Vatican News

New director named for Vatican financial watchdog authority

Vatican City, Apr 15, 2020 / 09:05 am (CNA).- The Vatican has named a new director for its internal financial watchdog. 

In a statement April 15, the Holy See press office said that the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin had appointed Giuseppe Schlitzer as director of the Financial Intelligence Authority (AIF). He succeeds Tommaso Di Ruzza, who completed his five-year term of office January 20, according to the Vatican.

Pope Francis prays for the elderly afraid of dying alone amid pandemic

Vatican City, Apr 15, 2020 / 08:05 am (CNA).- Pope Francis prayed for the elderly who are afraid of dying alone at his morning Mass on Wednesday.

“Let us pray today for the elderly, especially for those who are isolated or in nursing homes. They are afraid, afraid of dying alone,” Pope Francis said before Mass on April 15.

The pope said that the elderly are “our roots, our story, our history,” and asked the Lord to be close to them as the world faces the coronavirus pandemic.

Brooklyn priest named bishop of Paterson, New Jersey diocese

Vatican City, Apr 15, 2020 / 07:25 am (CNA).- Pope Francis Wednesday accepted the resignation of Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli, appointing Brooklyn pastor Fr. Kevin J. Sweeney to be his successor as head of the Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey.

Serratelli has been bishop of Paterson since 2004. His resignation of the pastoral governance of the New Jersey diocese was accepted just days before his 76th birthday. Diocesan bishops are required by canon law to submit letters of resignation at age 75.

Peace is much more than ‘inner tranquility,’ says Pope Francis

Vatican City, Apr 15, 2020 / 04:30 am (CNA).- Peace is often misunderstood today as a subjective psychological idea, Pope Francis said Wednesday, stressing that true peace is found in Christ’s sacrificial love.

“Those who have learned and exercise the art of peace are called children of God, they know that there is no reconciliation without the gift of one's own life, and that peace must always be sought,” Pope Francis said April 15.

Pope Francis expresses concern for New Yorkers amid coronavirus

Vatican City, Apr 14, 2020 / 06:19 pm (CNA).- Pope Francis phoned Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York Tuesday to express his concern for the people of New York during the coronavirus pandemic. More than 10,000 deaths in the city are being attributed to infection by the virus.

Cardinal Dolan said April 14 that Pope Francis had called him that afternoon “to express his love, concern, and closeness to all the people of New York, especially those who are sick, during the coronavirus outbreak.”

Remain faithful in uncertain times, urges Pope Francis

Vatican City, Apr 14, 2020 / 04:00 am (CNA).- In uncertain times, our ultimate goal should be to remain faithful to the Lord rather than to seek our own security, Pope Francis said at his morning Mass Tuesday.

Speaking from the chapel of his Vatican residence, the Casa Santa Marta, April 14, the pope said: “Many times when we feel secure we begin to make our plans and slowly move away from the Lord; we do not remain faithful. And my security is not what the Lord gives me. It is an idol.”

Pope makes surprise call to religious sister treating coronavirus patients

Vatican City, Apr 13, 2020 / 01:00 pm (CNA).- Pope Francis made a surprise phone call after the Easter Vigil to a religious sister treating coronavirus patients as a doctor on call in the hard-hit Italian region of Bergamo.

Dr. Angel Bipendu, a member of the Sisters of the Redeemer, has been working on the front line of Italy’s coronavirus crisis in Lombardy as part of a special care unit making home visits to people with COVID-19 symptoms in full protective gear.

Pope Francis commends women caring for others under coronavirus lockdown

Vatican City, Apr 13, 2020 / 06:30 am (CNA).- Pope Francis has urged Catholics to pray for women who are currently caring for children, aiding the elderly, or working in healthcare or law enforcement amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In an address livestreamed from the library of the Apostolic Palace April 13, he noted that women were the first to tell the disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead. 

Cardinal Tagle urges leaders to ensure healthcare for all in coronavirus crisis

Rome, Italy, Apr 13, 2020 / 05:00 am (CNA).- In his Easter message, the president of Caritas Internationalis called on governments to ensure access to healthcare and social protections for all amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, said it was time for world leaders to “rise to the challenge” to promote unity and shared responsibility.

The coronavirus crisis forces us to choose between life and love of money, says pope

Vatican City, Apr 13, 2020 / 03:15 am (CNA).- We face a fundamental choice as we seek to resolve the coronavirus crisis, Pope Francis said during his morning Mass Monday.

Commenting on the day’s Gospel reading (Mt 28:8-15), which describes the risen Christ’s appearance to Mary Magdalene and Mary of Clopas, the pope said April 13: “The Gospel proposes a choice that also applies today: the hope of Jesus' resurrection and nostalgia for the tomb.” 

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