Pope calls for migrants to be allowed cross borders Pope Francis has called on political leaders to allow migrants enter their countries. Speaking before 40,000 people at his weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square, he said, “I like to see leaders who open their hearts and their doors” to the many migrants fleeing their countries. Recalling our many “brothers and sisters who…

A former government minister has criticised the State after the Diocese of Elphin confirmed it was forced to pull out of a local family life centre to guarantee future funding. Dr Martin Mansergh, who also served as special adviser to successive Taoisigh said it “is sad when the State withdraws financial support for work that…

Cork bishop ‘grateful’ for UCC students’ safety Bishop of Cork and Ross, Dr John Buckley, said that he was “grateful” that three students from University College Cork have survived a bus crash in Spain which killed 13 people. The weekend saw a number of tragic road deaths, including a family of five in Donegal, an accident in Mallow which killed one…

From the beginning, part of the narrative about Pope Francis has been that he’s sort of the anti-Pope Benedict XVI. Where Benedict was cold and aloof, Francis is seen as warm and populist; where Benedict was rigid and dogmatic, Francis is open and flexible; where Benedict was a man of the system, Francis is the…

Limerick diocese will consider a number of creative ways to re-engage people who have become alienated from the Church at a major synod next month.  Delegates to the synod – the first to take place in Ireland in half a century – will vote on more than 100 key proposals aimed at boosting Mass attendance…

ISIS is not the only worry for Christians in Iraq, writes Paul Keenan An uncomfortable truth – for some – is rising from the desert in Iraq. Far to the south of the capital Baghdad, along the line of the Euphrates river to the edges of the city of Najaf, an archaeological dig is uncovering…

The parish priest of the family who died when their car slipped off Buncrana pier said it was the “biggest tragedy” he has had to deal with in 43 years as a priest and the community has been numbed by shock. Sean McGrotty (46), his sons Mark (12) and Evan (8), his mother-in-law Ruth Daniels…

Grace Rooney (6) with her granny Olivia help bless a statue of St Kevin after it was moved from its original position in St Kevin’s Hall in north Belfast – which is being demolished – to St Kevin’s primary

The Church’s crisis pregnancy support agency is restructuring its services to meet changing patterns of use, writes Greg Daly Cura Crisis Pregnancy Support Services has announced the closure of its Kilkenny, Tralee, Ennis, Thurles, Limerick, Athlone and Wexford centres over the coming months. All Cura services, including drop-in services, will from now on be delivered…