Vatican News

For Arab Christianity, new women saints give encouraging example

Vatican City, May 17, 2015 / 06:38 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Catholic Church’s celebration of the canonization of two new women saints from Palestine on Sunday helps recognize both women’s important role in Arab culture and Arabs’ important role in Christianity.

“These two humble and simple women, consecrated women, give us also encouragement to pray for peace,” said Father Rifat Bader, general director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media in Amman, Jordan.

Pope appeals for peace in Burundi

Vatican City, May 17, 2015 / 01:10 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- On Sunday morning, Pope Francis called for prayers for the people of Burundi, where violent clashes have broken out following a failed coup last week.

“I also wish to invite you to pray for the dear people of Burundi, who are living in a delicate moment,” the pontiff said in his May 17 address ahead of the Regina Caeli prayers.

“May the Lord help everyone flee the violence and act responsibly for the good of the country.”

Pope Francis reminds Christians to have a festive faith

Vatican City, May 16, 2015 / 02:17 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Speaking to vowed religious, Pope Francis said Christianity must be festive. He praised the special nourishing power of a nun’s smile.

“The feast is a theological category of life. And you cannot live the consecrated life without this festive dimension. It's a party. But partying is not the same as making noise,” he said May 16.

This festive dimension to life is “one of the things that we Christians forget,” he said, according to Vatican Radio.

Population control won't solve climate change, Caritas official says

Vatican City, May 16, 2015 / 06:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Controlling populations is not the answer in fighting poverty and protecting the environment, says a leading official for the Catholic aid federation, Caritas Internationalis.

“We do not see that population control, the way it is being thought by many, is the right way to go forward,” Caritas secretary general Michel Roy said in an interview with CNA.

The question of sustaining the planet is not approached “by suppressing people,” he said.

Pope Francis: Fear and joylessness are signs of bad spiritual health

Vatican City, May 15, 2015 / 11:40 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In his daily homily on Friday Pope Francis said that Christian communities become “sick” when they live in fear and fail to be joyful – even when times are difficult.

“When the Church is fearful and when the Church does not receive the joy of the Holy Spirit, the Church is sick, the communities are sick, the faithful are sick,” the Pope said during Mass at the Santa Marta residence May 15.

Vatican and 'State of Palestine' agree to treaty safeguarding religious liberty

Vatican City, May 13, 2015 / 02:13 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Holy See and the State of Palestine have agreed on the text of a treaty regarding the life and activity of the Church in Palestine, which is expected to be signed soon by both parties.

Much attention has been given to the fact that in its May 13 announcement, the Holy See referred to its agreement with “the State of Palestine” rather than the Palestinian Liberation Authority, or some other title.

Pages