President Donald Trump said he would continue to support issues vital to the Catholic Church, especially abortion, religious freedom and school choice, in a conference call with Catholic leaders and educators. He also said he would seek federal financial support for Catholic schools as they confront the coronavirus pandemic. Many schools across the country have…

To mark his name day, the feast of St George, Pope Francis gave the gift of medical supplies to several countries reeling from the coronavirus pandemic. The Pope, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, donated respirators, masks and protective eyewear on the April 23 feast of his namesake, St George. Five new respirators will be…

World Youth Day and the World Meeting of Families have been postponed for one year at the request of Pope Francis, according to the Vatican. World Youth Day, which was scheduled to be hosted in Lisbon, Portugal in August 2022 will now take place in August 2023. The World Meeting of Families, which was previously…

A US priest has become the first clergyman in the country to have amended a previously declared diocesan ban on public Masses since the coronavirus outbreak. Bishop Peter Baldacchino of Las Cruces, New Mexico has lifted a diocesan ban on the public celebration of Mass, issued guidelines for distribution of Holy Communion, and told priests…

Catholic bishops in Germany have voiced their disapproval at Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision not to lift the ban on public church services. Despite allowing thousands of shops to reopen, Merkel said the ban on public church services should remain until further notice. She also announced that a state secretary of the interior ministry would talk…

An Egyptian priest has played down the threat of a failed terrorist attack by a jihadi group on Christians which was neutralised by security forces last week. The group, who have been linked to the Islamic State, was preparing to attack the country’s Christian community during Easter. Fr Rafic Greiche, head of media committee of…

A group of doctors in Tuscany has received a bishop’s permission to distribute Holy Communion to those infected by the coronavirus. Bishop Giovanni Nerbini of Prato made the six doctors extraordinary eucharistic ministers, allowing them to give Communion to over 100 patients on Easter, according to Avvenire, the newspaper of the Italian bishops’ conference. Dr…

Vatican
 appoints 
new 
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Financial 
Information
 Authority The Vatican’s Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, has appointed a new Director and Vice Director for the Financial Information Authority (AIF). Giuseppe Schlitzer enters as AIF’s Director, replacing Tommaso Di Ruzza who completed his five-year mandate as of January 20 this year. Schlitzer has held positions…

Japan diocese appointment surprises bishop Bishop Josep Maria Abella has said he was surprised to be announced new bishop of Fukuoka in Japan when almost all Church activities are suspended because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The 70-year-old Spanish priest said he was “perplexed” when the apostolic nuncio to Japan, Archbishop Joseph Chennoth, told him about…

Ruadhán Jones   Humanity has failed to take care of the earth and its inhabitants, sinning against God and his gift of creation, Pope Francis has warned. Celebrating Earth Day, which fell during the “Easter season of renewal, let us pledge to love and esteem the beautiful gift of the earth, our common home, and…