Christians in the birthplace of Christ hope for the return of Irish pilgrims after a plea from a Palestinian bishop to support for the local Christian population. Bethlehem Christians are “still in darkness” due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, but they hope to see pilgrims return soon, local guides and shop owners told The Irish…

Pope Francis has shot down claims that he is planning giving women and laity a say in the vote to elect a pope. Speaking in his recently released biography Life, the Pope described as “fantasy” reports from “some American media outlets” that he intended to change the rules around the conclave to give nuns and…

There is “concern” and “frustration” in the Dublin parish where a tent city of asylum seekers has cropped up due to lack of accommodation, according to the parish priest. Fr Enda Cunningham, Administrator of Westland Row parish, spoke to The Irish Catholic about the controversial settlement of people seeking international protection on Mount Street, outside…

Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown has criticised what he describes as the “modern secular and consumerist culture”, saying that it leaves “no place for a dissident voice” that doesn’t support it and that the political parties who adopt this ideology in the North “seem to assume that Catholic education has no place in a modern…

In his St Patrick’s Day message, Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin said the “legitimate anxieties” that exist in society in relation to the implications of immigration need to be recognised in order for the conversation to “move away from the extremes” and become a normal part of civil and political discourse in both the north…

MPs in the UK have been urged to acknowledge the “tremendous” Irish Catholic contribution to British life, as immigration debates descend to a “game of fear”. “The Irish Catholic contribution, both to the Catholic Church in England and Wales and to wider British life and community, has been tremendous,” Bishop Paul McAleenan told MPs. The Belfast-born…

New research reveals three out of four Irish people support Government spending on overseas aid, but climate change is down in the list of priorities and understanding of sustainable development goals (SDGs) is low. The Worldview research – published Irish charities network Dóchas – showed that 76% agree it is important to provide overseas aid,…

A new mural of Our Lady of Knock is set to be created in St Patrick’s Cathedral New York, the Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan has announced. The news was revealed by the cardinal after singer-songwriter Dana sang the hymn Our Lady of Knock at the St Patrick’s Day parade Mass over the…

Séamus Dooley, Secretary of the National Union of Journalists and former editor of the Roscommon Champion, has expressed disappointment about the lack of diversity of opinion in modern media and insisted that editors and producers need to take more risks in ensuring that more voices are brought to the table. Speaking on The State of the…