Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass for the Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul – martyrs and co-patrons of the city and the diocese of Rome – in St Peter’s Basilica on June 29. It was the second of two major gatherings of senior prelates over the past two weeks, which together offer subtle indications about…
Facing what he called the “real crisis” of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV stressed the importance of “an authentic and deep sensitivity and compassion” for victims, voicing frustration over delays in victim’s cases, but also warned of the risk of false allegations which, he said, can destroy a priest’s life. “Victims…
Archaeologists working on a small island in the Persian Gulf have discovered an artifact attesting a Christian monastic presence on the island some 1400 years ago. The site is located on Sir Bani Yas, an island some 110 miles southwest of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, and has been known to…
Responding to criticism that he failed to show up for a discussion on Friday for members of the Synod of Bishops that was to include the question of female deacons, the Vatican’s doctrinal czar insisted Monday that Pope Francis has made it clear that now is not the time to resolve that issue, but that…
A professor at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium has claimed the university is intentionally downplaying a looming visit by Pope Francis, driven by anger over sexual abuse scandals as well as “shame” about Catholic identity and a “business and marketing logic” which views being identified with the institutional Church as potentially detrimental to…
The Irish priest who heads up Vatican investigations into allegations of abuse has said he’d like to see more transparency in dealing with victims and their families. “If I had a child who was abused by a priest, I would want to know the status of the case.” “It’s a question that’s discussed in the…
War in Gaza has become a “way of life”, according to a Franciscan priest in the Holy Land. On Tuesday, Israel sent tanks to parts of the northern Gaza Strip, while warplanes conducted strikes on Rafah in the south of the territory, killing and wounding several people, according two local officials. The Israeli offensive in…
Eduardo Campos Lima With an unprecedented rise in 2023 in the number of immigrants crossing Central America in an effort to reach the United States and Canada, the bishops of the region are urging local governments to establish adequate programs to deal with them and to ensure their safety. The migration crisis was the main…