Vatican News

Pope John Paul I to be honored with museum in northern Italy

Vatican City, Aug 24, 2016 / 11:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Friday a museum dedicated to Pope John Paul I will officially be inaugurated in the hometown of the “Smiling Pope,” whom Pope Francis has often quoted when speaking on the topic of mercy.

Though his papal reign is among the shortest in history, summing up to just 33 days, Pope John Paul I was in office long enough to leave a mark.

Vatican wades into sex education for young people

Vatican City, Aug 24, 2016 / 05:09 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Vatican recently rolled out a new sex education course designed to help parents and educators talk to teens about sex and counter messages on social media.

The course, published by the Vatican Council for the Family, and called “The Meeting Point: The Adventure of Love,” aims to promote a dialogue between young people and their parents and teachers regarding sexuality.

Pope tosses audience speech, prays rosary for victims of Italy quake

Vatican City, Aug 24, 2016 / 03:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Instead of giving the usual catechesis during his Wednesday general audience, Pope Francis decided to postpone the speech, leading pilgrims in praying the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary for the victims of an earthquake that rocked central Italy earlier that morning.

Pope Francis taps DC auxiliary as the new Bishop of Memphis

Vatican City, Aug 23, 2016 / 03:58 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Tuesday the Vatican announced that Pope Francis has named Martin D. Holley, currently Auxiliary Bishop of Washington D.C. and an advocate of minority issues, as the new Bishop of Memphis, Tenn.

After serving 12 years as Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Washington, Bishop Holley has been appointed the fifth Bishop of Memphis, a city sometimes called “The Good Samaritan on the banks of the Mississippi.”

Pope Francis: Confession is encounter with God's 're-creating mercy'

Vatican City, Aug 22, 2016 / 12:36 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis commended the sacrament of confession as the prime means of encountering God's mercy in his message sent Monday to Italy's National Liturgical Week, which is being held in Gubbio.

Benedict XVI's memoir to be published in English in November

Vatican City, Aug 22, 2016 / 11:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Benedict XVI's new memoir, a lengthy interview with German journalist Peter Seewald, is being translated into English and will be released this November.

Pope Francis names American as new Vatican ambassador to Guinea Bissau

Vatican City, Aug 22, 2016 / 04:10 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Monday Pope Francis appointed U.S. Archbishop Michael W. Banach as Apostolic Nuncio to Guinea Bissau, marking the latest in a string of American nuncio appointments so far this year.

The announcement that Archbishop Banach, previously nuncio to several other countries, will now be overseeing the Holy See’s relations with Guinea Bissau came in an Aug. 22 communique from the Vatican.

Pope Francis dedicates Olympic month to praying for sports

Vatican City, Aug 21, 2016 / 08:27 am (CNA/EWTN News).- While Pope Francis has often spoken about sports as a means of fellowship and fraternity, the message has a special resonance in his August prayer intention, which coincided with the Rio Summer Olympics.

Pope prays for victims of 'bloody' attack at a wedding in Turkey

Vatican City, Aug 21, 2016 / 05:16 am (CNA/EWTN News).- After an explosion in southern Turkey lit up a wedding ceremony, killing 50 people and wounding nearly 100 more, Pope Francis offered his prayers for the victims, and asked for peace to be given to all.

“Dear brothers and sisters, I have heard of the sad news of the bloody attack yesterday which struck the beloved Turkey,” the Pope said Aug. 21, after leading pilgrims in praying the traditional Angelus prayer.

Pope Francis to visit Assisi again for interreligious summit

Vatican City, Aug 19, 2016 / 10:03 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In September Pope Francis will make his second visit to Assisi in just two months for an interreligious summit for peace, where he will pray and meet alongside major Islamic and Orthodox leaders.

The visit will take place Sept. 20, which marks the 30th anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Peace that St. John Paul II convoked in Assisi 1986.

Retreat House Bandra