Pope Francis beatified his predecessor, Paul VI, at the concluding Mass of the Synod of Bishops on the family. The Pontiff praised the late Pope as the “great helmsman” of the Second Vatican Council and founder of the synod, as well as a “humble and prophetic witness of love for Christ and his Church”. Paul…
Michael Kelly
Michael Kelly is an award-winning writer and broadcaster specialising in religious and social affairs. Born and raised in Northern Ireland, he attended the Pontifical University St Patrick’s College, Maynooth where he obtained degrees in philosophy and theology and the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome where he studied social institutional communications. From 2002-2005 he was an Editor in the Central Information Service of Vatican Radio. In this role, he travelled with Pope St John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI on overseas trips. In 2005, he returned to Dublin to take up the position of Deputy Editor with The Irish Catholic newspaper, succeeding as Editor in 2012. He is a regular contributor to programmes on RTÉ, BBC, UTV, CNN and Al Jazeera. He also have extensive experience offering media training and coaching in the voluntary sector. Mr Kelly is a weekly columnist with Ireland’s largest-selling secular newspaper the Irish Independent and has been published in The Irish Times, the Irish Examiner, The Irish News, The Guardian, Our Sunday Visitor, Catholic World Report, the National Catholic Reporter and the National Catholic Register. He writes from Ireland for Catholic News Service of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Micheal finished his stint as Editor of The Irish Catholic in January 2024 and has taken up the position of Director of Public Affairs for Aid to the Church in Need Ireland.
Sinn Féin’s hypocrisy on abuse exposed
Mr Adams should learn a lesson from the Catholic Church about danger of protecting the institution
The revolution of Francis continues
There won’t be any change to core Church teaching, but the Pope wants a radical reform of approach, writes Michael Kelly
Theological commission launches renovated and enriched webpage
The International Theological Commission has renovated and enriched its page on the Vatican website, which offers all its documents in various languages, among the section of commissions linked to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. All the documents published by the commission are available for consultation, usually in 10 or more languages. The…
New app explains Mass
A new educational app explains the Mass from a different point of view. It’s called “Mass Explained” and it is the perfect way to understand and learn more about the meaning of the actions, words, signs and rites of the Mass. It explains the Roman Rite, the Mass the majority of Catholics are familiar with. Additionally, it…
Our Church must find new ways to teach the Faith
Neither the Pope nor Church teaching is a battering ram to be used against those who we see as our rivals within the Church.
Vatican row over synod mid-term family report
‘Not what we’re saying at all,’ claims cardinal
Pope Francis is faith’s ‘beautiful revolutionary’
The Papal Nuncio described the Pontiff as a “breath of fresh air”
Nuncio praises IC book on Pope Francis
The Pope’s representative in Ireland has praised a new book by The Irish Catholic as a “very useful resource” for parishes and individuals trying to deepen their understanding of Pope Francis and his call to reform and renew the Church. Launching Blueprint for the Church: An Introduction to the Joy of the Gospel, Papal Nuncio…
‘Living in sin’ allegation unhelpful, says Vatican
Bishops gathered in Rome for a landmark meeting on the Church’s approach to families