It’s long been called the ‘Francis effect’ and now, thanks to a new survey, its positive results are being measured for the first time. Since his election in March, Pope Francis has been the focus of much attention for his warm and engaging style of leadership, leading to debates as to whether this would translate…

Pope Francis has announced the themes for the next three World Youth Day (WYD) events, including that in 2016 in Krakow, Poland. For the 29th World Youth Day, 2014, the theme is ìBlessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heavenî (Mt 5:3), for the 30th World Youth Day, 2015, it…

The order of nuns portrayed in the newly-released film Philomena has described the motion picture starring Dame Judi Dench as “unfair and inaccurate”. The Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary nuns also accused the film makers of falsely creating a scene that showed one of their sisters in a profoundly negative light. Speaking to The…

One of the survivors of the October 3 migrant boat sinking off the island of Lampedusa has been arrested after other migrants identified him as a member of an African trafficking gang. Identified in reports as a Somali, the unnamed man is alleged to have been one of a number of men who tortured and…

The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this month. The meeting will take place on November 25, although details are not yet in place and an exact time has not been set.

The Catholic Primary Schools Management Association (CPSMA) has issued a cautious welcome to Education Minister Ruairí Quinn’s move to reduce the cost of school uniforms. CPSMA General Secretary Fr Tom Deenihan told The Irish Catholic he “welcomes any initiative that would reduce the costs of school uniforms for parents”. However, he added that the decision…

A Christian convert who received a 10-year prison sentence for abandoning Islam has been released less than a year into his sentence. Mostafa Bordbar was arrested last December 27 during a Christmas celebration with other Christians and in June sentenced for undermining national security in founding Christian house churches. In handing down the 10-year penalty,…

The Holy See has concluded a diplomatic accord with Chad, establishing the legal rights of the Church in the African country. The agreement was signed in Yamena, Chad on November 6 by Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, the Apostolic Nuncio in Chad, and Moussa Faki Mahamat, the country’s foreign minister.

Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare and Leighlin has said that any change to the nature of marriage would “undermine” it as the fundamental building block of society. In a statement, Bishop Nulty (right) warned the Government’s decision to hold a referendum on same sex marriage challenges the “very nature of marriage itself and the importance…

South Africa – A Catholic priest is recovering after a man whom he earlier helped attacked him and left him for dead in the city of Pretoria. Fr Craigh Laubscher of St John Fisher Catholic Church had just left his church when he was set upon by the man. The priest was severely beaten and…