Vatican News

Pope Francis meets with Colombian leaders in wake of peace deal

Vatican City, Dec 16, 2016 / 11:45 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis met Friday morning with Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón and former president Senator Álvaro Uribe Vélez, as the country works to finalize a peace accord which would end a 52-year conflict between the government and rebel groups.

Vatican police mark 200th anniversary with concert for needy children

Vatican City, Dec 16, 2016 / 08:11 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In honor of their bicentenary, the Vatican Gendarmerie have decided to celebrate with an act of mercy: they will host a concert that will be used to fund a children’s hospital in Bangui and earthquake relief efforts in Central Italy.

New Biloxi bishop humbled, joyed by his appointment

Vatican City, Dec 16, 2016 / 06:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Friday the Vatican announced that Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Roger Morin of Biloxi, and appointed Louisiana native Msgr. Louis Kihneman as his successor.

A priest of the Diocese of Corpus Christi for 39 years, Msgr. Kihneman, 64, said in a Dec. 16 press release announcing his appointment that he accepts the Holy Father’s nomination with “great joy and deep humility and faith.”

Vatican official: Religion in public has never been more at risk

Vatican City, Dec 15, 2016 / 03:32 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- While violent persecution against Christians assails swaths of territory the Middle East and Africa, one Vatican official says that Western nations face a different type of oppression, marked by the push to eliminate religion from public life.

Mary models for the sick 'surrender to God's will'

Vatican City, Dec 15, 2016 / 10:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis on Thursday announced the theme for the 25th World Day of the Sick, “Amazement at what God has accomplished,” explaining that in difficult circumstances we should look to Mary as an example of how to embrace God’s will for our lives.

Pope tells ambassadors to make 'courageous' choice for nonviolence

Vatican City, Dec 15, 2016 / 05:17 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Thursday Pope Francis accepted the credentials of six new ambassadors to the Holy See, urging them to work toward promoting the common good in their respective countries by adopting tactics of nonviolence at a political level.

Mission, synodality key themes in latest round of cardinal meetings

Vatican City, Dec 14, 2016 / 07:22 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis’ Council of Cardinals met for the 17th time this week, with synodality and the Church’s “missionary drive” forming the basis of the discussion on how reform of the Curia’s various departments will move forward.

Discussion largely centered around the role of the Secretary of state and the Congregations for the Evangelization of Peoples (Propaganda Fides), for Bishops and for Oriental Churches.

Pope: the world desperately needs hope – and we are the messengers

Vatican City, Dec 14, 2016 / 04:54 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis Wednesday spoke about the hope that the Child Jesus brings at Christmastime, saying it is our duty to be the messengers that bring his message to the world – a world that is thirsting for goodness.

“The message of the Good News entrusted to us is urgent,” he said Dec. 14. “We must also run like the messenger of the mountains, because the world cannot wait, humanity is hungry and thirsty for justice, for truth and for peace.”

In stressing error of clericalism, Francis calls for humble priests

Vatican City, Dec 13, 2016 / 04:50 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- In his homily at Mass Tuesday, Pope Francis spoke harshly about what he considers one of the great dangers of clericalism: that it alienates members of the Church by refusing to be close to them, and reinforces the belief that priests are above the laity.

Pope Francis sends condolences on death of Opus Dei leader

Vatican City, Dec 13, 2016 / 09:42 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On hearing of the Dec. 12 death of Bishop Javier Echevarría Rodríguez, the Prelate of Opus Dei, Pope Francis sent a telegram Tuesday expressing his deep sympathy to the members of the organization and to Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz Braña, auxiliary vicar.

Retreat House Bandra