A chapel built over the ruins of the Great Synagogue of Palermo in Sicily has been transferred to the Jewish community to renew Jewish worship on the site for the first time in 500 years. An official ceremony on January 12 saw the Oratory of Santa Maria al Sabato transferred from the control of the…
The head of the Venezuelan Bishops’ Conference has issued a plea to his government to open humanitarian channels to allow the Church’s aid agency Caritas to distribute desperately needed medicines and basic goods. Addressing a gathering of his fellow prelates in Caracas, Archbishop Diego Rafael Padrón Sánchez said the ongoing economic crisis in the nation…
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al Sisi has pledged to construct the nation’s largest church as part of the massive project to create a new capital city. During his official visit to St Mark’s cathedral in Cairo to join with Pope Tawadros II and other members of the Coptic Church for the January 6 Christmas celebrations,…
Fine Gael have been accused of attacking parish-owned schools in a bid to distract from Government failures to tackle overcrowding in Ireland’s primary schools. Addressing a seminar organised by a campaigning group opposed to religion playing a role in school admissions, Education Minister Richard Bruton announced plans to abolish the so-called ‘baptism rule’ that allows…
French presidential contender Marine Le Pen has criticised her main rival for linking his political credentials to his Christian faith. The far-right candidate Le Pen, who has scored political points in criticising the nation’s Muslim community, stated that Francois Fillon’s referencing of his Catholic faith is at odds with France’s secular tradition. “The French are…
Horses and riders attend the annual blessing of farm animals and Italian military horses outside St Peter’s Square at the Vatican. The traditional event is sponsored by the Italian livestock association on the feast of St Anthony the Abbot, known as the protector of animals. Photo: CNS
Vatican watchdog raised concerns about Amoris Laetitia Just days after the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) insisted there was no threat of a ‘fraternal correction’ of Pope Francis in connection with his exhortation Amoris Laetitia, it has emerged that the Congregation itself had raised issues relating to the document…
Staff reporter Bishop Donal McKeown has said that British Prime Minister Teresa May’s insistence on pushing ahead with a so-called ‘hard Brexit’ may cause many people in the North to consider the future as part of a united Ireland. In a speech this week, Ms May indicated that she wanted to maintain the common travel…
Staff reporter A family who was advised to let their seriously-ill infant son die in hospital rather than bring him home, has spoken of the joy he gave them through 15 years of life with them after confounding doctors’ predictions. Seán Holland, who died last month, was given just two years to live when he…
Staff reporter Ireland’s most senior Churchman has assured priests that their dedication and resilience in difficult circumstances does not go unnoticed by the hierarchy and is a key point for discussion during meetings in Rome. Speaking at the opening Mass for the bishops’ ad limina pilgrimage to Rome, during which they will meet with Pope…
Greg Daly