Pope Francis has met and shook hands with the woman whom he lost his patience with and slapped in St. Peter’s Square on December 31. The Holy Father spoke briefly to the woman after a general audience in January during the “baciamano”; the time reserved for pilgrims to greet the Pope. In the photos, both…
The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland has encouraged more young people to “seriously consider” a career in the police. Archbishop Eamon Martin has previously called for the reinstatement of 50/50 recruitment to increase the number of Catholic officers in the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Latest PSNI figures show only 32% of…
Make Rome a city of fraternity and peace – Pope Pope Francis has urged residents of Rome to make the Eternal City a place of solidarity, peace and a “home for all”. The Pope made his plea at the opening ceremony for the 150th anniversary of the declaration of ‘Rome Capitale’, which was read out by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin. The…
Irish people must hold their newly-elected leaders to account and make sure the crisis in Irish healthcare is tackled in order to stop sick children and the elderly “left waiting and exasperated”, according to Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin. Speaking on the World Day of the Sick on Sunday, the archbishop commended doctors, nurses and…
Two prominent US Catholics pass away A Catholic Sister who set a national standard for women’s education and a famous writer of courageous fictional Catholic protagonists have died in the US this past week. Sr Margaret Claydon (97) of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur passed away in Cincinnati, while Mary Higgins Clark –…
Archbishop says plan must proceed slowly with consideration Archbishop Eamon Martin has said that politicians must work towards a poll on Irish unification, but that this is something which must proceed slowly and with all voices considered. Speaking to The Irish Catholic about Britain’s departure from the European Union (EU) at the weekend, Archbishop…
Singing and dancing priest Fr Ray Kelly said if he was chosen for the Eurovision the song he entered could be a winner for Ireland. Fifty years on from Irish singer Dana Rosemary Scallon’s win with the song ‘All Kinds of Everything’ in 1970, Meath-based Fr Kelly said he would be “shocked and amazed” to be…
Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol encouraged people to see each other as equals at a Christian festival in Belfast last Friday. The Northern Irish singer [pictured] from Bangor said “I think that whether we see it or not we all have a bond with each other and a lot of that is to do with…
One of the four seminarians kidnapped from their seminary in Nigeria last month has reportedly been killed by his abductors. Michael Nnadi (18), the youngest member of the group, was separated from the others and murdered, with his body being formally identified at the weekend. “With a very heavy heart, I wish to inform you…
A new independent database listing nearly 6,000 priests accused of abuse was launched this week, marking what some observers say is a sign of a new era of transparency in the Church and others labelling it the “privatisation of justice” after years of Church leaders blocking such efforts. The database, which was activated last week,…
Chai Brady