The Holy See has concluded a diplomatic accord with Chad, establishing the legal rights of the Church in the African country. The agreement was signed in Yamena, Chad on November 6 by Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, the Apostolic Nuncio in Chad, and Moussa Faki Mahamat, the country’s foreign minister.

The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this month. The meeting will take place on November 25, although details are not yet in place and an exact time has not been set.

Pope Francis has announced the themes for the next three World Youth Day (WYD) events, including that in 2016 in Krakow, Poland. For the 29th World Youth Day, 2014, the theme is ìBlessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heavenî (Mt 5:3), for the 30th World Youth Day, 2015, it…

Most searched-for figure on the web

More than 3,000 men and women leave religious life every year, according to new figures from the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Revealing the figures in Rome on October 29, the congregation’s leader, Archbishop José Rodríguez Carballo pointed to the “young age” of the majority of those leaving, and…

Controversial Vatican accountant Msgr Nunzio Scarano has been transferred to house arrest from the prison where he has been held since his June arrest in connection with the smuggling of €20 million. The monsignor has denied the charges, but his arrest has resulted in a major investigation into his employer, the Administration of the Patrimony…

The Vatican will host a summit meeting of patriarchs and major archbishops of the Oriental Churches of Syria, Iraq and the Middle East this November 19 to 22. Announcing details of the meeting, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches said it would operate under the theme ‘The Eastern Catholic Churches…

Pope Francis will elevate new cardinals during a consistory next February. The event, set for February 22, the feast of the Chair of St Peter, will allow the Pontiff to deal with the 14 vacancies in the College of Cardinals which will have opened up by then – and increased by two by the end…

The head of a leading charity dealing with victims of child abuse has said that public perceptions of a typical offender have gone too far in pointing to the ‘priest abuser’. Speaking on RTÉ radio last weekend, Maeve Lewis, executive director with the One in Four charity said that while most abuse occurs within family…

The Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) has described as “appalling” the naming in Irish newspapers last Monday of a priest who has stepped aside from ministry during a child safeguarding investigation. Speaking to The Irish Catholic this week, Fr Sean McDonagh of the ACP condemned the naming of the priest and his parish despite no…