Pope Francis and Pope emeritus Benedict XVI have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, the Vatican confirmed today. Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, said: “I can confirm that as part of the Vatican City State vaccination program to date, the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine has been administered…

What was once a closed military zone has now been opened to pilgrims, writes Michael Kelly One of the highlights of any pilgrimage to the Holy Land now is a visit to the Qasr al-Yahud site in the West Bank where Jesus was baptised in the River Jordan. I first visited the site in 2007,…

Francis has opened up a new ministry while restating the Church’s teaching that only men can be ordained priests, writes Cindy Wooden Recognising “the gifts of each baptised person” – women and men – Pope Francis has ordered a change to Canon Law and liturgical norms so that women could be formally installed as lectors…

Australia’s financial crime watchdog said Thursday that it is conducting a “detailed review” of Vatican-linked transfers worth $2.3 billion    Australian dollars (€1.5 billion). The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), a government agency, said January 7 that it was seeking to shed light on the mystery transfers in cooperation with the Vatican. “AUSTRAC…

The number of babies with Down syndrome who were born in Europe fell by half between 2011 and 2015 – confirming the fears of pro-life campaigners in the UK, who have long argued that increased prenatal testing for Down syndrome has led many women to abort their children. Down syndrome A study published during December…

Of the more than 76,000 people known to have died of Covid-19 in Italy the past 11 months, more than 200 were priests, according to the Catholic newspaper, Avvenire. Already four priests have died since the start of 2021, the newspaper said January 6, adding that the cumulative toll amounts to about one death every…

A spokeswoman for Denmark’s Catholic Church said draft legislation requiring all sermons and homilies to be translated into Danish will fuel ill-feeling and damage religious freedom. “This law is directed primarily at Muslims – its proponents say they want to prevent parallel societies and things being preached which no one else understands and could be…

Fr Michael Pfleger, a popular Chicago priest and outspoken advocate against gun violence, gangs, poverty and racism, has stepped aside from his ministry after the Chicago Archdiocese said it received an allegation that the priest had sexually abused a minor more than 40 years ago. Chicago Cardinal Blase J. Cupich announced the move in a…

Catholics and Lutherans reaffirm commitment to communion The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Lutheran World Federation underscored their commitment to walk together on their common journey from conflict to communion. The Council and Federation recently announced the publication of the updated Italian translation of the historic ecumenical document called the Joint Declaration…

Sainthood cause of priest imprisoned by Nazis and communists advances The sainthood cause of a Catholic priest who was imprisoned by both the Nazis and the communists has advanced with the conclusion of the initial diocesan phase of the cause January 4. Fr Adolf Kajpr was a Jesuit priest and journalist who was imprisoned in…