Vatican News

Myanmar’s bishops discuss China, Rohingya with Pope Francis

Vatican City, May 9, 2018 / 02:10 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Vatican’s long-rumored China deal was discussed by Myanmar’s bishops this week during an ad limina visit with Pope Francis, according to the Archbishop of Yangon.

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo told CNA that during a 90 minute conversation, the bishops talked with Pope Francis about work for reconciliation in the country, the role of the Church in that process, the Rohingya crisis, and the conflict in the state of Rakhine.

Working document approved for synod on youth

Vatican City, May 9, 2018 / 11:14 am (CNA/EWTN News).- After a two-day meeting in Rome, the governing council of the Vatican office for the Synod of Bishops approved the text to be used as the working document for the upcoming October gathering dedicated to youth.

The May 7-8 meeting of the governing council was presided over by Pope Francis and centered on finalizing the text.

Embezzlement trial begins for ex-Vatican Bank president

Vatican City, May 9, 2018 / 10:25 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The first hearing in a trial against the former president of the Institute of Religious Works (IOR) – known as the “Vatican Bank” – and his lawyer took place today at the Vatican.

Pope Francis to meet with head of Czech and Slovak Orthodox Church

Vatican City, May 9, 2018 / 08:45 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis and the primate of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, His Beatitude Metropolitan Rastislav, will meet for the first time later this week, the Vatican announced Wednesday.

Pope: Nothing can erase baptism, that's why it only happens once

Vatican City, May 9, 2018 / 02:46 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis said Wednesday that nothing can take away a person's baptism or the salvation and identity they gain as a child of God, which is why the Church only allows for the sacrament to be administered once.

“Baptism is not repeated because it imprints an indelible spiritual sign: This sign is never erased by any sin, though sin prevents baptism from bringing the fruit of salvation,” the pope said during his May 9 general audience.

Analysis: Will Mass in a Sardinian dialect begin a trend for ‘regional languages?’

Rome, Italy, May 8, 2018 / 04:00 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Will a Mass celebrated in an Italian dialect pave the way for translation of the Roman Missal into regional dialects?

The question was raised April 28, when Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu, deputy to the Vatican Secretariat, celebrated Mass in Cagliari, the main city of the Italian region of Sardinia.

New statutes for Vatican laity, family, life office cement links with JPII Institute

Vatican City, May 8, 2018 / 11:15 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life published updated statutes Tuesday, reconfirming their connection with the re-formed Pontifical John Paul II Theological Institute, established by Pope Francis in September 2017.

Vatican promotes 'Bridges of Solidarity' for Venezuelan emigrants

Vatican City, May 7, 2018 / 10:18 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The ongoing crisis in Venezuela has produced a tremendous flow of emigration, with thousands fleeing the instability and hyperinflation under Nicolas Maduro's socialist government to seek refuge in neighboring countries.

Pope: Love demands 'all possible assistance' be given to sick and dying

Vatican City, May 6, 2018 / 05:33 am (CNA/EWTN News).- God’s love requires that we give our best to each and every one of our brothers and sisters, even those who are in the final stage of their life, Pope Francis said during his Regina Coeli address Sunday.

“Love for others cannot be reserved for exceptional moments, but must become the constant of our existence,” the pope said May 6.

Virtual reality: An answer to the pope's call for creativity in medicine?

Vatican City, May 5, 2018 / 03:45 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Chronic pain reduction. Improvement in paralysis. Restoration of sight amid macular degeneration. These are just some of the results being seen in experimental treatments using virtual reality technology.

And this technology could help answer Pope Francis’ call for doctors and scientists to collaborate in pursuing bold and creative approaches to medicine.

Retreat House Bandra