It has often been said that synodality was Pope Francis’ flagship project for reform and renewal in the Church. The 2023 and 2024 sessions of the XVI Synodal Assembly entitled “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission”, along with the publication of its Final Document in October 2024 are seen as the culmination of…
They say that paper never refuses ink. As I sit to put ink to this page, I am saddened by many of the events happening in the world today. We hear of atrocities in the name of war, of murders in our homes and on our streets and of the heartbreak endured by far too…
No liturgical blessings for queer couples: the Archdiocese of Cologne will not use a handout on this and refers to Roman guidelines. Not everyone likes that. The Archdiocese of Cologne will not be using the recently published handout “Blessings for couples who love each other”. As a spokesperson for the archdiocese told katholisch.de on Tuesday,…
He hopes to “strengthen body and mind” in Castel Gandolfo, said Pope Leo when he started his holiday a fortnight ago. But his holiday in the Albanian mountains is not very tranquil – no wonder given the world situation. Switching off, my arse: On Monday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas joined the ranks of statesmen who…
In the Catholic Church, efforts are being made to increase the active participation of the faithful. In the diocese of Augsburg, a new body is to be set up in the autumn as part of this process. Bishop Bertram Meier of Augsburg wants to appoint a “Synodal Team” to implement reform efforts in the Catholic…
Pope Leo could stop synodality – but he won’t. The new Pope is actively tackling the transformation of the Church and focussing on participation. Vatican journalist Politi explains which decisions characterise Leo’s course. Pope Leo XIV made a conscious decision in favour of the World Synod project, says Italian Vatican journalist Marco Politi. He commented…
Souvenir shops in Rome are a goldmine, especially in the Holy Year of the Catholic Church. But beware when buying rosaries, papal medals and the like: counterfeiters don’t stop at the holy gates. Holy Year in fake mode: Since the opening of the Catholic Church’s great feast year on 24 December 2024, 24 million counterfeit…
This 15th century manuscript is known as the “Mona Lisa” of book illumination. Because the legendary Book of Hours has to be restored, there is now a rare opportunity to view the work up close. You only see such “jewels of art” once in a lifetime. We are talking about what is probably the most…
Marian devotion is of great importance in the Catholic faith. It also plays an important role in vocations, as a study has shown. This took up a suggestion from Pope Francis. A recent study sees a connection between Marian devotion and a vocation to a spiritual way of life. According to the study published on…
The far-right is creating a climate of fear, the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Denis Nulty has warned. He was speaking at the annual Columbanus Day Mass in the Cathedral of the Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary, in Carlow. Referring to the story of the Good Samaritan, Bishop Nulty said that solidarity with each other can be…
Renata Steffens