International

Priest Helps Orphans Flee Afghanistan: 12,000 Christians in extreme danger

Barnabite priest Fr. Giovanni Scalese, ecclesiastical superior of the Catholic mission Sui Iuris in Afghanistan, told la Repu-bblica in late August how he helped 14 disabled children and 5 nuns escape from the embattled city of Kabul. Father Scalese spoke to the newspaper the day after landing in Rome on Aug. 25, saying, ”I would […]

Anglican bishop steps down to become Catholic

A prominent Church of England bishop has announced that he is stepping down in five days to become a Catholic. The Bishop of Ebbsfleet Jonathan Goodall, a suffragan in the Canterbury diocese, is resigning after what he described today as “one of the most testing periods of my life.” His decision after eight years as […]

Eucharist heals from idolatry of ‘self,’ pope says at Mass in Budapest

Spending time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament can heal Christians from a self-absorbed religiosity that is ostentatious and triumphalist, Pope Francis said. Presiding over the closing Mass of the International Eu-charistic Congress September 12, the Pope urged people to make time for Eucharistic adoration. “Let us allow Jesus, the living bread, to heal us […]

Soccer-loving Pope Francis gets a new toy: A foosball table

Pope Francis has received dozens of soccer jerseys and game balls during his eight-year pontificate but he got a new football-themed toy on Wednesday: his very own foosball table. Francis played a round on the table that was presented to him at the end of his general audience by representatives of a Tuscany-based table football […]

Hypocrisy in the church is ‘detestable,’ pope says at audience

Hypocrites are afraid of the truth, fearful of who they really are and incapable of truly loving, Pope Francis said during his weekly general audience. What hypocrites do “is like putting make-up on your soul, like putting makeup on your behaviour” and hiding the truth, the pope said Aug. 25 to those gathered in the […]

After Maronite patriarch pressured, U.S. advocates express support

Advocates, political leaders and a Maronite Catholic bishop gathered on Zoom for a virtual seminar to express support for Lebanon’s Maronite patriarch, who came under pressure after calling for the Lebanese army to take control of the southern part of Lebanon, where Hezbollah is engaging in skirmishes with Israel. Card Bechara Rai, Maronite patriarch, also […]

Poor Clare sister from Maryland is elected abbess, succeeds Mother Angelica

BAL When Theresa Buck was still in high school at Mount de Sales Academy in the Baltimore suburb of Catonsville, she took a standardized assessment test meant to give some indication of the kind of career that would best suit her talents, personality and interests. Topping the list of potential careers, according to the assessment? […]

Afghan Christians Are Facing a Taliban Reign of Terror

After days of increasing dis-belief, America watched on Aug. 16 as President Joe Biden officially abandoned Afghanistan. We listened to his awkward speech as he publicly dismissed a 20-year American investment in blood and treasure while putting at risk untold thousands of Afghan lives. “America has spent $2trn in Afghanistan; more than 2,000 American lives […]

Indian bishops slam terror attack on tourists in India’s Kashmir

No action taken against police who assaulted Catholic priests in India