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Catholic News Agency

Catholic News Agency

Founded in continued response to Pope John Paul II’s call for a “New Evangelization,” the Catholic News Agency (CNA) has been, since 2004, one of the fastest growing Catholic news providers to the English speaking world.

By Pope Francis Vatican City, Apr 9, 2023 / 04:45 am On the morning of Easter Sunday 2023, Pope Francis presided over Mass in St. Peter’s Square before delivering his Urbi et Orbi message and blessing from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica before an estimated 100,000 people. “Urbi et …

By Shannon Mullen Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 8, 2023 / 20:08 pm A top U.S. military hospital ended its contract with a community of Franciscan friars just before Holy Week, putting a for-profit firm in charge of Catholic pastoral care, according to the Archdiocese of the Military Services. Archbishop Timothy P. …

Students from Cincinnati Moeller High School carry the Holy Cross for the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains in Cincinnati on Good Friday, Mar. 30, 2018. (CT Photo/E.L. Hubbard)
by CNA Staff CNA Staff, Apr 11, 2022 / 10:43 am A plenary indulgence is a grace granted by the Catholic Church through the merits of Jesus Christ, Mary and all the saints to remove the temporal punishment due to sin. The indulgence applies to sins already forgiven. A plenary …

The Corpus Christi procession concluded with Benediction at the Chapel of St. Gregory the Great (CT Photo/Greg Hartman)
By Francesca Pollio Fenton Denver Newsroom, Apr 6, 2023 / 07:00 am Did you know that it is possible to sing a special song of adoration on Holy Thursday and have your soul purified? It’s true, and the song is “Tantum Ergo.” First, some background. A plenary indulgence is a grace …

By Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Apr 4, 2023 / 05:00 am Pope Francis on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Archbishop Michael O. Jackels from the pastoral government of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa. An April 4 statement from the United States bishops’ conference said Jackels’ resignation was for health reasons. Bishop Emeritus Richard …

By Tina Dennelly CNA Newsroom, Apr 5, 2023 / 03:00 am You might hear today referred to as “Spy Wednesday.” What does that mean and why do some people call it that? The name actually derives from the Gospel reading for today — also called Holy Wednesday, as it is the …

By Joe Bukuras Boston, Mass., Mar 30, 2023 / 12:30 pm An empty tabernacle that was bolted to the wall has been stolen from the residence of the late Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell, who was murdered in his Hacienda Heights, California, home in February. A tabernacle is a structure …

By Jonah McKeown St. Louis, Mo., Mar 30, 2023 / 09:00 am The results of a new study from the Pew Research Center show that in-person Mass attendance among Catholics has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, and only about 4 in 10 U.S. Catholics say they attend Mass in person as often …

Pope Francis arrives in St. Peter's Square Sept. 21, 2016. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA.
By Hannah Brockhaus Rome, Italy, Mar 30, 2023 / 04:47 am Pope Francis will continue to receive treatment after being hospitalized for a respiratory infection on Wednesday, a Vatican spokesman said Thursday. “His Holiness Pope Francis rested well overnight. The clinical picture is progressively improving and he is continuing his planned …