Pope Leo XIV assured Irish clergy of his continual prayers for vocations in Ireland during an audience in St Peter’s Square, where he met with a delegation of Irish vocation directors, including Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan of Waterford and Lismore. Bishop Cullinan, who introduced the delegation to the Pope, called the meeting “a very personal moment.”…
The chair of the Healthcare Chaplaincy Board has voiced concern following a new report from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), stating that over 8,000 patients were left waiting for a hospital bed in Ireland last month. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Fr John Kelly described the crisis as a failure “across the whole healthcare…
Pope Leo will above all be a bridge-builder, the author of the first book about the new pontiff published in Ireland has predicted. In Christ We Are One: Pope Leo XIV at the Service of Humanity is by Michael Kelly [pictured above], a well-known Vatican expert, former editor of The Irish Catholic and current Director of Public Affairs…
Victims of domestic abuse are more inclined to come forward now, according to Detective Chief Superintendent Colm Noonan, who spoke at An Garda Síochána’s national day for domestic abuse awareness. He highlighted a significant increase in reporting rates in recent years, with over 65,000 domestic abuse-related contacts received in 2024 alone, around 1,250 reports every…
Lough Derg opened its 2025 pilgrimage season with 256 ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ taking part in the first Three Day Pilgrimage of the Jubilee Year, a 20% increase on last year. The famous pilgrimage, renowned for its spiritual intensity, involves fasting, going barefoot, night-long vigil, and continuous prayer — all in pursuit of reflection, renewal, and…
More than 370 complaints expressing concern over new Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) content were received by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office last year, according to a new report. SPHE includes sex education. The Ombudsman stated in its annual report that the complaints were part of a “campaign”. However, Laois-Offaly TD Carol Nolan told…
A parish priest in the Gaza Strip talks about his pastoral work among the war In the background happy cries are heard of children dancing to the sound of very rhythmic music. Then suddenly sounds of gunfire and shouts “is our daily surrealism,” Fr Gabriel Romanelli, the Catholic parish priest of the Gaza Strip,…
Paolo Affatato He is a man who has skilfully woven the threads of dialogue throughout his apostolic ministry as bishop and president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences. Today, 80-year-old Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop Emeritus of Mumbai – one of 37 Asian cardinals who took part in the General Congregations before the Conclave and…
Misean Cara was founded in 2004 to support the overseas development work of Irish missionaries. However, the organisation’s story began much earlier. It is part of a long history of service among the world’s most overlooked communities. Missionaries have lived where others would not stay, learned languages and customs not their own, and built relationships…
Bishop Martin Hayes said, “This week, the tenth anniversary of the publication of the bestselling encyclical letter Laudato Si’ – on care for our common home, is tinged with sadness due the death on Easter Monday of Pope Francis RIP who undoubtedly spiritually inspired and educated humanity to care for our common home. “Of…
Renata Milán Morales
Chai Brady