Author Archive
U.S. Embassy to Vatican prepares to welcome new ambassador
IMAGE: CNS photo/Jonathan Ernst, Reuters By Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) — A few hours before President Donald Trump was to swear in Callista Gingrich as U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, the charge d’affaires of the embassy said the fight against human trafficking and the protection of religious freedom around …
Grammy winner sings with Sistine Chapel Choir in new Christmas CD
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a new release of music for Advent and Christmas, multiple Grammy award-winning mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli sings with the pope’s Sistine Chapel Choir. It marks the first time one of the oldest choirs in the world has issued a recording …
Catholic organizations, groups actively working on Puerto Rico’s recovery
IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Wallice J. de la Vega QUEBRADILLAS, Puerto Rico (CNS) — A month after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, Catholic organizations, groups and individuals were still among the most prominent responders to the needs of a suffering people. Despite early logistical obstacles, as of Oct. 20, …
Church can’t be blind, deaf to people with special needs, pope says
IMAGE: CNS/L’Osservatore Romano By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Catholic Church must be welcoming and creative in finding ways to not let people’s physical, psychological or intellectual limitations keep them from encountering God, Pope Francis said. “The church cannot be ‘mute’ or ‘tone deaf’ when it comes to …
Being Christian means being missionary, pope says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Tony Gentile, Reuters By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Catholics must make a real effort to share the Gospel with all people, fighting “the recurring temptation” that leads some to focus only on internal church matters or to be pessimistic about evangelization efforts, Pope Francis wrote. “May …
Starving children are innocent victims of humanity’s greed, pope says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Cathal McNaughton, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Thousands of starving children around the world today are innocent victims sacrificed upon the altar of the god of money because of humanity’s greed and attachment to wealth, Pope Francis said. In his homily at Mass in …
In letter to Cardinal Sarah, pope clarifies new translation norms
By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican is not to “impose” a specific liturgical translation on bishops’ conferences, but rather is called to recognize the bishops’ authority and expertise in determining the best way to faithfully translate Latin texts into their local languages, Pope Francis said in a …
Health care law: uncertain outcome after multiple diagnoses
IMAGE: CNS photo/Mike Blake, Reuters By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — The Affordable Care Act — on the examination table since President Donald Trump came into office — has been poked, prodded and even pronounced dead while the fight to keep it alive keeps going. President Trump told Cabinet members …
Signs of the Spirit: App teaches blessings, how to pray in ASL
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When Sister Kathleen Schipani found out she was usually the very first person to teach deaf children to pray, she decided there had to be an app to fix that. Learning to pray usually happens in the family, when a …
Good works are response to, not reason for God’s forgiveness, pope says
By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christians are holy not because of their good works but because they recognize their sins before God and receive his forgiveness, Pope Francis said. In his homily at Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae Oct. 20, the pope said that good deeds …