When Jorge Mario Bergoglio first appeared on the balcony of St Peter’s in March, 2013, we knew we were going to be dealing with a different style of papacy. He appeared before the world in simple white, rather than the more ornate vestments of his predecessors and gave the crowd below a simple wave. He…
Pope Francis’s passing comes during the 10th anniversary of the publication of his groundbreaking encyclical Laudato Si’ – On Care for our Common Home – which examined Catholic environmental teaching in the light of today’s planetary crisis. Over the past 10 years, Pope Francis’s leadership has borne initiatives that have transformed the Catholic Church into…
Celebrating the centenary of the canonisation of St Thérèse of Lisieux, a rare first-edition of her biography will be returned home through the hands of an Irish priest. Fr Declan Hurley, Adm. St Mary’s Presbytery, Navan and Chairperson of the National Synodal Team, bought the book in an auction in 2022 and will return it to the…
A recent survey from Britain found that young men more than young women are turning up at church. In the demographic of 18–24-year-olds, 12% of young women are attending regularly in contrast to the 21% of men in this age group. Observing this reality taking place in Galway, Fr Conor McDonough OP shared on his…
I remember exactly where I was on August 15, 2004. Sitting in my grandparents’ house, all I wanted was to watch Match of the Day. Chelsea had played, and I was eager to see the highlights. But there was no football that morning—RTÉ was broadcasting a Mass from Lourdes, celebrated by a very frail Pope…
Irish-born Cardinal Kevin Farrell has taken centre stage in the Catholic Church following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday. As Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, Cardinal Farrell holds a critical role overseeing Church operations during the sede vacante – the period of papal vacancy. Cardinal Farrell, 77, confirmed the Pope’s death from…
The election of Pope Francis on March 13, 2013, following the unprecedented retirement of the scholarly, gentle, spiritual Pope Benedict came as a huge surprise to many of us. In my lifetime there have been seven popes: Pius XII, St John XXIII, St Paul VI, St John Paul I, St John Paul II, Benedict XVI…
“Our role as priests…is more important now than ever,” said Bishop of Ossory Niall Coll, in his homily at the Chrism Mass in St Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny on April 16. “The Ireland we serve today is different from the one many of us knew in years past. The Church no longer holds the central place…
The misunderstanding of technological advancement and human progress As we entrust Pope Francis to the loving mercy of God after his twelve years of Petrine ministry, it is good to ponder aspects of his legacy. One aspect – perhaps among the less obvious ones, but which we can ponder with great gratitude – is the…
The Vatican announced Monday that the canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis, scheduled for April 27, has been postponed following the death of Pope Francis. The Holy See Press Office confirmed the suspension of the canonisation, which was to coincide with the Vatican’s Jubilee of Adolescents and expected to draw over 80,000 teenagers to Rome from…
David Quinn
Renata Steffens
Renata Milán Morales
Fr Barry White
Nuala O’Loan