Vatican News

Inculturation is a 'necessary process' in the Amazon, Pope Francis says

Vatican City, Feb 12, 2020 / 04:45 am (CNA).- Pope Francis has highlighted the need for spiritual inculturation in the Amazon region, and praised indigenous expressions of religiosity, while pointing to the Eucharist as the central component of Christian spirituality.

In an apostolic exhortation released Feb. 12 as a follow-up to last year’s Synod on the Amazon, the pope said the Church should adapt and adopt the identity of the Amazon region in an authentically Christian way.

In Querida Amazonia, pope calls for women in Church leadership, but not diaconate

Vatican City, Feb 12, 2020 / 04:30 am (CNA).- Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation on the Amazon calls for women in the South American region to be included in new forms of service in the Church, but not within the ordained ministries of the permanent diaconate or priesthood.

Querida Amazonia: What Pope Francis said, and didn't, on priesthood and marriage

Vatican City, Feb 12, 2020 / 04:15 am (CNA).- While Pope Francis was expected to focus in the apostolic exhortation published today on a proposal to ordain married priests in the Amazon region, the pope instead emphasized the importance of collaboration in apostolic ministry by Catholics in various states of life.

Pope Francis' Amazon exhortation calls for holiness, not married priests

Vatican City, Feb 12, 2020 / 04:00 am (CNA).- Pope Francis published his response to the Vatican’s 2019 Amazon synod in an apostolic exhortation Wednesday. Despite widespread speculation following the synod, the pope does not call for married priests, but seeks to expand "horizons beyond conflicts."

Vatican official claims Canon law required giving communion to pro-choice Argentine president and consort

Vatican City, Feb 10, 2020 / 01:55 pm (CNA).- A Vatican official has defended his decision to administer the Eucharist to Argentina's president, despite the leader’s effort to legalize abortion in his country. The official also administered the sacrament to the president’s consort, who is by protocol Argentina’s first lady.

Pope emphasizes unity in message to bishops connected to Focolare Movement

Vatican City, Feb 10, 2020 / 11:34 am (CNA).- Pope Francis emphasized unity in a message sent Monday to bishops connected to the Focolare Movement, which is celebrating 100 years since the birth of its founder.

Pope Francis praises charitable work of Knights of Columbus

Vatican City, Feb 10, 2020 / 06:28 am (CNA).- Pope Francis on Monday met Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson and members of the Knights of Columbus supreme council, praising the organization’s charitable work in Rome and in defense of life.

Pope Francis will travel to Malta in May

Vatican City, Feb 10, 2020 / 03:30 am (CNA).- The Vatican announced Monday that Pope Francis will visit the islands of Malta and Gozo on May 31.

The one-day trip is the first and only international journey officially on the pope’s schedule for 2020.

Malta is named in the Acts of the Apostles as the site where St. Paul was shipwrecked on route to Rome in 60 A.D. The theme of the papal trip is taken from chapter 28 of the book of Acts: “They showed us unusual kindness.”

Pope Francis appeals for displaced women and children in Syria

Vatican City, Feb 9, 2020 / 06:15 am (CNA).- Pope Francis appealed Sunday for the protection of women and children fleeing violence in northwestern Syria, as more than half a million people have been displaced in two months.

“Painful news continues to arrive from the northwest of Syria, in particular on the conditions of many women and children, people forced to flee due to military escalation,” Pope Francis said Feb. 9.

Middle East patriarchs discuss plight of Christian minorities with Pope Francis

Vatican City, Feb 7, 2020 / 10:51 am (CNA).- Six Catholic patriarchs from Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Iraq met with Pope Francis at the Vatican Friday to discuss the difficulties faced by Christians in the region and their mass emigration.

Retreat House Bandra