that integrates the heart, mind and body, Pope Francis said.
Japan’s ‘hidden Christian’ sites are living witness of faith, pope says December 3, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News Christians in Japan should keep alive the memory of the persecution their ancestors endured for their faith and should also pray for Christians suffering persecution around the world today, Pope Francis said.
Faith, hope ‘work miracles,’ pope tells people of Nicaragua ahead of Immaculate Conception December 2, 2024By David Agren OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Vatican, World News In a moving letter, Pope Francis expressed his closeness with the people of Nicaragua as Central American bishops called for a day of prayer for the country on the feast of the Immaculate Conception amid constitutional changes that will lead into an even darker dictatorship.
Church needs media evangelizers, pope tells U.S.-based TV network December 2, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Evangelization, Journalism, News, Vatican, World News The mission of sharing the Gospel, entrusted to humanity by Jesus, must spread also through modern media channels, Pope Francis said.
Lighten burdens by making room for the Lord, pope says at Angelus December 2, 2024By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Advent, News, Vatican, World News Despite the problems and worries in the world, Jesus invites Christians to look toward heaven, trust in his saving love and make room for him in order to find hope again, Pope Francis said.
Ceasefire, dialogue are the only paths to peace, pope says December 2, 2024By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News Pope Francis praised a new ceasefire reached in Lebanon, prayed for Israeli hostages and Palestinians in Gaza, and appealed to world leaders to help put an end to the war in Ukraine.
