In the Catholic Church, efforts are being made to increase the active participation of the faithful. In the diocese of Augsburg, a new body is to be set up in the autumn as part of this process. Bishop Bertram Meier of Augsburg wants to appoint a “Synodal Team” to implement reform efforts in the Catholic…
Pope Leo could stop synodality – but he won’t. The new Pope is actively tackling the transformation of the Church and focussing on participation. Vatican journalist Politi explains which decisions characterise Leo’s course. Pope Leo XIV made a conscious decision in favour of the World Synod project, says Italian Vatican journalist Marco Politi. He commented…
Souvenir shops in Rome are a goldmine, especially in the Holy Year of the Catholic Church. But beware when buying rosaries, papal medals and the like: counterfeiters don’t stop at the holy gates. Holy Year in fake mode: Since the opening of the Catholic Church’s great feast year on 24 December 2024, 24 million counterfeit…
This 15th century manuscript is known as the “Mona Lisa” of book illumination. Because the legendary Book of Hours has to be restored, there is now a rare opportunity to view the work up close. You only see such “jewels of art” once in a lifetime. We are talking about what is probably the most…
Marian devotion is of great importance in the Catholic faith. It also plays an important role in vocations, as a study has shown. This took up a suggestion from Pope Francis. A recent study sees a connection between Marian devotion and a vocation to a spiritual way of life. According to the study published on…
The far-right is creating a climate of fear, the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Denis Nulty has warned. He was speaking at the annual Columbanus Day Mass in the Cathedral of the Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary, in Carlow. Referring to the story of the Good Samaritan, Bishop Nulty said that solidarity with each other can be…
One in six pregnancies in Ireland now ends in abortion, according to figures released by the Department of Health showing a record 10,852 abortions in 2024. The real figure is likely to be several hundred higher because full hospital data are not yet available. The number of abortions has climbed by 65% since 2019, which…
Seventeen men from across Ireland gathered in Knock on Sunday to explore a possible call to diocesan priesthood at a national Come and See Day. An event described by Fr Willie Purcell, National Vocations Coordinator, as “a very successful and productive day.” Organised for those at the initial stage of inquiry into priesthood, the event…
Irish missionary nun Sr Mary Lucey has been awarded the Presidential Insignia for Meritorious Achievement by Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema in recognition of her decades of service to poor communities. Sr Mary, now semi-retired in Castleisland, Co Kerry, spent 31 years working in Pemba and Kalomo, where she led projects to empower marginalised families. Her…
Former Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan has criticised the Government for failing to give sufficient prominence to Catholic Emancipation in its newly announced programme to commemorate Daniel O’Connell. Minister for Culture Patrick O’Donovan last week launched the Daniel O’Connell Commemorative Programme to mark the 250th anniversary of O’Connell’s birth. Speaking to The Irish…
Renata Steffens
Chai Brady