International

Cardinal Pizzaballa: Pope Francis Calls Holy Family Church In Gaza Every Day

Latin Patriarch of Jeru-salem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, said that Pope Francis is known by the children of Holy Family Church in Gaza as “the grandfather.” During a Dec. 6 press conference organized by Aid to the Church in Need International, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem told journalists “the pope is calling every day at […]

Nicaraguan Dictatorship Kidnaps And Expels Another Priest

The Nicaraguan dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and his “co-president” and wife, Rosario Murillo, this week kidnapped and expelled from the country Father Floriano Ceferino Vargas, a priest of the Diocese of Bluefields. Medardo Mairena, a former peasant leader now in exile, stated on X that “Father Floriano Ceferino Vargas, parish priest of the Church of […]

Christmas Celebratory Again In Holy Land Amid Ongoing War; Patriarch Urges Pilgrims To Return

Christmas this season in the Holy Land will be celebratory, despite ongoing blood-shed and war, the patriarchs of the Holy Land said, as Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa encouraged pilgrims to come back to the birthplace of Jesus. “Pilgrimage is now absolutely safe and also important for society,” Pizzaballa said in Cologne Dec. 3, reported KNA, a […]

Nicaea Anniversary To Witness ‘Growing Communion’ Of Catholic And Orthodox

Pope Francis affirmed his intention to attend next year’s celebration marking 1,700 years since the first Council of Nicaea, in Iznik in north-west Turkey. “I am thinking of going there,” the Pope told participants at the Vati-can’s International Theological Commission last week. In a letter to the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I, he voiced […]

Church Leaders Express ‘Hope’ That Syrian Regime Will Respect Christian Communities

Catholic Church leaders in the U.S., Rome, and the Middle East have expressed cautious “hope” that the new regime in Syria will respect Christian communities after a lightning offensive by Islamist rebel groups toppled the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Bishop Elias Zaidan of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon and chairman of […]

Sudanese Bishop Beaten By Paramilitaries ‘Unable To Eat’

Members of the Rapid Su-pport Force (RSF) seized Bishop Yunan Tombe Trille Kuku Andali of El-Obeid, subjected him to a beating and threatened to execute him as he travelled back to his diocese from a meeting in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. He had attended a Eucharistic Congress on November 24 and celebrations for […]

Vatican: Former Choir Director, Manager Convicted Of Embezzlement, Abuse Of Office

A pair of former Vatican officials has been found guilty of embezzlement and abuse of office as part of a long-running investigation into financial irregularities at a prominent choir there. Monsignor Massimo Palo-mbella, who previously directed the Sistine Chapel Choir in Vatican City, and Michelangelo Nardella, who was the choir’s manager, were both found guilty […]

Irish bishops reject assisted suicide

The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference said that it “totally rejects” a recommendation the incoming government should legalise assisted suicide in restricted circumstances. Speaking before Ireland’s general election on Friday, 29 November, the bishops said in a statement: “Over recent years, we have witnessed a diminution in the respect for human life in our political discourse.” […]

Salesians elect Maltese priest Fabio Attard as Don Bosco’s 11th successor

Pope Francis does not accept Cardinal Koch’s resignation: could continue at least until anniversary of Council of Nicea