Category: Daily News

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis’ language surrounding pastoral blessings — which the Vatican said can be spontaneously given to people in same-sex relationships — is not entirely new for a pope, a Vatican editorial said, and can even be traced back to his immediate predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. In an editorial for Vatican News…

  TAMPA, Fla. – Concluding a three-day summit, officers and members of the Episcopal Conferences of the Americas met from February 26 – 28 at a retreat center to pray and discuss their shared ministry as pastors. The twelve bishops attending included bishops from El Consejo Episcopal Latinoamericano y Caribeño (CELAM), the Canadian Conference of…

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The day after Pope Francis paid a brief visit to Rome’s Gemelli Isola Hospital for “diagnostic tests,” he had a full morning of audiences, including a meeting with bishops from Italy’s Emilia Romagna region making their “ad limina” visits to the Vatican. The bishops, including Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna, had…

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christians who never renounce their love for Christ and are faithful to the point of death are a blessing for everyone, Pope Francis said. “There will always be martyrs among us. This is a sign that we’re on the right path,” the pope said in a video message for the Pope’s…

WASHINGTON – Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Religious Liberty, expressed solidarity with faith-driven ministries to migrants and noted the special need to protect religious liberty. His remarks commended the February 23 statement issued by the Catholic bishops of the State of Texas.…

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Saying Pope Francis was continuing to experience “mild flu-like symptoms,” the Vatican announced he had canceled his appointments again Feb. 26. The 87-year-old pope had led the recitation of the Angelus prayer as usual Feb. 25 and seemed to have no difficulty speaking or breathing, and he did not cough. The…