As the United States took in almost 19,000 migrant children, labelled “unaccompanied minors”, in March, faith-based organisations such as Catholic Charities throughout the country have been doing their part to help. In Texas, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Antonio set up over 2,000 cots for their guests at the Freeman Coliseum to “welcome…
Category: World Report
Vatican Roundup
‘Profound evil’ of abuse must be eradicated, Pope Francis tells symposium As religious leaders, scholars, experts and abuse survivors come together online to participate in an international symposium on faith, healing and prevention, Pope Francis sent a message as part of opening remarks for the event. Pope Francis hopes that by bringing together people from…
In Brief
Canonical proceedings against French parish over mask-less Masses The archbishop of Paris announced canonical proceedings last Wednesday against a parish priest for reportedly refusing to follow coronavirus health measures at the Easter Vigil. A statement from the Archdiocese of Paris on April 7 said that the pastor of Sainte-Eugène-Sainte-Cécile church in Paris’ ninth arrondissement did…
Pope Francis to offer Divine Mercy Sunday Mass in church with St Faustina’s relics
On Divine Mercy Sunday, Pope Francis will offer Mass in a church containing the relics of both St Faustina Kowalska and St John Paul II. This will be the second year that the Pope has chosen to offer Mass in the church, Santo Spirito in Sassia, which was transformed into a center for Divine Mercy…
Mozambique massacre should prompt response – Catholic group
While a recent massacre in Mozambique has drawn headlines internationally, the country has been dealing with violence for years, which has largely gone unacknowledged in the international community, said leaders of a Catholic charity and peace organisation present in the country. Johan Viljoen, director of Denis Hurley Peace Institute (DHPI), which is an entity of…
US poll finds Church membership continues its downward trend
While fewer than half of American adults responding to a recent poll said they are members of a Church, synagogue or mosque, the findings do not necessarily mean that people have lost faith in God, a pair of Church observers said. Church membership in 2020 dropped to 47% of the more than 6,100 respondents to…
Indonesia Palm Sunday bombing ‘disgraced human dignity’
Indonesia’s Catholic bishops have strongly condemned the Palm Sunday suicide bombing on the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral on the island of Sulawesi which injured at least 19 people. The two attackers, who both died in the bombing, were believed to have been a part of the local Islamic State affiliated group, Jamaah Ansharut Daulah…
Easter celebrations return to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Christians celebrated Easter at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre this year after the storied church remained closed last Easter due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over Palm Sunday Mass on March 28 at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre with a small group in the church and…
Vatican Roundup
Pope signals further reforms to tackle financial crime Signalling further reforms of the Vatican City State penal code, particularly when it comes to financial crimes, Pope Francis said the laws must reflect “the equality of all members of the church” by doing away with “privileges that go back in time and are no longer in…
In Brief
Iraqi cardinal: Pope Francis gave $350,000 for poor during Iraq trip During his recent visit to Iraq, Pope Francis gave a donation of $350,000 to the Chaldean Catholic Church to support local families affected by conflict and the pandemic. Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako told Agenzia Fides that the Pope’s gift was “intended to be a sign of…