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Pope Francis to declare St. Irenaeus a Doctor of the Church with title ‘Doctor of Unity’

Pope Francis said on October 7 that he plans to declare St. Irenaeus of Lyon a Doctor of the Church with the title “Doctor unitatis,” meaning “Doctor of Unity.” The Pope made the announ-cement in a speech to the St. Irenaeus Working Group, a group of Catholic and Orthodox theologians who conducted a study together […]

Merkel meets Pope, Draghi in farewell visit to Rome

German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed climate change and clerical abuse with Pope Francis on October 7 in a fare-well trip to Rome that included talks with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. Merkel, who is bowing out after 16 years in power, also visited St Peter’s Basilica and will lunch at a restaurant in central Rome […]

Church’s inability to put abuse victims first is ‘moment of shame,’ says pope

The Catholic Church’s inability to make victims of sexual abuse its top concern is a cause for intense shame, Pope Francis said. In the wake of a major report investigating the extent of sexual aggression and abuse against minors in the church in France, the Pope said, “I wish to express to the victims my […]

Pope warns against ‘closed’ groups claiming righteousness

Pope Francis has warned against those doing the work of the devil by claiming “exclusive” rights over Jesus and the King-dom of God. Referring to September 26 gospel reading from St Mark, Pope Francis cited Jesus’ warning that “instead of dividing people into good and bad, we are all called to watch over our hearts, […]

Public schools can display crucifix when decided democratically, court rules

Italy’s highest court of appeal has ruled that public school classrooms can approve the presence of the crucifix because it does not discriminate against anyone. The court specified, however, that all religious symbols can also be “welcomed” as long as it is decided in a democratic, civil and “gentle” manner by students and faculty together. […]

German bishops’ plenary assembly begins with appeals on church reform

The German bishops’ plenary assembly began with urgent appeals for church reform and a reminder to heed admonitions from Pope Francis. Bishop Georg Bätzing, conference president, called on all bishops to embrace radical change, reported the German Catholic news agency KNA. He said visible changes were need-ed soon in the Synodal Path German church reform project, […]

Getting old is not a disease, it’s a privilege, pope tells older priests

Getting to be a ripe old age is a privilege, Pope Francis told older priests. If facing an illness, that too, becomes a privilege in that one resembles Jesus, “who suffers, and one carries the cross, just like him,” he said in a written letter. “Pray for me as I am a little old and […]

Media critical of the pope do ‘the devil’s work,’ Francis says

In his conversation with Slovakian Jesuits while visiting the country, Pope Francis took a swipe at his media critics, saying he sometimes loses patience with people who insult without know-ing the facts. He also criticized members of the Church who he said are too nostalgic for the past, such as priests who are more attached […]