Christmas 2023 at the Vatican: Nativity to recall St. Francis’ first-ever manger scene
The Vatican’s Nativity scenes in St. Peter’s Square and the Paul VI Hall will “revive the atmosphere of Christmas 1223 … when St. Francis, returning from a journey to the…
Vatican, Iranian foreign ministers discuss Israel-Hamas war amid risk of wider conflict
If “measures aimed at immediately stopping the Israeli attacks” fail, “it is highly probable that many other fronts will be opened,” the Iranian foreign minister told Al Jazeera on Oct.…
UN refugee director: Needs in Gaza ‘immense,’ aid ‘meager and inconsistent’
“Supplies on the market are running out while the humanitarian aid coming into the Gaza Strip on trucks from Egypt is insufficient,” White said. “The needs of the communities are…
Pope at Angelus: By loving others, ‘we reflect the Father’s love like mirrors’
“I thank all those who — in so many places and in various ways — united themselves to the day of fasting, prayer, and penance that we lived last Friday,…
Minnesota bishop issues letter about steps needed for Sister Annella Zervas’ cause
Older writings often refer to Zervas as “Servant of God,” a title given to a candidate for sainthood after a cause has been opened and is under investigation prior to…
Vatican releases Synod on Synodality report proposing larger role for laity in Church
More than 80 proposals were approved in the Synod vote, including establishing a new “baptismal ministry of listening and accompaniment,” initiating discernment processes regarding the decentralization of the Church, and…
Pope Francis sends ‘blessings of strength and peace’ after shooting in Maine
Pope Francis “was deeply saddened to learn of the terrible loss of life resulting from the mass shooting in Lewiston, and he expresses his spiritual closeness to all those suffering…
Twins baptized by twins: Babies welcomed into the Church by priest, deacon twin brothers
For Kristin, having three sets of twins present at the baptism was special. “It was the Daghir twins and then my mom and my aunt, and then the babies, and…
Meet the Synod’s scooter-riding Byzantine archbishop who got the pope to wear a trucker hat
And according to Kocsis, the pope got a kick out of it. “He’s very open, and he loved it. I asked him if I could put the cap on him,…
Moscow Archdiocese urges return of memorial for bishop imprisoned by Stalin regime
Reinis was born in the Russian empire in 1884 and became a priest in 1907 and a bishop in 1926. He led the department of theoretical and experimental psychology at…
Massachusetts man arrested in assault and vandalism incident at Boston cathedral
Both of the arms of Christ were broken before officers responded to the scene and arrested him. “We appreciate the swift action by the Boston Police Department in apprehending a…
Notre Dame students defend ‘dignity and sanctity of women’ ahead of campus drag show
University of Notre Dame senior Merlot Fogarty. Courtesy of Merlot Fogerty That particular statement, she said, was released in the milieu of a controversy at Notre Dame regarding a sociology…