IMAGE: Fotogramma/IPA/ABACA via Reuters By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — With the number of priests and religious dying from coronavirus-related illnesses rising, Pope Francis offered his prayers for those who died after being infected helping COVID-19 patients and their communities. At least 50 priests, four nuns and at least …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Flavio Lo Scalzo, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As more countries continue to take precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the term "lockdown," normally used to describe confining prisoners to their cells, has taken on a whole new meaning. Yet for Stefania …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Octavio Duran By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — In life, El Salvador’s St. Oscar Romero had an open line of communication with the church in the United States, whose leaders and laity often supported the archbishop of San Salvador when he objected to military aid or training of …

IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy of the Pontifical North American College By Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) — With more than half of its seminarians already back in the United States, the Pontifical North American College in Rome is sending its students home. “In consultation with our board of governors and the U.S. …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Dave Hrbacek, The Catholic Spirit By Dennis Sadowski CLEVELAND (CNS) — Several Catholic charitable agencies are among more than 200 nonprofits urging Congress to include $60 billion in aid to help them meet an expected surge in requests for services from unemployed people. The coming wave of clients …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Thomas Mukoya, Reuters By Bronwen Dachs CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) — Africa’s informal settlements, where running water is scarce, make for a "perfect storm" as COVID-19 spreads through the continent, said a prominent South African Jesuit. In these crowded settlements on the edges of Africa’s cities, taps …

By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Mar 22, 2020 / 11:30 am (CNA).- Pope Francis announced Sunday that he will give an extraordinary Urbi et Orbi blessing this week with the opportunity for Catholics to receive a plenary indulgence by tuning in via media. “This Friday, March 27 at 6 p.m., …

Washington D.C., Mar 23, 2020 / 11:33 am (CNA).- The Archbishop of New Orleans has tested positive for coronavirus. He is the first U.S. bishop known to have tested positive for the virus, which is now a global pandemic. “Recently, I had very mild symptoms, which included fever only. Out …

By Perry West Denver, Colo., Mar 21, 2020 / 04:00 am (CNA).- The policy of social distancing means that the newly-homebound are seeing less of coworkers than they did just weeks ago. They’re seeing fewer friends too. But they might be seeing a lot more of their family, or their …

IMAGE: Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Citing the increasing loss of lives to COVID-19 and a lack of medical resources, an Iranian cleric has urged Pope Francis to do what he can to help get U.S. sanctions against Iran lifted. "Without judging the root causes of …