Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Jan Tyrawa of Bydgoszcz, the latest bishop accused of covering up sexual abuse by clergy. The bishops’ conference said the Vatican had “conducted proceedings on reported negligence” in line with the Pontiff’s May 2019 motu proprio, Vos estis lux mundi, and had also taken account of “other…
Category: World Report
German foreign minister welcomes same-sex blessings
Ahead of an audience with Pope Francis last Wednesday, Germany’s foreign minister welcomed a day of same-sex blessings held in defiance of the Vatican. Speaking before he met with the Pope on May 12, Heiko Maas backed the blessing ceremonies held in around 80 German cities on Monday in protest at the Vatican’s “no” to…
‘A long line’ of holy catechists have served the Church, Pope writes
Throughout history and across the globe, lay catechists have been revered as saints, and many were martyred for their refusal to renounce their faith and their vocation to teach the Christian faith to others. Formally instituting “the ministry of catechist” with a document published May 11, Pope Francis praised “the countless lay men and women…
In Brief
Jesuits prepare to celebrate Ignatian Year The roughly 15,000 members of the Society of Jesus, their collaborators and many people who draw on the spiritual heritage left by St Ignatius of Loyola are preparing to mark a special Ignatian Year beginning May 20 and lasting until the saint’s feast day, July 31, 2022. Anticipating the…
‘Praying is not easy’, Pope says at audience
Those who overcome distractions or obstacles when praying learn the value of perseverance in times of trial, Pope Francis said
Polish cardinal recalls assassination attempt on St John Paul II on 40th anniversary
A cardinal has recalled the moment that St John Paul II was shot in St Peter’s Square 40 years on from the attempted assassination. The Polish Pope collapsed into the arms of the then Msgr Stanisław Dziwisz when he was struck by four bullets on May 13, 1981. “Holding the slumping and heavily bleeding Holy…
Cardinal Ladaria cautions US bishops on politicians and Holy Communion
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has urged the US bishops to proceed with caution in their discussions about formulating a national policy “to address the situation of Catholics in public office who support legislation allowing abortion, euthanasia or other moral evils”. Cardinal Luis Ladaria, congregation prefect, reiterated what he said he had…
Cardinal sees ‘risk of schism’ in Germany after Vatican ‘no’ to same-sex blessings
Italian Cardinal Camillo Ruini has said that he is praying there will be no schism in Germany, as priests and bishops in the country announce their disagreement with a document from the Vatican saying the Church cannot bless same-sex unions. In a May 4 interview with the newspaper Il Foglio, Cardinal Ruini said: “I hope…
Biden raises refugee cap but with caveat
President Joe Biden announced on May 3 he was raising the historically low refugee cap of 15,000 left by the Trump administration, but also warned that his administration may not be able to meet the new number of refugees it is seeking to resettle in what remains of the fiscal year: 62,500. In a statement,…
Church leaders offer prayers after Mexico City metro crash
Mexican Church leaders offered prayers for the victims of a metro line collapse that left at least 23 dead and more than 70 people injured. Bishop Andrés Vargas Peña of Xochimilco – which serves three southern boroughs in Mexico City – offered condolences to the victims, while announcing each priest in the diocese would celebrate…