Bavarian lore, as in Britain, suggests that fair or foul weather on St Swithin’s Day will determine the weather for the rest of the month of July. Many Bavarians believe that the “weather saints” regulate the heavens – and not in a wholly orthodox way. I noticed this over Pentecost when I was home for

The refugee crisis in Europe continues, inexorably, to worsen. Even as countries such as Austria impose caps on asylum applications and limit numbers passing through, more than 2.5 million Syrians languish in Turkish refugee camps, many dreaming desperately of Europe. Not all the million-plus refugees who recently came over the EU’s borders are from Syria,

The cardinal who holds his Church together

Covering the Church under the guidance of Pope Benedict XVI has been a privilege

As people look across the Atlantic to see what's going on with the US and Canadian ordinariates, Fr Christopher Phillips tells it straight

It's a big news day for Catholic geeks with the publication of the Instruction Universae ecclesiae and in Britain the results of the Bishops' plenary meeting

As the ordinariate for England, Wales and Scotland makes progress, the TAC's leader warns it could be the first and ony such structure for former Anglicans in the world

The Vatican hosted its first blogging conference with 150 bloggers from around the world

St Peter's Square was crammed this morning as pilgrims started arriving for tomorrow's beatification of Pope John Paul II

Fr Andrew Burnham preaches at reception of the Oxford Ordinariate group as the personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham continues to grow

Last night saw the first receptions of groups into the ordinariate

The Pontifical Council for Social Communications will announce participants in the Vatican blogmeet on Saturday