Vicar apostolic of Brunei denounces “disturbing” party politics and squabbling in Church: “It is not the Gospel. If I were not a Catholic and saw the news…”
“The world continues to close its doors, rejecting dialogue and collaboration”, Francis rues in audience with Latin American seminarians
Preacher to the Papal Household Raniero Cantalamessa alerts “Religion and the gospel risk becoming a pretext for interests that do not promote concord and unity”
“You are the messenger, not the message – ultimately it is not about you”, Bishop of Mainz Peter Kohlgraf tells clerics in ordination homily
“Poverty, decadence and suffering in one part of the earth are a breeding ground for problems that will end up affecting the entire planet”, warns Francis
During COVID “we have discovered a new ecclesiology, perhaps even a new theology, and a new ministry”, affirms Bishop Mario Grech
The Old Continent again records the global Church’s largest fall in number of priests, major seminarians and women religious
Archbishop emeritus of Tanger Santiago Agrelo suggests Church pray: “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, anointed and sent to evangelise the poor, the communion of saints…”
Vatican official gives thanks for release of Fr. Pierluigi Maccalli, kidnapped two years ago by jihadist insurgents: “Missionaries are always close to the people; they do not flee even during difficult situations and give their lives for the Gospel”
New Archbishop of Zaragoza laments Church’s “clumsiness” in reforming itself: “The Church is like a Titanic and she needs time to make the reforms she has to make”
“The Church needs to be like God: always going out; and when the Church does not go out, it becomes sick with… many evils”, Pope Francis warned today at the midday Angelus prayer.
The release of controversial videos from priest James Altman proclaiming that Catholics cannot be Democrats and a homily questioning the existence of systemic racism sparked a reflection on the role of tone in the context of catechesis and evangelization.
“It is clear” that current opportunities for women in the Church are “not enough”, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich has lamented.
On September 9th, the Catholic Church celebrated the Feast of Saint Peter Claver. Peter Claver was a Spanish-born Jesuit missionary sent to Cartagena, Colombia, and his primary apostolate was ministering to the West Africans who arrived in Cartagena aboard slave ships.
Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown has criticised Catholic “harshness”, saying that it “can make faith in Jesus hard to take seriously” and “actually works against the spread of the Gospel”.
Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich has said that the COVID-19 pandemic is the right time to settle the debt Europe has accrued with Africa after having exploited its resources.
A German bishop has said the need for Catholic renewal is not about saving the Church but instead about rediscovering the gospel.
Pentecost marks the birth of the Catholic Church.I believe it was no accident that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit had as one of its effects a Spirit of inclusivity among all races and all languages – all people.
“We can no longer build our Christianity and Church life on traditions alone”, a German bishop has alerted.
With Pope Francis’ 2013 arrival to the pontificate, fresh air came into the Church. The air became less rarefied and we saw a pope closer to the people.
In a new video, put together by Forming Missionary Disciples, young adults have shared their hopes for the Church after lockdown, recognising Pope Francis’ call to contribute their gifts and energies to the Church.
The Catholic Church, in its missionary commitment in many parts of the world, is paying for its contribution to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic which does not spare peoples and nations from all continents.
A German missionary has warned that establishing a true democracy in Church is the “only way out” of the “dead end of feudalism, clericalism and traditionalism” in which the institution is stuck.
A German bishop has come out swinging against the new Vatican instruction on parish life, doubling-down on the German Church’s ‘synodal path’ as the “only answer to this Roman challenge”.
A German bishop has blamed the mass Church desertions in his country on what he described as the tired parish-centred pastoral model.
At 4 in the morning on Tuesday 30 June, Don Pietro Ganapini, for 59 years a Fidei Donum missionary in Madagascar, died.
Pope Francis nominated a new Bishop of the Diocese of Kilmore, Ireland, on Monday, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.
In his homily at Mass today for the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Pope Francis offered keys for the truly “prophetic” Church he said we need today. “Not forcefulness, but forthrightness. Not palaver, but prayer. Not speeches, but service”, the pontiff pleaded.