Vatican News

Ratzinger's retraction: the fruit of 42 years of theological maturation

Vatican City, Dec 4, 2014 / 03:16 pm (CNA).- News broke weeks ago that a new volume of Benedict XVI's collected works was being released in German with an updated version of a 1972 essay, which no longer suggests that the divorced and remarried can receive Communion, as it once did.

But thanks to Sandro Magister and his translator Matthew Sherry, the full text of his “Retractatio” is now available in English.

Coming soon: the Vatican's report on US women religious

Vatican City, Dec 4, 2014 / 01:51 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Vatican has confirmed it will release its report on the state of women religious in the United States later this month, following up on the apostolic visitation that concluded in January 2012.

“It’s true, it’s true…It’s the congregation that asked us to put this conference in the calendar.” Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi, S.J., told CNA Dec. 4, confirming reports in the United States.

Pope Francis praises the 'hidden holiness' of everyday saints

Vatican City, Dec 4, 2014 / 09:57 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis cautioned against the false appearances of those who are proud or vain, saying that true holiness is found in the silent, everyday witness of the poor and humble.

“We should think about so much hidden holiness there is in the Church; Christians who remain in Jesus,” the Pope told those present in the Vatican's Saint Martha guesthouse for his Dec. 4 daily Mass.

The Church is about Christ – not an NGO, Pope tells Swiss bishops

Vatican City, Dec 2, 2014 / 03:30 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- In an address to the Swiss bishops on Monday, Pope Francis urged them maintain a lively faith, lest their country’s religious buildings become nothing more than dust-filled museums.

The Holy Father also used the opportunity to encourage the bishops to live their episcopal fatherhood; to uphold the ministerial priesthood; to engage in frank ecumenism; and to maintain the Church's witness to the Gospel.

Pope: Knowledge alone doesn't reveal God; humble prayer does

Vatican City, Dec 2, 2014 / 12:47 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- In his homily on Tuesday, Pope Francis said that no matter how much we study, we will never know anything about God unless we speak to him humbly like children.

“Many may know science (and) theology well, so many! But if they do not do this theology on their knees, humbly, like children, they will not understand anything,” the Pope told those present in the Vatican’s Saint Martha guesthouse for his Dec. 2 daily Mass.

Religious leaders sign joint declaration to eradicate slavery

Vatican City, Dec 2, 2014 / 10:24 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Leaders of the world’s major religions came together at the Vatican on Tuesday to sign a common declaration condemning slavery and urging the world to action, and were addressed by Pope Francis.

“We, the undersigned, are gathered here today for a historic initiative to inspire spiritual and practical action by all global faiths and people of good will everywhere to eradicate modern slavery across the world by 2020 and for all time,” the Dec. 2 declaration read.

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