Beauty will save the world, and the Church too: Portuguese Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, until now (in Bergoglio’s pontificate) Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for culture and education, truly believes this. Beauty, says and expresses the 60-year-old cardinal in his vision and pastoral praxis, will save the Church in its relationship with the world,…
Category: News
World Council of Churches condemns deadly drone strike in Ethiopia
The World Council of Churches (WCC) has expressed deep sorrow and concern over the tragic loss of civilian lives in a recent drone strike in Gedeb, Amhara region, Ethiopia, on April 23, 2025. More than 100 civilians, including women and children, were killed while attending a community gathering at a primary school. This attack adds…
Rathfarnham church celebrates 150th anniversary
The Parish of the Annunciation, Rathfarnham celebrated this week 150 years since the foundation of the Church of Annunciation. To mark the important milestone, a Jubilee Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin Paul Dempsey took place on April 27. Celebrating the Mass alongside Bishop Dempsey were Fr Martin Cosgrove PP and Fr Michael Coady…
New Catholic documentary available on streaming
A new documentary telling the story of a woman who transformed the Catholic Church in Mexico is now available in Ireland and UK on Amazon Prime. The new animated documentary Concepción tells the story of Conchita Cabrera de Armida, a Mexican lay woman “whose profound faith and apostolic mission transformed the Catholic Church and continued…
A tribute to Pope Francis’ Synodal vision
As a former student of canon law at the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven), I find myself reflecting on the remarkable legal and pastoral legacy of Pope Francis following his death, especially as the university prepares to celebrate its 600th anniversary in 2025. Founded in 1425, KU Leuven has long stood as a centre…
Record numbers of pilgrims flock to see the Holy Tunic of Christ near Paris
A rare exhibit of the Holy Tunic of Christ, believed to be the garment worn by Jesus during His passion, is drawing record crowds to the Basilica of Saint-Denis in Argenteuil, near Paris. Open from April 18 to May 11, the exhibit is expected to attract over 400,000 pilgrims, more than double the 2016 attendance.…
Thousands gather in Knock for Pope’s Requiem Mass
Over 2,000 people gathered for a Requiem Mass for Pope Francis in Knock Basilica on April 23. The Mass was led by Fr Richard Gibbons PP and Rector at Knock Shrine and had people from Knock Parish and surrounding areas attending. According to Fr Gibbons, the Pope “is fondly remembered in Knock,” resulting from his…
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle Archbishop of Manila, Philippines
If Asia is the “continent of the future”, for the Catholic Church it also represents “the future of evangelisation”, in a territory and with a portion of humanity that combines tradition and innovation. All this is fully expressed and defined in the personality and vision of 67-year-old Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, one of the…
AMRI hosts gathering for returned missionaries
AMRI hosted a gathering for returned missionaries at the Avila Retreat and Conference Centre in Dublin. The event was primarily social, providing an opportunity for attendees to connect, share stories, and engage with others, whether they had recently returned or had been back for some time. The idea for the event stemmed from last year’s…
German Catholics’ expectations of the new Pope. A reformer, a second Francis or a preserver?
After the funeral of Pope Francis, the focus is on the future. What qualities should the new pope have? Opinions differ on this. Also among church representatives from Germany. The preliminary phase of the papal election began even before the funeral services for the late Pope Francis. “Last Tuesday, the so-called pre-conclave began with the…




Renata Steffens






