Posts Tagged
Courtney Mares
Assisi is illuminated with Giotto’s frescoes this Christmas season

by Courtney Mares Assisi, Italy, Dec 17, 2021 / 15:17 pm Saint Francis’ hometown of Assisi has once again been illuminated with Giotto’s frescoes this Christmas season. The frescoes from the interior of the Basilica of St. Francis are being projected each night onto the town’s churches from Dec. 8 …
Dutch Catholic bishops cancel Christmas Midnight Masses due to COVID-19 pandemic

by Courtney Mares Rome Newsroom, Dec 1, 2021 / 08:30 am Catholic bishops in the Netherlands have decided to cancel Christmas Midnight Masses once again this year as a precaution to stop the spread of COVID-19. The Dutch bishops announced on Dec. 1 that no Catholic Masses or other parish …
Immaculate Conception: Pope Francis cancels public act of veneration again due to pandemic

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Nov 29, 2021 / 04:37 am For the second year in a row, Pope Francis has canceled the Roman tradition of a public gathering at the Spanish Steps on Dec. 8 to venerate a statue of the Immaculate Conception due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The …
Pope Francis prays for Wisconsin parade victims

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Nov 23, 2021 / 06:38 am Pope Francis is praying for the people injured and killed by an SUV that plowed into marchers during a Christmas parade in the Milwaukee suburb of Waukesha, the Vatican press office said Tuesday. A message sent to Archbishop Jerome …
Journalists protest as Vatican cancels live coverage of Joe Biden greeting Pope Francis

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Oct 28, 2021 / 10:30 am One day before U.S. President Joe Biden is due to meet with Pope Francis, the Vatican canceled its scheduled live broadcast of the meeting without explanation. Journalists in the Vatican press corps — who will also not be allowed …
John Paul II’s mom chose life after her doctor advised an abortion

by Courtney Mares Rome Newsroom, Oct 22, 2021 / 07:00 am Over one hundred years ago on May 18, Emilia Wojtyla gave birth to her second son, Karol, after a difficult and life-threatening pregnancy. The child would grow up to be St. John Paul II. In a new book published …
Godfather ban: Sicilian Catholic diocese suspends naming of godparents at baptism for 3 years

by Courtney Mares Rome Newsroom, Oct 20, 2021 / 06:10 am There will be no godfathers named in the Sicilian archdiocese of Catania for the next three years due to a decree issued by the archbishop that came into full effect this month. Archbishop Salvatore Gristina of Catania has said …
Pope Francis to declare St. Irenaeus a Doctor of the Church with title ‘Doctor of Unity’

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Oct 7, 2021 / 06:50 am Pope Francis said on Thursday that he plans to declare St. Irenaeus of Lyon a Doctor of the Church with the title “Doctor unitatis,” meaning “Doctor of Unity.” The pope made the announcement in a speech to the St. …
‘This is a moment of shame’: Pope Francis expresses sorrow at French abuse report

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Oct 6, 2021 / 07:15 am Pope Francis expressed sadness and shame on Wednesday in response to a report estimating that hundreds of thousands of children were abused in the Catholic Church in France over the past 70 years. “This is a moment of shame,” …
3 Swiss Guards resign over Vatican vaccine mandate

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Oct 5, 2021 / 08:00 am Three Swiss Guards have quit after refusing to comply with the Vatican’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement and three other guards have been suspended until they are fully vaccinated. The Pontifical Swiss Guard, charged with protecting the pope, has required all …