FAITH/STORIES
VATICAN CITY – Fr. Pierangelo Pietracatella and Fr. Hans-Peter Fischer are the newest members of the Roman Rota, and mark the latest in a string of appointments Pope Francis has made this summer as part of his ongoing effort to restructure the Roman Curia.
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Religious leaders, not secularists, are often in the best position to persuade violent religious extremists towards peace, the papal nuncio to the United Nations has said in response to an effort to prevent atrocities.
PRIZREN, Serbia – Pope Francis on Saturday appointed Cardinal Ernest Simoni to be his delegate at the consecration of a cathedral dedicated to St. Teresa of Calcutta in Pristina, the capital of the self-declared state of Kosovo.
Benedict XVI: Cardinal Meisner died a 'cheerful' man
By Elise Harris, CNA/EWTN NewsVATICAN CITY – In a letter sent for the funeral of the late Cardinal Joachim Meisner, retired Pope Benedict XVI praised the prelate as a passionate pastor, who died a happy man at peace with the Lord and his will for the universal Church.
A Franciscan friar trades a field of dreams for an empire for the poor
By Rhina Guidos, Catholic News ServiceSONSONATE, El Salvador – His Boston Red Sox baseball hat is almost as big a part of him as his brown Franciscan habit. Anywhere Franciscan Father Flavian Mucci goes in El Salvador, he's known not only for his love of baseball, but more importantly, for the only thing he loves more than the game: the poor.
Despite Melinda Gates’ hopes, Pope can’t change teaching on contraception
By Mary Rezac, CNA/EWTN NewsWASHINGTON – Pope Francis cannot change Church’s long-standing teaching on contraception, despite the hopes of Melinda Gates, says a theology and ethics professor.
Cardinal Muller refutes claims about conversation with Pope
By CNA/EWTN NewsVATICAN CITY – Cardinal Gerhard Muller has strenuously denied media reports alleging Pope Francis asked the German prelate five pointed questions before informing him that his term as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was not being renewed.
Former president, treasurer of Pope’s hospital charged with misuse of funds
By Hannah Brockhaus, CNA/EWTN NewsVATICAN CITY – The Vatican announced Thursday (July 13) that an investigation involving the former president and treasurer of the Vatican-owned Bambino Gesù hospital in Rome will proceed to trial before the Vatican court.
Q-and-A on the Vatican's recent instruction on bread, wine for Communion
By Catholic News ServiceWASHINGTON – The Vatican recently published a circular letter, "On the bread and wine for the Eucharist," sent to diocesan bishops at the request of Pope Francis. Dated June 15 – the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ – the letter was made public by the Vatican July 8.
Pope Francis creates new path to beatification under ‘offering of life’
By Hannah Brockhaus, CNA/EWTN NewsVATICAN CITY – On Tuesday Pope Francis declared a new category of Christian life suitable for consideration of beatification called “offering of life” – in which a person has died prematurely through an offering of their life for love of God and neighbour.
Pope Francis to beatify Colombian martyrs during September visit
By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY – Pope Francis will beatify a priest and a bishop martyred in Colombia when he visits the country in September, a Vatican spokesman said.
Vatican calls on bishops to prevent Eucharistic abuse in their dioceses
By CNA/EWTN NewsVATICAN CITY – In a new letter to bishops, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments denounced abuses against the Eucharist and "lack of respect in the sacred sphere," and reiterated existing norms regarding the Eucharist at Mass.
Twentieth century Polish nurse among causes advancing toward sainthood
By Hannah Brockhaus, CNA/EWTN NewsVATICAN CITY – Pope Francis on Friday approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Hanna Chrzanowska, a Polish nurse and nursing instructor who died from cancer in 1973, paving the way for her beatification.