Faith
Vatican donates masks to China to combat coronavirus outbreak
By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- The Vatican donated thousands of protective masks to several Chinese provinces affected by the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus.
Parties working to get U.S., Russia to discuss nuclear arms reduction
By Dennis Sadowski, Catholic News ServiceWASHINGTON -- An effort is underway through nongovernmental channels to bring U.S. and Russian negotiators together to discuss new reductions in the countries' nuclear weapons arsenals, an official with the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development said during a visit to The Catholic University of America.
Cardinals Re, Sandri elected to top posts in College of Cardinals
By Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis has approved the election of Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re as dean of the College of Cardinals and of Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri as the subdean.
Abuse happens within women's orders, too, cardinal says
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- Sexual abuse and the abuse of authority have occurred and are occurring within religious orders of women and must be addressed with transparency and boldness, said Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
Pope Francis meets with Mike Pence at Vatican
By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- After Pope Francis and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence met privately for nearly an hour at the Vatican, Pence told the pope that his Roman Catholic mother will be pleased with the visit.
Czerny takes over Rome parish
By Catholic Register StaffCanadian Cardinal Michael Czerny, son of migrants to Canada and head of the Vatican department that works on behalf of migrants and refugees, took possession of his parish in a heavily immigrant neighbourhood of Rome Jan. 19.
U.S. bishop asked Pope Francis about McCarrick report
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler, Texas, said he asked Pope Francis about the Vatican investigation into Theodore E. McCarrick and the release of a promised report on how the former cardinal managed to rise through the church ranks.
Pope Francis sets term of office for dean of College of Cardinals
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- After accepting the resignation of 92-year-old Cardinal Angelo Sodano as dean of the College of Cardinals, Pope Francis changed the norms of the office so that the dean would be elected to a five-year term renewable only once.
Pope Francis records video of Christmas wishes with U.N. chief
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis and the secretary-general of the United Nations said that, like millions of people around the world, during the Christmas season their thoughts turn to yearnings for peace and for the well-being of those in need.
New diplomats to Vatican meet with Pope Francis
By Carol GlatzVATICAN CITY -- Peace requires setting aside indifference and fear so that a feeling of mutual respect may grow and flourish, Pope Francis told diplomats.
Pope Francis lifts secrecy obligation for those reporting abuse
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis has abolished the obligation of secrecy for those who report having been sexually abused by a priest and for those who testify in a church trial or process having to do with clerical sexual abuse.