Letter from Rome   Observers who’ve watched waves of attempted reforms wash over the Vatican across the years and then recede, often leaving very little changed in their wake, always marvel at the place’s ability to absorb a shock without really giving way. While there are many factors that help explain the staying power, here’s…

International Analysis Ines San Martin   Never one to choose easy destinations for his foreign trips, Pope Francis heads to Chile and Peru next week for his sixth visit to Latin America, and to say he’ll have to face a few challenges is an understatement. Recent days have presented him with yet another challenge: a…

With so much suffering, poverty and exploitation in the world, missionary work must also include reaching out to people whose hearts are closed to receiving immigrants and refugees, Pope Francis told Jesuits in a private meeting in Myanmar, according to transcripts released this week. “Unfortunately, in Europe there are countries that have chosen to close…

Pope Francis has written a letter to Argentine Bishops praising them for their documents which outline ways in which priests should apply the teaching of his apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia. The Pope was responding to a document by the bishops entitled ‘Basic criteria for the application of chapter 8 of Amoris Laetitia’ which details ways…

The Vatican has launched its new multimedia communications website, centralising all of its media operations. Vatican spokesman Greg Burke announced ahead of the beta form launch that vaticannews.va and the accompanying production centre were simply the “first visible and concrete expression” of the unified approach to communications the Pope and his cardinal advisers had requested,…

Salesian Fr Thomas Uzhunnalil, who was released from 18-month’s captivity in strife-torn Yemen last September, was awarded the Mother Teresa Award for Social Justice. The Harmony Foundation, a volunteer group based in Mumbai, India’s commercial capital, honoured the Catholic priest under the theme “compassion without borders”. Suspected Islamic terrorists kidnapped Fr Uzhunnalil, a missionary in Yemen, last…

Several carol singers including priests have been arrested in India after a man claimed they were trying to convert him. The following day Hindu activists allegedly assaulted eight priests and set fire to their vehicle outside an Indian police station as the clergy tried to help the 30 seminarians and two priests that were arrested,…

A trio of Nigerian bishops condemned the enslavement of Nigerians who travelled to Libya for work, calling the practice a horrific abuse of human dignity. Bishop Joseph Bagobiri of Kafanchan, retired Archbishop Alaba Job of Ibadan and retired Bishop Julius Adelakun of Oyo called on the Nigerian government to act on behalf of Nigerian nationals…

Letter from Rome Italy deals Church third big political loss, this time on ‘right-to-die’, writes John L. Allen Jr.   Just days before the 11th anniversary of the death of an Italian man whose battle to be allowed to die stimulated wide debate in the country over euthanasia, the Italian senate approved a ‘living wills’ measure…

The nativity scene in St Peter’s Square is not getting rave reviews: the backdrop does not look like a stable and the characters in need – hungry, naked, dead, imprisoned – don’t exactly evoke a silent night when all was cozy, calm and bright. Franciscan Fr John Puodziunas said he didn’t like it at first.…