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Russia’s Catholic bishops call on leaders to end conflict with Ukraine

February 25, 2022

The Catholic bishops’ conference of Russia has called on political leaders to end the conflict with Ukraine. In a Feb. 24 message, the Catholic bishops of five dioceses in Russia warned leaders “that they will have to give a strict account of the military actions they have taken.” “For the course of centuries to come depends

Pope Francis declares St. Irenaeus ‘Doctor of Unity’

January 21, 2022

Pope Francis on Friday officially declared St. Irenaeus of Lyon as the 37th Doctor of the Church, with the title “Doctor Unitatis” (“Doctor of Unity”). “May the doctrine of such a great Master encourage more and more the path of all the Lord’s disciples towards full communion,” the pope wrote in a decree signed on Jan. 21.

France’s interior minister condemns threats against Catholics during procession

December 13, 2021

France’s interior minister on Saturday condemned threats made against Catholics taking part in a Marian procession in the western suburbs of Paris. Gérald Darmanin deplored what he said were “unacceptable acts” during a torchlight procession in Nanterre on Dec. 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. “Freedom of worship must be able to be exercised

Pope Francis decries global ‘retreat from democracy’ in Athens speech

December 06, 2021

Pope Francis lamented a global “retreat from democracy” in a speech on Saturday in Athens, the cradle of Western civilization. The pope was speaking to political leaders, representatives of civil society, and members of the diplomatic corps at the Presidential Palace on Dec. 4, hours after arriving from Cyprus. “Here democracy was born. That cradle,

Pope Francis to Catholics in Cyprus: ‘Jesus alone frees the heart from evil’

December 03, 2021

Pope Francis said on Friday that “Jesus alone frees the heart from evil” as he celebrated Mass in the divided capital city of Cyprus. Preaching at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia on Dec. 3, the pope described Christ as a “physician” eager to bring healing to the human heart. “Jesus is the physician: he alone

Pope Francis accepts resignation of Catholic archbishop of Paris

December 02, 2021

Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Archbishop Michel Aupetit on Thursday amid a controversy surrounding an alleged prior relationship with a woman before he was archbishop of Paris. A statement from the Holy See press office on Dec. 2 said that Pope Francis accepted the resignation submitted by Aupetit and had appointed Archbishop Georges Pontier, archbishop emeritus

Pope Francis recognizes miracle attributed to WWII martyr Bl. Titus Brandsma’s intercession

November 25, 2021

Pope Francis has recognized a miracle attributed to Titus Brandsma, an outspoken opponent of Nazism martyred at Dachau concentration camp in 1942. The pope authorized Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints, to issue a decree on Nov. 25 approving the miracle. The decision paves the way for the Dutch Carmelite

Ethics committee authorizes first assisted suicide in Italy

November 25, 2021

The Catholic Church in Italy said that life must be “protected and defended” after local health authorities in Italy gave the green light to the country’s first legally obtained assisted suicide. The ethics committee of the health service of the Italian city of Ancona ruled on Nov. 23 that a 43-year-old Italian man met the