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…

United States – The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is about to vote on its presidential successor to Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York (pictured). Between November 11 and 14, the conference members will gather for the autumn assembly and choose their new president and vice-president from a shortlist of 10 candidates. The candidates are:…

There will be no Christmas gifts under the tree this year for Rosamond Bennett, CEO of Christian Aid Ireland

South Korea –The 10th General Assembly of the World Council of Churches draws to a close on November 8 in Busan. Gathered this year under the theme ‘God of Life, Lead us to Justice and Peace’, some 3,000 delegates from 345 Churches and ecclesial communities engaged in ecumenical sessions and meetings. The Catholic Church’s official…

Fr Liam McKinney, based in Crossmaglen, Co. Down, is among of number of priests who have been robbed in recent weeks in a spate of often vicious attacks

The Vatican has warned Catholics not to participate in events where the alleged Medjugorje visionaries promise apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In a letter to the bishops of the United States, dated October, but only coming to light this week, Papal Nuncio Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano insists that “clerics and the faithful are not…

France – The country’s Constitutional Council has ruled that mayors do not have a right to claim conscientious objection against performing gay marriage ceremonies. The ruling is a blow to a group of mayors which appealed to the council in the wake of threats by France’s Interior Ministry to imprison, for five years, those refusing…

Over 150 young people from several dioceses throughout Ireland gathered last weekend for the first ever John Paul II Fest at Knock Shrine. The national day of celebration was for those who have either completed the John Paul II Award or are currently involved in the programme. Frank McGuinness, director of Youth Ministries in the…

Britain – The Tower of London was the venue last week for the official launch of The 1535 Society, a new initiative of the Catholic Church aimed at promoting awareness of the role of Catholic martyrs in British history. Together with Bishop Richard Chartres of London, Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster led a ceremony to…

Fr Martin Clarke has died at the age of 66 after a long illness