International

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 […]

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 Francis announces a 2022 synod on synodality

The next ordinary Synod of Bishops will be a Synod on synodality, the Vatican announced on March 7. In October 2022, bishops from around the world will meet in Rome to discuss the theme: “For a Synodal Church: communion, participation and mission.” The concept of “synodality” has been a topic of frequent discussion by Pope […]

Pope Francis forms Child Protection Task Force

Pope Francis has established a task force “in order to assist the Episcopal Conferences in the preparation and updating of guidelines for the protection of minors.” The intention to form such a group had already been announced by the Pope at last year’s Meeting for the Protection of Minors in the Church, which ran from […]

Women deacons possible after ‘Synodal Way,’ says German bishops’ chairman

The new chairman of the German bishops’ conference has said that calling for the ordination of women could be a conclusion of the two-year “synodal way” being undertaken by the Church in Germany. Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg said in a radio interview on March 9 for Inter-national Women’s Day that such a conclusion would […]

Nicaragua’s Fr Ernesto Cardenal dies at 95

Fr Cardenal died on March 1 after a brief hospitalization. His wake will be at the Mount of Olives funeral home, and a funeral Mass was said on March 3 Managua’s Immaculate Conception Cathedral. Fr Cardenal was born on Jan. 20, 1925 in Granada, Nicaragua. He studied literature and was for a time at the […]

Coronavirus impacts Church worldwide

Italy has banned all religious ceremonies, including Masses and funerals, in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The highly restrictive decision keeps the ban on public liturgies in place until 3 April and comes after the government quarantined 16 million people in the north of the country. In the Vatican, Pope Francis’ […]

Krakow archbishop opens beatification causes of St John Paul II’s parents

Archbishop Marek Jêdraszewski of Krakow announced on March 11 that having obtained the approval of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the archdiocese has opened beatification processes for the parents of Saint John Paul II. The Archdiocese of Krakow publicly made the announcement on March 11, setting in motion the beatification causes of John […]

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Pope: Red Cross’ humanitarian work shows that fraternity is possible

New Vatican document lists ‘grave violations’ of human dignity