Vatican News

Beware of the virus of ‘selfish indifference’, says pope on Divine Mercy Sunday

Vatican City, Apr 19, 2020 / 05:00 am (CNA).- Humanity could be struck by “an even worse virus” after the coronavirus crisis, that of “selfish indifference”, Pope Francis said as he celebrated Mass on Divine Mercy Sunday.

Preaching at Santo Spirito in Sassia, Rome’s official Divine Mercy church, April 19, the pope said that we risk forgetting the poor as we eagerly await the end of the pandemic. 

Vatican congregation to send ventilators to Syria and Holy Land

Vatican City, Apr 18, 2020 / 08:00 am (CNA).- A Vatican Congregation has announced that it is sending medical supplies to Syria and the Holy Land as the coronavirus spreads across the Middle East. 

The Congregation for the Oriental Churches said April 18 it was donating 10 ventilators to Syria and three to St Joseph’s Hospital in Jerusalem, as well as diagnostic kits to Gaza and funds to the Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem. 

Pope to offer Divine Mercy Sunday Mass in church with St. Faustina’s relics

Vatican City, Apr 17, 2020 / 10:00 am (CNA).- On Divine Mercy Sunday Pope Francis will offer Mass in a church containing the relics of both St. Faustina Kowalska and St. John Paul II.

This Sunday will mark the 20th liturgical anniversary of St. Faustina’s canonization and the official institution of the feast of Divine Mercy Sunday by St. John Paul II.

Pope Francis sets out vision for world after coronavirus pandemic

Vatican City, Apr 17, 2020 / 08:00 am (CNA).- Pope Francis looked ahead to life after the coronavirus pandemic in a Spanish article published Friday that examines the current crisis in light of Christ’s resurrection.

Entitled “A plan to rise again,” the pope’s message calls for renewed solidarity in the unity of the Holy Spirit, which he said cannot be confined in its work of “making all things new.” 

The Church’s ideal is to be with the people, pope says

Vatican City, Apr 17, 2020 / 04:00 am (CNA).- With millions of Catholics dependent on livestreamed Masses, there is a danger that we will lose sight of the communal dimension of Christian life, Pope Francis said at his morning Mass Friday. 

Reflecting on the day’s Gospel reading (John 21:1-14), in which the risen Christ invites his disciples to eat breakfast, the pope said April 16 that all Christians should seek a “daily familiarity with the Lord.”

Benedict XVI celebrates his 93rd birthday during coronavirus lockdown

Rome, Italy, Apr 16, 2020 / 09:06 am (CNA).- Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI celebrated his 93rd birthday Thursday at his Vatican residence during Italy’s coronavirus lockdown.

The retired pope, who lives in the Mater Ecclesia monastery on Vatican grounds, did not have any visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to his personal secretary, Archbishop Georg Ganswein.

Joy is more than emotion, it is a gift of the Holy Spirit, Pope Francis says

Vatican City, Apr 16, 2020 / 03:12 am (CNA).- Joy is a grace and a gift of the Holy Spirit, not just positive emotions or feeling cheerful, Pope Francis said at Mass at the Vatican Thursday.

Joy “is not the consequence of emotions that burst for a wonderful thing... No, it is more,” he said April 16. “This joy, this which fills us, is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit one cannot have this joy.”

Vatican creates commission to address coronavirus aftermath

Vatican City, Apr 15, 2020 / 10:00 am (CNA).- The Vatican is creating a commission to provide local aid and tackle issues related to the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, according to a statement released Wednesday.

The group, created at the request of Pope Francis, will work in collaboration with the Roman Curia and specifically the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

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