Vatican City, Oct 15, 2020 / 05:30 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis named a new prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints Thursday following Cardinal Angelo Becciu’s dramatic resignation from the post last month. The pope appointed Bishop Marcello Semeraro, who has acted as secretary of the Council …

by Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Oct 14, 2020 / 05:36 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis Wednesday appointed Fr. William “Bill” D. Byrne, a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington and the presenter of a popular YouTube series, to lead the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts. Bishop-elect Byrne, 56, is also the …

Vatican City, Oct 12, 2020 / 04:01 am MT (CNA).- Former Vatican finance czar Cardinal George Pell met with Pope Francis in a private audience at the Vatican Monday. The Holy See press office said that the audience took place Oct. 12, but gave no further details. A video of …

by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Oct 11, 2020 / 07:00 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis said Sunday that the life of Blessed Carlo Acutis provides a witness for young people that true happiness is found when one puts God first. “Yesterday in Assisi, Carlo Acutis, a fifteen-year-old boy in love …

By Courtney Mares Rome Newsroom, Oct 7, 2020 / 11:50 am MT (CNA).- Ahead of Carlo Acutis’ beatification this week, people who knew the young computer programmer shared their memories of his love for the poor. “With his savings, he bought sleeping bags for homeless people and in the evening …

By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Oct 7, 2020 / 04:45 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis invited Catholics to rediscover the beauty of the rosary prayer this month, encouraging people to carry a rosary with them in their pockets. “Today is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. I invite …

by Matt Hadro Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 6, 2020 / 06:00 am MT (CNA).- In his new encyclical, Pope Francis reiterated that the death penalty is “inadmissible.” Did the pope change centuries of Church teaching with that statement? A leading theologian told CNA that the pope’s teaching was a development, …

CNA Staff, Oct 5, 2020 / 11:30 am MT (CNA).- The bishops of the United States have praised the release of Pope Francis’ new encyclical, calling it a “profound and beautiful” treatment of human dignity. After the text of the new papal document, “Fratelli tutti: On Fraternity and Social Friendship,” …

by Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Oct 4, 2020 / 08:05 am MT (CNA).- A Vatican presentation Sunday for Pope Francis’ third encyclical, Fratelli Tutti highlighted the involvement of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity and its plans to promote the document. “Fratelli tutti” was presented to journalists and other guests at …

Vatican City, Oct 4, 2020 / 04:17 am MT (CNA).- Pope Francis presented his vision for overcoming the world’s growing divisions, laid bare by the coronavirus crisis, in his new encyclical Fratelli Tutti, published Sunday. In the letter, released Oct. 4, the pope urged people of good will to promote …