Vatican News

Salesians in India hold prayer vigil for release of Fr. Tom

Vatican City, Jan 4, 2017 / 09:47 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Salesians in the Bangalore province of India held a prayer vigil Jan. 4 for the release of Salesian priest Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil, who was kidnapped in Yemen March 4, 2016.

The prayer vigil, confirmed to CNA by the Salesian province of Bangalore, marks 10 months since the priest’s abduction during an armed attack on a Missionaries of Charity-run retirement home in Aden, the provincial capital of Yemen.

There are no words for the loss of a child, but there is still hope, Pope says

Vatican City, Jan 4, 2017 / 04:59 am (CNA/EWTN News).- While no words or gestures will ever be enough to comfort the pain experienced by those who have lost a child, Pope Francis said that God’s response to our tears is the offer of hope – hope in the promise of eternal life.

Reflecting on the Old Testament figure of Rachel, who in the Book of Jeremiah is weeping “for her children – they are no more!” the Pope focused his Jan. 4 general audience on God’s response to her mourning.

Pope shakes up monthly prayers, adds new 'urgent' intention

Vatican City, Jan 4, 2017 / 04:14 am (CNA/EWTN News).- After launching the first video series on his monthly prayer intentions last year, Pope Francis has decided to make some changes for 2017 by going back to an older system focusing on just one intention rather than two.

However, true to form, he has also added a novelty: in addition to the one monthly intention, Francis will also issue an “urgent” prayer intention himself each month in order to garner rapid support for the cause.

For Cardinal Mueller, a humble faith is good for theology

Vatican City, Jan 4, 2017 / 12:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The ideological efforts to change Catholic doctrine after the Second Vatican Council were deeply misguided, said Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and a leading interpreter of Benedict XVI.

No, Pope Francis didn't say Christianity and Islam should merge

Vatican City, Jan 3, 2017 / 02:10 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Widely shared quotes attributed to Pope Francis, in which he advocates for a merging of the religions of Christianity and Islam, have been debunked by the Vatican as fake.

Pope kicks off new year renewing 'zero tolerance' policy on abuse

Vatican City, Jan 2, 2017 / 07:49 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In a letter sent to bishops around the world for the feast of the Holy Innocents, Pope Francis lamented the many children who suffer from war, slavery and various forms of abuse, including within the Church.

After Istanbul attack, Pope prays for those who fight ‘bloody stain’ of terrorism

Vatican City, Jan 1, 2017 / 07:03 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Sunday, the first day of the new year and the 50th World Day of Peace, Pope Francis condemned a terrorist attack which took place in Istanbul early Sunday morning, praying for the victims, the injured and in support of everyone who works to fight violence and terrorism.

Pope on New Year’s Day: Mary’s motherhood teaches us humility, tenderness

Vatican City, Jan 1, 2017 / 04:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Sunday Pope Francis said that celebrating Mary, the Mother of God, highlights a beautiful aspect of our faith: that Mary is our mother too, and that by her example we can learn to practice virtue and self-sacrifice in our own lives.

“By her motherhood, Mary shows us that humility and tenderness are not virtues of the weak but of the strong,” Francis said Jan. 1.

At close of 2016, Pope says selfishness should be a thing of the past

Vatican City, Dec 31, 2016 / 10:15 am (CNA/EWTN News).- During a prayer service for the close of 2016, Pope Francis said the arrival of a new year should serve as an opportunity to toss out attitudes of selfishness and exclusion, focusing instead on how to imitate God’s closeness to each person through his incarnation.

Pope: MidEast Christians reflect heroism of St. Stephen

Vatican City, Dec 26, 2016 / 10:05 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis has said the heroic martyrdom of St. Stephen is mirrored in the persecution of modern-day Christians, particularly in the Middle East.

“When we read the history of the early centuries, here in Rome, we read about so much cruelty towards Christians,” the Pope said in a special Angelus address Dec. 26 for the feast of St. Stephen. “I tell you, there is this same cruelty today, and in greater numbers with Christians.”

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