Vatican News

Pope Francis names apostolic visitor for pastoral care in Medjugorje

Vatican City, May 31, 2018 / 05:39 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis Thursday extended the mandate of his special envoy to Medjugorje, tasking him with oversight of the pastoral needs of both the local parish community, and pilgrims who come to visit the site of alleged Marian apparitions that took place in the city.

Henryk Hoser, archbishop emeritus of Warszawa-Praga, was tapped as the pope's special envoy to study the pastoral situation of Medjugorje in February 2017.

Commentary: Archbishop Ladaria and the transgender movement

Vatican City, May 30, 2018 / 11:06 am (CNA/EWTN News).- This week Archbishop Luis Ladaria, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued (another) definitive statement on the reservation of priestly ordination to men alone.

CDF prefect: That only men can be priests is 'definitive'

Vatican City, May 30, 2018 / 08:31 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The teaching of the Catholic Church on the impossibility of ordaining women to the priesthood, now or in the future, is clear – and to sow confusion by suggesting otherwise is a serious matter, wrote the Vatican’s top authority on doctrine.

The Holy Spirit is the invisible gift of God, Pope Francis says

Vatican City, May 30, 2018 / 03:43 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis said Wednesday that confirmation is the sacrament in which Catholics are marked with a seal that solidifies their belonging to Christ through the Holy Spirit, who he said is God's invisible gift to each person who receives the sacrament.

With new cardinals on the horizon, what's next for the Roman Curia?

Vatican City, May 30, 2018 / 12:07 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis’ announcement of a consistory to create new cardinals will also have consequences for the offices of the Roman Curia.

Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu, Substitute for General Affairs in the Secretariat of State, has been appointed prefect of the Congregation of the Cause of Saints, to replace Cardinal Angelo Amato, who will turn 80 on June 8.

Vatican hospital issues new charter on rights of 'incurable' children

Vatican City, May 29, 2018 / 01:33 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A month after the death of UK toddler Alfie Evans, the Vatican's Bambino Gesu children's hospital issued a new charter on the “rights of the incurable child,” outlining basic rights for both parents and children.

Pope Francis to visit Sicily in commemoration of Mafia-slain priest

Vatican City, May 29, 2018 / 10:35 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In September Pope Francis will visit the neighborhood and parish connected with a Sicilian priest killed by the Mafia in 1993, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the death of the “First Martyr of the Mafia.”

After quietly fighting the Mafia through the education of young people, Bl. Giuseppe “Pino” Puglisi was assassinated by hitmen on Sept. 15, 1993, his 53rd birthday.

'The Church is for life', Francis tells Catholic physicians

Vatican City, May 28, 2018 / 10:05 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Ideologies which do not acknowledge and uphold the dignity of human life must be resisted and the Catholic Church’s teaching on life affirmed, Pope Francis told a group of Catholic doctors Monday.

“The Church is for life, and her concern is that nothing is against life in the reality of a concrete existence, however weak or defenseless, even if not developed or not advanced,” the pope said May 28 in the Vatican's papal hall.

Pope Francis: In missionary work, prayer comes first

Vatican City, May 28, 2018 / 07:17 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Every Christian is called to be a missionary through prayer, working in collaboration with the Holy Spirit, who gives prayer efficacy, Pope Francis said in a video message to the Pontifical Mission Societies Monday.

God is not indifferent – he's close and personal, Pope Francis says

Vatican City, May 27, 2018 / 05:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis marked the feast of the Holy Trinity stressing the personal love and interest God has in each one of his children, saying the Lord is not ever far away, but is an attentive and loving Father to all.

Retreat House Bandra