Church representatives meeting in Cairo have called for peace and coexistence in the region. The Executive Council of the Middle East Council of Churches urged “heads of state and religious and political decision-makers in the world, Arabs and Muslims” to work for the preservation of religious pluralism, saying it is “the most precious treasure of…

Homelessness campaigners have cautiously welcomed the latest package of measures agreed by the Government to address the country’s homelessness crisis. After a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, ministers Alan Kelly and Michael Noonan announced a series of measures including barring landlords from increasing residential rents for two years, obliging property owners to give longer notice to…

Papal visit to Central African Republic later this month is confirmed The Holy See has confirmed that Pope Francis is to visit the Central African Republic later this month, after doubts were raised about the planned trip when the Pontiff said it was his “hope” that he could visit the conflict-riven country. Despite the country’s instability, the Vatican has announced that the Holy Father will…

Staff Reporter A former seminary in Diocese of Waterford & Lismore has been transformed into a new housing project by a Catholic agency. The extensive work on St John’s College was carried out by the Franciscan-run housing agency Respond with the aim of alleviating the problem of homelessness in Waterford city. The new development, which will…

Bishop Jozef De Kesel of Bruges has been named by Pope Francis to succeed Archbishop André-Joseph Léonard as Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels and the effective leader of Belgium’s Catholic Church. Ordained in 1972, Dr De Kesel is regarded as a protégée of Cardinal Godfried Danneels, who resigned in 2010 shortly before it emerged that he had…

Joe Barrett A young Wexford woman, who obtained a total of €750 from two parish priests in Laois while claiming to be a social worker, has appeared at Portlaoise District Court on three counts of deception. Rebecca O’Leary (22) pleaded guilty to the three charges that occurred on October 8 and 12, twice from Portlaoise Parish…

St Martin de Porres must have had trouble eating toward the end of his life, as he had only two teeth, according to Dr Paulo Miamoto, a member of a Brazilian anthropology and dentistry group that spoke at a presentation on the Dominican saint’s reconstructed face. Thousands of Catholics packed Lima’s Basilica of the Most…

A prominent Jesuit scholar and leading commentator on modern Irish Catholicism has died after being ill for some months. Fr Michael Paul Gallagher SJ died on Friday, November 6, in St Vincent’s Private Hospital, after the Anointing of the Sick and prayers with three Jesuit friends. He had been suffering from cancer since January. Born…

Catholic officials have condemned a Mexican Supreme Court ruling on recreational marijuana use, following a 4-1 vote backing an injunction that allowed four individuals to grow and consume marijuana for recreational purposes.    “For the Church, this is a serious decision and an incredibly irresponsible decision that follows certain  fads, a certain mentality of individual…

Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin returned to his native Derry to celebrate the vigil Mass for the Feastday of All the Saints of Ireland on November 6. Here Dr Martin is greeted by students from St Mary’s College at the Mass at St Eugene’s Cathedral.Photo: Stephen Latimer