by Kevin J. Jones Denver Newsroom, Jan 21, 2021 / 03:01 am MT (CNA).- Dante Alighieri died 700 years ago, and Italy is ready to celebrate the author whose epic poem through Hell, Purgatory and Heaven has influenced the art, imagination, and faith of so many down the centuries. Anthony …

Vatican City, Jan 21, 2021 / 06:30 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis recognized on Thursday the heroic virtues of Jérôme Lejeune, the French geneticist who discovered the extra chromosome that causes Down syndrome. The step, announced on Jan. 21, means that Lejeune can now be referred to as “Venerable.” Heroic …

CNA Staff, Jan 20, 2021 / 03:51 pm MT (CNA).- The head of the Knights of Columbus on Wednesday expressed gratitude for the “balanced and prophetic” statement issued by the US bishops’ conference on the presidential inauguration of Joe Biden. Supreme Knight Carl Anderson said Jan. 20 that the Knights …

CNA Staff, Jan 20, 2021 / 11:30 am MT (CNA).- The inauguration ceremony of President Joe Biden started with an invocation prayer delivered by Catholic priest Leo J. O’Donovan, Jesuit, a former Georgetown University President. Here is the full text of this invocation prayer: Gracious and merciful God, at this …

The Honorable Joseph R. Biden President of the United States of America The White House Washington, DC On the occasion of your inauguration as the forty-sixth President of the United States of America, I extend cordial good wishes and the assurance of my prayers that Almighty God will grant you …

Washington D.C., Jan 20, 2021 / 07:04 am MT (CNA).- As Joe Biden is inaugurated Wednesday as president of the United States, the U.S. bishops said they plan to engage the new administration on issues including abortion, religious freedom, racism, and poverty. “Our commitments on issues of human sexuality and …

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Jan 20, 2021 / 05:00 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis urged Christians to pray for “the gift of unity” on Wednesday, saying that the devil always seeks to sow division and discord. “During this time of serious hardship, this prayer is even more necessary so …

Toledo, Ohio, Jan 19, 2021 / 12:19 pm MT (CNA).- Police in Toledo, Ohio are investigating an arson attack on Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral involving an attempted fire and a spray-painted message on the outer walls reading “Jesus is Black.” A man whom police identified …

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jan 19, 2021 / 11:18 am MT (CNA).- The United States has declared that the Chinese government’s actions against the Uyghur population amount to genocide and crimes against humanity. “I have determined that the People’s Republic of China is committing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, …

by Kate Scanlon Washington D.C., Jan 19, 2021 / 10:45 am MT (CNA).- President-elect Joe Biden invited both Democratic and Republican congressional leaders to attend a church service with him on Wednesday morning ahead of his inauguration, Punchbowl News reported on Tuesday. The service will take place at the Cathedral …