Login      Register  
Subscription

Redeemer statue lights up with coronavirus-affected countries’ flags

The iconic Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil was lit up March 18 night with flags and messages of hope to the nations affected by the growing coronavirus pandemic. The stunning light show atop Rio de Janeiro’s Corcovado mountain featured more than 150 flags, representing every country with confirmed COVID-19 cases, as well as the […]

Sri Lankan cardinal seeks probe into cause of Covid-19

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has called for an international probe into the cause of the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking in a televised Mass on March 15, the archbishop of Colombo said powerful countries cannot be allowed to play with the lives of the innocent public. He said that experimenting with nature had resulted in the coronavirus. “We […]

Living the Catholic faith in times of crisis

Emanuel Marianus Tapu, 29, usually goes to church to attend Sunday Mass. However, for the last two Sundays he has been unable to do so because Mass and other church activities have been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. Luckily, though, churches have turned to the internet and are streaming daily and Sunday Masses. Last […]

Vatican says general absolution may be permissible during pandemic

In places particularly hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic and with severe limits on people leaving their homes, conditions may exist to grant general absolution to the faithful without them personally confessing their sins first, the Vatican said. The Apostolic Penitentiary, a Vatican tribunal that deals with matters of conscience, including confession, issued a notice […]

Cardinal Zen: ‘Parolin manipulates the pope,’ and Vatican’s China policy is ‘immoral’

Cardinal Joseph Zen publish-ed Saturday a blog post accusing the Vatican’s secretary of state of manipulating Pope Francis, and continuing his ongoing criticism of the Holy See’s approach to the Catholic Church in China. “My personal impression is that [Cardinal Pietro] Parolin manipulates the Pope, at least in things regarding the Church in China,” Zen, […]

Communist Vietnam lauds church steps against coronavirus

Vietnam’s communist government has thanked Christians, including the Catholic hierarchy, for taking preventive steps to check the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Head of religious affairs Vu Chien Thang used a March 17 statement to extend Easter greeting to all Catholics, Protestants and their leaders, Vietnam News Agency reported. “We thank the Episcopal Council and bishops of […]

At least 60 Italian priests have died after contracting coronavirus

In the past week alone, more than 3,000 people have died in Italy after contracting the coronavirus. Among the dead are at least 60 priests this month, according to local media reports. “I pray to the Holy Spirit to give us the gift of light and strength. Everyday I do the Via Crucis asking the […]

Pope’s visit to Indonesia off, Vatican insider says

Indonesian Catholics have called on the Vatican to re-schedule Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia after it was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Though the Vatican never confirmed the pope would be visiting Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and Papua New Guinea this September, diplomatic sources had said the visit was planned. However, officials have now said that due to […]