Catholic bishops are defending Muslim festivals in Spain and are against a ban being pushed by right-wing populists. They see religious freedom in danger. Now the Vox party is reacting to the criticism. Spain’s right-wing populists from the Vox party are outraged by the Catholic Church’s criticism of the party’s stance on Islam. Vox leader…
Pastor Pawel Nowak has often demonstrated his stamina for a good cause. His biggest project to date: cycling to the Pope in three days for children with cancer. He managed it – with a small course correction “Unfortunately, I didn’t get to shave.” Pawel Nowak grins mischievously into the Roman evening sun, his hands resting…
It was the work of the Holy Spirit: Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius talks about the papal election and his impressions of Leo XIV and why he hopes for peace, dialogue and unity. His participation in the election of the new Pope was a privilege and a grace for him: Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius explained in…
From northern Germany to Rome by road bike – in just three days? And without sleep? You have to be pretty crazy to do that. Or have a goal, like Pastor Pawel Nowak. Pawel Nowak (39), a Catholic “racing bike pastor” from Bremen, arrived in St Peter’s Square on Tuesday evening – after around 90…
In the past, Chinese people were penalised if they had more than one child – now every birth is subsidised. However, it is questionable whether the birth rate can be increased. For the first time, China is paying a nationwide subsidy for children up to the age of three. The programme is intended to boost…
Even more than before the fire, the restored Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is a glamorous setting for festive ceremonies. The Parisian Cardinal Vingt-Trois has now also been laid to rest here. Paris and France bid farewell to Cardinal André Vingt-Trois on Wednesday. The former Archbishop of Paris died on Friday at the age of 82…
The Pope went on holiday for a good two weeks. A holiday? Not quite. Leo XIV did move to the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo. But numerous appointments interfered with the planned holiday. Now he is back in the Vatican. Well arrived! Pope Leo XIV is back home. The head of the Catholic Church…
Children in the Gaza Strip are the first and most affected victims of a war aimed at wiping out the Palestinians from that territory. The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) has said more than 15,000 children in Gaza have been killed, over 34,000 injured, and nearly 1 million displaced. There’s no other place in the…
No liturgical blessings for queer couples: the Archdiocese of Cologne will not use a handout on this and refers to Roman guidelines. Not everyone likes that. The Archdiocese of Cologne will not be using the recently published handout “Blessings for couples who love each other”. As a spokesperson for the archdiocese told katholisch.de on Tuesday,…
He hopes to “strengthen body and mind” in Castel Gandolfo, said Pope Leo when he started his holiday a fortnight ago. But his holiday in the Albanian mountains is not very tranquil – no wonder given the world situation. Switching off, my arse: On Monday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas joined the ranks of statesmen who…