Vatican News

Pope's Albania visit will draw from past, look to future

Vatican City, Sep 16, 2014 / 08:31 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis’ upcoming Albanian visit will highlight Mother Teresa, honor the martyrs of Albania’s atheistic past, and suggest the country’s potential as a model for religious coexistence.

Holy See Press Office director Father Federico Lombardi, S.J. discussed the motives for Pope Francis’ Sept. 21 trip in a press briefing Tuesday.

The Albanian-born Blessed Mother Teresa will be an important figure for Pope Francis’ trip, he said.

No plans to raise security ahead of Pope's Albania visit

Vatican City, Sep 15, 2014 / 09:40 am (CNA/EWTN News).- There are no plans to increase security for Pope Francis' Sept. 21 trip to Albania despite new reports of a potential threat by Islamic militants, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said Monday.

“All of us are worried about what ISIS is doing,” Fr. Lombardi told journalists during a Vatican press briefing Sept. 15 ahead of the Pope's forthcoming trip to the majority Muslim country.

Want to learn obedience? Look at the 'woman by the Cross'

Vatican City, Sep 15, 2014 / 08:08 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Celebrating Mass for the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows at the Santa Marta residence, Pope Francis reflected on the ultimate example of obedience demonstrated by Mary at the foot of the Cross.

As we look at Mary standing beneath the Cross, “steadfastly following her Son in his suffering, to learn obedience,” we see the Church and our mother, he said the morning of Sept. 15.

Pope to couples: Cross illuminates purpose of marriage

Vatican City, Sep 14, 2014 / 07:59 am (CNA/EWTN News).- “Marriage is a symbol of life... the Sacrament of love of Christ and the Church, a love which finds its proof and guarantee in the Cross.”

This was the central theme of Pope Francis' homily for the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, delivered moments before presiding over the marriages of 20 couples from the Diocese of Rome.

Sts John XXIII, John Paul II added to General Roman Calendar

Vatican City, Sep 12, 2014 / 04:34 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Congregation for Divine Worship on Thursday added Saints John XXIII and John Paul II to the universal calendar of the modern Roman rite, with both their feasts observed during October.

According to the Sept. 11 issue of the Vatican weekly L'Osservatore Romano, the decree naming the saints’ new feast days was issued by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments following requests to do so from around the world.

Pages